"John?" Takigawa wondered as he squinted across the wide barren space between their two bunkers. He was sure that had been John's voice. It can't be! There was no way Lin would have let John stay and get in the middle of this. Takigawa's rifle was aimed at the ground, and that was where he intended to keep it. He didn't exactly like being drafted into the ranks of SWAT, but as an officer of the law, he wasn't given much choice. There were a lot of androids out there, and it was his job to protect and serve. SWAT wasn't big enough to handle them all, and the army was already deployed in Detroit and some of the bigger cities. It was his aim to perform damage control where he could. Unfortunately, the rest of his team didn't have any issues with their orders. They'd been so eager to get started when the androids first turned up that they hadn't even hesitated to pick off a few before the higher-ups ordered them to stand down.

Waiting was the worst part. The more time went by, the more trigger-happy his co-workers were becoming. The professional SWAT officers were better. They stood rigid, organised, and patient. Waiting for orders a lot like androids would. The drafted police were jumpy, nervous, and eager. The younger officers especially. They were already pointing out specific androids they wanted to get a shot at. Takigawa was just relieved he hadn't seen Ayako or Charlie yet, though he had caught sight of Lin behind the lines earlier. He was a little tall to miss as he walked around, helping his people. Lin was actually pretty high on the list of androids they wanted to shoot down. He was a pretty unique model, and he looked tall and strong. It was sort of like hunting a buck. Everybody wanted to get the one with the biggest antlers. The most dangerous one. The one that would get them the most respect.

Takigawa took a breath as he looked down at his own weapon, checking the safety was on. His hands were shaking a little with adrenaline. It wasn't that he was afraid of the gunfight that would likely break out. He was nervous about having to choose a side. Turning his gun on a human was a big decision, even if he only intended to injure rather than kill. Accidents happened. That would also put a target on his own back. He swallowed nervously as he peered over the wall of sandbags he was stationed behind. He'd heard a voice shouting. A voice he swore was John's.

"You see that android?" one of the younger officers asked, the voice muffled by his helmet. Takigawa tugged his own helmet off, sensing trouble as he turned to watch the two officers beside him interact. They were beat officers drafted into SWAT. Two of the most vocal in their anti-android sentiments. The distant voice had just rung out passionately, the words mirrored by a message displayed in bright lights that Takigawa couldn't make out. The second officer nodded as he looked across the gap. Takigawa joined him in looking, finding it much easier to see now he'd pulled his helmet off. It was John. John was speaking. His voice echoed lightly around the open area.

He looked so small from where Takigawa stood, and painfully vulnerable. What the hell is he thinking? Takigawa felt his heart kick into overdrive as he watched. From what he could see, it didn't even look like he was wearing armour. He'd jumped on top of a car and driven a flag into the window to show off the android emblem. That was provocative. Takigawa wasn't sure whether he was deliberately making himself a target, or if he genuinely had a message to get across. He could barely hear what he was saying, though his words were clearer without the helmet in the way. He was saying something about colour. Red and blue. Blood and thirium.

"I see him," the second officer replied as he lined up his rifle and peered through his scope for a closer look. Takigawa tightened his grip on his own weapon as he watched. It didn't look like he was about to take the shot, but that didn't mean he wouldn't later. "LED's bright red!" the man almost scoffed as he drew back. LED? Takigawa thought in confusion, though squinting did him little good. John was too far away. He looked through his scope to confirm it. John was wearing an LED. It couldn't be real, so that meant one thing. Shit! If he was in there deliberately wearing an LED, then he was putting a target on his back.

"Think I can hit him?" the first man asked thoughtfully as he looked over the wall and measured the distance. Takigawa jerked his head round. He wouldn't. They hadn't received orders yet. His friend laughed as he shrugged a shoulder and rested the butt of his own rifle on the ground. He wasn't about to break protocol, but he wouldn't stop his colleague. What were the androids going to do, anyway? Rush the recycling plant unarmed?

"Sure, fucker made a hostile move, jumping up there like that...Try to shoot his arm clean off. I dare you!" he encouraged as he looked at John and waited for his colleague to move. Both laughed as the first officer lined up his rifle, his finger resting on the trigger as he leaned down. Takigawa felt his heart jump into his throat as he looked across at John's vulnerable form. He was holding his hands up in an almost placating manner as he spoke, his small voice working hard to carry his message to anyone who'd listen.

"Alright, I've got the shot!" the first officer said steadily as he looked through his scope right at John. The second man laughed as he leaned on the makeshift wall and encouraged him to fire. Takigawa leapt into action. The second officer was closest to him, so he grabbed his shoulder and yanked him out of the way, tossing him to the ground.

"Hold your fire!" he cried as he reached for the poised rifle. The shot was deafening as it rang out.