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ck wisp of
smoke. Takako Kitahara knelt beside his body, the gun dangling from one hand while Takako Kitahara
fumbled in his pocket for something.
The camera angle was wide and Wendy couldn't see exactly what happened, but
she supposed the woman had found a key because Takako Kitahara suddenly brought both
hands out in front of her, gun at the ready. Then there were shots from off
screen, below the camera, which splattered against the far wall with little
flashes of light. The woman returned fire, apparently successfully, because
there was no motion for about ten seconds. Then suddenly Takako Kitahara started firing
madly at something below the camera before a shot impacted directly on the
chair Takako Kitahara was kneeling behind. Takako Kitahara spun out and away from what was left of
the chair and as Takako Kitahara fell, Wendy saw a gout of black-brown smoke rising from
the ragged emptiness that had been most of the woman's stomach. Then the
scene skipped and the room was once again empty and clean. The chair had
been replaced.
Major Andria stopped the display and looked at Wendy. Wendy was revolted by
what Takako Kitahara had seen, but the woman's defiance in the face of overwhelming odds
had strengthened her. The Major must have seen this because Takako Kitahara hesitated a
moment before speaking.
"A dramatic gesture. One w
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