Luca had probably set something in motion that would eventually come back and bite him in the arse or save it - he just didn't know it. Even he wasn't sure whether he'd done even more damage to Smith in those five minutes than Naoko had for all of the few months they'd been together. Action heroes do not make good diplomats.
Action heroes, other wise, were people skilled in removing things, from other people either by force or by words. Remove a dictator from power, too easy. Remove a deadly bio-virus from infecting two planets, no worries. Gunning down hordes of NMX poised on destruction, a trivial ask. Piecing a man's fractured mind back together? Now that was a challenge.
"I dunno Smith, feelings and neuroses are two very differ-" He watched Smith disappear with the parasite-laden bag and slam it into the trunk of a GP-ORV under lock and key, "I see you're ready to grab your problems by the balls, but I would've killed it."
Flanked with his entourage, consisting of Uriel, Zeta, Robert and Smith, Luca was heading towards town, armed and dangerous. He hoped that Enzo would catch up eventually, but he could never predict what that man would do - and that lack of oversight almost did him in. He didn't really care what Naoko did, after all, she bought in an NMX parasite.
It never really occurred to him or the others that the parasite did not belong to Smith, since it just seemed apt that Smith would get caught up in such a clusterfuck by toying with Naoko.
ELSEWHERE...
"I'm done toying with the Chief. He's not made good on our promises. He's getting greedy," The associate was giving his two cents, "Him and his boys have been picking on our runners and leaving 'em empty handed."
"The citizens are getting more uppity. One man has installed freakin' punji pits into his shop to prevent us from collecting. Vinny was lucky and got to the door before the floor fell in."
"Then it is about time we show those shitkickers that we own this town, and not to forget it," He grinned as he held the brick of plastic explosive in his hands, "Now, you and your men, go forth, cause a distraction for the cops and Swat while we get this shindig underway."
"Boss, one problem," Another associate turned the team's attention to a television screen, "Look at this shit here." It was the evening news, where the shuttle crash and bounty hunt gone wrong at the theatre was being shown. Luca, partially disguised as Mr. Yamada could be seen, "What are we gonna do about this motherfucker?"
"We have someone to lay the blame on then, excellent." The board was happy with this idea before the TV switched to a photo of a landmark that was in construction, and partially built. The legs of a man could be seen followed by framework. It was to be at least a hundred and fifty feet tall, and visible from most of the buildings in Nepleslia Prime as an attraction in the bay on an artificial island.
"Excellent indeed..." They had no idea who they were going to fuck with.
BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING...
Luca and company had realised something: Walking is not a fast way of getting from point A to point B. It'd be something that would be socially accepted on Yamatai since you'd be doing your bit for the already pristine environment, and in Nepleslia, nobody gave a rat's arse about the environment as long as it was 'liveable'.
"This walking thing is taking too long," Luca deduced after some thought and seeing the Zero Casino further ahead, at least a half kilometre, "We require transportation if we want to make a surprise entrance."
He looked towards the cars nearby, and considered nicking one (He'd return it or buy a new one) but his train of thought was interrupted by an armoured SUV coming barrelling out of the Casino doors. This was followed by two others of similar make and armouring coming out and tearing up the street.
From the lead SUV, missiles of some sort could be seen getting launched into buildings shortly before exploding. Bullets could be heard flying, and citizens and Nepleslians alike scrambled for cover or shot back in vain, getting gunned down in return.
"Alright, they're bringing the fight to us! I can work with this!" Luca pulled the M'Cel from his belt and levelled it at the oncoming SUV threatening to run him and the team down. He fired and watched the SUV go up in plasma flames and launch itself above the Phoenix team.
As the vehicle soared through the air, people nearby stopped and watched the spectacle as metal and glass soared in all directions. From the vehicle, the formerly cocky occupants came tumbling out as human fireballs and fell to the ground with wet thuds - the grenades left in the car cooked off and further rattled the SUV into an unrecognisable steel mess.
"Hoohoo yeah, I love my job," Luca caught himself making a smug commentary on his skills and gear.
However, as soon as the burning husk of the SUV fell to the ground behind the Phoenix team with its roasted occupants, another one came barrelling out of the casino.
"Really?!" Luca yelled before throwing up his hands and watching the situation repeat, "REALLY?!"
The police would arrive in a few minutes, hopefully. Beta's gang was not aware of this happening either, but one could be seen taking cover behind a bullet-riddled automotive with a pistol in one hand and a phone in the other.
"...I kid you not, I'm walking down the street and suddenly BOOM! The Zero Casino explodes with SUV's loaded with grenades an' shit!"
