ZKC - Colliding Universes

After everything was paid for, the group went back out to Minamoto's car and got in, Minamoto drove back out onto the main street and toward the nearby pawnshop.

As he pulled into the parking lot, he stopped and glanced at the boy. "So, what do you need to find here?"

"Well, the thing about pawn shops is that you never know what they'll have until you see it, but they almost always have interesting things." He said, smiling a tiny bit as he got out of the car...followed by the three girls. Shiho looked interested as the group entered 'Alex' Assorted Aquisitions' and noted a well-endowed brunette woman watching the counter.

They entered to find a number of interesting things. Guitars, old coinage and currency, paintings, old toys, swords, firearms, and even a thrift store section with old electronics and such. This particular shop had a way of accepting old items that weren't worth as much as their owners originally thought as thrift store donations. As such, there were also old electronics and clothes which weren't worth as much. Two different niches were represented by this shop.

Shiho immediately gravitated toward the guns and swords, using psychometry to read the histories of the dated weapons with interest. Her expression turned dark as some of them played back key elements of warfare's bloody history...

Toshiro and Aoi mulled about, the latter finding a remote control plane for cheap and looking quite excited...while Toshiro looked dumbfounded briefly, looking in the cheap jewelry case...at the specialized limiters. Inside the case was his CECCM...from the other era. Memories came back of how he'd made it...when he was older than he was now.

Pawnshop

Shiho would certainly see a lot, including some things she probably hadn't been expecting although probably should've. Some of the weapons had 'memories' of being used in crimes, including shot-outs with her fathers police department.

"What's wrong?" Aoi asked, noticing Toshiro's expression and followed it to the odd looking jewelry.

HQ

Sakura let out a tiny yawn as she awoke, and looked up at the ceiling. With a sigh, and the stretching of her back, she got up out of bed - disturbing the little kitten for a moment as it looked at her, gave off a few expressive meows, and then jumped up onto her should where it laid there.

The young girl walked over to the window and stared outward, placing her hand on it and stared out over the city.

Toshiro looked at the armband...it was the CECCM he'd created for himself. He looked to Aoi, and smiled.

"It's something I made. It's...been some years. I think I'll buy it back..." Alex happened to overhear this part, so she tested him. No one had found out how to open it, and if he could, he could have it at cost. He inspected the armband, unlocking it with his electrical power before rolling up his sleeve and putting it on. He then rolled his sleeve back down. An electronic lock engaged, so it could not be easily removed.

"Huh...I guess it is yours then. Well, I broke even on it, so at least there's that..."


Shiho had logged the weapons responsible and their serial numbers in a memopad, but then saw the challenge...a rock star's guitar was for sale, but whoever could play the notes of their most complex song flawlessly could take it home for free...

Shiho's smile was wide and dark.

Hearing what was going on, Minamoto casually walked over and watched Toshiro as he fiddled around with the odd looking device. He was curious what it was, but choose not to ask the boy so that his concentration wouldn't be broken.

Aoi looked up from watching the boy and over at Shiho, noticing her companions expression. "What... are you thinking Shiho?" she asked.

Shiho looked to Aoi, and winked.

"Just watch and see!"

She walked over to the guitar, picked it up off the stand, and used her psychometry to read it and adjust her muscle memory. Several watched the white-haired girl adjust her hold to the proper form, take the pic, and start to flawlessly play some complex and sweet-sounding rock. Sounds borne of memories buried in the guitar from its time making music history at the Budokan during the 1970s and 1980s filled the store.

Toshiro watched, quite impressed, as the girl made peoples' jaws drop at the rendition. Psychometry had many practical uses, even if it wasn't the most showy of Esper abilities.

It wasn't just Toshiro who was watching, but so were a few students from the girls class. They were just in the shop with their parents, looking for something, when they had heard the commotion - the music playing - and had curiously gone over to see what was going on.

HQ

With her hand on the glass, she sensed around for her brother and soon found him in a pawnshop some distance from the building. She wondered what the boy was doing, and decided to see if she could figure that out by 'pinging' the area around him. She knew her brother would pick up on the pings, but given the number of ESPers she could already feel in this city, it would be hard for him to pin it down to just her; of course, there was always that chance he would filter out the 'noise', but then again, so would Aoi.

Shiho smiled and kept playing, allowing the people to observe her, as Toshiro felt the ping. His sister was watching from...somewhere. Peeking on him while he shopped for gifts. Naughty girl. He pinged back, and went into the thrift store area.

While Shiho rocked, Toshiro found old consoles and games...and found himself obtaining them. He also got a TV cart on wheels and a television so Sakura could play them while in the hospital bed. He'd already gotten her the handheld game system, but these were for both of them.

Shiho finished the song, and Alex couldn't help but stare for a bit before sighing. "Well, that challenge was beaten...you get to keep the guitar."

"But she's a psychometer!" Someone called out, one of the less likable kids in their school. Alex looked at them, and thought for a time, before shrugging.

"...Well, the challenge is what it is, and she beat it. She still did very well. She still wins."

Minamoto gave off a professional smile, then looked over at the one kid who spoke up. He was going to say something, but felt a tug on his shirt and glanced down to see Aoi shaking her head.

There were more people entering the store now, but then it was getting to that time; the time of day when most people were out and about. The weather outside had grown rather dark and ominous, thick dark clouds were rolling in from the east and some people talked about how freaky the lightning had looked on the news earlier when it was being reported.

"Let's finish up," Minamoto suggested, not liking what he was hearing and being somewhat worried about a major disaster unfolding.

As Minamoto was considering what to buy, a commotion occurred at the front of the store as three masked men entered brandishing firearms and shouting obscenities at people.

People began to run around, some seeking a place to hide while others went for the door. The store owner ducked down, hitting a silent alarm, apparently unaware that there were four high level ESPers already there...