Things are quiet for a moment, before you see the massive creature swoop down, landing on top of one of the scuttle's many cranes that still stick out above the water. It leans up, and after a moment, that same
sound echoes out across the bay a second time. That sound… You've never heard it before, but at the same time it feels familiar in a way that you can't put into words. Whatever it is, it sends a shiver of something down your spine. You can't put a finger on exactly what you are feeling, but it makes you grit your teeth and ball your hands into fists. You aren't
angry, but beyond that you aren't sure what you are feeling.
Taking a moment to intentionally stop the slight scowl trying to cross your lips, and to let go of your hands, you glare out the window over towards the scuttle, watching as the thing leaps up and off the crane, swooping around the scuttle's funnel and monkey island, before that
sound echoes out a third time.
Is that… Is the flying lizard screeching? Is that what you are hearing? Otaki glances out the window, frowning for a moment before he glances down and away from the roads. Grabbing something out of his pocket, you barely have time to realize that he is pulling out a phone before the man's eyes flash to the road, and with a jerk the car screeches to a halt, throwing you hard against the seatbelt.
The car in front of the truck is sitting there in the middle of the road, the driver leaning out his window and staring at the massive winged creature flying about the entrance to the bay. "OI!" Otaki shouts as he leans out the window. "Stop gawking and start driving!" He calls out.
The man starts, glancing first behind him, before he glances ahead and realizes that there are no cars in front of him. With an awkward laugh he glares at Mr. Otaki before driving away. "Idiot." Mr. Otaki grumbles, before he sets his phone into a little holder thing connected to the inside of the windshield.
As he gets the truck moving again, Otaki reaches over and taps the front of his phone three times, before setting his thumb against a spot on the screen that looks like a scanner. You've never seen something like this before, but you haven't exactly been keeping up with how phones have gotten in the years since Mom died.
Otaki's eyes flick between the screen and the road as he quickly brings up a number pad. Are all phones like this? Instead of typing out any number, he just holds down the 1 key, and after a moment the phone starts to ring. Only it isn't the phone, instead the old truck's radio starts to ring. What?
What?
Is this a thing that phones can do? You are completely and totally lost at this point. You've never seen anything like this before. The phone rings only twice before there is a click and the radio suddenly speaks. "Yo!" Yun's voice comes out of the radio. "Mr. O, are you anywhere where you can see the scuttle?"
"Yep." Mr. Otaki says cheerfully. "Taylor and I are on our way over to Ander's Photo Center. She tracked down and took pictures of another weird lizard that she saw the other day. The one that Lacey warned us about."
"You saw it?" Yun says, suddenly much more interested than he was a moment ago. "You got photos."
"Where is this photo shop, anyways?" You ask, glancing down at the camera. There are still three more shots on the camera, which means that you might even be able to get a few pictures of that massive beast.
"It's only a couple of blocks away from my place." Yun says. "What are you thinking?"
"I've still got a few more shots on my camera." You explain simply.
"Wanting to get a picture of that beast too, eh?" Otaki says with a grin, the man taking a quick moment to look out the window. "Hmmm… That's not an entirely terrible idea, but at the same time, we have no idea what that thing is capable of."
"That is true," Yun points out, "But on the other hand, there is no way that the heroes haven't noticed that thing, and if they come and scare it off, you could just hand the camera right over to them and mention the other lizard."
That is a possibility… But there are other photos on the camera as well. Pictures that Mom took. You don't have the slightest idea what they are.
Then there is also the fact that that big flying thing might not take kindly to you taking pictures of it. And given how big that thing is, and how fast it can seem to swoop down… If it gets upset at you, that might be a hard thing to get out of the way of.
Reaching a stop light, you blink as the back of your neck starts to itch. Suddenly, all the lights at the intersection, and the headlights of the cars sitting there flicker and glow, going brighter before they return to normal. There was a moment where each of the cars on the intersection started to move, at least before the lights returned to normal and tires screeched to a stop again. Otaki just sighs, shaking his head. What in the world… Why did that happen?
"Right, Taylor, you're the one with the camera, so I guess it all comes down to you." Otaki says. "Are you wanting to head to the camera shop and drop off your camera, or are you wanting to head to the northern end of the boardwalk so that you can get a better look at that thing, maybe snap a couple of pictures?
The moment that the question is asked, a part of you wants to immediately cry that you want to go to the beach, but you crush the first thought. This is something important, and you need to think about it like an intelligent person.
Going to the Camera shop means that you'll be able to get those shots developed. After all, the heroes already know about the giant flying lizard in the middle of plain sight. Getting pictures of that thing won't really prove much of anything…
Or… Would it. You can barely see the thing from where you are, and if you move over to the boardwalk, you might be able to get a better look. If this flying thing looks a lot like the big lizard that you've already gotten pictures of, then you should be able to prove that there is a connection there.
Which brings up the third hand of what it might mean if that thing isn't like the lizard you've already gotten pictures of… You… You really don't have an idea what that would mean, but it is a worrying thought.
Shaking your head, you focus on the now, and the question being asked.
To the photo shop, or to the boardwalk?
[ ] Photo Shop
- Go and get the pictures on the camera developed.
- There is a possibility that by the time that you stop by the shop and pick up Yun that the monster might have left, or been attacked by heroes or villains or something, but it means that you'll be able to learn about what is on the camera faster.
[ ] The Boardwalk
- Go to the boardwalk, try to get a good look at this new thing and take pictures of it.
- Get a closer look at the flying thing, possibility of things going bad, chance of encountering parahumans
