<P>"The man has sources everywhere. I do not concern myself too deeply with his affairs."
<P>
<P>They moved on, continuing towards the building where Mr. Omatsu could be found. Tiberius decided that a stealth approach was preferable, and took advantage of the shadows whenever danger seemed afoot. As they moved Carson made an interjection.
<P>
<P>"That was a good question to ask, Agent," he said through the Infolink, spooking Tiberius again. "In the past, I was able to make the trip to Tokyo myself in order to negotiate a weapons or equipment deal. I hate to have to go through underground sources, but the nature of my work makes it an unfortunate necessity. With things the way they are, it is simply too dangerous for me to go, which is part of the reason I had you augmented for this mission. It is vital to the rest of the world that we get this AI operational."
<P>
<P>The sounds of gunfire became audible as the pair approached the building in which Omatsu had secured himself. Every so often, they would duck aside to avoid more gang members running towards the scene. Creeping their way up an alley, they gradually got close enough to have a look at what was unfolding outside the office building.
<P>
<P>The fighting was done mostly with sawed-off shotguns and pistols, but occasionally an assault rifle was clumsily fired off. Although a few weak lights were turned on inside the building, the street outside was almost entirely bathed in darkness. Muzzle flashes illuminated a tangled mass of armed thugs running between each other and trying to shoot the right people. Tiberius found it impossible to determine who was fighting who.
<P>
<P>Such chaos...What is the point of it all?
<P>
<P>Reaching the main entrance to the office building required navigating the mob of confusion. Tiberius scanned the street for other options. The only alternative that he could see was a sewer entrance just outside of the alley. He wasn't entirely sure he knew what the reaction would be if he went out into the open like that. He pulled the translator aside and spoke to him in a low voice.
<P>
<P>"Do you have any idea what's inside?"