Chapter Text
“Officer, what did you mean by 'Tonight I'm not a cop, it's personal'? You're never a cop, you're a magical girl that happens to operate like one. Kind of. Sort of.”
“Yes I know, Dispatch. I just wanted to quote a movie I like.” Tracy sighed as she turned another corner.
“Ah yes, always with those movies.” Dispatch replied in a tone that sounded as if the person on the other end of the radio connection was shaking their head, like a mother does at a child with overactive imagination. ”But maybe there is some wisdom in your preferred choice of entertainment... tell me Officer, how would they deal with the current threat in those movies of yours?”
Tracy pondered for a bit. “I think... these vests that the movie officers sometimes wear would maybe work?”
“You're on to something, Officer. There is something that I have that can help you neutralize the suspects. Just confirm when you are ready, and I'll provide you with protective wear. Now heads up, the suspects have been reported nearby, they've ceased their movement. Apparently they're attempting a barrier breach.”
“Roger that.”
******
There were a couple things that would always garner the attention of the Gunguys: Banks and jewelry stores. Possibly driven by a need to stay true to their mobster theming, they would always try breaking into those buildings and take whatever money and valuables they could get their grubby little hands on. They weren't prone to chase after civilians that could possibly be located inside (like the store owner or night watchman), unless they tried to intervene, and the loot would be always found somewhere in the City streets after they were defeated by Magical Girls or vaporized by the barrier reset, but the breach they would cause in the process naturally still posed a hazard that could be exploited by other monsters, so of course they needed to be defeated before they could cause one.
And they were currently attempting to cause one. As they were driving around, one of them pointed out a small jewelry store. They stopped their car and piled out, pressing their faces (Um, barrels? Barrel-faces? Face-barrels?) against the display window. Apparently the merchandise in there was what they were looking for, as they all took a few steps back and started cocking their hammers...
But that was when the street got flooded with red and blue light as Tracy's cruiser drifted in from behind the corner and charged right towards them. The Gunguys started chanting “Popo!” Again and two of them took aim at the approaching cruiser and fired.
Thanks to having a much quicker and nimbler car now, Tracy easily dodged their projectiles and kept heading straight at them. She intended to ram them, but decided against it at the last minute, quickly jerking the steering wheel and reaching out to...
“Vehicle... impounded!” ...she yelled as she pulled out the windup key from the back of the Gunguys' car. She kept going till the end of the street, where she pulled a U-turn and victoriously spun the key around on her finger. “That's it, busters!” she taunted them.
This made the Gunguys very angry. They jumped up and down, flailing their arms and stomping the ground, and the yells of “Popo!” got much louder and way more aggressive. And when they were done with their tantrum throwing, they started to take aim again and...
“Bad language makes for bad feelings...ah!!!” Tracy commented on their shouting, then quickly ducked in her car and barely dodged a projectile. “Okay, Dispatch? Now would be a good time for some of that protection!” She yelled into the radio as more projectiles flew by.
“Roger. SWAT gear authorized.” Came a brief reply from the radio, and the cruiser began glowing blue around her once again. Through the glow, Tracy saw one of the Gunguys aim directly at her and fire. She yelped and ducked again, bracing for impact. And with a loud thud it came, however... it felt as if the car withstood it?
Overcoming the initial shock, Tracy composed herself and checked her surroundings. Her cruiser was now a tiny box van. For the first time ever, it had a roof and an actual windshield that was now slightly cracked from the impact. There still weren't no doors on it though. She also noticed that she now had a bulletproof vest over her uniform, and her cap turned into a helmet, with the dome light still on top of it. Her weapon still remained the same though – a basic nightstick.
The Gunguys were astonished by the transformation at first but soon renewed their assault and with a loud “Thud!” a couple more lead balls struck the front of the van,
“I know you're disappointed you did not receive a new weapon, but bear in mind you asked for defensive equipment, not offensive equipment.” Dispatch calmly explained through the radio. “But worry not, I have one more piece of gear ready for you, Officer. Reach behind you.”
Tracy's face obviously betrayed her initial dismay, but that was soon replaced with a smirk when she rummaged in the small cargo space behind her and found just what Dispatch was talking about. “This is perfect, Dispatch. I'm ready to bust some bad guys.”
At that moment, another bullet struck the windshield and cracked it to the point where it was obvious that another hit would break through. Tracy cursed under her breath and quickly exited the van, dragging out a dark blue ballistic shield with her. Quickly she regained footing and crouched, covering herself behind the shield that was now pointed towards the Gunguys.
This stumped them for a second. They chattered among themselves, and one of them approached closer to investigate. When he saw Tracy's red and blue eyes glaring at him through the viewing slit in the shield at him, he immediately pulled his trigger and fired. The projectile hit the shield right in the middle, where Tracy's sigil was located, and harmlessly bounced off. Tracy use the moment of surprise it caused to the Gunguy and charged at him, slamming into him with the shield and swinging her baton at his gun-head. The strike connected and Tracy quickly dropped shield and put handcuffs on the stunned monster mobster.
“One down, four to go.” Tracy stated and quickly picked the shield up, because the remaining four Gunguys shrieked and started shooting again. She walked slowly, with each projectile that struck her shield forcing her to stop briefly, as it shook her and made her regain her composure before continuing. As she got close enough to the nearest Gunguy, she charged with the shield again and tackled him before giving him a bonk on the head, then quickly swung at another one that ran towards her, and knocked him out as well. Charging the third one, she managed to take him down as well, but the final one managed to land a hit on her.
“”Gah!” She yelped and let go of the shield, falling onto all fours. The vest she was wearing managed to protect her from most of the damage, but it still hurt like hell and knocked her breath out. As she struggled to get back up, the Gunguy cocked his hammer again and was aiming at her at almost point-blank, but before he could pull the trigger, Tracy's van came smashing into him, sending him spinning through the air and landing right on the hood of their town car.
“Cough cough... thanks buddy.” Tracy gave a thumbs up to her pedal car as she managed to stand back up, and quickly started cuffing all the stunned Gunguys. However, as soon as she was done and dusted her hands, all the doors on the Gunguy car opened, revealing that the car has actually no interior, just a twisting dark void inside. And from that void was coming more Gunguy chatter.
Tracy realized that the car is actually a moving portal capable of spawning more Gunguys. She quickly tried to think of what to do. She had no means of destroying that thing! If only could she... hold up, the doors have handles. The rear door open backward, so they have handles on the other end...
“Like I said... your vehicle is impounded.” Tracy snickered as she slammed the door shut and put handcuffs on the handles, blocking them from opening. She did the same on the other side, and shortly after, muffled angry chatter could be heard from the inside as she vehicle swayed side to side as the newly spawned Gunguys inside unsuccessfully tried to open the doors.
“Stay out of trouble.” she said flatly and the shield and protective gear vanished as her normal uniform returned, and the van turned back into her regular cruiser. She hopped in and began pedaling away. “Dispatch, I'm pleased to report that the suspects were neutralized. However, I only managed to disable their vehicle, not eliminate it. But at least they are now trapped inside.” She called into the radio, patting the windup key she still had in her possession.
“Roger that Officer. You sound like you're worried more perps might find a way to break out, but don't fret, we have reports of two magical girls in vicinity...”
“What...” Tracy heard voices coming from the direction of the Gunguys' car. She quickly stopped the cruiser behind a corner and peeked out from behind it...
******
“What is this?” Asked the dark-skinned girl wearing what appeared to be a purple marching band uniform as she knocked on the hood with her baton. The vehicle shook violently in response.
“Appears to be a monster of some sorts? My guess is someone immobilized it without destroying it.” The other girl replied. She was wearing a purple and gold magician's uniform with a ruffled skirt and a top hat, and her identity was concealed with a a golden eye mask.
The marching band girl narrowed her eyes when she noticed the handcuffs holding the doors shut. “Oh yes. I think I know exactly who did this.” She the turned to her magician partner. “We can't leave it like this, it still poses a risk to the good people of the City. Do you have any tricks up your hat that could help us with destroying it?”
“Sure thing partner! ”The magician girl excitedly took her hat off and rummaged in it for a second before pulling out a black spherical cartoon bomb with a lit fuse and placed it in the dent on the hood where the Gunguy hit if during Tracy's fight with them. “Now quickly, let's get to minimum safe distance!”
******
The explosion shook the street and Tracy hid back behind the corner. She watched a burning wheel bounce by before vanishing in the usual purple monster cloud (along with the windup key she still had.) Then she heard the marching band girl shouting.
“Order Keeper, I know this was your job! And I commend you on it, but remember! I will find you and I will drag you to the registration office myself! Or my name isn't Bright Lotus!!!”
“Yeah keep dreaming you bureaucratic neckpain.” Tracy mumbled under her breath and quickly pedaled away.