Episode 20: Black Grasp (Trap)

{Episode 20}

Opening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7URqQICTN7w

Gin: Last time, on Detective Conan...

ProfessorAgasa: Quiet you, I'm doing the introduction this time.

Gin: You can't--

ProfessorAgasa: Enough!

ProfessorAgasa: Last time, on Detective Conan!

ProfessorAgasa: We recovered from the aftermath of what can we only presume is the Black Organization's intrusion into my house during the night.

ProfessorAgasa: Unfortunately, we have no idea when they are planning to strike next.

ProfessorAgasa: It has been a few days, and little has changed, except for the fact that the FBI now knows about the current state of affairs and has officers watching my estate when I'm not able to, day and night.

ProfessorAgasa: Ran-kun is back from her school trip, but being back in Beika only puts her in more danger...

ProfessorAgasa: How can we avert destruction by the Black Organization? Find out this time, on Detective Conan!

EdogawaConan: [Cue Title]

{Black Grasp (Trap)}

[3...

[2...

[1...

[Cue Scene]

{Hakase's house, second day after the night of Gin. Dawn breaks.}

* EdogawaConan yawns as he wakes up.

* ProfessorAgasa wrestles with a little trinket at the table, downstairs, trying to rewire it.

EdogawaConan: Hakase? What're you playing with?

* EdogawaConan walks up to Hakase, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. His glasses are not on his face.

ProfessorAgasa: Ah, you're up, Shinichi-kun!

ProfessorAgasa: This is one of my latest inventions. I've been trying to get it to work, but it keeps frying itself...

* HaibaraAi had fallen asleep in the downstairs lab again

EdogawaConan: Frying itself? Well, what is it supposed to do, when it does work?

ProfessorAgasa: It's an ingenious contraption, Shinichi-kun!

ProfessorAgasa: It will revolutionize the world when it's done!

ProfessorAgasa: This fantastic contraption is capable of both brushing and flossing its user's teeth at the same time. Dental hygiene will reach a new level of efficiency!

* EdogawaConan blinks.

EdogawaConan: Oh...kay...

ProfessorAgasa: The motors keep burning out, and I nearly lost a tooth or two, but I'll get it just fine.

* ProfessorAgasa notices Conan's blank look.

ProfessorAgasa: Hey! Just because we're on alert doesn't mean I have to stop being a genius inventor, does it?

ProfessorAgasa: Besides... it helps keep me occupied.

EdogawaConan: I didn't say anything about you inventing stuff...I just...don't understand your invention.

ProfessorAgasa: Why don't you check on Ai-kun? I haven't seen her this morning, so she's probably in the lab.

EdogawaConan: Ah...OK...

* EdogawaConan heads downstairs.

EdogawaConan: Haibara? You in there? *knocks on lab door*

* HaibaraAi slowly stirs awake

HaibaraAi: Huh?

* HaibaraAi rubs her eyes

HaibaraAi: Who's there? *suddenly fearful*

EdogawaConan: Haibara? *knocks on the door again*

EdogawaConan: Did you fall asleep in the lab again? Hakase said he hadn't seen you...

HaibaraAi: Oh, is that you Kudou-kun? Come in...

* EdogawaConan opens the door.

EdogawaConan: Morning, Haibara....

EdogawaConan: Did you get anywhere?

* HaibaraAi glances at the screen, then back at him

HaibaraAi: Not more than usual unfortunately, it seems I've been...distracted.

EdogawaConan: Because They're here...

HaibaraAi: Right...

HaibaraAi: I can't stop torturing myself with thoughts of what they might be planning...

EdogawaConan: And Ran and Ayumi-chan might get involved in it too...

EdogawaConan: If I mentioned them...

EdogawaConan: But worrying about it won't help.

EdogawaConan: Hakase's trying to pull his teeth out.

* HaibaraAi gives him a confused look

* EdogawaConan shakes his head.

EdogawaConan: Some machine he's messing around with. Trying to build something that will brush and floss teeth at the same time...

EdogawaConan: Or at least that's what he said...*confused/long-suffering look back up the stairs*

* HaibaraAi sighs

EdogawaConan: Hopefully he won't pull all his teeth out trying to get it to work...

* HaibaraAi gives a sad smile

HaibaraAi: Hopefully...*silently hoping it won't be his last invention*

* ProfessorAgasa knocks on the door.

* ProfessorAgasa pushes it open.

EdogawaConan: Hakase....

* ProfessorAgasa blinks.

HaibaraAi: What is it?

EdogawaConan: Giving the tooth-thing a break?

ProfessorAgasa: Yeah.

ProfessorAgasa: In the mean time...

EdogawaConan: Is Ran ok?

ProfessorAgasa: You've got a call from Ran-kun.

EdogawaConan: Oh....for Conan or Shinichi? *reaching for the bowtie just in case*

ProfessorAgasa: Conan-kun, this time.

* ProfessorAgasa hands him a phone.

EdogawaConan: Ah, Ok....

* EdogawaConan takes the phone.

EdogawaConan: *phone* Ran-neechan?

MouriRan: *coughs* Ah--- Conan-kun?

EdogawaConan: Ran-neechan, are you OK?

EdogawaConan: You didn't catch a cold, did you?

MouriRan: No, I'm fine, I'm fine! *laughs* How about you?

EdogawaConan: I'm Ok. Did you need something?

MouriRan: Yeaah... *sighs softly* Sonoko asked me to go to the mall with her... I don’t know, something about a great discount if you have a young brother--- And she wants you to come.

MouriRan: W-- would you mind coming along with me, Conan-kun? *almost seductive voice*

* EdogawaConan blinks in confusion at the note in her voice, thinking it sounds more like it's meant for Shinichi than for Conan.

EdogawaConan: Um...isn't Ayumi-chan over there? If you just need a little kid...Ayumi-chan would probably enjoy the trip to the mall more...

* HaibaraAi is silently listening and raises an eyebrow

MouriRan: Hum... Sonoko said she needed a little brother. So, I guess that means we need a boy...

MouriRan: Ah-- Sonoko is calling! I'll pick you up in a few minutes, Conan-kun... If that's ok with you...

EdogawaConan: Ah...OK....I'll go get dressed....

MouriRan: Thank you, Conan-kun!

MouriRan: *hangs up*

EdogawaConan: *hangs up*

EdogawaConan: *to Ai and Hakase* Guess I'm getting dragged to the mall...

ProfessorAgasa: Go ahead. I'll be working on my invention.

EdogawaConan: I better go get ready....

* ProfessorAgasa heads back to the table.

* EdogawaConan rushes back upstairs to get dressed as quickly as he can

ProfessorAgasa: At least in the mall they'll be safe... Too many people to act.

* ProfessorAgasa shrugs and gets back to his work.

{A few minutes later…}

* MouriRan knocks on the door softly

* EdogawaConan rushes to answer the door.

EdogawaConan: Ran-neechan!

MouriRan: Conan-kun *smiles*

EdogawaConan: I'm all set...Hakase is trying to pull his teeth out and Haibara fell asleep in the lab again....

MouriRan: The lab? *blinks*

EdogawaConan: Err...downstairs.

MouriRan: Hakase's lab?

EdogawaConan: Yeah...she…likes to play with the computer in the lab...and…she fell asleep on the keyboard last night...

EdogawaConan: She won't come out to say hi because she has key-marks on her cheek....

* EdogawaConan sweatdrops, scrambling for a reasonable explanation to cover his slip-up.

MouriRan: Poor Ai-chan... It's ok, it's ok! *smiles and points at a taxi cab* We can get there faster this way, and Sonoko is waiting for us...

EdogawaConan: OK...

* EdogawaConan gets in the cab with Ran.

TaxiDriver: Where can I take you today?

MouriRan: To the central mall near the Beika's station, please! *smiles innocently*

TaxiDriver: Alright, we'll get going.

* TaxiDriver hits the door lock button and pulls away.

* EdogawaConan is a little nervous as he notes that they are locked in.

* TaxiDriver is clearly not driving in the direction of the mall.

* EdogawaConan gets a lot more nervous when he notes they're going the wrong way...

EdogawaConan: Ah...Taxi-niisan? Why are we going this direction?

TaxiDriver: We're taking the scenic route. I hope you don't mind, Kudou Shinichi-kun.

* TaxiDriver grins to himself.

* MouriRan stares at Conan and bites her lower lip

* EdogawaConan mentally starts to panic, but does not let it show.

* EdogawaConan gives the taxi driver a carefully-constructed confused look

EdogawaConan: Shinichi-niichan's not here....

* EdogawaConan pushes his glasses back up his nose, a controlled motion to check that they're in place without looking like he's checking.

TaxiDriver: You're a weaker opponent than I thought, Kudou-tantei.

* TaxiDriver keeps his eyes on the road, but tears the left half of his face off, revealing it to be a plastic mask.

TaxiDriverGin: You can keep denying who you are, Kudou-tantei, but it will only waste your time.

* EdogawaConan throws a panicked glance at Ran to see how she's reacting to this.

* TaxiDriverGin keeps driving toward the docks.

TaxiDriverGin: In the glove compartment, I've left a piece of paper that may interest you. Of course, there's a time limit on it.

* TaxiDriverGin pulls around a bend, now driving perpendicular to the docks proper.

MouriRan: *still staring at Conan, just being quiet*

TaxiDriverGin: There's a stake in it for you, of course.

* EdogawaConan glares at Gin.

EdogawaConan: Of course.

* EdogawaConan is still panicking mentally, trying not to let it show on his face

TaxiDriverGin: Mouri Ran-kun. Care to clue him in?

* EdogawaConan eyes go wide, panicking even worse.

* TaxiDriverGin chuckles.

* MouriRan takes off her mask

* TaxiDriverGin has a victorious smirk on his face.

* EdogawaConan panics even more.

* Vermouth stares at Conan, and grins at him

Vermouth: Conan-kun. *still using Ran's voice*

TaxiDriverGin: I think your stake in the operation should be obvious at this point, tantei. Unless you don't care where Mouri-kun is.

TaxiDriverGin: Don't forget. Glove box.

* TaxiDriverGin turns sharply and suddenly onto a pier.

* EdogawaConan unbuckles and moves to grab for the glove box.

* TaxiDriverGin guns the accelerator and unlocks the doors.

* EdogawaConan curses upon realizing that the glove box is locked.

* TaxiDriverGin pushes his door open and leaps out before the car can go off the pier's end. Obviously, it's on cruise control.

* EdogawaConan quickly dials the shoes to full power and kicks the glove compartment.

* Gin watches Vermouth evacuate and the car go off the pier.

* EdogawaConan grabs the item from the now-broken glove compartment and dives out the door just as the car strikes the water.

* Gin heads for his Porsche at the other end of the pier.

* Gin steps into his car and waits for Vermouth to get in.

Gin: Don't tempt me to end things here and now with a bullet, Vermouth.

Gin: Get in.

* EdogawaConan tucks the bag into his shirt and swims toward shore, aiming for a place a little away from the pier, where he'll hopefully be out of sight from Gin.

Vermouth: *laughs* You know you can't, Gin. Stop dreaming awake. *winks and gets into the car*

* Gin hits the gas.

* EdogawaConan finds a ladder on another pier and pulls himself out of the water and onto the dock.

EdogawaConan: Kuso....

* EdogawaConan pulls out the packet to investigate.

* Package was hastily wrapped using copious amounts of duct tape.

EdogawaConan: And now They have Ran...or They want me to think They do...

* EdogawaConan keeps cursing silently to himself as he opens the packet.

* Package is opened with ease to reveal...

Ending: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLbes6bidDU

{Our hero is in quite a bit of trouble this time! Can he solve it on his own? Without catching a cold? What did Gin and Vermouth do with Ran? Is this the end of the Silver Bullet?}