Akio raised his lap top slightly and turned slowly.  "This way," he said.  He led the team down a small alley, the usual trash and vomit was somewhat obscured by the pounding rain.  As they exited the other end of the alley, they saw Elias next to an attractive young woman who seemed to be cleaning his face.  Nearby a man held a second man in some kind of armlock. The younger, cleaner man seemed to be talking, while the other man howled and twisted, trying to escape.

Akio stopped and stared for a moment, looking at his laptop.  He muttered something in Japanese that Michiko could barely make out as, "More of them?  How can this be?"

Years of training and force of habit had Jack's gun up and pointed down the alley before his eyes could make sense of what was going on at the other end of it.  Seeing Elias in the grip of a woman who was at least acting normally and the other two struggling a little further beyond them he raised his voice to a level the police usually used when issuing commands, "NYPD, I want the woman and the child over here and you other two up against the wall arms over your head!"

Barbie tucked the boy behind her in a protective gesture and began walking slowly towards the officer.  "My friend had to subdue that man.  He was crazy..."  Her voice was as calm as she could make it.

Michiko immediately began to run towards Elias and the blond woman calling out to him , 'Elias! Are you alright? Has this woman done anything to hurt you?"

Barbie continued her protective posturing and stopped moving forward towards the police officer.  "Do you know that woman?"  She whispered in confused tones to the boy behind her, wondering if he was some kind of prize or key to the events of the day.  Wondering why it was that so many people wanted to claim him. 

"If you don't know her, you don't have to go with her.  My friend and I will protect you."  She continued in a reassuring hushed tone.  The boy couldn't help but notice how pretty she was, it looked like she could have been an actress on tv or something.  Something about her was familiar, like maybe he'd seen a picture of her somewhere before, but he couldn't place it.

Jeff edged forward and to the side for an unblocked view, quietly evaluating the situation and staying well out of Jack's line of fire.  He kept his hands out of the pockets of his faded coat, loosely at his sides.

Very aware of the gun pointed in his direction but attempting to calmly ignore it, Joshua focused this eyes on Barbie and the kid, keeping the cop and gun in his peripheral sight.  The kid was the key to whatever was happening here, and if Barbie could move him from harm's way Joshua could release the crazy bum without fear.  At the moment, however, he was too close, and Joshua was unsure of how the cop would react.  Normally he'd bet on the cop giving a second warning before firing, but with all that had been going on, all bets were off.

Elias nodded at Barbie, still scared and confused by what had happened.  "It's OK.  They're my friends."  To the others he said,  "These guys helped me when the crazy man grabbed me."

"Alright miss, the young child there is under my protection until we find his mother. I'm Michiko Montgomery." She said as she approached him and the woman with him. "Thank you for helping Elias-kun while I was otherwise unable to but I can take care of him from this point forward." Michiko added with a smile and a touch of steely determination in her voice.

Barbie continued her light but protective grip on the boy, not sure if this woman was any safer than the mad man.  "My name is Barbie, and that man is Joshua.  Joshua is kind of like an action star in the movies, he was my...my..."  Her thoughts were fuzzy and vague and almost slipped away before she found them again.  

"My martial arts teacher!  Yes."  Barbie smiled at him brightly and gave him a little hug so that he could share her triumphant moment.  "If you'd like to go with that lady, you're free to do so.  ...but if you'd like to stay with us, we'll help keep you safe until we can find your mother."  The pretty blond spoke to the child instead of the woman.

As he said that, the ragged man being held by Joshua kicked and screamed louder than ever.  "You can't take him!!!  Let Mikey go you monsters!!!!!!!!!"  His voice rose to a high pitched shriek as he struggled against the arm lock. 

"OK mister," Joshua said firmly as he twisted him around to face away from the kid.  Turning his back on the pointed gun was not a risk he liked taking, but under the circumstances it was necessary.  In a dangerous, low voice he quietly said to the ragged madman, "You can run away or get seriously hurt.  The boy is staying with his friends.  I will not be so gentle next time.  Go!"  With that he planted his right foot on the man's rump and released the arm bar as he pushed him forward, hard enough to create distance but not so hard as to knock the man over.  Assuming a ready stance that intentionally looked ready to fight, Joshua gave the man a steely stare.  

 The man staggered, trying to catch his balance.  Then he spun and glared at all of them.  Some faint hint of comprehension dawned in the maddened eyes as he stared around at the group.  His despirate eyes sought out Elias for a moment.  "I'll save you Mikey," he choked out, tears joining the rain streaming down his face.  "Somehow I'll save you.  Just don't let them eat you."  The man staggered away, his sobs audible over the rumble of thunder.

Akio setpped forward, drawing attention to himself.  "If I might suggest, it would be best if we found some shelter."  He looked down at his laptop for a moment and shook his head slightly.  "I would recommend you all accompany me."

Barbie looked at Joshua and the mad man for a moment and then nodded her head.  She was always more comfortable when other people told her what to do, so this man's request seemed a good one.  She gave the boy in front of her an absent pet on the head.  "Come with us if you like."

Without taking his eyes off the madman Joshua voiced his agreement.  "There is safety in numbers, and I'd rather we talk more when we're out of plain sight.  You all head out and I'll go last to make sure we're not followed." 

Jeff shook his shaggy head slightly, watching the madman run away.

"Show's over, folks," Jeff said.  "Let's get off the street."  He followed Akio back toward the store.

Michiko walked up to the blond woman and Elias and smiled calmly. She put a firm hand on the young boy's shoulder and began to guide him towards the store. "Again, thank you for looking after Elias-kun but I am responsible for him until his mother or father can be found. You look as if you could use some food and water of course you are welcome to join us "

Barbie eyed the woman skeptically and then the boy, who shrugged lightly.  Deciding that everything seemed okay, the pretty blond fell into step with the rest of them as they made their way towards shelter, looking behind her once to make sure that Joshua was nearby.

True to his word, Joshua kept an eye on the fleeing madman as he watched the group file away.  As he'd done many times before, he took up the rear guard position as they moved forward.  Right now food was sounding really good.