Lieutenant Keiko had spent days tracking down the latest criminal operation, a makeshift drug lab hidden away in the dank recesses of a concrete basement. The faint echoes of bubbling beakers and the acrid stench of chemicals wafted through the air, giving her a clear indication that she was in the right place. She was dressed in a full chemically resistant bodysuit, boots, and gloves, with an air tank strapped to her back connected to a gas mask dangling from her harness.

She took a deep breath and slipped the mask over her face, tightening the straps to ensure no part of her was exposed to potential hazards. She took in the familiar scent of rubber and the taste of pressurized air as she felt a rush of anticipation. This was exactly what she loved about her job, bringing criminals to justice while revelling in her own safety.

Keiko took a moment to appreciate the irony of the situation. Here she was, a trained officer equipped with the best Personal Protective Equipment available, while her target, this amateur chemist, was barely protected in her shoddy makeshift laboratory.

With a decisive motion, Keiko pushed through the plastic sheet door that served as the door to the lab. The moment her presence was known, chaos erupted. The criminal, a disheveled girl in her mid-20s, scrambled to gather her things, but Keiko had other plans. She swiftly deployed a canister of sleeping gas. The dense mist filled the air, enveloping the woman before she could even attempt to flee. In mere moments, she crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Keiko secured the girl’s wrists with sturdy zip ties, dragging her across the cold concrete until she was propped up against the wall in the corner of the lab. The lieutenant took a step back, surveying her handiwork with a smirk. It was time to wake her up for a little chat.
As the chemist came to, her groggy eyes fluttered open, confusion morphing into panic as she realized her predicament. Keiko leaned in, the gas mask obscuring her smile, but the tone of her voice conveyed her amusement.

"Welcome back to reality, Miss Chemist. Let’s cut to the chase. Who are your major distributors?"
Panic flickered in the woman’s eyes, but she quickly faltered under Keiko’s powerful presence. "I-, I can tell you! Just don't hurt me!" she gasped, sweat beading on her forehead. The desperation in her voice was palpable.

Keiko allowed a small smile to show on her features behind the mask. "Well, that was easy. Now, tell me everything, and make it quick."

As the criminal spilled the names of her distributors and details of her operation, Keiko listened intently, mentally cataloging the information for her report. Finally, when she was satisfied, Keiko stepped back, her expression shifting to something colder.
"Excellent," she said, her voice filled with insincerity. "But I think I’ve heard enough. You see, as much as I appreciate your willingness to cooperate, the substances you've been creating here are too dangerous to let you continue."

The woman’s eyes widened in horror as Keiko stepped closer once more. Panic washed over the criminal’s face as she started to piece together what was happening. "Wait, no! You can’t…"
Before she could finish, Keiko swiftly reached for a roll of duct tape. "Oh, but I can.” Keiko deftly placed the duct tape over her mouth, silencing any chance of a scream.

"You make drugs that poison and kill, and I can’t allow that to continue. The only fitting sentence here is death." With each word, Keiko’s resolve hardened. She moved back towards the shelves of chemicals, her eyes scanning for something fitting. "You see, in this lab of yours, you’ve shown me just how little care you took in safety. Both for yourself and for your ‘clients’. And now that will be your downfall."

The criminal's eyes widened in fear as she shook her head frantically, but Keiko simply shook her own head in pity.

“Perhaps you should have thought about the consequences of your actions before you set up shop here,” she said, her voice smooth as she turned on the burner beneath a large Erlenmeyer flask already filled with a toxic mixture of chemicals.

"It’s unfortunate that your little chemistry experiment is about to end this way. But it is time to finish what you started." Keiko said as she started to move about the lab. Gathering various beakers and chemicals, she could add to the flask.

After she added some green granules of unknown origin, the flask began to bubble ominously, releasing fumes that quickly filled the small lab. Keiko feigned surprise. “Oh no! Did I accidentally mix the wrong chemicals? Guess I am not cut out to be an illegal drug chemist like you.” She glanced back over her shoulder, a wicked grin forming behind her gas mask. “But luckily for me, I have some proper PPE to protect me from the fumes. Where is your PPE, Miss Chemist?”

With a flourish, she poured a green liquid into the flask. The reaction was immediate; the concoction sizzled and spat, releasing a thick, noxious cloud that filled the air. Keiko stood back and surveyed her handiwork with a sense of satisfaction. The small basement was filled with a noxious mist that swirled and thickened, the air heavy with the bitter stench of unregulated chemistry gone wrong. Keiko's air tank hissed gently in her ears with every breath she took, keeping her safe even in this toxic environment.

The criminal, on the other hand, was breathing in the toxic vapors. Her eyes widened in horror, and her body stiffened as the effects of the gas took hold. Keiko watched closely, noting the panic that flashed across the woman’s face. Every desperate gasp for breath only drew in more of the deadly gas. "Oh, don't struggle too much," Keiko taunted, her voice steady. "It won't help you now."

The criminal’s face and skin turned a shade of crimson, then a sickly purple as the chemical fumes continued their merciless assault. Keiko leaned in closer, watching the clarity fade from her captive’s eyes, replaced by the glazed expression of another criminal put down.
“Goodbye, Miss Chemist,” Keiko said softly, her tone almost sentimental as she watched the last struggles of the woman. With one final, desperate gasp, the criminal's body fell limp, the fight extinguished forever.

Keiko turned on her heel and walked out of the lab, leaving behind the lifeless chemist. The world was now just a little safer without her.
—
The winner of the previous poll was number 2, featuring Octavia in a hazmat suit dealing with her target in a parking garage.


I want to make this into a short comic, so it will take some time to finish.

This new drawing will also deal with one of the subjects I have put off drawing for a long time, namely, cars and vehicles. So wish me luck :D
Feedback and or art tips are always welcome!