Infinite eclipse of dog days and a zombie
Chapter 1: on the job
Its been a few months since me and Charlotte graduated from IS academy and joined the ISPF (infinite stratos police force) and things are going pretty well...for us at least, no other place in the world has adopted the idea yet, but I'm not really concerned with the politics of it all, just as long as I have a job, nothing else matters. Me and Charlotte arrive at the station at five AM daily, and today was no different, we would usually patrol the streets and get called in to assist the regular police if we were needed, but today, when we arrived, the chief was frantic. "I need people there now, negotiators, swat teams we have to get him back!" I watched a rookie cop trying to calm him get pushed to the ground. "Woah Chief, calm it!" His head snapped in the direction of one of my partners, Suomi Hakaze. "Me and the others will handle it, just tell us what happened." She said sternly as the whole room grinded to a halt.
The Chief took a deep breath "The dealer we just took in...turns out he has friends...they kidnapped him in front of his school..." He had a horrible look of despair in his eyes that I hadn't seen before. "And...you know where they are?" Asks Charlotte. "Maybe, a source of mine tells me there's an abandoned shipping office that seems to have some sort of activity within its fences, but if we show up without their friend, they'll kill him..." Suomi placed her hand on his shoulder. "No matter who the hostage is, we can't give in so easily to such a demand okay? Pull yourself together, we'll save him." The chief nods silently as we leave the building. We took a white van that my other partner, Minami Junpei had re- purposed into a mobile head quarters of sorts. Suomi entered the drivers seat while me, Charlotte, and Minami loaded into the back where the "Mission computer" was located.
"So what is the plan once we get there?" I ask openly. "One person will infiltrate while the others wait outside in case they need back up." Said Suomi from behind the wheel. I could see where this was going. "Let me guess that person is..." "Charlotte." She interrupted me, I guess I was wrong. "Well is it safe? This doesn't sound like its been thought out. Are we just going to pull up and..." "Yes" I'm interrupted again, by Minami this time. "I was able to access the building's electrical grid, and there's no sign of a security system, not even cctv. Can't imagine there would be guards outside either, otherwise they'd have been raided a long time ago." As much as I hate it, I can't argue. I feel Charlotte rest her hand gently on my back. "I'll be fine, Ichika, I promise." I turn to see her smiling at me, and its impossible not to believe her. "Ok, looks like we are here." Says Suomi as Charlotte opens the door. "I'll keep you posted on the radio." And she's gone.
"She Is right Ichika, she can handle herself well, besides, you don't have to worry." Says Minami in her soothing voice. "And if something does go wrong, we can get in there as fast as possible using the double doors on the warehouse building...we are practically right in front of them, so it'll take five seconds maximum with our IS'." I let out a sigh of relief. "Now tell us Ichika..." I hear Suomi's voice from behind me. "why are you so worried all of a sudden? its not like she hasn't been out alone before." I turn to her "Well, we don't know how dangerous these guys are, and she's unarmed." She laughs obnoxiously. "So you just forgot how poorly trained and armed a common gang of drug dealers can be? No I think this is about something else." She looks at me as if she's trying to read my mind. "Even so, what if they catch her off guard and she's unable to use her IS?" She laughs a second time. "There is no way she would let any thug get the better of her like that...try again?" I was starting to feel mocked. Before I could reply the radio crackled on.
"I'm in the offices, I just heard them talking about the chief's son, seems he is on the second floor somewhere, I'll do my best to stay un-seen until I reach the captive." And the sound disappears. "See, not even inside a minute and she's already got his location, now what were we saying?" Suomi continued but I ignore her and turn to the radio. "Ok Charlotte, good work, see you soon." And I turned back. "its...her birthday tomorrow okay? I have a lot of things planned for tomorrow, I even got us permission to take a day off...but she doesn't know yet." Suomi scoffed "First I've heard about this day off. I'm surprised the chief..." Minami interrupts her "Hey! Just forget about rules and stuff for a second ok?" She turns to me "That's really sweet Ichika, we'll get her out safe...I...we promise." This did make me feel much better, but then the radio turns on again.
"I have the captive, but they saw me! I'm heading...uh oh...they have un-registered generation three's, I'm going to need cover!" I resist the urge to say something smart while we all activate our IS'. We enter the building to find Charlotte in the warehouse attempting to dodge a mix of gunfire and lasers from the surrounding IS' and ground troops. "Hurry!" I yell "Her absolute defense won't hold to long! Minami get the ground troops, me and Suomi will disable the IS'." And just like that we spring into action. "Charl here's your opening! Get him to the..." But I stop as I look to the double doors behind us, there is another IS, this one is a melee type. She begins to charge at Charlotte full speed, and I was too far away to stop her. Charlotte raises her shield, but it isn't enough. The force of the blow sends her flying back to the wall behind her, causing her absolute defense to disable. I couldn't tell at the time how much damage she actually took, but I could tell that she was not okay.
She had dropped the Chief's son on her way to the wall, but that was the least of my worries, Charlotte was in danger. The IS was closing in on where Charlotte was sat, with his sword drawn, he didn't even stop to think about the Chiefs son. I rushed toward her grabbing her as I passed, shielding her from any bullets that flew my way. "I'm getting her out of here! Can you two handle this?" "You can't just leave Ichika, we aren't done here!" Responded Suomi, but I didn't have time to deal with her. I turned back towards the door, just barely avoiding the Melee IS' attempt to block me. As I escape from the building, Charlotte begins to speak. "I...Ichika? I feel dizzy..." I see her slowly opening and closing her eyes. "You must have a concussion, you did hit that wall pretty hard...just stay awake okay?" She nods slowly "I'll try...I'm...sorry Ichika, I broke my promise..." I laugh as tears well up in my eyes "No...not at all, you did great, Suomi and Minami will get the Chiefs son back, let's just worry about you for now okay?" She nods again without speaking "I'll get you to a hospital okay?" There's no response, but I continue regardless.
"So how was the security? You have any trouble?" I say in an attempt to keep her occupied. She shakes her head silently. "Of course not, you did a great job in there." I look back down to see her response, but she has her eyes closed. "No. Wake up!" I begin to push my IS to full speed, reaching the doors of the hospital in less than five minutes, I deactivate my IS and rush into the main lobby. "I need help! She's got a concussion!" A nurse quickly rushes towards me and takes her from my arms. "Don't worry Mr Orimura, we'll take care of her, come back tomorrow okay?" And with that, I leave and call Minami. "Ichika." I'm greeted by her soft comforting voice. "We got him back fine, how is she?" I feel somewhat relieved "I don't know, she passed out, but she's in the hospital. I'm heading back to the station." And I hung up.
Back at the station I meet with Minami and Suomi, who look like they had a lot more trouble than they let on. "Sorry I left you guys like that...but..." Minami stopped me "We couldn't have expected you to leave her there like that...its fine." And we went on in silence. All that was left of this was to be debriefed by the chief. We entered his office in a single file line. "Where's Dunois?" Is the first thing he says after looking at us. "Let us explain the events first sir." Suomi said in a sophisticated monotone. And the three of us explained the events in full detail. "Unregistered hm? Can't say I expected that, looks like we'll have to put more focus on the black market. As for Dunois, I'll be sure to get her hospital bills paid, be warned though, the media will be all over this, so be careful who you talk to. That's all, good job today, take the day off as my thanks to you." And we leave his office without a word.
Before leaving, I asked the others to stay for a while so we could talk. "I'll still be taking that day off, I can't imagine I'll be leaving the hospital, I hope you understand." I feel a hand on my shoulder "Of course Ichika...I'm sorry for my behavior earlier, I guess that I got too comfortable with things being so easy..." Says Suomi sincerely. I lift her hand off of my shoulder. "No worries, you couldn't have known." She smiles ."Okay good. Well we will definitely find time to visit her tomorrow too, we promise." And with that, we all leave, I consider myself lucky for not being reprimanded for abandoning them. Upon arriving home, I eat and head straight to bed trying to ignore how early it is. I had almost forgotten what it was like sleeping in an empty home. Sleep doesn't come easy with worries about Charlotte's condition clouding my mind, but I do eventually get to sleep at 10pm, and when I woke, I left immediately for the hospital, after grabbing a few things on my way out.
I was greeted by the same nurse that had taken Charlotte from me yesterday. "Good morning Mr Orimura, follow me." I do as she says. "We x-rayed Mrs Dunois, and found out that not only does she have a minor concussion, but also a few fractured ribs, which should take around three to six weeks to heal, she shouldn't be In much longer." After she finished speaking she pointed at a room. "She's should be awake, I'll leave you two to your business." And she left. I entered the room to see Charlotte starting at the news. "Hey Charl, how are you feeling?" She snapped out of her trance. "Alive, thanks to you, shouldn't you be at work today?" I smiled "No, I have the day off today." She looked confused "Well you didn't have to take the day off just to visit me, the others..." I took a small box out of my pocket and a look of realization crossed her face. "I've had the day off for a while now." I handed her the box. "I didn't think you remembered, but...thank you." She opened the box with trembling hands and covered her mouth in surprise when she saw it. I had gotten the picture of her and her mother shrunken into a locket. "Its beautiful Ichika...thank you so much." I sat down on one of the chairs in the room as she put it on. "Your welcome. We'll celebrate properly once you get out." She smiled and nodded. "I can't wait."
We both turned back to the news that was still playing. "Launch will take place at 3am tomorrow morning, don't miss it." I see a giant ship being displayed on screen and I'm intrigued. "Charlotte, what is this?" She seemed to perk up. "Oh, that's about a ship in Canada that's preparing to launch to mars. Their going to land and find a place to start colonizing." I smile. "That sound's exciting, why don't I stay and watch the launch with you?" She looked surprised. "Until 3am? Would the nurses even allow that? No wait...isn't that too late for you to be staying up." I shake my head with a laugh. "Well we will just have to see right?" As a precaution, I did ask a nurse if I could stay, and surprisingly enough, I was allowed, I guess I could call it a perk of being so well known around here. When I returned to Charlotte's room, I see Suomi and Minami standing at Charlotte's bedside. "...He told us what today was yesterday, so we thought we would do something as well."
Says Suomi in her most sympathetic tone. They turn to me "There you are Ichika, we were about to show Charlotte our gift." I look to the floor between them and notice a large gift basket with the words "get well soon" written on the front. they pick it up and place it on the bed. "Its not much, but I'm sure you'll like it." Says Minami with a smile. "Thanks guys, I'll open it later okay." They both nod as she puts it on her bedside table.
"So I assume everything is fine at the station? I ask hesitantly. "I guess..." Begins Suomi "The chief talked about being fired because of his outburst yesterday, but other than that, nothing out of the ordinary, still, we don't have much time to be here, so we should be leaving." She hugged Charlotte and said goodbye, then approached me and whispered in my ear "She'll be coming back right?" I a genuine look of concern on her face, and I can't help to think that she somehow feels responsible. I nod and she leaves the room, followed by Minami, who gives me a silent wave. "I'm glad they turned out okay, but you know...I'm not deaf." says Charlotte over-confidently. "What was that all about?" I shrug "She is worried about you, I think she might feel slightly guilty for sending you in alone." She nods silently. "Makes sense, but it was me who volunteered after all." She looks saddened, and I place my hand on her shoulder. "Well why not remind her of that next time you see her?" She smiles with a nod, and begins to open the gift basket.
The rest of the day was calm, we spent it chatting and watching the news report unfold. By the end we pretty much saw every single crew member get interviewed by an over excited news caster. It turns out that there would also be a news crew aboard the ship during the launch broadcasting every detail of the journey live to earth using the ship's long range communications, but we decide that the launch is enough. Five minutes before the launch all of the newscasters disappear and all that's shown is the ship and a countdown timer. We hear a distorted voice through a radio doing flight checks, and before we know it, the engines start and the door on the building slowly opens as the after burners glow brighter and brighter. The ship lifts from the ground and begins moving forward while ten seconds still remain. It begins slowly moving outside while the camera follows it, and when the timer hits zero, it zooms off into the sky. I look to see Charlotte's reaction, but to my surprise she is already sleeping. I laugh quietly as I turn the TV off. I listen to the room and notice the slightest hint of a snore coming from her. "How cute." I think to myself as I slowly drift off to sleep.