AN: This chapter will finally weave itself into the first episode. Just bear with the beginning, it might be a little slow. Also, Reina's choice of weapons might be familiar. Dante in Devil May Cry uses two custom Desert Eagles, Ebony and Ivory. Joe Carpenter from Burst Angel or Bakuretsu Tenshi uses two of them. Those are iconic to me, so Reina uses custom ones as well. She also has a favored folding knife in which the blade is curved like a raptor claw. It's called a karambit knife. It's hard to describe, but if you want to find an image of it, type in "mtech knives" or "mtech karambit" into Google images, and you'll know it when you see it. Oh, and anything "bold, italicized, and in quotes"is other people's cybercom communication outside of the Section 9 team, like bad guys.
#03
Official
Reina's very first day at Section 9 focused on getting her settled financially with college tuition and utilities. She had gotten a grand tour of the building from Motoko, and the rest of the day was spent getting to know the building. Batou had also taken Reina to officially meet the Tachikomas, which she instantly fell in love with. The Tachikomas welcomed her excitedly as well since they were all synched and curious about her. The other team members had been surprised to see that Reina had accepted the offer so quickly, but each welcomed her warmly nonetheless. The second day was spent going over the specialized training program, giving Reina a bit of insight on what she will be doing over the next few days.
It was now Reina's third day and the testing of her abilities had begun. The first test focused on her accuracy and marksmanship, and how well she could handle a gun. Saito and Borma gave her several types of weapons to work with, starting from a simple pistol and working her up to the standard issue sub-machine gun. Reina's groupings were tight and almost all hit the bull's-eye with each weapon. Saito then had her use a rifle with a scope, and she had shot through the same hole several times on the bull's-eye. To conclude the test, Borma had set up an area within the shooting range where there were tall pieces of cardboard set up to obstruct the view of the target. Saito wanted to see how Reina could curve a bullet and how accurate one of those shots could be, as well as the limitations of the technique.
Reina had stood in the middle, lined up with the target that was completely out of her view. Before attempting the shot, Reina explained to Saito once more how she could manipulate her body's energy to turn it into a force and project it out through the gun to the bullet. She didn't know exactly what kind of force it was, but she told Saito her best guess was that it was like static electricity and a shockwave from an explosion. After some instinctive guesswork, Reina took the shot, swinging her arm and feeling the familiar shock on her fingertips as she pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the very edge of the bull's-eye without touching any of the cardboard pieces. Saito had her fire off several rounds, making her stand at several different spots to shoot from. Only one of her shots grazed the edge of the cardboard.
"Great. You're just as accurate when you curve a bullet as you are when you shoot normally." Saito commented as he studied the groupings on the targets. But as Borma set up the sub-machine gun and rifle, Reina shook her head. "It only works with pistols and small firearms. I've tried it with a machine gun before and an assault rifle, but it didn't work out well. The bullets still curved, but only slightly."
Saito considered for a moment. "That makes sense. I think the curving technique works just like high accuracy sniping. Your accuracy decreases if you're firing multiple rounds. With a rifle, the weight of the gun forces you to put more energy into the swing rather than the shot. A sniper can only fire off one shot at a time. Small firearms work best for your curving."
"How exactly do you calculate your shot so it can hit the target without hitting anything else?" Borma asked.
Reina shrugged. "I don't really think about it too much. When the target is hidden, I kind of take a guess. When I can see the target but want to hit a point that requires me to curve the bullet, I just focus on it. I think my instincts take care of the rest."
Saito nodded. "Well, you're all done here for now. Did you bring a change of clothes that are suitable for an obstacle course?"
"Yeah. The Major assigned me a locker yesterday, so I was able to bring in some stuff today." Reina smiled. She had already gotten used to calling Motoko and Aramaki by their ranks.
"Good. Go ahead and change. You'll be meeting Batou down at the training field in twenty minutes," Saito said as he and Borma began cleaning up. Reina left the shooting range and headed off towards the locker rooms. So far, these tests aren't bad at all. I think I'm even having fun.
Reina changed from her tube top and jeans to a thick strap white tank top and black sweats that were loose at her ankles. She didn't like wearing sneakers, so she chose to wear black Converse instead. She figured that outfit would suit any gym or training exercise just fine. She then met Batou at the training field. He explained that he would test her combative skills and how she worked in a field situation. Batou had designed a basic test using the training field and a few training androids. Reina would have to maneuver through the field, using a gun that had only three bullets remaining. Her goal was to break into the small building at the end and obtain a red flag. Batou had instructed Reina to use the gun sparingly as he wanted to see how she managed with hand-to-hand combat without shifting into a wolf.
Reina had surprised Batou by completing the course with only a few scratches on her knuckles and with the use of only a single bullet. She had skillfully and hastily taken down each android using a series of kicks and punches. She had outmaneuvered each by approaching from various angles and evading gracefully each time one attacked. Batou noticed she had entered the building in a militaristic way, in which he figured she learned from her previous experience as an unofficial point man. Reina had retrieved the flag within a mere five minutes, running back towards Batou with caution in case she had missed any enemies. When she reached him, she held out the flag and weapon with a grin even though she was breathing hard. "Was that the kind of stuff you were looking for?"
Batou took the items. "Exactly what I wanted to see, Kid. Good job."
Reina let out a long sigh then sat on the ground, still breathing hard. "What time is it?"
"Just after one. Why, got a date?" Batou smirked at her as he emptied the gun and began cleaning up.
"No. I just didn't realize how much time had passed already."
"Time flies when you're having fun." Batou looked down at Reina. "I'll remember to make things harder for you next time. This was obviously too easy for you."
"Not really. I almost fell on my ass a couple times because my shoes have no traction and I was very tempted to shift into a wolf."
"Which I'm surprised you didn't shift. You have more self-restraint than I thought. I'm guessing you only shift when you have no other option, right?"
"Pretty much." Reina looked at the ground. "Though it can happen on accident. But it takes rare situations for that to happen." Reina looked up. "Anyway, is that all I had to do for this test?"
"Yup. You're free to go home."
"Great. That leaves me with a lot of time since I have homework that needs to be done." Reina stood up, brushing herself off. "I'm glad there're showers in the locker room." She then began to walk off.
Batou smirked at her. "You need to invest in some good boots. I doubt Converse were made for stuff like this."
"Don't worry, I'll buy an outfit just for training," Reina said with a chuckle and waved as she left the training field. Batou watched her walk away, and as soon as she was out of sight, he shook his head. She has no idea how well she did. I doubt any exercise could test her full potential. She would have to be defending her life for anyone to see what she's really capable of. I sure am glad she's on our side. VidaTech was close to making the perfect living weapon. Good thing the kid held on to what made her human the whole time.
…...
"So this is kind of like a game?" Reina asked.
"Yeah, you can look at it that way. But you still have to take it seriously," Togusa replied as he finished explaining how the next test was going to work. He had designed a fake murder to test how much training Reina would need with investigation and detective work. Togusa had set it up as realistically as he could. He used one of the spare blank prosthetic bodies they had available at Section 9 as the victim and asked Ishikawa and Paz to participate as a witness and a suspect. Reina was to run an investigation while Togusa would evaluate her technique.
Reina pushed away from the wall she had been leaning on in the hall they met at for her fourth day of training and gave him an assuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll go through it as if it were real." Before either could say anything further, Reina twitched and frowned, looking up at the ceiling.
Togusa was immediately concerned. "What's wrong?"
Reina seemed to be listening for something then she shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just not used to all the different noises here."
"Noises?" All Togusa could hear was a light hum from the lights overhead.
"I'm a wolf, even in human form. I hear things no human or machine could ever hear."
"Even a dog whistle?"
Reina giggled. "Yeah. You have no idea how annoying that whistle is. I bought one last year just for kicks and instantly regretted it."
Togusa was relieved by her smile and the fact that she had an easy going sense of humor. "Do you need to do anything before we start? This might take up most of the day."
"Nah, I'm set. I'm kinda excited too, so let's go!" Reina then began walking quickly down the hall.
Togusa nearly started laughing at her sudden energy. "The victim is the other way." Reina turned quickly, her face slightly pink as she walked beside him. When they reached the fake victim, there was no sign of embarrassment left on Reina. Her attitude had become as professional as it had been when she had faced him and the others in the office building, which Togusa admired for someone her age.
Reina had examined the fake body without missing anything and had questioned Ishikawa and Paz accordingly. After that, she had sat down and spent a half hour sorting through her notes and the fake files Togusa had provided her on supposed past similar cases and information on the witnesses. He watched her write notes and move pieces of information around like a puzzle. Reina then surprised him by smiling and sitting back in her chair and telling him she'd figured it out. She then relayed to Togusa that it was Ishikawa and explained how she came to the conclusion. After she finished she handed Togusa her notes.
"Sorry if my writing is a bit messy."
"No problem. With the way you explained it, it was much more than I was looking for."
Reina stood up and stretched. "Glad to hear that. But I have a question."
Togusa nodded for her to continue as he stood up.
"We won't really be handling investigations alone, right?"
"Right. It's rare when investigations are handled alone. The only situations would either be personal or the other team members aren't available. We're usually put into pairs on assignments."
Reina thought for a moment then looked him in the eye. "In your personal opinion, where would I fit in?"
Togusa stared at her, slightly taken aback by her question. Her expression was serious, but he felt there was something else there. As if the question was really about acceptance. Togusa pushed the thought aside, feeling he was just reading too much into it. "Well, you showed tremendous skill in combat and weapon handling, and the investigation work was great, so I'd say you'd be out in the field with the Major and Batou. However, Ishikawa still needs to test you on your hacking ability, so that'll play a key factor."
Reina nodded. "Right. But I think I'll be in the field, too. After all, the way I can move about the city undetected has to be factored in, too. Anyway, do you need help cleaning stuff up?"
"No, thank you though. I told Ishikawa if you finished early, I would send you over to meet up with him so you could get the hacking test done."
"Okay, I'll head on over then." Just as she was about to walk out the door, Reina paused and looked over her shoulder at Togusa. "I wonder what the chances are of me being partnered up with you?" Before he could reply, Reina smiled and left.
Togusa was once again left bewildered by Reina.
…
The hacking had gone by in three hours. Ishikawa had designed barriers for Reina to tear down, databases to hack into, and one barrier to create. Reina had only gotten up twice for a break. After the last exercise, Reina sat back with a sigh. "Finished. Anything else?"
Ishikawa shook his head, impressed. "No, you're done. I'm guessing you've had to hack into similar things before while you worked with F.E.A.R?"
"Yeah. It was the only way we could get into the VidaTech facility." Reina stood up and looked around with a frown.
"What?"
"Nothing… just thought someone was by the door. I'm probably just tired." Reina and Ishikawa said their good-byes and Reina left to go home.
Motoko continued down a hall that branched off the one that lead to the computer room. Her instincts are sharp. If I had left any later, she would have seen me. She smiled inwardly, proud of Reina's progress. Motoko had been watching her while she went through all the tests. She frowned slightly. If only I could tell her how proud I really am.Motoko paused and looked at her watch. In time… when we're both ready.
…
Two weeks have passed quickly for Reina since she had joined Section 9. She was not only busy with homework and studying, but with training as well. The team had a meeting after the last test and concluded that Reina needed minimal training. She would be focusing on their techniques, how they function during missions and investigations, using the Tachikomas, and working with each team member to get her used to being paired with anybody on the team. Motoko had decided that Reina could fill multiple roles on the team, but she wanted to wait until she had Reina out in the field to see exactly where she excelled. Tonight's little mission will be perfect.Motoko thought as she entered the lounge to find Reina. She paused in the doorway to watch her quietly. Reina sat on the couch with her bare feet up and her computer in her lap. She typed away furiously at an essay, pausing here and there to glance up at the television, which was on low volume to the news channel. Motoko couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "Even after a full day of training, you're still willing to work just as hard on an essay."
Reina turned her head quickly, surprised. "Oh! I didn't know you were there." Reina chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I still have a lot of energy. Training isn't really that tiring and I actually enjoy it. Plus, I've already tried procrastinating, and that only stresses me out, so I keep up with my assignments."
"Do you have enough energy for some free running?"
Reina raised her brows and turned her body to face Motoko. "Yeah. Why?"
"We have a bad guy we need to tail, but quietly, so no vehicles. He seems to be setting up for an assault of some kind using the roof of a building, so after we watch him to find out what's going on, we'll take him down. I want you to accompany me and watch my back. Think you can handle that?"
Reina stood up quickly. "Of course! I'll be ready to go in just a minute."
Motoko waved her hand slightly as she walked towards the hall. "Take your time. Meet me on the roof when you're ready. And don't forget to arm yourself."
"Yes, Ma'am!" Reina quickly put her laptop away and put her boots back on. She stopped by the locker room to grab one of her guns, but paused to stare at it after she opened the door. She would have been using a 9mm if it weren't for her custom Desert Eagles. She had gotten them right after she joined F.E.A.R. They contained larger magazines, so they held fifteen bullets instead of nine and the guns were a darkened silver color. Though the bullets were smaller to accommodate the larger sized magazine, it allowed for Reina to use her bullet curving ability. The bullets were light enough to be manipulated but heavy enough to keep going. She grabbed the one that was specific to her right hand and strapped it on to her upper right thigh. The other gun was designed for her left hand, in which the only difference was that the empty cartridge was expended to the left rather than to the right, away from her body.
Before closing her locker door, Reina eyed her favorite folding knife. It was only in her locker so she didn't have to carry it around work and she usually only left it at home for school. Otherwise, she always had it hidden away in her right boot, just out of sight. It was a large folding knife and the blade was curved and looked similar in shape to the claw of a raptor. The sharp edge was on the inside of the curve and had a half inch serrated area just above the handle. The blade itself was black and the handle was red. She had bought this unique knife when she was in F.E.A.R as well because it reminded her of her own claws. It was deadlier than a normal knife, and also served the purpose as a distraction from her wolf form. If she had cut someone with her claws and they had seen her form, she would immediately shift back with that knife ready, confusing her enemy and making them believe she used the knife and there was no wolf.
Reina quickly placed the knife on the inside of her boot and it rested comfortably on the outside of her calf. Having that knife was somewhat a relief, since bullets were not infinite. As she ran through halls and made her way to the roof, she nearly crashed into Togusa. He was just coming out of a computer room, his attention on his cell phone and Reina had been too excited to hear his footsteps over her own. As soon as they saw each other, both of their eyes widened in surprise. Reina gasped and skid slightly when she tried to stop, but she still managed to bump into him. Even though there was no danger in one of them falling, Togusa had caught her anyway.
Reina stared at her hands, which were flat against Togusa's chest. She then noticed he had his arms around her, as if to protect her from a fall. Reina muttered words of surprise and apology as she pushed away from him and he let her go quickly.
Togusa smiled awkwardly at her. "That was close."
Reina looked at the ground. "Uh, yeah, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have been running. I just couldn't help it. I finally get to do something besides training."
"I heard. You're going with the Major to catch a guy."
Reina nodded. "I'll try not to get so excited next time. That was so unprofessional."
Togusa relaxed slightly and put his hands in his pockets. "Hey, it's okay to get excited about your first assignment. There's nothing wrong with that. Though, instead of running, I suggest taking a deep breath and then walking. After all, when you run, you don't know just who or what you might run in to. Literally."
Reina finally met his eyes with a small smile, her face slightly red. "Thanks, I think I'll do that for now on." She then walked by him.
"Hey, good luck." Togusa said as she walked further away.
Reina turned and waved. "Thanks!" Then she was gone around the corner.
Togusa shook his head and continued walking the other way, smiling.
…
Reina made it to the roof without another run in. She was greeted with the sound of an engine and the gust from a helicopter. Reina walked around the helipad to where Motoko stood with Batou.
"Batou is going up in the chopper as back up just in case." Motoko explained as Reina stood next to her.
"Okay. So what exactly does this guy look like?"
Batou smirked. "Tall and white with dreads, wearing a purple jacket and silver bling. Can't miss him."
Reina giggled. "Sounds like a thug or gangster wanna-be. So when do we start?"
"Right after Batou takes off, we'll start running. We have an approximate location from police authorities. Let's get going before he gets his plans too far into motion," Motoko said as she nodded at Batou. He quickly got into the helicopter to take off while Reina joined Motoko at the edge of the roof. They both stared down at the city, Motoko standing with one foot on the ledge, hands at her sides, while Reina stood with both feet on the ledge and her hands on her hips. Reina then quickly remembered to turn her cybercom active. They then felt the gust change as Batou took off and moved away from them.
I'm ready whenever you ladies are.
Motoko looked at Reina. "Are you ready?"
Reina nodded quietly, her adrenaline already pumping.
"Try to follow me as close as you can. Keep in mind the fact that we need to be stealthy to avoid spooking the guy and blowing the assignment. Choose your moves wisely." Motoko explained.
"I won't disappoint you, Major. Stealth is my specialty, after all," Reina said with confidence and seriousness.
Motoko kept eye contact with Reina only a moment longer then she focused her attention on the city below. She wasted no time pushing herself off the ledge, her arms spread out as she sped towards the city. Reina quickly followed, her body positioned similarly to Motoko's. They landed on the building next to Section 9 at the same time then sped off towards their target. Reina kept pace with Motoko effortlessly, mimicking her movements and only moving out from behind her to take slightly different steps.
Motoko didn't even need to look back to check on Reina. She knew Reina could keep up with her, but she was still a little surprised at how quiet Reina could be. She could barely hear her footsteps. All she heard was a scuff every now and then.
Reina was happy that she was on her first assignment, and even happier that she could accompany Motoko. She had a sense of pride for being able to keep up with her as well.
We're almost at the location. Keep your eyes open for any sign of him. Motoko reported.
Okay.Reina looked around her as they both landed atop a tall building. Before they took off again, Reina stopped. I see someone!
Motoko came to a stop at the ledge then came to stand next to Reina, who was crouched near the other ledge, her focus on the building below. Motoko followed her gaze and spotted the man Reina had seen. He was on the roof of the smaller building below. It was a man with dreads working to strap a device onto an air conditioning unit.
I think he's a cyborg. That's who we're looking for, right?Reina looked at Motoko with hope.
Yes, that's him. Good job.Motoko took out her gun and stood in a relaxed pose on the ledge. I'll go ahead and hack into his communications.
What do you want me to do in the meantime?
Just keep an eye on him and look for anyone else nearby.
Reina nodded and focused her attention on the buildings surrounding them. She stayed crouched out of habit.
Motoko quickly found and hacked into the man's cybercom communication.
"Dread calling Somerset. Sleeping gas injectors now attached to outer walls and rooftop air conditioner."
"Roger. Set it for 0220 hours. Wait for the signal."
The man adjusted the gas injector then looked around behind him for a moment. Reina and Motoko were high enough to be unseen.
All right. I'm heading in. I want you to follow me down then head straight for the gas injector. Do you think you can disable it? Motoko asked, glancing at Reina.
Yeah. And if he runs?
I'll take care of him. After you disable it, I want you to check around for the other devices and anyone else snooping around. If the area is clear of any accomplices, then you can tail us.
Roger.Reina took out her knife and unfolded it then stood up, ready for anything.
Motoko clicked the safety off then pushed herself off the ledge. Reina followed silently. They once again landed at the same time on the roof below where their suspect was at, though Reina more quietly than Motoko. The man turned in surprise while Motoko moved smoothly out of her crouched position. Reina fanned out to Motoko's left, her eyes on the device behind the man. Reina wasn't worried about getting shot at since his attention was on Motoko.
The man only managed to fire off three shots before Motoko flipped and landed on his left arm, breaking it. She then shoved herself off of him, kicking him in the face and landing a few feet away. Reina quickly rushed past and kneeled in front of the device and immediately got to work disabling it. The man shot off another round blindly in shock while staggering back. He glared at Motoko, his nose bleeding. Realizing his left arm was now useless, he ran and leapt to the lower building to the left.
Motoko kneeled on the ledge of another air conditioning unit and took aim. Reina glanced over after cutting the wires to the device to watch. Motoko followed his movements with the gun then fired. Reina heard a thick, wet and metallic sound as the man was hit. Motoko jumped off the roof to pursue him once more. Reina then made her way around the building, hanging off the ledge and finding the other devices. She quickly cut the wires while she listened to the sound of the man being hit once again by Motoko. He screamed and Reina quickly cut the wires to the last device. She then jumped off the roof to where Motoko held the man down at gunpoint. Reina landed smoothly but stood with her hands by her sides, still holding the knife. The man glared at Reina, then looked at Motoko with a sneer.
"You people are cops? There's no hope for justice in our system now!"
Motoko held her gun steady at his head. "Straighten up your own act before whining about the world. Or if that's too much, wear a blindfold, zip your mouth, and live in a cave. Or the alternative…" She then pressed the gun to his temple.
Reina watched in curiosity, but then began to worry as she saw Motoko's finger begin to tighten on the trigger.
Major.Aramaki's voice then came across both Reina and Motoko's cybercoms. Motoko relaxed her grip and Reina sighed in relief. Reina knew he was a bad guy, but to her, killing him might have been just a little too far in this situation. Assemble the team with an A2 load out. Location 82-D3.
Batou, you copy that?Motoko asked. Reina then turned and looked to the left as she heard the rumble of a helicopter. The night was suddenly bright with the lights from the helicopter as Batou hung out of it.
Yup, loud and clear.
Reina then looked to the right as another helicopter arrived. A few members of the local police jumped out and approached Motoko. "We'll take it from here."
She nodded and put her gun away while the others took the man into custody. Reina put her knife away and approached one of them. "There are three disabled gas injection devices on the roof of the building next door and at least one other accomplice."
"Thank you. We'll be sure to check for more and track the others down." The man walked away.
Motoko put her hand on Reina's shoulder. "Let's hitch a ride with Batou. We need to get back to Section 9 in a hurry so I can show you how to suit up."
Reina nodded and followed Motoko to the ledge. Motoko jumped into the helicopter effortlessly while Batou helped steady Reina by holding her arm and guiding her inside when she wobbled slightly on the ledge.
Batou smirked. "Gotta get used to jumping in and out of aircraft, Kid."
Reina shrugged off his hand gently. "I will, eventually." Batou gave her a smile then went up front to pilot. Just as Reina was about to sit down she felt a heavy tap on her shoulder. She turned and was surprised to see a Tachikoma standing before her.
The Tachikoma waved its claws excitedly. "Rei-Rei! Did you have fun on your first assignment? I bet it was exciting being paired up with the Major! Or was it scary? Were you scared?"
Reina smiled. She had told the group of Tachikomas after training one day to call her by her nickname, Rei, instead of Miss Reina. But after a few days, the nickname evolved into a kind of pet name, Rei-Rei. But she didn't mind. "Nah, I wasn't scared at all. It was really exciting. I had fun free running with the Major."
The Tachikoma held up its claw to Reina's face, as if to point. "Don't lie! Mr. Batou and I were watching. You got scared when the Major was holding down the bad guy!"
Reina pursed her lips. She hadn't realized how close the helicopter really was, or how obvious her emotions were. She then felt a comforting hand on her shoulder as Motoko stood next to her.
"Don't worry, I wasn't really going to shoot him. It was simply a scare tactic."
Reina smiled slightly. "Not to mention you were enjoying yourself."
Motoko shrugged and offered a smile. Reina relaxed, now feeling the whole thing was no big deal, and she sat down next to the Tachikoma. She thought for a minute then looked up at the tank. "My first assignment isn't technically over yet, you know."
The Tachikoma gasped. "That's right! You're going with all of us for your first field mission!" The Tachikoma then looked at Motoko. "Oh, Major! Can Rei-Rei please be paired with me and Mr. Batou? Please? I promise I'll look after her!"
Reina shook her head. She somehow felt like a pet dog.
"We'll see. I still have to find out what we're dealing with."
…
Reina fidgeted as she stood against the wall of the Section 9 van as they headed towards the geisha restaurant. She flexed her fingers and swayed her hips slightly, trying to get used to her new outfit for field missions. She frowned at the tightness all around her body.
It made her feel even more awkward when she joined the rest of the team when they were ready to go, all suited up. Even though mostly everyone was wearing the same thing, except for Paz, Borma, and Aramaki, Reina was slightly shy since the majority of the team was male. She had no problem with the dark gray vest with armor and the pants and boots. She even had the vest zipped down to the middle of her chest. She didn't want to wear it zipped all the way down like Motoko, though. However, it was the light gray suit underneath that made her feel strange. She had never once worn a skin tight suit before. While she was putting it on, Motoko had told her to leave her panties on, which were black short hipster boy shorts, since they wouldn't show anyway. But Motoko had also said not to wear the bra Reina had brought as a spare, explaining that the suit would give plenty of support for Reina's 36C breasts. Reina was unsure at first then realized after the suit was on that it fit around her chest like a tight sports bra.
But it still made Reina feel exposed to everyone since the tightness left nothing to the imagination. Luckily, everyone on the team was a respectable adult and none of them stared, though she was sure a few snuck a glance when she walked by to get into the van.
Reina touched her gun, which was strapped to her belt on the middle of her lower back, to get used to where it was as well as her knife, which was attached to her right hip on her belt. She then leaned back against the wall and fidgeted her fingers a little more.
Togusa looked at her, standing against the opposite wall. He had just finished re-checking his Metaba revolver and put it away. He knew she was uneasy as soon as he saw her earlier. He did his best not to stare, which was a little easier than he thought since he was used to working for a woman who wore revealing clothing daily. But he couldn't help stealing a glance like everyone else. He then offered her a comforting smile. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it once you start moving around."
Reina looked at him and nodded, her face slightly pink.
Took me quite a while to get used to the suit, too. It's not easy going from ranger cargos to tights.Batou said in a light tone. He was following the van in the Tachikoma.
Reina giggled. "I bet. At least they're kick ass tights, right?"
Right.
I think Rei-Rei and the Major wear the suits very well! It compliments their curves!The Tachikoma added happily.
Reina shook her head, embarrassed.
Motoko glanced back at her and Togusa. "Enough with the idle chatter. We're about to get out and move into position."
Reina glanced at Togusa, who shrugged and moved towards the door.
The van then stopped and Reina, Togusa, Motoko, and Ishikawa got out of the van. They were parked around the back of the restaurant. Motoko signaled everyone to start moving into position. Togusa and Ishikawa headed off to go underneath the restaurant to get to the wires and connections. Motoko headed off to one side while Reina jumped onto the round top of the Tachikoma Batou was piloting to hitch a ride. Motoko had assigned her to stick with him until they entered the restaurant.
Got a good grip, Kid?
Yeah, I'm ready.Reina replied as she crouched and hung on to the Tachikoma's antennae. They headed towards the restaurant then leapt up to perch on the tall wall surrounding it. As Batou climbed out of the Tachikoma and crouched next to Reina, they listed to their cybercoms.
Major.Aramaki spoke through a phone.
Almost there.Motoko reported as she ran to her position.
The military is itching to jump in. Watch your back.Aramaki warned.
Thanks for the concern. Batou. Reina.
Reina and I are still en route. That explains the interference I picked up when I was listening in on the sniper team.Batou glanced at Reina as he held his machine gun ready. "If you don't feel ready for this, you can stay with the Tachikoma.
Reina smirked. "No way. I'm more than ready."
Batou was impressed by her confidence. "All-righty. Let's get going."
Reina then followed him as he jumped from the wall to the roof, getting into position to storm the building. Reina crouched and moved silently to another side. The plan was for her, Motoko, Togusa, and Batou to storm in towards where the hostages were being held, covering all sides.
Motoko continued her check on everyone's position.Togusa. Ishikawa.
Ah, damn it. There's just too many channels. This is going to take a couple of hours to pinpoint.Ishikawa reported, frustrated.
Togusa, go to the main courtyard and get ready to storm the place.
Copy that. Togusa replied.
Motoko finally reached her position behind a tree. Saito.
I've neutralized the image curtains, but all those trees down there limit my firing field. Saito reported.
Paz. Borma.
Ready when you are.Paz reported.
Whoever's controlling the geisha robots ought to be nearby. Don't shoot the power transformer. I'll upload a virus before he can wipe the evidence. Motoko ordered.
Reina glanced at Batou as he grinned. But Major? What if the robot geishas demand a pay raise?
Reina tightened her lips to keep herself from giggling while Batou shrugged at her, as if to say it could happen.
Togusa spoke up sternly. Knock it off.
Reina looked away, smiling. Even though she was still new to Section 9, she was really getting to know all of her fellow team members, especially Batou and Togusa since she spent the majority of her time training with them. She enjoyed being around them because they made her laugh. They were always poking fun at each other and even though Togusa was younger, he scolded Batou like an older brother while Batou acted like a younger brother. Even though they wouldn't utter a word of it, Reina knew that deep down the two men were close friends.
The rest of her time was spent around Motoko, either helping out or learning. She would hang out with the others as well every once in a while. She enjoyed everyone's company. Reina was brought back to reality as Motoko spoke and reported to Aramaki. All personnel in position. Standing by.
Right. You're on!Aramaki ordered.
Go! Motoko ordered as she ran out of her position and headed into the restaurant while activating her optical camouflage.
Reina sensed the movement of Motoko and Togusa around the other side of the restaurant. She glanced over at Batou as he hung upside down to make sure it was clear then dropped down below. She heard him activate his optical camouflage. Reina activated hers and quickly sniffed the air for any scent aside from her fellow team members'. When there was no one else near, she got her gun ready and dropped down and entered a room through an open sliding door. She then followed her nose and the sounds of the faint struggle of the hostages. She stepped quietly past broken doors and debris, her adrenaline pumping. She could tell Motoko and Togusa were close by and Batou was only few feet away from her by their scent. None of them made a sound as they moved closer to the geishas and hostages.
Reina peeked around the corner to look down the hall and spotted one of the geishas. Reina wasted no time and swung her arm to curve the bullet. The bullet went through the right temple and out the left of the geisha, white blood spraying. The hostage panicked slightly as other precision shots were fired. Reina quickly deactivated her camouflage and shoved the broken geisha away from the hostage. She then grabbed him gently by the elbow and sat him down against a wall. The man blinked at her with hazy eyes. "Are….are you an angel?" He slurred.
Reina sighed, annoyed. They must have been having one hell of a party. Before she could reply, her attention was caught by Motoko struggling to get a twitching and sparking geisha off of another man. She then followed Motoko's alerted gaze to a man further ahead who was about to be killed by a geisha's tightening grasp as it broke down.
Reina quickly got up and shouted. "Go! I've got this one!"
Motoko didn't even glance back at her. She rushed towards the geisha while firing, completely destroying the head. Reina quickly holstered her gun and took out her knife. She stabbed the geisha in the back of the neck and yanked the curved blade to the side, completely severing all of the connections to the brain. The geisha went limp and Reina quickly got the man out of its arms. She sat him against the wall next to the man she saved earlier and quickly stood up a watched as Motoko hastily connected to the remnants of the other geisha's neck. She then relaxed as she looked to the right, the tracer virus working its way to the culprit.
After a moment, Motoko shoved the geisha off of the man. Paz, Borma. Track the tracer virus.She then looked up. Batou, you're on backup.
Reina followed her gaze to where the familiar scents were coming from. Togusa deactivated his camouflage while Batou kept his on.
Batou sighed. Ah, music to my ears. He then pat Togusa on the shoulder and walked away.
Motoko stood up and looked at Reina. "Check the geishas to make sure they're completely inactive."
Reina nodded as she put her knife away and kneeled by the closest one. She touched the skin and examined the body, watching for any signs of electrical sparks. She quickly moved onto the next when she felt no electricity tickling her fingers.
Togusa walked slowly down the hallway towards the remaining men to help them. Motoko spoke as she moved quickly. "Togusa, look alive!"
Reina glanced up, confused by the comment as she saw Togusa hustle to the men to aid them. He gave her a quick glance, as if he felt her gaze, which wouldn't surprise her considering what she was. She then offered a small smile then moved on to the next geisha.
Motoko reported to Aramaki as she approached the wounded woman by the restroom. Chief, the scene is secure. One female hostage needs immediate medical attention for severe wounds.She glanced into the restroom. One male, early thirties, confirmed dead from head trauma.She then looked to her right. Batou and the others are pursuing the perp.
Good. Bring the Minister and the others out. Be extremely careful. I have four vans and a tent corridor waiting for you at the entrance. Move them under B6 guard protocol.
Roger.Motoko kneeled beside the wounded woman to examine her wounds more closely.
Reina moved quietly past Togusa to check the last geisha body while he helped the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Reina glanced up to watch for a second. She admired his calm demeanor while taking care of the hostages. It reminded her of how calmly he spoke to her when she was telling him her story.
"Can you walk, Minister?" Togusa asked as he knelt beside the Minister, his hand on the man's back.
The Minister stood up with only a slight wince. "Yes. We owe you our lives. Thank you." He then began to walk away.
Reina frowned. He doesn't seem as traumatized as the others. And that reply was a bit odd… Reina then stood up, having finished checking all of the geishas. She looked at the other hostages. Or maybe I'm just not used to hearing such words after a mission. After all, this is the first time I've ever really…saved someone. Reina then noticed Togusa stare at the Minister as well, but then he quickly got up to walk with him, as if he pushed any thoughts aside. Reina watched as they walked down the hall, only pausing for the Minister to pick up a large metal briefcase. She turned and looked at Motoko, who seemed to have been watching too. They looked at each other, but before either could comment, a weak voice spoke up, drawing both of the women's attention to the remaining hostages.
It was the man Reina had first rescued. "Two angels. You two are angels. I know it," he slurred happily.
Reina sighed impatiently and Motoko merely stood and pat her back lightly. Reina looked at her and noticed that she was almost as tall as Motoko. She was only shorter than Motoko by an inch. To notice such a thing at a time like this…
Borma then began speaking. Major, the target's a cyborg. I'm searching for records, but there's no match on it yet.
Don't kill him until you find out who he was waiting for. She ordered
Batou then spoke. Borma, I'm almost at your location.
Roger. Don't run out into traffic.Borma stated seriously.
I'll look before crossing, Mom.Batou replied sarcastically. Tachikoma, where the hell are ya?
Reina looked at Motoko with a worried expression when there was no response. Motoko nodded. "See if you can track the Tachikoma down. If you find it in time, hurry over to Batou's location for backup." Reina nodded and quickly ran out of the hall and jumped out an open window.
Batou, I sent Reina out to track down the Tachikoma. She'll join you when she finds it.
Roger. Kid, I'm not doubting you, but how can you track a tank?Batou asked as Reina sniffed the air and jumped the tall outer wall.
Just like I would track anyone or anything else. By scent. You may not be able to smell it, but that certain Tachikoma smells different from the others. It's a very unique smell to my sensitive nose, so it'll be easy to track.She paused to sniff the air again when she climbed up a small building. She then rushed off sprinting towards the scent that was becoming increasingly stronger. In fact, I'm close. We'll be at your location soon.
Roger.
Reina then spotted the blue tank rolling hastily towards Batou's direction, as if it had realized where it was supposed to be. Reina shook her head and jumped off the building when she was parallel to the Tachikoma and landed on the round top.
The Tachikoma gasped in surprise but kept rolling since it recognized Reina. "Rei-Rei! Did you lose Mr. Batou, too? I went to go look at an interesting machine then before I knew it, he was far away!"
Reina frowned as she crouched and hung on to the Tachikoma's antennae. "I think if you hadn't wandered off, you wouldn't have lost sight of him. We're on a mission, remember?"
"I know. But it was so interesting…" Reina raised her brow as the Tachikoma looked at her. Her expression was nearly that of scorn. The Tachikoma looked forward once more. "Uh, we're getting close to Mr. Batou's location."
Reina looked forward as well and took out her gun, clicking off the safety.
Reina heard a grunt not too far away that sounded like Batou and a loud screech as a car came to a quick stop. She then spotted up the street Batou on the ground, holding the suspect down in a head lock while Paz and Borma quickly got out of the yellow car and aimed their weapons at him. The Tachikoma rushed up and stopped a few feet away. Reina jumped off and aimed her weapon at the man as well.
Batou looked at the Tachikoma. "Damn it! What took you so long?" The Tachikoma seemed to scratch its round top with its claw, as if embarrassed and didn't reply. Batou then turned his attention to the man he had in a headlock with an intimidating frown. "Ready to give up now?"
Reina grew concerned as the man looked at her with a smirk and grin. She was startled as she felt a wave of electricity emit from him. Suddenly a spark lit off from the back of his neck and he twitched violently. He then went limp as smoke drifted from the back of his neck. Batou released his headlock and looked quizzically down at the back of the man's neck. The device that connected onto both sides of his neck continued to spark and smoke. Borma looked at Paz questioningly but Pazu just shrugged.
Reina recognized the device as she and her friend Ami engaged in an interesting conversation about it once before. She put her gun away and kneeled beside Batou as he looked up with an embarrassed grin. "I think he broke."
"In a way, yeah. He nearly committed suicide." Reina stated as she touched her fingers to the device. The last spark danced across the bottom of her fingertips, causing them to tingle. Reina glanced up then explained further when no one spoke. "This thing is used to manually wipe out your memory. But you risk completely frying your brain and dying."
Batou shook his head as he stood up. "Well I'll be damned. The risks people take these days to keep secrets."
Reina stood up and put her hands on her hips. "For him to go to such lengths, it must have been worth it." She stared down at the man. It must have if you were willing to throw everything away.
…
It was 5:50 am when Reina parked her motorcycle in the underground parking garage. She had gone home around 11:00 the previous night when there had been nothing else she could help out with. She had been happy to change back into her strapless top with support sewn into it that was like a bra. She was also happy to have her comfortable black jeans on, though she had to admit she didn't mind the suit so much anymore. It really was comfortable while maneuvering during free running and the material was silent.
Reina yawned as she walked through the halls. Though she had slept well, she still wasn't quite used to waking up early in the morning. Her usual time was around 6:30 or seven for school. But she was slowly starting to adjust to it, even if the times she had to come in varied between four and six. Motoko had called her to ask her to come in to work to help out with the continuing investigation and Reina didn't mind at all since she was off of school for the day.
Reina went into the locker room to put away her helmet and black leather jacket and got a cup of coffee on her way out. The only plan she had so far was to stop by the interrogation room to see if Batou had made any progress with the man, though she doubted it. He must be like a completely different person now.She thought idly as she walked down the hall. She could hear the faint sound of gunfire as she headed towards the indoor shooting range. Someone's hard at work already. She then paused just before she reached the door as she heard a voice.
"…What a waste of the money. If you need to rush here for target practice whenever there's a mission, I'd recommend you get a prosthetic body."
Though Reina knew it was horrible to eavesdrop, she couldn't help it, especially when it was Motoko talking. Reina was interested in every word she said as the woman was still a complete mystery to her. And Reina had to admit she kind of looked up to her.
"You're telling me I should become a cyborg, too?"
Reina raised her brows. Now she was very interested in what was going on since it was Togusa as well. Target practice this early? That man is dedicated.
"Well, it's just a suggestion. I'm not trying to order you around. You were on top of your game last night with first rate sharp shooting. But if you're afraid that an armor piercing bullet will go through the target to the hostage, you've got to think on your feet and make a judgment call." Motoko paused then continued, her tone still light. "That 9mm, you had it with you, right?"
There was another pause then Reina heard her sigh. "C'mon now, Togusa, why do you think we hired you away from Police HQ? If you've got the time to be depressed, why not grace us with your special talents?"
Reina sipped her coffee. Harsh, but at the same time, thoughtful. Reina figured Togusa thought the same thing since he was silent and she didn't sense any extreme change in emotion from either of them.
"Better get ready, we're going to find out precisely what happened there. We'll investigate the ten or so minutes before we infiltrated the restaurant." Reina then heard Motoko's footsteps coming towards her as she was leaving the room.
Reina's heart raced, but she just closed her eyes and sipped her coffee once more, ignoring the childish fear that seemed to still reside within her. The fear of being in trouble. She shut her eyes even tighter, trying not to follow her thoughts. The fear of being beaten then…
"I was hoping to run into you soon."
Reina's eyes shot open as Motoko stood before her. Reina stared at her quizzically. "I swear those few seconds felt like eternity."
Motoko raised a brow at her. "Was my chat with Togusa really that quick?"
"What? Oh. No, not really. Sorry, I didn't mean to listen. I was just on my way to see Batou." She saw Motoko's gaze on her hands. Reina noticed she was still holding her cup with both hands, but they were trembling. Reina quickly cleared her throat. "You were just coming from there, right? Any progress?"
Reina thought she saw sadness flicker across Motoko's face, but it was gone so quickly she wasn't sure she even saw it.
"No, I wouldn't bother checking unless you just want to visit Batou. The man's memories are completely wiped out and he won't say a word."
Reina shook her head. "It just doesn't make sense to me. Risking your life, for what? Infamy?"
Togusa then come out of the shooting range with a light red duffle bag. "Could be infamy, could be money. Could be a number of things. But now we'll never know. At least, not from him."
Reina stared curiously at the duffle bag. He knew what she was looking at and smiled. "Kanna, my younger sister, got me this as a present last year. I figured I'd be able to get good use out of it here."
Reina returned his smile. "Yeah, I bet you do since you seem to practice early in the morning."
Togusa shrugged.
Motoko watched their exchange with curiosity. "Togusa, why don't you take Reina with you to the restaurant. It'd be good hands on experience for her." She then looked at Reina. "Last night, you got to experience working in the field. Now I want you to experience an investigation."
"Sure. But I don't have to run around town in the suit, right?"
"Maybe later, you might. Depends on what we find. Be prepared to wear it at any time." Motoko then began walking away, but paused to glance back at Reina, her face now serious. "Reina… talking helps ease many anxieties, some you might not know you even have. You know you are more than welcome to talk to any of us. We'll happily lend you an ear." She then walked down the hall.
Reina swallowed hard, knowing Motoko had seen her fear. Togusa glanced at Motoko's back, then at Reina with concern. "Is something wrong?"
Reina stared after Motoko only a moment longer. She saw right through me.She then looked up at Togusa and quickly shook her head. "No, not at all. I think she was just giving me advice." She then offered a weak smile. "Anyway, I knew I'd get paired with you eventually."
Togusa smiled, regardless of his increasing concern for Reina. "Yeah. I'm just going to stop by the lockers then I'll meet you down at the garage."
"Sure. I wanted to stop by and say hi to Batou, though. I think he's really embarrassed about the whole situation with the guy erasing his memories. Though I don't see how that's any of Batou's fault."
Togusa shrugged. "It's a guy thing."
Reina rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. I'll see you in the garage." She then walked by him and he began walking the other way towards the locker room.
Togusa couldn't help glancing back at Reina as he walked to make sure she really was all right. Even if Motoko was just giving Reina advice, Togusa knew there was something going on. Whether it was just Reina or something between the two women, it was deep. And he wished he could help, even if it was just by simply listening to what Reina had to say. It would make him feel like he was doing something rather than just watching her suffer silently. Even though he hasn't known her for long, he saw Reina as a close friend since he's been spending almost every day with her, training and passing time.
But last night brought up a strange conflict for him. Usually, when he looked at Reina, he saw a strong and light hearted nineteen year old college girl who wants to be successful while having fun. But when she told him her story and just a moment ago, he saw her as a fragile woman who had deep scars and fought day in and day out to keep her life stable. Togusa shook his head. He wondered if anyone else was having trouble deciding who Reina was. A college girl or a woman? Tough or fragile?
Unbeknownst to Togusa or anyone else, Motoko was going through a similar struggle.
…
Reina stared out of the window of the car at the passing buildings as she idly thought of some stores she wanted to visit that were nearby. She then glanced over at Togusa. To her, it actually wasn't awkward being in such a small space alone with him since she had spent a lot of time with him in the computer room. She was actually excited. Not only about working with Togusa, but doing some investigation work for the first time. Togusa then glanced at her, catching her gaze.
"You did really well last night, by the way."
Reina stared at him. "Really?" When he nodded, Reina smiled. "Thanks, that means a lot to me."
"You did well with the Major before that, too. Batou wouldn't stop talking about how easily you kept up with her and how fast you were able to disable all the gas injection devices."
Reina grinned. "I'm glad you all think I'm doing good. I was kind of nervous last night before we started. I'm not used to hostage rescue missions."
"You handled yourself very well. And I was impressed by your accuracy with the curving technique. It's a safe way to disable a target while keeping the hostage's life out of danger."
Reina thought back to the conversation he and Motoko had earlier in the morning. "I'm amazed at your accuracy, too. When I held your Metaba at the office building, I wasn't sure if I should've just left it. It's a heavy revolver, a gun I wouldn't be able to curve as accurately as my Desert Eagles."
Togusa smiled, a little uplifted by her compliment. "Thanks."
As Reina looked out the window, she realized they were pulling into the restaurant's parking lot. She leaned forward and checked to make sure the knife clipped to the inside of her boot was secured as well as the gun strapped to her right thigh. They parked as close as they could to the entrance. As they walked towards the marked off doors, Togusa glanced at Reina. "You remember the basics?"
Reina nodded. "Yeah."
"If you're unsure, just follow me. I'm positive you'll pick up on something, even if you don't realize it right away."
Reina couldn't help feeling happy about his confidence in her. Just as they were about to enter, Togusa took off his shoes and Reina stared at him, puzzled. When he looked back at her from a foot inside the restaurant, waiting, Reina groaned in realization. "Damn it. I keep forgetting. It's customary to take your shoes off inside most places." She shook her head as she took off her tall boots. "Even my friends have to constantly remind me of it. You'd think that after two years I'd finally figure it out."
Togusa offered her a smile as he stood with his hands in his pockets. "You did grow up in a completely different country. You can't blame yourself for being used to American customs and not being able to easily remember Japanese customs. And it's not that big of a deal. Even I forget every once in a while."
Reina glanced at him with a smile, feeling better. She then took her knife out of her boot and clipped it to the front of the top of the two straps that held her gun. She then stepped into the restaurant in front of Togusa. She glanced down then smiled.
"What?" Togusa asked her curiously.
Reina then pointed at their feet. "Twins."
Togusa looked down and noticed they were both wearing black socks. He sighed and shook his head. "You've been around Batou and the Tachikomas too much. Let's get to work." He walked off, though not impatiently. He just couldn't bring himself to get impatient or annoyed with her playfulness as he would with Batou's jokes. Because Reina's humor is just that; girlish playfulness.
Reina kept pace behind him, silently grinning. After a few paces though, Reina's grin faded as she began glancing into the rooms as they passed them, looking for any sign of anything. She sniffed the air every now and then, though she soon found it wasn't worth it. The only scents she could pick up now were faint foods, the stale white android blood even though it was cleaned, and the police who have been in and out.
She had to start walking to Togusa's right since walking behind him only allowed her to catch most of his scent and little of the lingering ones surrounding them. Though she couldn't complain when she did walk behind him. To her, his scent was nice to be around. When she first met him, she had no idea he was even all natural because being near Batou masked it. Batou smelled of metal and oil, like a Tachikoma, as well as some strong cologne. But Reina finally caught his scent when they sat alone together while she worked on the detective test Togusa had set up for her. She remembered only pausing for a second, thinking oh, so that's his scent then getting back to work. But now that she's been around him longer, it became somewhat of a comfort to her and a scent she could pick out of any crowd. His scent was light and reminded her of a fresh breeze with something that she related to autumn and his cologne was so subtle that it complimented rather than covered.
Reina shook her head and forced her focus back on reality. After passing a couple of other rooms, they finally reached the hall that lead to the restroom. Togusa saluted the officer standing guard as he passed him while Reina nodded. The guard returned the salute to Togusa then nodded with a sweet smile to Reina. She nearly rolled her eyes as she followed Togusa. He paused briefly to look down at where the shape of the secretary's body was marked with white tape then climbed through the yellow tape, careful of his step.
Reina glanced down as well, seeing a vision of the woman's body and blood flash before her eyes. Reina clenched her teeth, hoping the woman was still alive, or Reina would be seeing more than just a vision. She then climbed through the tape and looked at where the shape of the deceased man's body was also marked with white tape. She remembered Motoko had said that the brain components didn't match up with what he was supposed to have.
Reina frowned then stood next to Togusa as he looked surprised. Reina looked around then noticed what caught his attention. The restroom was large and was set up like a garden. Reina chuckled. "No matter how fancy you make it, you still can't cover up what it is."
Togusa looked at her but she just shook her head. "You don't want to know."
Togusa shrugged then focused his attention on the mirror. Meanwhile, Reina walked slowly through the restroom, trying to figure out just where the Minister could have been just before the attacks started, doing her best not to focus on scent. As she looked around, she glanced back at Togusa and saw him crouching, completely focused on the mirror. Reina raised her brow curiously at him as he glanced around the mirror, looking at her reflection now and then. She figured he was thinking something out, so she didn't bother him. She then walked back to the entrance where the body markers were, then looked back at the restroom. Reina recalled from the video that she stood approximately where the secretary stood when she saw something and became frightened. Reina stood with her hands on her hips. She thought back to the events of last night, particularly when Togusa helped the Minister.
She frowned as she mumbled aloud, not knowing if Togusa was listening or not. "The Minister's reaction was weird. He didn't stammer like the others." She then glanced at Togusa, who, to her surprise, was looking at her as she shared her thoughts.
He nodded. "I thought the same thing. Almost as if it were a planned reaction, right?"
"Right." Reina watched him look back at the mirror. She then realized he was accessing data.
After a few seconds, Togusa startled her by suddenly standing. "I've found something!" Major! There was a report that the Minister is into body swapping with geishas, right?
Motoko responded immediately. Right. Your point?
What if somebody switched the Minister's braincase? If our perpetrator is after the Ichinose Report, then he would need the outward appearance of the Minister. Are you following yet?
There was a long pause as Reina guessed Motoko and Aramaki were deciding what to do. She then smiled at Togusa. "That was fast. You didn't even need me here."
Togusa shook his head. "I did, actually. You confirming my suspicions about the Minister encouraged me to look back at his strange behavior and the case." He then walked, placing a hand on Reina's upper back to guide her out. "And you're not here just to help, remember? You're here to learn, too, so don't feel like you're not contributing. You're putting in much more than you know."
Reina considered his comment as a compliment. She then picked up her walking pace after they passed the guard in the hall, feeling strange when Togusa had left his hand on her back. Too warm."So what's next?"
"Most likely arresting the Minister. Though how exactly is up to the Chief." Togusa felt foolish when she walked ahead of him and his hand slid off her back. Shouldn't have touched her…
Reina glanced back crooked grin. "So this is how investigations usually run?"
"Not as fast as this, but yes." He watched her nod and continue walking ahead towards the entrance. Before he could say anything Motoko came over the cybercom with orders.
Batou, emergency mobilization, L2 load out! Get Saito, Togusa, and Reina then head for the airport.
Roger. Togusa, stay put at the restaurant. It'll be faster than you driving all the way back. Reina, there'll be a spare suit ready for you in the tilt-rotor.Batou said as Reina paused just as she was about to put her foot in her boot. She set her foot down and picked up her boots instead.
"No point in putting them back on." She looked at Togusa as he put his shoes back on. "Though I'm assuming you get to keep yours on. As well as your clothes."
Before Togusa could reply, Reina frowned as she looked up. Hey, there's at least a space I can change privately in, right?
In the Tachikoma.Batou replied.
Reina sighed as she could practically hear Batou's laugh. Seriously.
Yeah, there's a small room in the back. Though we'll be using optical camouflage anyway, so why not just go commando?
Reina smirked. I still have some dignity and modesty.
Is that what you call it?
Togusa spoke up as Reina was thinking of a reply. All right, children, settle down. We've got work to do.
She asked for it.Batou added quickly before focusing on work.
Reina grinned, her fangs showing slightly as she looked at Togusa. "But he kept it going."
Togusa was shocked by the appearance of her fangs, which were longer and slightly larger canines. Reina noticed his reaction and looked at him apologetically. "Sorry, they're noticeable when I smile a lot. Does it creep you out?"
"Not really. I was just a little surprised. It's the first time I've seen them." Togusa explained as honestly as he could.
Reina nodded. "Yeah. I try to hide them as much as I can so my friends don't find out about what I am. Or anyone else, for that matter. But sometimes, I just can't help it. Like when I'm in a good mood or excited. Or really mad." Reina paused then looked Togusa in the eye. "But you'll probably see them more often since everyone knows. I'm sure it won't be so shocking later."
"I'm sure, since you tend to smile a lot."
Reina blinked. "I do?" Togusa nodded in response. Before Reina could respond, the noise of the tilt-rotor roared nearby, and Reina turned to see it approaching. "They got here faster than I thought."
"That's emergency mobilization for you." Togusa remarked as Reina continued to watch the tilt-rotor. She must be hiding a lot more than I thought. I wonder what other characteristics she has that hint at her wolf side…
…
After they had picked up Motoko and Aramaki on the way, the team headed quickly for the airport. Reina stood ready by the large sliding door, securing her Desert Eagle to her back gun holster. Motoko had told her to stick with her gun rather than a machine gun like her and Batou just in case they needed Reina to use her bullet curving ability. She was excited to be once again paired with Motoko and Batou. Though I still enjoyed Togusa's company.She glanced at him as he discussed with Aramaki how they were going to approach the Minister. Motoko then walked over to her, Batou behind her.
"We're almost there. You're comfortable enough in the suit to make it past everyone silently, right?"
"Yeah. I'm actually really starting to appreciate this suit." Reina smiled as Motoko nodded.
Reina's adrenaline started to pump as she felt the tilt-rotor descend. She then stepped back from the sliding door and stood next to Motoko. The door opened and gusts of wind instantly met them. Reina glanced down as they were still about fifteen feet from the ground. She spotted men in yellow vests coordinating to help land the tilt-rotor.
Motoko looked back. "We'll go on ahead." She then hopped out of the door. Reina glanced at Batou then followed Motoko, landing at the same time as Batou next to her. She then followed them as they ran past the landing crew, who looked at them with confusion. She barely heard the aircraft land as she activated her optical camouflage and glanced around for the best route to her position as they quietly entered the airport.
As they came closer to their positions, Reina branched off from the camouflaged Batou and Motoko and silently used her free running experience to silently run up a wall and climb to the ceiling. Running along the ceiling and performing various tricky moves to avoid touching the ground came easy to her. Reina had to rush ahead of the others or she risked exposure as the Minister was heading their way. To Reina, it was the quickest and stealthiest way to get to the private terminal the Minister was going to board at, though she would have to drop down at the entrance since the ceiling route was blocked by a decorative arch. As she got to that point, she jumped down, but aimed for the decorative gold fencing, slipping silently through an opening large enough for her. She flipped in mid-air using part of the fence as leverage and landed crouched on her feet and fingertips without a sound.
Reina spotted two women behind a check-in counter as they waited to greet the Minister. She walked along the wall slowly until she stood behind them, her back close to the window. She slowly withdrew her gun from her back, the safety already off as she had done so after Motoko had explained her role. She held it in both hands at the ground, waiting to aim only at the Minister or guards when they walked past the arch. She sensed Motoko and Batou nearby and ready as well as Saito, who had just now arrived at his position. Reina then focused on the entryway as the Minister approached with several body guards surrounding him. Reina raised her gun, aiming between the two women and directly at the Minister's chest. She smirked. The two front guards are foolishly positioned. They're leaving the center wide open. Must be either amateurs or a cheap service. Or just idiots.
The Minister and his guards stopped in front of the check-in as the two women bowed in greeting. Reina then spotted Togusa and Aramki approaching the terminal entrance.
"Just a moment, Minister," Aramaki said as he and Togusa stood just past the entrance.
The Minister hesitated for only a moment then turned, curious. His body guards did the same as they didn't sense any danger. When the Minister recognized Aramaki and Togusa, he turned to face them with a smile and a cheerful tone. "It's you! Thanks for saving my life. What can I do for you today?"
Aramaki and Togusa approached the Minister and the guards allowed them to pass. Reina still held a clear shot between the two women at the center of the Minister's back, as the guards still left him wide open. Aramaki then dug into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and took out a neatly folded paper, handing it to the Minister. "I came out here in order to deliver this."
The Minister put down the large case, frowning. He then took the paper. "And what is it?" He then unfolded it and read aloud. " 'Order for the removal from Public Office for medical treatment'?" He then looked up at Aramaki, angry. "Removed? What the hell's the meaning of this?"
Reina could now sense a sharp rise in his anxiety and she could even see sweat forming on the back of his neck. There's also a strong scent of fear in the air… and it's definitely not from any of us or his brainless guards.
"Having read that, you are no longer Minister of Foreign Affairs as of now," Aramaki explained calmly.
The Minister glared. "What? On whose authority?"
Aramaki's expression became more serious. "Of that of the Prime Minister and the board members of the ruling party. You may verify it for yourself. Now, Assemblyman, last night's events put you under suspicion of spying as well as seeking political asylum in a foreign country. We need you to accompany us, please."
Reina watched closely as his guards looked at each other quizzically, as if they didn't know what to do. They then stared at the Minister with shocked expressions as he raged. "Who the hell do you think you are?-" His rage was cut short by a gasp as he realized there were bright red lasers focusing on his chest.
The guards then reached for their weapons as Reina focused her aim on them, feeling the other team members had the Minister covered completely. Togusa had also reacted much more quickly than the guards, pulling his gun out and aiming steadily at them, the safety clicking off. "Don't move! He is not the man you're supposed to be protecting." His tone was strong and intense.
Reina then realized one of the guards behind the Minister continued to draw out his gun. She quickly deactivated her optical camouflage and pulled on the trigger of her gun slightly so it would make a soft click. But the noise was loud in the now silent terminal and the two women gasped loudly in surprise as they backed away. The commotion drew the guard's attention immediately as the others glanced back carefully. "Put it away slowly or I will do it quickly for you."
The guard swallowed anxiously and slowly put his gun back in his pocket and put his hands up. They then backed slowly away from the Minister, eyeing Reina and Togusa and looking for where the lasers were coming from. When they were far enough away, Togusa approached the metal case then crouched near it, keeping his aim on the minister. He then cautiously pulled it towards him and opened it. Reina heard an electrical noise as it was opened but didn't risk glancing as she kept her eyes on the guards.
"Chief, we've secured the braincase," Togusa reported then stood.
Aramaki stood beside him. "Care to tell me who you are? We'll find out eventually. Simply a matter of time. Take him away." He ordered as he walked away.
Reina relaxed but kept her gun ready, aiming at the ground as the guards were no longer a threat. Before she moved to help guide them out, she glanced behind her as a loud rumble caught her attention. A large plane sped across the runway then lifted towards the sky. The Minister paused to look up, watching helplessly as his plane flew away. Togusa glanced up as well but then motioned for the Minister to move and he guided him out of the airport at gunpoint. Reina then turned back, unable to help her sense of accomplishment as she helped the others, now visible, guide the guards out.
As she walked and put her gun away, Saito walked beside her with a crooked smile. "Great work back there. Now you're officially a full time team member of Section 9."
Reina grinned at him and they walked through the airport together, chatting, as they headed out to the tilt-rotor to go back to Section 9. A building Reina was becoming increasingly fond of as well as her fellow teammates.
…
Reina leaned on her elbows on the cement wall on the roof of Section 9. She relaxed as she slowly sipped her canned iced caramel coffee from the soda machine in the lobby. She gazed out to the distance through her red tinted sunglasses as a light breeze played with her hair. Her bangs drifted in her face once in a while, but she didn't care. They would always blow back just before they got irritating. She listened as she sensed someone near and heard the door to the stairs open. She took another sip as she idly listened to the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. She then glanced to her right as Togusa leaned with his arms crossed on top of the cement wall beside her.
"Thanks for covering me back at the airport," He said in a light tone.
Reina looked at him and smiled. "Of course. I'll always watch your back, just like you'll watch mine." Togusa nodded in quiet agreement and they both looked out to the distance in a comfortable silence.
"I heard from the Major that the secretary that was shot last night is going to make a great recovery. Not one hundred percent, but nothing serious either," Reina said after a few minutes passed.
"I'm glad. I was worried she wouldn't make it."
"Me too." She then looked at Togusa. "Listen, I understand having access to the Ichinose Report is a powerful thing, but don't you think that whoever was in the Minister would have done something a little more, oh I don't know, extreme? I mean, since the country isn't in any state of emergency or at war, no action from the report can be taken."
Togusa looked at her thoughtfully. "He could have done more extreme things to abuse the power he gained, but I think his focus was only on the report. For what specific reason, I'm not sure, but he could have planned on giving it to a country we're on bad terms with. You see where I'm going with this?"
Reina nodded. "Yeah. Giving the country he's running to the upper hand." She chuckled. "Though I'll admit I'm impressed by how he pulled it off. He probably watched the Minister for a very long time to study his habits, and ended up turning one of the Minister's pleasures into a nightmare."
"I'm willing to bet that once he's back to normal, the Minister will continue with his fetish regardless of what happened." Togusa shook his head.
Reina giggled. "No doubt." She stood up straight and finished the last of her coffee. She then handed the empty can to Togusa, who stood took it with his left hand with a puzzled look. Reina climbed onto the cement wall and turned to face him with her right hand on her hip and standing with perfect balance, her hair and white scarf belt swaying with the breeze. She chuckled at his confused and worried expression. "I volunteered to go pick up the car we left at the restaurant. Speaking of which, I believe you still have the keys. May I?" She held out her hand.
Togusa dug into his pocket for the keys then handed them to her, placing the keys in her palm. His fingers lightly touched her hand as he gave her the keys, and Reina blushed at the light touch. She put the keys securely in her pocket then looked down at Togusa.
The breeze had suddenly picked up, turning into wind. Togusa's hair swayed wildly as his expression turned to awe as he stared back at Reina. She felt his gaze strongly and her face warmed even more. She then quickly turned on her toes, preparing to dive off the building. She waved at him as she faced the distance. "I'll be back soon."
Togusa felt a wave of adrenaline as he wasn't used to Reina's actions as she seemed to dive gracefully off the ledge. He quickly looked over, his heart racing. As she came close to the ground, Reina was halted by grabbing onto a light pole, swinging herself to perch on top of it. She barely stayed for a second as she jumped to the next pole then ran up the side of another building. Togusa lost sight of her when she climbed higher. He was amazed by her speed and the fact that no one was alerted by her presence. He then realized his fist was clenched around Reina's empty coffee can. Togusa shook his head as he headed towards the door. "Sure, I'll throw this away for you," He said jokingly aloud as he walked down the stairs.
But as he passed a trash can in the hall, he wondered if it was just a part of Reina's playful personality. Could that be considered flirting? He shook his head again as he threw the can away. He then walked off, hands in his pockets. Men and women will never understand one another.
…
Motoko chuckled despite her best efforts as she walked down a separate hall. She had gone to the roof to make sure Reina had the keys to the car but found herself eavesdropping on the stairwell instead. Reina's personality entertained her and Togusa's reactions amused her even more. Even though she wasn't quite sure how she felt about it, she knew that a strong bond was beginning to develop between Reina and Togusa. Though Reina seemed to view the majority of the other team members as older siblings, like Saito and Batou, she saw Togusa differently. At least, that's what Motoko observed and thought.
As she continued down the hall, her smile faded as worry settled in about her own relationship with Reina. Was she merely an authority figure to Reina? A teammate? Or was she something more meaningful to her? Motoko sighed as she pushed the button for the elevator. I guess the only way to find out is to talk to her casually.Motoko felt herself warm up to the idea of spending her time with Reina. With family. Something she hasn't done since she was a little girl.