No Witness

Communication room, Home Island

The door of the Communication room is closed, and then opened. From there, Maj. Orimura emerged. The Major then approach a computer and activate it. At the screen, a live video of Col. Williams and Cmdr. Mason.

"I am here, ma'am. What's our problem now?" Ask Maj. Orimura.

"Still remember the orange IS that 'attack' Home Island a day ago?" Replied Williams with another question.

"Yes, Colonel."

"Well, we found out she's still alive and got crashed at IS Academy."

"Let me guess; we're going to silence her." Said Mason.

"Exactly. We had sent a Spec Ops agent to do the job. However, we need someone to protect her six when she's going to escape." Explain Williams.

"What's my task?" Ask Maj. Orimura.

"I want you to send a Commando to protect her..." Williams then notice something at Maj. Orimura's face "...or you can do something else."

After hearing that, Maj. Orimura smirk like a child at candy store. Williams and Mason rolled their eyes at the immature attitude.

"Right. Now, Mason, you'll take care of transport."

"No problem, ma'am."

IS Academy, Japan

A staff of IS Academy is walking through the hallway. It's Sunday, and because of that, classes are dismissed.

*WHISTLE*

When she hear that, she inspect her surrounding at find that the most likely source is the storeroom. The staff then open the door and walks in.

Then, the staff walks out, fixing her cloths, and continue her walk. She then pull out a mini communication device.

"[COMMS] This is Agent Tsubaki, I am in position. Over!"

"[COMMS] Affirmative, Agent Tsubaki. We'll guide you to the infirmary. There, make sure the Phantom Task operative can speak no word."

"[COMMS] Of course. Over and out."

Room 1025, IS Academy

Inside his room, Ichika is "cooking" some ramen (cup noodles). Despite it's only an instant, he kinda miss the taste.

Five days ago, his live took a surprising turn. First, he got beaten by Derek Kyle of UNGDI. Second, the destruction of first un-prototype of 3rd Generation IS. Third, Tabane arrived, doesn't act childish, and looks like someone who trying to exact a revenge. And finally, a Phantom Task operative who almost got killed by UNGDI.

For some reason, each time they encounter UNGDI – although only two times, with one of them only the victim – there's always IS; as if this group is chasing IS.

Ichika then turn his attention back to the ramen. After finding out it's cooked enough, he prepared it. He's sitting at the chair, and about to eat it when he hear someone's voice:

"Excuse me, mind being passed out for a while?"

Before Ichika can give a response, he received a headlock. Then, there's a "stingy" sensation at his neck. Few seconds later, he passed out.

Infirmary, IS Academy

Agent Tsubaki finally reach the HVT (High Value Target)'s room. She then slowly open the door. Before she gets in, first she peek into the room. After confirming there's nobody at this time around, she enter the room.

Agent Tsubaki then see the HVT. She took out a small box. From that, she took out a syringe and a small bottle where people from medical word usually put drug inside it. Agent Tsubaki then inoculate the bottle, and get some of the contents inside the syringe. She then inject the contents to the HVT using an IV line. The Agent then put the syringe and the bottle back to the box, put the box inside her uniform, and then leave the room.

Few minutes after the Agent left, the ECG device shows only a line and the infamous sound of "piiiiiiii".

IS Academy, Japan

One of the staff of ISA is walking through the same hallway the Agent used. The staff with misgivings look around. Inside her pocket is a small bottle of alcohol, which is only allowed after the office hours ended. But she just can't hold herself anymore. Right now, she must find a place where no one will think she's there. If she get caught, she can get salary cuts, suspended, or worst, get scolded by Chifuyu Orimura.

The staff then find the door. She remember that almost no one visit this place anymore. After a little prayer, she go inside the room. When she's trying to go deeper to make herself become harder to be spotted, she find something.

"Holy s**t!"

Monorail Station, IS Academy

Agent Tsubaki is approaching the monorail, one of the few normal way to reach the Academy. When she get in, she goes to the machinist's room. The Agent then knock at the door. When the machinist open it, the Agent immediately knock her out. Tsubaki then drag her and hide her at some sort of hidden place in the station.

Agent Tsubaki then wait for a minute...then minutes...half an hour.

"Seriously, where is..." Tsubaki's sentence is cut short when she hear something; a sound of alarm (a/n: sorry, have no idea how to put the sound using words).

"FOR GOD SAKE!"

The Agent then for another few minutes. When whatever she refer to is still yet to come, she goes to the machinist's room and start the monorail.

"WAIT FOR ME!"

Agent Tsubaki then look at the source and find out what she want. She open the monorail's door and the figure jump in, right before the monorail leave the station.

"What took you so long?" Ask Agent Tsubaki.

"You're not going to believe what had happened."

Teacher's Room, IS Academy

Inside, Chifuyu is directing Houki, Charlotte, Laura, Tatenashi, and many other students.

"Before we start, anyone have a question?" Ask Chifuyu.

Charlotte raised her hand. "Orimura-sensei, why you asked the students who have good physical condition to come here?"

"I am pretty sure you know that there's an intruder or intruders from the alarm. I want to ask the other instructors, but I found all of them are knocked out."

"EEEEHHHH?!" Exclaim the students.

"Listen carefully; whoever he, she, or they are, he, she, or they disable the instructors' ISes by 'playing' the cables. The intruder or intruders had hijacked the monorail and almost reach the town; an area where using IS is strictly regulated. Because of that, we must capture him, her, or them the old way."

"But, how are we going to catch the intruder if the monorail is hijacked?" Ask a student.

"There's still two way for us to used."

The Town, Japan

(a/n: can't think of a good name)

The monorail finally stopped its journey. From there, Agent Tsubaki and her partner emerged. The duo then run to the town. After only a few meters from the station, they hear a sound of helicopter.

"Either there's someone with helicopter..." Said Agent Tsubaki.

"...Or they here." Her partner finished it.

Agent Tsubaki then look at her partner and both seems like having a non-audio conversation. Both thne give a nod to each other, and Agent Tsubaki continue her run, leaving her partner. The partner then took out a remote.

After the helicopter landed, Chifuyu and the students get out from it. All of them are wearing a jogging suit. The only difference is color with Chifuyu using white and the rest is black.

"Alright. Everyone, split up! If you find the intruder, report back and capture the intruder! If you can't, at least hold him,her, or them!" Command Chifuyu.

"Yes, ma'am."

The girls then split up. Our first focus is at Chifuyu.

Chifuyu is running through the town when suddenly there are a lot of small explosions. And then there's also some sort of gas. She's about to close her nose when she see a bird and a cat surrounded by the gas and yet shows no sign of ill. Chifuyu decided to take the risk. She has no idea what the gas is until she see a younger version of herself is playing with young Ichika; both then disappear.

"Hallucinogen gas? But it looks like the effect is not too strong."

Houki is also running through the town. However, she can't get rid of her mind of what happened an hour ago. Ichika seems to be...grumpier than usual. And by "usual" she means that Ichika was in a really bad mood without a reason that makes sense...except if you added the fact that he doesn't have enough sleep; at least according to him.

And then there's something that makes her worry. It was unknown, but when she and the other girls (harem's members) made a group and discussing about Ichika's grumpiness, Laura realized that there was an indentation in the finger, which means Ichika wears a ring or something close. It wasn't a problem. The problem was the location of the indentation.

The location was the ring finger at the left hand.

"Why? Why there's a ring mark there? Could he actually just playing with us? No, no, no, that's not what Ichika would do. Then again..."

Houki stop her though when she see a blur vision. What she see is a younger version of her and Ichika in kendo's uniform and practicing one. She so focused at the vision she didn't realize someone is behind her and about to knock her out.

"Why it's so hard to find the intruder?"

Laura can't just believe it that she – a super soldier – is unable to find an intruder. It doesn't make sense. Just like that Ichika have a ring mark at his left ring finger.

"Why he have that? I mean, I understand if he have it, he's my wife after all. But Clarissa told me that wedding ring is usually from the spouse, and she never give Ichika something like a ring, and so he is."

Suddenly, Laura ducked; she almost got punched. Laura then jump away and now have a visual of her attacker. The attacker wears all grey clothes for the upper and lower part of the body. However, the attacker added a body protector at the chest and limbs. For the head part, there's a military balacava and advanced combat helmet (a/n: I based it from a cancelled blue zone version of GDI commando).

Before Laura can do something, the attacker charge to her. Laura managed to dodge it, but for the punch the attacker immediately launch is not the same story. Laura hold her cheek which got hit before trying to kick the attacker. The attacker block it, capture her feet, and about to slam her. Laura however, managed to use her hand to prevent it and escaped from the grasp.

"I must say, you're quite good." Said Laura.

The attacker doesn't reply it. Instead, he or she seems to relaxing his body. Then, without warning, he or she charge to Laura, but this time faster. The attacker then unleashed a barrage of fast punches and kicks. Laura managed to dodge or parry some of them, but most managed to reach the target.

The attacker then back up. The attacks forced Laura to her knees.

"Have a good sleep." Said the Attacker who then knock Laura out.

After running through the town for several minutes, Chifuyu take a rest for a while. She's going to need all her potential when she finally find the intruder...well maybe not, but just in case.

Suddenly, Chifuyu moved his hand and catch something; she catch a rock. When she look at the source, she meet a punch. She managed to parry it. Chifuyu's attacker is also the same attacker that attack Laura.

"Well looks like I have found you." Said Chifuyu with a smug tone.

The Attacker and Chifuyu then involved themselves in an epic hand-to-hand fight. Chifuyu punch, the attacker parry it, reply it with a kick, Chifuyu block it...

Left hand punch, hit the attacker's cheek

Right feet stomp, hit Chifuyu's left feet

Right hand uppercut, the attacker dodge

Trying to twist Chifuyu's right hand, failed

Slam the attacker, success

Trip Chifuyu and get up immediately, success

Throwing a rock, hitting the attacker's helmet

Punch the abdomen, Chifuyu barely block it

Right feet kick, hit the attacker's waist

Right hand punch, hit Chifuyu's left shoulder

After exchanging punchs and kicks, Chifuyu managed to put the attacker in a headlock and, with many struggle, take of his or her helmet and throw it away. The attacker manage to escaped from the headlock, now having only a balaclava.

"You're good. Only few people who managed to hold out this long and retaliate." Said Chifuyu.

"Indeed. But I guess it's time to end this now, sis." Replied the attacker.

Chifuyu is confused with what the attacker said. The attacker then grab the lower part of his mask and slowly discard it. When it finally detached, the attacker lower his head first before slowly rising it. Chifuyu is shocked when she see the face behind the mask.

"I...I..Ichi...ka?!" Exclaim the shocked Chifuyu.

"I am sorry, Chifuyu-nee. But this battle ends now."

"Ichika" then charge to Chifuyu and punches, kicks, and many other kind of attack. This time, however, he have the upper hand because Chifuyu, really shocked when she see her brother's face, does not give the same power to her attack and defense like what she did before.

Chifuyu manage to counter-atttack by hitting his right cheek. "Ichika" shows a "that's really hurt, how could you" face. She can't help but feel slightly guilty. She did smack her brother's head, but she never punch her brother. But then again, he isn't her brother.

Right?

"Ichika" kindly reply the punch with an even more ferocious barrage of punchs and kicks.

Left hand punch, hit the middle part of Chifuyu's chest

Right hand punch, "Ichika" dodge it

Left feet kick, "Ichika" parry it

Right hand uppercut, Chifuyu get hit

Headbutt, both get hurt at the head

Trip Chifuyu, success

"Have a good sleep, Chifuyu-nee."

The face of his brother is the last thing she see as a punch knock her out.

Communication room, Home Island

"You almost got caught because of your wedding ring?!"

"To be precise, the mark, Colonel."

"Whatever, that's not important right now. Did Watt managed to complete it?" Ask Mason.

"Almost, Commander. Though Watt found something surprising." Replied Maj. Orimura.

"What is it?"

"Remember when the Doctor said that he dumbed the A.I.s of IS core?" Mason and Williams nod their head. "Turns out, they just pretend to became pseudo. Though they found the dumbbing process...unpleasant."

"Great, so there's still threat of second CABAL." Comment Williams with annoyed tone.

"Let's just hope that it will not happen. And if it happen, we can defeat it." Suggest Mason.

"Yeah, I hope it will not happen." Replied Maj. Orimura. He may not have been born at that time, but he knew the danger rogue A.I. can do.

"Also, Major, you have a new task." Said Williams.

"What's the task?"

"You're going to assist Steel Talons and ZOCOM – at least some of them who with us – in their mission."

"Yes, ma'am."

Infirmary, IS Academy

Chifuyu jolted from her bed. She then take a look of the surrounding and find that there's a lot of students here. One of the doctor then approach her.

"Orimura, it's good to see you're OK now." Said the doctor.

"W-what happen?" Ask Chifuyu.

"We found you and many other students unconscious at the town. It looks like the chase is a failure."

"Yeah, indeed."

"Almost forget. Looks like for some reason the intruder also knockout Orimura-kun."

"Eh?"

"The other instructors found him unconscious inside his room after you girls leave."

"In that case, who is the person I see? Well, perhaps he only use a mask combined with hallucinogen gas to deceive me." Chifuyu let out a sigh of relief.

"Also, the Phantom Task's pilot is dead."

"WHAT?! How?!"

"When the doctor came to check her, she found out that her heartbeat was gone. The doctor believe the cause was natural; though what really cause it is unknown."

Chifuyu facepalmed. They had a pilot who could gave them a valuable information and now she was gone.

Meanwhile, Ichika's harem (at least the one who can) check him, they find that there isn't any trace of indentation at his left ring finger. All let out a sigh of relief and believe that Ichika's attitude was the one that cause them to think that and/or their imagination gone wild.

Chapter. Complete.

For an information, GDI use a poison that is extremely hard to trace. IF you ask why they have it, remember; all medicine can become a poison if you use it the wrong way

Another information is the voice of EVA. The Second Fleet's EVA's voice is the voice of female that you can hear during the briefing of a mission at Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight

Spoilers for the next two chapters: The Sarashiki family will fight GDI's Steel Talons and Zone Operation Command and the IS Academy will observe the battle. This will also mark the first time ISA (who only observe) and Sarashiki family meet GDI Zone Raiders and a new, upgraded version of M.A.R.V.

The next chapter title will be called "United Nations Betrayal". Guess why?

And that's the only spoilers I tell you

If you have question or suggestion, feel free to tell me

Review please