Gate: So the JSDF and Espers fought there.
James Lee
Disclaimer: Neither Gate or Railgun/Index are owned by me. "Gate: So The Defense Force Fought" is owned by Sentai Filmworks and "A Certain Scientific Railgun/Magical Index" and "Durarara!" is owned by Funamation.
"Imperial Language"
"Elvish"
[electronic Transmission]
From the dairy of Princess Pina Co Luda:
Imperial year 687, 5th day of the Month of Mist,
Written from the enemy nation's capital Tokyo, at Lady Risa's house. When I passed through the gate that is the border between worlds, there where buildings that touched the sky. What did the officers and soldiers think when they arrived here? Now, surrounded by these gigantic buildings, I can feel how unimportant I am. I grieve for the future of the Empire that is waging war against a nation that can construct such structures.
Chapter 9
"I expected this considering they just came from the middle ages to the 21st century," said Itami, looking at the awestruck girls from the Special Zone. Each of them had wide eyes and open mouths, staring at the massive cityscape before them. 'The opposite often happens in fiction,' thought the lieutenant as he continued to sign everyone in. "Well, it helps that they are quiet now."
Misaka looked at her friend, only to see tears flowing down the girl's face. "Uiharu?"
"I-I'm sorry…" said Uiharu, wiping her face. "It's just for a time, I started to think I'd never see anything like this again."
Misaka smiled and grabbed her friend's shoulder. "Welcome home, Uiharu."
"First Lieutenant Itami?" Misaka looked to see a ragged man with two other men, all of them in suits and trench coats. 'Gee, can't tell their government spooks. How cliché can you get?' thought the girl, as the man approached her commanding officer. "I am Komakado from the Defense Intelligence Headquarters. I have been ordered to act as your escort and guide."
"Are you from the PSIA*?" asked Itami, to which the man smiled. "Oh, you could tell?"
"Well, you have a different air about you. If someone could become like you by just joining the JSDF, there wouldn't be any information leaks," the lieutenant pointed out, while Misaka added mentally; '…and you're dressed like a spy novel.'
"Hah, this is what I expected from the hero of Nijubashi," said the man smiling before pulling out a small notebook. "You graduated from a mediocre collage with mediocre grades and became second lieutenant after finishing officer training where you ranked second to last. Since the person at the bottom was injured…in reality you were ranked last. Your work performance was considered barely acceptable, so a frustrated superior officer ordered you through ranger training. Even though you almost failed several times, you still managed to finish by keeping your head down while troubling your buddies."
"After that, you transferred to Narashino for some reason, and were expected to end your days as a second lieutenant. However, due to that incident, you were promoted. Your colleagues impressions of you are…'Otaku', 'A true salary thief', 'At least he understands the SDF's antiwar value', etc. What a tarnished reputation. I was wondering…why did someone like you become an 'S'?" Komakado finished causing Kuribayashi's jaw to drop.
"You really did your homework on me, didn't you?" said the lieutenant with a sigh. "This is something I heard. 10-20% of an ant colony's workers are slackers. When they take out the slackers, suddenly of the remaining worker ants, 20% become slackers. When my superior officer was scolding me, this story slipped from my mouth. I guess the brass somehow heard about it. If you are recruiting exceptional people, wouldn't it be wise to include a slacker from the start instead of having 20% of them become slackers."
"Is that really the reason you're in the Special Forces?" asked Komakado.
"NOOOOOO! How can that dirty otaku be a ranger and in the special forces?" yelled Kuribayashi falling to her knees crying. Mikoto walked up to her and patted her on the head. "There, there…"
"Well excuse me," muttered Itami as the government man laughed. Komakado then snapped to attention and saluted. "You are not an ordinary person. I respect you for playing the slacker among workers."
A short while later most of the group was loaded on a bus. Kuribayashi was sitting in the back still crying. Misaka walked up to the bus door. "Well Sir, me and Uiharu are going to be taking the train after you guys leave. I'll see you guys at the hotel tonight."
"You know I have half a mind to leave you here in Tokyo."
"That would mean forcing me to leave my younger sisters back in Special Zone. If something bad was to happen to them; I might blame and hate you," said Mikoto with a disturbing smile on her face. "You wouldn't want to sit down in chair one day and suddenly learn what the end of death row is like. Would you?"
Itami raised his hands. "Okay, Okay I get the message. We'll see you tonight."
"Good luck with the Diet," said Misaka as the bus door closed. After the bus pulled away she and Uiharu, slipped on to the street and headed towards the train station.
Ikebukuro, a short while later:
"You know Uiharu, I never thought of you as a big city girl. With those flowers in your hair and your idealist attitude, I thought you came from the country side or something," said Misaka as they left the train station.
"Yeah, my parents sent me to Academy City before I even entered grade school," said Uiharu. "It's still a bit of a ways to my folks' apartment complex. There's a sushi place, nearby want to get some?"
"Sure," said Misaka as they started walking. After a while she turned to her friend. "So, your parents sent you to Academy City when you were in preschool?"
"Yeah, they didn't want me growing up in Ikebukuro, mainly because of the gang problem." No sooner had she said that, three older boys appeared before them. "Hey."
"Oh, Excuse us," said Misaka as they tried to step aside, only for the boys to step in there way again. "Hey, where you going."
"We're going to eat and I'm taking my friend home. Now if you please get out of our way."
"Aw, don't be like that," said the apparent leader of the group. "We can help you get your friend home. No telling how late it will be though."
"Listen, my friend has already been through one ordeal and she hasn't seen home in long time. She really doesn't need this so if you can please get out of our way," said Makoto as Uiharu watched her oddly.
"I'm afraid we ain't going to do that," said the thug as he reach to grab her, only jump back when her body started sparking. "What the hell!?"
"I really don't want to get violent here, so why don't you get the hell out our way and nobody gets hurt!"
"Listen here you freak…"
"Fighting no good." Both Misaka and the thug turned to see a large black man in cook cloths. "You in customers' way. Bad for business."
"Simon!" said Uiharu in relief.
"Simon?" asked Makoto, to which Uiharu nodded. "He works at the Sushi place I told you about."
"Fuck off asshole or…HEY where the hell are you guys going!?" yelled the thug as he noticed his friends running away. "Fuck you man! That guy goes toe to toe with Heiwajima!"
Looking back at the black man the thug growled and ran off. The man then turned to the girl. "You come eat sushi no?"
"Umm, yeah thanks," said Mikoto as she Uiharu followed the man to the restaurant. She then noticed her friend looking at her. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no," said Uiharu. "I'm just surprised how you were handling yourself back there. Usually you shock first and ask questions later."
"Oh…well I didn't want to cause a scene here in Tokyo, yeah," said Misaka as they came to the restaurant. 'Russian Sushi?' thought Misaka staring at the place as she followed Uiharu inside. Looking at Simon she asked; "You Russian?"
"Ah, you speak Russian!"
"A little."
"Very good, I'll bring you some tea," said Simon, walking behind the counter.
"Uiharu?" Uiharu looked up to see a man sitting with several people in the back. The man was dress in dark green and had a black bandanna on his head. "Mr. Kadota?"
"You know this guy?"
"Umm yes, he lives next door to my parents. This is Kyohei Kadota and his friends…"
"I'm Erika and this is Walker, come sit with us" said the only girl in the group while indicting herself and the boy sitting next to her. Erika was wearing all black, while the boy was dressed in a blue hoodie. Kyohei then pointed to the other boy dress in a white shirt and brown vest. "And this here is Saburo. You know Uiharu, your parents have been worried sick. They said you disappeared during the Ginza incident."
"Yeah, the JSDF found me just a couple of days ago, I'm actually on my way home."
"What happened?" asked Erika.
"I managed to slip away from that invading army, but got lost in the special zone. A kind noble took me in and gave me a job as a maid to support myself."
"Awesome, did he make you wear bunny ears and keep him warm at night?" asked the boy in the hoodie. 'What hell kind of question is that!?' thought Mikoto.
"One she was a VERY young countess, and two, they have real bunny girls for that."
"THERE'RE REAL BUNNY GIRLS IN THE SPECIAL ZONE! That's it, I'm joining the SDF and getting myself a bunny girl!"
"Really Walker?"
"Don't worry Erika-san. By their standards your boyfriend doesn't measure up," said Uiharu.
"What, NO WAY!?"
"HA HA, no bunny girl for you," laughed the boy in the vest.
"What do you mean I don't measure up!?"
"The bunny girls over there are known as 'Warrior Bunnies'. They only go after strong tough guys. Mr. Kadota might be able to hit it off with one, and they'd probably fight over Simon and that psycho bartender."
"Here, this tea is good for a soldier returning from the battlefield," said Simon placing a cup of hot tea in front of Mikoto.
"Umm, thank you," Simon nodded while placing tea in front of Uiharu.
"You speak Russian?" asked Erika.
"A little."
"That's cool. Oh, we need to hurry up and eat. I don't want to miss sensei on TV."
"Sensei?"
"A great man, who thought me and Erika everything we know about anime and manga!"
"The wise sage who made us the fans we are today. He's testifying before the National Diet today." Mikoto frowned at hearing that. "This sensei of yours', he wouldn't be name Itami would he?"
"Oh you know him?"
"Misaka, isn't that your squad leader?" Hearing Uiharu say that, Erika's eyes sparkled. "Oh wow, you're in his squad. You're so lucky!"
"Lucks not exactly what I'd call it!" muttered Misaka before she noticed Kyohei looking at her. "What?"
"Aren't you little young to be in the SDF?" Misaka looked down at her tea. "I-I'm an exception."
"Oh, I know, you're like Captain Testarossa. A military child genus, who thinks up winning battle plans at the drop of a hat and designs super weapons in your free time," said Erika, while Walker shook his head. "No way she's actually the only person in Japan that can pilot the JSDF's top secret TA battle mech!"
"No to both," said Makoto.
"Aww, that's got to be it!"
"We're facing spears and horses with machine guns and tanks. Don't exactly need to be Erwin Rommel or have a giant robot to win you know." 'I'm beginning to think the wildlife there is more dangerous than the enemy.'
"Actually Misaka-san is a very powerful esper," said Uiharu. Hearing this caused Erika's eyes to sparkle even more. "Oh wow, what you can do? Can you read minds, move thing with your brain?"
Mikoto glared at Uiharu before she sighed and said; "I can use electricity."
"In the special zone, she's known as the Lightning Sorceress, wielder of the black sword of death!"
"I really don't particularly care for that last part, Oven-mitt."
Uiharu turned red. "How did you know about that!"
"I did spend some time with your former coworkers the other night," said Misaka as the food started to arrive. Uiharu moaned. "I told them not to tell anyone."
Kazari Home, Ikebukuro:
Uiharu looked at the apartment door, rather nervously. After they ate Kyohei and his friends gave the girls a ride to Uiharu's home. Misaka looked at her friend. "Well, are you going in or not?"
"Yeah, just a little nervous," said Uiharu as she opened the door and walked into the apartment. "Mom? I'm home."
"UIHARU!" Out of nowhere an older woman with black hair and flowers in her hair appeared and grabbed the girl in a hug. "My baby! You're safe, thank Kami-sama."
"Yes, Mom I'm home. Is Dad here?"
"Your father went on an errand, he'll be back soon. Um who's this?" Mrs. Kazari asked looking at Mikoto. Uiharu turned to her. "Oh Mom, this is my friend Mikoto Misaka. She was the one that found me in the Special Zone."
"Thank you, so much," said the woman hugging Mikoto. "It was nothing ma'am. I just glad I found my friend alive and well."
A half hour later Makoto and the Kazari family were seated in front of the television. Mikoto had meet Uiharu's father, a normal looking man with glasses, who thanked her for finding his little girl. Mikoto had asked if they could watch the Diet hearing. Uiharu's parents agreed wanting to see the people from the Special Zone themselves, which was a big drawl. Normally the National Diet hearings had very low ratings. But with the first appearance of people from the other world, the viewer numbers were through the roof.
[It's been four months since the Ginza incident. The first question and answer session regarding this matter will be held in the diet today. In addition to SDF personnel who've been on the ground, refugees from the Special Region have been invited, as well. They've just entered the building!] Mikoto watched as Lieutenant Itami enter to room followed by Lelei, Tuka, and Rory. 'They must have gotten Tuka a change of clothes somewhere along the line,' thought Misaka as she noticed the elf was now dress in a black lady's' suit. [We will now ask questions of the witnesses.]
Misaka watched as a woman held out a placard that read: Special Region Refugees Taken in by the SDF, Civilian Victims 150, Coda Village Evacuation 600, Refugee Camo Size 25. Mikoto could already tell she was going to hate this woman.
[I'll get straight to the point,] said the woman, Diet member Mizuki Kouhara. [Why were 150 specail region refugees, who were supposed to be under SDF protection, killed by a Class-A dangerous animal you refer to as a "dragon"?]
[Witness Itami,] said the announcer. The lieutenant stood up and walked up to the stand. [Uh, well…Probably because the dragon was so strong.]
'Great answer their sir.' Misaka thought sarcastically. Kouhara looked angrily at the man and asked; [How can you be so calm? Don't you feel any responsibility for the loss of those lives?]
[I'm sad that so many were killed. I also felt that our own capabilities were lacking.]
[So, you're admitting the SDF is at fault!]
[No. We lacked sufficient firepower. Our 7.62mm rounds bounced off it like they were BBs. I really wished we'd had a stronger weapon. A charged particle beam, a graviton bomb, or something.]
[Uh, If I may, chairman,] interrupted one of the politicians. [Our analysis of a sample from the Special Region shows that this "dragon" had scales as strong as tungsten, and could exhale high-temperature flames. It was, essentially, a flying tank. Demanding zero casualties when fighting such a monster is rather unreasonable, wouldn't you say?]
[But, I was understanding that there was a esper from Academy City with the unit? What about her power.] Misaka narrowed her eyes, as Itami once more took the stand. [Yes, we did have an esper with us and she tried her best against it, but even her power did little damage.]
[Maybe your esper should have been a little braver.] Uiharu and her parents jumps as sparks came of Mikoto's body. "THAT BITCH! Who hell does think she is!? She has no idea what that battle was like! I saw that thing burn and EAT people. My squad had to help bury all those civilians, and here's this government hack criticizing us to score a few extra votes. I'd like to see her fancy ass go up against that monster! I need to step outside before I fry something."
Uiharu watched as her friend marched out into the hallway. Once she was gone her mother turned to her. "I guess the dragon is a sensitive topic for her."
Uiharu looked at her parents. "When I was lost in the Special Zone, I hid in a city called Italica. When word reached us that the fire dragon was awake, the whole town went into a panic. All my co-workers at the mansion start franticly writing their friends and families, warning them and asking if they were okay. They told me some of the stories about the fire dragon's past and they were all pretty horrible. To the people of the Special Zone, the fire dragon is the devil."
A few minutes later Makoto returned. Uiharu turned to her friend. "Welcome back. You missed Lelei and Tuka, Rory is now taking the stand."
Mikoto nodded as she sat down on sofa. Looking at the TV screen she saw Rory now at the stand with Lelei standing next her to translate. Kouhara then started. [What is your name?]
[Rory Mercury.]
[Describe your life in the refugee camp.]
[It's very simple. When I wake up, I live. I prey. I receive life. I prey. Then at night, I sleep.]
["Receive life"?] asked the Diet Member. [Yes. I eat. I kill. I make offerings to Emloy…A lot of different things.]
'Good thing she mentioned the killing part second,' thought Misaka, as she saw the slightly confused look on Kouhara. The woman decided to change the subject. [I'll reword the question. From the look of things, you're lost someone who matters a lot to you. Do you feel the SDF is responsible?]
[She says she doesn't understand the question.] answered Lelei. [Rory's family…]
Kouhara cut her off. [According to reports, despite the fact that one-fourth of the refugees were killed in the dragon attack, the SDF suffered no fatalities! The people who should've defended you with their lives put their own safety first, and in the end, put civilians in danger, right?]
Seeing Rory's surprised face, Kouhara smiled believing she now had what she wanted. [Now, tell us! What did you really see? Expose the SDF's true colors!]
The Apostle took a deep breath, and then yelled into the mic. [ARE YOU STUPID!?]
[Wh-What did you just say…] asked the woman, after taking her fingers out ears. [I asked if you were stupid, little girl.]
[You speak Japanese?] asked Kouhara.
[That doesn't matter,] said Rory. [You want to know how they fought the dragon, right? They did their absolute best. They most certainly did not use the refugees as shields and fight from a safe distance, especially their esper. Misaka was one of the few to actually wound the beast and she nearly paid for that little victory with her life. But to begin what's wrong with soldiers making sure they stay alive? If they die needlessly, who's going to protect people like you, who do nothing but sit in comfort and complain, little girl?]
[Little…girl?] muttered the woman as Rory continued. [They fought a Fire Dragon can came back alive. The first thing you should do is praise them. Also, you said that one-fourth of the refugees died. That's incorrect. Itami's squad saved three-fourths of them. If you can't even understand that, the soldiers of this country must have a very hard time. They succeeded in doing something no one else could do. That is my answer to your stupid question. Do you understand, little girl?]
[You don't seem to know how to speak to your elders, "little girl"?] said Kouhara.
[Are you referring to me?] asked Rory.
[Who else could there be?] yelled the woman in anger. [I don't know how it works in the Special Region, but in this country, we respect our elders!]
[I'm shocked...How dare a mere…] said Rory as she started to unwrap her axe and her lips turned purple.
[Mr. Chairman!] yelled Itami jumping up from his seat. [Diet Member Kouhara is badly mistaken.]
[Why are you getting in my way?] asked Rory, as Itami pushed her towards the seats. [Just stay put!]
Turning back, he continued. [Um…You may not believe this, but Rory Mercury-san is the oldest person here.]
[Hmph…Just how old is she?] asked the diet member clearly not believing him.
[Nine-hundred and sixty-one years old,] answered Rory, to the shock of everyone. Kouhara then shakenly asked. [A-And how is Tuka-san?]
[I'm one-hundred and sixty-five.] answered the elf. Turning to Lelei the woman said; [Don't tell me…]
[No, I'm fifteen.] Kouhara sighed in relief as Lelei walked up to stand and continued; [I am human. Our race lives between sixty and seventy years. Almost all of the residents of our world are human. Tuka is an elf. They do not age and live long. She is a rare fairy type, who live almost eternally. Rory was originally human, but when she became a demigod, her body stopped aging. After a thousand years or so, her kind abandons physical existence, becoming first spirits, then gods.]
[Diet Member Kouhara, does this conclude your questions?] asked the Chairman. [Yes.]
"Well that was certainly surprising," said Uiharu.
"Um…yeah," replied Misaka frowning at the television. It was nice that Rory told that hag off. However, she had also mention her name on national TV. Mikoto knew it was only wishful thinking that certain people weren't watching. [Ribbit, Ribbit.] 'Speak of the devil,' thought Misaka taking out her Gekoda cell phone. She grimaced at the name on the screen. "Hey, is there someplace I can take this in private?"
"Sure, my room's the last down the hall on the left." Mikoto nodded to her friend and went to the room. Sitting down on the bed she hit the answer button. "Hey, Mama."
[Mikoto, sorry to call you out of the blue like this. I-It's just that I was watching the Diet on TV and thought I heard something…] Misaka sighed. She didn't want to lie to her mother. "Yeah Mama, Rory was talking about me."
There was a long pause before her mother started again. [Y-Your supposed to be in Academy City. What are you doing in the Special Zone!?]
"Listen Mama, I'd rather not talk about this over the phone. There's a hot spring inn in Hakone called the Sankai Roukaku. I'll be there tomorrow night, meet me there. I-I'll tell you everything," said Mikoto. [Okay Mikoto, but I expect some answers.]
"Like I said, I'll tell you everything. See you then," said Mikoto hanging up.
A Few Hours Later:
"So are you going back to Academy city soon?" asked Mikoto. She was eating dinner with Uiharu and her parents.
Uiharu looked a little nervous. "I don't know..."
"Oh, yes she'll be going back the day after tomorrow," said Mrs. Kazari. Uiharu looked at her mother in surprise. When she had first come to visit her parents had wanted her not to return because of all the rumors of a war brewing. Now with those rumors gone, it seemed that they wanted her well away from Ginza. "So why do you ask?"
"I want you to do me a favor. Make sure Kuroko doesn't try to go to the Special Zone to look for me. I know this might sound Hypocritical of me, but you guys should leave the war to the SDF."
"Misaka..."
"Uiharu. You've seen what the war is really like. Do you really want to expose Kuroko or any of our other friends to that."
"I-I guess not. I'll do what I can."
"Thanks," said Misaka when her phone rang again. Taking it out she saw that it was Kuribayashi. "Hey, Kuri-sempai what's up?"
[Where are you at now?]
"I'm having dinner with Uiharu's family. I'll be picking up the contractors and headed for the hotel soon."
[About that, don't go to the hotel. There's been a fire there.] Mikoto blinked. "A fire at hotel?"
[Yeah, seems somebody's interested in our guest. Do you think you can stay with your friend?] Mikoto looked over to Uiharu's parents, who without being asked both nodded. "Yeah, I can stay here. What about you guys?"
[Were staying with the lieutenant's ex-wife.]
"Ex-wife? Someone actually married Captain Otaku?"
[Yeah weird, right? Anyway, we'll see you tomorrow at the inn.]
"Right see you then."
To be continued
*PSIA-Public Service Intelligence Agency. Japan's CIA/MI-6.
