Chapter 9 Lure fishing

Flying back to their foreign command center, Pazu glanced back at his passengers. They had attached themselves to the device the Major had found. Thinking to himself, he wondered what they had encountered. It was not like them not to inform him of their actions.

Unaware of what was going on inside the helicopter, Motoko and Batou paid complete attention to the recording. They notice that pictured was the female cyborg standing in the middle of the office they acquired the device. Lying on the floor, curled in a fetal position in front of the cruel woman was Togusa. His hands bound to his feet with his knees in his face, his back towards his guard. The cyborg looked down at her prisoner, and then raised her head to deliver her address.

"Greetings Motoko." the leader harshly said. "I am so delighted to know you and Section 9 were assigned to attempt to capture me. It was so nice of your agent here to tell me all about you and your team." She paused and looked down at unresponsive Togusa. She gave him a kick in the back causing him to moan and began to continue her speech. "I want to thank you for using your time to search for the dummy bombs. As you listen to this message, the real bomb is entering Japan. From your friend, I know what you wanted to accomplish." Then her voice changed, sternly she added, "You have failed. Your precious government and figurative monarchy are going to be destroyed." Changing her voice to a kinder, friendlier tone, she continued, "I will give you a chance to liberate your friend. Motoko, you are to meet me at the coordinates given within this message at 6 am. Trade yourself for him, and I'll let him go." Then the message ended.

Perplexed, Batou disengaged himself from the Tachikoma and the Major and stared at her. She too unplugged herself and looked at her silver watch. Then he asked, "This nut acts like she knows you. I thought you said you never met?"

She simply replied, "I hadn't met her. She must know I am the one who brought down one of her cells."

Hearing his friends talking, Pazu chimed in, "What's happening."

"Just take us back. I must talk to the Chief."

Joining Aramaki and Saito in the dining room, the returning team sat down. The Major then began to recount the mission. "Batou and I found two of the three bombs. He dismantled them and brought back the Plutonium. Unfortunately, hardly anyone was there." She paused and handed Aramaki the gift from Fusako. "This was left behind for me. It's from the leader, who has Togusa. On it, she states that the last bomb has entered Japan. Plus, she wants me to trade myself for Togusa."

"Major, what is your opinion of this situation?"

"Our only lead is the coordinates she gave me for the trade. None of the prisoners know her current location. I don't think we have much of a choice in the situation. I have to go to Japan and do as she says, for now." Motoko coolly replied.

"Very well, we'll all go back home. What is the timeframe we have?"

"She wants to meet at 6 am, four hours from now," she answered.

"We must get going, it'll take us three hours to fly back to Japan," Batou bellowed out.

Pulling out his cell phone, Aramaki made a calla and briefly talked to an unknown party. Finishing the call, he bluntly said, "A jet will be waiting for us at the airport. Pazu, get the chopper ready. We leave in five minutes." Everyone proceeded to leave the room and made ready for their flight home.

Three hours later, the team disembarked the plane. Boma and Ishikawa were waiting for them with a limo. Driving everyone back to their main headquarters, the two men were filled in on the current state of affairs. Aramaki then went on devising a plan of attack.

"In order not to be detected, only two Tachikomas and Batou will accompany the Major to the river dockyard. I believe that this woman has prepared for a full team assault. With luck, we may be able to surprise her. Ishikawa, Boma, I want the two of you to be ready in the Tachikomas incase they need you. Cloaking yourselves, you're set up about a half mile from the set location. Batou, you and a Tachikoma will have to gain access to one of the roofs around the docks. To make the deadline, you will have to immediately arm yourselves and leave. Remember, you are not going just to save Togusa, your first priority is still acquiring that bomb." Noticing the car pulling into the parking garage, Aramaki concluded his orders.

The squad proceeded to the arsenal of weapons section9 housed. The Major grabbed an automatic rifle and strapped on a utility belt that held a side arm, two knives, rope, and grenades. She also packed extra ammo. Batou snatched the same as the Major, but also his standard big gun. Boma and Ishikawa did the same as the Major. Once loaded with weapons, the four members loaded into their think tanks and sped off to the docks.

As they approached their final destination, everyone except for the Major activated the their optical camouflage. Then, Boma and Ishikawa separated and headed to their advantage points. Gallantly, the Major rode into the abandoned dockyard and stopped the Tachikoma to jump out. Simultaneously, Batou and his think tank took point to search the area. Regrettably, the area comprised of buildings that were unfavorably built. The area consisted of dilapidated buildings that would not hide an organization like Nihon Sekigon. As Batou scanned the building, he uncovered nothing.

While the Major patiently waited for her rendezvous, she asked her team, "Anyone see anything?"

Ishikawa, on top of a high rise across the river replied first, "Nothing out of the ordinary here."

"Same here" Boma simply said from a vacant freighter.

"Nothing also Major" the Tachikomas said in unison.

"I got nothing too." Batou heatedly exclaimed. "Do you think this Bitch set you up?"

"The Chief thought of that, that's why Pazu is investigating ways the bomb could have been smuggled in," she countered back. "I don't think this is a set up. It seems that this woman has something personal against me. She used my personal name alone, and directed her message …" Ending her statement before finishing, the Major gave her attention to a massive yacht advancing upon the docks. "Boys, I think we have company," she teasingly said.

As the eight story ship moored, Fusako stood on the top deck with the bridge behind her, ordering her crew of twelve. Following her directions, the men, two of which were cyborg, tied the ship to the crumbling dock. Glancing around, the woman saw the Major advance to the ship. "Hold it" she exclaimed to Motoko. "Were is you Tachikoma and friends?"

"I did as you said," Motoko smoothly answered.

"Very well, then you won't mind my men scanning the area." As the evil cyborg spoke, two armored suits departed a room two floors below her.

Witnessing the woman's backup, Batou quickly ordered his Tachikoma into the nearest building. Taking cover in an old storage house, he hoped the place had lead walls. It did not take him long to get his answer. Outside, he heard the suits pass by his hiding place. Nothing happened, the enemy passed him by. Thankful, both Batou and the blue tank let out a sigh of relief. Then Batou left his pod to follow the armored suits.

"We got nothing," a suit yelled to his leader.

"I am amazed a person like you listened. Since you held true, I will give you what you want." Then Fusako turned and waved her hand motioning for someone inside the top cabin. A large male cyborg sauntered out dragging his hostage.

Still unable to walk, Togusa rested his weight upon the cyborg's grip. His body hung lifeless, feet scrapping the floor behind him. As they left the dark cabin, Togusa, squinting his eyes trying to adjust them to the rising sun's rays. He noticed he was high on a ship with a large deck below him. Looking in front of him, he then saw his wicked tormentor. Not wanting to go near her, he began to struggle in the cyborg's tight grip.

"Oh look my dear," Fusako callously said to the Major," He woke up just for you. Now, if you want me to release him, drop your weapons and come aboard."

Carefully lowering her rifle to the ground, Motoko observed one of the armored suits approaching her. Then she unfastened her belt and placed it over her rifle. Boldly, she walked towards the ship. Then she linked with Batou and asked "Batou, do you think you can take care of the two armored suits?"

"I think so, but it's gonna make a whole lot of noise" he replied in a mischievously tone.

"Do it when I take my first step on to the ship" she ordered back. "Tachikoma, you take care of the men."

Lifting his large gun, he took aim on the armored suit furthest from the Major. Just as she took her step aboard, Batou fired his weapon and nailed the suit in the head. His direct hit bashed the head clear off the shoulders dropping it dead in its tracks. Without watching his first victim, he quickly took aim upon the suit near the Major. As it raced towards Batou's direction, it released a spray of bullets. Not concerned, Batou again fired his immense shoulder gun. Missing the head, his shot landed square in the chest, knocking the enemy backwards. Not failing to take his chance, Batou rushed to the toppled armored suit and began to fire multiple times into the chest cavity until it cracked. He next fired three more shots into the cracks killing its occupant.

As Batou began his attack, the two Tachikomas began to fire upon the men posted around the ship. They hopped from one location to the next, trying to hit all of their prey.

Knowing when Batou would begin his attack with her first step onto the ship, the Major prepared herself to leap to the top deck and the waiting opponent. As she heard gunfire, she leapt as hard she could and reached her destination.

Ready for an attack, the evil cyborg was not surprised as her armored suits took fire. Immediately, she grabbed a hold of Togusa and held him as a shield. She then spat out to her lackey, "Don't shoot her yet, I have something special planned for her." As the Major landed mere feet away, Fusako calmly said, "Stay put, or your friend will take a nasty little tumble to the main deck."

"What do you want?" Motoko asked in a composed voice.

"It figures you don't remember. You are the one solely responsible for my brother's death," she shrieked in response. In a depressed voice she continued, "He was the leader of the cell you destroyed. Because of you, he's dead."

Raising her hands to her hips, Motoko cocked her head and shrewdly stated, "That's why you wanted me. Give me a break; your idiot brother blew my cover by discovering my communications. He killed himself by driving off a road trying to flee from me. He as much killed himself than I did."

Expecting an apology rather than criticism over her dead brother, Fusako became infuriated. She wanted to kill the other cyborg with all her heart. Then realizing her shield meant a lot to the other woman, Fusako pushed him over the railing. As she pushed, she began to turn and run for cover into the ship.

Seeing Togusa go over the rail, Motoko lunged trying to reach him. Narrowly missing him, she watched as he struck the deck below. Togusa landed on his right shoulder first. His head snapped into the ground knocking him unconscious. Failing her friend, the Major turned to run after the other cyborg. Blocking her way, Togusa's former guard charged her. At once, the Major, swung her right leg around and kicked the man in the face throwing him into the wall. Next, she grabbed his gun and punched him until he lay lifeless. Losing her prey, Motoko sprinted after Fusako.

As Batou watched the Major, he saw with horror his friend fall. His heart breaking, he stood planted to the ground in shock. Only hearing his comrade's body slam on the deck, did he begin to move. Running with all he had, Batou dashed to his friend's motionless form. Afraid to touch him, but needing to know his condition, Batou carefully moved Togusa. Lifting his friend's arms he cut them free from each other, he then tried to find a pulse. Not feeling one, he noticed the arm fractured in at least two positions. Slowly, Batou moved his large fingers to the man's neck and searched. Faint, but there, Batou found a pulse.

Nearby, the Tachikomas shot the two remaining guards. Those men were full cyborg and proved to be hard to kill. The think tanks had to use each other as bait to trick the men out. While one turned off the camaflague, the other would shoot the enemy in the back of the head. Looking around for more opponents, they saw Batou leaning over Togusa. Quickly, they rolled over to their team members.

"Mr. Batou, is Togusa alright?" the natural oiled think tank asked concerned.

"No, no he's not. We have to get him to a hospital right away." he replied in a depressed voice. "Chief" he said over the cyber link, "we got Togusa. He's in real bad shape; can you send an emergency helicopter here?"

"Yes, I'll call immediately" the Chief replied, then asked, "did you find the bomb?"

Angry the boss seemed more concerned for the bomb than Togusa, Batou angrily retorted, "No Major is handling that." He then disconnected himself from Aramaki.

Not paying attention as she hastily ran, Fusako ran down a dead end hallway leading to crew quarters. Not wanting to be seen by her pursuer, the cruel woman dashed into a bedroom and locked the wooden door. Walking to the opposite wall, she opened the porthole. Examining the tiny window, she thought of squeezing through it. Deciding she wouldn't fit, she began to pace the room while to thought.

Listening to the other woman's footsteps, Motoko could tell she was catching up. All of a sudden, the noise stopped. Cautiously scanning the area, the Major assumed the other cyborg fled into a bedroom. Kicking in a door at a time, the Major inspected each room until she happened on to the locked door. Needing more effort than the first kick, Motoko hit the door with all her strength. Catching sight of the terrified cyborg, the Major happily walked in.

"Here I thought you would have been more concerned about your friend" the scared woman spat out as Motoko approached her.

"My first objective is to find the nuclear bomb you have, and then I get to follow my heart," she simply said in reply.

"Well I won't tell you" Fusako retorted.

Gracefully the Major rushed the other cyborg and forced her in one swift movement to the ground. Pinning her captive on her stomach with both hands behind her, the Major grabbed her cyber plug and jacked into her prisoner. With slight difficulty hacking the barrier around Fusako's ghost, the Major gained access to all the woman's knowledge. Probing for the last bomb's location, she quickly found it and relayed it through the cyber link to Boma and Ishikawa. "The last bomb is in an unguarded, light yellow sedan. It's parked in the state capitols parking garage. The bomb is set to go off in less than an hour from now."

"We'll get to it Major" Ishikawa responded as he and Boma took off for the location.

Disconnecting from her captive, Motoko stood upon the woman's back. Hidden under her jacket, she removed her handcuffs and locked them around her prisoners wrists. The Major, then pulled the cyborg to her feet and marched her out to the open deck. As they descended to the main floor, both heard a helicopter and looked at it. The craft was landing right onto the open first floor deck. Batou was near it waving his hands and motioning for the paramedics on board to hurry to his friend.

Quickly, the paramedics strapped Togusa to the gurney and loaded him onto the aircraft. Noticing room for an extra person, Batou pushed his way on board and sat next to his injured friend. The Major, meanwhile loaded her prisoner into the Tachikoma pod before entering one herself.