A whole week went by, Section 9 was still hard at work trying to gather the necessary intel on Sinclaire and the unidentified third man, and the police records came up a bust. Not a single police agency in Japan had received a missing child report that matched Stella's description. Of course, Stella had a witty comment when she'd heard that detail.
"It's as if I never even disappeared in the first place. I take it the local police are idiots compared to you guys here, right?" She smirked at the Major, who was trying to keep a straight face.
"This does seem strange, but then again, if what we know regarding Sinclaire's political connections is true, I have no doubts that includes the top police brass as well as politicians. She might have had the case erased from police databases, or even claimed her as her daughter to fool them." Aramaki suggested. "Stella, have you managed to remember anything else in the past few days?"
"Not much, honestly. Bits and pieces that don't make sense yet." Stella shook her head. "The only thing I do remember before becoming her personal fucktoy was her initial comment about how she got ahold of me. I remember being picked up off the street one day by some guy that said he'd take care of me... Made me call him Uncle."
"But considering Sinclaire's comment about receiving Stella, about her 'persuading' him... I have a sneaking suspicion that she killed him and just took Stella herself." The Major spoke up, leaning her hip against Aramaki's desk. "So that's a bust if I saw one."
"Still... It begs the question of how Stella got herself into that situation in the first place. Without police records, we would need to bring Sinclaire in personally, and question her." Aramaki thought aloud, which seemed to spark something in both the Major and Stella.
"Those punks..." Stella spoke aloud. "Are they fit for interrogation yet?"
"Y'know, I was thinking the same thing. I'll call the hospital and find out." The Major snapped her fingers with a smirk, and Aramaki quickly held out his desk phone for her to use.
After the call, she turned to Stella and said. "Tomorrow afternoon is their discharge time, but the police already agreed to bring them here for questioning first."
"Good... For some reason, thinking back to that attempt, I can't get this strange sensation out of my head... It's like... instinctive. It just had a vibe, like Sinclaire was standing right there the whole time... I could almost smell that gaudy perfume she wore when it happened." Stella was struggling to find the right words to explain the sensation she'd experienced at the time. "Even that rag they shoved into my mouth reeked of her perfume."
"So do you think that Sinclaire sent those men, I mean, the rag's scent would be long gone by now, but if that's the case, it would mean she'd recently interacted with the men... Hypothetically, of course." The Major hummed in thought as she explained her theory.
"I remember that smell... She always used the same perfume, from the very first day I was with her. It was on that rag." Stella was determined, her face set into stone. "So what happens if you do bring her in?"
"Well, since you're in protective custody, we can't let on that you're even alive. Considering her connections to Franz, she'd know that he was raided by police and was killed in the process. Your whereabouts to her would be unknown." Aramaki explained. "However... If you wish to confront her and force her to make a mistake, I think we can arrange that."
"Oh, do tell." Stella was keenly interested, her eyes narrowing and a smile tugging at her lips.
"Chief, do you have a plan?" The Major asked, facing him with a raised eyebrow.
"Stella, it's no secret that you've been completing our standard recruitment training. In fact, I should compliment you on how exceptionally you've done it... So, on that note; I'd like to extend an official invitation into our ranks... Would you like to become a member of Public Security Section 9?" Aramaki leaned forward, rather business-like. "It's your choice. You'd need to have a cyberbrain surgery as soon as possible if you do accept."
"On one condition." Stella smirked. "As much as I like the Serburo M5's... I'd like a different sidearm. There's this particular pistol I keep remembering, but can't figure out why it's involved in my memory."
"Oh? What model would that be?" Aramaki didn't consider the request unreasonable in the slightest. If anything, it was a good idea.
"It's an old model..." Stella explained for a moment. "I think it's called... uh..." Stella touched her forehead with her fingertips for a moment, thinking hard. "Beretta... Beretta M92f. Yeah, that's it." Stella looked up as she remembered the venerable firearm.
[Batou, do you have any old sidearms in your private collection?] The Major asked over a data channel. [Old Beretta's in particular.]
[I'd have to go check, but I'm pretty sure I do. An old M92f, I recall.] Batou replied. [Why do you ask? That's gotta be a fifty year old gun by now.]
[Just get it and bring it in. It's for Stella. The Chief wants to hire her into Section 9, and she said she keeps remembering that model for some reason.] The Major explained. [You could give it to her as a graduation gift. She did complete all the standard training, after all.]
[Well, if that's the case... Alright. I'll head out and grab it right after this training session.] Batou replied, ending the transmission.
"I just spoke with Batou, he said he'd check his private collection to see if he has one for you." The Major explained to Stella, who smirked.
"Is he pissed about it?" Stella asked. If she had a private collection of anything, she'd be less than pleased about someone taking away from it, especially something old like an M92f.
"Didn't seem like he was. He said it's stashed with his other weapons though, so he's going to bring it here later." The Major replied, putting her hands onto her hips. "So... Stella... Aside from your cyberbrain, you're going to need some ID and all the formalities. We can do that while Batou gets you your new gun."
"It's not really a recent model, Major..." Stella smirked as she followed the Major towards the door, only for Aramaki to stop them.
"Stella... Before you go, there's one last thing I have to tell you." He rested his elbows on the surface of the desk, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"And what would that be... Chief?" Stella smirked, her eyebrow raised sassily.
"Welcome to Section 9."
Batou couldn't help but tease Stella as he handed over the old pistol an hour later.
"Don't go and break it, y'hear? This gun's almost fifty years old." He smiled as he put his hand onto her shoulder, his tone serious. "You did good, kid. Don't let me down."
"What? No 'Stella-chan' comment? Is this even the real Batou?" Stella quipped, waving her hand in front of his face as everyone laughed.
"So, Stella... Now that you're a member of Section 9, how should we proceed with our case with Sinclaire?" The Major smiled as Stella slid her Beretta into her leg holster.
"Bring her in for questioning, I suspect her to be involved with prostitution and slave trafficking... She's also wanted in connection to a kidnapping case." Stella replied, smirking.
"Ishikawa, do you have her location?" The Major turned to the bearded man, who nodded. "Everyone else, keep up you current angles for this case. We're not finished yet!" The Major turned on her heel, quickly followed by her new partner, Stella.
Olivia Sinclaire sat at her desk, her legs spread as one of her sex slaves orally pleasured her underneath. She had long ago learned - and mastered - not showing signs of her arousal. Suddenly, a knock at her door made her look up with a frown.
"Enter." She commanded, and the door was opened to reveal another female slave, dressed in a full maid uniform.
"Madame, you have a visitor. They said their name is Motoko Kusanagi."
"Send her in." Sinclaire ordered, tapping the top of her desk sharply to stop the slave under her desk. The slave immediately retracted from her nether lips and dutifully adjusted her Mistress' outfit just in time for the guest to enter, accompanied by a second maid. "You're Motoko Kusanagi?"
"Yes, Madame Sinclaire." The Major bowed respectfully. "May I enter?"
Sinclaire's lip twitched into a smile. This woman seemed to know her place in this situation. "Of course, please, sit."
The Major sat in the preoffered chair and allowed Sinclaire to resume her seat.
"So, how may I be of assistance?" Sinclaire asked, clasping her hands together on the desk, keeping her knees together to silently tell the slave to stay silent.
"I'm looking for a lost girl, and I was directed towards you in the hopes that you would know her." The Major explained, maintaining eye contact with Sinclaire the whole time.
"Could you describe the girl?" Sinclaire seemed curious, and leaned forward slightly.
"Why not just show you a picture? I'm not very good at descriptions..." Motoko reached into her pocket and produced a folded photograph, which she respectfully handed to Sinclaire, who accepted it and raised an eyebrow for a moment before slowly unfolding it. She read the bright red marker scrawled over the image aloud.
"'Turn around'...?" Sinclaire's eyes widened in alarm, spinning her desk chair so forcefully that her knee collided with the slave's shoulder in the kneespace.
"Did you miss me... Mistress?" Stella shimmered into sight as she disable her new Therm-Optic camo, her smirk and expression rather amused. "You did always say I was your favourite."