DISCLAIMER: I do not own Code Geass or Transformers. They are (respectively) the property of Sunrise/CLAMP and IDW/Takara/Hasbro.

Rated: T for violence and language, as well as some drug use.

Sideswipe plays in a high stakes card game in a sting operation to entrap Frances Meier.


Chapter 9: Playing with Sharks

Silver Pearl Casino
Tokyo Settlement, Area 11

Sideswipe aka 'Chris' gently shook the small glass which contained whiskey before he placed it back on the poker table. The liquid swirled about while gray clouds from used cigars billowed over his table. He founded the smell repulsive and toxic to his olfactory sensors, but it didn't detract him from the game at hand. He was amongst four other players engaged in a round of brag, the current ante at two thousand pounds. He was thankful of the fact that he hid the money he had won during the train ride before the Lake Kawaguchi incident.

The red twin took cursory glances at Frances Meier, who was amongst the hostages when the crisis began, and saw him during the debut of the faction known as the Black Knights. Joseph Fenette's assistant had a scrawny appearance, with framed glasses and a diminutive stature. Sideswipe figured he wouldn't have any problems cleaning out this fellow since the man was known to have a gambling problem within the criminal underworld.

Across Sideswipe was Lord Marcus Bennington, the patron of the Silver Pearl. He wore a pre-Victorian style overcoat on his body, and had a build that was intimidating by human standards. In comparison to Meier, he was something of a bear unlike the introverted government official. The casino owner made it his business to drive everyone and anyone that crossed his path into debt. While Meier was in the deep end in terms of the amount of money he owed to Bennington, the only reason why wasn't dead yet was because of the fact that he played a role in the local criminal hierarchy. He was the middleman in several of the Britannian aristocrat's operations.

Since the two men had grown distant from each other, this clued Bennington that Meier has outlived his usefulness. Little did the Britannian noble realize that Meier was working for Thomas Arkeville, and it was Sideswipe's job to win the game in order to drag him out subtly. His processor sensed that something was amiss, and decided to keep going in order to find out what the casino owner was up to.

"I raise five hundred, open," Meier intoned as he pushed his stack of plastic chips to the center.

"Two thousand," Sideswipe uttered, as he leveled his eyes towards his adversaries. He had a good hand in play: a straight consisting of a king, queen and jack. The red twin planned to make a risky but daring move in forcing the other opponents out of play. He paid careful attention to their reactions, from the betting allotted to any anomalies that he deemed odd. Primarily in the areas of facial expressions and bodily movements.

"I fold," Meier said.

"Me too," joined two others.

"I'll fold as well. Don't go wasting all that away now, Mr. Snyder," Bennington huffed in a baritone voice. His fist enclosed around one of his most expensive cigars, tilting it slightly as it dispensed the ash contained within its bent form into the tray next to him. He, like many other members of the Britannian elite, held people like Sideswipe in contempt. The eventual outcome did not matter, for the human lord had something in mind that would send his opponents whimpering in defeat.

"The real fun hasn't even started yet," Sideswipe replied in a frank tone, eager to give all the other players a run for their money.

At the hotel adjacent to Lord Bennington's establishment a Hispanic man in civilian clothes ferried a silver briefcase, wary of his surroundings as he went through several flights of stairs. When he reached the rooftop of the hotel, he opened the contents of his cargo and changed into a dark blue tactical uniform with a bulletproof vest. Inside another compartment of the case he pulled out several components of a sniper rifle. He assembled the weapon with due haste and placed it on a bipod mount with optimal sight range.

The man peeked through his scope atop his firearm. The instrument's reticle was directed towards the general area around Sideswipe and Meier to keep them from harm. His task was to monitor activity from his position and keep an eye peeled for anything unusual. His trigger finger itched to take out someone that dared to do something stupid. The night offered plenty of opportunities in which he would get his fill of headshots.
_ _ _

Above the poker tables, twelve masked operatives in black battle dress uniforms kept their weapons drawn. The NSA agents led by Spike knelt above the glass dome like ravenous vultures as the Pretender continued to play against the target and their three opponents. The tension of the situation didn't ease the mind of the SEAL officer.

"Trailbreaker, status?"

[I'm parked near Edison Street, near Delacruz's post,] the Autobot replied.

"Good. Delacruz, you in position?"

"Yes, sir. I got Sideswipe and the target in my sights," called the sniper.

"Alright then, stay where you are and look sharp. Everyone else, lock and load."
_ _ _

Just a mere three tables away, Jazz and Marissa sat by themselves amidst a crowd who savored the splendor of the night. Whereas Marissa decided to wear a spaghetti-strapped dress that accentuated her figure, her Autobot colleague wore a light blue pinstriped suit that exaggerated his tastes in terms of clothing. A large auditorium with a band center stage played classical music. Many of the lights were darkened, leaving the stage the most illuminated spot of the space they were in.

"How are the girls holding up?" Marissa inquired as she sipped her margarita while watching Sideswipe from afar. Although she never met the three female students from Ashford Academy, Jazz spoke a bit about his experience with them alongside the Lambo twins. Words of praise coming from the special operations lieutenant meant a lot when it came to the nuances of human culture.

"They're still pretty shaken after that whole ordeal. Heck, they didn't even answer my phone calls or e-mails for that matter," Jazz replied. The Autobot shrugged his shoulders as he leaned his elbows against the table behind him. The theme that played in the background reminded Jazz of something but he couldn't place his finger as to what it was. It was somber but gentle. "I don't blame them."

"They could've at least answered back one of your calls."

"Best thing we can do is give them time. They're good folks. They'll come around," the special ops agent said.

On the center of the auditorium was a young, fair-skinned brunette in a glittering cocktail dress behind a mic stand. Next to her was a tall, slightly older male that wore a black dress suit with a red bowtie. Both of the humans had gleaming smiles on their faces as the audience greeted them in earnest with claps, cheers and whistles all around. Both the Pretender and his female companion figured that the two humans on the stage were famous in this part of Tokyo.

The male singer, Pharris Young leaned his face towards the mic, his voice amplified as he spoke: "I want to thank you all for coming here on this fine evening. Tonight, me and Sophie will be singing '4Ever Yours 2Night'. This one was a classic during the early twenty-first century, and I just wanted to dedicate this to all you couples that are here for this wonderful moment."

The main stage light beamed upon Sophie's slender form. Time stood still for a moment until she sang her heart out.

The needs I have are few
My only want is you
I'l aware of what I've found
You've turned my life around
For a million times one million years
I'll hold you near
And I'll whisper this into your ear
I will be yours, 4ever yours...

Pharris followed up next, his voice deep:

You make each day brand new
I can't be me without you
As your friend and as your man
My life is in your hands
And once I've held you for ten-thousand nights
It will still feel like
The first time we touched, when I said under the moonlight
"I'll be yours, 4ever yours"

When Pharris' last line finished, both vocalists sang in unison:

As a symbol and a sign
I have given you my heart
'Cause I love you
And I need you

I will be yours, 4ever yours 2night

A melody soon followed when the pianist on the stage played in sync with the chanting duo's tune.

"Hmm, this is a nice song. I remember playing the piano when I was only five," Marissa recalled from her youth. The music invoked memories which she was fond of before she served with the U.S. Marines. She never openly showed any regret of leaving her talent behind for things she grew adept at: fighting and logistics.

"I never figured you to be a pianist," Jazz teased the NSA employee.

Marissa lifted herself off the stool and offered a hand. "Care to dance?"

"Shouldn't it be me asking that question?" the white mech countered cooly. He welcomed the gesture of good will by offering his arm. The human field runner wrapped her arm around his, which he gratefully accepted. Both partners strode to the dance floor and took a stance, distancing themselves to allow some maneuvering room.

For a million times one million years
I'll hold you near
And I'll whisper this into your ear
I will be yours, 4ever yours...
Sophie voiced, her lungs adding extra timbre.

"This ain't too bad," Jazz said as they followed beat of the music that played. "Though I'd prefer something a little more energetic."

Marissa disagreed. "I'm not too sure, this sounds like a good enough song to me."

"Meh, I could live with that," the Autobot Pretender conceded.

As a symbol and a sign
I have given you my heart
'Cause I love you
And I need you
I will be yours, 4ever yours 2night

4ever yours 2night...
4ever yours 2night...

Just as spontaneous as his namesake, the band changed tracks into something that played at a faster tempo. The Autobot Pretender raised an eyebrow in delight.

"Looks like you got your wish," Marissa observed.

For this particular track, it was Pharris' turn to sing:

In a dream I could see
you are not far away.
Anytime, anyplace.
I can see your face.
You're that special one

that I have been waiting for
and I hope you're looking for
someone like me.

Sophie's vocals followed her fellow singer's:

In my dreams
I can hear you calling me
In the night,

everything's so sweet
In your eyes

I feel there's so much inside.

Both vocalists soon followed through with a duet, which evoked the same passion as it did for their first song:

In the nights, dream delight;
I want to see you standing there.

In the nights, dream delight;

I've found someone who really cares.

In the nights, dream delight;

I want to see your smile again

In the nights, dream delight;
You're the one I waited for.

As the tempo of the music changed, Jazz and Marissa followed the notes with a level of grace that belied in their skill. Their movements alternated along the length of the track, as the human spun with her Pretender colleague leading. While both savored the moment of the night's offering, the Autobot shifted his view from time to time. Sophie brushed her hair and sang to the crowd with vibrant energy.

In a dream we can do
everything we want to

There's nowhere I'd rather be
but here with you.
The stars above light the way
only for you and I.
I'm so glad I've found the one.
I've been looking for.

Keep the dream, Pharris chanted.
(Keep the dream), Sophie repeated.
Of the one you're hoping for
Love can come through an open door
Just be strong

Just be strong

And you're sure to find the one,
the one, the one, the one.

In the nights (in the nights), dream delights
I want to see you standing there
(see you standing there)
In the nights...
I've found someone who really cares
In the nights...

I want to see you smile again.
_ _ _

Downtown
Tokyo Settlement, Area 11

Lelouch's silhouette was concealed in the alley next to the hotel. A pair of white Glasgows from the Tokyo Knight police were in the kneeling position with the cockpit hatches open. The two pilots who were on patrol were taking a smoke break. Lelouch quickly figured a way to bait them into doing his bidding. All he had to do was call out to them and reel them in like catching fish from a pond.

"Good evening, gentlemen. Need a light?"

"Sure," answered one of the policemen, who had a cigarette that hung at the edge of his lips.

The vigilante's gloved hand extended outward with a lighter that lit a small flame. The senior policeman leaned his face closer allowing his cigarette to be lit.

One of the duo exclaimed in surprise as he recognized the caped individual's helmet. "Zero!"

Both drew their sidearms and aimed them at the ex-prince. "Hands up where we can see 'em!"

"Of course," Lelouch uttered, feigning surrender to the armed men. The ex-prince complied with the police officer's commands. It was exactly how Lelouch wanted it, as the two unsuspecting individuals stepped closer, the lens piece of his mask retracted. Both men stopped short a mere few feet and stared blankly at him as their eyes glowed with the familiar red hue when under the influence of Geass.

"Are you men under Lord Bennington's employ?"

"Yes," both men answered in zombie-like fashion.

"You serve me now. I need you both to get into your Knightmares and help me capture this person," Lelouch directed as he pulled a photograph hidden from his cape.

"We will do as you command."

Lelouch flashed a devilish grin behind his helmet as he called out to his comrades. "Kallen, is the rest of the group on site?"

"Yes, we're in place and awaiting your next instructions," Kallen called through his earpiece.

"I'm coming along with some help to assist us in our endeavor."

"Help? Aren't we the only ones involved in this operation?" Ohgi inquired bluntly, his tone semi-distrustful.

"Let's just say... I decided to sway a couple of gentlemen into lending us a hand," Lelouch replied facing back to he two police officers.
_ _ _

Silver Pearl Casino
Tokyo Settlement, Area 11

The music adjacent to the play area felt strangely soothing to Sideswipe's processor.
He proceeded to play his cards and felt that victory was within his reach.

"Twenty-five thousand."

Sideswipe arched an eyebrow in reaction to the ante raised by the mob boss. The red twin had a good hand in play, being only one of two remaining players in the game. As planned he managed to flush out Meier, leaving the only opponent left in the final round. Lord Bennington kept his cards face down and was opting for a victory.

"Fifty thousand," the red twin countered.

"One hundred grand, Bennington insisted, his victory assured. "Sure you wanna continue, boy?"

"You didn't think you'd cheat me with that little trick of yours, did you?" the red twin inquired with an arrogant smirk. He pulled the cards that Bennington flipped and showed the deception to the rest of the card players and the audience that viewed the game. The cards in the owner's hand were actually double-sided. Everyone became shocked at the revelation of Sideswipes' discovery. The Britannian aristocrat was impressed by the disguised Autobot's ability to perceive his trickery.

"Interesting. Looks like you've found me out. Regardless, I own this place, boy," Bennington thumbed to himself. "Pity you're not going to leave here alive."

The words gave Sideswipe a moment of pause: "What?"

"Well, I suppose we'll have to remedy that now, won't we?" Bennington said as he snapped his fingers. A group of armed men swarmed the table, with pistols holstered inside their jackets.

The Pretender cupped his chin pensively. "Hmmm, guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

Bennington signaled one of his henchmen to kill the Pretender. Having already anticipated what was coming, Sideswipe leaned against his chair and kicked the table as he rolled backwards swiftly. While in the middle he performed a handstand and lifted himself into the air. Sideswipe gracefully landed back onto his feet like a cat.

"If you're going to kill me, you'll have to catch me first!" the red twin waved at the aristocrat mockingly as he bolted his way through the crowd. Sideswipe leaped on the shoulders of one the casino visitors, before he went out of sight from the henchmen that were scattered throughout the structure.

The Silver Pearl patron barely held his wrath. What happened just mere seconds ago astounded him. The man who dared to swindle his winnings escaped from his grasp. "GET HIM!"
_ _ _

Jazz and Marissa stopped their dance and sighed in disappointment, witnessing the commotion close by.

"Looks like the party's over. Time to rock and roll," the special ops agent said.

Soon after they stopped a group of the gunmen that pursued the red Lambo twin headed in the pair's direction. Jazz extended a foot and tripped one of the mobsters that ran after Sideswipe.

"Whoops, my bad."

The felled man, aggravated, lifted himself back up and lunged a fist into the Autobot special ops officer's direction. Jazz sidestepped from the attack and used his momentum in executing a reversal throw upon the hapless human by grasping his wrist. The bigger man groaned in pain. If Jazz exerted any more of his strength he might have crippled the human for life.

"Sorry about that, brother," Jazz said apologetically.

"Jazz, what's going on in there?" Spike asked.

"It's a mess down here, looks like Sides' been had," the special ops agent said.

"Stay within distance. We're gonna provide cover for him now."
_ _ _

As they bore witness to the chaos from below, the NSA assault team chambered their weapons and prepared for a breaching action into the casino. Agent Solares cocked his pump action shotgun before the Americans readied themselves to charge in.

"Sir, Sideswipe's in trouble!" Solares said.

"I know. Delacruz, open fire," Spike ordered through his earpiece.

"Roger," the Hispanic NSA agent replied.

From the distance, the SEAL overhead the sound of a sniper that rang through the air. He watched as one of Sideswipe's pursuers fell from the gunshot. Each shot was like a thunderbolt that struck from the sky, killing each of Delacruz's target with relative ease. The attack threw the Britannian mob into disarray.

"Everyone, move in now!" Spike commanded his group. Solares took his shotgun and fired at the window. Glass shattered overhead as the NSA personnel rappelled from the roof with weapons blazing against the mobsters. Solares reloaded his weapon and fired again, taking down a few of the gunmen that pursued the lone Lambo twin. Delacruz provided additional fire support from his position in the adjacent building.

"Go, go, go!" Spike said with SMG sights leveled in front of him. All of the NSA agents took cover behind various slot machines and used them as protection against the more numerous mobsters that occupied the entirety of the building.

"Team, take cover now!"

Bullets ricocheted in every direction. Spike narrowly evaded one that almost grazed his cheekbone. He fired his MP5SD in three round bursts against the nearest opposition that held his group at bay. Successful in his endeavor, the SEAL took down several enemies and signaled his element to push forward to another section of the casino and seek out their quarry. While the American operatives were spread away from each other, they did not distance themselves too far out of sight.

"Alright, split off and find the target! Once we get him we're pulling out!" the chief liaison shouted aloud to his agents. He had a gut feeling that this mission was going to be far from quick and painless. He disengaged the safety of his pistol and re-holstered it before he brought back his primary weapon.
_ _ _

Sideswipe pounced on the various criminals that sprawled throughout the casino and attempted to block his escape route. From afar he spotted the entrance that led to the reception area of the casino. It was his one opportunity to make a break and go home free, until a line of men in suits impeded him and had their weapons pointed squarely at him.

"Now be a good lad and die," Bennington laughed gleefully.

The conversation between Sideswipe and his captors were interrupted by submachine gun fire several hundred meters away. The crowd of civilians turned to find it was none other than the Black Knights, whose faces were shielded under their visors. They were armed to the teeth and eager to deliver punishment to any criminal that dared to fire at them.

"Enemies of justice: the time for your judgment has come! Where is Frances Meier?" Zero demanded of the crowd.

"Ah, the infamous terrorist decided to grace us with his presence. Unfortunately you are in no position to demand anything. I have friends in many places," Bennington warned the outlaw.

Tremors were felt from above the casino. One white Glasgow crashed through the wall, collapsing the outer windows. The Britannian aristocrat gave a toothy grin as the mech aimed its chest turret squarely towards the intruding Black Knights.

"Kill them," Bennington commanded the pilot.

A silence ensued between the two parties. Soon afterwards the Glasgow leveled its automatic pistol not at the Black Knights, but at the people who held the red twin at gunpoint.

"What the hell is going on?!" Bennington roared in fury.

"It would appear your so-called "friends" has turned against you," the masked man taunted. "Continue this act of defiance and you will face a gruesome end. I won't ask again: where is Frances Meier?!"

In the main playing area Meier hid himself under one of the poker tables, his body shaking uncontrollably. He had no idea why there were so many people after him, let alone the Black Knights. Screams and outbursts among the civilian population that were gathered around the main lounge area filled his ears as they ran to whatever exit they could find away from the carnage.

"If you think you can just simply barge into my establishment and then walk away you are gravely mistaken. Shoot them now!"

Before any of the Britannian henchmen could take action, the Geass-controlled pilot of the Glasgow fired its armaments against the shooters and putted them out of their misery. The panicked men that constituted Bennington's security force brought out assault rifles and mercilessly blasted away at the turncoat Knightmare with everything they had to no avail. Bennington soon ended up as a victim himself when the Glasgow's ammunition pierced through him.

The NSA operatives widened their eyes in shock at the slaughter that ensued. Behind the Britannian mech was a familiar sight in which the Autobot/NSA operatives welcomed. Trailbreaker strode through and landed a fist into the factsphere sensor of the enemy Knightmare. Afterwards, the Autobot retracted his fist and fought in the defense his allies.

A phalanx of Black Knights formed a shield in front of Zero. Their firearms blazed away at their mysterious adversaries, unaware as to their purpose in the immediate area. The Silver Pearl Casino had become a war zone.
_ _ _

"Move!" Spike shouted as he shoved Agent Solares in between the slot machines. Gunfire poured into their path as the two men dove behind the game stations and used the them as an impromptu barrier against the bullets that threatened to maim them.

The Black Knights pinned the NSA with a fusillade of gunfire. Spike led an element of four agents to break off and advance towards the lounge area, where it was shielded by a wall encirclement made of linoleum tiling. The agent following Spike tapped the SEAL on the shoulder and handed . Spike nodded in acknowledgement and pulled the pin, tossing the grenade in a bowling motion as the object rolled forward towards three of the unsuspecting Black Knights.

Machinery shattered from the barrage of weapons fire from all parties involved. Ming vases shattered into fragments from the volleys of automatics as the Black Knights intensified their attack.

"Sir, I say we split off now and draw them away. We got a few frags in hand to take down a few of the BKs while Delacruz's got them covered from above," Farmer shouted amidst the gunfire.

"Go for it! We need to disperse their fire and extract the target out of here now!" Spike replied tersely. "And whatever else you do, do not come close to Zero. Understand?"

Warren nodded back, and turned to two of the NSA agents that were part of the twelve-man group as they bolted around their defense line. The three men roved through different sections of the zone. They were careful to avoid the attention of the Black Knights, whose resources were devoted in the suppression of all opposing forces.
_ _ _

Main Visitors Area
Silver Pearl Casino, Tokyo Settlement

"Keep those men out of the way until we get Meier. They may be after him as well," Lelouch ordered. His mind was curious as to who the mysterious black suits were. The skill level and the speedy execution of their movements gave him the conclusion that they were special forces soldiers. It was a feasible explanation, though the weapons that they wielded were unfamiliar to him. The smell of gunpowder filled the air, and reached his nostrils.

Why would these people be using technology that was rendered obsolete?

Kallen crouched on one knee and reloaded her assault rifle, sending a volley in the direction of the men dressed in unmarked blue uniforms. Her element prevented them from advancing any further towards the distraught Britannian. Tamaki dashed forward to the government official and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket. "I got him!"

"Hurry on back!" the ex-prince called. "Black Knights, maintain fire until we clear out. Tamaki, make sure that Meier does not get out of your sight. I want to have a few words with him alone when we get outside."

"With pleasure," the fiery Japanese rebel replied.

An explosion rang through the background, sending a small number of the Black Knights upwards and back onto the casino floor. Debris flew as another grenade exploded, killing more Black Knights. The ex-prince surmised that they were no match for these strange opponents, and opted for a tactical withdrawal.

"Kallen, have your team cover our retreat," Lelouch instructed of her.

The half-breed redhead turned back to the masked leader, a worried look cast upon her eyes. "Alright. What about you? Do you want me to tag along?"

"I'll be fine. Just stay alive."
_ _ _

Spike crawled on the deck with his pistol in hand. The gunfight that ensued between his team, the Black Knights and the local mob did nothing to deter him. He was determined to capture Meier at all costs, even if he lost an arm or a leg.

"Delacruz, where is that fire support?!" yelled the NSA chief liaison.

"There's an obstruction in the way, sir. My rounds won't be able to pierce through."

Damn it. There's more of them than there is us. We'll need to even out the playing field.

Trailbreaker came forward, acting as a shield against the bullets in which the Black Knights showered endlessly upon the NSA and the Silver Pearl mob.

"Need a hand?" the black Autobot offered, his red visor gleaming from the various light fixtures placed around him.

"Your timing's impeccable. We gotta find Zero and his men, they got Meier in their custody," Spike said.

"Not a problem, are the rest of your people with you?"

"They're back inside, soon as we snatch Meier we leave."

Spike dashed behind the Autobot, disregarding his own personal safety in pursuit of the expedition team's objective. Whatever the Black Knights wanted, they'd have to fight to keep his target away from him. The SEAL commander wasn't about to let the terrorists walk away unscathed.
_ _ _

Outside of the casino Tamaki dragged Meier outside where another white Glasgow stood guard. The red-headed Japanese rebel was uncomfortable at the sight of that mech, even though its weapon was locked under the cockpit.

"Please let me go! I'll give you whatever it is you want! My employer's got a lot of money," the civilian pleaded desperately. His cries for his release did nothing to sway the man who held him at gunpoint.

"Can't do that. Our dear friend Zero wants to have a few words with you. Whatever he's got in store, it probably isn't pretty," Tamaki smirked at the official. When they reached an isolated spot, a caped figure emerged from the shadows.

"Leave us," Zero commanded of his subordinate. "Greetings, Mister Meier."

"What do you want with me?"

"Information."

"I'm not sure I can do that," Meier answered with arms crossed.

"You cannot lie to my face, so you might as well answer what I am going to ask you," Zero threatened. The faceplate on the man's left eye lifted up and revealed a glowing eye with a bird-like sigil that flew. From there Meier stood helpless at power of the vigilante's deadly power.
_ _ _

Outside the Reception Area
Silver Pearl Casino, Tokyo Settlement

Nearly fifteen minutes passed when Trailbreaker and Spike looked for their quarry.
Desperation clawed at them, and the human officer wasn't in a mood to play hide and seek. It was at that very moment that he spotted Zero pointing a pistol into Meier's midsection.

"NO!" Spike yelled aloud before he saw a flash at the end of the pistol. The vigilante noticed the SEAL's outcry and dropped a smoke bomb, where his figure faded into nothingness. The white Glasgow that protected Meier and his interrogator fired at Trailbreaker first, which the Autobot knocked down as he plunged his fist into the torso of the Knightmare Frame.

The SEAL rushed to the aid of the downed official, who gradually bled from the gunshot wound.

"All agents: break off! We got the target, withdraw now! Marissa, I need you to come to our location ASAP." he commanded through his earpiece.

"I'm on my way."

As the situation worsened, Spike turned back to Trailbreaker. "We need to give him medical attention fast or he's done for!"
_ _ _

En route to Harker/Ferguson
Tokyo Settlement, Area 11

Trailbreaker drove as fast as he could under present conditions to the nearest hospital. The surgical instruments on loan from Ratchet's medical kit worked furiously in keeping Meier's body from flatlining to no avail. Since Meier was hooked on life-sustaining plasma from an ad hoc medical kit, Spike and Marissa wasted no time in interrogating the official. Spike kept a bandage on the wound, but it kept turning redder. The appendage gradually absorbed the seeping blood like a sponge.

"I suggest you start talking, Meier. What were you doing with a NOC list at your office in Lake Kawaguchi?" Spike interrogated of the dying individual. The man's body barely functioned due to severe blood loss from the gunshot wounds inflicted upon him.

"I was... paid by a man to keep an eye on Fenette."

"Why?"

"He was... digging around, trying to find our operation," the official whispered aloud.

"What operation?" Spike asked, he leaned closer slightly to try to make out the dying man's words.

"I... don't know. He never told me what it was all about."

"Give me your contact's name."

Meier kept his silence, his vision blurring back and forth.

"Who is your contact?!" the chief liaison bellowed.

"Arkeville, Thomas... Arkeville," Meier answered back weakly, his eyes struggling to stay open.

"Where is he?" Spike asked. No response came from the Britannian.

"Where is Thomas Arkeville?" the SEAL officer repeated, only to hear what he didn't want. A long beep blared through his ears. Peering at the monitors, Meier's vital functions leveled evenly into straight lines.

"He's gone, Spike," Marissa said, her face sullen.

On the spot, Meier expired before the Americans' eyes. The man's death felt like an insult to him, and Spike never felt humiliated by such a failure in his life. All he could think about was how Zero even managed to catch up to their quarry first, being outpaced not once but twice. The game was far from over, and he was not going to be outplayed three times.

End of Chapter 9


Author's note:

The song that played during Marissa and Jazz's dance is called '4Ever Yours 2Night', sung by Cynthia Harrell and Carl Anderson. The other track, called 'Dreams Dreams' was sung by Curtis King Jr. and Dana Calitri derived from the Sega Saturn classic NiGHTs: Into Dreams. I listened to this track many times past, and I figured it fitted the romantic atmosphere between the two during their little session perfectly.

There are probably several dozens of you dear readers that are thinking: "Feels kinda cheap". But then again, it works.

'Til next time...

Questions? Comments? Gripes? Please do not hesitate to tell me! Just remember: no flaming!

As usual, I would like to thank all of you who has read this fic so far and gave honest feedback. Keep in mind: the story is in and of itself an evolving continuum which is subject to changes in which I deem fit and necessary (along with a few helping hands), so don't say I didn't warn you. :)