Chapter Twelve: Deployment, A Rescue (Part 2)
Me: (drinks her coffee)
chaos: ...How long has she been awake?
Shion: Well...she says she can't sleep because of the night before--she went to Homecoming for the first time--and didn't like it. She enjoyed it, but she didn't like it.
Jr.: Why?
Shane: Girl stuff, my boy. Girl stuff. Enjoy this chapter.
We're going to be heading into the Consolidated Advanced Technology Testing Ground again. I better check our equipment before we head there.
Shion and the others readied themselves by checking their weapons along with whatever equipment was on them. Better safe than sorry, people would say. Once that was done, the brunette left the group for the Möbius Hotel. When she walked inside, she was tapped on the shoulder by her former assistant. "Chief! Before we go to the Consolidated Advanced Technology Testing Ground, I have some information for you!"
"Information? What is it?" Shion asked him. "It's not that I don't trust Miyuki, but you know what that place is like! It'll give us an advantage in battle in case we still wind up having a fight!" Allen began to explain to the brunette woman about a system called the 'Skill Line' and the basics of using it while showing it to her on his portable gear. "Well, that's about it. I've got an idea!" he exclaimed nearly startling the woman. "I'll give you my skill points, so go ahead and try them out!" She nodded as he sent his skill points--20--to Shion's own portable gear.
"Also, Chief, I've sent this explanation to your database. Just in case you want to hear it again!"
"Thank you, Allen," she told him with a small smile. "I'm sure this'll come in handy when we get to the testing ground." He blushed lightly then looked at his watch on his right arm. "Oh, Chief! It's almost time, isn't it? We're going to infiltrate the CAT Testing Grounds," he said. "The others should show up once it gets dark, so let's wait here in the hotel until then."
"Right," Shion replied as she began to walk to the elevator with Allen. "Miyuki should be helping us out on site. I think it'd be best if we don't leave the hotel together. It'll cut down on drawing attention to us. Is that all right?"
"Yes."
He nodded at her some. "Then we'll wait for night fall, until the start of the mission."
Down in the hangar of the Marquis de Sol, Shane stood in front of her E.S. Striker as it was kneeling down almost in reverence to the young woman. She closed her blue eyes slowly only to have them snap open in a turquoise color. Shane glanced around the room then walked forward to embrace the cool, inviting steel of the blue/white mecha's arm gently.
This machine...is a weapon you use in battle, am I right? a gentle voice with a hint of British sounding accent asked.
...Wha..who the hell are you and why are you in my body?! Shane's inner mind asked angrily. Where's Rukia?!
She is here, with us. Don't worry; no harm came to her. She is simply resting.
...Resting? Is it because of U-DO or...something else entirely? The image of a young woman with long dark blue hair stood amidst the dark reaches of Shane's mind; her back to the girl's gaze. A little bit of both, really. But like I said before, don't worry...she's a part of you...as I am you. We will speak with each other again...but the time isn't right.
Shane opened her eyes again, looking around to find herself back in the hangar of the ship and hugging the Striker's hand. She rubbed the back of her head gently as she cursed to herself under her breath. Shit...another one's inside me?
Later during the night at the Mobius Hotel, the group readied themselves as they did earlier. Jr. walked inside the hotel with his arms crossed. He glanced at the ragtag team then nodded. "Everyone ready?" he asked.
"Listen, we're going up against an important facility of the Galaxy Federation military. They'll attack intruders without stopping to ask questions, so stay on your toes." Everyone looked to Allen with a concerned look in their eyes. "You're the one we're most worried about," the red-haired boy said only to cover his ears as the man narrowed his eyes at him.
"Hey! I know that facility better than anyone else here!"
"I know. I'm counting on you." He looked to Shion with a warm look on his face. "Chief..."
"Geez, and I thought I was a slut puppy for affection.." Jr. grinned madly once he was met with a glare by Allen. Jin blinked at the group then sighed softly. "Sorry to interrupt your tender moment, but we don't have much time. Let's get going."
Later, on the road to the CAT Testing Grounds, the group ran over to a whitish-grey transport car as it arrived at a station similar to that of a old bus station. Once it had stopped, Miyuki stepped out of the car and waved hyperly at the group. "Shion! Over here! Come on, hurry!" The group stopped near the obviously hyper young woman, Allen 'shhing' her loudly. "Hey, hey, not so loud. Do you want them to find us?" he asked only to have her grin in response. "So, is everything ready?"
The dark-haired girl nodded at him. "Yep, all set! I tweaked the security, so you've got a free pass inside."
"...I hope you didn't make any mistakes this time," Shion said, folding her arms. "Oh, come on, you can trust me! You're the one who told me not to do anything dangerous and then asked me to help you."
"There isn't anyone else I could ask."
"What about Doctus? You could have asked Scientia!" Miyuki exclaimed only to be 'shhed' by most of the group in response.
"They're busy with something else. Besides, this is our own problem," the brunette told her. "I can't ask them to help with this." The dark-haired girl let a shocked look come onto her features then pointed at Shion. "Ah-hah, I knew it! You're only using me because there's no one else!" She heard Allen snicker along with others in the group (MOMO and Ziggy) as she growled. "Hey! Stop laughing!"
"So, how do we get in?" Jr. asked, changing the subject entirely.
"The main gate is sealed, isn't it?"
"Don't worry. We can get in by using the mono-carrier below. We'll also use the transporter within this facility. As for the route, first we'll head from deck number two to the exercise area," Allen explained. "Past that is a transporter on deck number five. That'll take us to the research wing where KOS-MOS is."
"Right! Just leave the rest to me! I've got something up my sleeve just in case we get caught," Miyuki told the group as they let looks of complete worry on their faces. She continued to talk, apparently ignoring the gazes. "And I'll even help fight against any guards we may happen to run into."
"Your job is to make sure we don'tget caught. Please don't screw this up, Miyuki." Jr. and chaos began to snicker; Miyuki's face becoming flushed with anger.
"Hey! I said stop laughing!"
"Lieutenant Colonel Shane Kukai, please report to the Captain's office A.S.A.P. I repeat: Lieutenant Colonel Shane Kukai, please report to the Captain's office A.S.A.P," the female announcer stated on the intercoms of the Federation ship. Shane looked up at the ceiling of the hangar as the announcement echoed in the large room. She cursed under her breath, walking towards the elevator.
The hell does he want now? she thought to herself once she got into the elevator and pressing the up button.
Shane tapped her foot lightly with her arms folded, looking up at the ceiling. She suddenly gasped as flashes of red-violet came over her eyes along with other images: a man standing on top of a rock with others dressed in brown robes, a woman singing gently as she reached for the blue sky, and a young woman wearing a light blue dress speaking with another girl--the same girl that Shane spoke with.
Her again...what...the hell is going on?!
The elevator came to a stop on the third floor of the ship, the doors opening slowly. Shane growled lightly then walked out of the elevator and walking towards two grey double doors; the Galaxy Federation logo on the front. She stopped in front of the door as they hissed then slid open to show a large room that was lavishly furnished. The man sitting at the desk looked up at the pink-haired girl and smiled.
"Come in, Lieutenant Colonel Kukai. I've been wanting to speak with you."
At the CAT Testing Ground, the group jumped into the mono-carrier as it took them to the main building and inside. There, they fought against guards along with automated machines who tried to hinder their efforts to save one of their own. The group eventually made their way to the transporter dock as Shion looked around the eerily quiet area.
We've come out on the platform, she thought to herself. So far, so good...but first, we need to get on the second transporter.
The group moved their way to the No. 2 transporter and took it to the No. 2 area. After arriving, Shion's group moved on to another transporter area as they took the No. 5 transporter to the next area--where an elevator waited. Miyuki patted Allen's back roughly as she giggled...very annoyingly.
If Shane were with them, she would have killed the woman by now. "Good work, guys. All that's left is to take this elevator to the research wing," she said. "We can relax now."
"Well, that was pretty easy," Jr. said placing her hands behind his head. "I told you I had everything all set! I'm pretty good, huh?" Shion shook her head with an impatient look on her face. "Yes, yes, we see how useful you are. Now, let's go."
Rawr, Shion, the brown-haired girl thought as she turned to the elevator and took out her portable gear, typing in a code. "Here we go!...Huh? That's weird." She typed in the code again only to have the elevator doors stay closed. "What's wrong?" Shion asked. "There's not much time. Hurry up."
"Um, well…the elevator isn't responding," Miyuki replied nervously.
The brunette narrowed her eyes and folded her arms with an irritated look on her face. "...Miyuki. You screwed up again, didn't you?" She squeaked lightly. "What? No, wait, it's okay! I thought this might happen, so I prepared another route! So, it's not a problem!"
"...Are you sure about this?" Shion asked. "Oh, Shion! Everything's fine! C'mon, let's go!" The brunette let out a frustrated groan then held her head tightly. Looks like we'll just have to keep going forward..
The group moved to the next area, fighting various enemies along the way. In the new area with a control console as the brunette pressed a red button and activated the console. "Warning: Purging restraint power unit," a computerized male voice said making the group look at one another.
"Wait, what did it say?"
Somewhere deeper in the CAT Testing Grounds, a certain beast was kept locked away. Suddenly, the restraint power units holding the beast opened and fell--or rather slid--into a dark chasm below. The group watched as a power unit lowered between the bridge gaps to form a full walkway. Soon, the group--filled with worry--moved out to another area. In this area, the group began to walk past a large window only to gasp in shock seeing a Gnosis with an orange/black/grey color scheme, large fists at its sides.
"What the--" Shion stepped towards the window only to have the large Gnosis slam its fist into the window, making various cracks in the glass then flew out of its holding cell and setting off alarms. "This block was a Gnosis breeding area. I think we just made a mistake." Jr. looked to Shion with a raised eyebrow.
"Keh, no shit."
"What is it you wanted to speak with me about, sir?" Shane asked as she stood with military precision. The captain--Captain Luke Raineheurt--looked at the girl with a small smile. He then leaned back in his seat to look outside at space and the rest of the Gedalya fleet. "That craft of yours...it was made by Vector, correct?" he asked the girl who now had a confused yet wary look on her face. She nodded at him. "That's right, sir. Why do you ask?"
"I want you to lead A.W.G.S. units out to fight against the Gnosis threat," he told her. "You're their commanding officer alongside Lieutenant Jun and also our songstress. So I want you to be careful."
Shane smirked at him. "Aren't I always, Captain?" The older man chuckled lightly. "So, am I to head out now or later?"
"I would stay in the hangar for a bit and if things don't get messy in the next hour or so, then you won't go out--"
"Unless we're under attack. I get it."
Back at the CAT Testing Grounds, the group moved on to the next area to the A.W.G.S. hangar. There, the group fought against both AG-01 and VX-7000. After the two battles, they rested as MOMO looked to the downed mechas with a small frown. "I never thought we'd end up fighting them," she said. "It feels rather strange." Jr. shrugged slightly. "It's only an A.G.W.S. The pilots pick which side they're on. Don't get emotional about it." The pink-haired girl pouted at him.
"I guess it all depends on who's piloting them," Shion said. "But it's not something you can easily forget."
MOMO nodded some. "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry." The brunette nodded as the group walked on to another elevator and its controls. "Hey, Ziggy? Do you think Shane's okay?" The blonde man nodded. "I'm sure she's fine. She did say that we would probably cross paths later on in the Geldaya region," he told her. The pink-haired girl nodded at him with a small smile.
"I bet chaos is waiting for it." The white-haired boy blushed slightly as Miyuki looked to them. "Whose this Shane girl you're talking about? That female Federation soldier?"
"Naw, the singer. Of course we're talking about the Federation soldier!" Jr. growled as Shion sighed, pressing the button for the elevator controls. The dark-haired girl ignored the boy then squealed like a schoolgirl once the elevator activated. "See, look! The elevator is functional! Just look at it!" she exclaimed. Jr. growled lightly, holding himself back from shooting the annoying woman.
"What do you mean, look at it? If the elevator worked earlier, we could have avoided unnecessary battles."
"That's true, but…see? Now we can go to the research ward!"
"...Are you sure?" Shion asked watching the girl nod. "Of course! Come on. Let's hurry up. I'm sure KOS-MOS is waiting, too!" The brunette sighed as the group moved into the elevator, the doors closing and descending to the Vector research wing. As the elevator descended, the elevator suddenly went past the research wing, causing Shion to raise an eyebrow. "What's going on, Miyuki? The elevator went past our floor."
"What? Uh, hmm… I wonder why," Miyuki said biting her lip in concern. The brunette placed her hands on her hips. "...You messed up again, didn't you?" She shook her head hurriedly. "No, I couldn't have. I checked it! Really, I did!" The others shook their heads at Shion's "bitch mode" towards Miyuki. Jin placed a shoulder on his sister's shoulder. "This isn't her fault," he said. He looked up at the ceiling and narrowed his eyes. "We are being lead somewhere by someone or something."
She raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Ziggy turned his head to look at Allen. "Where does this elevator go?" he asked.
"Oh, it's, uh… If we keep going down this way, we should end up at a large underground hangar."
"So, something's down there, then, huh," Jr. said looking back at the brown-haired man who shrugged his shoulders some. Shion sighed as her black-haired brother patted her shoulder. "It'll be alright, Shion. Just...calm down."
Chapter 12: End
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Sorry for the long wait...been busy. Gomen! R&R.
Teaser for Chapter 13:
As the elevator continued to descend, Jr. sighed softly then turned his head to the right side only to gasp in shock. "Hey, look at that!" he exclaimed. The group looked over as their eyes widened in shock at the large light-green machine that stood near the elevator--while was still descending--in its magnificent glory. "That's...Omega!"