Jun 27th 1:25PM FUSSO USSD BASE
A bright beam of a light saber pierced through the back of a buisness suited, pale skinned androgynous man. The man gurgled then grunted when the beam of light was pulled out then he as cut in two by Chikage with her saber staff.
Colonel Andrews waved the other black clad androgynous man forward and the Shadow Spider raised a hand held SMG at Chikage. Chikage frowned and used her force powers to grab it and toss it aside. The Shadow Spider then drew a short sword then ran at her. Chikage frowned, parried the swing and the Shadow Spider was rendered in two just like his fallen comrade.
Chikage glanced at Andrews who then pulled out his own side arm but then grunted when she started to force choke him. "You seem to not understand that I WILL render your treaty null and void, Colonel."
"Nnngh."
"Where are the rest of the MIYUs." Chikage asked. "Answer me!"
"Hanger 4B."
"On this base?"
"Y..Yes." Colonel Andrews nodded.
"Thank you, Colonel." Chikage smirked cooly as she let go of his throat. "Do not have your men impede me."
With that she disappeared into nothingness.
"Damn that witch..." Andrews scowled.
Illusions: Full Metal Tokyo Panic
Chapter 7 On the town.
1:30PM August 1st 2033AD Caldwich-Archangel Tower.
"Alright, get in," Dustine smiled and opened the door of the SUV for the revived Solnoids. Natsuki was already in the drivers seat while Shizuru was standing next to the door.
"Are we going in this on the ground level?" Patty pointed to the semi large vehicle.
"Yes." Shizuru nodded. "Just a quick tour of the city."
"Really?" Patty smiled at Dustine.
"Yep."
"I did want to see it." Patty smiled
Lufy looked the vehicle over then frowned. They had wheeled APCs sure but she was surprised that the humans didn't have hover vehicles.
"It doesn't even hover?" Lufy frowned.
"HUSH Lufy." Rabby rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah..." Lufy grumbled as she climbed in. Rabby followed her, Patty after Rabby, Catty and then Dustine. Shizuru shut the door and got into the front passenger seat.
"Alright," Dustine smiled and belted in. They blinked at her then cocked their head. "Oh um...belt up like your in a fighter?"
"Oh these are safety restraints. Got it." Rabby nodded and belted in. The others followed their lead. Once they all belted in Natsuki started up the SUV and drove out of the underground parking garage and slipped into traffic. two more smaller SUVs, filled with security personel, left the parking garage. Patty blinked at the amount of cars and other ground vehicles on the road.
"LOTS of Cars," Patty noted. "Lots of people. Hey do you think one could..."
"The car is armored, so don't be worried..." Dustine added.
"I see." Patty nodded. "How many people are in Mega Tokyo?
"7 million."Catty answered.
"THAT MANY?" Patty blinked.
"Its the highest population density city." Dustine added.
"That means people are packed in pretty tightly here." Catty deadpanned
"Actually, the high-rises and underground arcologies actually keep population pressures down..." Dustine paused, "Or were you joking?"
"I was a little." Catty smiled.
Natsuki smiled then blinked when a woman driving a racing bike and red and blue leathers raced by on left hand lane then zipped in front of her.
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!" Natsuki bellowed.
"Natsuki, YOU do that too." Shizuru admonished her.
"Still!" Natsuki growled.
"Wow that was crazy..." Rabby blinked.
"Who was that?" Lufy asked.
"Who was that? And can I get one?" Lufy declared
"You need to get a job here first." Dustine noted
"Tch.." Lufy frowned.
"Thats the breaks." Dustine shrugged.
"As for the rider that was Priss Asagiri. She's a local musician. She sings rock music.
"Ah." Lufy nodded. They continued on with the tour through the streets.
"Jobs eh..." Rabby mused. "I haven't really thought about that yet. I mean yeah I could have stayed on Marsus and had a civilian career but I chose the navy."
"From talking to you, I'd think you'd all qualify for technical work. Well, other than Lufy," Dustine teased
"Hey!" Lufy retorted.
"But first we need to get you IDs or more likely our ally has to get you IDs. Oh yeah. Um. We're kinda they're go between. Though I guess we could help too."
"I wouldn't mind doing security," Lufy admitted. "I always liked fighting."
"Security also means guarding and protecting others, not just fighting, Lufy," Dustine reminded her.
"I liked that too," Lufy shrugged
"Why not give them Jobs with C-A?" Shizuru grinned.
"I might have to clear that with Toratotaka." Dustine sighed.
"They may very well suggest we do the same you know, boss," Natsuki chuckled.
"Yeah yeah." Dustine nodded.
Moments later four stomachs rumbled.
"Hmm." Dustine frowned.
"Shall we grab some food?" Shizuru smiled.
"Yeah." Dustine nodded. " I know of a quiet ramen shop nearby."
"Why not your favorite spot. T&H?" Shizuru asked.
"Ugh thats a tatcial nightmare." Dustine sighed. "and I'll have to call ahead of time so they can clear the place out."
"What's T&H?" Patty asked.
"Its a hobby/game shop where you can get hand held portable games to play...and other things." Shizuru smiled.
"I think we've seen Spea play one of those." Patty noted.
"Could be fun." Catty smiled slightly.
All three look at her.
"Next time. I promise. I don't want to put my friends out."
"Your friends own this hobby shop?" Catty asked.
"Yeah. Um. I kinda just showed up with some security and they chided me for not calling ahead of time." Dustine noted
"We can look after ourselves." Lufy protested.
"In a crowded place?" Dustine noted then sighed. "You could all get abducted. We haven't been given the total all clear from our ally, yet."
"We CAN look after ourselves." Rabby glared at her.
"I think it'll be fine director," Shizuru smiled back at her. Dustine heard their stomachs rumble again and looked at their determined faces. Dustine sorta felt sorry for em too since she had to keep them under lock and key.
"Let me call them then." Dustine sighed.
"Alright!" The girls smiled.
20 minutes later...
"I'm so sorry for this." Dustine apologized to Nanoha and Fate as they greeted the new group at the entrance.
"At least you called ahead of time," Nanoha nodded then smiled contritely when their stomachs rumbled. They were also wide eyed with all the sights and sounds. Well most of them anyway. "Lets take them to the cafe. Its quieter there."
"Okay." Dustine nodded and with that Nanoha lead them to an elevator that took them all the way to the fourth floor. Once on the fourth floor, they were whisked into the cafe and sat at a large corner booth. Menus were handed out and the Solnoids peered at them with curiosity.
"So what'll it be?" Nanoha asked.
"There's a few things to choose from." Patty noted.
"Sandwiches might be okay." Rabby noted.
"We also have a few ramen bowls here too." Fate smiled.
"Ramen?" Patty asked.
"Its like a bowl full of noodles and either meat or vegetables." Dustine explained.
"I'll try the ramen bowl." Patty smiled.
"Sandwiches for me." Rabby.
"Ditto." Lufy nodded.
"Be right back," a waitress beamed and trotted off. Lufy grinned as she watched the waitress run off. Rabby, seeing this, poked her shoulder.
"What?" Lufy grunted.
"Lufy, stop looking at her ass," Rabby scolded
"It's a cute skirt!" Lufy shrugged.
Nanoha sighed then glanced at the girls. "So I suspect you're the ones that Dustine's guarding, right?"
"Like a mother hen and her chicks," Catty deadpanned
"I'm not THAT bad," Dustine pouted "...I had to keep them safe."
"You know sticking them in C-A jumpers will make them stick out a bit." Nanoha noted then glanced at Natsuki "What are you doing after this?"
"Probably seeing the city a bit more then heading back to the tower." Natsuki nodded then arched an eyebrow curiously. "Why?"
"How about a clothes shopping trip. There's some nice places around here." Nanoha suggested.
"Some casual clothes will definitely help to blend in a bit more." Fate added.
"We'll see. We're still worried about the MIYU attacks." Natsuki sighed.
"Haven't they been dealt with though?" Fate frowned
"There's a few unknown elements about it that's making Natsuki and Dustine uneasy." Shizuru noted. Food was soon served not long after. As the food and drink were served Nanoha and Fate pulled Dustine aside.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"How many others are there?" Nanoha asked quietly.
"Six including their leader." Dustine nodded.
"...and do you plan to guard them for the rest of your life?" Nanoha asked.
"Not really...after they're all awake T'n'T would sorta take over with that." Dustine noted then sighed. "Though at least Lufy's sorta interested in joining our security teams. Maybe."
"What if they all joined your company." Fate mused then smiled. "You could look after them without activily looking after them."
"That depends on all of em I guess."
"There is that." Nanoha nodded. The brunette gave her a gentle hug and a peck on the cheek "I'm sure something will work out. For them and for you."
"Yeah." Dustine nodded.
"Oy. Are ya done making out over there. You're foods getting cold." Lufy called out loudly. Dustine blushed.
"Lufy!" Rabby chided her again.
"Alright!" Patty cheered nearly an hour and a half later as she she emerged from a simulator pod of BattleTech V.
"Of all people Patty beat us?" Lufy frowned.
"That's because YOU just went in with guns blazing." Rabby sighed.
"Yeah yeah." Lufy sighed.
"Interesting game." Catty noted.
"Oh?" Patty blinked.
"The cool down and heat parameters were very realistic." Catty noted then looked to Dustine. "Is there anything like this in real life, ma'am."
"We've really only produced 5 meter battlemovers." Dustine shrugged. "I don't think we'll have anything remotely similar to a battle mech for the next 50 years or more."
"Hmm."
"Don't get her started on Valkyrie's either." Nanoha smirked.
"Valkyries?" Rabby's small crew blinked. Dustine just held up a finger and reached into a bag nearby and pulled out a Valkyrie model kit box.
"Uwaaah." The girls blinked then and grinned. "Wow."
"Its a fighter and a robot?" Rabby blinked.
"Hey that's cool." Lufy grinned
"Why does the third mode look so weird." Patty pointed to the legged one.
"Thats called GERWALK mode." Dustine smiled and made some sweeping motions with her hand. "Its basically half plane and robot. You can skim over the land or water in this mode and reverse in space with the leg thrusters.
"Hmm." Both Patty and Rabby hummed thoughtfuly
"I've read about these models." Catty noted as she peered at the package then looked at Dustine. "Are you a collector?"
"In my spare time yeah." Dustine.
"She kinda gets too much into it though," Fate poked Dustine's cheek.
"Hey." Dustine frowned.
"Are they easy to make?" Catty peered at the model again.
"Well it takes patience and good hand coordination." Dustine noted.
"Hmm." Catty nodded.
"Dustine you're going to turn your new friend into a modeler." Nanoha sweatdropped.
"What's wrong with that?" Dustine frowned
"Friend?" Catty blinked then glanced up at Dustine. "...I think I'd like that. To be your friend. Lets share interests."
"Ah. Sure." Dustine blinked then blushed.
Catty chuckled.
"So these don't exist now?" Lufy asked.
"Well fighters do but these are kinda imaginary," Dustine noted then grinned. "They're the main robots from a series called Macross."
"Hmm I see."
"Interested?" Dustine grinned.
"In making plastic models. Nah. That's not my style." Lufy noted.
"Fair enough." Dustine nodded.
She checked her watch then sighed. "Oof we gotta get going."
"Aww." Nanoha pouted then gestured to the brave duel chambers. "I was hoping to show these girls our product."
"What's that..." Patty glanced at Dustine while pointing at the chambers.
"Well its a virtual reality game where you use cards and avatars to beat your opponents." Dustine replied then smiled at Nanoha and Fate. "Thanks for having us."
"Your welcome," Nanoha grinned then gave her a long hug. "Stay safe out there."
"Will do..." Dustine nodded.
"Brave Duel," Patty hummed as they left the building. "We could try it next time."
"We could," Rabby nodded.
"I dunno...seems strange to me." Lufy frowned.
"Do you play this game too?" Catty asked Dustine as they got into the vehicle.
"I used to when I was younger," Dustine nodded then smiled. "I actually wanted to become a pro player at it but my parents had other plans for me."
"Ah..." Catty nodded.
Augst 2nd 2033AD
Toratotaka Complex Nerima.
"So the girls are waking up eh?" A red haired man asked as he gazed out the city with a coffee cup in hand.
"Yes, Yoshio," Megumi said a smile then noted to him. "Two more including Patty, Lufy and Rabby have awakened from their long slumber. Ageni is trying to keep them hidden but from what our spies told she is letting them out for a bit."
"Okay. So theres just Shildy's group and the captain right?" Yoshio Saotome nodded.
"Yes." Megumi nodded then smiled contritely. "Ageni reports they're interested in integrating into society. She's already trying to hold them back until the security issues are resolved."
"Mm. Anything on Andrews or the MIYUs?" Yoshio frowned.
"He's gone...surprisingly silent." Megumi frowned.
"Which means he's planning something." Yoshio nodded.
"Or he got the hint from Chikage-chan," Megumi nodded.
"That's a possibility too," Yoshio nodded. "Alright set up for all the girls and send them over to Ageni when you can."
"We'll get the names they'd like to use," Megumi added
"After that It'll be their call I guess." Yoshio nodded and sipped his coffee.
"Assuming they want to do this kind of work.. we could use a covert, unregistered group." Megumi suggested.
"Let's give them time to decide what they want to DO first." Yoshio noted.
"Hmm. Point. Megumi nodded.
"We should also put aside funding for housing, along with whatever training they end up needing." Yoshio noted.
"Yes sir," Megumi nodded.
August 3rd 2033AD Caldwich-Archangel Tower
"Hurry hurry," Catty tugged Dustine down a familiar hallway towards the cryo chambers and recovery beds. She beamed back at her. "Shildy's group and our Captain has awoken. She's asked to see the leader of this facility."
"Which is me." Dustine admitted. Again she was tugged into the recovery room where the rest were sitting on beds. Lufy, who was standing by a bed which contained a dark haired woman, blinked as she watched Dustine whizzed past.
Who was that? The dark haired woman asked.
Dustine, this facility's leader so to speak, Shildy. Lufy nodded then smirked as she held out a hand. We meet again...again.
Yeah. Shildy nodded then glanced at Lufy. Is it safe here?
I think so. Dustine's watching out for us. Lufy nodded As for the rest of the world...well...We'll brief ya on that.
I see. Shildy nodded.
Meanwhile, Catty lead Dustine over to a bed containing a woman with short red pink hair. Rabby and Patty was sitting next to her bed, grinning, while the red head was quietly chatting with them.
"I brought her, Captain," Catty reported.
"Thank you, Catty," The red head replied then looked to Dustine as she sat on the opposite side of the bed. "You must be Dustine, right?"
"Nice to meet you," Dustine smiled
"I could say the same," Eluza frowned thoughtully. Her frown then relaxed into a smile. "Thank you for treating my people well."
"Well, we're trying..." Dustine replied
"Rabby has told me that there are some...concerns for our safety." Eluza noted.
"Somewhat. Though the immediate danger has faded now." Dustine noted.
Eluza noted that she didn't say it was gone. Interesting.
"What now director?" Eluza asked.
"We need to give you guys time to recover. You'll stay here at this facility for now." Dustine nodded.
"Very well," Eluza nodded.
"Ma'am," a medic handed Dustine a tablet. "Everything checks out, but there ARE signs of a cardiac event of some sort. Cause unknown."
Dustine blinked, took the tablet, looked at the data then looked at Eluza as the medic went to check on the others. "You had a heart attack?"
"She died from that one too." Rabby sighed.
"How..." Dustine blinked.
"Alien life form tried to infest me, basically. My body died fighting it off," Eluza explained.
"Then how..." Dustine pointed to her.
"A recovery team found my casket floating out in space and...well we were low with manpower and captains at that point." Eluza noted then shrugged. "They revived me and I was reunited with a few of my former crew mates."
"...and that would be the two of you." Dustine glanced at Rabby and Patty.
"Yeah." Rabby nodded.
"I see," Dustine nodded. From what Catty had told her, the battles between their race, the solnoids, and their antagonists, the paranoids had gone on for two to three centuries. Part of her thought that was kinda harsh, just to fight in the war effort, but the other part of her told her it wasn't her place to judge. They were, after all, happy to see each other again...again. Dustine took a deep breath and asked the others.. "I see. No other issues among you?"
"None but..." Patty shook her head then nodded. "Amy could help us out in a pinch. She's had some medical training in the field."
"That should help I suppose." Dustine nodded. Moments later, her watch beeped. She switched the beeping off, sighed and then leaned forward. "Sorry to cut this short but I have meetings to attend."
"Well we all have our duties, director," Eluza nodded then smiled. "Again thanks for looking after my crew."
"My pleasure," Dustine nodded and stood up. "Rest up."
"We will," Patty nodded.
With that Dustine breezed out of the room. As she did her stomach rumbled which caused Dustine to blush as she left the recovery rooms.
"That was a loud rumble. Is she always hungry?" Patty blinked.
"I think I interrupted her lunch break to be honest," Catty blushed sheepishly.
"Catty..." Rabby chided the purple haired girl.
To be continued...