4:00AM Japan Time. July 14th 2033AD
Caldwich-Archangel Tower, Tinsel City District, Mega-Tokyo, Japan.
A receptionist sat behind a medium sized oak desk in the spacious lobby of the Caldwich-Archangel Tower. The floor, columns and walls were polished black marble with gold trim around the floor. There were a few comfy couches and a few coffee tables on either side of the entrance way in the lobby. Two security officers wearing light gear were posted on either side of the door. Behind the receptionist were two guards guarding a stairwell leading to the basement levels of the building. There was another guarded entrance of to the right leading to the underground motor pool where many armored vehicles reside.
The receptionist yawned, causing the two guards near the front entrance to smile sympathetically at the girl. It had been a long shift without any activity except for a few staff who had left the building at 2AM. Several minutes passed until six figures pushed through the entrance. They were slender, wore hooded cloaks which obscured their form and had tufts of blonde hair that poked out of their hoods. The guards at the door blinked then frowned when their headphones squawked and buzzed as the figures pressed further into the lobby. the receptionist smiled contritely and stopped one. "Hello can I help you?"
One turned towards her as the rest marched towards the doorway leading to the lower levels. Her left hand was replaced with a heavy caliber weapon and pointed at her. "No. Die!"
"Freeze!" All four security officers bellowed as they drew their weapons.
"Damn it!" The girl yelped ducked under cover, hit the panic button alerting the security teams. She then pulled out a heavy pistol stored hidden under the desk and prepared for battle.
The women snarled threw off their cloaks and launched at the guards while klaxons rang throughout the entire building; waking up dozing and or startling tactical security teams that resided in the building. They bolted out out of their bunks, suited up and grabbed their Samguk sub-machineguns and heavy rifles.
Illusions: Full Metal Tokyo Panic...
A Illusions fanfic
By Darkranger12 and Shannon Luchies.
With Fred Herriot
Illusions was written by Fred Herriot was based on Shawn Hagen's No Armor Against Fate and Urusei Yatsura the Senior Year written by Mike Smiths and Fred Herriot. Mai, Natsuki, Shizuru and Chie are from Mai Hime which is copyrighted by Sunrise while characters from Gall Force is copyrighted to ARTMIC. Dustine, her family members and Caldwich-Archangel is created by me.
Chapter One
5:30AM July 14th 2033AD In a suburb of Megatokyo, Japan.
Dustine groaned awake as the phone on her end-table rang off the hook. She flopped out of bed, checked the time which read 5:30AM then picked up the phone and answered it. "Hello Ageni speaking. This better be important."
"Sorry to bother you boss, but there was an attack on the Caldwich-Archangel Tower in Megatokyo." A gruff woman replied.
"Kuga?!" Dustine sat up. "What why didn't you call me sooner? I could have helped?!"
"You could've also been a target, boss." The woman explained.
"Right." Dustine sighed then asked. "Press blackout?"
"In effect." The woman replied. "You should get going, boss. The girls are getting fidgety here."
"On my way," Dustine nodded, cut the connection and quickly showered, dressed and a cup of coffee before heading out of her apartment. She hopped into her car and drove off to the city. The elevated highway was well lit in the early morning. Outside, the 10 story buildings, some with lit neon signs some not, whizzed past while larger buildings and an ominous Ziggurat loomed ahead of her. She took an exit to Tinsel city and drove through the already busy streets of the Tinsel City District.
After weaving in and out of traffic she came upon Caldwich plaza where the 100 story black and white tower stood. Security was heavy and they were waving some vehicles through while sending others on a detour. As she pulled up she could see that the front entrance of the tower was smashed in and ruined. Heavily armed security was guarding the entrance while others were picking through the wreckage.
"What a mess." Dustine noted as she slipped out of he ground car.
Nastuki Kuga hurried up to Dustine, "Hey, Boss."
"Kuga." Dustine nodded then frowned as she looked around. "What happened here. Boomer attack?"
"Nope. But they were definitely robots." Natsuki explained. "They were all blondes with gun arms. We think they were MIYU types, boss."
"MIYU types?" Dustine blinked then frowned. "That would mean Searrs. But..."
"We're looking into it," Natsuki sighed then gestured to the entrance. "Come on, I'll show you the damage. Watch your step. There's a lot of glass too."
"Right." Dustine nodded and followed her in as the security guards saluted her. The tan skinned woman frowned as she took in the damage done to front entrance and the lobby. Marble tiles were ruined, the walls were riddled with bullet holes and marred by explosions. However, the structure of the room was mostly intact by blast proof ceramic walls and the load bearing plyons. Dustine glanced over and noticed the remains of one of the attackers on the floor. She walked over and knelt to inspect it. It had blonde hair, was missing both limbs and its torso riddled with high caliber bullets.
"Yep MIYU type." Dustine noted then asked as she peered at the damaged body nearby. "Did they get far?"
"They attempted to break into the lower levels, but we stopped them at sub-basement one." Kuga nodded.
"You and the others?" Dustine smirked.
"Yes." Kuga nodded.
"Good," Dustine nodded then asked. "No attacks on the upper levels?"
"None. But elevators are out up till the 20th floor." Kuga explained.
"Hmm?"
"They hit the power cables."
"Ah." Dustine nodded and walked towards the stairwells. "See if you can get the building staff to get that up and running again also get me a full report ASAP. I need to report this to Sis at the home office."
"Will do. I'm confident the building is secure, but be on your guard, ma'am," Natsuki said as they walked through a doorway.
"Right." Dustine nodded and tapped her phone and called her office.
"Oh. Boss?" Mai answred after it rang twice as they head upstairs.
"Yeh." Dustine nodded as they climbed the stairs "Can you get something from the cafeteria from me. Eggs and toast or Miso soup and rice will do."
"Didn't eat breakfast?" Mai asked.
"Rushed right over here, Mai," Dustine shrugged.
"I see. Okay I'll get something." Mai nodded then noted. "I set up a teleconference with headquarters too."
"Thanks. I'll take it there when I get into the office." Dustine replied.
"Okay." Mai nodded and cut the link.
"I hate stairs..." Dustine grumbled as she climbed up to what seemed to be the 5th floor.
"Its good exercise for you boss," Natsuki noted.
A short time later
"Dusty?!" an older woman with long jet black hair blinked then frowned at Dustine with concern. "Isn't it 6 there? What are you doing at the tower so early?"
"Someone attacked the Caldwich-Archangel tower her in Tokyo, Erika." Dustine sighed as she ran a hand through her wavy shoulder length hair.
"Shit. Are you OK? Any injuries?" Erika Ageni asked.
"I'm fine. I was at home when they hit the tower." Dustine sighed then added. "I've been informed that there aren't any fatalities but three of our lobby staff are in critical condition while some of our tactical units sustained minor injuries."
"What attacked the tower? Boomers?"
"MIYU androids big sis." Dustine frowned.
"MIYU androids?!" Erika repeated then frowned. "I see. Seems Searrs' legacy is still dogging us to this day. Or at least Searrs sold the designs to someone. Did they have any logo on them?"
"No, they were unmarked as far as we could see." Dustine shook her head. "But we know they were probably after the android and the cryo chambers in our basement labs. So that narrows it down to a few groups."
'At least we have the data from that ship we found under the regolith on the moon,' Erika thought to herself 'and the capsule we found in lunar orbit.'
"I thought we kept our having them there secure?" Erika ask
"As secure as possible. It only takes one person with loose lips," Dustine noted
"Ugh. Point," Erika conceded then noted "There might be a leak somewhere."
"We might have to review security across the board." Erika noted.
"Fair enough." Dustine nodded.
"Have the Nerima branch of Toratotaka help to if need be." Erika nodded.
"I'll keep it in mind," Dustine agreed
"So any relationship prospects?" Erika teased.
"ERIKA." Dustine blushed and blistered at the same time.
Mom would have wanted you happy." Erika smiled gently.
"Or married." Dustine grumbled
"Yes, or married..." Erika teased then noted "I have a few prospects if your interested."
"No local prospects I assume?" Dustine sighed as she ran a hand through her wavy dark hair.
"Well maybe a few in your area," Erika mused then mused. "I could send you a list if you want to see."
"Maybe I'm looking myself." Dustine admitted.
"Any prospects then?" Erika asked, amused.
"Not yet. Just drop it please." Dustine sighed.
"Very well. Anything else?" Erika asked, eyes twinkling.
"Nope." Dustine shook her head. "Say hi to Johnathan for me, will you?"
"Will do." Erika nodded then looked serious. "Call me if anything else serious happens with the Blossom project."
"Later little sis," Erika winked at her and cut the link.
Dustine sighed then blinked when her phone set beeped. She reached over and tabbed the answer button. "Yes, Mai?"
"Ma'am Megumi Mikuhara is on our way to our tower," Mai informed her over speaker phone. "She'll be here in 10 to 15 minutes."
"By ground or air, Mai?" Dustine asked.
"She's flying in by a helo ma'am," Mai replied.
"Okay get some tea ready," Dustine ordered.
"Yes ma'am," Mai replied.
Fifteen minutes later...
"Hmmmn," A woman a wilth light brown hair and almond colored eyes frowned. In her hands were digital photos of the ruined lobby, bullet ridden hallway of a basement, injured personnel a few remains of MIYU androids.
"Any markings on the MIYUs?" Megumi Mikuhara asked while looking at Dustine.
"None," Dustine answered Toratotaka's supervisory field intelligence officer for its Eastern Eurasian Branch.
"Did any MIYU units get captured?" Megumi asked.
"Again, no. They hauled out the damaged units when they fled." Dustine said.
"I see." Megumi frowned then sipped her tea. After she took a sip she put the cup down. "Your suspecting Searrs aren't you."
"Or someone who bought the MIYUs," Dustine noted
"Hmm, point. And with none of them left, we can't tell," Megumi admitted "Do you think they're after the girls in your basement labs? Or Catty?"
"Possibly." Dustine nodded then frowned. "Or anything else in the labs for that mater. Or, possibly, it could have ben just a test of our defenses."
"A big test, thats for sure," Megumi nodded then hummed. "Thankfully the data units on their tech and the chip is in the tower in Vancouver."
"Yeah Big sis is guarding them," Dustine nodded as she took a sip of her tea.
"Speaking of Catty how is she doing?" Megumi asked with a smile.
"She's learning quite a bit about our culture and our situation bit by bit." Dustine noted then nodded. "She says that she's learned several different languages and is willing to help the others once when they're out of cryostasis."
"Is she comfortable?" Megumi pressed a bit.
"For now yes." Dustine noted then sighed. "I'm sure she wants to see the world a bit soon. But, if they're after her then she could be in danger."
"Setting up a security detail for her would be your best bet, Dustine-san." Megumi noted then frowned. "However, we'll need to look into who sent the MIYUs. Once we do, both companies will act accordingly."
"Agreed." Dustine nodded.
"How would they know she's here, however?" Megumi asked.
"Big sis suspects a leak here, maybe." Dustine shrugged.
Megumi thought a bit then asked "Could you give me a list of any new hiree's in the last six months."
"Background check," Dustine realized then nodded to the Supervisory FIO. "Yes. I could. We could even do background checks together, if you want."
"Me and you together?" Megumi teased.
"Or at least Harada-san," Dustine blushed, referring to her own FIO then gestured to a few reports already pilling up on her desk. "I do have a division run after all and its still a mess. Boomers are still running amok here. Also we have situations in South East Asia and in the Philippines.
"At least its not as chaotic as it was in april." Megumi clicked her tongue.
"Yeh. That whole thing with Largo was a mess." Dustine sighed as she finished off her tea.
Moments later, Dustine's handset buzzed. She frowned then tabbed the answer button again. "What is it, Mai?"
"Security director Suzuzhiro is requesting your presence in the lobby ma'am." Mai sighed then drawled. "Inspector McNichol and Daley Wong want to know what happened here."
"I see. Tell her I'll be there shortly." Dustine sighed then glanced at Megumi. "Sorry I guess were going to have to cut this meeting short, Miss Mikuhara."
"Shall I accompany you?" Megumi offered with a smile.
"Hmm. Sure." Dustine nodded.
"Okay." Megumi nodded and with that they left Dustine's spacious office.
Several minutes later...
"Sorry about that," Dustine sighed as they walked out of the stairwell and into the lobby. "Power was out for the elevator the rest of the way. We're working on it now."
"Yeh." Megumi nodded as they walked from the side alcove to the main spacious main lobby. Within the lobby were a few security personnel and Haruka Suzushiro tapping her foot impatiently. Standing next to her was Daley Wong while Inspector McNichol was inspecting the plating on the load bearing pylons with what seems to be a knife. She frowned at that but let it slide for now. She walked up to Daley and Haruka "Hello Suzushiro, Inspector Wong."
"Finally you got here, Ageni." Haruka grumped.
"The elevators out you know," Dustine noted.
"Humph," Haruka grunted. Clearly she thought they could just jump down or something.
"So what brings you by Inspector Wong?" Dustine asked then smirked when he noticed the FIO from Toratotaka was standing with her in her maroon jacket bearing the Toratotaka symbol over her left breast. "Yes. Nerima's involved as well inspector."
"I see. Well, we received a report of an attack on your early this morning at around 5:00AM." Daley Wong noted then gestured to the damage. "Would you mind telling me what happened here, Director Ageni."
"We were attacked by several MIYU 44E androids," Dustine informed Inspector Wong. "They made a frontal assault on the building and tried to access our more secure areas down below. Several of our own personnel were injured in the battle."
"MIYU types?" Daley Wong blinked, then sighed as Leon stowed his knife in his pocket. "Great. That's just what we need. They're a menace from what I hear."
"Got any evidence to back that claim up." Leon asked as he walked up.
"We've got the remains of one right over there." Dustine gestured to the damaged one they found before.
"I'll grab some evidence photos," Daley Wong nodded and trotted over.
"That's some impressive reinforcement you have here." Leon gestured to the ceramic plating on the walls and on the columns. "What's it for?"
"Safety and security, Inspector McNichol," Dustine replied and and gestured to the column. "If a terrorist could take out one of these load bearing Columns with explosives it would cause this building to collapse."
"Huh point." Leon nodded then frowned. "So where are the rest of the attackers?
"A few self destructed while the other damaged ones got away." Haruka frowned.
"Do you know where they went off to?" Leon pressed.
"We tracked them as far as the Minato District but then we lost em." Haruka provided then grumbled abit. "They jammed our drones when they got there, those bastards. Ours self destructed too."
"Well that's a start." Leon noted as he wrote down a few notes in on his PADD. He then lookued up at Dustine. "Do you have any reason why they'd attack this building? Anything that you might be holding?"
"You know we can't divulge sensitive information, Inspector McNichol." Dustine frowned.
"Right." Haruka nodded.
"Fair enough." Leon sighed. Moments later Daley trotted over. "Got the pictures?"
"Yep. But I'd bet forensics would like to look at it." Daley nodded.
"We'll allow it." Dustine nodded then smirked. "If you find anything let us know."
"We will." Daley nodded then turned to Leon. "Ready to go?"
"Just one more question." Leon mused then asked Dustine as he tugged down his glasses. "You free this evening."
Daley facepalmed.
"Sorry. Don't swing that way." Dustine sniffed.
"Worth a try," Leon sighed.
"We'll get the remains ready for you." Dustine nodded and waved a random security officer over and instructed him to secure the remnants of the MIYU droid and hand them over to the inspectors. The security officer nodded and trotted off.
Later...
Dustine sighed as she walked down not so inviting corridor made of solid concrete. She stopped at a door at the end of the corridor and keyed a intercomm buzzer next to it. "Catty. Its me. Can I come in?"
"Yes. You may." A woman answered.
Dustine smiled and unlocked the door and walked into a well lit medium sized room. Sitting in a comfortable love seat was a girl who had curious golden eyes. She had lavender hair that fell to her jaw line and was wearing a tracksuit that her company provided.
Dustine nodded. "Morning. Sleep well."
"Somewhat." Catty nodded then frowned. "I heard explosions and fighting at 4:30AM. Miss Kuga tapped on my door a bit later and asked if I was alright. I said yes but was puzzled. Is everything alright?"
"For right now. Yeah." Dustine sighed. "A group of androids attacked the tower. We're trying to find out their motive."
"Are they like the boomers I've been reading and hearing about." Catty asked thoughtfully.
"Similar but they're a different model made by a different company." Dustine noted.
"I see." Catty nodded then asked. "When did they first start popping up? These androids?"
"Several years after the ships were initially uncovered..." Dustine noted then held up a hand when there was some concern on her face. "The first boomer was created in 2023AD...we didn't gain access to your chamber until 2025AD."
"I see." Catty nodded then asked her. "Will my friends be waking up soon?"
"Yes. Very soon. Within the next few days." Dustine nodded.
"We'll have to break it to them slowly that we're on Terra." Catty nodded after taking everything into consideration. She then hummed thoughtfully as she grasped a history book. "That life is flurishing here ...and yet...its also chaotic here as well."
"Hm." Dustine blinked.
"Your history is like our own to a point," Catty noted as she paged through it. "Many of your ancient civilizations fell due to one reason or another. Will this one fall too?"
"That is the question isn't it." Dustine sighed.
8:30PM Tinsel City Hinata Resturant
"...and that's what she asked me. I really didn't have an answer for her, to be honest." Dustine sighed to her friends as she leaned against a railing with a drink glass in hand. They were out on a glassed in patio deck that she had rented out for the evening.
"Should you really be talking about this here?" Haruka frowned.
"Relax we've got scramblers on." Chie Harada grinned.
"Still..." Haruka frowned.
"Haruka relax," Yukiko patted her shoulder.
"Hmmph," Haruka turned around.
"To spy on us you'd have to hang off a nearby building and LIP READ." Chie noted.
"Hey, it's POSSIBLE." Haruka pointed out.
"You are WAY too paranoid. Have a drink."
"I've heard Nerima's involved in this matter," Shizuru Fujino drawled. "...as is the AD Police."
"Yeh." Dustine nodded then smirked. "Hopefully we'll get some answers as to where the MIYU androids have made their base of operations. The warehouse district is a good place to start looking."
"Or the worst place," Natsuki snorted.
"Why worst?" Yukino blinked.
"Great place for a ambush." Natsuki noted.
"Crap. Point..." Chie sighed. "Especially when you consider they have stealth capabilites."
"Aye. We'll have to be really careful about this from here on in." Dustine nodded.
"Raise security level from 4 to 5 at the tower boss?" Natsuki asked.
"If we must." Dustine frowned.
"That means a security detail at your home too. You could be a target too, you know." Shizuru noted.
"Oh come on." Dustine sighed. Moments later a shape dropped through the the patio ceiling like a brick sinking to tokyo bay. The group screamed as out of the dust and soot walked a MIYU android.
"Ambush! Scatter! " Dustine, Haruka and Natsuki growled after seeing the MIYU droid and tipped the table over to give them plenty of cover. Chie and the other ducked behind it while Natsuki brought up twin pistols and opened fire, shooting out bursts of extreme cold. Meanwhile, Dustine drew out a large hand cannon from her holster. She cocked the hammer and and took aim at the advancing MIYU droid. She fired even as Yukino was calling for help on her NAVI. The MIYU droid advanced on them slowly, arm blade now drawn as bursts of extreme cold and slugs tore through her skin.
"Dyaaaaa," Haruka charged at the MIYU with a combat grade hammer in one hand and whacked the android upside the head. The blonde haired MIYU droid was staggered, glanced at Haruka then lashed out with her sword. Haruka ducked then parried another swipe with the hammers blade tip. They struggled a bit then shoved the MIYU android away. The MIYU crashed into a nearby table, breaking it in half and landed in a heap.
"Keep your wits about you." Dustine replied as Shizuru brought forth her element.
Moments later, the MIYU android lept out of the rubble pile only to be snared by Shizuru's whip like blade and slammed to the ground. "Down girl! Down I say."
The android however, broke free and was peppered by weapon fire by Dustine and Natsuki. Silently it lashed out at Shizuru with her blade. Shizuru parried her swipes a few times then whirled around and sliced its arm off. The MIYU winced silently as it was hit by a few more blasts by Dustine and Natsuki. The MIYU, over whelmed, decided to retreat by leaping one of the patios plate glass windows and bounded out into the night.
"Get the Tower to track her now." Dustine ordered.
"Already on it." Chie nodded and called the tower in Tinsel City on her NAVI.
"Now do you see why we need to increase security to a higher level." Natsuki noted.
"Fine." Dustine sighed.
To be continued...