(Note: This chapter is rated 'PG' for a brief scene of fantasy violence.)
Ground Defense Force
Mao-Chan
Chapter 8:
The Unified Defense Force Formed
June, Day X.
The three Chiefs of Staff met endlessly over the past 24 hours, discussing the reasons behind their granddaughters' actions in their last defense missions. Although the Cute Alien never landed on Earth, it was still a matter of discussion on Mao, Misora, and Sylvie's yearning to defend together.
"Why?" asked Rikushiro. "I told Mao to defend by herself, to make no contact with the granddaughters of Sorajiro and Adalbert, and yet, she was going to defend with them as if all three were in the Ground Defense Forces. Why was she so willing to defend with them, when I explicitly told her not to?"
"It izh obvious. Zhe three of zhem are friends," said Adalbert, inhaling deeply with his cigarette. "Zylvie hazh alvays told me about zhe gut times she had vith your granddaughters." He gestured to Rikushiro and Sorajiro.
"So has my little Misora, much against my wishes," agreed Sorajiro. "She would go on about how much fun she had with Rikushiro's granddaughter at school or while they were defending---"
"You know, I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about me as if I wasn't here!" said Rikushiro, standing up. "Besides, our granddaughters will never be operating in the same Defense Forces. My Mao works in the Ground Defense Forces," he pointed at Sorajiro, "Sorajiro, your granddaughter works in the Sky Defense Forces," and Rikushiro finally pointed at Adalbert, "and Adalbert, your granddaughter works in the Sea Defense Forces. They will not operate in the same Defense Forces...
"Ever."
Suddenly, Sorajiro remembered something. It was back when he was trying to keep Mao and Misora from working together, shortly after Misora joined the Sky Defense Forces...
"But, wouldn't be better," Misora persisted, "If we worked together to stop the Cute Aliens, I ask? Like a Unified Defense Force, I say."
"A Unified Defense Force..." muttered Sorajiro. Rikushiro and Adalbert, who were leaving the room, heard him. "What did you say?" asked Rikushiro.
"Something Misora said to me when we tried to keep them from working together," answered Sorajiro, "Do you remember that, Rikushiro?"
"How could I forget, Sorajiro?" replied Rikushiro. Sorajiro continued, "Well, Misora asked me why she and Mao-Chan couldn't defend together, as a sort of Unified Defense Forces. Of course, I scoffed at this and told that she would defend solo from then on..."
"Und zhe rest is hee-story," finished Adalbert.
And the three Chiefs of Staff of the three factions of the Defense Forces, who were initially divided by greed and ambition, realized that their goals were one and the same: the defense of the nation from the threats of outer space. And they realized that it was teamwork that enabled Mao and her friends to succeed in their defense missions. Mao's incomparable defense of the ground, Misora's impeccable defense of the airspace of Japan, and Sylvie's prowess in the sea (when inside Nahchan, of course) would all be necessary in order to defend the nation to its fullest.
Kagome sat in the living room of her apartment, eating out of a bag of potato chips. Rikushiro had called her barely an hour ago, telling her to watch the TV for a 'special announcement'.
Wonder what it could be? wondered Kagome. It couldn't be another Defense Force member; as far as Kagome knew, Rikushiro had only one granddaughter: Mao. After a few more minutes, the news station came on. Kagome gasped softly at the sight.
Mao, Misora, and Sylvie (wearing her half-moon glasses) were standing in a row, respectively wearing a green, a blue, and a jet-black business suit, a skirt of the same color around their waist. An announcer spoke over a microphone.
"A cute defense bill has been signed and passed (in a cute manner, of course), as the Ground Defense Force, the Sky Defense Force, and the Sea Defense Force have united, to form the Unified Defense Forces. This action is necessary to counter the increasing threats of the Cute Alien invaders."
Mao, Misora, and Sylvie saluted simultaneously.
"The peace of Japan will be..." Mao began.
"Will be protected by..." Misora continued.
"By the three of us, so you can feel safe," finished Sylvie. After the crowd watching this stopped chuckling, the picture-taking began.
Chinami growled slightly as she and Yuriko watched the events happening, live. "This is not good at all, Miss President. Now the Defense Forces are one, and our operations will be much more difficult," Chinami said, turning to Yuriko. "Um, yeah," replied Yuriko. Good for you, Mao- Chan, Misora-Chan, and Sylvie-Chan, thought Yuriko. The news report continued...
Is that what Chief of Staff wanted me to see? thought a bemused Kagome. Whatever. The three Defense Forces become one. So what? It doesn't really affect me at all.
RING! RING! went Kagome's phone. She picked it up, and spoke into it, "Hello, the Mishima residence. Kagome Mishima speaking."
"Miss Kagome, it's me," replied the voice on the other end. Kagome's heart skipped a beat.
"Chi-Chief of Staff! What is it that you want?!" said Kagome ecstatically. She was thankful that this was a phone call and not an across- the-room conversation; Kagome was blushing furiously at the fact that Rikushiro had something to tell her.
"Miss Kagome, I assume you just saw the news," said Rikushiro. "If so, you may be wondering who was chosen for the Commander." Kagome replied, "Y-yes I have, Chief of Staff." Rikushiro seemed that he was trying to stifle a laugh. "Well, that's because...
"You're the Commander, Miss Kagome."
Kagome's heart skipped another beat, then began to race. "B-b-but, Chief of Staff, why'd they pick me?! Why not Commander Tamino over in the Sky Defense Forces? Or Commander Matsuda of the Sea Defense Forces?"
"I personally picked you, Miss Kagome," Kagome's blush expanded slightly, "so that I felt you were the closest with Mao and her friends. I'm counting on you, Miss Kagome, to help make Mao stand out among the other girls!"
Though Rikushiro was not in the room, Kagome saluted, and shouted, "Yessir, roger, sir!" Kagome continued to talk into the phone even though Rikushiro had already hung up. "I will do my best to please you, Chief of Staff! I'd do anything for you, who I hold so close to my heart!" Kagome realized that Rikushiro had already hung up, and she was just talking to a dial tone. She cursed herself for being so stupid and hung up. As soon as she did, her heart picked up the pace and her face paled.
Now I have to look after them in both in school and in the Defense Forces? I don't know if I can take this kind of stress! High school and college were bad enough! And plus, I won't get to see the Chief of Staff anymore!... But, he chose me for this job, so I'll do it... For the Chief of Staff!
"Defense Barrier practice, begin!" said Kagome, blowing on the whistle in her hand. Instantly, Mao, Misora, and Sylvie went to their positions in the Defense Barrier, surrounding a scarecrow-ish thing in the middle of the room. A ball of light appeared on the end of Sylvie's baton as she shouted, "Okay, here it comes! Barrier Beam, engage!" Sylvie fired a broad beam of bright-white light at Misora, who caught the light beam on the end of her baton.
"Reflection Barrier, engage, I say!" said Misora as she reflected the beam at Mao. Mao, however, was too scared of the beam to do anything but quiver in fear. The beam of light struck Mao dead-center. Mao stood there, hovering slightly, illuminated by the light. When the light faded, Mao fell to the floor, not moving.
"Mao-Chan," shouted Misora and Sylvie together as they ran up to a still Mao. "Are you alright, I ask?" asked Misora, as she turned Mao over. Misora gasped, then screamed. Kagome ran up, having recieved a medical degree in college, ready to help Mao in any way necessary. When she saw Mao, Kagome gasped as well.
Mao's skin had lost almost all color, looking almost completely white. Her eyes were glazed and unfocused, her mouth hanging limply open. Kagome felt her skin. Cold as ice. Kagome felt Mao's wrist. No pulse.
"Is she...?" asked Sylvie, as Kagome closed Mao's eyes.
"Yes," replied Kagome, tears welling up in her eyes, " I hate to tell you, but she's dead."
Misora and Sylvie both stared wide-eyed at Kagome, clearly not believing this. Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome noticed movement and looked over. Kagome, along with Misora and Sylvie, gasped.
Mao was standing up, her eyes still closed, getting to her feet. Somehow, she was doing so without using her hands, which stayed at her sides. When she was fully erect, she opened her eyes, which were different than before; they were green, with a slitted, catlike pupil.
"Oh, Mao-Chan," said Misora, unaware of Mao's suddenly sinister appearance. Misora ran up to Mao. "We thought you were dead, I say! Thank goodness you're alright, I say!" Misora hugged Mao tightly. Kagome noticed that Mao's eyes closed slightly in anger. Unbeknownst to Misora, Mao was reaching up for Misora's arm.
"No! Get away, Misora-Chan!" screamed Kagome, running up to Misora. Misora looked at Kagome confused for a moment. At the same instant, however, Mao reached up, grabbed Misora's arm, and flung her with incredible ease at Sylvie, who had no time to react. Misora and Sylvie continued to travel through the air, shooting straight through the wall. A few seconds later, a tremendous explosion shot into the room. There was no way Misora or Sylvie could still be alive...
"You killed me, Miss Kagome," came a voice behind Kagome. It was low, dangerous, and evil. Yet, it sounded almost like Mao. Kagome turned back to Mao, but Mao wasn't there anymore. She was replaced by a purple lizard-like creature with green, slitted eyes. It had long, sharp claws on the ends of its fingers and toes. Its long, pointed tail swished dangerously.
"M-Mao-Chan?" asked Kagome. "No, not anymore," said the thing that was Mao. "I am the Barrier Demon, so named because I am a demon born of a failed Defense Barrier. I am born of the darkness within Mao's heart. Her death released me, and now..." Its tail shot out, wrapping several times around Kagome, and bringing her in. The Barrier Demon was as cold as Mao was. Barrier Demon placed a foot over Kagome's chest, pushing down hard, removing its tail and grabbing her around the neck with a clawed hand.
"I will give you a choice, Mishima," it said, "Join me and aid me in my quest for world domination, or defy me and die." Kagome didn't like those choices at all. "Sorry, outta time."
The Barrier Demon pulled on Kagome's neck with its foot still hard on her chest...
"AAAAHHH!!" Kagome sat up, screaming loudly. She looked around at the dark room, and realized she was still in her bedroom. So, it was just a nightmare, thought Kagome, What a relief...
BEE-BEE-BEEP! BEE-BEE-BEEP! went Kagome's alarm clock. She looked over: 7:00. Kagome reached over and turned it off. She went over to her window, and drew back the shades. Instantly, the Barrier Demon leapt in on her, shattering the window, claws gleaming in the sunlight. Several shards of glass fell toward Kagome, one particularly large one falling towards her heart...
"HOLY COW!" shouted Kagome as she sat up in bed. Kagome sat up so quickly that her alarm clock fell over, the batteries falling out. That was a nightmare, too? wondered Kagome, clearly befuddled. Kagome walked up to the window, drew back the curtains, and leapt back very quickly. Fortunately, the Barrier Demon didn't exist, and Kagome ended up with a stubbed toe. After hopping around on one foot for a moment, Kagome got changed, and left for Unified Defense Force headquarters.
Mao, Misora, and Sylvie were in their Type 2 Gear, descending with Kagome to the Gymnasium. There, they would practice the Defense Barrier.
"Are you excited, Misora-Chan, Sylvie-Chan?" asked Mao, a smile wide on her face.
"I certainly am, I say! We will be able to defend together from now on, I say!" replied Misora.
"So am I, the officer!" Sylvie responded. She then looked up at Kagome. "What's wrong, Miss Mishima?"
"Nothing's wrong, Seaman Sylvia," said Kagome, though there were several things bothering her. "And it's Commander Mishima!"
"Oh yeah. Sorry," said Sylvie, as the elevator doors opened.
"Myuh!" came a high voice from inside the Gymnasium. Suddenly, something green and yellow jumped on Kagome. Kagome struggled for a moment, then lifted the thing off.
"Oh, hi, Cosmic Tama-Chan! I forgot you lived in here!" said Kagome, forgetting about her nightmare-within-a-nightmare temporarily.
Mao, Misora, and Sylvie looked at Cosmic Tamago. She was a green-and-yellow Turtle Alien, about half as long as they were tall. She was slightly larger than she was in the slideshow Mao and Misora saw before they met Sylvie, but not much larger.
Cosmic Tamago looked at Mao, Misora, and Sylvie, and tilted her head, "Myuh?"
"'Who are we'?" asked Sylvie. "This is Mao Onigawara and Misora Tsukishima, my, the officer's, two bestest friends in the world. And I, the officer, am Sylvia Maruyama. You can just call me Sylvie."
"Myuh?"
"Of course we can wear these clovers. Can't everyone?"
Mao, Misora, and Kagome fell on their faces. "You can understand her?!" yelled Kagome. "Of course I can!" protested Sylvie. "Who can't?" They fell on their faces again. Cosmic Tamago flew off towards a small cubby-hole in the corner of the room, to continue its nap.
"Anyway, let's practice the Defense Barrier, girls!" said Kagome. At once, Mao, Misora, and Sylvie saluted and shouted as one, "Roger!"
"Defense Barrier practice, begin!" said Kagome, blowing on the whistle in her hand. Instantly, Mao, Misora, and Sylvie went to their positions in the Defense Barrier, surrounding a scarecrow-ish thing in the middle of the room. A ball of light appeared on the end of Sylvie's baton as she shouted, "Okay, here it comes! Barrier Beam, engage!" Sylvie fired a broad beam of bright-white light at Misora, who caught the light beam on the end of her baton.
"Reflection Barrier, engage, I say!" said Misora as she reflected the beam at Mao. However, Mao ducked to avoid the space beam, shouting, "Waah! I'm scared!"
The room was filled with light. When it cleared, everything was covered in soot. Mao, Misora, and Sylvie were in the center of the room, saying:
"I, myself, am sorry!"
"Don't worry about it, Mao-Chan, I say!"
"I, the officer, broke my glasses!"
And the next two days continued in this way. All through this, Kagome had to endure photo shoots, dinners, lunches, classes, Defense Barrier failures, all of which had Mao, Misora, and Sylvie involved in some way. Kagome felt she had to deal with them far too much the past couple days, and decided to play hooky the following day.
Kagome slept in that day, as she had gotten very little sleep the past two days, what with all the photo shoots. By the time she woke up, it was 11:00 in the morning. She felt fresh as a daisy. Kagome got up, and decided to make lunch.
After lunch, Kagome relaxed, enjoying her one day off. Even though she wasn't supposed to be off today, she needed this day off or she would have snapped under the pressure.
After a short nap, Kagome looked at the clock. 3:00. Mao-Chan and her friends should be getting out of school right now, thought Kagome. I hope I didn't worry them too much by missing this one day.
Kagome put a bowl of ramen noodles in the microwave to eat for dinner. While she waited, she pondered the justification of skipping this one day of work. She justified it by reminding herself that she was being overworked previously, and needed a day off to sit back, relax, and catch her breath.
She heard the microwave go BING! and said, "Ah, the moment of bliss," and got up to get her ramen. At the same time, though...
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Who could that be? thought Kagome, though her thoughts were soon answered.
"Miss Kagome!"
"We have come on a get-well visit, I say!"
Kagome felt like her heart stopped. She was found out! If they found out that Kagome was just playing hooky...
The Chief of Staff will lose his trust in me! she thought terrifiedly. Kagome ran off towards her bed, her ramen forgotten. She literally jumped in her bed, throwing the blanket over her. She didn't want them to see her with a normal complexion.
CRASH!
What are they doing?! thought Kagome as she saw her front door slide into the room. She sweatdropped at the sight. She heard voices; Mao, Misora, and Sylvie were talking amongst themselves.
"Are you sure that was alright, I ask?"
"Of course I, the officer, am sure. You know what they say: 'Drastic times call for drastic measures'."
"Alright. Well, I, myself, am coming in..."
Kagome quickly hid under her sheets, trying to pretend to be sick when she heard footsteps walk into the room.
"Miss Kagome, are you all right, I ask?"
Kagome decided to speak, but with a slight rasp and a fake cough or two to sound sick. "Cough...cough... I just have a little cold. A little rest will fix me right up. Cough-cough."
"That's good to hear," came Mao's voice. She sounded quite relieved.
"See, Mao-Chan? You worry far too much. Miss Kagome was A-OK," said Sylvie.
"But I, myself, have every right to worry for Miss Kagome. She's our teacher and commanding officer at the Defense Forces, after all," persisted Mao. Misora said, "Mao-Chan is completely right, I say!" Kagome heard Mao giggle slightly, and the sound of footsteps.
"Where are you going, Sylvie-Chan, I ask?"
"I, the officer, smell something good. Don't you?"
Oh no, she smells my ramen noodles, thought a distressed Kagome. She heard Sylvie scampering off. From the sound of her shoes hitting the floor, Kagome assumed Sylvie was in her Type 2 Marine Gear. But why? Then it occured to Kagome that it seemed unlikely that an eight-year-old girl could knock a door off its hinges, let alone send it halfway across the room.
"Hello, Mr. Ramen," came Sylvie's voice from the kitchen. "You smell delicious and you look delicious, so you must taste delicious!" A few seconds later, Kagome heard a slurping sound, and Sylvie spoke through a mouthful of food, "It is delicious!"
My dinner's being eaten, thought Kagome. She was going to have to go hungry. At this realization, Kagome started shivering.
"Miss Kagome looks like she is shivering, I say!" came Misora's anxious voice.
"Don't worry, Miss Kagome! Help is on the way!" said Mao, though Kagome didn't know how Mao could help. "When I, myself, found out you were sick, I told Grandpa and he said he'd be here right away!"
Kagome's heart leapt, and so did Kagome. She stood on top of her bed, covered in her sheets, and said, "The Chief of Staff is coming?! Really? What should I do? I'm a mess!" To Kagome's confusion, Mao and Misora were heard to be whimpering. Kagome heard Sylvie come in, saying, "What the heck is going on here?"
Sylvie looked up at Kagome, and said to her, "Miss Kagome, did you get so sick that you croaked?"
"Don't worry, Miss Kagome," said Mao, "Grandpa knows CPR!"
Suddenly, it clicked to Kagome. She must've looked like a ghost to them, since she was covered in her bedsheets. Kagome laid back down, and coughed twice to convince them that she was still sick, and still alive.
BEEP! BEEP!
"Private Onigawara! 2nd Lieutenant Tsukishima! Seaman Recruit Maruyama! A Cute Alien capsule, 10 meters across, is going to land in Yokohama in just a half an hour! Please report to the scene immediately!" came a female voice from Mao's clover. A green glow filtered through Kagome's blanket, telling her that it was Mao's clover through which the order was being given.
"But Miss Kagome is sick and..." said Mao, but the voice from the clover interrupted.
"It's an order from the Chief of Staff!" and the signal was cut.
"Okay, roger. Well, we have to defend again," said Mao miserably.
"Type 2 Ground Gear..."
"Type 2 Flight Gear..."
"Download... Riku-bo!/Ku-bo!"
"Mao Onigawara of the Ground Defense Force!"
"Misora Tsukishima of the Sky Defense Force!"
"The peace of Japan will be..."
"Protected by the three of us!"
"Well, Miss Kagome, we hope you get better soon, so that you can defend with us again," said Mao. "I'll leave the get-well bread on the table. It's a leftover from lunch, though." Kagome heard something being set down on the table.
"And I brought you some custard to go with the bread, I say," said Misora, and the custard was heard being placed on the table.
"And I, the officer, brought you my milk," said Sylvie. This was heard being put on the table as well. Kagome heard the sound of her ramen bowl being placed on the table too.
"Well, we'll go defend now," said Mao, and the sound of the three filing out was heard. Once she was sure they were gone, Kagome got up and looked at the table. Each food item that they mentioned was on the table. Kagome was disappointed to see that her ramen bowl was empty. At least they care enough to get me food from lunch, she thought resignedly, and she ate what food they gave her.
She was just finishing the milk when Rikushiro came in. "Miss Kagome, sorry if I'm late! How are you feeling?"
Kagome sputtered slightly on the milk she was drinking, and said, "Y- yes, Chief of Staff, I'm fine."
Rikushiro stared suspiciously at Kagome for a moment; had he figured out that she was playing hooky? "That's good, because it's the Unified Defense Forces' first official defense mission. Since my car is parked outside, would you like a ride to the Unified Defense Force headquarters?"
"Yessir!" said Kagome, suddenly in her military gear.
The Defense Force Control Room was now in its Unified configuration. The walls separating the Ground, Sky, and Sea Defense Forces' control rooms were removed, making a perfectly circular room.
"Unified Defense Force members, rush for the scene as quickly as possible!" said Kagome into the intercom connected to Mao, Misora, and Sylvie's clovers.
"Miss Kagome!" came Mao's surprised voice.
"Ma'am, are you over your cold, I ask?" asked Misora.
"I'm as good as new!" said Kagome brightly. "Now, let's defend together, okay?"
"Roger!" came Mao, Misora, and Sylvie's replies.
"As much as I don't like working with the Sky and Sea Defense Forces," said Rikushiro, "Let the first Unified Defense Forces' defense operation begin!"
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't call the shots, Rikushiro," snapped Sorajiro.
"You are acting far too conspicuous," said Adalbert, equally annoyed.
"Chiefs of Staff!" said Kagome, getting everyone's attention. "The Cute Alien capsule has landed in the ocean!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
