Requisite Disclaimer & Author's Note; Ghost in the Shell in it's various incarnations is the property of Masamune Shirow, Manga, Pioneer Entertainment (at least this latest version) and Production I.G.
Tuna. After a four unbelievably tedious hours of surveillance, Togusa was able to identify the lingering scent in the air as tuna. Not that he wanted to, and not that a lot of tuna was brought into the port these days, but enough quantities to make it smell. He eyed his jacket for a moment, wondering if he could get the scent out. The former detective figured he might not be able to look at Tekkamaki rolls the same way after today. Part of him was curious whether or not Major Kusanagi and Batou were able to filter out the smell of dead fish that permeated across the darkened waterfront.
He and the Major had set up shop inside some vacant offices, while Batou was loitering outside as though he was waiting for something. The heavy cyborg was clad in a thick, stained coat and wore a watch-cap on his head, giving him the appearance of a longshoreman. However, Batou seemed to be the only thing outside that was moving in the whole Newport district tonight. Motoko and Togusa were ensconced in a vacant office of an abandoned warehouse, monitoring their hastily set-up surveillance and communication equipment. From all outward appearances, the waterfront was deserted.
Motko Kusinagi seemed preoccupied with something else. She was glowering intently at some prominently placed graffiti inside the dormant structure. On the wall behind them was what looked like a smiley-face with a baseball cap. Circling it were the words "I thought what I'd do was I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes". Beneath it, somebody else had scrawled "or should I…..?" . The sound of Batou's voice interrupted her contemplation.
"Why did ape-face send us out here?" he groused to Kusinagi over their e-brain connection.
She clearly wasn't enjoying herself any more than Batou and Togusa but was beginning to feel more like she was babysitting the ex-cop and ex-Ranger instead of maintaining surveillance on a suspected criminal. Togusa matter-of-factly mentioned that tonight was his wife's birthday, but left the issue alone after that.
"Chief is requesting that we keep an eye on this guy……" a digital file showing a burly, dark-haired Caucasian man abruptly popped up in the periphery of Batou's vision. A Russian national and purported arms-smuggler named Mikhail Omeotov. According to an informant, Omeotov was in the country to meet with parties unknown. And adjacent to the trio of agents from Public Security Section 9 was the object of their scrutiny; a sizeable freighter registered to one of Omeotov's subsidiaries. An array of audio equipment was at Kunisagi and Togusa's disposal but, for the most part, they weren't able to detect their quarry doing anything more interesting than knock back some vodka and light up a cigar. Forty-five minutes had passed since he made a short, terse phone call that they weren't able to trace.
"I know, I know…." The cyborg grumbled. "I was at the same briefing. Is there anything Chief didn't tell us that he told you?"
Motoko couldn't help but smirk, wondering exactly how long she should hesitate before giving Batou any of the answer he was looking for. At times she wondered who was more childish; the Tachikomas or Batou.
"Just that we're supposed to keep our distance, verify his presence and see exactly who he comes into contact with." She replied.
"What exactly is Omeotov being investigated for?" Togusa asked out loud. The former detective was expecting a response from the Major citing one of the numerous Cyber-Brain Ethics Laws or Wire Fraud statutes on the book.
"Multiple violations of the Weapons Trafficking Restriction Act." Kusinagi replied.
Togusa was a little bewildered. Even though he felt like he was belaboring the obvious, the former policeman felt compelled to point out to the Major that combating arms smuggling and gunrunning wasn't exactly Section 9's stock in trade. However, Batou was quicker and somewhat less diplomatic than Togusa would've been.
"What!?" Batou asked indignantly. "Why doesn't Foreign Affairs or Section 6 take care of this shit? Why do we have to waste our time?" It wasn't that Batuo minded some overtime or action; it's just that loitering for four hours on end in front of a vacant warehouse dressed as a longshoreman didn't fit his definition of 'action'.
"That's what he told me after the briefing. Chief didn't say why…." Kusinagi started to say before musing to herself; just that it was "important". She took Aramaki's claim at face value and didn't sense that anything overly suspicious. This may not have been Section 9's specialty but it wasn't really that far above and beyond their duty, either.
"Maybe somebody's calling in a favor." Togusa ventured. He knew enough that Aramaki wouldn't send them out on some random assignment just for the sake of keeping them busy.
Their discussion came to an abrupt halt as Motoko and Togusa picked up additional noise on their surveillance equipment. It sounded as though their Russian quarry had company.
"You're late….." they heard Omeotov gruffly announce to his unidentified visitor.
There was a momentary pause before Togusa or Kusinagi heard Omeotov ask "Shto Eta?". The Russian's inquiry in his native tongue was followed by two muffled gunshots. Realizing too late that something was amiss, she and Togusa sprang to their feet. Although the weapon was silenced, the Major could still manage to hear two casings fall to floor before a body- presumably Omeotov's- slumped over.
"Major!? What's happening?" Batou asked over the e-brain connection.
Before he got a reply, Kusinagi stormed out of the office door with her sidearm drawn. Togusa was right on her heels, his antiquated Mateba revolver unholstered and at the ready.
"Don't let anyone off that ship!" the Major ordered her two subordinates.
"Right!" the two of them barked in unison.
Motoko took two steps towards the ship before it occurred to her that she wasn't sure exactly who or what she was looking for herself. The Major's mind was racing. There were probably a few crewmen still on board Omeotov's ship. Even though she figured the compliment of Russian and Ukrainian sailors were somewhat violence-prone, the traditional weapon of choice usually leaned more towards bare knuckles or broken bottles than silenced pistols. Hastily sprinting towards the gangplank, it occurred to Major Kusinagi that Omeotov's assailant could have used diving equipment and scuba gear to approach and flee from the vessel. As she contemplated her next move, Motoko heard footfalls on the deck. She looked up for the source of noise. Instead of a solid shape, all she could make out in the darkness was a translucent shimmering coming from the direction of the footsteps.
Shit! Thermo-optic camouflage! She cursed.
The running figure came to a stop on the deck, now noticing the Agents from Section 9 for the first time.
"Stay right where you are!" the Major ordered as she pointed her weapon towards the nearly-invisible figure. Kusinagi was at a slight disadvantage, however. Ordinarily, her optics could pick up pressure marks made by anyone in a thermo-optic camouflage suit, but her current position and the steel construction of the deck negated that. No sooner had Motoko said barked out her command than the invisible figure abruptly changed direction and sprung from the port side of the ship, landing perfectly on the wharf.
Looks like somebody wants to show off their cybernetic body. Kusinagi mused as she executed slightly shorter but no-less-graceful jump from the freighter's gangplank.
Batou was able to switch on his night-vision optics the second Omeotov's assailant jumped ship. Batou was ready to repeat Motoko's order to the camouflaged assassin when he saw the figure taking aim towards Togusa and himself.
"Get down!" he snapped at Togusa. Batou ducked behind an old container while Togusa crouched down, putting the base of a heavy crane between him and their unidentified shooter.
Even though Togusa had no such optical implants of his own, he was able to discern a solitary foot standing in a murky puddle off in the distance where the invisible figure landed. He dropped to one knee and meticulously took aim like an Olympic marksman. The second he did that, something whistled over his head from the direction of the assassin and ricocheted off of the crane next to him. He saw sparks and realized their adversary was still using a silenced weapon.
Seeing the puddle splash slightly, he spotted the elusive figure attempting to flee. The former detective squeezed off two rounds. The first one missed. However, the mysterious figure stumbled and fell, letting out a sharp groan as she hit the ground and struggled to get to her feet. Both Batou and Togusa were now that certain their mysterious figure from the vessel was a woman. At this point she had gotten back up and was starting to run off. Batou could see through his night-vision goggles that she was clutching her right shoulder.
"Lucky shot." Batou quipped to Togusa.
"You're just jealous." Togusa retorted. They both turned around and saw that the Major had joined them once again.
"Batou; See if you can bring our friend back in one piece. Togusa; you and I will check on Omeotov." Kusinagi ordered.
The big cyborg nodded and sprinted off after Omeotov's assassin. Togusa and the major hastily made their way onto the ship. Dead men tell no tales, and there was the off-chance that Omeotov could still be alive. If he wasn't, Aramaki damn well better give them some sort of explination.
"Major…" Togusa said. He was examining a man in civilian clothing lying on his side in a narrow corridor with much of the back of his head missing. A machine-pistol was still slung around his shoulder. There were no casings on the floor, so it looked as though he never had the chance to use it. However, this wasn't Omeotov- more likely one of his bodyguards. As Motoko was getting ready to proceed deeper into the ship, she and Togusa saw a brilliant flash and a loud explosion in the direction where the big cyborg had taken off in pursuit of the gunwoman.
"Batou…." Motoko heard herself gasp…..
Author's note: Well- if you've read this far, I hope you're enjoying this fic and will be kind enough to leave a review. I can't express how much I've enjoyed the Standalone Complex TV series so far (if only Bandai/Pioneer would get their shit together and distribute it in North America). Some people have said this could very well be the next Evangelion. I'll say right now "no"; this is far and away better than NGE. And it's been renewed for another season (SAC 2nd Gig)…soundtrack by Yoko Kanno and so on. The most glaring flaw would probably be its delay in North American distribution (HINT HINT, Bandai/Pioneer!) Anywhoo- it's late and maybe I'm a little too giddy.