I own nothing. This story is set in an alternate universe. There will be OOC. You have been warned.
While You Were Sleeping
Chapter Six: Déjà vu
"So how are we doing this Captain?" Asuka watched as Shinji finished checking his Type 3 and looked up.
"The hard way," he answered flatly. "We're dropping in outside of the perimeter. This pickup will be just like our last one from then on."
"We're dropping in?" Asuka asked. She had only parachuted in training and it still terrified her.
"Correct," Shinji answered. "We're doing this HALO-style and I want everyone to make sure that your gear has been double checked."
"This spy better have something good," Richey growled. "I'd hate to be jumping out a perfectly good aircraft for no reason."
"This mission is all about speed," Shinji continued, ignoring the young machine-gunner. "We're working on a deadline so there will be some acceptable risks, but if you screw around then I will personally beat the shit out of you."
"Do you really think anyone here would take risks?" Maria asked. "All the 'heroes' go to the Demons."
"And then six-feet under," Gordy added.
"That's correct," Shinji said. "No body in Genesis is a promotion hunter. Remember that!"
"We're ready to go Captain Nagisa!" the pilot yelled.
"Roger," Shinji answered. "Get us in the air." The H-Jet's massive engines roared to life and the side doors were slammed.
"How many jumps have you done?" Maria asked in a low whisper.
"Ten," Asuka answered.
"Only the training jumps?" Maria asked with a laugh. "So this is your first combat jump?"
"Yeah," Asuka answered. "Have to start somewhere."
"She's right." Asuka looked up and saw Shinji looking at them. "Don't you only have three combat jumps Lopez?"
"Yeah," Maria said with a grin.
"And none into a hot LZ," Shinji added. Maria nodded, even though it wasn't a question.
"He brought you down to size pretty fast," Asuka said teasingly.
"He's been doing it for years," Maria said in exasperation. "After all, you can't have arrogant idiots on Genesis."
(:ii:)
Asuka was breathing very fast. She was very close to panicking. She glanced down and saw another parachute canopy below her. "It's just like training," a calm voice whispered through the radio in her ear.
"Easy for you to say," Asuka growled. She wasn't squeezing the mike on her throat so no one heard her. She glanced down again. The ground was much closer then the last time. The parachute below her collapsed as the person hanging from it hit the ground. A moment later Asuka's boots slammed into the hard ground and her knees collapsed as she rolled.
"On your feet," someone barked sharply. Asuka tugged her straps to get her parachute on the ground and quickly grabbed it. She glanced around and saw that there was only four other Genesis on the ground. Most of them were already hiding their parachutes. Asuka followed their example. She pulled unclipped her air mask and pulled off her jump helmet. She buried both and pulled on her combat helmet and NVGs. The rest of the squad dropped the ground and began burying their gear. The NVGs made it nearly impossible to distinguish who was who. "Everyone down?" the same voice as before demanded. The answers were quiet, but showed that everyone was down.
"You okay?" Asuka jumped slightly and turned to glance at the soldier. She could just barely make out the name 'Lopez' on the soldier's vest.
"I'm fine Maria."
"Well I'm just so happy for you," someone growled sarcastically. "Now shut up. Everyone ready? We're moving out." Asuka easily recognized Shinji's low, perpetually annoyed growl. "Follow me." Asuka watched as the Genesis began to fan out and moved quickly with Shinji at the head. Asuka was second to last in the left flank line. "Everyone keep up."
"No shit," Asuka growled.
"Keep it down," Pierce growled. "He's making sure no one falls behind."
"I know."
"Than quit yammering." Asuka hated being told what to do, but it was something she learned to deal with. Genesis was unique. In combat situations people were expected to listen to the most experienced. Rank really did not mean a damn thing in the field. That had been pounded into them at the Genesis boot camp. 'I should have stayed with the infantry, or joined the Demons,' Asuka thought, thinking back to NERV's other special operations team. 'Not the time to think about it.'
(:ii:)
Asuka moved through the forest carefully and quietly with his Type 36 carbine held tight to her shoulder. The soldier to her right held up his fist and she stopped immediately. She looked around and spotted the telltale shine of a night-vision device. It was probably some kind of weapons sight. Suddenly a series of loud pops went off and Asuka turned sharply to see Shinji and Pierce with the rifles up. "What the hell are they doing?"
"Taking an acceptable risk," Maria answered. "We can't afford to play around. Don't worry. We're still a good distance away. The other guard posts won't hear us."
"I hope," Richey murmured.
"Shut up," Shinji growled as he lowered his Type 3. "Let's move like we have a purpose."
"How's our time?" Doc asked.
"We have two hours," Shinji said. "Damned if I know what happens after two hours, but that's what they told me."
"They never bother giving specifics to the poor bastards in the trench," Fieldy murmured.
"All right folks," Shinji growled. "Too much squawking and not enough moving. Let's go." Asuka rose to her feet and began to move quickly as the Genesis team moved forward. This time they weren't just going to Tokyo-2's outskirts. This time they were heading in. 'We're going to sneak into the base of operations for the enemy,' Asuka thought in amazement. 'I really should have joined the Demons.'
"You say something ma'am?" Richey asked. 'Did I say that out loud?' Asuka wondered.
"Nothing that concerns you Sergeant," Asuka said rather sharply.
"Of course not ma'am," Richey said. Asuka hated how he made the word ma'am sound like a sneer.
"I don't like your tone Sergeant."
"You shut the hell up," Shinji growled. Asuka winced. That was just great. Now Shinji was pissed off at her.
(:ii:)
Asuka moved carefully through the streets of Tokyo-2. She plainly remembered what had happened last time. The man in front of Asuka held up his hand and she quickly crouched down. Hand signals were passed up and down the line and Pierce and Gordy moved to the back of the line. Their special 'skills' weren't necessary for this kind of operation. "Is this the building?" Asuka asked.
"I don't think so," Maria whispered. "I know we're being hurried, but don't you think a briefing would have been good?"
"Yeah," Asuka said in annoyance.
"Pipe down," Pierce said in annoyance. "Did they skip over the 'silence is golden' lesson when you were at boot?"
"No they did not Sergeant Major," Asuka answered. Suddenly the line in front of Asuka stood up. She hurriedly stood up and brought her Type 36 to her shoulder. In seconds the team was moving across the street and up to the backdoor of another building. The soldier in front tried to door and swung it open slowly. He moved in quickly with his Type 3 at the ready. The line moved in quickly and Asuka was inside the door in seconds. To her surprise they were in a large dark room filled with packing crates.
"Alright," Shinji hissed. "Gordy and Pierce stay here and guard our exit, you dig?"
"Yes sir," Pierce said. "Let's go you two." The three quickly moved to crouch behind several large packing crates. Shinji shouldered his Type 3 and drew his pistol from his hip. The Genesis standard issue Type 3 was justtoo big to be very useful in close quarters.
"Let's go," he hissed. "Double file formation. Don't fire unless seen or fired upon." Asuka rolled her eyes in annoyance. Shinji didn't need to remind everyone constantly.
(:ii:)
Asuka looked around the tiny hallway and lowered her Type 36. "This place is empty."
"Stay on the ball Sohryu," Shinji growled. He was directly across the hall from her, so of course he heard her. "This building is used as an outpost. Just because we haven't run into anyone doesn't mean that there aren't any." Suddenly the soldier in front, Asuka thought it was Sergeant Johnson, opened fire with his SOCOM. The muted pops of his pistol cut off sharply and three men in plain civilian clothes lay dead. Shinji raised his hand and pointed to one of the doors. The Genesis exploded into motion at the wordless commands. The two lines moved to stand on either side of the door. Johnson raised his Type 8 shotgun and checked the doorknob. The door swung open and the first line of Johnson, Shinji, and Maria moved in fast. Doc and Asuka moved in a moment later, leaving the rest of the line outside as sentries.
"Did you find the spy?" Doc asked.
"Well obviously," Shinji said, prodding a bound man on the ground with his boot.
"Maybe it would be a good idea to take the safety cuffs off," the man said.
"No," Shinji said. "If anyone sees you then you must appear to be a prisoner."
"Great," the man said. He wiggled around and looked up at Asuka. "Well hello."
"No flirting in the field," Shinji growled in annoyance, prodding the man with his boot again.
"But she's just so lovely looking," the man said. "Where's Maria anyway?"
"I'm right here," Maria answered. "And unlike the Captain here, I have no trouble kicking a man while he's down."
"You have problems kicking a man when he's down?" the man on the ground asked. Shinji shook his head.
"It just sounded good," Maria explained.
"Kaji?" Asuka asked in shock. The man wiggled around and stared at her again.
"Asuka?" he asked with a smile. "Its great to see you again."
"I'd hate to interrupt," Shinji cut in. "But we have one thousand three hundred and eighty seconds until the dead line is up."
"Dead line?" Kaji asked.
"I was hoping that you could enlighten us Colonel," Shinji said.
"No clue Captain," Kaji said cheerfully.
"Great," Shinji said. "Pick up Colonel." He turned and squeezed his throat mike. "We're coming down."
"Roger Captain," Pierce answered.
(:ii:)
'Back on the streets,' Asuka thought tiredly. Kaji was directly behind her and she had been charged with making sure he survived. "So how long have you been unfrozen?"
"Shut up Colonel," Shinji growled. "We're trying to avoid detection."
"Sorry Captain," Kaji said quietly.
"Our time just ran out," Shinji said suddenly.
"Does that mean we don't get the prize?" Kaji asked. Shinji whipped around and nearly slammed the older man into the wall.
"What the hell is going on?"
"This was a test," Kaji said. "The Company is trying to estimate the relative rank of the mole by seeing how long it will take him to get his hands on classified information, namely this mission. Two hours was the amount of time they estimated it would take for a spy, no matter the rank, to learn of the mission."
"We're bait," Shinji said. "Oh shit." He let Kaji drop and immediately raised his Type 3. "I want everyone on the ball. The Company set us up." Asuka could hardly believe her ears. Misato had set them up.
"Incoming!"
"Get in the building!" Shinji bellowed. Asuka spun around and saw Johnson slam his shoulder into the building's door and knock it wide open. Someone grabbed Asuka's vest and dragged her inside too. In seconds the rest of the team was inside. Asuka winced as some kind of anti-tank missile hit the building and soared clear through the first wall, across the room, and out the back.
"Déjà vu!" Pierce bellowed as he fired out of an opened window.
"I was kind of hoping to avoid reliving that," Shinji answered as he aimed and opened fire. "How about an uplink Fieldy? I need to have a nice chat with the bosses."
"Try to keep the death threats to a minimum this time," Doc said. "People respect a courteous man."
"They respect the business end of an assault rifle more," Shinji growled. "Get me the fucking Company!"
(:ii:)
"You listen to me." Asuka shuddered slightly as Shinji spoke to whoever was on the other end of the radio. He wasn't yelling, but that made his tone even more dangerous. "You set us up and now you are going to make sure we don't get knocked down, you dig?" There was a loud pop as Pierce sent a round into some unsuspecting Crusader.
"Still M16s sir," he said. "No M2Ks."
"No Saviors," Maria said, relief barely evident in her voice.
"Yet," Shinji said, covering the handset's mouthpiece. He let his hand drop to his side. "You fuck us over and I will kill you." He handed the handset back to Fieldy and un-slung his Type 3. "What do you think?"
"I think we'll know when the Saviors get here," Pierce said. The building they were using for cover was in fairly bad shape. Pierce was propped up against a wall in the shadows with his rifle aimed through a large hole in the front of the building. Unless the Crusaders had thermal goggles he was invisible and with his flash and sound suppressor on his DMR he stayed that way.
"The Company says that they'll do the same thing they did last time," Shinji said. "They're going to set an H-Jet down directly behind this building while other H-Jets keep their heads down."
"And we all know how well that turned out last time," Doc said angrily. Shinji nodded and lay down prone to aim through another hole in the wall.
"How many are in there?"
"I've killed five in that building," Pierce said. "Now they're keeping their heads down. There might be a squad in there." Shinji nodded and rose to his knees. He aimed through another hole and his finger moved to the trigger on his weapon's under-barrel grenade launcher. "What's in there? Captain? Shinji?" Shinji fired and the building across the street exploded in flames. "HE," Pierce said in exasperation.
"HEDP," Shinji corrected. "High Explosive Dual Purpose." He slid back into the shadows and opened his rifle's launcher. The massive spent casing fell to the ground and Shinji tugged a second grenade from a pouch on his vest and slid it into place. There was a single gunshot and Asuka watched as Pierce placed a hand over his chest.
"The Saviors are here." Then he slumped to the side.
(:ii:)
"Medic!" Shinji was moving before Asuka could even process the fact that Pierce had been shot. Shinji grabbed Pierce's boots and dragged him away from the hole. "Richey, Gordy!" The two SAW gunners were already firing.
"Pierce!" Doc yelled as he jerked the sniper's vest open. "Stay awake!"
"I'm awake," the man growled. "Your bedside manner needs work."
"Fire your weapon Sohryu!" Asuka turned back to Shinji. He was in Pierce's position and the remaining Genesis soldiers were firing through any hole they could find. Asuka moved to a hole and raised her Type 36. "Just keep their heads down!" Asuka squeezed the weapon's trigger and swept the muzzle across the building.
"Cease fire!" someone yelled. Asuka took her finger off the trigger and tried to slow her breathing. The soldiers across the street had stopped shooting. She glanced at her rifle's translucent magazine. It was empty. She quickly reloaded and glanced back at Shinji to wait for her next orders.
"What do you think sir?" Pierce asked. Asuka turned and saw the sniper was on his feet again and holding his DMR.
"Get the scopes out," Shinji barked. Asuka reached into her pack and tugged out her night vision scope and quickly attached it to her weapon.
"So when can we expect pickup?" Maria asked.
"Fifteen minutes," Shinji said. "Keep your eyes open. They probably know that we're getting a ride out of here. I do not want to be over run the moment the H-Jet flies in." Shinji stood up and let Pierce take his old position. Asuka lowered his Type 36 and looked around. Maria was lying prone about a foot away.
"Hey Maria?"
"Yeah?" Maria asked.
"The Crusaders use American weapons right?" Asuka asked.
"All but the Saviors," Maria answered.
"Why?" Asuka asked. "We're a couple thousand miles away from America. Why don't they use local weapons?"
"We don't use local weapons," Maria cut in.
"Alright," Asuka said. "What about weapons from closer countries?"
"I don't know," Maria answered.
"It's because the Americans had massive stockpiles of weapons," Shinji answered. "When they adopted the M8 they put all their M16s and M4s into storage. Most of the storage facilities survive Third Impact because they were underground. Most of the weapons from other countries didn't survive."
"Oh," Asuka said.
"Sir?"
"Yeah?" Shinji answered.
"I just saw a Stinger," Pierce said.
"Wonderful."
(:ii:)
"We have a plan." Asuka watched as Shinji handed the headset back to Fieldy. "Give me two volunteers." Every hand rose even though Asuka knew that the two had already been decided. "Pierce and Gordy. Give me your SAW Richey." The two men exchanged weapons and Shinji moved to stand next to the door.
"Diversionary?" Doc asked.
"Yeah," Shinji answered. "When the H-Jet lands you take the squad and run. We'll cover for you."
"The H-Jets are coming in," Fieldy said suddenly. "They want to know if you can mark the building."
"We don't know where the hell they are," Shinji said, but he tugged something out of his belt. "Just tell them to demolish every building on that side of the street." He threw the device out of the window. "Everyone get to the back of the building. Doc's in charge."
"Come on!" Maria said as she dragged Asuka to her feet. Then a loud roar drowned out everything. Asuka looked through one of the holes in the wall as two massive black H-Jets swept in. In a burst of light both machines began firing, emerald tracers erupting from their gatling guns and rockets flying from under their stub wings. It was a truly awesome show of force.
"Open fire!" Shinji roared.
"Move!" Asuka sprinted out of the back door and saw another H-Jet sitting in the back. She was in the VTOL in seconds and waiting for the three soldiers in the building. After what felt like an eternity they finally appeared. They were sprinting flat out. In seconds they were inside the H-Jet and it was lifting into the air.
"That's how it should have happened before," Shinji said breathlessly.
"I would hope so," Doc answered.
(:ii:)
Asuka watched as Pierce was laid back on a stretcher and carried away. "Good job Captain." Asuka turned and saw Misato. Shinji stood in front of her, nearly blocking the older woman from sight. "No fatalities."
"Yes ma'am," Shinji said, his voice perfectly calm.
"I'm sorry that it had to be your squad," Misato said.
"I'm not," Shinji answered. "Better us then another Genesis squad. Now you listen to me. You know Genesis is almost entirely mercenary. We have the ability to walk if we feel our contract isn't being fulfilled."
"Is that a threat?" Misato said, her eyes narrowing.
"It's a warning," Shinji said. "Let's just say that we aren't too happy about being set up by our employers." He turned and walked away. Misato sighed and turned to look at Asuka.
"Are you okay Asuka?"
"I'm fine," Asuka said, she didn't bother to hide the anger in her voice. She had no idea how Shinji could be so calm in the face of a person that had almost gotten him and his people killed. "Did you find out what you needed to know?"
"No," Misato said. "We didn't."
"Well no problem then," Asuka snapped. She turned and walked away without saluting. Shinji had been more professional, but Asuka cared very little at the moment. Ever since she had awoken Shinji had been her superior. She wasn't the best anymore. That thought continued to chew at her mind. Even now he could quit. She was a commissioned NERV officer. No matter what they did she couldn't just walk away. Shinji had bested her again.
End
(:ii:)
Author's notes. Another one done. Thank Christ.