I own nothing. This story is set in an alternate universe. There will be OOC. You have been warned.
While You Were Sleeping
Chapter Thirteen: Proof
"Found it." Shinji wedged the blade of his combat knife into the circuit box and pried it open.
"What's that?" Pierce asked as he finished setting the last few M2s.
"This is all the power to the base's security cameras," Shinji explained as he flipped all the circuit breakers and then slammed the butt of the Type 3 into it. "That should do it."
"Unless the cameras are hooked up to the base's emergency generators," Pierce said.
"True," Shinji said. "That's not likely, but keep it in mind."
"Are the emergency generators our next target?" Pierce asked.
"No," Shinji said as he moved to the door and made sure that the bodies of the eight technicians were fairly well hidden. He also checked the claymore they had hooked up to the bodies. If anyone disturbed them then the anti-personnel mine would detonate. "The emergency generators could be anywhere. Hunting them down would just eat up time."
"Roger that," Pierce said. Shinji ejected the magazine from his Type 3 and frowned. He shoved it into his vest and drew a full thirty-rounder from his belt.
"Taking down all these techs is killing our ammo."
"Is that a pun sir?" Pierce asked.
"I'm too tired to make jokes," Shinji said. "How's your ammo count?"
"Twenty magazines left for the DMR are thirteen for the SOCOM," Pierce said. "Not bad, but it'll be gone in a second if we get into a firefight."
"Yeah," Shinji agreed. They had gone into this mission carrying three times the normal amount of ammo for rifles and two times the ammo for their pistols. That was thirty-six magazines with thirty rounds each for Shinji's Type 3 and fourteen magazines with twelve rounds each for the SOCOM. Plus there was the ammo from Bishop. He had gone through seventeen magazines getting to the generator room. That was horrible considering that they would probably be stuck in even more intense fighting getting out.
"We'll just have to get creative," Pierce said.
"Right," Shinji said, patting the combat knife on his belt. "Creative, but not stupid."
"I've been doing this longer then you have sir," Pierce said dryly.
"Sorry," Shinji said. "I guess I've just gotten use to having a bunch of brats to look after."
"Understandable sir."
(:ii:)
"This is going about as well as I expected," Gambit murmured as he stared at the screen. 'They're already hurting for ammo and they haven't even run into Saviors who know they're there yet.'
"Something wrong Gambit?" Misato asked. Gambit turned and considered the Sub-Commander carefully.
"Something's always wrong ma'am," he said finally, looking back to the screen.
"It's amazing how far they've gotten in without triggering an alarm," Misato commented.
"Just because we don't hear an alarm doesn't mean there isn't one," Gambit said. "There are an awful lot of people who aren't checking in right now over there. If the Crusaders and Saviors aren't on a full blown alert yet then they're definitely suspicious as hell."
"I just don't understand how they could get as far as they have," Misato said. "After the sorts of casualties I've seen come back from skirmishes with the Saviors it doesn't make sense."
"They aren't fighting Saviors," Gambit explained. "The Saviors are an assault and infiltration force. The men who have been standing guard are, more or less, run-of-them-mill Crusaders."
"You're saying that the Saviors can't defend their own base?" Misato asked in surprise.
"No ma'am," Gambit said. "It just isn't common practice, but if the Saviors are ordered to they can quite effectively kill any intruders."
"So when they finally do go on high alert then Shinji and Pierce are dead," Misato said.
"No necessarily," Gambit said. "CQB is quite different from battle field combat. The amount of people doesn't really matter, since you can't have but two or three people in a line in those cramped hallways."
"I understand," Misato said. "Do you think that they are going for the computer archives now?"
"Yes ma'am," Gambit said. "It only makes sense. If they go for another target and blow out the lights then they might overload the computers."
"Okay," Misato said, "the computers and then the armory?"
"Most likely," Gambit said. "I just hope that they can get there. They're going to need a lot of ammo to get out."
(:ii:)
'God damn it,' Shinji thought as he dragged another body into a small broom closet. He ejected the Type 3's empty magazine and simply dropped it to the ground. Empty magazines weren't too heavy by themselves, but if you had enough of them then they would really slow you down. He had long run out of the spare bullets he had taken from Bishop. "How are you doing Pierce?"
"Could be worse," Pierce said as he ejected his DMR's magazine and pushed a fresh one in. He gave the charging handle a tug. Shinji moved back out into the hallway with his Type 3 to his shoulder. Pierce fell into step behind them and they moved forward, hugging the starboard wall. "You're leaving a trail."
"What?" Shinji asked in confusion. Pierce pointed at the floor and Shinji frowned when he noticed a stream of blood following him. His leg throbbed suddenly. "When the hell did that happen?" Shinji kneeled and tugged his left BDU leg out of the combat boot and stared at the deep gash.
"Looks like you got grazed," Pierce said flatly.
"Yeah," Shinji said as he dug into vest and pulled out a small packet. "Cover me for a second."
"Of course," Pierce said. Shinji tore the top of the packet and upended it over the wound.
"Ow. . .fuck."
"Sting?" Pierce asked.
"A little," Shinji said.
"Means it's working," Pierce said.
"Funny," Shinji growled as he brushed the excess dust off. Most of it was already turning dark as it absorbed the liquid part of his blood and left only the platelets behind. He quickly wrapped a bandage around it and pulled his BDUs back into place. "Good to go."
"You owe me fifty bucks," Pierce added. "You got shot first."
"Talk about adding insult to injury," Shinji growled.
(:ii:)
"Alright Colonel. It's time to do your thing."
"Roger that Nagisa," Makoto said as cracked his knuckles. "Just put the plug in the outlet and I can start."
"Roger that," Shinji said. Suddenly the blank screen to Makoto's right began to fill with information. He tugged the keyboard in front of himself and began typing.
"Now where is it?" he murmured. He clicked on one file and frowned as a password protection window popped up. His fingers danced over the keyboard as he searched for a backdoor. Behind him came the sound of someone cocking a weapon. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Gambit holding a tiny TACOM. He noticed Makoto's look.
"Just in case," he explained, smiling.
"Ma'am?" Kaji asked, his voice shaking despite his best attempt to make it calm. Makoto leaned further back in his seat and saw Misato absently twirling a pair of handcuffs around her fingers.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Nothing," Kaji said.
"Get back to work son," Gambit said.
"Yes sir," Makoto said. He continued typing and smirked as information began to roll down the computer's screen. "I'm in."
"Are you recording all that?" Gambit asked.
"Yeah," Makoto said. "I think I've found something ma'am."
"Put it on the screen," Misato ordered. Makoto hit a few buttons and watched as two military profiles popped up on the screen.
"These declare both Nagisa and Pierce as retired," he said. "They left three and a half years ago."
"That could be falsified," Kaji said quickly.
"He's right," Makoto said. "This is just personnel files. They aren't too highly guarded. I'm going to look for more proof."
"Hurry please," Shinji's voice said. "We just ran out of time."
"Hide the transceiver," Makoto said. "I can continue without you being there."
"Well that's good," Shinji said. "Because we may not be here much longer."
(:ii:)
"Oh shit. Goggles on." Shinji jerked his NVGs over his eyes as he watched soldiers begin to file onto the balcony going around the computer room's entire circumference. His body was running on automatic as he thumb slipped into the ring of the high explosive grenade he had pulled as soon as the doors had burst open. He thrust his hand up and let the pin drop to the ground as he swung his Type 3 around with his left hand.
"Hold your fire!" someone barked.
"Bad, bad, bad," Pierce murmured next to Shinji. Shinji glanced at the man out of the corner of his eye. With his right hand he was holding his SOCOM aimed at the soldiers, but his left was hidden behind his back.
"The detonator?" Shinji hissed.
"Yeah," Pierce answered.
"On my signal," Shinji said.
"Well, well, well," a new voice boomed. "First Lieutenant Nagisa and Master Gunnery Sergeant Pierce! What a pleasure it is to see you two."
"General Durst," Shinji said simply.
"Good to see that you haven't forgotten everything you were taught," the older man said. From where he was Shinji could see the General eye the grenade in Shinji's hand. "You have no idea how surprised we were when we learned that NERV had convicted the two of you as spies."
"We can imagine," Pierce said flatly.
"I mean you've been protecting them for how long now?" Durst asked.
"Going on three years," Shinji said. "Why are you attacking NERV?"
"We thought that would be obvious," Durst answered. "This pathetic shadow of the world we once live in, it's their entire fault!"
"You're trying to punish the wrong people," Shinji said. "The man who caused Third Impact is dead. I killed him myself!"
"This isn't punishment," Durst said. "This is a preventive measure. No one should wield the kind of power that NERV has."
"Listen to me!" Shinji snapped. "NERV doesn't wield any power. The ability to cause an impact died with Commander Ikari!"
"I'm sorry Sin," Durst said. "We just can't afford to take that chance."
"I know," Shinji said.
"We have it Nagisa," Makoto's voice said. "Get out of there."
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Shinji demanded in a whisper.
"We see it," Misato said. "We've taken Kaji into custody and we're working on capturing all the people who testified against you."
"It's a little late," Shinji hissed, "but I appreciate the sentiment."
"Ryoji hangs at dawn," a new voice said. "Get to the surface in fifty. I'll be there."
"General?" Shinji asked in confusion. "Do it now Pierce." A tremor went through the base and the lights flickered off. Shinji wound up and hurled the grenade then threw himself flat. Pierce slammed into the ground right next to him at almost the same moment that the grenade detonated. Shinji rolled to his feet and opened fire. "Did you hear Gambit?" he demanded.
"Yeah!" Pierce yelled.
"Get to the surface!" Shinji yelled as he threw one of the few remaining M2s. It hit the ground in front of the door and Shinji's hand squeezed the detonator.
(:ii:)
"Where the hell are you going General?" Misato demanded. Gambit ignored her and opened the door.
"Is there a problem sir?" one of the guards asked.
"Yeah," Gambit said. "I've got the runs. Got to go!"
"Of course sir." Gambit sprinted down the hallway and took the next left. He found the escalators and began to jog down them. "Whoever designed this place should be shot."
"General!" Gambit glanced at the bottom of the stairs and sighed in relief.
"Thanks Captain," he said as he pulled on his combat vest over his urban BDUs. "The flyboys ready?"
"They're waiting for us sir," Ron said.
"Good," Gambit said as he took his Type 3 and checked it carefully. "We need to get there on the double. Those guys are going to have the Saviors snapping at their heels."
"Wonderful," Ron said as he pushed the doors to the hanger open. "At least Ryoji's little detour has made the trip easier."
"Yeah," Gambit said. "I'll remember to thank him when I put the noose on his neck."
"I don't think the Sub-Commander or the Commander is going to go for that sir!" Ron yelled over the loud throb of an H-Jet's tilt engines as they walked into the hanger.
"Fine!" Gambit yelled. "We'll just shoot him then!"
"Roger that sir!" Ron yelled as he climbed into the H-Jets. Gambit climbed in as well and slammed the side door.
"All locked up Major!"
"Roger that General," the pilot said. "This is Star Oh-One requesting that you open the hangar doors." Gambit pulled on a headset to hear the air traffic controller's answer.
"You're late for your scheduled practice run Star Oh-One," a woman said.
"Sorry about that," Gambit said. "This is Brigadier General Arlington Gambit. I wanted to tag along. Please open the doors."
"Yes sir," the woman said. "Just don't do it again General."
"Yes ma'am," Gambit said meekly. He glanced up and saw the massive doors opening through the H-Jet's canopy. "Time to go Major."
"Roger that sir," the pilot said. "Let's get out of here guys."
"Roger that Major," the pilot of the H-Jet gunship next to them said. "You lead and I'll follow."
(:ii:)
'God damn it,' Shinji thought angrily as he fired another burst from his Type 3. "Pierce? Can you hear me?"
"Can't talk right now," Pierce said through radio. "I'm busy!"
"Roger that," Shinji said. The Type 3 clicked empty and Shinji ducked back around the corner. He tugged out his last magazine and shoved it into the weapon's receiver. He slapped the weapon's charging handle and leaned back around the corner. A young man in standard Savior body armor was charging down the hall towards him. Shinji raised his weapon and sent a three round burst into the man's chest. The heavy .30-caliber rounds punched through the armor and knocked him into a partial back flip. 'Got to move,' Shinji's mind screamed at him. 'Don't stay here. Almost out of ammo!' Shinji ducked back around the corner he had been using as a shield and began to sprint down the hallway.
"There he is!" Shinji dropped to one knee as he spun and brought the Type 3 up. He squeezed the trigger and swept the muzzle across the line of men who had tried to pursue him. The Type 3 stopped bucking suddenly and Shinji cursed. He dropped the heavy old assault rifle and drew the SOCOM from his hip. He raised the weapon and fired twice before turning and running. He could hear the boots of the men behind him as he ducked into a doorway. His eyes caught the exposed ventilation system on the ceiling the second he was through. He jumped and grabbed the vent tightly with both hands without thinking. He swung his legs up and managed to wrap them around the ventilation shaft as well. Shinji heard the sprinting boots stop.
"Where the hell is he?" someone demanded. Shinji heard a pair of boots start forward.
"Freeze!" someone else cried, but it was too late. In an instant he had let go with his hands and swung down. The poor fool who had decided to take point stood no chance. Shinji's left hand wrapped around the forward grip of the soldier's M16 at the same time that he shoved the muzzle his SOCOM against his helmet. Shinji fired once and dropped the weapon. He let go of the pipe completely and dropped to the ground as his hand wrapped around the pistol grip of the M16. He landed on his back hard enough to knock the wind out of him, but he ignored it and fired the M16. The bullets sprayed the rest of the man's group and they all went down. Shinji climbed to his feet and dropped the empty M16. He snatched up his SOCOM and squeezed his throat mike.
"Pierce?"
"Sir?" the other man asked weakly. "I found the armory."
"Good," Shinji said. "How are you doing?"
"Two more holes then normal sir," Pierce said. Shinji could hear how labored his voice was.
"Hold on," he said. "I'm coming for you."
"Forget it," Pierce said. "I'm dead. Get to the surface and find Gambit." Shinji snorted in amusement.
"What is the first rule of both and Saviors and the Genesis?" he asked.
"I'm serious," Pierce said. "I'm as good as dead. Get out of here sir."
"Never leave a man behind," Shinji continued, ignoring him. "Hang on. I'm coming."
"You're an idealistic fool," Pierce growled.
"I'm an officer," Shinji said with a shrug. "Command?" He waited for an answer and frowned. "Come in command. This is Nagisa." He reached up and tugged off the headset. "Wonderful," he growled as he stared at the mass of twisted and cracked plastic and metal. He looked at the bodies and spotted the trademark black ceramic torso armor and gas mask of a Savior. 'Perfect.'
(:ii:)
"God damned stupid fool," Pierce growled. He sighed and picked up his commandeered CAR-15. The cut-down M16 felt surprisingly at home in his hands considering he hadn't used one in many years. "Not since the Sayeret Egoz." Pierce frowned. 'I'm getting nostalgic. Now I know I'm dying.'
"Hang tight Pierce," a voice in his ear said.
"You officers are annoying persistent," Pierce said.
"We have to be positive," one woman continued. She had a pleasant voice. "It inspired the troops."
"Captain does a good enough job of that without all the giddiness," Pierce said.
"Of course he started out as a grunt," the woman said.
"Yeah," Pierce said. "General Durst stuck us together as soon as he got out of boot. I liked him right away. He was smart, intelligent, and one hell of a good soldier." The wound in Pierce's stomach gave a particularly painful twinge and he nearly doubled over. Outside he could hear people speaking.
"Well it's about fucking time," someone growled. "We just got the go ahead for termination."
"I was wondering why you guys hadn't thrown in a grenade yet," Pierce said quietly. "You're right. It's about fucking time."
"Hand me that grenade." Pierce sighed in defeat and laid the CAR-15 in his lap. "At least Ryoji is going with me."
"Fire in the hole!" Suddenly a loud string of pops cut through the man's voice. Then something exploded outside.
"What the hell?"
"Pierce?"
"In here Captain," Pierce said. He watched in surprise as a man with a ceramic chest plate and a gas mask strapped to a helmet that looked somewhat like an old Nazi helmet stepped into view. The man reached up and undid the clips holding the mask to his helmet and Pierce laughed.
"Did you get nostalgic Captain?"
"A little," Shinji said as he pulled off his helmet. There was blood on his face. It made a strange contrast. Black clothes, gray hair, black and grey camouflage paint; and then bright red blood. "You alright? You seem to be zoning out a little."
"I'm fine," Pierce said.
"Sure," Shinji said as he set down his capture M2K and kneeled next to him. "Where are you hit?"
"Two to the stomach," Pierce said. "I patched them up as best I could."
"Good," Shinji said as he checked the field dressing Pierce had strapped to his stomach. He reached into one of the pouches on his vest and pulled out a bulky reusable injection gun. "I'm just going to give you something to deal with the pain."
"I lost mine," Pierce said.
"That's fine," Shinji said as he tugged up Pierce's sleeve and wrapped the sling from the M2K around it. He pulled it tight and waited for the veins to stand out. Pierce winched slightly at the sharp prick of the needle, but the pain soon died away. "How do you feel?"
"Great," Pierce said. "What is that stuff?"
"Something Doctor Akagi whipped up," Shinji said. "Should I tell her that the field test went well?"
"Absolutely," Pierce said, trying to fight the pleasant buzz that was slowly filling him. He finally gave up. "The woman knows her cocktails."
"Okay," Shinji said. "Hang tight. I'm going to plant the rest of the M2s."
"We could always grab a few things," Pierce said.
"That's the plan," Shinji said. "I only have one magazine for this," he patted the bull-pup assault rifle, "and three for my SOCOM."
(:ii:)
"God damn it General! Respond right now!" Misato waited for a minute and slammed the handset down angrily.
"Calm down ma'am," Makoto said. "Oh shit."
"What?" Misato demanded.
"We just lost contact with Nagisa," Maya said. "Wonderful. One of them is out of the touch and the other is dying."
"Ma'am?"
"What?" Misato snapped. The young Demon guard looked like he was about to pass out from fright.
"We've completed the operation," he managed. "All the traitors have been rounded up."
"Did you get the spy as well?" Misato asked.
"Yes ma'am," the Demon said. "She's in custody right now."
"Good," Misato said with a nod. She picked up the handset again. "General Gambit come in please."
"He hasn't answered yet ma'am," Shigeru said. "I don't think he'll answer now."
(:ii:)
"Alright men!" Gambit said loudly as he looked at the soldiers carefully checking their weapons. "We have two of our own outgunned and surrounded. You all know the rules!"
"Never leave a man behind!" the men shouted.
"Damn strait!" Gambit declared. "When we hit the ground we will be outgunned and out manned! The odds are against us, but we are Genesis! That's the way we like it!"
"Sir, yes sir!" the men shouted again.
"Everyone hang on!" the pilot interrupted. "We've hugging the deck and things are about to get a hell of a lot rougher!"
"Roger that," Gambit said with a nod. He turned back to the soldiers. "Everyone ready?"
"Sir, yes sir!" the men yelled. Gambit nodded again.
"I am damn proud to be your commanding officer!" he yelled. "So you better prove me right soldiers!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Good," Gambit yelled. "We're Genesis and what do we do?"
"Kill!" Gambit smiled and sat down.
"Twenty minutes General," the pilot said. "Get the ropes ready and check your pieces!" Gambit leaned back and felt the adrenaline already starting to course through him. 'What the hell was I thinking when I took a desk job?'
End
(:ii:)
Author's notes. And the long awaited chapter fourteen begins work now.