Disclaimer: Shirow Masamune is the genius who thought up these characters. Twiknham is the not-so-genius writer who manipulates them to a different tune. It is done for sheer pleasure, not for profit. Please enjoy.

Chapter 11: Path Forward

"Talking"
Thinking
(Cyberspeaking)
(Figure it out)

The next morning, the entire team minus the Major sat down to talk. They were surprised to see me back, Aramaki had told them I was taking a two-week extended leave to sort through some issues. No one argued about the issues I was facing, each of them had seen me a little off my game.

It was Saito, the quiet one, who started it. "So, are you back to normal?"

"Yes. But you probably won't believe it after what I say next."

Ishikawa leaned forward, putting his hands on his knees. "Hell Batou, it can't be any worse than anything you've done lately. You're beginning to make me thing I need to subscribe to some type of spiritual divination service just to understand you."

"Trust you to be delicate, as always." I cleared my throat, not that I needed it. "I need all of you to seriously think about my next statement."

No one said anything, so I continued. "The Major came back over a week ago. Ever since she's come back, she's acted like herself; but not completely like herself. Some of the things she's done have caused my ghost to whisper to me."

"Like what?" Good ole' Togusa. Aramaki had called him in specifically for this meeting, and he was sitting in his chair trying to hide his physical discomfort.

"The one thing that stands out clearly to me is her inability to open my link when I've had it turned off." I speared each of them with a look. "How many times have you been off for the day, and the Major still got a message to you?" I looked specifically at Togusa. "You've told me of at least twice that you'd deliberately unlinked so you could have some family time, and she'd opened it back up to send you an urgent call."

Togusa nodded. Boma suddenly spoke up. "So you've been intentionally turning your link off to test her? That's pretty irresponsible for you. Gusty, but irresponsible."

"No. I have not turned my link off intentionally. I'll admit it's been off twice, but I did not intentionally do it."

"What, your ghost suddenly making decisions for you?" Pazu surprised all of us, he usually kept his thoughts to himself.

"Aramaki and I have been working on that. That's why he had me take some time off. However, while I was off on leave, I realized something that I needed to bring to light."

"And that was…?" Ishikawa leaned back in his chair and pulled his cap down lower on his forehead.

"Before I answer that, I need each of you to think carefully about the way the Major has behaved since she returned. Think of anything she's done that is completely inconsistent with the Major we knew before she disappeared."

"Do we have a conspiracy theory going here?" Before I had an opportunity to answer, the androids came over the loudspeakers.

"Captain Aramaki, we have an urgent dispatch from Section 7, they are under fire by an unknown assailant and are requesting backup from any security group in the area."

Aramaki stood and looked at all of us. "Men, this discussion will have to wait, we have a battle to fight."

"What about the Major?"

"She's not here, you're on your own with this one." He looked at each of us. "I know you can do this, each of you is the best in your field. Even without a commander, you still can carry out the orders."

All of us filed out of the room on a run, grabbing weapons and gear as quickly as we could before heading up to the choppers.

Saito: (I'm going to take up point at the Polianier building next door to Section 7.)

Ishikawa: (I'll be in the chopper with Togusa, scanning the system for any communications.)

Togusa: (With me? I'm staying in the chopper?)

Batou: (You're not even cleared to be at work, you're keeping your ass in the chopper. I'm going to do a drop onto the roof, anyone want to commit suicide with me?)

Boma: (Someone has to save your butt, I'll be a diversion.)

Pazu: (Hell, guess that means I'm on point, being the skinny one.)

I was glad the team hadn't ditched me to forge the path alone. I sure as hell didn't want to be the next Major; but if I had to, than I knew I needed the team's support.

The three of us dropped onto the roof of Section 7, two of us landing with heavier thumps than the third. We made our way to the elevator vent. Popping open the door, I let Pazu go first. If he was going to be point, I wanted to make sure we were there to protect him.

Batou: (Ishikawa, are the elevators disabled?)

Ishikawa: (Affirmative. Proceed.)

The three of us dropped through the opening. Ishikawa had run them up to the thirty-seventh floor so we only dropped four flights before hitting the cage. Pazu had gone first, and Boma followed me. Once we landed, we opened the door to the thirty-eighth floor and peered around cautiously. It was empty, as we had expected.

Ishikawa: (I'm getting signal interference on floor thirty-four, Section 7 is on floors thirty-one through thirty-five. Use caution, I'll update.)

Togusa: (Guys, someone just opened the left staircase door on floor thirty five. I think you may get some company.)

The three of us scattered. We had learned early that guerilla tactics were better than rank and formation. Sure enough, the door opened and two guys with masks came out with guns ready. They signaled to split, and that's when we had them. As goon one came past my hole, I crept out and zapped his cyber connections with my tazer. He fell flat, leaving him disabled for now. Pazu snuck behind the other guy and disabled his gun. We couldn't have them both out because then we couldn't mine for information.

Boma: (I'm diving this guy. Be right back.) He pulled his connection out and hooked it up. A minute later he disconnected. (You'll never believe me. Ishikawa…)

Ishikawa: (Hai…)

Boma: (Upload the data I just collected.) Another moment of silence, Pazu and I both watching for more people.

Ishikawa: (Done. I'll be back in a few. Togusa's going to fill in while I verify this.)

Pazu and I both looked at Boma. He just shrugged, and we continued. Halfway down the stairs to thirty-five, Saito chimed in.

Saito: (Guys, you have company. Two mech-suits just walked past the window on floor thirty-five.)

Batou: (What say we keep going and get them from below?) Both guys nodded and we very quietly crept past the door.

Thirty-four was a bombed out shell. There were two dead agents at the door and four goons heaped up at the opening to the offices. Although the agents had died, they'd managed to kick some ass on their way out. If I had to guess, I'd say the suits took them out when they were too tough for the infantry.

"Sons of bitches, who the hell is behind this?"

Ishikawa: (Boma, thanks. This information is legit. Guys, get out of there. We are in a hot spot and there's no way for us to fight people at this level. They already have what they came for. They're just cleaning up.)

The three of us nodded. (Okay, we're out)

Ten sneaky minutes later, we were walking out of the building with the rest of the evacuees. Once we got back to base, Pazu, Saito and I sat and waited while Ishikawa, Togusa and Boma talked with Aramaki.

"Batou, I've been thinking about what you said earlier…" Saito had one leg hanging over the arm of his chair, and he was scrunched down in it. It looked uncomfortable as hell, but he obviously didn't think so.

"Yeah?"

"I've seen some things that don't add up. Small things, the way she talks to us, the way she carries out certain duties."

"So I'm not going crazy huh?"

Pazu chimed in. "Batou, you've always been crazy. However, your instincts are almost as dead on as the Major's always have been. I can think of an instance in which she acted off-character towards me. Maybe she was PMS'ing, but you've put a doubt in my mind now. Are you sure about your feelings?"

"I'm sure that I've felt there was something wrong ever since she came back."

"Do we have a chance of existing without her?"

"We don't have a chance in hell if we think we can't. Let's wait and talk with everyone else. Maybe someone will have a difference of opinion."

A/N: Hello again! Hope everyone had a great week! It's been a busy week, but the GMAT is over, and I'm gonna be in grad school starting January! (just had to share)

See ya next week. -TK