Still not owning here.

An Assassin's Memories

Fifteenth Shot: Suspended

Kari frowned as she looked around the table. Michael was eating quickly and their two guests were staring at him. "So you were out with that Yuji guy?"

"Yes ma'am," Michael said.

"Sounds like you made a friend," Kari said brightly. Michael ignored her and continued eating.

"This is really good. . .Michael," Misato said hesitantly. Michael paused and looked up.

"It is, isn't it?" He coughed slightly and went back to eating.

"You're coughing?" Kari asked. "Since when have you ever coughed?"

"It's nothing," he said calmly. He frowned suddenly and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.

"That isn't polite. . ." Michael cut her off with a raised hand and flipped his cell phone open.

"Michael." He listened for several minutes. "Of course. I'll be there in ten minutes." He flipped his phone shut and stood up.

"Going out?" Kari guessed.

"Yes ma'am," Michael said as he checked his Glock and picked up his jacket. "I will probably return in a few hours."

"Probably?" Kari asked, her voice tired and resigned.

"Barring any unfortunate accidents. . .yes," Michael said. He turned and walked out.

"Was he always that brisk?"

"No," Misato said. "Well I don't think so. Was he Asuka?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Asuka said. "That isn't him. He would never allow himself to become. . .that."

(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Michael looked up as Yuji's black van pulled up. "Get in," the older man said. Yuki quickly climbed into the passenger seat and closed his door.

"You really found them?"

"Yep," Yuji said as he pulled away from the curb. "Ten and Eighteens' handlers. We're not sure if there are going to be assassin's with them."

"There won't be," Michael said. "SEELE never makes a mistake twice. There will be cleaners there instead."

"What are cleaners?" Yuji asked.

"They're the next step above assassins," Michael explained. "Assassins are used for shock value. Cleaners are used for situations where the target needs to disappear."

"I see," Yuji said. "That's Ginji Takashi by the way."

"Nice to meet you," the man in the back of the van said. "Can you use a Heckler and Koch?"

"Yeah."

"Good," the young man said.

"So where are they?" Michael asked.

"They're at a bus terminal," Yuji said. "It's going to be just you and me again."

"What about me?" Ginji demanded.

"We're working without NERV's consent again, right?" Michael asked.

"You got it," Yuji said. "Michael and I work as advisors. We won't get into much trouble. You will."

"Doesn't bother me," Ginji said. Yuji glanced at Michael and he just shrugged.

"He seems competent enough."

"He isn't without skills," Yuji said.

"I'm right here," Ginji said in annoyance. Michael leaned back in his seat and frowned as he coughed.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine," Michael said. He began coughing again and tried to stop. He managed to and leaned back in his seat.

"You have an appointment with Akagi tomorrow, right?" Yuji asked. Michael nodded. "Bring that up."

"Alright."

(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"So what's the plan?" Michael asked as he pulled a thin Kevlar vest on over his T-shirt.

"I don't know what we're dealing with," Yuji said. "You said there would be these cleaner guys."

"Probably a couple of snipers on the roof and a few more people in the crowd," Shinji said.

"Ginji can take care of the snipers," Yuji said. "Right?"

"Absolutely sir," Ginji said as he pushed a magazine into the pistol grip of his sub-machinegun and holstered it under his right arm.

"We'll need them gone before we can move."

"Leave it to me," Ginji said. "I'll call you when I'm done." He pulled on a light button down shirt and walked away.

"He's confident," Michael said as he picked up one of the Uzis and loaded it.

"Yeah," Yuji said as he handed Michael a tiny ear button. He pushed it into place and pulled on his leather jacket.

"Let's just hope that its not over confidence."

(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Ginji took a deep breath and raised himself just high enough to look over the edge of the building. He ducked back down as he saw several men standing on the roof. In the brief glimpse he had counted five men with some serious firepower. "There are five."

"Do you need backup?" Michael asked.

"No," Ginji said as he wrapped an arm around the fire escape ladder and used his free hand to draw the suppressed Heckler and Koch MP7 sub-machinegun from under his arm. "I'm going in."

"Don't give them a chance to return fire," Michael said. "You'll be dead if they do."

"Right." Ginji quietly climbed up onto the roof and leveled his weapon like an over sized pistol. A gentle tap to the trigger sent three round slamming into the torso of one of the snipers. Ginji was already onto his second target by the time the first dropped. In seconds they were all down. "Clear."

"That's impressive," Michael said. "You're better then I though."

"Why thank you," Ginji said as he ejected his weapon's twenty round magazine and pushed a new on in. "Should I stay up here?"

"Yeah," Michael said. "We might need sniper cover."

"I don't have a rifle," Ginji said.

"Use one of theirs," Michael said. "Don't worry, there won't be any finger prints."

"Right."

(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"So what's the plan?" Yuji asked as he followed Michael across the bus terminal. Luckily there weren't too many people there due to the late time.

"Grab the handlers and see who shoots," Michael said.

"You're kidding, right?"

"I don't have a better plan," Michael said. "You want a better one then you think of it."

"Christ," Yuji growled. "There they are."

"The blond and the brunette?" Michael asked.

"That's them." Yuji's hand slid to the Uzi hidden under his jacket. This wasn't a plan. This was what happened when there wasn't a plan. A gunshot broke through the air and Yuji watched as an elderly man fell dead. Michael whipped around and fired three more times. In those few seconds two men had opened fire with their. . .briefcases? Yuji didn't bother thinking about it. He leveled his Uzi and put both of them down. "What the hell was that?"

"I'll show you later," Michael said. "The blonde's making a running for it!" Yuji turned and saw the blond-haired man sprinting towards the door. There was another loud gunshot and he went down as a bullet tore through his right knee. Yuji quickly moved to the brunette who was already sprawled across the floor. Michael appeared a moment later dragging the now restrained blonde.

"So what happened now?" Yuji asked. Michael picked up a briefcase and opened it. Yuji gawked as the sub-machinegun inside it.

"Never seem one before?" Michael asked. Yuji just shook his head.

"How did you know?"

"They only come in one color and style."

"Oh."

(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Gendo glared at the three men standing in front of his desk. "This is the second time you have reacted without proper authority!"

"Sir. . ."

"I have heard your excuse before Michael," Gendo said sharply. "You didn't have time, correct?"

"Yes," Michael said. Gendo sighed and leafed through the reports. Despite his aggravation, he had to admit that they were getting results. Thirteen SEELE assassins dead and three of their handlers captured. They were providing information that Gendo had never even bothered hoping for.

"I can not approve of your operating style," Gendo said. "Four innocent civilians were hurt, one severely."

"It happens," Michael said simply.

"I can not approve of your operating style," Gendo repeated. "Therefore I am suspending all three of you. Feel free to continue your investigation, but NERV will not be held accountable for your actions. Do you understand that?"

"Yes sir!"

(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"Well this was unexpected," Yuji said as he took a drawl on his cigarette. "What do you think?"

"I think this will make things easier," Michael said. He began coughing again and Yuji stubbed his cigarette with a sigh of annoyance.

"Are you sick?" Ginji asked.

"I don't believe so," Michael said. "It's possible of course. What are we going to do for weapons? We can't use any registered to NERV."

"You're going to have to give up your Glock," Yuji warned. "I can take care of additional weapons. What we need is a safe house."

"I'll get right on it," Ginji said. "How are we paying?"

"Unregistered slush fund," Yuji said. He yawned and checked his watch. It was so late that it was early. "Let's take care of this in the mourning."

"Yeah," Michael said as he stood up. "We'll continue this after my appointment."

"Make sure to bring up that cough," Yuji said. "It doesn't sound good."

"Fine," Michael said.

(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Kari looked up as the front door opened and Michael stepped into the apartment. "Hey Mike." He nodded to her and pulled off his jacket. "How'd it go?"

"We achieved our objective," Michael said.

"And just what was that?" Kari asked curiously.

"The capture of two handlers and the destruction of their escorts," Michael said as he laid his Glock on the coffee table and collapsed into the couch. Kari frowned as he lurched forward suddenly and began coughing.

"Are you okay Mike?"

"I'm fine," Michael said quickly.

"If you say so," Kari said as she sat next to him. "You were a real asshole at dinner Michael."

"I believe I have mentioned that I do not care about making friends right now," Michael said.

"Whatever," Kari said. "Just apologize to Misato and Asuka the next time you see them."

"Yes ma'am."

-End

(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

-Author's notes. Just a short one this time. I get the feeling I've used that line for something else. I'm trying to think. Let's see memory. . .slipping. . .slipping. . .gone. Just like most of my childhood memories. Oh well. It probably wasn't that important. Good fight, good night!