I don't own anything
An Assassin's Memories
Twenty-Seventh Shot: Sudden Death
"Central Dogma, this is Section-9. Please respond." Michael frowned as static continued to play in his ears. "We still have nothing."
"The signals can't penetrate the rock around us," Yuji explained. "You should be able to reach them once we get to that particular floor."
"Speaking of floors," Lucky began, "why are we taking the stairs?"
"Elevators are too risky." Michael paused as they came to another landed. He pressed his ear against the flimsy material and quickly stepped away.
"What is it?"
"Gun fire," Michael replied.
"They're killing everyone," Yuji explained. "We can't stop."
"Agreed," Michael stated as he continued down the stairs. He had failed again. All those people and likely many more would die for no better reason then a disagreement between megalomaniacs. "I despise humans."
"What?" Yuji asked.
"You don't want to know," Michael replied. "We have ten more floors to go before we reach Central Dogma."
(:ii:)
"Colonel!"
"What?" Misato demanded.
"Look at this," Makoto stated as he pointed at one of the screens. Misato stared at it. The screen showed half a dozen armed men moving down a stairwell.
"How is that different from every other camera?" Misato demanded.
"These aren't UN soldiers," Makoto explained. "Look at this one." Misato looked closer at the soldier.
"It's Asuka!"
"That must be Section-9," Makoto reasoned. "They're on their way down here."
"They aren't the only ones," Shigeru commented. "Look here." Misato glanced at the other screen.
"The UN is on their way down here?"
"I don't think so," Shigeru replied.
"What makes you say that?" Makoto asked.
"Because those were UN troops," Shigeru explained, pointing at the bodies littering the ground on the screen. Misato stared at the, apparently, dead men.
"Are they ours?"
"No," Makoto replied. "Most of our forces were killed off in the initial invasion. The few people who managed to get weapons are either engaged in firefights or dead."
"So who are they?"
"We don't know."
"Can anyone explain what's going on?"
(:ii:)
Michael pushed the door open and quickly moved out in the hallway beyond. All their intelligence suggested that the UN hadn't made it this far yet. "Section-9!" Michael paused and pressed his headset against his ear.
"This is Section-9, go ahead."
"This is Colonel Katsuragi. We have you on our monitors."
"Good," Michael replied. "We need eyes on our situation. Are there any UN around our location?"
"No," Misato answered. "Be advised, a large contingent of unknown troops are on their way to Central Dogma."
"What do you mean by unknown?" Michael asked as he swept the hall with the muzzle of his machinegun. It paid to be cautious.
"They aren't ours, but they are killing UN personnel," Misato stated. Michael glanced back at Lucky and the sniper nodded.
"They're ours," Lucky replied.
"Yours?"
"That's right," Michael added. "They're working for us. Try and contact them. They know who you are."
"Alright."
"Are there any UN between our location and the locker rooms for the Eva pilots?" Michael asked.
"No," Misato replied. "The whole way is clear and there aren't any nearby UN personnel. They're all tied up with killing all NERV personnel."
"Copy."
"Be advised, the UN is making moves to take control of the Eva facilities," Misato warned. "They just get side tracked a lot."
"What do you think the other guys are here for?" Michael asked.
(:ii:)
Asuka watched as Michael pushed the door to the locker room open and stepped inside. Yuji followed him quickly. "Clear!"
"It's alright," Lucky stated in his heavily accented Japanese. "Go on in."
"Okay." Asuka stepped into the room and looked around. Michael wasn't in view, but Yuji was. He was talking quickly into his radio. Michael appeared from the back of the room with his machinegun resting lightly by his side.
"Get changing."
"With you two in here?" Asuka demanded. This may be an emergency, but she still had limits.
"We won't look," Yuji commented dryly. "Plus, I don't think he gives a shit." Michael shrugged.
"Got me there. Who are you talking to?"
"My wife," Yuji replied. "She'll be here soon with Kari."
"I'll go tell Lucky and Ginji," Michael stated as he moved to the door and walked out.
"There's something different about him," Yuji commented. "You wouldn't know anything, would you?" Asuka frowned. There was a reason Michael hadn't said anything. She would respect his desire for privacy.
"No."
"Alright."
(:ii:)
"A pair of women?" Lucky asked.
"Forget it," Michael replied. "One of them is Yuji's wife."
"And the other?" Lucky asked hopefully. Ginji glanced over at Michael.
"Not your type," Michael replied.
"Your type?" Lucky pressed.
"I don't have a type."
"Michael!" Lucky glanced down the hallway and saw two women walking towards them.
"Which one's taken again?"
"Both," Ginji whispered. "I think." Lucky sighed as the dark-haired woman hugged Michael tightly. He had been keeping his eye on that one too.
"Ma'am?"
"God damn it!" the woman shrieked. "Call me Kari!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Argh!"
"Where's Yuji?" Lucky glanced at the blond.
"He's in there ma'am," Ginji stated. The blond nodded and walked into the locker room.
(:ii:)
"Section-9's troops have taken control of all Eva launch facilities ma'am," Makoto reported. Misato glanced at the monitor in front of the man.
"Good."
"I have a group of UN moving to hit them," Shigeru added. "They finished with the NERV personnel and are on their way down."
"Roger." Misato picked up the headset and slid it on.
"Major Ryan?"
"Speaking," the man's rough voice stated.
"We have a group of UN heading your way," Misato replied.
"About thirty strong," Makoto added. "Estimated time to arrival is ten minutes."
"Thirty men strong. ETA is ten minutes," Misato repeated.
"Thirty men in ten minutes," Ryan repeated lazily. "Copy. We'll be ready for them." On the monitor Misato could see one man snapping orders while the others ran to get into place. "Where are Michael and his men?"
"They'll be on their way shortly," Misato reported.
"Copy."
(:ii:)
Asuka pressed the button on her plug suit's wrist and felt the material immediately cling to her. "I'm ready." Yuji turned and nodded.
"Good. We need to get you to your Eva now." He paused suddenly and cocked his head to the side slightly, listening to something through his earpiece. "Right now."
"What's wrong?" Asuka asked.
"Elements of the Second Armored Division just entered the city," Yuji replied. "They can't get into the Geo-Front, but there's no way a rescue mission could get in either."
"And just where do you expect a rescue mission to come from?" Asuka turned and stared at Michael. "We're cut off, have been since day one. No one out there wants to save us, so we got to do it ourselves."
"Fuck."
"Indeed." Asuka glanced at the white clips in her hand and then back at Michael.
"Mike?" He turned to stare at her. "Here." Michael took the A-10 neural enhancers and almost dropped them when he was what they were.
"I won't need them. I don't think I can pilot any more."
"I'm not asking you to," Asuka snapped. "I just might need backup. I'm not saying that I need you to pilot, I'm just trying to be careful."
"I see," Michael replied as he tucked the clips into his vest. He hesitated and turned to Marlene. "Who are you?"
"This is Marlene," Yuji introduced.
"You don't remember me?" Marlene asked. "You pulled a gun on me."
"I remember everyone I pull on gun on and let live," Michael replied.
"Not a long list huh?" Kari asked.
"One name," Michael answered, "now anyway."
(:ii:)
"Section-9!"
"Here!" Michael stepped out from around the corner and found himself staring down the muzzles of a dozen automatic rifles. "I surrender," he stated dryly.
"Sorry," Ryan replied. "Can't be too sure. You have the girl?" Michael glanced behind him and saw that the rest of his small group had stepped into the hallway.
"We have her."
"Good," Ryan grunted. "Harker found something new and its got everyone a little freaked out."
"What is it?" Lucky asked.
"They have a battleship," Ryan stated. "A big one."
"Wonderful," Yuji replied. "What did I do to deserve this?"
"You worked with me," Michael replied as he stepped past Ryan and the rest of the non-corrupt UN. He walked into the massive Evangelion bays. "Damn this place is big." He squeezed the mic on his throat. "We're in the bay. You can launch the Eva from there, right?"
"Of course," Misato replied. "Almost everything is automatic. Just get Asuka into the plug."
"Roger," Michael replied. He could see the plug resting at the end of the catwalk next to Eva Unit Zero-Two. "Get in the plug."
"Right," Asuka replied as she dashed along the catwalk towards her unit's plug.
"What's the plan now?" Yuji asked.
"I'm going after Gendo Ikari," Michael answered.
"Starting to attack the enemy's command structure?" Yuji guessed.
"Like he knows how to effectively lead troops," Michael stated. "I just want to kill him."
"Alright then. Let's go."
-End
(:ii:)
-Author's notes. I've said it before, but I think the next chapter will actually be the last.