The Whisperer
Disclaimer:"…"
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Chapter 18
"Fine." Kaname turned to follow Sousuke through the heavy rain. She didn't want to speak to him right now. She knew why he was angry. She thought Sousuke must not be used to being angry because when ever he was angry he didn't go about it well. She raised her head to watch him walk. He wasn't limping despite the damage he must have taken. He walked as if he was alone. He didn't look back he just kept walking. Kaname looked at the destroyed trees as she walked by them. She still wondered exactly what had just taken place. She lowered her head again as she continued following him. She was grateful for the rain, despite the surprise of its appearance. Kaname thought about her reaction. She didn't leave. She was usually more capable when they were in danger, she could understand that he was angry. She thought about how she acted recently. She was getting too upset just because of Sousuke. She was too dependent on others when in Amalgam. When she was at Amalgam despite that she had to depend on others for simple things. At least while in Amalgam she was on her toes to be careful around Leonard. Though Leonard had tried to keep from being a bad guy. He was just a little to wanting, and too full of power. Now she tried to relax while she was around everyone. She decided enough was enough. Kaname increased her pace and walked passed Sousuke. He was strong like he said he could take care of himself. Sousuke didn't respond and continued to walk at his pace.
He wasn't tired. He was injured but that didn't bother him. He was angry at Kaname, and this time for a reason he thought was good enough. She had failed to escape when he told her therefore putting them both in danger. He had no doubt he could fight Gauron despite his differences, he just worried about Kaname. One of the reasons he had come to care for Kaname was her ability to be rational, and act quickly in dangerous situations. He was disappointed in her failure. He had grimaced when he heard that first bullet go off. It was risky but at least he had saved her. Sousuke didn't say anything as she walked past him. He continued walking at his slow pace as Kaname sped past him. She was still wearing just a bathing suit, and jacket. He realized now just how selfish he had been in choosing to stay, in attempting to have a peaceful life. By trying it he had put others in danger. It was partially his fault for not stopping Kaname. It would have been his responsibility if she died. Despite this it was still her who chose to follow and who failed to escape. He watched as she slowly began disappearing into the rain as she gained distance on him. She had reached the path now and was walking down. Sousuke stopped for a moment when she disappeared from his view. He shook his head then continued following her. She was already halfway down the path when he actually walked up to it. He stood there as Kaname continued her descent then walked along the beach. Sousuke was surprised when she stopped. She must have noticed he was gone he thought. However she didn't turn around. She turned towards the ocean and made her way over. Sousuke almost called out to her when he saw her walking. She was hardly visible through the heavy rain. He watched her as she stood by the edge of the water. The tides were strong and rode high enough to cover her knees. It didn't seem to bother her though. Sousuke watched the peculiar scene in front of him.
She was tired. The shock, and fear from the ordeal just moments ago exhausted her despite the fact that she actually did nothing the whole time. She didn't want to go back to the class but she didn't want to be around Sousuke. She thought about how it was when she returned. No one was especially mean, or cruel. They were welcoming because of what Sousuke had told them. She wondered how they would have responded had he not. She probably would have just been rushed at with questions. She breathed in the ocean's scent as it splashed against her. The rain was still coming down hard. She hadn't visited her family since returning. Sousuke had told her that they were informed but it had to be kept undercover. It was difficult keeping people from finding out about him, Arbalest, and that Kaname was kidnapped. Someone else took care of keeping those details out. It was complicated when he had won that Arm-slave tournament despite the loss of his teammate Nami. After winning for her he quickly disappeared again.
She cupped her hands so that the rain could fill in it. She watched as it became a puddle and bounced as the rain continued to fill it. Maybe she would see her family soon. She definitely needed to work on herself. She needed to get back her old way. Crying because of some guy was not what Kaname Chidori did.
"After the field trip, I'll see my family. If that moron tries to follow I'll send him packing." Kaname quickly tossed out, and opened her hands releasing the small pool of water in them. She walked backwards until she felt she was a good distance from the water. She dropped and sat in the sand. She watched as the water came and went, reaching high enough to pass under her but didn't elevate beyond ankle height. She watched the ocean, and sky as she sat there. She thought about how she was now, and how she was then. Being whispered, and being at Amalgam definitely affected her. She was acting weird right now. She looked back the building where they were supposed to stay. Everyone seemed to be inside. Even though it is daytime the rain, and clouds made it enough so that light could be seen coming from the building. She still didn't turn to see where Sousuke was. She had heard him stop following her or rather fall back while they were approaching the path down. She guessed he had stopped around there. Kaname decided she could be just a little weirder.
Sousuke continued to stand on the cliff. He was surprised by what Kaname was doing. It seemed strange especially from her. He was used to random acts of violence and her being strange or overly nice but this was different. He still could not understand women. Kaname always baffled him with how random she could be. He was aware that she was different after what happened but she was still Kaname. She hadn't changed so much that anyone would notice. But he did. He was shocked when he saw Kaname removing her jacket and shoes. "She can't be serious." After removing her other accessories until she was down to her bathing suit she walked towards the water again. Sousuke wanted to go down there, and stop her. He didn't he decided to just watch. Kaname slowly walked deeper into the water. He watched as she swam out. He almost jumped off the cliff to chase her. He stopped when he noticed her standing only her lower legs submerged as she stood out in the water. He figured she must have found a sand deposit that was farther out. He was surprised by her ability to stand despite the force of the water, and wind. She began walking across the sandy build-up. He watched as she swam farther out. He really almost jumped off this time but she stopped, and returned first. She stayed in the shallow part of the beach this time. She still swam around but not much. He watched for about ten minutes until she returned to the shore and grabbed her things. She put on the shoes and jacket but did not close the jacket this time figuring it was pointless at this point. She still hadn't looked back at the direction of the cliff. Sousuke gave up on watching her. He decided to head back to where he fought Gauron less then thirty minutes ago. He examined the destroyed trees, and any damage they caused then continued towards the edge of the cliff. He was still angry, that would not change so easily. He remembered when he first was truly angry towards Kaname. Mao had been hurt because he failed to use the lambda driver. Kaname had come in saying it was alright that she was glad they were okay at least. He scolded her called her a burden and she ran crying. He cupped his jaw as he remembered Kurz punching him. Kurz was almost literally knocking sense into him then. Though Kurz was a jokester he knew when to be serious, he was good as a mercenary as well as a person. Melissa also played a big sister role towards Sousuke though he never thought of it that way before, Kurz often mentioned it. She even called herself big sister once or twice. He realized he missed them. Kurz and Melissa. They were his best friends the people he trusted more than any… well more than anyone but her. Sousuke looked down at Kaname's figure. He felt the disappointment of her failure again. What bothered him most is that he was angry not worried. He didn't dwell on these kinds of things. Sousuke looked at his wounded hand. He realized he must have changed over time as well. He looked out at the horizon the rain making everything a hazy grey.
Kaname stretched as she gazed upon the disrupted water. She needed that swim to get her body going. No lightning or thunder had been heard or seen in awhile. She was sure the students would be attempting to make their way out here again soon. She needed to get her mind off a lot of things. She found a stick not too far from her. She began writing names in the sand. She wrote hers. Then Kyouko's and the rest of her friends. She even wrote Ono-D's, and Shinji. She didn't stop there she wrote Leonard's, and Tessa's names as well. Leonard's was a bit strange because he had an L in his name which Japan did not officially use that sound. She chose to use Tessa because Teletha would have been just as bad. She wrote her father, mother, and sister's names. She didn't know why she was writing she just did. She thought about how stupid she thought regular people were. Pointlessly trying to get by everyday. She discovered some cruel thoughts while at Amalgam. She almost totally believed Leonard. She didn't finish writing in the last name after putting in the first kanji. The name of the person who kept her from going insane, if not make her insane himself and from completely believing Leonard. Listening to some of Sousuke's ideas helped her. It made sense. Not everyone was whispered, not everyone was so fortunate or unfortunate. She was surprised by how Sousuke could be who he is despite what he had seen, and gone through in his life. She thought about how she wanted to be normal. The irony was she was pretty far from normal or so she believed. Sousuke had told her she was normal. Being whispered made you different but did not change you, or make you abnormal. She really wanted to believe those words so she did. She wanted to forget being whispered but she couldn't. She could only do what she once thought was stupid, and pointlessly try to go on. The irony was she wanted normal from someone else, at first. Yet she cared about the weirdest, strangest person in the world more than anyone. He made her feel normal. She laughed at how ironic it was. Thinking about him brought back the sour feeling she had right now. She remembered the way he had acted when Gauron left. Once again she realized he had a right to be mad. Kaname finally decided she could look for Sousuke. She looked towards the path but he was not there. She scanned the cliff until she spotted him at the very edge of the spot where he had fought Gauron. He was only looking out. She looked to see if there was anything to look at but the only thing there was the sky, and ocean, as well rain. She found it hard to see him the rain coming down a little stronger than before. She was still angry she realized. She decided she had enough and headed back to the small complex.
Sousuke turned when he immediately felt Kaname leaving. He saw that she was going back to the building. Though she did not listen immediately at least he knew she would be more or less safe now. Sousuke pulled out his phone to make a call. After dialing the numbers someone answered on the third ring.
"Travis." Sousuke did not wait for him to answer.
"Sousuke is that you? I can't hear you to well where are you?"
"It is raining do not worry. I need you to have the satellites locate a disturbance in this area. I will give you the coordinates. Look for what seemed like a helicopter in ECS, then follow it. If I am correct we should have had a satellite over us at that moment. It should still be reading the area. I want you to follow it to wear it went. Once complete send me the information to my computer. Also be on the lookout for any major terrorist act, with arm-slaves or others. Origin has a new recruit."
--
The doctor finished pulling the syringe from Gauron's arm. Gauron rotated his arm to get the drugs goings.
"How are you feeling?" She pulled up her clipboard to write down any information on his condition.
"Great just fine. Listen I need to talk to Schneider soon. Tell him that for me will ya'."
He cracked his fingers before exiting the room. The man with long hair from the surveillance room was standing there. "Hey Schneider." Gauron greeted the man.
"Good morning. I would like to speak to you. You seem to know our target quite well." Gauron chuckled as he walked by. "You mean Kashim, yeah I know him well. He was great as a kid." Schneider followed after him. "Elaborate please."
"When he was a kid he had great eyes. Even people who hated what we did, and who we are would have thought him beautiful then. When he was young he killed, and did what he had to without hesitation, or feeling. Killing, fighting it was in his blood, it was who he was. He really caught my attention then."
Schneider watched Gauron as he smiled at the thought. "I see so he had been capable since childhood."
"Are you kidding me he was capable since before he was born, he spent his whole life out there. He was doing great. Then he met them…" Gauron scowled.
"Them?"
"Mithril. Those bunch of justice loving pansies. Their weak, they can't do what is necessary. They claim to be ridding the world of evil. The joke is they have a 16 year old girl as a captain of their strongest submarine. Of course she could be older now." Gauron took glances at the people he walked by who were working or walking around. "They made Kashim weak, especially her."
"Who the captain girl?"
"No the blue haired one. Kaname Chidori. She was once a target of mine. Ever since he met her he softened up. But today. He was amazing. I would like to know what happened that made him so fierce but it doesn't matter."
"Hmm I see tell me more." Schneider led Gauron down another hallway.
"Fine but later you tell me about that weird ass shit I can do."
"Hm?"
Gauron pointed his finger, and shot the soda can of a nearby employee.
"Oh that. I will explain later. There is much more than finger pointing that can be done." Schneider merely passed it off as a regular day occurrence.
Gauron smiled then continued his story.
"We met again in Khanka when he was older. He was still good looking then but he was working for Mithril. We had a fight I would have killed him had his friend not shown up. We fought later he had a new Arm-slave. That was really fun." Gauron turned to enter a coffee room. He filled two cups before stepping out to Schneider. He handed him a cup.
"We met later in Helmajistan. I was delivering a nuke. He got in the way there too. I brought an old friend of his but he failed too. I killed all of Kashim's comrades there, but I had to leave anyway. We fought later on some island where I hurt another one of his friends. I eventually got on to that precious submarine, and took control. Kashim stopped me though. I survived using the lambda driver. We met again a few months later. My girls were doing some work for me. Yu Fan was sent to take care of the angel. Yu Lan was just supposed to wreak havoc to get Kashim to come to me. We had a conversation about what he had become. I was disappointed in him. I told him she was dead. I didn't expect her to escape. I was shot by Kashim then hopefully my bomb went off. I'm sure you know the rest after that." Gauron took another drink of his coffee before tossing it in can.
"I see so you know Kas… Sagara very well."
Gauron chuckled again before being lead into a large room.
"As I told you before this is yours."
Gauron grinned as he looked over at the new AS.
"It is an upgraded Venom your original machine. It will not over heat, and the lambda driver works well. The weapons are similar to the old one but you may have your choice." The machine was black, and red. The hair like strands that symbolized the lambda driver were thicker. The body was more armor like.
"Heh."
"Its name is Scorn. You will be using it tonight. We already have something going."
--
-Tuatha de Danaan-
Tessa watched the screen as they finished passing under the large vessel. The TDD-1 was more powerful, faster, and quieter then it used to be. She sighed as they finished the final practice of the day. Tessa was getting bored with all the limited action lately. She was not into killing but being the captain of a submarine she expected something.
Suddenly Mac entered the room. "I have a report. Information gathered shows strange activity in the Okinawa prefecture areas. Specifically at Okinawa. Arm-slaves have been spotted. They resemble the Venom type arm-slaves from Amalgam." Mac walked over, and handed Tessa the papers, and photos he had. Tessa carefully looked over each one. "They look like they are preparing for something. Here see. They are set-up in positions. Tessa marked the Venom like machine with a red marker on the photo.
"We will investigate but first we have to pick up some new equipment."
He raised his eyebrow. "What new equipment?"
"We have been informed of a useable machine through our interrogations. We are going to investigate if this is true. If it proves true we will retrieve the machine." Mardukas answered for Tessa.
"What type of machine?" Mac kept his eyes on Tessa.
"An arm-slave. With Lambda driver." Tessa kept her looking over the papers in her hand.
"It may prove useful if this is indeed a threat. We will be assigning it to a test member of the Urzu team considering it is his."
Now Mac was really curious. "Who?"
"Probationary member Leonard Testarossa."
Mac thought a moment he didn't recall a Leonard. It came to him when he remembered meeting him when he was going to the engine room.
"If he's probationary what was he doing in the…" Mac paused. It was awkward that a probation member be in the engine area. He decided instead of letting anyone he would what could happen.
"In the what?" Adrian spoke up now.
"In the… arm-slave in the first place."
"You are a test captain for Mithril, I'm sure you are aware of our enemy Amalgam."
Tessa turned to Mac. He easily remembered Amalgam, he just read the name as well but had no actual information on Leonard before. "Yes I remember. But why are you giving him a new machine."
Tessa smiled. "He is a member. He may be the only one who can use the machine. Also he is an excellent Arm-slave pilot perhaps the best on board this sub.
Mac forced a smile. "Ok well you have the information. How long before we pick it up?"
"Thirty minutes before we finish approaching the area." It turns out the second AS was back at the facility Leonard had been defeated at. It was in an area safe from damage however.
"Oh ok. Well I expect we will be checking on the AS situation shortly after."
"Yes." Tessa returned to the screen. Mac quietly exited the room.
"He seems suspicious Madam Captain." Mardukas decided to speak his worries.
"It's ok. He seems to want to do the right thing." Tessa smiled.
"So we're really going to pick up an AS?" Kurz said as he finished strapping on his plug suit.
"Yes we're going to pick up an AS for Tessa's brother. He may be used on Urzu team considering his skill in an arm-slave." Mao lit up cigarette.
"Are they sure about this?" Bel was already suited, and checking his machine.
"It's Tessa's idea to agree with this. He's her brother so it's not a surprise. Besides a new member would be great if he's as good as I heard." Lilliane finished off a bottle of water.
"Yeah Yeah. He almost kills us, and we gotta help him." Spake spit as he pulled on his gloves.
"Hey we're going as precaution. Our arm-slaves can take it on. Even though they're getting it for him we still there as precaution. Tessa knows what she's doing." Mao started to climb onto her arm-slave.
"Yeah Tessa-chan's not stupid." Kurz finished pulling on his suit. "Hey but I heard that there is something going down in Okinawa. Venom AS types were spotted or something."
"Maybe their getting the AS to help deal with the enemy. They said it was a large amount." Bel exited his cock-pit once he finished his check of his ARX-9.
"Why don't we just give him one of the ARX-9's and tell him to kill us?" Spake was being sarcastic. He was not fond of the idea obviously.
"Spake calm down it's not that big a deal." Lilliane turned to her AS. They didn't have much more time before they had to go.
"Yeah buddy it's okay. We could take him. But by the looks of it we won't have to." Kurz patted the large metallic leg of his AS.
"The hangar needs to be cleared. Urzu team; prepare your arm-slaves, and get ready to exit the submarine." A Mardukas voice came over the loud speaker. The arm-slaves would be exiting through the hangar exit. They would be going in through basic water travel. The ARX-9 had an underwater system that kept them very mobile even in the sea. It was a standard on all the ARX-9. The system just had to be checked, and adjusted upon transfer from sea, land, and vice-versa.
"Okay Urzu team get ready to go." Bel called as he entered his arm-slave.
One the Urzu team exited Leonard loaded onto a helicopter along with some troops, and would be flying to the sight as well as leading them to the Arm-slave. Apparently it was a new-type of AS that had been finished the day he had lost to Sousuke, but it had yet to be tested. It had more ability then his old AS. He did not have the information or statistics of his new AS since it had not been used in battle before. Leonard informed the unit to an area with an underground facility. As it turns out the entrance had been uncovered earlier but they could not open a large container because they did not know its contents and did not wish to damage anything inside it, or set something off. It turned out that the container had been the case for his new AS. It was still hooked up to wired, and machines in the hangar though. Leonard was escorted to the small facility. He spent about ten minutes checking diagnostics on the attached container's cargo before entering the information for the wires to release. Instead of opening it to examine it the Urzu team called in for chopper carry. After about 5 minutes a large helicopter dropped four cables. The Urzu team attached them, and checked they were secure. Soon the large pod was being hoisted into the air, and out the ground level hangar entrance.
"Urzu team you must return to the TDD-1 to load the treasure." Tessa's spoke to the team.
"Roger." The Urzu team leapt out of the overhead entrance rather than take a basic exit. Leonard watched as they returned to base. Soon he would too. He was escorted back to the helicopter. The recovery was quick. All together it took about half an hour. Mostly to travel the distance, and get the arm-slaves inside. The check Leonard did took about 5 minutes on its own. After another thirty minutes the container was loaded and secure. Urzu team had returned and Leonard was back on the sub. All together it was uneventful.
Leonard pushed some keys on a pad on the container. Pressure hissed out of the container as it split. The As resembled Belial slightly. It also resembled the ARX-7. The upper body was oddly shaped like Belial but had the more connected look of the ARX-7. With out the Lambda driver equipment. The lower half was an upgrade to Belial's all together. The head was something different completely. The color was a pale blue, with white, and yellow at some points. It would not look too different from the Urzu teams AS's all together with a slight paint job.
Leonard was escorted out of the hangar. The AS would be moved, and checked. They did not have the equipment they had at Merida but they brought the equipment they needed to get the small tasks to the AS. Leonard decided he would try out the bar.
"So what now?" Melissa said as she finished her glass. She, Kurz, Bel, and Lilliane had come to the bar. Spake did not feel up to it. Bel of course drank water.
"Let them handle it." Bel took another drink from his glass. "Listen if your going to drink do it now because we have a mission later tonight." Just as Bel finished Leonard walked in. He was wearing uniform so except for his long hair, boyish looks that would probably have made a girl swoon he did not look out of place. He went straight to the bar, and sat 3 seats from Clouzot.
"You wouldn't happen to have any fine wine would you?" The bar tender shook his head.
"That's all right. I'll take water then. I'll try something else another time."
The bar tender looked at Leonard as if studying him. "This is a bar."
"Ahem." Clouzot cleared his throat. He had the same problem with the bar keep first time here as well.
"Fine here you go." He filled up a glass of water and handed it to Leonard.
Leonard turned to Clouzot. "Thank you. I believe you are the Urzu team leader Clouzot."
Clouzot nodded his head. "You must be Leonard. I hear you will be joining the team. Let me introduce you." Clouzot briefly introduced Melissa, and the others.
'Spake's not here. He doesn't like you very much either way so if he was we'd probably have a bar fight on our hands." Leonard chuckled at the comment.
"Sir there is nothing here." Mac listened to the female voice over the line.
"Are you sure?" He was using a communication system in his room. It was portable, small but Mithril would not catch onto his conversation.
"Yes we will look a little longer. We will base near, and stay a couple of days. Just in case."
"Ok you do that. Just be careful."
"Got it. We'll see you later." With that the other end disconnected. Mac did as well then altered the frequency just in case someone came in.
"Damn."
--
-Cliff in Okinawa-
It had been one hour he was up here. He just stared at the rain. It weakened to a basic level one you would think nothing of. The students had returned to play. The clouds had also cleared a bit so it was brighter. Sousuke figured that at least Kaname informed the teacher of his absence because no one had come looking for him. He was still soaked. He'd forgotten about his wounds. He knew if Gauron was back he would have problems. Though Gauron was just an opponent. He had past experience with Sousuke, and did know some things. He was not below using a hostage to defeat him. Gauron also used that strange force. Something he himself was still trying to understand completely. Sousuke listened as the kids played, and splashed. He heard them even though he was about 100 feet up, and a good distance away. Sousuke identified every student down there. He stopped, and watched Kaname. She had failed him. He wondered if this is how it felt when he failed her. He would not get angry, and hit her around. Sousuke wondered what he would do.
Ring!
Sousuke pulled his phone out of his pocket. Luckily being specially made it wasn't affected by water. "Sagara speaking."
"You sound a little gloomy. Listen I traced the signal. It went back to an abandoned off-shore oil platform. Old place. There doesn't seem to be much activity there now but you should check it out just in case. We don't have Al here so you'll have to go get him yourself."
"Roger. I'll be up in 30 minutes." Sousuke closed his phone. He walked back to the path where they came up. He was reminded of the fight with Gauron as he passed by the destroyed trees. He was like a ghost as he walked across the sandy beach. He ignored everyone, and they ignored him. Finally he came up to MS. Kagurazaka lying in a folded out chair. "Ms. Kagurazaka I have business I need to attend to. I must be going."
"…" She did not respond. Sousuke examined her. She was still breathing. Suddenly he realized she was sleeping. He sighed. Her lack of attention to her responsibility bothered him. He pulled out a small device that would cause a small explosion next to her. It would wake her up after he was gone but not too long after. He walked over to Hayashimizu. Ren was sitting in a chair next to him resting on his shoulder. She was still dressed to swim however. "Your Excellency, I must be going. Inform the teacher when she awakes please." Sousuke did not wait for an answer as he turned away.
"Sagara I'm sure Ms. Chidori will not be pleased shouldn't you inform her?"
"I doubt she will be displeased, and I do NOT need her following me where I must go. Please inform the teacher, thank you."
"Sagara something seems to be wrong. I'm sure something happened in your, and Miss Chidori's absence. I will not ask what however. I will inform the teacher." Sousuke continued to walk away.
"Oh and Sagara. Good luck." Hayashimizu returned to his book.
Sousuke made his way back to the parking lot. Luckily they were by the ocean so that meant Al's location would not be far. Though acquiring a vehicle would be much faster. Sousuke decided hitch-hiking would work. He doubted anyone he rode with would be able to defeat him so it would be safe. Sousuke walked along the road for about 5 minutes before an old man in a rusty pick up truck gave him a ride. The man was mostly quiet on the ride not asking too many questions or making much conversation. Sousuke thanked him when he dropped him off by a collection of buildings on a pier. It had been a ten minute drive so he would have plenty of time to get ready. He looked around for any civilians or pier workers. There were only a few he doubted anyone would notice him. He snuck into a large building. It was more rundown than any of the others. Sousuke looked around before he walked over to something covered in a tarp. He pulled the tarp to reveal his Arm-slave. The chest instantly opened with a hiss. Nothing was said as Sousuke entered the arm-slave. He loaded himself into the cock-pit, and slid his arms and legs into place. He touched the light screen as systems came on. The cock-pit door closed with a hiss.
"Al wake-up."
There was a low hum as a different set of lights, and systems activated.
"Good morning sir. How are you?" Al's voice was upbeat as it spread through the cock-pit.
"Morning. Al show me the coordinates of the oil platform."
"Sir you sound upset did something happen."
"Negative now complete the command."
"Roger." Sousuke watched as an over head map appeared on screen showing the location of the platform.
"Show me a detailed model of the platform based on photographic imaging from the satellite."
The image zoomed in then began forming. A 3-D model appeared on the screen, and rotated. It did look very old. It seemed to be in one piece though. He removed the model display from the screen. The map showed the platform was not far from Europe. It was still out of its respective boundaries but still not far out.
"Al scan the outside area. If there isn't too many civilians we can exit this building." Al noticed Sousuke's voice was cold, and empty like before.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
He didn't answer. A beep went off signaling the area scan.
"Sir the are is populated with too many pier workers. What shall we do?"
Before Al realized the cockpit was open and Sousuke was out of the machine. Al sat there quietly while Sousuke was away. He listened for any indication of someone entering the building though. Al remained still when he heard an explosion about 50 feet from there. Two seconds later Sousuke had returned and entered the cockpit. Sousuke said nothing as he took the control. First he pressed a switch activating EIS. After disappearing the arm-slave slowly parted the large door at the front of the building. After exiting it closed it the doors once more then walked off towards the ocean. A low hum was heard as the AS took to the sky. Al noticed smoke coming from a nearby building.
"Sir did you…?"
"Shut up."
--
-Bus-
"So what's next Kana-chan?" The class had packed up, and finished their trip at the beach.
"Now we go get lunch. We have a scheduled meeting at this a restaurant not far from here. We already have the place to ourselves for the lunch time but we can't stay too long. After lunch we'll take a break. From there we go to a more modern like area. We can roam around in groups freely. But we'll have to be back by ten tonight. You can do whatever you want but you have to be back on time. Anyone missing will be hunted down and punished." Kaname was proud of the planning and looking forward to the freedom.
"Speaking of missing where is Sousuke?" Mizuki looked around the bus but could not locate him. "He said something about going somewhere to Hayashimizu. I'm sure after doing something crazy he'll be back." Kaname rested in her chair as she said that. Like she had told herself, she could be mad but it would not ruin her day.
"Oh. Okay. Well where do you girls wanna go today. Ren is excluded she'll be with the almighty over there. Shiori is going with her boyfriend today, and Maya is going off to do who knows what." Kaname looked displeased.
"Everyone was supposed to stay in groups. That is not groups."
"Do you really expect everyone to stay together once they separate. Besides what does it matter as long as they're back and safe at the end of the day?"
Kaname sighed. She knew this might have happened but did not prepare for it. All in all she expected Sousuke to take care of it with some tracking devices or something.
"Fine whatever. Let's just enjoy ourselves."
"Great Kana-chan but what are we going to do. I don't know any of the great places to go to in Okinawa." Kyouko said.
"Don't worry about it I've got it covered. Remember I am the class representative, vice-president of the student body association, and the one who planned this trip."
"Gee Kana-chan I don't think I could do all that. How and why do you?"
Kaname rested into the seat, and looked up. "I don't know really. I guess I just do it. I never really questioned it before."
"Well tell us some really good places and we can decide on some right now." Mizuki watched as Kaname pulled out some magazines, and papers.
"Here let's look at these. They'll show us the good places."
"Do that later girls we're here." Ms. Kagurazaka rose from her seat. Soon the bus was emptied, and the class inside the humble establishment.
--
-Over Europe-
"Sir we are currently in air we should not be in. If we are detected we may have a problem." Al was worried as they flew over a military base.
"Don't worry Al we'll be fine. No one will detect us." Sousuke watched the screen as they continued their flight. It was a mostly quiet time. Al actually not having much to say this time. They had zoomed past two airplanes giving them a scare. They weren't detected then either. The plane just felt a little turbulence as they sped by. Sousuke kept his eyes open for any activity they would find near the platform. He didn't expect anything to be there from Travis's report but better safe hen sorry. He kept everything ready just in case.
"The platform will be in sight in two minutes. We should lower altitude so our landing does not disrupt the structure too much."
Sousuke nodded and piloted the Arm-slave to about ten thousand feet. He would lower it more once they were closer. They slew down as they when the platform was in sight. It didn't look like anything was there. He wondered why a helicopter would come all the way out here unless it was forced to emergency land. He wondered if the copter had to refill at any time flying this far. They just flew over Europe to the northern end then exited its oceanic boundaries for law. He slowed down the AS some more as they approached the platform. The machine eventually came to a stop in the air. The joints regained there freedom, the hovering system, and engine disabled lowering the As on the platform. The arm-slave pulled out a shotgun as it began its search. The platform was big. Too big for just any platform. Arm-slaves could play baseball or football up here with excess space. He walked around the large structure. He moved boxes, scanned close rooms and building. He even dove into the ocean to check under it. After that he returned to the surface.
"Al scan the area one last time. If they came here there had to be a reason. Nothing seems to be here. Maybe it cannot be gotten too by an Arm-slave. Scan it to make sure."
"Roger."
Sousuke listened to a few beeps, and s quick low humming sound as the machine ran the scan.
"Nothing sir. This platform is baron."
"What are you doing here?" A female voice came over the frequency.
Sousuke's arm-slave turned its head to look up towards the AS perched on the crane. It hadn't been there before he thought. How did it get there without being detected? Sousuke forgot about it when 2 more landed near him. One if the purple arm-slaves raised a handgun type weapon to him. The other had a rifle. The perched As continued to sit there.
"Once again what are you doing here? If you don't say anything we'll fire."
Sousuke only remembered the arm-slaves surrounding him. He remembered seeing a similar design called the Valkery. He decided he had to try to make nice before making war.
"I am here to investigate a possible problem. An enemy aircraft may have landed here. I need to know why." Sousuke had the seeming leader on his main screen. The other two were displayed on smaller screens. He had already had them marked into the computer as Valkery-1, 2, and 3. They resembled fully armored Valkeries
"You don't need to anything we're checking this place out. How did you get here?"
Good. That meant his enemy had not noticed his arrival.
"In this machine."
"Did you get dropped from the air or come from the ocean. You didn't make a lot of noise cause I didn't see you before."
Sousuke was getting tired of this. His enemy was a horrible interrogator.
"Put up your weapons please. I am not here to fight however if necessary I will retaliate. It is your choice."
"OH big words." This time the voice came from V-2, it was also female.
"Let's get rid of him. There is not point in him staying alive or being here. We're wasting time. Also we can't just let him leave now that he's seen us." V-3 spoke this time.
There was a pause on the line.
"Sorry but their right. Unless you have something to offer us you have to go."
"Negative."
His arm-slave jumped up as the two V-types on the floor opened fire. He fired his shotgun at the one perched on the crane but it leapt away. Once again he had an overhead view of the massive platform. His As leapt across the roof of building as it dodged shots form the enemy.
"Sir above us!"
His AS looked up to find the V-1 crashing down a spear in its hand. He leapt back as the machine landed in front of him. He fired off two more shots but it dodged and ran at him. He pulled out his knife, and blocked the oncoming spear attack. He tried to get a few attacks in but his enemy was skilled. Sousuke looked at the time. It was 7pm. It was getting late, and he did not have information on the condition of the others. He checked the feed from the surveillance system he set up that came to the AS but no one returned to the hotel. Room service despite his wishes had tried to enter the room. They had put a danger sign on it and stayed away. Sousuke rolled to the side as another bust of fire hit where he was standing. The bullets easily tore apart the old roof. The V-1 had to move away as well. He saw his chance. Quickly putting away his knife he pulled the shotgun and fired two rounds at his enemy. They were blocked by an invisible force, a light wall.
"Sir they have lambda driver."
"Affirmative." Sousuke pointed the shotgun down and fired. Just then the V-2 tore through the blown roof. Lambda driver protecting it from the bullets. His AS flew back as the lambda driver crashed into it. Small hatches opened up on his AS, and small particles of light seemed to gather around them.
"Lambda driver activated."
After back flipping his AS landed on a thin light pole. He fired a shot at the V-3 when it came at him with a claymore like sword. The machine used the lambda driver, and the sword to block the bullets and continue its charge forcing his AS to move again. The black AS ran into a more maze like part of the structure. He slowed to walking as he walked around corners and made his way through the small entanglement. If an enemy approached it would be hard to spot him because of his AS color. Suddenly Sousuke remembered something and flipped a switch. His AS became invisible. The gathering of light had ceased but the lambda drive function did not. It would only take him a millisecond to activate it again. Sousuke could hear the foot steps of one of the enemy.
"Al pinpoint the sound."
"Roger."
In about 5 seconds a readout showing the distance of the enemy appeared. It showed as the enemy drew closer. The sound stopped right in front of him.
"Sir enemy is in EIS."
"!" Sousuke fired the shotgun and leapt from the small enclosure. He saw the enemy appear using lambda driver. It had been preparing to destroy him.
"Sir technology is similar to ours. This may be dangerous."
"Understood."
The V-2 from the enclosure leapt at him. He fired off another shot this time it glowed with light. The enemy used their lambda driver but was knocked back anyway.
"He's good!"
"But NOT good enough!" Sousuke grunted as his machine was impacted from the back.
"Sir we have taken damage."
The AS quickly rose to its feet and ran to the side as bullets tore through its former location.
"Systems in the back have been damaged. They still work the damage was not severe."
Sousuke ignored it as he roundhouse kicked the V-3 approaching from around the corner. He heard the pilot grunt over the communications link as she flew back. He fired a shot at the falling opponent. She used her sword to pole-vault her landing and dodge the shot. He pulled out his knife and blocked the mace swing from the V-2 that had just run up behind. He kneed her AS then grappled the arm and threw it towards the V-3.
He crashed through the wall next to him as the V-1 shot at him with her machine guns. He continued crashing through building then jumped through the roof of one. He turned to find the three enemy arm-slaves on his tale. He stuck out both his hands. He focused on his enemy. A large force of light tore form his AS. The Valkery types gathered together, and blocked the oncoming shot. Not with out trouble though. Their charge had been stall as they slid back. When they regained the balance he was gone. Sousuke heard screaming when jumped into the small group form the building under them. They fell back as his lambda driver crashed into them.
"Little damage has been taken ma'am."
"Got it." The pilot in the V-1 was the first to be up again. When she leapt back onto the roof he was standing across on another.
"You wanna be flashy eh!"
The V-1 drew up it's arms. It extended one then pulled the other back slowly. A large bow, and arrow of light appeared. "Dodge this."
The arrow shot forward at incredible speed."
He used the knife with lambda driver to avert the speeding force.
Sousuke grunted as the knife was thrown away and the arrow crashed into him. Luckily it did not have enough force to pierce anymore.
"Sir body has taken 30 damage. Are you sure you want to continue?"
Sousuke's breathing had deepened. He watched his screen as the other two joined the first. They all had summoned bows of light now.
"Affirmative." The black AS ran to the side as arrows of light chased after it. He realized how fortunate he had been to block the first one with how fast they were moving.
'Focus on the battle at hand. Getting distracted will cause me to fail.' Sousuke had been having trouble concentrating after what happened with Chidori. The black arm-slave stumbled a bit as an arrow soared past his foot. It stopped when an arrow flew in front of him. This was it. They had their shot he stopped. Sousuke listened as he heard the formed arrow fly towards him. It would hit him dead on it would reach him in a fraction of a second. Sousuke's eyes focused in the instant the arrow approached. The red tint that would usually appear in certain situation had shown itself.
"What the hell?"
The black AS was holding the light arrow.
"Forgive me for my performance before I was distracted."
The pilots all smiled when they heard this.
"This is going to be fun."
Night had fallen on the arena. A light show would be there for anyone who made it to watch. He ignored the beep in his cockpit signaling danger in the Okinawa area.
--
-12:00 am near the hotel-
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
"Hey captain when do we get to attack?"
Gauron smiled in his cockpit. In just a few hours he would be destroying that hotel with all the students, and Kashim. He would have a little fun in the city afterwards.
"We'll leave in a little bit. Just wait for me. I'm getting anxious too. I can't wait to say hello to Kashim."
Scorn and the other arm-slaves similar to it were crouched in the nearby by forest with EIS on.
--
AN: I apologize for the wait.Hell has broken loose here.