Having successfully traveled back in time to the year 2012, Amane Suzuha continues her mysterious mission to alter the past and possibly save the world, winding up in the vibrant busy world of Akihabara, Tokyo. Per Kyouma's written instructions, Suzuha finds herself recruiting an unexpected ally to her plight, and rapidly begins discovering a great amount about the relationships and motivations in this peaceful era, that inevitably form the core of the revolutionary struggle she left behind. Uncertain of what exactly she is getting into, and facing more questions created than answered, she presses on, intent on salvaging a better future from her own past, regardless of any personal sacrifices.
Have fun!
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012; Akihabara, Tokyo; 4:22p.m.
Marching along a sidewalk under the afternoon sun, adorned in urban camouflage battle dress, Suzuha Amane kept her head on a consistent swivel, absorbing the details of the surrounding structures as she moved.
Alright. So I traveled forward from the twenty-fourth... If I don't find anybody today, I'm just going to go at this mission alone. I shouldn't need to bring somebody to get the job done... But who knows.
Passing an open expanse of concrete, grass and planted trees, with a single playground slide standing in the distance, she applied the brakes. Eying the solitary structure, she then began toward it with a bloom of curiosity.
Weird. Where's the rest of it? No wonder its empty out here... This is like a half-assed version of the place I saw a couple days ago.
Putting her hand on her hip, thumb resting on the end of the baton strapped to her belt, she then looked around, noticing a lone individual seated on a bench near one of the trees. Scrutinizing the figure under the glare of the fading sun, she peered closer, noticing the person's general appearance looked eerily familiar.
Hold on.
Taking individual steps closer, her eyebrows furrowed, discerning a feminine figure in a white and black school uniform and skirt, with short dark hair resting in lazy curls around her neck.
Wow, you look an awful lot like -
Taking in a sharp breath of realization, Suzuha froze seconds after the girl noticed her.
Oh my god. Could it be...?
Eyes meeting, her heart raced as she pressed on, hesitantly approaching the mystery individual.
You sure look like her, but... Kamiko? Is it really you?
Moving closer, gathering her full attention, both of their mouths opened as she drew to a halt in front of the bench.
"Are you..." Wait. If I'm in the past, it couldn't be her.
Speech drifting away, she waited awkwardly as the slender girl blinked, tilting her head with a flicker of recognition from her voice.
I know you. You visited the lab a while ago... Two years, I think. You're Okabe's friend that worked in Mister Braun's shop below, but one day you suddenly left. Oh, what's your name? Isn't it... "Suzuha?"
Throat locking in disbelief, the soldier's mouth hung open, shocked from hearing her name spoken out of nowhere.
What?! How did you...
"Ahm, is that you? Did I pronounce it right?"
Blinking with a whirl of confusion and surprise, she hesitantly nodded in answer.
"I, uh... Who are you?"
"Oh, sorry, I'm Urushibara Ruka. Do you remember me? We met a while ago."
Taking a step back, a heavy breath issued from Suzuha's lungs.
Holy hell. I just found a younger Ruka, and I almost blurted out her future daughter's name! But... How the heck does she know me?
"Yes I... I think so."
"You enjoyed the curry I made. Do you remember that?"
A fleeting smile graced her face among the confusion.
Alright. I don't know how this is happening, but she knows I loved her curry. This is Ruka alright.
"I sure did... Um, you wouldn't happen to have a few minutes to talk, would you?"
"I'm waiting for my boyfriend, but... I don't see why not."
Boyfriend. Right. She and Okabe started dating two years ago... According to their future selves.
"Alright, I... I was wondering if you could help me with something."
Hands separating, Ruka brought her cell phone from her bag, checking the time, and then setting it back inside.
"That would depend on what the something is."
Pressing her lips together, Suzuha looked aside in contemplation.
Shoot. Should I really bring her along on this? What do I tell her? If I drag her along, she'll see the time machine no matter what. Should I just be upfront?
"...I mean, as long as it doesn't take too much time. I'll be having supper and studying in a little while."
An exhale left Suzuha's lungs, realizing she had a limited window of opportunity.
Time. Eheh, yeah. Let me tell you about time... I suppose if we make this quick, I could bring you back right after departure... Assuming all goes well.
Looking back at Ruka, silently startled by her eyes, so familiar and calm, her arm rose, fingers scratching the nape of her neck.
"Alright. I know this is going to be crazy right from the start, but... I've just traveled back through time, and I need help."
Mouth predictably opening, Ruka sat still on the bench, recalling alarmingly similar words being muttered restlessly by Okabe in his sleep.
Time travel? But there aren't any other time machines besides the phone-wave... Right? Okabe disabled gadget numero eight over a year ago, but all of the stories and incidents...
Heart racing, Ruka's hands gripped each other tightly.
Oh my. If Suzuha disappeared before and is back again with some kind of time machine... Has she always been a time traveler? I never had a clue when she was here two years ago. I just assumed she moved on but... If she left in a time machine, that would explain why she never contacted Okabe or anyone else. Maybe she couldn't in the future. But why would she go to the future, only to come back again two years later?
"You don't believe me, do you?"
Looking up at Suzuha, she slowly nodded.
"Well, I... I do, actually. It seems crazy but I want to believe you. Its just, well... Of all people here in Akihabara... Why are you asking me?"
Waiting patiently as the brunette's eyes closed, a heavy sigh visibly left her frame.
"Well, to be honest... You remind me of a friend of mine. Someone close to me, back where I came from. She was a total badass and really helped me out once. I have this feeling you might be just as helpful."
A friend in the future. She must have been there long enough to have one... But she looks just the same as she did two years ago. All of this is so mysterious! She seems to think I'll be capable of helping her, as much as her friend in the future ahead, but... "What makes you think that?"
"I, well, I'm not sure. Intuition, maybe. I just have a gut feeling." And I know who you are, Ruka. Twenty four years from now. If you're anything like your daughter Kamiko, we might have a shot at this.
Eyes lowering, Ruka sat still, gathering thoughts into order.
"I'm not sure I'd be very useful for your efforts. I don't even know what it is you need help with."
"Saving the future."
Flitting back up from the blunt statement, she stared at the teenage girl standing in front of her.
"...Saving it from what?"
Looking around for a moment, Suzuha stepped over and sat beside Ruka on the bench.
"Trust me when I tell you... The world you have right now, is a million times better than the time I came from."
"What was happening in your time?"
Leaning back on the wooden paneling of the bench, memories flooded her mind among the draw of breath.
Okay. Can't tell her the whole story... Be choosy with words.
"In my time... In the year twenty-thirty-six, the future I came from, I was part of a revolutionary movement. We were all gearing up to liberate Japan from the jerks that took over most of the world. Thing is, fate had a different plan for me, and instead of fighting it out, I was escorted to a time machine, and instructed to travel back to this year and prevent everything from going bad in the first place."
Absorbing the gloomy story with fascination, Ruka curiously inspected the random patterns of camouflage on her shirt.
"So, after coming back to our time, you're trying to change the outcome of the future. Right?"
"I am. I've been looking for familiar faces to help with it, and you're the first one I've found."
I see. She arrived while everyone is in class. I'm sure if she was looking for Okabe... He's at college. But she couldn't have known that, coming from the future. At least I'm still a friend. We barely interacted beside that one party, but Okabe mentions Suzuha now and then. They must have been closer.
Eyes rising to the girl's face, looking at the braids tied behind her head, her breath paused in hesitation, only to release again.
"...You want my help to change the future?"
"If you're willing to lend a hand, that would be awesome. Its my task to alter the past enough to prevent the distant future I traveled from. Anything better than what I experienced back then is adequate."
Eyebrows furrowing, Ruka bit her bottom lip for a moment.
Anything better? Her future must really be an unfortunate time if any change at all is an improvement. And if we all are heading towards the same dystopia...
Waiting as Suzuha's looked nearer again, the student produced a single confident nod.
"How do we go about doing that?"
"Changing the future?"
"Yes."
A hint of a smile rose on Suzuha's face.
"There's a party in China we have to crash."
Seeing Ruka's features quirk in puzzlement, she continued.
"...It will mark the formation of a national federation across Eurasia that pushes everyone into world war three in a few years. We have to disrupt it somehow."
Heart plummeting into her stomach from the implication, Ruka blinked with alarm.
World war three? Is a global war really that close on the horizon? "Are you serious?"
"As serious as I can be. Japan made it through alright, but... Can't say much for everyone else."
Oh my. "So... You think if I help you, we can stop it?"
"Totally. Um, I mean, I might be able to do this by myself, but... With two of us, maybe our odds of pulling this off will improve."
Maybe? Oh dear. You're not even positive about this, and I don't even know how dangerous this could be, or if we'll be back here in Akihabara at a decent hour. How would I explain my absence to Okabe? Then again...
"Suzuha."
"Yeah?"
"If I go through with this... Will you be able to get me back here to the park around this time?"
"I can, if you don't mind it being a few minutes later... Technical issues might happen if we land back at the exact same time and coordinates."
"Alright. As long as I can get back here to the park before five o'clock. I would feel terrible if I disappeared and left Okabe wondering where I was."
Suzuha's previous smile blossomed even further. I know, silly. You'll be back here in time before your sweet love Okabe shows up...
"Don't you worry. We'll be going back at least an hour and a half anyway. The meeting started today in Beijing. Right around three in the afternoon."
"Its already happening?"
"It'll last for a couple hours. We just need to get there and cause some kind of ruckus. That part should be easy."
"Do you mean fighting?"
"Probably."
"Oh, I... Well I've never actually been in a fight before."
Eying Ruka's fair complexion beneath her eyes, so clearly gentle and feminine, an exhale was followed by a hint of a giggle from Suzuha.
Not entirely like Kamiko, but...
"I'll take care of the ass kicking, don't worry about that. Can you at least run?"
"Of course."
"Good. You're a speedy lady, right? If we end up in any situations, don't be afraid to be quick and nimble."
"I... Alright."
Standing onto her feet again, brimming with excitement, Suzuha extended her hand towards Ruka.
"You're sure you want to go through with this?"
Raising her arm towards hers, her fingers curled together in a moment of consideration.
"You told me our future was going to bleak unless we changed things."
"Most likely."
"So if I help you alter everything, and create a different timeline... That should steer us clear of your future, right?"
Heart racing in her own realization, Suzuha nodded, adrenaline coursing silently through her skin.
"It should, yeah."
Ruka's hand reached forward, getting a firm hold of Suzuha's, and both young women tightened their grip and arms as the stronger soldier easily pulled the slender student upright to her feet.
"As long as you can promise me that you can bring me back here, in one piece... I'll help you."
Suzuha's eyes discreetly rose along Ruka's figure, momentarily studying the shirt and skirt she was wearing.
Wow. You're actually agreeing to help? I wasn't sure you would, honestly.
"I promise, and... I really appreciate that you're willing to do this."
"I'd rather not live in that dismal future, and I'm sure you wouldn't mind a better future for yourself, too."
Releasing her hand, Suzuha turned to the traffic passing on the street nearby.
Funny you say that, Miss Urushibara. You actually seemed content with the future in Valkyrie. As did I. But it seems we're about to overwrite all of that...
Heart sinking, she gestured for Ruka to follow, and began walking along, boots clomping along the concrete.
Damn. This is it, huh? As soon as we do this mission... My past might vanish and change into something else. Which means the revolution, and Valkyrie...
Exhaling heavily, a whirl of imagery played through her mind, playing countless vignettes of survival and recent events.
Kamiko, my distant friend... We knew this time was destined to come. If I complete my objective... Please forgive me.
May 1st, 2012; Akihabara, Tokyo; 4:36p.m.
Maintaining a restrained pace, heading back towards the time machine hidden on a nearby rooftop, Suzuha tingled with excitement.
How wild. I actually found a younger Ruka, and she's coming with me to FG204. This doesn't even feel real! How was she so willing to come along? She was waiting for Okabe, but she seems to understand that I could bring her back here minutes after we leave. Is it possible that she understands time travel? Okabe said they experimented with the microwave thing but... Was Ruka part of that?
Looking over her shoulder, she eyed the dark haired young woman, eyes lowering from the gentle bob of her curly hair to her school uniform.
Hmm. Those clothes are cute. Is she wearing all that for Okabe? No wonder he's in love with her. She's a total doll. I bet if Kamiko had something nice to dress into... Not that she wasn't already cute... Cause she was. Both her and Ruka look almost the same. But Kamiko has those hazel eyes and was a little taller, I think...
Looking away, her neck grew warm with a hint of a blush.
Wow. I can't believe I'm thinking about her like this. Better late than never, I guess... That's probably what she was thinking when she kissed me.
Turning redder, she faked perspiration by dragging her hand across her brow.
"Sure is warm out."
"The sun's setting. Come nightfall it should start cooling off."
Face breaking into a momentary grin, Suzuha looked on down the street.
Haha. She didn't notice. Probably good. Can't really tell her that I'm thinking about her future daughter...
Nearing the curious little CRT shop with its ever-present bicycle out front, she turned around again, walking backwards and watching Ruka eye it with curiosity. Seconds later, their eyes met, but no words left her open mouth as they stopped by the stairwell.
"Is this where you -"
"Yeah. My time machine is on the roof. Just up these stairs."
Turning and sauntering up the steps with ease, she stopped on the corner of the stairwell, peeking back as Ruka carefully ascended them behind her, only to realize the girl's attention was focused on a dimly lit passage in the opposite direction.
"...This way."
"Sorry, its just... My boyfriend lives up here. Right above the shop."
Hesitating for a moment, Suzuha's heart beat with another realization.
Whoa, wait. The coordinates Okabe gave me in Valkyrie... "This is where he lives?"
"Of course. Don't you remember the Future Gadget Lab?"
Slowing her ascent, hesitant breath drew in and out as she remembered previous conversations back in their bunker quarters.
Future Gadget... Lab. Yes. They talked about this place. Ruka was very fond of it, but how does she... "I uhh, yeah, I remember."
...I guess. How the hell does she know these things twenty four years in the past?
Reaching up and twisting the handle in the darkness, she shoved the door to the roof open, squinting from the low sunlight meeting her eyes.
Oh good. You're still here.
Stepping out onto the concrete rooftop, her hand settled onto her hip, index finger rubbing against the baton, waiting as Ruka cautiously stepped up beside her. Looking aside at the slender school girl, she then grinned as her eyes were glued to the large cylindrical machine standing before them, silhouetted against the setting sun.
"Is this...?"
"Yep."
"Wow, I... I don't know what to say."
"Let me open the hatch. Then we can be on our way."
Hands slowly coming together, Ruka watched with fascination as Suzuha stepped over to the side of the machine, touching one of the exterior panels. Then with a startling hiss of air, a door retracted to the side, and a stairwell began unfolding just beside her. Blinking as Suzuha waved her over, she stepped apprehensively towards the access hatch, eyes rising along one of the large solar panels mounted to it.
So she truly is a time traveler. And this big thing is her machine.
Peeking up towards the dim interior inside the hatch, Suzuha appeared again, leaning outwards.
"Come on up!"
"Alright, just a moment."
I don't even know what to say or how to feel. What time is it? I feel all jittery. Is this truly a time machine? How else would something this big get up onto the roof of the lab?
Carefully stepping up the narrow steel steps, she reached forwards, gripping the side of the door frame, and peeking inside.
Oh... Wow.
Looking around the interior, with dozens of lights and several screens surrounding a keyboard, Suzuha sat in the chair with her arms crossed, a confident smile on her lips.
"Pretty crazy, right? Come on in so I can close the door."
Stepping inside, she watched as her hand hovered over the keyboard, pecking a button that caused the stairwell behind to begin folding upwards. Eyes adjusting to the dim lighting on the interior, Ruka slipped her school bag off her shoulder, holding it by the strap and watching as Suzuha began pressing individual keys on the keyboard with her index fingers.
"You can set that down wherever."
Gently lowering the bag down behind the chair as the door slid shut behind, she hesitated, spotting the reflective silhouette of a gun laying on the floor.
"Suzuha, is that -"
"My PM-9? Yes. I came from a war-torn world, Ruka. Out there, you need a gun to survive."
"You're not going to use it... Are you?"
"Probably not. We're not going to Beijing to kill anybody." Especially since Kyouma instructed me not to, so... There's that.
"Alright. I'm just... I didn't know you..."
"Its okay. There's no war here in twenty-twelve, I know. That's why I wasn't carrying it around on the streets."
Breaking her vision away from the weapon on the floor, she looked up to the screens, standing beside Suzuha, and reading the series of numbers she typed.
"So, today, at three forty, we'll be in China?"
"That's the plan."
"Do you know where we'll end up?"
"On the roof of some big conference hall."
Lips parting, and then closing, Ruka watched as Suzuha's vision orbited across several screens, only to twist back toward her.
"You ready?"
"I guess, I don't know."
"Excited?"
"M-More worried than anything, but..."
"Hey, I hear you. I've only flown this thing two times before now. Scares the hell out of me every time."
Blinking from the admittance of inexperience, Ruka's eyes grew wide.
Oh... Crap. What have I gotten into? My curiosity and fear of an unfortunate future have brought me here, inside a time machine. I have no idea what's going to happen next, and the pilot of this thing has barely flown it herself...!
Hand gripping the chair next to herself, Ruka looked down at her bag, contemplating the retrieval of her cell phone.
This is beyond description. Okabe would love this madness. Maybe he's seen it before, being friends with Suzuha in the past... Perhaps I should ask him when its all over.
"Okay, activating the hyper-flight sequence... I'd find something to hang onto, if I were you."
"Wha-?"
Hearing a steadily rising whirring sound, the on-screen counter portraying the current time and date began rolling backwards in a steadily increasing rate, and a series of strong multi directional G-forces began assailing them both, sending Ruka stumbling around, trying desperately to find something to steady herself.
"Told you! We're warping through time! At least this trip is only an hour backwards!"
Giggling quietly from the blur of Ruka's helplessness beside her, her head turned further over her shoulder as the previously seen orbs of light returned, fading in and out of view in a mysterious otherworldly presence
You know, neither Okabe or my dad wrote or said anything about these little guys... Must be one of those things beyond explanation.
Attention turning back to the control panel, she focused on the screen as the forces subsided seconds later, and as expected, the machine jerked downwards with a visceral *WHUMP* marking the conclusion of the journey.
That's that, I guess. "...You alright, Ruka?"
"I think so. Is all that normal?"
"Yeah. Part of the experience."
"So it'll happen again?"
"Pretty much."
"Well I'm not looking forward to it."
"It probably helps if you're sitting down."
"I... Then I'll keep that in mind for the return trip."
Brushing and preening her school uniform several times, Ruka leaned closer to the central screen as Suzuha leaned to the side, pulling a backpack up onto her lap.
"So... Did we make it?"
Setting several metal objects aside onto the floor, Suzuha rose upright again, squinting at the display.
"Let's see... Coordinates are correct, landing gear reports a solid surface, temperature and wind speed... A little cool and breezy."
Tapping on the button for the access hatch, they both turned, waiting as the outer door slid open, and the stairs began unfolding, revealing the bright light of an afternoon as a draft of moving air swirled into the machine.
"Looks like a rooftop to me."
Rising to her feet as Ruka timidly peeked her head outside, Suzuha slipped on a pair of fingerless gloves, zipping up the nearly-empty backpack and tightening several straps on it. After a moment, Ruka descended onto the rooftop outside, and Suzuha stepped over to the open hatch, inhaling a breath from the surrounding skyline of towering metropolitan structures as she pulled the backpack on, snapping several buckles together.
Wow. These cities sure look amazing in this time. Tokyo was amazing at night, and I'm sure this place would be too... If it wasn't hosting the beginning of the end of the world.
Boots clanking down along the stair steps, she looked aside as Ruka stood near the edge, hair being playfully flicked around by swirling gusts.
Let's see... Leaving behind the food, the meter, my gun... Just have the pack of M112 plastic explosive in here. Strapped to my back. Other than that I'm feeling nice and lightweight.
Pressing her hand against the circular panel by the stairs, she stepped aside, watching the steel steps fold upward with the whir of electric motors and hisses from several pistons. Turning aside as the door slid shut seconds later, she began stretching her arms and legs.
Probably about to do a bunch of running and hand to hand combat since I'm not bringing my gun along...
Taking several steps away from FG204, she began thrusting several practice punches into the air while hopping around in small jumps, head turning for a moment as Ruka noticed her movements over her shoulder.
I see you watching me over there. You may not be a fighter, but I am. Gotta be ready to brawl, you know. Can't just run into a place without knowing how to whoop some ass.
Leaning back and jerking her foot forward in kick, a grunt of breath left her lungs as she regained stable footing, and then turned around, surveying the rooftop. Spotting a door shrouded in a slope of concrete, her arm rose as Ruka slowly stepped over beside her.
"I'm sure that's our only way in. Are you ready for this?"
Looking to Suzuha from her question, her heart beat with irony and concern, visible in her facial expression.
"Probably as ready as I can be." Even though I'm in a skirt and have nothing going for me as far as martial arts. All she wants me to do is run, but what happens if I end up being unable to do that?
Eyes lowering to her crossed arms, visibly toned with a hint of muscle, Ruka then looked aside, squinting from a glare of reflected sunlight.
Well. You look more than capable of beating people up, Suzuha. I'm afraid you probably will do all the fighting... You already said so earlier.
"Alright then. Let's see what kind of trouble we can stir up."
Swallowing as she stepped forward, Ruka kept alongside Suzuha, tremoring with uncertainty as the rooftop breeze playfully flicked her skirt around.
Trouble. I sure don't know what I'm in for, but we're already getting right into the thick of it, aren't we? Showing up in a foreign nation to disrupt a political meeting...
Steadily approaching the roof access, Suzuha's hand rose to the door handle, but as soon as her fingers gripped it, she shoved it downwards, only to grunt from its refusal to budge.
Locked. Awesome.
"Hold on."
Moving over along the door and bracing herself against it with her arm, her leg rose, and she began kicking the handle repeatedly with the heel of her boot, slamming it downwards until the handle broke off with a sharp snap of failing hardware. Kicking the fallen object aside, Suzuha then moved away from the door, and pressed her arm against herself. Tightening her muscles and charging towards the door, the teen soldier then smashed the passage open with a violent slam as the internal latch failed from brute force.
Okay.
Peeking back out through the doorway, rubbing her shoulder, she then gave a thumbs up to the open-mouthed student, expression agape with genuine surprise.
"Shall we?"
Listening to the whir of cable drums and a large motor in the ceiling above, both Suzuha and Ruka stood in front of the closed doors of a service elevator, waiting patiently as the car rose steadily through the shaft. After a whoosh of air and the resulting silence of the motor, a small bell clanged, causing both girls to grow tense as two sets of doors opened, revealing an empty interior.
Oh good. That would have sucked if somebody was right there.
Stepping inside and turning to the control panel, Suzuha's hand hovered over the limited selection of floors.
Let's see... Don't want the basement or the main hall. How about an upper level?
Thumb pressing firmly against the first button beneath the rooftop level, their eyes watched the doors close with separate swallows, feeling the floor lighten beneath their feet.
Alright. I asked Ruka if she's ready... But am I ready for this? For all we know, we could walk right into a bad situation.
Fists clenching, she stared at the seam between the doors.
Yeah right. We just appeared here out of nowhere. Right now we've got the advantage... And right now, I've got a mission to accomplish and a world to change. Anybody that gets in my way is going down.
Head turning to Ruka, who eyed her warily in response, Suzuha offered a smile.
"You remember what to do?"
"Run. Just keep running, right?"
"Yep. Keep yourself out of harm's way."
Inhaling shakily, Ruka stared at the door as the car drew to a slow halt in the shaft.
"I'll do my best."
Watching the doors slide open again, an empty hallway met their eyes, stretching ahead with several passages branching off around several rooms.
"Huh."
Taking apprehensive steps into the hallway, shoes padding upon thin patterned carpeting, individual breaths were held and released, trying to maintain the surrounding silence. Passing the first of several hallways branching off to the side, their heads turned in tandem, looking down the empty passage with apprehension.
Nothing. Okay.
Continuing onward, passing a closed door, Suzuha's hand drug along the wall for several paces, fingertips drifting along the smooth, cool surface as she counted five additional hallway junctions in the distance ahead.
We might be here a while. This place looks pretty big.
Approaching the second passage, listening for sound beyond their footsteps, her head turned to the second hallway branching off to the left, suddenly realizing two men were walking down the hallway towards them.
Oh hell. Here we go.
Slowing to a halt, her arm drew out behind, stopping Ruka in her tracks. With several pairs of eyes meeting and blinking from each other's unexpected appearances, Ruka's mouth opened, shrinking back with alarm.
Ohhh no.
"Nǐ zài zhèlǐ zuò shénme?!"
Pushing Ruka away, Suzuha's mouth curled into a crooked smile as both men began running towards them.
"I'd start running now."
Glimpsing the girl's disappearance from her side, fleeing back down the hallway, Suzuha hopped aside, just out of sight of the opponents as their hurried footfall drew steadily closer.
"Hēi, tíng!"
Pressing back against the wall, eyes wide with excitement, she watched the slender girl vanish around the distant corner near the elevator, only to have the view obscured by two grown men screeching to a halt right next to her.
"Zǒu nà tiáo lù!"
Inhaling from a rush of energy as one of them began down the hallway, Suzuha ducked down as the nearest man turned towards her, swiftly stomping over and closing the distance between them. With a clenching of her arm muscles, her elbow swiftly jerked outwards, striking the man's side just above his hip and producing a distinct grunt of breathless pain. Rising higher, her hand flattened and her arm swung outward, striking him in the throat, and seconds later, she spun in the opposite direction and delivered a speedy fist into his jaw. Jerking him aside and sending him sprawling face-first into the adjacent wall, she grimaced from the distinct *THUD* of his skull bouncing off the unforgiving surface.
"Shénme?!"
Watching as the second individual began to draw a pistol from a holster, her adrenaline spiked, and she surged towards him as his free hand moved towards the slide of the pistol.
Oh no you don't -
Reaching out and clutching his wrist with both hands, she pulled his arm forwards with unexpected strength, bringing him off balance and promptly smashing her knee into his gut. Ripping the gun out of his loosened grip and casting it down the hallway behind, she then leaned back and kicked him across the face, only to then curl her leg around his neck and force him downward, slamming him face-first into the thin carpet below.
Taking a step back, observing both men laying on the floor thoroughly knocked out, she collected herself, drawing in several heavy breaths thick with adrenaline.
Alright. So these guys have guns... They sure don't know how to move fast though.
Rapidly approaching the end of the hallway ahead, heart racing, Ruka suddenly found herself encountering two more security guards, and her sneakers slid along the smooth carpet as she threw on the brakes, screeching to a halt. Chest heaving with panicked rapidity, she spun around and stormed back in the opposite direction as fast as her legs could carry her, riddled with fear as shouts and footsteps followed just behind.
"Suzuha!"
Flying around the corner and passing the elevator in a blur, her arms reached out, cushioning her wide turn as she regained speed, seeing her mysterious compatriot standing near the previously and now-defeated opponents.
Oh good. She can fight people!
Watching her eyebrows rise as she approached at full speed, Ruka's mouth opened, but instead of words, a grunt left her lungs as she launched herself aloft, sailing over one of the men sprawled out on the floor.
Oh good. Ruka can run fast!
Attention returning to the second pair of opponents, with one slowing his pace from the scene on the floor, Suzuha's hand undid the clasp around the baton on her hip, and she pulled the object out off her belt, gripping it readily as she stepped back, positioning herself for the upcoming fight.
Two more closing in...
Eyes narrowing, her free arm rose in defensive anticipation, and her breath quickened as adrenaline coursed through her veins. The hair on her neck stood on end as one of the opponent's fists closed, and he began winding up for a hard first hit. Watching his movements carefully, his arm shot forward, and in an instant of disbelief, she evaded the first thrown punch with a quick side-step. Arms tightening in the spare few seconds that followed, she threw a countering punch, only to grimace as it was knocked away with a sudden block. Dodging another throw from the man, she hopped side to side in several evasive steps, denying the second opponent any space to join the fight as they exchanged several punches that were fruitlessly blocked by each other.
Ha, okay. So this guy can -
Struck unexpectedly in the neck, by a weakened blow that slipped past her block, she exhaled from the tingle of pain emitting from her collarbone. Countering with a rapid twisting motion, she struck the man squarely across the face with the baton, and upon noticing the temporary stunning of his comrade, the other security guard finally shoved past him, drawing his pistol much faster than she expected. Lurching towards him, watching the weapon rise towards her in a blur of energy and fear, Suzuha swung the baton with a fierce grunt, colliding with the pistol and knocking it out of his hand with a sharp clang of metal. A second later, her head spun aside from the shuffle of clothing and breathing, and she suddenly found a fist headed towards her face with renewed energy. Recoiling from the motion, her arm rose upwards and halted him abruptly, absorbing most of the impact with a tight-lipped grunt of pain as she readjusted her footing.
...That felt good.
Facing him straight on and sending a returning fist towards him, his arms rose to block it with ease, but instead of another punch, her opposite leg hurtled upwards, smashing her combat boot squarely into his crotch. Whirling around as the man yelped, unable to move besides stumbling back in writhing pain, Suzuha's eyes narrowed above a cheeky grin as the second opponent attempted a swing of his own, only for it to be frustratingly blocked by her forearm in a much quicker move. Then, after another attempt and an equally fast dodge aside, Suzuha coiled downward and delivered an uppercut punch straight into his jaw. Taking advantage of his head-spinning disorientation, she swung her leg outward in an arc, swiping his foot out from underneath himself. In a finishing move, her leg then curled back and shot forward, planting the same boot firmly into his chest and sending him tumbling down onto the floor.
You're done. Now for this last guy...
Hopping upright again, she turned around, and after a moment of watching the immobilized opponent leaning against the wall, she simply stepped over and swung the baton around, thoroughly clubbing him in the head, watching him drop to the floor in defeat. Stepping back and straightening upright, her free hand settled onto her hip, and she flicked the baton into the air, catching it again with the same hand. Looking over her shoulder, she watched as Ruka approached, cautiously stepping around the four men and two pistols strewn across the floor. Looking down as she slipped the baton back into the loop on her belt, and snapping the retaining clip shut around it again, she turned, facing the teen with a momentary exhale.
"Now you see why I was stretching earlier."
Looking aside with a paranoid glance at the motionless bodies beside them, Ruka brushed an errant lock of hair aside from her face.
"Yes. I do."
Pointing her thumb down the hallway, Suzuha tilted her head in the same direction.
"Let's get back to that elevator. I already feel like we started off on the wrong floor."
Stepping into motion, she watched as her slender compatriot kept pace, brow furrowing from her statement.
"Weren't you expecting to fight?"
"Yeah, kinda. But we walked twenty steps out of the elevator and I already found myself beating the shit out of people. I don't even know how many are in this stupid building in the first place."
Pressing the button on the wall, the elevator's doors opened readily with another clang of the small bell, and both of them stepped inside. With hardly a glance, a finger prodded the button for the next floor down, and the car began descending down the shaft in short order.
Watching her rub her arm and collarbone in sequence, Ruka leaned forward as the brunette beside her produced a fleeting grimace.
"...Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Just getting warmed up, honestly."
Watching her flex her arms, bringing her gloved fists up in front of herself readily, Ruka's eyes rose to her tied braids as they swayed from her motions.
"I'm assuming you've done this sort of thing before."
A light smile crept across Suzuha's face, memories drifting across her mind.
"I sure have. Back in the day when I was in the defense force, I did plenty of training with hand to hand combat. Why do you think I wrecked two of those guys at the same time?"
"It looked like you didn't have much of a choice, but... If there's anything I can do to help you out, I..."
"Just keep moving, Ruka. The way you lured those two to me a minute ago was perfect."
"Alright, I just... Okay."
Gripping the student's shoulder for a moment, Suzuha playfully nudged her.
"Hey. We're doing fine. Once we figure out where this meeting is at, and where we are in this building, we'll start figuring out how to crash this party."
Nodding hesitantly, Ruka's hands came together, fingers delicately intersecting, and Suzuha discreetly studied the familiar mannerism, heart beating with realization.
So that's why Kamiko did that... She got it from her mom.
Head turning from the ache creeping up into her chest, a quiet sigh was forcefully hidden amid regular breath.
Oh Kamiko... You really are just like her.
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012; Tokyo Denki University, Adachi-ku, Tokyo; 1:17p.m.
Sitting at one of several dozen tables in the cafeteria, with books and binders maintaining a safe perimeter around them, Okabe and Daru steadily consumed differently portioned lunches between class periods.
"So, collegiate comrade double-oh-two, how goes the intrepid technician work? Contending with any new threats assailing the school's network lately?"
A breath left Daru's nose as he rolled his eyes, swallowing a forkful of chicken.
"You make it sound like I'm protecting something more worthwhile than a building full of joe-bob office machines."
Grinning smugly as he scooped the remainder of his lunch into his mouth with chopsticks, Okabe chewed and swallowed.
"Ah, woe is Hashida. Lured in by the glamorous status of being the university's IT guru, only to find himself restrained from being the techy thoroughbred he truly is."
Daru's mouth opened, but then his head tilted aside, reluctant to admit the truth in his statement.
"Yeah. Ironic, but I expected it."
A chuckle left his friend's throat as he tipped the bowl in his hands upward against his mouth.
"...However. I have been playing around with an experimental botnet setup during some of my idle time. Been running it on the down-low on the school server to test it's functionality."
Setting the bowl gently onto the plastic platter, Okabe's eyebrow rose, curiosity piqued.
"Oho, the repair man himself is creating digital mayhem? At last you see reason in bringing forth chaos upon this place."
"No... Not quite. Right now it's more of just testing the coding and functionality. It doesn't actually cause any harm, hence why it hasn't been located and reported."
Watching a hint of a mischievous smile appear on Daru's face, Okabe's hand met his chin in contemplation.
"I see. Do you intend to release it into the wild one day?"
"If I want to be arrested for cyber-crime, sure."
"Even in its current state of infancy?"
"Its still capable of controlling multiple computers at once. People aren't too happy when they find out their machine is a hijacked zombie."
"Alas. Like that of a mad scientist, we are bound to keep our creations in the dark for our own good. I suppose you wouldn't want to lock yourself up after reckless experimenting... Not with your darling Yuki so dependent on your company."
Sitting back from the mention of his girlfriend's name, Daru's arms crossed.
"As if you're one to talk, Okarin."
"I'm speaking now, aren't I?"
"You're with Ruka almost daily! Don't give me sass about my love life."
"Oh that's hardly sass my friend. And besides... If boyfriend and girlfriend are together every other day and neither tire of it, what's the problem?"
"You were the one... Never mind."
"Remember, comrade, we're both in deep with this relationship thing. We must continue our research of the romantic sciences for the sake of mankind."
"Roger that, data collection in the form of dating. Anything in particular to work towards, chief?"
"Not much beyond the usual mysteries. Regardless of our quirks, the females continue to put up with us."
Putting his arms behind his head in a stretch, a breath seeped from Daru's lungs.
"I'll chalk that one up to being irresistibly charming."
Restraining a laugh from his statement, Okabe sat back in his chair.
"Whatever you say, Hashida."
Looking down to his phone on his lap, Okabe tapped on the screen several times, bringing up the photo gallery. After a moment of browsing, his thumb pressed on a distinct image, bringing up a picture of Rukako with a light blush of mirth on her cheeks, and a flower pinned between her curly locks of hair.
I think we know who the irresistible one is around here...