Chapter III
The door opened before she could even raise a hand to knock.
"I saw you coming, Z-tan, and with number eighty-four." Matsu whispered while trying to hide behind the door. "It shouldn't even be possible for you to wing her, yet I can sense the bond."
Z-chan? Z-tan? I'm confused.
"Let's talk in private, Matsu."
The redhead nodded vigorously and giggled as she ushered them inside. After checking the other residents were elsewhere #2 led them to her lair and brought up two images on one of the many monitors surrounding the room. Zeilla's mugshot appeared to have been taken from grainy security camera footage while Yashima's looked professionally produced.
"Ashikabi have a special variance in their DNA compared to the rest of Humanity." Matsu began. "You came from somewhere unaffected by the cause of this variance so it is theoretically impossible for you to be compatible with any Sekirei. You could make as much contact as you wanted and nothing would happen. I even ran a test on some of your blood from your armour and confirmed it. Evidently something else is at work here." she concluded, gesturing to the file on display. "MBI has recorded you as 'fallen star' and Ashikabi of number eighty-four."
Huh, I was right. I accidently stumbled upon MBI the other day.
"Does the name 'Karasuba' sound familiar to you? I'm sure she's a Sekirei."
Matsu squeaked and shivered. "Wh- wh- where did you hear of h- he- her?"
"You know the really tall tower in the middle of the city-"
"You didn't go there!"
Zeilla frowned. "I climbed to the top."
The woman stared at her in disbelief for several seconds. "You're insane."
She shrugged. "Maybe, but it was a good spot to survey the city. At the top I met an excitable man dressed in white and he called out Karasuba. She attacked me with some sort of drug in a syringe, then another. The next thing I knew she was dropping me off in the southern part of the city."
"I see." Matsu said and scratched her chin, then began typing rapidly.
Zeilla squinted over her shoulder, unsure that fingers were made to move so fast. "I theorize that those two injections - or something done while I was out cold - mutated my DNA to produce the markers of an Ashikabi."
Matsu nodded. "I agree. MBI's resources are truly amazing. Such a procedure should have killed the subject, but in your case, you have experienced such mutagens before. It was obvious in your blood."
"I'm sure you would love to know the details." Zeilla smirked. "I'll tell you about that part of the Spartan program if you in turn do me a favor.
Matsu froze. "Umm... What favor?"
"Relax, brainiac." she chuckled. "I only want to know where I can acquire some items and for you to make me a two-way translator like my helmet had."
"Done!" the redhead exclaimed and dived under the monitors into the darkness, the sounds of clattering objects filling the room. "In fact, I had already been looking into the neural interface you use to operate some of the armour systems and started working on something you could plug into the implant. It's a modified version of your helmet's sensory outputs crossed with the speakers and the communications module in one headset!"
With that the Sekirei crawled back onto the beds holding one such device. It had three head bands, one ear piece and a microphone. At the top of the ear piece was a pair of jury-rigged interface jacks.
"Go on, try it out!" Matsu giggled, looking entirely too pleased with herself.
Zeilla took the headset and carefully lined up the jacks with her implant, then squinting at Matsu's drooling visage, made the connection and settled the headbands to ensure it would remain secure.
Matsu's eyes glowed an ethereal cyan and she placed two fingers of one hand to her temple, covering her mouth with the other. "Oooh, the intimacy! I can practically feel your mind- ouch, bad idea, your subconscious doesn't like me."
Zeilla suddenly wondered if trusting this shut-in of dubious motive was unwise.
"/ /Z-tan, can you hear me?/ /"
Zeilla blinked. That was Matsu's voice in the ear piece and the ear piece alone. "Yes."
The glow vanished as the Sekirei cackled and stood up to point up at the ceiling dramatically. "I am truly a genius! Watch out Minaka! I will definitely take you down!"
In a flash, she returned to her spot at the heart of her operations center and began typing away once more, brown eyes sparkling.
"If you understood that then my device is working perfectly." she said, still bubbling with a foreboding kind of delight. "It translates English and Japanese in real-time as well as serving as a communicator."
Yashima, who up to now had been patiently observing the exchange, poked the headset. "Translator?"
Zeilla blinked at her. "Well, it does work. Yes, Yashima, it allows us to finally talk."
The girl's face lit up with joy and she embraced the Spartan tightly.
Matsu snickered suspiciously, then suddenly gasped and whirled about to face the curtain as it parted.
"Oh my, what have we here?"
Zeilla gave the new arrival a quick once over. A mature yet young woman with long violet hair dressed in something dated. Nothing special, except for the sense of danger pouring off her in waves. For a brief moment, their eyes met and Zeilla saw them flicker.
The woman's face hardened for a fraction of a second before returning to an expression so benevolent and happy Zeilla found it hard to believe that totally malevolent vibe was coming from her.
"I didn't do anything weird, Miya! I swear!" Matsu squeaked in terror.
"And who are these two? Bringing guests to an Inn without introducing them to the owner? Matsu..."
"I'm sorry! I wasn't- I- please don't-"
"I'll let it slide this time." Miya said with a quiet laugh. "After all, it wouldn't do to disturb the competition going on down stairs."
With an almost imperceptible glance at Zeilla the woman left, though her aura took a moment longer to dissipate.
Matsu collapsed back onto the bed and breathed out a ragged sigh of relief. "I survived..." she whispered to herself. "Truly the Landlady is unbeatable."
Yashima shivered.
"That woman is more than she looks." Zeilla thought aloud.
In a flash, Matsu was back on her computer. "Anyway! I have an idea of how to add augmented reality to your headset using the visual inputs as well as the audio you have now... But..."
"You want another favor exchange when you have only delivered on half of your side and I haven't delivered on mine?"
"Details, details." she muttered. "If you accept I'll actually be indebted to you, but then again you could prove to be a threat to even Sekirei if I'm right about what kinds of things you want me to find for you."
Zeilla narrowed her eyes. "Alright, I'm game. Let's talk."
"Wow, it's like you two are speaking a different language again." Yashima sighed.
"Don't worry, Yashima." Matsu said. "I'll explain everything. It includes you too."
The curtain parted again for a silver haired male who was hunched over and had pain written all over his face. Zeilla remembered meeting him the first time she came to Izumo Inn.
"Matsu-"
"Right here." the redhead cut him off, tossing a small bottle to him which he caught easily and quickly tipped four tablets out. "You shouldn't have more than two, Kagari-tan"
Kagari ignored her advice and knocked all four back at once. Then he noticed Zeilla and Yashima were in the room. "Oh, you have company in your lark? I'm Kagari, a resident here."
Zeilla mentally filled the information away. "I'm Zeilla. We met the other day at the door."
Kagari made a curious noise. "And since then you have been bumping into Sekirei almost as much as the Ashikabi down stairs. I was watching when you beat me to Yashima's rescue."
"Kagari is the Sekirei guardian." Matsu supplied.
The Spartan did a double take, struggling to imagine the man folded over in pain before her as a protector of these powerful aliens. "Get hurt in the line of duty?"
He shook his head. "It's nothing." he lied, forcing himself to straighten.
Then she had an idea. "If you watch over Sekirei... Do you happen to know where number one-oh-eight is?"
The man swallowed. "Yes... She found her Ashikabi and is very happy living in safety. Why do you ask? What is it to you?"
"Nothing to myself, honestly, but-"
"Battles between winged Sekirei are none of my concern, so you will get no help from me." he said grimly.
Zeilla narrowed her eyes. "I am acquainted with one-oh-seven who wants to find her."
Kagari shook his head and huffed. "That one, huh? Bonded to the 'demon Ashikabi' that has been terrorizing those who wander and lurk in the evening. I will definitely not aid those two."
Before she could respond he about-faced and left with the curtain swaying from the speed of his departure.
Matsu sighed. "We know Shiina-tan means well enough for Kusano-tan has said they are as close as siblings, but it's his Ashikabi we do not trust. We Sekirei will do anything if our Ashikabi order it, even at the cost of our own lives."
Zeilla's brow furrowed as she considered Yukari. The girl was volatile and prone to violence if one pushed her buttons while having a soft spot for her Sekirei. That said, she had handled the impossible concept and staggering implications of Zeilla's arrival on the scene very well, also showing good sense in her chosen interrogation targets according to what the Spartan had pieced together. Yukari might be impulsive but she was smart. It was possible she was intending to harm 108 as Kagari and Matsu feared and was hiding it from Shiina and Zeilla.
After all, Yukari was the one who told her the objective of the game: eliminate the competition.
"I see your concern." Zeilla admitted. "I will have to determine her motives myself, then. For what it's worth, she didn't have to take me in or help me orient myself, then there is her response to Yashima. I don't see anything sinister."
Matsu shook her head, turning to her keyboard and quickly bringing up dozens of files and security recordings on all of the monitors surrounding them. "She didn't tell you everything. Let me fill you in on the purpose of MBI's private army, the reason this city was chosen for the Sekirei project, and finally, about the little bird who wants to fly away."
Once again Zeilla was forced to carry Yashima around. They had spent all night talking with Matsu and now with their discussions complete it was time for the Spartan to act on promises made.
Bouncing her Sekirei higher on her back Zeilla carefully closed Matsu's false door, then padded down the stairs. Fortunately leaving the hammer in Yukari's flat meant they weren't detected by other Sekirei on the way here and now spared Zeilla the need to figure out how to stealthily cross two thirds of the city with both burdens.
The violet haired landlady met her at the door and reminded her that Matsu's presence was not to be disclosed before bidding them farewell and asking her to let themselves out.
Zeilla got the distinct feeling that this Miya did not like her.
She had just shut the doors behind her when she noticed Kagari leaning against the pillar under the entrance overhang, hands half in his pockets. His body was tense. He was ready to move in an instant.
"Good morning." he greeted her, voice low and a weary look in his eye.
The Spartan responded in kind. "Good morning, only by a few hours."
Kagari cycled a breath. "I will be honest, Zeilla-san. I work with someone who is quite upset at your inclusion in the Sekirei project thanks to MBI's president. You have utterly no history. We have no idea what kind of person you are or how you will treat your Sekirei."
Zeilla watched him carefully. "I don't know how I will treat her either, so of that we can find out together over time."
Kagari frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Matsu must have kept her suspicions to herself then." she thought out loud. "Let's run through it together to make everything clear."
Kagari crossed his arms expectantly.
"I am a soldier. More accurately, I am one of an elite number of genetically augmented Humans implanted with ceramic sheathing to my skeleton and cybernetics to increase strength, reaction time and permit limited Human-to-machine interfacing."
The man's brow rose gradually as she spoke, his jaw opening slightly at her pause.
"My purpose in the broadest of terms is the defense of Humanity as a species. I specialise in counter terrorism, assassination, infiltration, sabotage and direct assault. Be the field on planet, in atmosphere, in space or across them all I fight for survival against a force so overwhelming we appear little more than blip on their radar." she added as she stepped closer and bent down to look him right in the eyes. "And I know when I see someone with the same sense of duty to their species."
Kagari met her gaze without flinching. "That doesn't tell me where you stand. I have never heard of such a force, nor have I heard of battles in the stars. You defend Humans? Then what of us? Are we a threat?"
"I may not have been in this world long but I can think of far more logical courses of action for aliens than setting up a game such as this where the objective is to fight and kill your own kind." Zeilla told him grimly. "Matsu tells me in not so few words that a Human is behind this... 'thing'. MBI may be an organisation operated by Humans but it is clearly a threat to Humanity and in breach of many ethical and legal boundaries. Its president instigated this, no?"
Kagari nodded.
"I see countless people's lives at risk because of this game. MBI is a terrorist organisation now and that makes it my target. Minaka Hiroto is the head of the organisation so he is at the top of my list. You Sekirei are fellow victims of terrorism and that makes any who can fight my allies, such as Matsu and Yashima. If anyone cannot fight, such as number ninety-five Kuno, then I will stand between them and danger."
Zeilla straightened and set her jaw in resolution. "I trust that tells you and your accomplice on what ground I stand."
"Do you believe MBI can be fought?" he challenged. "They have a wealth of resources, money, technology, power to alter Sekirei on the molecular level and significant political clout here in Japan. Also, somehow Minaka is keeping other nations from interfering. They have locked down the entire city. If you plan to fight, then you must realise you face a well-equipped army and at least three powerful Sekirei."
Zeilla grinned. "I do. In fact, this is exactly what I was trained for. I have faced down and killed aliens larger, stronger and armed with better technology than myself before and been the only one to walk away. No record of any other could best me, save one of my predecessors." she told him plainly and began walking away.
As she turned onto the street Kagari had a final parting word.
"Good luck."
"Mmmm... That smells good." Yashima squirmed in anticipation as they exited the cafe.
Zeilla couldn't help but smirk at the little plastic card in her hand as the Sekirei devoured their purchases faster than a grunt could run from battle. Yukari had been right. The card was a godsend for those unable to support a Sekirei by their own means and Yashima's appetite was astounding. The teenager had an athletic and strong figure while eating slightly more than herself. To appearances the girl should be overweight.
This was one of the last cafes in their tour around the city that led them back to the northern most region.
"Yashima, tell me again why we are doing this."
The girl finished her muffin and cleared her throat after a sip of coffee that left froth all over her lip. "So, that we learn our way around the city which could give us an advantage in battle, using food as a cover for wasting MBI's money." she recited.
"You forgot the most important reason." she reminded her, gesturing to the froth.
Yashima licked her lip sheepishly. "Right, uh... We pay by card and ask for hard cash in change which we occasionally take to a bank to exchange for higher denomination bills. This gives us some untraceable finance so that we can buy things we don't want MBI to know about."
"Less traceable finance. And why not just withdraw a large amount from an ATM? It would be easier and faster."
"Because even though all the card transactions are logged a large one-off withdrawal could alert MBI to watch us more than other Sekirei and Ashikabi."
"Exactly. You are getting the hang of thinking these things through."
Yashima smiled and blushed at the compliment, pulling the black cargo jacket of her new outfit tighter around herself as the cool evening air assailed them both.
Along the way Zeilla had found something close to military standard hard wearing garments for them both and peaked caps to hide their faces a little. They both had black scarves they could use to mask the lower half when needed too. She had let Yashima keep her hair ribbon though as the girl needed something to keep her grounded or she could get lost in the huge changes Zeilla was bringing to her world.
The Spartan was still wondering about what to do with her hair... Well, for both of them. Yashima's was chin length light brown in complete contrast to their black clothing while her own deep red was starting to appear at the top edge of her vision. Yashima probably wouldn't take to dye or a cut too well she thought. Too much change at once.
Though perhaps the reward of sweets, pastries and cakes that helped her through today might be a good way to train her quickly.
Zeilla mentally slapped herself again. It was hard to think of teaching a child as different to training a cadet or an animal. Having limited experience with either didn't help. Where the former had signed up and the latter was sub sentient her loyal Sekirei was fully sentient and thus should receive the full rights of Human civilians. Admittedly something unconsidered in the war with the Covenant thanks to all alien life trying to kill them.
Confidence was another issue. No matter how many times Zeilla praised her successes Yashima always became shy.
"She needs to grow some balls."
"Balls?"
Crap. "Nothing, never mind. It's going to get dark soon. We'll head over to that MBI outpost now. Have you got the little present from Matsu ready to go?"
Yashima nodded. "Yes, master."
"Yashima..."
"Yes?"
"One: a master is generally male or a person bearing a certain title. A female is called a mistress, though the term is somewhar archaic and disused. Two: I don't hold such a title or rank. Three: I am not a teacher or instructor - I'm doing what I can, but it's not my skillset."
#84 tilted her head to one side. "So... If you are teaching me, but aren't my teacher... Then you must be my mentor?"
Zeilla shrugged. "Somehow I don't think you should go around calling me a mentor either. Just call me Zeilla - it's the only name I own from my life in the Spartan program."
"Okay, Zeilla-sempai."
The Spartan rolled her eyes and bopped Yashima on the head. "Don't forget what we talked about this morning. Without your usual hammer, things will be tough for you if we have to fight. This sledgehammer I've got under my cloak is shorter than you are used to."
She nodded and bit her lip - a sign Zeilla learned meant the Sekirei was resisting her clingy habit. "I'll execute a fighting retreat and only use my Norito if we get too much pressure."
"Correct."
The girl smiled again with pinking cheeks.
"And don't forget to use everything you can to your advantage. If life and death hang in the balance, then anything and everything goes. I can't afford to lose you now."
At that Yashima trapped her in a tight hug, once again surprising the Spartan with her strength. "I love you too, Zeilla-sempai."
Zeilla cycled a breath and put an arm around her shoulders. "I know, you don't have to keep reminding me."
"I'm sorry, I can't help it." she sighed into the Spartan's abdomen.
"Come on, Yashima, we're one block away. Time for you to hit the rooftops."
She breathed deeply and gave her one last squeeze before letting go and nodding as her shyness returned. Zeilla gave her the concealed sledgehammer and then they parted, the Sekirei leaping up to disappear over an apartment building and the Spartan continued forward while running through her limitations again to prevent forgetting her lack of armour.
Ahead their target stood out at the corner of one of the northeastern streets. It used to be a small rental car dealer before the lockdown but now served as an MBI supply depot for a section of the perimeter guard force. The signage was still lit but it was clearly for the guards outside to have some light besides the street lamps around the small parking lot. Two soldiers were smoking and chatting under the neon pink, another two were patrolling around the building and four were wandering around the edge of the parking lot.
Another two stood either side of the entrance with an armoured jeep parked just inside.
This was why Zeilla had taken Yukari's advice to go clothes shopping, though the other Ashikabi no doubt would disagree on the result. In the dim light, there were plenty of shadows for someone clad in black to hide in while still being able to see clearly with the naked eye.
Zeilla fell to a crouch as she emerged from the shadow of the building and quickly rushed to the island in the middle of the road, laying flat with it between her and the target building. After watching the guards for a minute, she stuck a hand out and slapped the island when all eyes were anywhere but northeast.
Yashima was watching from above for such a signal and made her own move. The Sekirei leapt across the street to the adjacent building, then let herself down the south side a way before pushing off and landing on the target roof.
Picking out the drop only because she knew where to look, Zeilla began to crawl across the rest of the street into the shadow of a trash can. Counting ten she then crouch-walked into the parking lot up behind one of the four perimeter patrols.
"Drop the guns." she ordered.
One soldier turned around right into her uppercut, snapping his head back with a loud crack, while the other ended up staring down the barrel of her stolen revolver. Grabbing the unconscious man by the collar before he could fall and holding him to her chest she prodded the other along their patrol route, making sure he knew she could shoot him faster than he could raise his rifle. To the other guards nothing would seem wrong at a glance -two people on the patrol route.
As soon as they were in the shadow of the rental car dealership Zeilla dropped the body and snatched the rifle off the other soldier before clubbing him over the head with it. She slung the rifle over her shoulder as she caught him and gave him another knock under the chin like his buddy, a crack and awkward angle of his neck suggested he was out of action - permenantly. Checking the coast was clear again the Spartan hefted the guy up and spun in a full circle before letting go, hurling the unfortunate man across the lot and into the side of the jeep with a clatter of armour.
The sound drew the attention of the entrance guards first and their departure from their posts spiked the curiosity of the two smokers. As they went over to investigate Yashima climbed down the sign and dropped down at the door. She ducked inside, hammer ready, while Zeilla threw the first guard she took out to collide with the smokers about the middle of the parking lot. The smokers cried out and every soldier rushed from their patrol to seek out the cause of their flying fellows, but Zeilla had already hopped up onto the roof with the other fallen rifle. Like a javelin, she sent it through the passenger window of the jeep and redirected the attention south.
Pressing her new gun to her shoulder the Spartan followed Yashima inside.
The Sekirei had done her part with great enthusiasm. The guards inside were certainly due a long recovery for one and most of the interior was wrecked beyond a simple re-plastering job. She was bouncing on her toes at the end of the hall to the service garage with a happy smile on her face and a bloodied sledgehammer in her hands.
"Good work, but now comes the dangerous part."
"And then the hardest part." she nodded, moving back to stand against the door frame.
Zeilla counted down from three on her fingers, then formed a fist. In an instant Yashima effortlessly swung the sledgehammer and punched lock clean out of the door. Zeilla brushed it aside as she charged through, zeroing in on a quartet of MBI soldiers across the small garage and putting two rounds into each before ducking behind an SUV.
The return fire was hesitant and focused on the doorway, giving her an opportunity to pop up and drop another guard as she dashed over to another SUV. The remaining five soldiers tracked her with heavy fire until she took cover again, then they kept up a steady stream of bursts to keep her pinned.
But then they all ran empty.
Idiots.
Yashima remembered her cue and charged in with her weapon raised high and a shout, crossing the distance quickly by leaping from the floor to a pile of crates to a jeep. With a final push, off she was among the five. She caved in one guard's skull with her opening attack despite his helmet and turned the follow through into a large sweep that took out the other four's legs.
From there it was a simply matter of clobbering them one by one faster than they could pick themselves up. An easy task for the alien girl.
By the time Zeilla stood next to her the Sekirei was covered in blood and looking a little disappointed.
"Over too fast for you?"
Yashima nodded, flicking a bit of grey matter off the end of her nose.
The Spartan chuckled. "Don't worry, you know what's next don't you."
"Yes, I'll fill up one of the jeeps right away!" she grinned.
"Make sure you get the right crates or we'll just end up looking stupid." Zeilla cautioned.
"Okay!"
What the hell is up with this girl? Violence doesn't faze her at all but she gets shy just trying to buy food on her own? And I thought I was unsuited to civilian life.
Looting a number of clips from the dead guards Zeilla loaded a second rifle and propped it up behind a weapons crate that gave her a good line of sight down the hallway back to the offices. Then she picked through the armaments. What caught her eye was a shotgun with drums of shells rather than manual slotting. A great idea! She grinned. The Spartan grabbed the case and a crate of shells and tossed them to Yashima along with a case of flash-bang grenades after reading the manual on them. A clear but very durable shield she decided could be handy and grabbed a pair of MBI kevlar vests, one for herself and her Sekirei.
She was about to inspect another interesting weapon when the light at the end of the hall vanished from the corner of her eye. Zeilla brought her rifle up and returned to her chosen cover to wait for ID of the figures in the hall.
As soon as the MBI soldier stepped into the garage he got a pair of bullets to the face and fell back into the hall. Immediately the soldier behind him opened up blind which forced Zeilla to duck until he paused to pick his way past the body in the doorway. She put a round in his leg, then two in his chest. She emptied the rest of the magazine down the hall and reloaded in the calm that followed.
"The jeep is loaded, sempai!"
"Great! Get over to the door and club anyone who tries to get past you, but don't get shot, okay? I'm going to try and give us an edge."
Yashima bounded over to hide beside the opening while Zeilla kept an eye on the hall. Once the Sekirei was in position she started unfastening the net like strapping that secured one pallet of crates. It just fit over the back of the jeep Yashima had packed full of boxes.
I really hope these things are bullet proof.
