AN, Knight One: And here was something really dull and not important, what I deleted on this final edition. I don't have pre reader as I lost contact. Lets carry on.
Headhunter
Chapter 4
Destination
Couple moments had passed since Asuka's fainting. When she woke up she didn't remember did she slept for an hour or more. It seemed like too little.
She watched the sky, not many clouds drifting by the sun. Somewhere a bird was singing. If this would have been somewhere else both in time and place, she could have thought that this was her vacation, those rare ones when she had to be on a planet. Since she had grew most of her time in space stations she had learn to love simple things, like raindrops dripping to ground or sun rays
warming her body.
But today wasn't one of those days. She had just duelled against one of the dangerous species in the galaxy. Giant alien that was almost third times bigger than she, even most of the predators think twice before trying to slain it. And this was her first time duel with a Praetorian. And now she understood why most predators leave it to one time only.
Now she began slowly to drag her self up. She first felt her neck, and opened her helmet. It was still sore from creature's tail whip. Next there was her left leg. Acid drops had oxidised quickly, but before that they had burned her skin to her flesh. It wasn't burning like the first time but still walking with it hurt.
Her shoulders where still gentle from Praetorians squeeze. And her back had nasty wound, which was soon about to infect. Predators healing equipment would help her, but she couldn't put it on her back by herself. She needed help.
On the overall, her situation was bad but the Praetorian's was worse. Slowly one-handed giant had sunk to the ground, and was lying there, Tail Spear reaching skies from its back. It was still red and dirty yellow shaded from their blood. Asuka began to struggle on her feet, and limped to retrieve her spear. All though it was stained with yellow spots, it didn't cause any harm now, because nature, or what had spawned this beast, had designed them that the blood would close wounds by changing from acid to harmless liquid. It took about 10-20 minutes for acid to oxidise so Asuka estimated that she had been unconsciousness for half hour.
She pressed but in her spear and Praetorians shell let out crunch when her spear separated from it. Spear let out humming and quickly shrunk back to the carrying mode. Asuka shuddered when yellow jelly drop harmlessly to the ground. Its stinging stench strongly smelled inside her nose.
"So, who is tough bitch now?" She asked mocking. Altrough Aliens didn't had genders, just different strains of them, and they reproduce asexually this was close enough to female. Asuka would have mocked it more, but inside her predators teachings how to deal the prey with honor had kicked in. Predator rarely taunted their preys unless they had a reason to do so. And Thaarn seemed
to control his emotions. She hadn't really saw him angry, so she couldn't know about it.
She crouched carefully switched her wrist blades open-It was time to do her duty as hunter. She began slice its neck. Carefully she grabbed its still slim jaw and lifted it. Head was heavy because the weight of the shield. This was her first grand trophy, Aliens were hard to kill, like she had noticed. Predator's steel where they worked out their weapons was bearing better aliens blood than
human metals.
This was trick what Thaarn had taught her, he knew that this time would come, and Asuka was both afraid and excited about it. She waited that acid blood would oxidise, but now when the alien was dead, it body chemistry was changing quickly. Now instead healing it, it was grumbling it. When she would wait for some time she could cut it of with out exhausting her completely. Blade tips
began to meld and light smell floated up to her nose. She rose up and looked her fallen adversary for once more.
She couldn't believe that she had done it. She had took one step on her way to attain ease on her troubled dreams. She was too to her surprise waiting Thaarn's reaction. Or more like she was feeling happy because she was honouring traditions of her clan, and breaking limits, what no one had ever guessed to be possible. Next she glanced to the outpost, what was buried inside rock.
Now was her time to do her duty as a human, and try to find any survivors. She limped her way to the door. She passed by headless body that had maybe the worse fate he could get. At least he got quick death. She grimaced and walked to the door, and before she could do anything it slide open.
She peeked inside. There was complete silence. Only couple cooling fans hummed ghostly. She walked trough the door. She noticed now that man who had tried to get inside didn't get combination right.
Opening panel was smashed. Armored plate, which was concealing door panels in case of a lock down, had been torn open, and controls were smashed into tiny pieces. Several claw scratches had been left on them. Supposedly this had malfunctioned the panel, and when motion sensors had noticed movement they had opened the door. Door was almost broke from the inside. Wouldn't have taken long for praetorian to break out anyway.
She thought should she use her helmet and try to use thermal vision mode to find anyone. But then she remembered what happened before, and again fear of same kinds of persons, armed, began knock back in her mind. She remembered that these places had automatic scanning systems, what would notice if there was any one left alive. Because door panel had been smashed she should find a control panel somewhere...
Corridors weren't so complicated that she had expected. Here and there were giant fans. After a while she saw Praetorians first victims.
Or what was left of them.
Asuka was proud, but pride didn't stop her put hand to cover her mouth. She had seen many things when she was inside space station for weeks, but she never had a change to see Aliens left over at first hand.
Most bodies were eaten, first head, then limps. Only torso had the only one left intact, sometimes not even that. She tried not to look too clearly, but she couldn't close her nose. Blood is only one thing, and other body liquids were so strong that she felt them even with her mouth covered. Suddenly something under her boots crunched. She looked down but couldn't see anything and decided to go forward.
She had with out knowing stepped someone's lower jaw.
After more walking stench and sight began to be so disgusting that she gave up and grabbed her mask back on. She took couple hazy steps and then breathed deeply. She thanked god, or whatever Predators believed in that they had but purifiers inside of it.
But she couldn't stop images flooding on her mind. She felt mixture of feelings inside her. Fear and Rage. After a while of walking and trying to find anyone she found the terminal. She set trough some commands based on her memory what she had noticed Kensuke to do when he had too much spare time. "Weyland-Yutani service terminal: -Status on line due to the emergency lockdown-."
For next half hour, in first time over many years she hoped that she had followed him more carefully. She tried her best but commands weren't accepted. After struggle, she hit the keyboard with her fist. "Corporations piece of scheisse!" she cursed. "Why can't you do your...." She stopped when she noticed that something was about to happen.
"Command accepted. Thank you." Woman's voice stated.
Asuka shrugged "Danke." Seemed like traditional swearing and violence solution to computer malfunctions had done the trick.
"Scanning Weyland-Yutani installation for life forms...please stand by." It announced again.
'Can I do anything else?' she though as she looked at the green grids what meant time for completion. It didn't take long.
"Only one life form detected in presence of this terminal. Human female, identity unknown. Age presumed 18 to 20"
"I came too late..." she shook her head.
"Voice command protocol initiated, latest technology will help you at your daily routines..."
"That's enough..." she answered at the casual face lift speech for W&Y what computer was about to offer. "Can you tell me how many workers there were before the emergency lock down, and did this installation pick up any sings of...anything unusual?"
"Redefine: anything unusual" computer voice asked.
"Oh, hell..." she wasn't sure what to say.
"Unknown term: oh, hell. Please be more accurate."
"I don't know... unknown things...anything out of the ordinary!" she snapped frustrated.
"At eight a.m., emergency lockdown was initiated by higher authority. Non- human life forms were detected inside the outpost sector CLASSIFIED-"now it was interfered by male voice.
"Oh great, I only have been here for half hour and now you are all ready calling for aid?" she answered knowing well that the terminal wouldn't answer. "Hey...you said inside, right?"
"Correct." It answered.
"So...this...non-human life form... was there at the whole time?" She questioned.
Terminal didn't answer at first. "You-click--you do not have security authorization high enough to receive an answer."
"I don't need your chicken shit authorization, fucking infernal machine, I can guess the rest." She snapped. "That beast didn't break in, it was breaking out, wasn't it?! It was inside..." She pointed metal floor under her. "Here."
"CLASSIFIED" male voice announced.
"Oh really? Well, classify all you want. If you can, tell how did Emergency protocol kick in first place?" She was now beginning to get angered.
"By off planet input." Computer answered. "It was relayed trough latest communication equipment available to public and private use. You can pay handy at part time, too or take a private loan and..."
"What the hell....?" She hissed. "Whole damn place is like a morgue, and you are just throwing those fucking road commercials at me?! Where did the Emergency lockdown order came?"
"CLASSIFIED" Male voice answered.
"Hey, you stay out of this, this is between me and her.." She grunted and took couple back steps. Even if her back was hurt she managed to get strength on her kick. With echoing CLANG sound terminal screen begun to flash and then it was shut down.
"Contact to your service producer.... Contact to your service producer.... Contact to your service producer...tired of waiting new Bold & Beautiful season 9 DVD... Contact to your service producer...Its Read-yyy!."
"Ah..." she shook her head. Then she felt her legs going weak and she grabbed support from the wall.
"Contact to your service producer...call 990-87 and order.... Contact to your service producer...."
"Shut the fuck up! I'm trying to not to faint here!" she yelled while trying to gain back control over her legs.
Like it had understood, terminals panel began to throw sparks and beeping furiously. After a while it stopped beeping and light on the terminal shut down. Couple sparks occasionally flied in the air. Asuka looked stunned at the terminal. "And I though it was I who needed some more adjusting on my computer skills...that is what I would say customer service..." she inhaled couple times and felt that she could stand on her legs again. "I'm getting out of here..." she whispered and began to walk out while keeping taking support from wall next to her.
She thought about everything what where inside this outpost.
How the Praetorian had gotten inside, she didn't know. But it seemed like only few knew about it, and poor bastard who had get a change to relay a message didn't knew. She didn't believe for second that all of the personal was clean, somebody had to know, and they don't appear to be one of them who were eaten. Off planet input only give her reason to believe that somebody knew, and maybe this was what that someone had waited for. "Lockdown base with aliens on loose..." she shuddered remembering it again.
It was a death warrant. But who had signed it?
She against her will began to think of did the others forgot her on purpose to the space platform, or did they really lost her on there ... feeling of not being cared was looming on her mind. "No..." she whispered. She didn't want to even think about it. Maybe it would have eased her mind if she had only heard them say that they didn't want her to survive, but rolling this idea all over inside her head was beginning to strain her mind.
Besides it didn't have any meaning now...now she was among creatures that did care her, being part of the clan was maybe the least expected place where she would be. But at the same time most of the places where she felt that she belonged.
Sometimes she toyed idea that she would appear on them, and they would see what she had come.
As she walked, or more like limped trough installation, Asuka couldn't get rid of the stalking feeling on her shoulders...as if huge complex had more buried inside than she could possibly realize. But on the other hand she didn't want to know.
What she really wanted now, was to get out of there. Outside it seemed like this world was fairy tale forest where cute little rabbits bounced around and frogs song as nature's own chore.
Inside it felt like aliens den, or a tomb. Half eaten corpses and disgusting moist what floated in the air in a form of fog...despite the giant cooling fans, it remained and covered every step on her way. She didn't know where this fog and moist came from, but fans didn't seem to help. Instead it was maybe making it worse. Loud humming sounds what cut trough the air, and rays of light what
shined between fan's wings seemed to complete the eerie feeling what was present there.
Her clothing was now almost in pieces. Black top was torn open with four wounds what claws had left on her back. Predators net suit what was covering her body had too given up couple strings. Her trousers had melted from her right thigh, couple string's from there had also been cut.
She, unlike other her brothers in her clan used shoes. Combat boots actually. Predator's used only somekind of bandages around their feet if they felt like they would need them, or then two toed steel boots. Those bandages let their feet nails bare so that they could use them when climbing.
She felt like her clothing was arguing with each other. But like before she let her obsession with clothing to alone, because it made her feel like she was little girl again. But sometimes she would like to be that way.
Finally she reached the door of the haunted complex. Much to her surprise it opened easily by pressing the button. Flush of fresh air didn't make inside fog go away. She took couple steps outside trying not to look Praetorians lunch. Where his head was, she didn't know.
She walked to Praetorian's corpse and looked at her opponent again. She crouched over it and grabbed firm grip on its disc like head. She twisted and grimaced as ache again returned to sparkle on her shoulders. She continued twisting and finally its weakened neck gave up and let out a snap.
Asuka rose up and raised her newly acquired prize to height of her own head and stared at it behind her mask.
Suddenly its lower jaw fell open and she gasped out of surprise. She couldn't stop wondering how it still managed to retain its strong atmosphere of death around it. She experienced whole set of feelings when she looked at it. She wanted to crush it, but she also felt proud as she looked at her trophy, first one what she had killed with out help. Her lips bended into a smile behind her hunting mask.
She took giant head what still was moisten under her arm, and walked to black arm what had separated from it's carrier cutting it from the wrist with her wrist blades. Couple more 'jewels' to her necklace. She began to march to her ship.
She stepped in and put both the head and claw to a small table what was in the center of the ship, near the cockpit. Asuka removed her hunting mask and stroked her red hair braids with her hand. It wasn't in complete mess. Though she had some reservation about Predators style, she had adapted it and braids were easy wash.
Asuka walked to the cockpit and drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. She opened her eyes and relaxed herself and grabbed the controls. It was time to retrieve her teacher.
- - - - - - - -
Inside Solaris command deck was quiet. Solaris was in stand by, waiting for orders. Only two persons were present, and they both were part of recruited bridge controllers Makoto Hyuga and Shigeru Aoba. Third member group of this group wasn't even inside of this ship. They where both enjoying their coffee, what was of course their own. Weyland-Yutani didn't really bother to offer any refreshments on their flights.
"So you think that anything is about to happen anytime soon?" Hyuga sip little of his coffee.
"I'm sure." Shigeru answered "Major has told that Doctor Akagi is being transferred here. The corporation is definitely up to something."
"Yeah" Hyuga shrugged. "Question is what they are doing, and where."
"What do you mean by that?" Shigeru inquired.
"Well, word is that our routine is going to change to a bug holding bay instead squashing them." Hyuga said.
"Oh and who told that?" Shigeru asked out of curiosity.
"That Aida kid..." Hyuga started.
"Wait a minute..." Shigeru chuckled. "You got your information from Kensuke 'Lucky Shot' Aida?" That nick name he had earned in his years in corporations academy. It was said that he was more interested about shooting than hitting anything.
"So?" Hyuga frowned.
"You really did!" Shigeru laughed out. "Why didn't you asked does Gendo Ikari use woman's clothes.
"What's up with that?" Hyuga asked.
"Nothing at all but Aida's career here might be short." Shigeru answered.
"What are you talking about?" Hyuga asked.
"Well he's smuggling all kinds of things here what are illegal. Last batch was some porn."
"Really?" Hyuga grinned.
"Really." Shigeru nodded.
"What was the price?" Hyuga asked.
Shigeru stared at him for a moment and took a sip from his coffee cup. He stared at him for couple of seconds. "Lets go back to that conspiracy theory of yours." He said quickly.
"Well, Aida...umm...acquired some data about military traffic and it seems that this group is forming its own battle group alone." Hyuga elaborated.
"So there isn't any backup for stand by?" Shigeru wondered.
"No. Seems like we have most potent crew on history or both company and army trust us really."
"Heh." Shigeru snorted. "I really hope that we'll get some more men."
"No offence, but this is little bad time to come out closet." Hyuga grinned.
"Hah, hah. I meant recruits. Everyone who know how to use gun is welcome."
"So you're going to kick Maya out of the airlock when she comes here?" Hyuga riddled.
"I almost like to. This time don't get me wrong, I like her and she's excellent worker, but this is something different."
"Something different..." Hyuga thought. "Guess that's one way to describe Bugs. But she has more experience on them than us."
"She has dissected a dead bug." Shigeru answered.
"Bug is a bug." Hyuga retorted.
"Between dead bug and living bug has hell of a lot difference. Dead ones doesn't bite." Shigeru said. "At least I think it doesn't."
"Well at least she has been dissecting it....which has too hell of lot difference than never seeing any kind of bug by the way..." Hyuga added and took another sip from his cup. "With her grand love."
"Are you again begin with that?" Shigeru chuckled.
"Haven't you heard how Maya talks about her?" Hyuga asked.
"How couldn't I not to hear? I've been with you since the Weyland-Yutani training started." And I have two ears, you know." Shigeru answered and sipped his coffee for first time.
"Under that hair it's wonder that you even hear something." Huyuga answered amused. "She talked like she would want to marry her."
"So does talk half of the academic people, but it still doesn't mean that." Shigeru explained. "If you are so interested about that why don't you ask her about that when she comes here."
"Are you nuts? You don't ask those kinds of things from ladies." Hyuga thought for a second. "Well except major, but I don't think that Maya would be flattered."
Shigeru smiled. "Well if it helps I can ask for you."
Hyuga smiled forcefully back. "Thanks for the offer, but lets not."
"Only tried to help." Shigeru stretched his uniform. "At least Maya was lucky."
"Yeah I guess that it's pretty big when someone's getting research assistants job next to the most genius scientist in whole universe." Huyuga said.
"Not only that, but she gets to wear Corporations uniform." Shigeru answered stretching his uniform again.
"Is that reason for somebody to be proud of?" Hyuga wondered.
"No, but this military uniform is always either too small or is itching my skin." Shigeru told agonised, while trying to stretch his uniform again.
"Well what can you do about it? In the army everything fits right to its place at the first time." Huyuga shrugged.
"Says who?" Shigeru asked.
"Sammy the superior officer." Hyuga imitated keeping his speech coming between his teeth. "You can complain boy, but it ain't worth of bugs ass. Pull yourself together maggot!"
Shigeru snorted, "You only need eye patch and unshaved chin plus couple hundred battle scars." He pointed his finger to Hyuga's glasses. "And lose those, then we have a new leader and coming war hero."
"What, aren't I believable officer material the way I am?" He stretched his arms.
"More like office material. You look like some accountant with those." Shigeru grinned.
"Look who's talking. You wouldn't even see a bug under that sea plant." Hyuga retorted.
"At least I do have hobbies which I'm not shamed of showing public." Shigeru answered.
"I do have hobbies too." Hyuga objected.
"Not so artistic as mine." Shigeru threw his hair over his shoulder.
"When bugs are going to pay us a little visit are you gonna play guitar and hope that your audience drops dead? Or maybe you sing lullaby instead?" Hyuga asked and rubbed his ears.
"I had better shooting scores than you" Shigeru scratched his uniform for who knows what tenth time it was now.
"Have you seen snowhite's uniform?" Hyuga asked and shook his head. "its like uniform that you have never seen before."
"Right its one of a kind uniform. It's so white that your eyes hurts. Skin tight..." Huyuga whistled.
"It's an experimental fiber, that doesn't annoy skin. And it's almost so soft that you feel like you aren't wearing nothing at all." Shigeru dreamed.
"Yep. I heard that it even withstands impacts, and has somekind of sensors built in." Huyuga said on his turn.
"Well that uniform is way out of our pay check." Shigeru added. "And besides I should be working for the corporation again, and I'm happy If I would never need to be in any dealing with them. And it's made for woman."
"Really?" Huyuga wondered. "So they were her natural assets...And I thought they were fake...I'll would wear it anyway." Hyuga said after thinking it for a while.
Shigeru looked at his friend little stunned. "Makoto, It's not my thing to get involved with things that doesn't concern me, but I do now worry about for real. I know that it may be fun to dress like woman but in these times it may be enough reason for brass to kick you out of the force."
"C'mon, you just yourself that you would like to try it out too." Hyuga retorted.
"Well..." Shigeru thought.
"Besides you were the one who advertised how soft it was." Hyuga reminded. "Besides its funny when man dresse as a woman."
"Hmm... Only that point when man doesn't look like a woman." Shigeru thought "Well, I guess it would be fun to see it. Would clear out does them make your mind any feminine." Shigeru chuckled and smiled putting his coffee mug on the table.
Suddenly Shigeru changed to a stiff stance like a statue. He raised his hand to his forehead as salute. "Someone has done his homework..." Huyuga said and drink his remaining coffee. Shigeru grimaced and kicked Hyuga's feet, nodding forward.
"Ow!" Huyuga cried and looked behind him. He rose at speed of an full-grown Xenomorph doing same as Shigeru. "Sir...umm...ma'am..." he tried.
Opposite of the two bridge technicians was snowhite, better known as corporations representative Rei Ayanami. She was in her 'soft' skin tight uniform and was watching both of them with her ruby red eyes. For a moment nothing happened. Shigeru and Huyuga were wondering in panic how much of their conversation she had overheard.
"At ease." She ordered after staring them for a while.
Shigeru and Huyuga gasped for air. they had, with out noticing it, hold their breath. Rei patiently waited that they both had catch their breath before she talked.
"Start the engines. We are leaving." She ordered.
"Ma'am shouldn't we inform major first?" Huyuga asked.
"No." Rei answered. "This ship is build by Weyland-Yutani assets and is considered to be under shared command. I will inform her myself later."
"Roger ma'am. We will initiate plasma reactor. Our arrival will be delayed because of power relays calibration problem." Shigeru stated
"What are our coordinates, ma'am?" Huyuga inquired.
"7-3-4. We are tracking frigate Firefly. This is an interception mission." She paused. "It's wartime frigate, and there is possibility that it's armed. If it's trying to escape, or it denies to power down you have permission to destroy its weapons and engines."
"Roger." Huyuga stated. "What are our orders once Firefly has been immobilised?"
"I will delegate the operation from that on to Major Katsuragi. She will lead the raid on the Flaming Daggers ship Firefly. I will return here to observe. Notify me when you have the frigate on sight." Either Hyuga or Shigeru didn't recall a situation where Rei had been so vocal.
"What about other ships encounters, Ma'am? Raiders...or Predators? At least one detected energy signature is matching to a plasma reactor, and we are only ship with plasma technique in this sector. There is no other Costanoga Mk.2 cruiser assigned to this sector." Shigeru asked.
Rei seemed to be on her toes when she heard word Predator. "I don't believe that we would encounter any Predators, but if it takes place, do not engage. Stay clear of any hostile ships. Is this understood?"
"Yes ma'am!" They both answered in unison.
Rei turned to leave and when she was at the door she stopped. "If you like, I could request one or two of my soft and tight uniforms so that you can hurt each other eyes with out my assistance." Before Shigeru or Hyuga could say anything she had vanished from the door.
"She was joking, right?" Hyuga asked little startled.
"I don't think they are paid for telling jokes." Shigeru said little worried.
"I just wish that she doesn't spread the word." Hyuga hoped.
- - - - - - -
Bishop and Hikari had arrived to the power relay controls. The relay itself was shielded with armor, which was almost as thick to armor plates what covered the reactor. On the wall were cooling pipes with black and yellow warning stripes. Needless to say that power which coursed trough relay warmed things up 'a little.'
"So this is the second important component in the whole boat?" Hikari asked and glanced at Bishop.
"Yes. If this goes down, power to non-critical systems, such as lights will go off." Bishop answered.
"What about guns?" Hikari asked "I really don't want any raider scum's to sneak and burn hole on the hull. Corporation would hold the cost of repairs from my salary."
"Launcher systems require power but some mass drivers can be jury rigged to fire manually." Bishop said.
"With out computer targeting and slower rate of fire, I guess." Hikari said.
"Yes." Bishop nodded. "Mass drivers have their own generators for magnetic field but in order to reach maximum potential they need more power."
"No need to worry about then. Raiders normally have anything larger than a corvette. And if somebody tries they'll have quick hole for an extra air condition. She should be completely safe from any ugly men with her best friends, mass drivers." Hikari smiled.
"You have way with words miss Horaki." Bishop smiled.
"Didn't I told you to call me like everyone else does?" She reminded.
"Everyone else calls you miss Horaki or mechanic Horaki." Bishop said.
"Try to drop that and try to call me Hikari. That 'miss' reminds me the days when I was a class representative. Not in the way that I didn't like." Hikari said.
"I'll try." Bishop answered.
Hikari nodded and looked at the control panel. "No need to open any hatches and fiddle with wires?"
"No. Malfunction is purely in software. We'll find the right frequency and it should do it." Bishop said.
"I'll almost hope that we would be in ordinary Costanoga class cruiser. No plasma core and no calibrating these..." She pointed at the wall which shielded the power relay.
"Didn't you wanted precisely to get on board one of these new ships?" Bishop had taken his time to find out what had bring these people together.
"I said almost. What is better in these new ones is their better power & repair ratio." Hikari chuckled. "Four years ago I would have laughed my self dead if somebody had said to me that I would some day be a mechanic."
"This wasn't your number one career choice, then?" Bishop asked.
"No. If they would be listed this would be at the bottom of it. It's one thing what made it happen...it wasn't even technical just because it was about laziness... I hate sloppy." she shook her head.
"Mostly corporation tries to do everything most cheapest way, not the most efficient." Bishop answered.
"I try to avoid to avoid it." She lowered toolbox to the ground. "Lets get to work."
Bishop took again familiar wires out his pocket. This time he didn't put it on his arm but instead in his neck.
"You are doing that matrix thing again?" Hikari grimaced as bishops plug clicked on its place.
"I can get better reading this way." Bishop said.
"Hikari began to input data on the console. "Watch out for agent's."
"Maybe somekind of reference to 'ghost in the shell' would be more appropriate." Bishop said.
"I don't recall any. They robbed that plug idea from there." Hikari said and input more commands. "What frequency we are using now?"
"Bishop seemed to think something and answered. "14 850 MHz."
"Lets try whole 15 grand..." She said. Suddenly she heard loud grumble from the direction of the engine department.
Bishop and Hikari looked at that direction. "Seems like we are going somewhere."
"Well, let's hope that they are ready for some rough ride..." Hikari said as they continued working.
Misato and Shinji were overseeing marines practice shootings. To save time, they had made moveable practice lines inside the hangar inside Costanoga mark II had almost twice room in its hangars for more dropships.
Over the hangar had several catwalks giving excellent overview of the area. Noise of dozens pulse rifles firing filled the air. Mouth flames flashed bright stars as they watched them.
"They seem to score pretty well." Purple haired. Major praised.
"They should." Shinji answered. "They are all volunteers. Can you imagine?" he asked.
"Of course: you are voluntary aren't you?" Misato asked.
"I wouldn't say that." Shinji objected.
"If I remember right it was you who after being a week in his room marched and asked, no..." She hold her finger up. "..begged that I would get you sorry, worthless...and so on...ass trough Academy training."
Shinji sighed. "I should have taken different academy and whole different tutor..."
"Hey, what's wrong with me?" She asked teasingly.
"What isn't wrong with you?" Shinji grinned. "No, really, you are the best. But still..."
"What?" She asked.
"Look at them..." He pointed at the marines training below them. "Do you think that they knew were they are going at?"
"I doubt it. There are definitely some boys and girls in there who accepted this job because the easy money. And why not. Things are pretty calm now." She answered.
"They haven't even seen any bugs. At least we know what is coming. Or we think so." Shinji shook his head.
"Well, lets not get too depressed. How are things with the corporation bombshell?" Misato inquired.
"Jesus, this is just first day and you all ready think that I've knock her boots?" Shinji sighed.
"Well...?" Misato asked.
"To your knowledge, no, I didn't. "He said dryly.
"She just laughed at your face?" Misato crossed her arm and her eyes intensified like every time when she tries to get the truth out of someone.
"No." he answered drowsily.
"Kicked you in the balls, then?" She tried again.
Shinji grimaced when thought of classical self defence move applied in practice flooded his mind. "No, and good thing I carry that this armor is keeping downstairs in safe, too." He shuddered. "At least I hope it is."
"What happened?" She asked.
"I only changed word or two with her, and that's it." He answered.
"You're playing the waiting game." Misato said. "I don't blame you, I bet that our ice queen doesn't like it if you appear too eager."
"Ah, this just doesn't stop. I'm not saying that I wouldn't appreciate your 'help'..." He paused. "...but I could decide my own affairs, thank you."
"Well who had believed. They actually managed to turn you in to a man in that Academy." She smiled. "There was a time when you agreed almost every thing I said."
"You did good job for helping me. I want to ask you something." Shinji said.
"Shoot." Misato nodded.
"How did you manage to get me false identity that even get trough corporations background checks?" He asked.
"Well that's sort of a long story, so I give it shortened. Do you know that platform named Promised Land?" She asked in her turn.
"I do. It's sort of state in space, first one and last one if corporation can do something about it." Shinji shrugged.
"Yeah. I know this one crew, it's collection of people who have been doing things for money some time now. They are ex soldiers, with different skills. One of them is even been a corporate soldier." Misato said. "Another one is a spec op guy, or girl actually. Ria was the name, she and (apparently) her fiancé started it. That third came up later."
"Why corporation doesn't go after that ex-soldier? I think they wouldn't be happy if he decides to tell his secrets to another corporation." Shinji asked.
"He has managed to get everyone else to believe he is toast." Misato answered. "But can you answer this?"
"Try." Shinji encouraged.
"Why did you wanted a false identity?" Misato had wondered this for sometime now, and when this was change to ask she wouldn't waste it.
"I didn't want other ones to know who I was. They wouldn't see me as soldier but Ikari's son, or heir to the throne." Shinji said picking up couple names how he had been called in school. "I don't want to hear that crap. I'm not interested to chew on my past."
'Being boss son isn't easy. You can run away past that way, it seems.' "I see." Misato said but think more.
"But why do you want to still find match for me?" he asked.
"Its my honorable duty to do so, I haven't abandoned you then nor I will now." She announced.
"I don't recall that any military appendixes advise you to try career as a pimp. Not even WY's. They don't like private entrepreneur. Monopoly...." Shinji scratched his neck "But if you offer then fair deal, maybe 60 to them and to you 40 share, they can even minus it from your taxes."
"That's little too harsh. I would say just that I'm helping Amor to shoot arrows." She answered.
"If you are shooting would you give me word of warning? I don't want any lovesick bug on my tail, and I doubt that it will wait for third dates." He shrugged.
"My, my aren't we cynical like always. Besides that third on the row is even ancient than this jacket of mine. I haven't used it." Misato shook her head.
"So have I heard." Shinji smiled weakly. "Literally."
Misato smiled too, her voice was serious. "I thought I ordered some physical exercises when I was having fun." She said.
"Well, sometimes I managed to do my exercises faster than normal, and happened the place of you own track course." He laughed.
"I didn't meant you to see..." She started.
"Well, I didn't see anything but I hear quite well. Sure it was a shock at first but I didn't need any therapy for it." He said. "And I don't deny that part of your instinct, your company was pretty much decent."
"Glad to hear I was some example." She said proudly.
"I never thought you were a nun. But maybe somebody did." He chuckled.
"Come again?" she asked.
"I heard several times 'oh my god' out of your room."
"And soundproof shines it's value. Damn, Ikea is even worse in space..." she shook her head trying to figure how much her former roommate had heard.
"It's not supposed to be pounded that way." He answered.
"Eeh...and you were okay with that?" She asked little lower tone." I mean you didn't say a thing..." She said with little hesitation.
Shinji was actually pleased that even her had some awkward things in her past. "It wasn't my thing to get between that so I let it be, all though somebody of them might wanted."
"Well, if I'm so good role model so why don't you follow my example?" she smiled teasingly.
"Well, I don't say she so repulsive that I would kick her out of my cryo capsule." She said when thought of skin tight uniform dressing representative together with him in closed capsule played in his mind. He smiled weakly for that thought. "But she's from the Corporation." He said like it would explain everything.
"And she's hot." Misato said. "Your are taking that corporation background too seriously."
"Is it any wonder?" He asked coldly. Passing in his mind was only waiting in his fathers lobby waiting someone to tell him that he couldn't see him right, now or he was in meeting. Normally even emotional reaction from him was hard to get, and Shinji had spent most of his time in his guardians care. Eventually he just decided not to try meet him anymore.
"Well...I guess isn't." She had almost forgot his background. "But they are couple nice guys in there too."
"Give me two or three." Shinji said firmly. "And if you really manage to find one corporate guy who isn't baby eating piece of shit, I'll give you a medal. When have one to give you, I mean."
Misato didn't said anything just drummed the railing with her hand and set her eyes on the roof. She wa going trough some of her early memories from her years at the academy and was thinking one man with ponytail and unshaven hair. Anger and missing washed her brains and she finally shook her head. "Well, I think there may be at least one, and maybe she is in this ship."
"And maybe you should fix that sense radar, it has only made about dozen mistakes..." he stopped and understood that he had said too much.
"What was that?" She demanded looking at him. Shinji looked like he had just bite his tongue.
"Nothing..." he tried.
"I want to hear, you were criticising my one trait that doesn't fail!" she snapped.
"Misato..." Shinji tried again.
"Spit it out." She ordered.
"Okay, You have been so...active for number of years and you still haven't found your perfect match. And I say there is some takers to you. In your case it seems like love is eternal but its subjects change in weekly basis." He said that so carefully that he could, even with Asuka he hadn't used so careful approach.
"Say, you still have that crotch armor in place?" Misato asked smiling but malice was dripping from her voice.
"Umm...yes...how come?" Shinji asked backing away for a little.
"You said yourself that you didn't knew how much punishment it would take. Want to test it? I'm ready." She said looking at him with her smile gone and stomping her right leg in the steel like bull readying for attack.
To Shinji's fortune his career as a matador came short. But they both had appreciated for more lighter intermission. Out of nowhere smoke trail flied upward past them. They both managed to notice it on their eye corner. Then came blinding flash of light and pressure wave knock them down.
They both laid on the catwalk in case there would be more grenades but when they never came Shinji heard Misato cursing as she was climbing up. "What the fuck was that!?!" she gasped
Shinji crawled too on his feet and looked at the ceiling. Where explosive had hit were dark print, only meter or two by its diameter. Shrapnel's were only by name. He recognised the print immediately. "Somebody just shot pulse grenade at the ceiling." He yelled.
"How? Hikari and Bishop code locked those pulse rifles in training mode, they are on 256-bit encryption, and and I got the idea that this shouldn't happen."
Misato answered.
"It couldn't come by accident, pump action launchers should be out of the refresh course for first day." Shinji said and crawled up looking down from the catwalk. "Of course" he said dryly.
"What?" Misato asked and walked his side.
"Guess who shot us?" Shinji pointed his finger downward to hall.
"He?" Misato asked not really surprised.
"Yup." Shinji said casually. "I guess something like this would happen, but at first day?"
"You never know." Misato added.
Shooter was Kensuke. He had somehow managed to disable codes on rifles. At the same time power surge from bypass kit had triggered pulse grenade launcher, shooting one shot at them. They had luck, if it had hit on the catwalk they both would be in pieces.
Other marines hadn't stop shooting. Noise in the hall was so strong that only those marines near Kensuke when had seen pulse grenade to dive up had stopped. And sergeant Barnes was one of them.
"Not even a fucking day on this boat and you have all ready managed to spend your ammo clips twice, get late on two drills and caused my ulcer to erupt again! And now you two legged dog miscarriage have extended your fuck up record to attempted murder one! What the hell is your major malfunction, asshole?"
"Simple mistake in bypass program, sir!" Kensuke shouted over the firing noise.
"Your mistake was that your parents got their brains loaded with that Terium crap for one time too much and forgot to use rubber on their Friday back seat bang! You would be a model example in birth control poster! Lieutenant and Major could court marshal you right now! I vote for execution and broadcasting to every goddamn corporate prison shit hole so con's may have some morale boost on their miserable lives! Then we could tear you organs away to those who may have better use for them! Am I understood!?!"
"Sir, yes sir!" Kensuke shouted.
"Good! Because I hate to mess this floor what rest of the crew had so much work cleaning..." Barnes grunted chewing his cigar "...I ruin fun from all of us, and let you sorry carcass to live little longer. Would you like that, Soldier!?" Barnes roared.
"Sir yes sir! It would make me happier than ever, sir!"
"I thought so. Now I decide to look you murder attempt trough fingers if you run trough whole section and deck of this ship now" Barnes roared but then suddenly got stiffen and brought himself attention and raise his hand to salute. "Sir! Ma'am!"
Both Shinji and Misato had came down. They had walked on the view and because of Misato's red jacket she separated brightly from rest of them.
"What the hell just happened?" Shinji demanded.
"Pulse grenade made hole on the ceiling." Barnes informed.
"I'm not blind yet. I meant of course how did it happen." Shinji answered. He looked at Kensuke. "Private, do you have anything to say?" he addressed him.
"It was an accident, Shin-sir!" he corrected quickly before Barnes had a change to get shouting him again. He never thought he would see this day when he was calling Shinji sir. He more had waited it to be other way around. He looked pissed which wasn't any wonder he almost died.
"An accident." Shinji repeated cheerfully. "To my knowledge they were code locked with..." He stopped and glanced over Misato questioning look over his face.
"256." She said looking interested how he would handle.
"Thank you ma'am." He thanked and turned back to Kensuke. "...yes code locking with 256-bytes. I'm an tech expert, but on my sense open sesame wouldn't override it. How did it happen?"
"I...umm...so-sort of bypassed it." He stuttered.
"Sort of?" Shinji asked mockingly. "Are you trying to say that your bypass kit grew itself legs and walked to you hand begging 'Oh please bypass codes on pulse rifles, please?'"
"No... not exactly." Kensuke said.
"I guess you made it on purpose." Shinji said. "How did it went of?"
"Sir, that part wasn't in my mind, bypass kit just gave out too much energy and triggered it." Kensuke elaborated.
"You had still in your mind to launch it anyway. Out of curiosity, tell me what was so important that you couldn't wait for two days?" Shinji asked.
"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Kensuke asked.
"Go ahead, private."
Kensuke relaxed and began to explain. "These shootings are just trivial stuff, nothing interesting or useful.
"Your gun is your best friend, and only thing that keeps the bugs getting to know you better. I wouldn't say its useless." Shinji retorted.
"Nothing new, we all had this shit in academy. We know all about the basics, especially pulse rifles, 10mm projectiles only in armor piercing variant, with out casings. "Couple soldiers nodded.
"So you decided to move on heavy stuff?" Shinji asked. "40mm grenade launcher?"
"Precisely. When there is heavy guns all around, it would be as waste to let them lie down there. We will squash bugs with heavy weapons if it goes so far. They will torn to shreds, no problem." He grinned patting his pulse rifle.
Kensukes arrogance was beginning to get annoy Shinji a little. "Tell me how many bugs you have seen?"
"None" he answered.
"So you honestly thought that you're invulnerable because you can walk on two feet and carry machine balalaika? Oh man..." Shinji shook his head.
"They are just animals." Kensuke shrugged "They don't know plans or techniques."
"Maybe I'll just leave you with one of them and see how it reacts on that. I don't know what crap did they fed to you in academy but you at lest seem to enjoy it with mug of piss. That painted piece of art over there isn't substitute for living bug and if you honestly believe it is you will be making out with facehugger in no time. One thing was right. Heavy weapons are mostly useless. Bugs don't give you change to use them. Normally pulse grenades do only little damage to shooter, they are centred to one point. It doesn't work with bugs." Shinji waited Kensuke to ask something.
"So what use of these are if...?" he let it hanging in the air.
"When ammo is out, you shoot at ground and hope that blast take's bug with you. Quick death." Shinji said grimly. Some soldiers look at each other in disbelief. Shinji laughed. "If this would be a corporate enclave, Major here would probably court marshal me for weakening morale. But it's true Bugs doesn't need weapons, they are the weapon." He turned back to Kensuke but didn't address him. "Sergeant Barnes, what disciplinary action did you apply on him?"
"I ordered the run, sir" sergeant answered.
"I'm altering the punishment." Shinji said. "Now because we have knew each other a while I'm going to let you go."
Kensuke sighed and was encouraged enough to smile "Thank you sir."
Barnes on the other hand grunted and looked disappointed, but not surprised. Kind like he had expected it but hoped it not to happen. Misato was too little disappointed that he was giving his friend a favor. It was sending wrong signals to his team. "Don't thank me yet." Shinji said in serious tone. "I still believe that you have certain knowledge of Xenomorphs." He paused.
"Yes sir, I was kind of researching their spreading." Kensuke answered wondering why did he asked this.
"In other words you know them more than average soldier?" Shinji asked.
"Yes sir, they blood is acid, and they are presumably can survive...." he stopped when he understood what Shinji was after for.
"SO..." he said louder "You knew about acid, and what it does. And probably knew about that heavy stuff is useless. And that what you said before was a lie."
Kensuke didn't say anything but looked panicking.
"WASN'T IT, PRIVATE?" Shinji demanded, and sudden change in his voice made Kensuke jump a little.
"Umm...yes sir." Kensuke admitted little embarrassed.
"And you shot that grenade just for joy to hear it crushing something." Shinji stated. "I believe the part that you didn't shoot it on purpose to the roof but you were still intend to fire it and disobeying orders. I'm now reinstating Sergeants punishment, and it stands."
Now it was Barnes's turn to smile, and even laugh a little. Kensuke looked like he was squirming out of web.
"I'm not finished yet. Because you were trying to lie to your superior officer I'm adding second lap on your punishment, ensuring that you don't take habit to alter reports to your coming CO's. And for illegal use of equipment I'm ordering you to do those laps in full gear." Look of other marines around him was mix of amusement, and sympathy to Kensuke. "Dismissed."
Kensuke looked at his friend, if it even was his friend anymore, wondering. He had expected punishment but not in this scale. First time looking at him he didn't know what to say.
"You heard the man! MOVE IT!" Barnes roared him wake.
"Sir yes ,sir!" He answered still in disbelief and began to run back armory to get equipment.
Now he turned to other marines. "Same applies to all of you. We are not in need of hero shit, if you want to amaze my lovely CO here..." he pointed at Misato who was smiling inviting. "...do something what private Aida couldn't do. Shoot straight."
"Return to drill, ladies, and lets not make habit of this. I don't need another ulcer." Barnes ordered. Marines immediately returned back to training grounds. Barnes took another cigar and lighted it.
"You know, sarge, those don't help your ulcer to get any better." Misato pointed Barnes's habit to smoke cigars.
"I know ma'am, but I just feel that lieutenant here saved my day." He grinned and took another breath of his cigar. "These kinds of moments are rare, and I'm gonna enjoy every minute of it."
"They take your life slow." Shinji noted.
"I'm not in a hurry, Sir. Do you want to try?" He nodded just freed pulse rifle what Kensuke had left behind.
"I know that all ready." Shinji said. "Do anyone know where we are going?"
"We are on a raider chase, but how did you knew, I had message just minute ago?" Misato asked.
"Just guess." Shinji had knew they were en route for almost 20 minutes. Small air barrier seemed to be feeling over his skin, but he couldn't know why they didn't.
"Hell, a raider operation. How could have this get any worse?" Barnes mused chewing his cigar.
Asuka was approaching the place where she had received Thaarn's signal. She had managed to bind herself up and bleeding was sopped for now. Suddenly she heard computer beeping and she saw it on screen.
"Ugly, big tube?" she got a bad joke so easily on her mind and decided not to say it out loud. What ever it was it seemed to be on after same thing she was, and it had plasma core with it. It was in front of her.
She activated her ships weapons, and diverted power to cloak. "Lets see how you ride..." she smiled and began to find out could she get pass it.
End.
AN, Knight One: That was again it. I hope that you are not bothered that I don't start full carnage yet, I intend to save it for while. For those who wants to see some blood I recommend chapter 6: '"They usually come at night"' and chapters 'Game of tag' and 'the Overrun' and of course 'Queen of the hill' next coming is 'Firefly: Redux', which was too long to put it here.