Chapter 2 – Enters Sakura

Sasuke awoke the next morning to the sound of his phone ringing. Sasuke got out of bed, and walked over to his phone-watch, "Talk to me," Sasuke said as he answered.

"Hey sexy," Ino said over the other line.

"What the fuck are you doing on this line?" Sasuke asked.

"Wanting to talk," Ino said, "Listen, I want to get back together."

"Yea, well I don't." Sasuke said.

"Why?" Ino asked.

"Because you're crazy," Sasuke exclaimed, "You wouldn't leave me alone when we were dating, you insisted on being my co-pilot every time I went up even if it was a single-seat shuttle, it's exhausting! I can't do this anymore Ino, it's over!"

"But…" Ino began before Sasuke got another call.

"Hold on, I'm getting another call," Sasuke said as he swiped his thumb over the screen, revealing his mother, "Mom!"

"Hello Sasuke," Lieutenant General Mikoto Uchiha said over the other line, "Your first mission's come in."

"I'm ready." Sasuke said.

"Good," Mikoto said, "Your first objective is a rescue mission."

"In my little Velator?" Sasuke asked.

"You'll be able to sneak across enemy lines without being caught," Mikoto said, "One of your fellow class mates was scheduled to go on a routine patrol with several others, and they strayed a little far off course, and ended up within the borders of the Amarr Empire."

"Who was the pilot?" Sasuke said.

"Her name was Sakura Haruno." Mikoto said.

Sasuke's eyes shot open, Sakura was in danger, and probably being tortured in some Amarr POW camp, "Send the mission details to my tablet," Sasuke said, "I'll be on my way to the Amarr as soon as I get dressed."

Sasuke hung up his watch-phone, set it down, and ran over to his closet, "Sasuke," Ino said over the other line as Sasuke was getting on his shirt and jacket "Sasuke. SASUKE!"

Sasuke slid on his socks, ran over to his boots, and literally jumped into them, landing perfectly inside them, "WHAT?" Sasuke asked, yelling.

"Where'd you go?" Ino asked.

"My mother called," Sasuke said, "I'm on notice!"

Sasuke hung up his phone, strapped it to his wrist, and ran out the door, grabbing his heat-tablet on the way out.

Sasuke opened the heat-tablet, and opened his objective before standing on the edge of the gravity-bridge, and stepping off, floating toward his Velator.

Sakura's squad's objective wasn't to go on patrol in a Proteus Strategic Cruiser, it was to run recon on a group of pirates that had been attacking Gallente Military targets, and had apparently gone off course, and ran into a squad of Amarr Impairors modified with experimental Mjolnir Light Missiles that they used to disable the ship, two of the crewmen died, one was critically wounded, and on the brink of death, Sakura and the other pilot surrendered, and were taken unharmed.

Sasuke looked up, and saw that the door to his Velator was open, he lifted his feet as he entered the door, and pushed himself off the ceiling, into the chair.

As the back door shut, the artificial gravity instantly cut on, causing everything to return to normal.

Sasuke continued to look at the mission detail, Sakura and the three survivors were taken to a small Ice Command Center on a small lightly-guarded planet on an unimportant piece of Amarr territory. And what stood out to Sasuke was that the Ice Command Center was the same kind of center that the Amarr used to process people into slavery.

Sasuke also saw something interesting, it said in his mission report there was a surprise waiting for him in the compartment next to him.

Sasuke opened the compartment, and pulled out a weapons case.

The weapon he pulled out of the case was a 'Pyrus' ATK-21 assault rifle, it was an advanced assault rifle, just like his HK-2 pistol.

There was also a reflector-shield which Sasuke simply attached to his watch, and it surrounded him with a specialized shield.

Sasuke locked the coordinates into his navi-computer, and looked forward as his ship jumped into hyper-speed.

It took less than fifteen minutes to reach the system. When he dropped out of hyper-space, he knew he better not get caught, if the Amarr knew he was there, he wouldn't have a trial: he'd be shot.

Sasuke entered the planet's atmosphere, and received a call, "Talk to me," Sasuke said as he hit the communication button over his head.

"Have you arrived?" Mikoto asked over the other line.

"I'm entering the atmosphere now," Sasuke said before getting an alarm, "Hold on," Sasuke checked the gauges, and saw the ship wasn't doing to good, "Oh boy, Command we have a problem."

"What?" Mikoto asked.

"My secondary thruster just gave way," Sasuke said as he tried to restart it, "I can't restart it," Sasuke pounded on the controls, nothing happened, "I'm going down! Repeat, I am going down! I can't hold it!"

"Eject!" Mikoto exclaimed.

"Ejecting, ejecting," Sasuke exclaimed as he grabbed his things, clutched the eject-switch, and yanked it.

Sasuke was shot out the back of his Velator, and came down in the snow as his Velator came crashing down in the snow, and exploding, "Easily replaceable," Sasuke said as brushed himself off, and walked toward the objective.

"Sasuke," Mikoto asked over his communicator.

"Relax mom," Sasuke said, "I'm still here."

"How far are you from the objective?" Mikoto asked.

"A few klicks," Sasuke said, "Just a small walk."

Sasuke walked for five hours, in the snow with a long scarf he always carried with him wrapped around his head. The scarf belonged to his grandfather when he served in the Gallente Navy. It was night by the time he came within viewing distance of the base Sakura and the two other pilots were being held.

Sasuke knelt down in the snow, he reached into the satchel he carried around his waist, retrieved a pair of GDN-9 'Nightstalker' Combat Goggles, slid them over his eyes, and looked at the outpost.

A few patrols, but some very serious hardware, Forge-Guns and Heavy machine guns, and there was a small gap between patrols, if he could get that gap, he was home-free.

Sasuke slid the strap of his assault rifle around his shoulders, tied the scarf in place, and pulled out his 'Blackprey' ZN-28 Nova Knife, it glowed light blew in the night because of the heated plasma blade.

When the window opened, Sasuke ran toward the base, his movements went completely undetected.

He jammed himself between two buildings, and climbed upwards, reaching the roof, and a small access port.

Sasuke opened the port, and dropped down into the room where a single Amarr soldier not wearing his dropsuit turned around just in time for Sasuke to throw his knife at him.

As he was going to reach for his weapon, the Blackprey went straight into his eye, piercing it, and embedding the blade three inches into the soldier's eye-socket.

The Amarr soldier fell backwards, halfway dead, Sasuke walked over to him, removed the knife, and then stabbed him once in the heart. Sasuke was taught that the Amarr like their soldiers to be tough, sometimes you might run across a synthetic eye, and even though it might seem like you killed him, you never know. That's why they taught him to go for the heart.

Sasuke holstered his Blackprey, and walked off, before he left, he pulled out his ATK-21, and walked down the hall.

Sasuke soon arrived at the prison area, and a single guard came around the corner, knocking the ATK-21 from Sasuke's hand.

The man kicked Sasuke backwards, sending him flying backwards against the door of a cell.

As the man charged, Sasuke opened the sliding view-port to the cell, let the soldier's hand go through, and then slammed it shut on the man's arm.

The Amarr soldier screamed, the sides of the view-ports are serrated to keep prisoners from breaking free.

Sasuke pulled the view-port open, and threw the man to the ground before kicking his ATK-21 into his hand, and sliding the strap around his shoulders.

Sasuke pulled out his HK-2 Scrambler pistol, and pointed it at the soldier, "Get up." Sasuke said.

The soldier stood up, "What are you going to do to me?" he asked.

"You'll soon find out," Sasuke said as he pushed the soldier against the wall, "There's a girl here, five foot one, pink hair, there are two others, one in critical condition. Where are they!?"

"POW wing," the man said.

"Take me there." Sasuke said.

Sasuke followed the Amarr soldier as he held him at gunpoint, they eventually arrived at the cell area where Sakura the surviving pilot were in.

"Open it," Sasuke ordered.

The Amarr soldier placed his thumb on the thumb-print analyzer, and the cell open.

As the soldier stepped into the cell, there was a shot, and the Amarr soldier dropped to the ground, revealing Sasuke.

"Hello Ms. Haruno," Sasuke said as he knelt down, and used his Blackprey to cut Sakura and her co-pilot free of their chains.

"Sasuke Uchiha?" Sakura asked.

"Good to see you too," Sasuke said, "Sorry I didn't bring more men," Sasuke moved onto the man sitting next to Sakura, "This your co-pilot?"

"Yes," Sakura said as she held her hand out to the man, "This is Shino."

"Pleasure," Sasuke said as he slapped the man on the shoulder, "Now's not the time, let's get the fuck out of here."

Sakura was five foot one, with green eyes, she wore a red gold 'Impress' Skirt, a woman 'Function' red shirt, and they had taken her shoes so you could see her blood-red toe-nail polish. What was unique about Sakura was that she lost her left arm when she was a young girl, and was equipped with a 'Phanca' cybernetic arm.

Shino was six feet tall with black hair and dark blue eyes, he was wearing a pair of red/black 'Commando' pants, and a 'Form' dark camo shirt, the Amarr had also taken his shoes.

Sasuke handed the ATK-21 to Shino, pulled out his HK-2, and walked down the hall with it raised.

"Please tell me you brought a ship." Sakura said.

"My instruments malfunctioned in the upper-atmosphere," Sasuke said, "My Velator is completely destroyed."

"Why not take the Proteus?" Shino asked.

"That's what I'm proposing," Sasuke said, "The ship bay's this way."

"Right behind you." Shino said.

Sasuke and Shino were followed by Sakura down the halls before coming across a small detachment of Amarr soldiers clad in full dropsuit armor carrying Forge-Guns.

"Target," Sasuke exclaimed as he turned towards the soldiers, and fired, followed by Shino who followed up.

After the soldiers were dead Sasuke and Shino ran over to the soldiers, Sasuke tossed his HK-2 to Sakura, and picked up the Amarr soldier's Forge-Gun, "I'm going to need that back," Sasuke said as he continued down the hall, the Forge-Gun was huge, and half his body-weight.

"Why use a Forge-Gun?" Sakura asked.

"Cause you're unarmed, and I can carry this," Sasuke said, "Plus, I'm the only one that's had experience with this weapon."

"Shino, you're on point, Sakura you're the navigator, I'm rear guard," Sasuke said as he looked at their six.

"What about the other pilot?" Shino asked.

"Where do you think we're going?" Sasuke asked.

The three soon came across a patrol that came up behind them, Sasuke held the trigger, charging the Forge-gun, and released the trigger, frying all three of them.

"Nice shot," Sakura said, "But we did make a lot of noise."

"Don't worry," Sasuke said, "We should be fine as long as no one causes something to explode."

Sasuke, Sakura, and Shino entered the medical room, and found the third pilot, Rock Lee lying on a medical table, still hooked up to life support.

"Good lord," Sasuke said as he set the Forge-Gun down, and jogged over to Lee who looked like he had just survived a fight with the devil, his right arm was completely wrapped in a cast, his entire left led was wrapped in a cast, he had several burns to the chest, and his entire right foot was cut up very badly, "What happened to him?"

"He was sitting at his station when he went into the back," Sakura said, "He was working when we were attacked. A lot of things fell on top of him, a small vase fell on top of his foot, that's why his foot is cut up so badly."

"Let's get to the ship fast," Sasuke said, "He won't last long until we can get him special medical attention."

"How long can we keep him disconnected from life support?" Shino asked.

"About five minutes," Sakura said, Sasuke and Shino looked at her, "Registered field medic."

"Oh right," Sasuke said, "Let's go!"

Sasuke removed Lee's life-support, and the three made a run for it.

The run to the entrance to the hanger was short, and when they got there they found the door locked.

Sakura tried to enter the password, but failed, "The password must have been changed," Sakura said, "That was the password they used when they brought us in."

"Move aside," Sasuke said as he aimed the Forge-Gun at the door, charged it up to maximum, and fired.

The door flew off its hinges, and landed with a thud in front of an army of Amarr guards.

"Oh shit," Sasuke said as he fired a few Forge rounds into the guards.

Shino and Sakura joined in the shooting, just before they ran out of ammo, and ducked back into cover, "I'm out," Sasuke said as he tossed the Forge-Gun aside.

"Me too," Sakura said as she ejected the magazine from the back of the gun.

"I have some more ammo for that on my belt." Sasuke said.

Sakura reached back, grabbed a hold of something, and when she squeezed Sasuke gasped, "Sakura," Sasuke said in a pained voice as he bent over, "That's not an ammo-clip."

"Oops," Sakura said as she removed her hand from Sasuke's 'friend', and grabbed an actual ammo-clip.

"Good lord," Sasuke said as he dropped backwards.

"That had to hurt," Shino said as he looked at Sasuke.

"No shit." Sasuke said.

"Pull it together," Sakura said as she finished off the last three, "Clear! Let's go!"

Sasuke picked up Lee, flung him over his shoulder, and ran toward the Proteus.

Sakura and Shino followed him to Proteus, and up to the hand-print analyzer.

Sakura slapped her hand on the analyzer, and the gate opened.

"Sakura," Sasuke said as he dropped Lee in a seat next to the captain's chair, "Take him into the back, and get him in the medical-bed. Shino, you're in the gunner's chair. Sakura when you stabilize Lee, get in the co-pilot's chair."

"Beginning system checks," Shino said as he started flipping switched on the panel, and saw that all the weapons were functioning normally, "All weapons in the green."

"Checking engines," Sasuke said as he flipped the check engine button, allowing the engine to power up.

Two and a half minutes later, the engine was in the green, "Seems the dogfight didn't do much," Sasuke said as he turned the engine on, and looked forward at the closed hanger-door, "Shino, how fast can you run?"

"Pretty fast Sasuke," Shino said, "Why?"

"I need you to sprint across the hanger, and open those doors." Sasuke said.

"Got you," Shino said as he jumped out of the seat, and took off sprinting across the hanger floor as Sasuke jumped into the gunner seat as several Amarr soldiers came running into the hanger, and raised their weapons to fire.

Sasuke fired the laser-cannons at the soldiers, killing them instantly.

"Nice shot," Shino thought as he slammed on the button, opening the doors as Sasuke scrambled back into the pilot's chair, and pushed the throttle forward.

Sasuke piloted the Proteus forward, and when the front cleared the entrance, Shino ran after the Proteus, and jumped onto the ramp just in time for the Proteus to clear the hanger completely.

Shino closed the ramp, ran into the cockpit, and jumped into the gunner's chair.

Sakura then ran into the cockpit, and jumped into the seat next to Sasuke, "Lee's been stabilized," Sakura said, "He should be fine."

"Good," Sasuke said as he flipped a few controls, "Because we're going to need you. Shino, keep your eyes on that radar, there are going to be some pissed of Amarr Impairors."

"I'll get if they come." Shino said.

"Kill them," Sasuke said, "We can't afford a major incident."

"Then why are we killing them," Shino asked, "Won't they get traced back to us?"

"That's why we used ammo you can buy in any small gun store," Sasuke said, "All we have to do is leave Amarr space, the government denies the op, plants some false evidence, we change the I.D. on this ship, and the attack is written up as a pirate attack."

"Good thinking," Shino said, "What about the Amarr that come to intercept us?"

"Fire at their cockpits," Sasuke said as the Proteus cleared the planet's atmosphere, "We are now clearing the atmosphere."

As soon as they were preparing to leap into hyper-speed, Shino noticed a few red lights appear on his screen.

"We've got contacts!" Shino exclaimed.

"Throttle back your engines," one of the Amarr pilots said over the intercom.

Sasuke shut off the coms, and turned to Shino, "Arm laser turrets," Sasuke said, "Fire when in range!"

Shino powered up the lasers, and aimed it.

"Once more," the Amarr pilot said over the other line, "Throttle back your engines, or we will fire on you."

"Give them my response." Sasuke said.

Shino fired the lasers, hitting one of the Amarr in the cockpit, destroying it completely.

"That's it," Another voice exclaimed, "You're dead!"

"Arm Stasis Webifier," Sasuke said as he pointed at Shino, "Three rounds, make them count."

"Got it," Shino said as he armed the cannons to fire a Stasis Webifier, an electrified net that would slow down any ship the same size.

"Fire." Sasuke said.

Shino released the Webifiers, stunning all three ships, "Destroy them." Sasuke said.

Shino fired the laser turrets, and the three Amarr soldiers were destroyed completely.

"All clear sir." Shino said.

"Good man," Sasuke said as he programed the navi-computer, "Prepare for jump, in three, two, one, mark!"

The ship leapt into warp-speed, leaving Amarr space behind.

"Thank god you were here," Sakura said as she leaned back in her chair.

"Think nothing of it," Sasuke said as he leaned back in his chair, "Just doing my job."

"But what are you doing the job for?" Shino asked.

"I still haven't found the answer to that yet," Sasuke said, "But maybe it's sitting right next to me."

Sakura turned toward Sasuke, and gasped, "Federation Minuteman Uchiha," Sakura said, "Are you saying you're attracted to me?"

"Damn straight," Sasuke said, "Ms. Haruno."

"I'll have to thank you for this later." Sakura said.

"Maybe." Sasuke said.

Thirty minutes later…

The Proteus came out of hyper-speed ten miles out from the station.

"Command tower," Sasuke said, "This is 2-3-1-1-4-7 returning from rescue mission."

"Welcome home Mr. Uchiha," the commander in the tower said, "Proceed directly to your docking station, there's medical personnel standing-by, and a small surprise for you Sasuke."

As the Proteus docked, Sasuke, Sakura, and Shino stood on the gate as it lowered, and they floated over to the pad.

Medical personnel ran over, but Sasuke waved them off, before pointing toward the Proteus, "In there." Sasuke said.

The medical personnel floated over to the Proteus as Lieutenant General Kakashi Hatake stood in front of Sasuke, Sakura, and Shino, causing them to stand at attention, "Lieutenant General Hatake sir!" Sasuke exclaimed as he saluted him.

"At ease," Lieutenant General Hatake said, "Minuteman Haruno, Minuteman Aburame. Go to your quarters, I will summon you later."

"Sir," Sakura and Shino exclaimed as the same time.

Sakura and Shino walked away, leaving Lieutenant General Hatake and Sasuke standing on the platform, "Minuteman Uchiha," Lieutenant General Hatake said, "I have to admit, you have done the impossible, piloted a small one-man Velator into Amarr territory, and came out untouched."

"Wouldn't say that sir." Sasuke said.

"Why not?" Lieutenant General Hatake said.

"Besides the fact that Sakura grabbed my member and tried to rip it off," Sasuke thought to himself, "You don't want to know sir." He said aloud.

"Very well," Lieutenant General Hatake said, "For your actions, I have recommended a promotion," Lieutenant General Hatake removed the Minuteman insignia from Sasuke's shoulders, and replaced them with the ranks of a Guardian Lieutenant (a shield with two small rods sticking out of both sides), "Congratulations Guardian Lieutenant Uchiha. And by the way, the Proteus over there is now yours, she's a good ship Lieutenant, treat her well."

"Yes sir," Sasuke said as he saluted his CO, and walked off.

Sasuke entered his room, and found something from Sakura, his HK-2 pistol with a note attached to it.

Sasuke picked up the note, and read what it said, "I left this in your room," Sakura said, "Meet me in the cantina in five?"

Sasuke walked out of his room, and toward the cantina.

He arrived, and Sakura was waiting for him, she was dressed in a matte red 'Structure' dress with matte red Minima heels.

Sasuke sat down at the table with Sakura, "You're late." Sakura said.

"Sorry," Sasuke said, "I was too busy being promoted," Sasuke lifted a finger, showing his new rank.

"May I take your order sir?" the robot server asked.

"Beer," Sasuke said, "Clean glass."

"At once sir." The robot said.

The robot poured Sasuke his beer as Sakura began her life story, "I was born on a small medical ship called the Avalon," Sakura began, "My father was a businessman, and my mother was a Medical Sergeant."

"Here is your beer sir," the robot said as he placed Sasuke's glass in front of him.

"That's why you wanted to be a medic?" Sasuke asked.

"It is," Sakura said, "Mom always inspired me, and she told me that I was a reflection of herself."

"If you're a reflection of your mother than your mother must have been beautiful." Sasuke said.

"Smart move," Sakura said, "You've had experience have you?"

"I used to date military women," Sasuke said, "You know a woman by the name of Ino Yamanaka?"

"You dated that woman?" Sakura asked.

"Yea," Sasuke said as he raised his mug, "You feel tired after one minute of talking to her."

"I know what you mean," Sakura said, "We used to be friends."

"Oh boy," Sasuke said as the bear slid down his throat, "How was that like?"

"She was a hell of a lot less crazier back then," Sakura said, "Now you can't talk to her without her bringing up you."

"May I take your order sir, ma'am?" The waitress asked as she walked over to Sasuke and Sakura's table.

"Order of wings," Sasuke said, "Spicy."

"Salad," Sakura said, "Green, red, black, and white."

"At once," the waitress said as she walked off.

"What about you?" Sakura asked.

"My father was a very avid fighter-pilot," Sasuke said, "My mother preferred big warships. My father's stubbornness caught up with him when he was killed in an attack on the Exequror ship Orion."

"The Orion?" Sakura asked.

"My father was a Major General at the time, my mother was a Vice Commander," Sasuke said, "The attack was instigated by the Amarr. Ever since then I've harbored a deep-hatred for the Amarr."

"Don't harbor hatred Sasuke," Sakura said as she lightly gripped Sasuke's hand, "It'll eventually destroy us."

"I can't help it," Sasuke said, "If it wasn't for the Amarr, my father might be alive, and he could been a Luminaire General."

"Hey," Sakura said as she placed her hand on the side of Sasuke's face, "Stop talking."

"Ok, ok," Sasuke said, "Thanks."

The waitress brought over Sasuke and Sakura's orders, and left the table to serve the other patrons.

After eating, Sasuke walked Sakura back to her quarters, and after saying goodnight, he walked off, unaware that Ino was watching him.

It was a good thing Sakura locked her door…