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Sword and Shield

Chapter 18: Authorities

Authority 1. n. The power to enforce or give orders. 2. n. Persons in command; specifically, government. 3. n. A person accepted as a reliable source of information.

28 March 2000, 10:36 hrs

Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Admiral Jerome Borda stepped out of the diplomatic car and nodded to his two escorts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both bodyguards displayed the stoic professionalism of their trade with the curt nods they gave to him in response before the older of the two gestured for him to follow.

There was no press of people, no crowd of reporters that usually attended high level diplomatic ventures. Instead only a single photographer and a stenographer were waiting for them as he was led through the doors. Inside the security guard took his briefcase and quickly examined it for concealed weapons or explosives before returning it to him. It felt strange to see them examining his things. It was something most diplomatic emissaries did not have to submit to.

Of course, most diplomatic emissaries represented countries, not organizations that had been labeled terrorists and mercenaries by a world superpower. Admiral Borda took a deep breath as he was lead to the elevator with the briefcase and watched the doors close. It was a swift ride up to the top floor where he was directed to a diplomatic meeting room complete with an oval table of varnished pine wood. Opposite the double doors he entered by sat the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kōno Yōhei. He was a handsome man for a sixty-three year old, and grey was only beginning to creep into his hair. His eyes seemed kind hearted, but Jerome was uncertain if that was his true nature as he had never learned to trust politicians. To his left and right sat others and after a moment Jerome realized that there were eleven men in the seats opposite him, nine of them Ministers of State. The others were a stenographer and the Chief of the Joint Staff… a full Admiral in Japan's Maritime Self Defense Forces.

The Security Council of Japan, he had not anticipated facing so many all at once. Taking a deep breath he bowed slightly to them and received a number of curt nods before he placed his briefcase upon the top of the table and opened it.

Behind the Minister of Foreign Affairs was a pair of flags, one of which was that of Japan, the other that of the United Nations. Admiral Borda was uncertain as to what he should make of that. Mithril had long been covertly supported by the United Nations and offered a public relations cover for their operations, perhaps it had been chosen because little else fit with a meeting such as this.

"Ministers, I must admit I didn't realize I would be facing the entire Security Council. How is it that you've managed to assemble without alerting the media to my… arrival?" He asked as he pulled a holo-projector from the briefcase and slid it to the center of the table with a practiced hand before removing his laptop.

Kōno nodded. "We are claiming an emergency meeting due to a weapon test in North Korea. The Prime Minister wished to come as well, but that would have been much more difficult to conceal."

Jerome Borda stopped and blinked, his one eye slowly searching the faces of those across from him. "The Prime Minister himself… I'm honored, but I did not even expect this level of recognition."

"Please Admiral, your organization has been an ally of Japan and saved hundreds, perhaps thousands of our citizens over the last two years. While you were beaten in Tokyo last year, we have not forgotten the A21 Incident or the rescue of our wayward airliner in North Korea." The Foreign Minister said and Jerome Borda nodded. It seemed that he was the one taking charge.

"Thank you." He took a deep breath. "Unfortunately the organization that has given your government so much support has been formally disbanded."

The Defense Minister gaped at the statement. "Mithril is gone?"

Jerome Borda sighed, "With the destruction of our base in Alaska along with the losses we'd taken over the last year, the organization was no longer capable of functioning. Even before the base was destroyed we only had sufficient finances left to continue operations for another month. What I wish to speak about is to ask for your support and permission for a replacement organization we are currently forming from the core of Mithril to operate within your borders."

With that he tapped his laptop and the holo-graphic emitter shimmered to life displaying a silver tower shield with a sword laid atop it. The look of the spinning logo evoked Mithril itself with its badge of a sword covering a shield decorated with a globe. "We call it Sword and Shield."

28 March 2000, 10:50 hrs

Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan

East Stairwell, Mansion K Apartments

Tessa stared at the bloody mess on the landing, her hand over her mouth as she bit back the bile that rose in her mouth. The splat rounds had torn gaping holes in the man, and from their placement in his chest Tessa knew that death had almost been nearly instantaneous. Her hands trembled slightly as she lifted Sousuke's cell phone and hastily dialed a number she hadn't used in over a year. With a little luck it was still good.

Maya looked green as she trudged away, back toward the apartment. Kaname closed her eyes as she walked into the stairwell and let out a puff of air. "The police will be here any minute."

"I know." Tessa said as she finished dialing the number and lifted it to her ear. "I'm working on it."

Sousuke nodded and looked down at the still unconscious form of the older Japanese man with his long hair that had been following them. "Melissa, should we interrogate him?"

The older woman glanced at Tessa who shook her head. Understanding that, she glanced at Sousuke. "No, I don't think so… we don't want to antagonize the authorities any further."

"Understood." Sousuke said carefully.

"They're here!" Shinji's voice echoed from the ground floor and Tessa leaned out over the railing to see three Daihatsu Mira police cruisers and an ambulance coming to a stop in the parking lot.

Finally, the call connected and Tessa took a deep breath, but before she could say a word the police had rushed up into the room, revolvers drawn.

"Moshi moshi?" The voice on the phone asked as Tessa slowly lowered it from her ear and closed it. Shit.

"Freeze, lower your weapons!" One of the police officers bellowed and Tessa glanced at her. It looked to be a woman with a rather tired expression under her eyes and messy brown hair. Kaname gaped as she stared at the woman then hid her face behind the railing.

"I said drop em!" The police woman repeated.

"Captain?" Sousuke asked quietly, his back turned away from the police woman.

"Do as they ask." Tessa said.

Sousuke sighed. He stooped down and set his Glock 17 pistol on the stairwell then slowly lifted his arms into the air. Something about the woman's voice was familiar. Slowly he turned to face her. His hands still up over his head.

He froze as his gaze locked with hers and Sousuke felt his pulse suddenly accelerate. Her finger twitched nervously, tightening on the revolver's trigger.

"You!" She bit out. "Where is she? That girl you've been with!"

Sousuke couldn't remember her name but immediately knew the situation had just gotten ten times worse. "What girl?"

The trigger finger tensed again. There was a squeak of tennis shoes above them. It caused the police officer to swing and lift her pistol toward the noise. Her sights came up on Kaname. Sensing an opportunity Sousuke grabbed the revolver and twisted it out of her hand and slammed his elbow into her gut. She gasped for breath and the policewoman stumble back into the other officer. Within a second the police issue revolver was sighted in on the woman that had brandished it.

"Stand down!" Tessa yelled.

The two police officers starred in shock as Sousuke lowered the pistol and scowled. She threatened Kaname, what a worthless police officer.

"Officer Wakana…" Kaname huffed. "We meet again."

Wakana, that's her name. She shot at me more than once I should… His fingers tapped the frame of the revolver as he fought down the instinct to lift the gun back on the police officer.

"Give it back!" Wakana roared and lunged forward. Sousuke sidestepped and heard stifled laughter as the police officer slammed into the wall.

"Return officer Wakana's service weapon." The other police officer called out, irritation now filling his voice. "Now."

"Do it Sousuke." Tessa ordered.

Sousuke scowled, opened the pistol, ejected its cartridges, and closed the frame before spinning it around in his hand and holding it out to her butt first. "This way she won't shoot me at least."

Wakana growled as she tore the revolver from his hand and glanced at the cartridges now lying on the floor. She slammed the pistol back into her hip holster and glared at Sousuke. "Adding murder to your repertoire? Hoping a big Yakuza gang will take you in?"

"Negative, I have found the local yakuza to be rather incompetent."

Kaname slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand. "Sousuke…"

"Incompetent?" Wakana arched an eyebrow. "So you're planning on working somewhere else? Let's see some identification."

Sousuke glanced at Tessa and saw her nod slightly. Letting out a long sigh he pulled out his wallet and removed an identification card. As he lifted it into view of the two officers, they blanched. He was holding his Mithril ID.

A smile tugged at the corner of Tessa's mouth. "If you check the identification of these two, I suspect you will find multiple IDs all false. The American CIA does not normally issue identification cards for field agents."

"CIA?" Wakana gaped at the platinum blonde girl for a long moment then bit her lip and growled. "A… All… All of you are under arrest! We'll take you all down to the station and sort this out."

28 March 2000, 11:10 hrs

Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan

Parking Lot, Mansion K Apartments

Zalad Farzen stood at the far end of the apartments, his grey eyes sweeping the area with his gaze. Seeing no one that seemed to be a threat at the moment, his attention returned to the police cruisers that sat near the complex's office. He involuntarily stiffened as he watched a police woman leading a man with messy brown-black hair and pewter eyes toward a cruiser.

Kashim… so you are alive. A smile slipped across Zalad's face as he saw the man's weary gaze flick amongst the crowd. Automatically Zalad pulled the cap down low over his face as he felt his old friend's gaze sweep over him. Being identified by someone in police custody would not help his mission. What did he do now?

A few steps behind Kashim, was a Japanese girl who looked thin and lithe. Her hair was a long blue-black and tied with a red ribbon. Her brown eyes swept the crowd as well as another officer pushed her toward the backseat. He felt his heart rate race as the woman's face locked on his for a moment, and her lips pursed faintly. Zalad watched her gaze flick between Kashim and himself and then she shook her head.

The two of them, were pushed into the back of one police cruiser as Zalad watched. The girl, she matches the description of Miss Chidori. A smirk slipped across his face as he saw the first police cruiser drive away. You are one damn lucky bastard Kashim. Then his gaze flicked to the rest of the crowd being led toward the other cars. How many people did you get in trouble this time?

Kaname let out a long-suffering sigh as she sat in the back of the police cruiser beside Sousuke. Cuffed as the two of them were, the seats were extremely uncomfortable despite the way the benches had been designed specifically for cuffed passengers. She bit her lip and glanced at Officer Wakana in the driver's seat. "I'm the daughter of a United Nations department head. Don't I get diplomatic immunity or something?"

"No… you're a damn little thief is what you are missy." Wakana said before turning out on the road that led alongside the Tama River.

"Miss Chidori is not a thief. I have known her for over two years and never once seen her steal either through fiscal manipulation or physical altercation." Sousuke stated. "I only stole the bicycle due to extreme circumstances and fully intended to return the bikes if you had not destroyed them during your manic attempt to arrest us."

"Shut it!" Wakana yelled. "I finally got you, and I'm going to make sure you pay for how you damaged my career!"

"Baka." Kaname said in a low voice, not sure which of the two idiots in the car with her that she was referring to. Maybe both.

"Miss Chidori is not lying about her diplomatic status…" Sousuke stated.

"Well then I'll let her go when it's confirmed, but you! I bet you thought it was brilliant faking an identification card from that mercenary group! Ha! No forgery like that is going to fool me." She let out a manic laugh and Kaname bit her lip trying to ignore the similarity between it and her own nervous laughter.

"It is not a forgery." Sousuke muttered then leaned back in the seat and grunted. "This is the second time I've been lead around in cuffs in two weeks. I believe the American MPs preferred plastic zip ties to this metal sort." There was a click and Kaname glanced over at him just in time to see the cuffs slip off his wrists and into the recess in the back seat.

Kaname smirked and whispered. "Are you already planning a daring escape Sousuke?"

"Negative… they were beginning to hurt my wrists." He paused and gave her a slight smile which made Kaname's heart flutter for a moment. "I think Tessa believes it would be better and perhaps safer for all of us if we cooperated with the authorities."

"She doesn't know Wakana though…" Kaname muttered as the cruiser's wheels squealed from a sudden turn. She yelped as the acceleration forced her back in the seat. "Don't wreck another car before you even get us to the station!"

28 March 2000, 11:35 hrs

Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Jerome Borda smiled faintly as he closed the holo-projector. "As you can see we can offer you significant benefits if we are allowed the sanctuary to continue to operate as a safe haven for Whispered individuals." Glancing around the meeting room, he met the eyes of each of the ministers. "I would not extend this offer to any other nation. Japan's foreign policy and constitutional requirement of non-aggression alone allow me to comfortably offer such technological advancements. It is our hope that more than just military technology can be pulled from the whispers, but those specialists we have identified thus far are more proficient in those areas. Perhaps in time, and given a broader base of research staff and as more whispered seek the sanctuary we offer, the technological benefits we can offer your nation will broaden. But until that time, these specialties alone are our offering."

The Ministers glanced at each other, their expressions thoughtful as Minister K ōno stood at the opposite end of the long table, his hands tapping the tabletop as he stared back at the former American Admiral. "The repercussions of such an agreement go well and beyond the discretionary powers normally wielded by those of our office. The foreign policy repercussions alone bare great consideration and would, under normal circumstances, require a great deal of debate within the Diet for us to come to an agreement. Unfortunately the speed of American response has made it clear that such time is not available to us."

"It is after all, highly likely that the daughter of one of our most prominent citizens herself is under threat from this outburst of American aggression." The Foreign Minister's grave statement made Jerome pause, before he nodded.

"Our most current information indicates that Miss Kaname Chidori is under surveillance by the American CIA. She has already been the victim of multiple kidnapping attempts for her abilities." Jerome Borda confirmed. "They could move at any time."

There were nods around the table as each minister registered the truth of what Kōno had said. His gaze drifted around the table and he straightened. "I believe we should accept this offer, but before we formally do what resources and legal protections will be required."

"Our operatives will need to be allowed a full variety of military equipment, licensing, and immunity to any crimes they would have to commit in their duties." The Admiral said.

"Crimes?" One of the ministers asked.

"Our operatives can't be prosecuted if they are forced to kill those that threaten their charges… Murder is after all a crime, there are also a number of other laws that they will almost certainly need to regularly circumvent… the movement of munitions, rescue of kidnapped persons from other nations, and military research itself all have a wide variety of international treaties and legal regulations that come into play for example." Jerome Borda said.

"I see." The minister that had spoken up said quietly. "I can quite understand that, and our current agreement with Mithril should hold until the new rules are in place."

Minister Kōno nodded. "Mister Borda, I believe we have a deal, I will have some clerks prepare the formal documents cementing your new legal status and the protections offered to you and former members of Mithril that join this new organization."

28 March 2000, 11:50 hrs

Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan

Tamagawa Police Station

Officer Wakana glared with absolute hatred at the computer screen before her, her fingers crouched over the keyboard. Laid across the top of her keyboard were a set of identification cards that she'd been given. Her gaze flicked across the words to the screen comparing them again and again.

Sergeant Sousuke Sagara, Mithril

Mithril ID…

"It is not possible!" Wakana shook the computer monitor in frustration. "He's a criminal! I know he's a criminal!"

Across from her, another officer glanced up, his hands frozen lifting a load of yakisoba to his mouth. After staring for a moment, he shrugged and went back to eating.

Wakana seethed as she picked up another identification card and held it in her hands for a long moment before entering a long string of letters and numbers into the computer. A few seconds later, it beeped and another set of detailed records appeared on the computer.

Sagara Sousuke

Last Known Address: Tiger Mansion – Apartment 505, Tamagawa

Police Records…

A smile slid across her face. "Why aren't you in jail huh?"

Kaname sighed and leaned against the metal table in the middle of the room. She leaned her forehead against her palm and sighed. At least the Americans aren't about to raid a police station. Now that would cause an international incident. Kaname smirked faintly at the thought of Americans facing the crazy police officer.

"Kaname?" Sousuke asked from beside her. "Is something amusing?"

"I was just imagining Wakana fighting off hordes of Americans." Kaname said with a wicked grin. "Perhaps steering her to be between us and them should be something we considered."

Sousuke raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you certain she wouldn't just hand us over to them?"

Kaname's face fell and she bit her lip. "She might, wouldn't she?" Silence fell over them for a long moment. They were alone, cuffed to the table like some sort of dangerous criminal.

"It would be exceedingly difficult to escape if we remained cuff." Sousuke flexed his wrist and Kaname heard the manacles pop. "Or perhaps not."

The door banged open and officer Wakana stumbled inside with a large binder filled with papers in her hands. Kaname felt her mouth fall open at the look of triumph on her face as Wakana dropped the binder before them with a bang and it bounced off the tabletop.

"Sagara Sousuke… just how many people did you have to bribe to keep out of jail? Hmm?" Wakana's eyes glinted with malice as she thumped the top of the binder with her knuckles. "I asked for the file on you, and got so many incident reports that I felt the need to fill this…"

Kaname dropped her face to the tabletop with a thud and groaned.

Wakana opened the binder and grinned. "Let's see what all we have in here… illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of explosive materials, bombing Jindai High School's shoe lockers, multiple allegations of assault, property damage, and… use of a biological weapon?"

Sousuke had gone white in the face as Wakana pursed her lips and flipped through the pages. "Perhaps I should add conspiring with Yakuza, possession of military equipment, and assaulting a peace officer."

"I admit that a partial record of my… activities in Japan would certainly give the appearance that I am some form of criminal… or terrorist, but I am neither." Sousuke stated. "I have never paid off any member of the Japanese government… any agreement that resulted in the 'hushing up' of such incidents was between my employers and the Japanese government." Sousuke's expression turned mask like. "You must have confirmed my identity and association with Mithril by now… perhaps you have refused to inform your superiors of our identity?"

As Sousuke spoke he laid his hands atop the desk. "Your files do not include the lives I have saved while stationed in Japan. How many hundreds would have died if the Behemoth mech had continued to roam Tokyo unmolested? How about the JAL flight, which was diverted to North Korea with myself and Miss Chidori aboard?"

Kaname sat upright and glanced at Sousuke for a moment before smirking slightly. He's telling her just enough to lead her to her own false conclusions.

Officer Wakana glared back at the Sousuke, her eyes narrowed in anger and disbelief. "So what are you saying? You're some sort of super commando?"

Kaname couldn't help but snort as she heard that and felt Wakana's gaze flick over to her for a moment.

"I am a military special forces operative." Sousuke stated flatly. "The term 'super-commando' is not one in use by the military. I am considered top tier, better than the standards of most nation's tier one Special Forces."

Wakana's lip twitched in irritation. "If you are so skilled, perhaps you'd like to escape from the center of this police station."

"That would cause an incident I'd rather avoid, and Miss Chidori pointed out to me earlier, that if the government is still following the agreement it held with Mithril, we may well be safer inside this office with a double-layer of police security around us then out on the streets of Tokyo." Sousuke smirked slightly. "You may be able to convince the government to hold us for our own protection, but I doubt they will ever throw us in jail for the death of an espionage agent of a foreign power on their soil."

In another interrogation room just down the hall, Officer Yamashita sat down opposite the longhaired man of Japanese descent. Between them, a small pile of documents was spread out over the table driver's license, permits, and identifications of all sorts holding only a few similarities… the image of the man on the photo and his vital statistics. A few matched each other forming an identity and some checking revealed a paper trail.

Slowly he leaned back in the seat. "Who are you?"

The long-haired man glanced at him and shrugged, his mouth shut tightly.

"Your associate is dead. His killer claimed that you are CIA. Do you have anything to say that refutes that claim?" Yamashita said.

The long-haired man remained silent.

Yamashita tapped his finger on the table. "I see…" He stood and opened the door. "What do you want with Mr. Sagara?"

He remained silent.

"Or was Miss Chidori your target?" The man stayed silent and Yamashita sighed. "She is the daughter of a United Nations diplomat you know? I doubt the White House will be able to cover up their involvement even with your silence, now that we've searched your apartment."

The man stirred, his brow furrowed. "It doesn't matter."

Teletha Testarossa toyed with her braided hair in one of the interrogation rooms. Across from her sat one of the police officers, paging through the documents she had given them. His face was an unreadable mask that didn't betray any emotion or irritation. Considering the looks Officer Wakana had been giving Sousuke, she doubted that he was having as easy of a time.

The interrogator finally stirred as he finished the last page. "Hmm… Miss Testarossa, as you are almost certainly aware the only reference to you in our databases comes from the school records of Jindai High School, records which apparently are based on at least partially fraudulent data."

Tessa swallowed. "Yes sir."

"Surely you understand that we must contact your mother country…"

Tessa felt a surge of panic. "No, please don't!" She felt her hands quake and she hurriedly flattened the palms atop the table. "They'll send me to a lab, to Groom Lake. I'll be little more than a lab rat!"

The interrogator arched an eyebrow. "I have a hard time believing that the United States would do such a thing as you suggest…" Tessa swallowed nervously and glanced down at the table as he watched her. "Though considering recent events, I may have to reconsider my impression of that nation."

She began to play with her hands nervously. "Could I… have a phone call?"

The interrogator arched an eyebrow and pulled his phone from his pocket. He slid it over the desk to her. "Ten minutes."

"Thank you." She said quietly. Her fingers trembled slightly before typing in a number and hitting dial. Lifting it to her ear she took a calming breath, and the phone began to ring.

28 March 2000, 12:15 hrs

Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Admiral Borda let out a sigh of relief as the doors opened and a number of younger staff walked inside, one group maneuvered their way around the table setting small-boxed lunches before the assembled ministers and dignitaries. Another group carried a set of documents held within simple leather cases that could be used as reference for the agreement he had put forth.

As the staff worked their way around, the intercom before Minister Kōno beeped and the old minister stared at the device for a long moment. Then he tapped a button and Borda heard a rapid-fire conversation follow in Japanese. He caught the word 'Testarossa' amongst the exchanged and stared as the minister's gaze flicked over to him. Then he sighed and leaned back in the chair. "Mr. Borda, it seems an associate of yours is in distress and attempted to contact my office, a Miss Testarossa?"

"I see… is she still on the line?" Admiral Borda answered quietly.

Kōno nodded and tapped the intercom again. "This is Minister Kōno along with the Security Council and Mr. Borda, how can I be of assistance Miss Testarossa?"

A soft voice answered from the phone and Borda swallowed recognizing Tessa's tone. "I apologize most fervently for interrupting your meeting, but I believe that my situation and the events that led up to my current predicament have a great deal of bearing."

One by one, the ministers turned toward the speakerphone, some looked curious, others looked angry, but most had the unreadable masks worn by professional politicians on their faces.

"Earlier this morning, Operative Sousuke Sagara of Mithril encountered two operatives of the American Central Intelligence Agency outside the home of Miss Kaname Chidori. He engaged those operatives, incapacitating one and engaging in a gunfight with the other. That operative was killed in combat moments before the local police arrived. Miss Chidori, Mr. Sagara, Miss Miller, and I are currently being held at the Tamagawa Police Department for questioning and… the local police are talking of informing my 'mother country.'" Her voice turned a bit shrill. "Admiral, I won't let them take me back… not if they're turning into something like Amalgam!"

Minister Kōno scowled. "We'll get this agreement hammered out as soon as possible, in the mean time I will contact the office and insure that information about your arrest and the spies you caught lurking around Miss Chidori's residence."

"Thank you Minister." Tessa said as her voice filling with relief. "I should say one of the officers here seems to have a bit of a vendetta against Mr. Sagara… but I do not think there is anything she can pin on him with an agreement in progress."

27 March 2000, 22:45 hrs

Chantilly, State of Virgina, United States

National Reconnaissance Office

It was nearly the graveyard shift as the image analysts sat at their computers watching line after line of code, commands, and image after image appearing on their screens. Most of the time they didn't even have to bother looking at the images being brought in by satellite, since the open ocean held so little of interest and over seventy percent of the globe's surface was water.

Behind one of the monitors the coordinators between Langley, the National Reconnaissance Office, and Joint Special Operations Command were huddled. The JSOC coordinator scratched at his army uniform as a series of infrared images appeared, one after another. The analyst glanced back at the officers as a single building was marked by what looked almost like a camera flash through the infrared camera. "The strobe is in place and target is marked."

The coordinator nodded. "Tap-dance encode it and send it to JSOC. The White House wants this done before things turn even worse for us in the diplomatic field."

"Yes sir." The analyst said as he started typing out the commands, not bothering to wonder what the hell the White House was interested in an apartment building in Japan for.

28 March 2000, 13:30 hrs

Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Admiral Jerome Borda slowly read over the intricate translated legalese of the document before him. His lips pursed in thought as he slowly turned the page and finished. Around the table the ministers and their staff waited for his response. Slowly he sat it down on the table and smiled. "Excellent, you've actually exceeded my expectations Minister Kōno."

"Then, with your signature and my own the agreement between the newly-formed military research group Sword and Shield and the Nation of Japan will be fully formalized." Minister Kōno stated as a clerk set a pin before him. With practiced ease the minister signed the document before him while Borda signed his own copy. A clerk swapped the two and Borda signed his name again before the clerk rolled a wooden press over their signatures to dry them and snapped the leather cases of each document shut.

Kōno stood as Borda did and the two of them gave a short bow to each other from across the table. Then Kōno walked around the table and clasped Borda's hand in a shake. "You've proven to be a more reliable ally then your enemies."

"Thank you minister." Borda said with a hint of amusement.

Kōno nodded and turned from him to one of his aides. "I will make some calls and ensure that your people are released. It would not do for us to keep our allies locked up as if they were some foreign devils."

"Thank you."

"The guards outside will see you to your hotel." The minister smiled. "It has been a pleasure meeting you Admiral Borda."

28 March 2000, 14:07 hrs

Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan

Tamagawa Police Station

Melissa Mao sat in the waiting area of the police station, one hand cuffed to a char while she tossed a baseball in the air, bored from the wait. Beside her, Kurz Weber sat cuffed to the same chair as she was, a disgruntled and bored expression playing across his model like features.

Across from their seats, they could see the police officers working through computer records, typing up reports, and working on various other cases. In the back of the office, they could see the chief's glass office and an elderly man in the normal police uniform working on paperwork. The phone beside his elbow rang and giving a disgruntled expression, he picked up the receiver.

A door to the interrogation rooms opened with a bang and Melissa watched the brown haired woman that had arrested Sousuke come into the room, a large binder under her arm. She dropped it on her desk and sat down, her eyes glittering maliciously as she glanced at them.

"Babe?" Kurz asked from beside her. Surprised by the sudden question Melissa glanced at him just as she had been about to catch the ball which bounced off the linoleum and rolled out of reach

"Fuck!" Melissa growled as her only source of distraction rolled beneath an office table. She glared at Kurz. "What?"

"Sorry, geez… I was just going to ask if you thought they'd let us go." Kurz said, seemingly leaning away from her as if she'd turned into some poisonous viper.

Melissa glanced away and glared at the police officer behind the desk that the ball had disappeared under. "They better, or I'm busting out. Tessa be damned."

"Really?" Kurz asked.

"Yeah, and you better too… a pretty boy like you wouldn't do to well in prison." Melissa turned a predatory smile on him and Kurz swallowed audibly. "Unless you really do swing that way, in which case we'll be having a long discussion in which I cut off your balls and use your tubes for dental floss."

"Understood!" Kurz whimpered before adding in a quiet voice. "Babe, you know I don't swing that way…"

"I know." Melissa smirked before glancing back at the police officers at work. "I need a fucking smoke."

"Wakana!" A voice bellowed from the police chief's office and the brown haired woman froze before slowly turning toward the police chief. Melissa listened in, her smirk widening into a feral grin as she watched the woman that had arrested Sousuke look rather disturbed. "My office: now!"

The female police officer scrambled toward the door, knocking the heavy binder from the desk as she did so, sending a cloud of papers flying in all directions. As the door slammed shut behind the two of them, one of the other police officers shook his head. "Why can't we just fire her and get it over with?"

"Chief?" Wakana asked as she stood before the desk. She'd been in this position before, more times than she wanted to count. It seemed as though no matter what she did, she'd bring disgrace on the police that works alongside her.

"The criminal investigation of Sagara Sousuke, Chidori Kaname, Testarossa Teletha, Weber Kurz, and Mao Melissa is hereby over. The ministers have decided that they have acted in the best interests of our nation and are free to go," the chief said as he clasped his hands behind his back. "You will let them go, their weapons will be returned, and their names removed from the arrest records of this department."

Wakana's eyes grew wider with each statement as her hands clenched and unclenched. Fury burned in her eyes. "Chief, they are…"

"Not your concern anymore." The police chief stated flatly, but as it continued on it began to rise in pitch and get a head of steam. "Go do it, or I swear I'll fire you from this department Wakana!"

Her fury died as the threat of being forcibly discharged again raised its head and she scurried out of the office. "Yes, sir!"

Sousuke sighed as he leaned back in the chair of the interview room, Kaname sat beside him making the same bored expression. He'd seen that expression quite a bit over the year he was assigned to guard her... it was almost always present in English class, the one class that both Kaname and himself agreed he had no need to really study in.

"She hasn't come back," Kaname said before yawning and settling her head in her hand.

Sousuke nodded and tapped the table. After a moment, he froze as he heard the tumble of a key in the lock and his attention riveted to the door. A moment later a flush Officer Wakana tore open the door and stomped inside.

He watched her pace once, reminding him of a large jungle cat caught in a cage. Then she stopped and pulled a handcuff key from her pocket. "I've been ordered to let the two of you go!"

Kaname flinched as Wakana slammed a fist on the table and glared at him with a wild look in her eyes. "If I catch either of you causing trouble again, I will bring you in and charge you with every single crime I have on the both of you, is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am," Sousuke answered automatically and looked up at the wild-eyed police woman. "We shall endeavor to avoid further encounters."

"Cuffs?" She snapped and held out a hand to unlock them when Sousuke just set the two pairs of handcuffs on the table already unlocked. "You... picked them?"

"Sprung them, they are rather uncomfortable. Perhaps the police force should consider zip-cuffs, they weigh less and are in many cases more effective," Sousuke said.

"Just, get out! Get out of my sight!" Wakana yelled and pointed to the door and the two of them bolted.

"Freedom!" Kanama yelled in English as she slid to a stop in the waiting room and found Kurtz and Melissa waiting for them. After a few moments, Tessa and the others that had been brought in joined them.

Kurtz smirked. "I guess our freedom is thanks to you Tessa-chan?"

"Weber-san, it did not take much... just a phone call," Tessa answered with a smile before walking to the door. "Let's go home before something happens to make them change their minds about releasing us."

"Understood." Sousuke said as he pulled open the door and held it for the others.

"Wait… I have been ordered to return your equipment," one of the officers said as he hurried to them with a pair of metal cases. Sousuke stopped as Melissa opened one of the cases and pulled out his Glock 17. Soon they all had their weapons and other equipment in hand… though one whole case had been dedicated to Sousuke's gear.

"Is that everything?" Kurtz asked with a smirk before thrusting his hands in his pockets and rocking on his heels.

"Yes." Sousuke stated.

"Then let's go," Mao said. "Before they decide to change their mind."

Tessa nodded and headed out the door, "Please, what could happen that could complicate this any further for them?"

As the door banged behind them, Sousuke froze in place as he saw an tanned man standing before them with a satchel hanging from his side. A baseball cap topped his head and a sly smirk slide across his face.

"Kashim… it's been a long time." He said.