Inside the new training room of Hinata Sou, Han had a pair of headphones plugged into his ears. The music playing on his Ipod was, "A Beautiful Morning", by "The Rascals". The tune was a fitting one, since it was now the start of another day. Han was particularly happy as he looked out the window. Through the glass he could see Kanako sweeping the back patio. Han held a hand to his cheek as his elbow rested on the window sill. Han took in every aspect of her, from the direction and pattern she swept, to the tiny bow tied behind her hair. He could have remained in hs fantasy world his entire life, if a certain pilot had not interrupted him. One his earplugs was yanked out, causing even someone as big as Han to yelp.
"Dude, quit lingering around and just ask her out already", Nentou told him.
"Whaa! Nentou, I-I don't know what you're talking about", Han lied in hysteria.
"Don't play dumb with Han, I can see the way you look at her."
"It's nothing, it's nothing! I just thought she looked nice today!"
"Oh yeah", Nentou said as he picked up a sheet of paper. "Then why have you scribbled the name "Kanako", all over your mission report?"
Han's eyes thickened as he tried to seize the sheet.
"Hey, that's mine", Han shouted as he dove for Nentou and his report.
It would have been a death sentence to try and wrestle with Han, especially for someone with Nentou's condition. Nevertheless, Nentou was willing to push his luck and taught the powerful Han. The door suddenly creaked open as a female voice called to them.
"Good morning everyone, I wanted to see if..."
Han's eyes expanded to ridiculous proportions. In the doorway stood Kanako as she blushed. The reason for her tinted cheeks, was because Han knelt over Nentou. It was an awkward moment for them all, but more embarrassing for Han that any of the trio.
"No wait, this isn't what it seems", Han shouted.
Kanako slowly backed out of the room, closing the door right behind her. Millions of perverted Yaoi thought flooded her mind as she disappeared from sight. Han covered his face with both of his hands as he fell flat on his back.
"Aww, NONONONO! That was a horrible morning greeting", Han cried.
"It certainly was a greeting she'll never forget", Nentou laughed.
Han removed his hands to glare at the pilot. His eyes let Nentou know that he was going to be dead WAY before his disease killed him. Wasting no more precious time, Nentou ran for it still clasping Han's sheet. Han began the chase with both hands trying to grab him. From the outside, the building looked as if it was swaying as many shouts, and crashes were heard.
While Nentou and Han started a riot in the dojo, the Hinata dorms remained peaceful. Naru finished putting on some chapstick to keep her lips from drying out. She smacked her lips together to spread out the lip balm. It was more of a habit than a necessity, but in any way it was something she always did. Naru inspected her lips a little bit closer in her mirror. The thought of her lips brought back the previous night's memories. She remembered how her lips gently caressed Keitaro's while he slept. Her fantasies returned back to the reality of Keitaro. Naru looked back to the plank of wood that covered the hole. She hadn't checked on him since last night. The girl decided to see if he was okay. AS she slowly removed the wood, she heard another voice.
"How are you feeling Sempai", Shinobu asked.
"Horrible", Keitaro replied under his blanket.
Naru lifted the wood to see and hear just enough. For some reason, she didn't want her presence to be known just yet. The girl peaked in to see Shinobu sitting on her knees besides Keitaro. He was completely covered by his blanket to avoid the sunlight.
"Uuunn, what the hell happened last night", Keitaro groaned.
"You don't remember anything Sempai?"
"I can't even remember where I left my liver Shinobu", Keitaro exaggerated.
Naru took a deep breath for various thoughts. She was relieved that he didn't remember any of the embarrassing thing that occurred the night before. However, there was also the hint of disappointment that he didn't have a clue on what they talked about. She continued to listen to him and Shinobu speak.
"Is there anything I can get you", Shinobu asked her manager.
"No, I'll be okay Shinobu, thank you."
"Okay Sempai. Please, call me if you need anything", Shinobu said as she exited his room.
Naru decided that was enough spying for the moment. She sat at her desk pretending to study. She didn't know why she bothered, it's not like she was thinking about math problems anyways. She was more concerned about her problems with the man downstairs. She balanced her pencil at the bridge of her upper lip as she let her mind wander here and there.
In attic of Hinata sou, Shirai was once again attending work with his laptop. His fingers tapped along the different buttons as he scanned the information with his eye. A video link loaded on the screen for him. Within the image appeared their general, Avianna.
"Besides project Dragon, project Blaster, project Venom, and project Cyber being out of hand, we have more problems. At exactly 08:00 hours, a power surge occurred three miles from our base. Before the emergency generators could kick in, they were immediately destroyed. The base was left without power for approximately seventy-six minutes. This included the computer system, and the holding cells."
"Oh no", Shirai dreaded as Avianna spoke through the laptop.
The general continued,"project Lightning Bolt, better known as Zeus, has been confirmed as missing. We also have reports that project Termite, has escaped too. Another concern we have are that project Tower, project racer, and project Medical Net were taken from the vault. From the power plant, it looks as if the culprit could have been Draconian, and the energy traces around the emergency generators point directly to Neon. We have reason to believe that these projects are being recruited by some...Someone who knows about the ERT. It's highly suspected that there may be a traitor among us, or someone is reaching past our security systems somehow. So far we have no leads on who our enemy is, or what their objective is. For now, the best course of action is to lower the amount of wildfire in our hands. The ERT will respond to any abnormal activities regarding the criminals, and projects. The security firewalls have been updated. If anyone tries to hack our system, we'll know. As we speak, our best agents are searching for the culprits and their objective. We must keep this under wraps, for the sake of the nation, and for the sake of the ERT. Avianna, over and out."
The link disappeared once Avianna finished her briefing speech. Shirai deeply exhaled to soak in all that he learned. The bad news didn't stop him from searching through his laptop. After searching through the Mission classes, Shirari opened a folder that read, Mission Zeus.
The voice recognition spoke for Shirai, "Within the Kanagawa region, certain electrical shortages have been appearing. It's highly suspected that Zeus is held responsible for the matter. The main targeted power outages have been manufacturing labs held by different industries. What his true goal is remains a mystery. Main objective: Obtain project Lightning Bolt, and uncover Zeus's true aim."
Shiari personally shut down his laptop. It was a military issued one, so he didn't have to worry about it self destruction. A new mission had been set out for them, and he was going to need some help with this one.
"Well, time to go to work."
In the living room, Kitsune and Angel remained on the couch betting on which horse would finish first.
"C'mon Lucky Charm", Angel yelled loud enough for the guest to hear.
"No, take the lead Grass Chipper", Kitsune argued.
Both cheered for their own horse, but in the end, it was Angel's victory.
"Never bet against a horse from Scotland", Angel held his arms in the air.
"Now that's not fair, ya knew all along that he was gonna win", Kitsune pouted.
"I thought you were past your betting day Angel", Shirai spoke from behind.
"Shirai, did you finish your mission report", Angel asked his comrade.
"Yeah, but now we have other problems. C'mon, I'll brief you in the kitchen."
By now everyone currently residing at Hinata sat in a chair at the dining table. Of course there was the exception of Haruka being in the tea shop, and Keitaro who was still hung over in the manager's room.
"So basically that's just more fuel to the fire we're already trying to put out", Shirai finished saying.
"So are you saying we might have a rat in our system", Tokui asked.
"It could be a rat, or someone who can hack our system with some kind of ghost drive. That's why I wanted to ask you all, including those outside of the ERT, did any of you speak of anything classified? Is there any way someone else could have heard you say anything about us or our missions", Shiari firmly asked.
"I don't believe so", Motoko answered on everyone's behalf. "The only person who could have said anything would be Crenjer."
"Do you think Crenjer could have said something", Mutsumi asked.
Kitsune added, "We got him to talk when we waved a little cash in his face."
"No, Crenjer wouldn't speak", Tokui said. "He may be a weasel, but he wouldn't speak. I told him we'd break his legs if he did."
No one laughed knowing that Tokui was serious about his threat.
Shirai stood up and re-opened his laptop, "Okay then, I guess we don't have anymore leads at this point. Avianna is taking care of that lead, but we might have another trail of bread crumbs to follow. You guys...Zeus escaped."
"WHAT! ZEUS ESCAPED", Haitani shouted in terror.
"Shhh, keep it down", Shirai whispered as he raised his hands. "I don't want Keitaro to hear about this."
"Why don't you want Keitaro to find out", Su asked.
"Because, Keitaro, Han, and I were the ones who put Zeus away", Tokui answered for everyone.
"Who is this Zeus person, and wh is he so dangerous", The young Shinobu questioned.
"He was one of their earlier experiments for project Lightning Bolt. Once his body fused with the project, he abused the power and ran wild. It took all three of us to neutralize him. He nearly killed Keitaro, and he's the one who gave me this", Han lifted his shirt to reveal a scar on his rib cage.
The scar was scary, and intimidating. The creepy thing was that it was in the shape of a hand, a hand that looked too large for a normal human.
"He's someone we can't take lightly", The ERT captain said. "Keitaro was the one who finished him off, and I don't want to put him back in Zeus's sights. The guy has enough on his plate, the last thing he needs is another old enemy gunning for him. Nentou get the jet ready. Hatiani, you're with me."
"What about the rest of us", Angel asked.
"You guys remain here, keep an eye on Keitaro."
"Captain, it's Zeus", Han argued. "You're gonna need more than just Haitani and Nentou."
"At least take me along", Angel imputed.
"We can't risk anymore bodies", The swordsman tried to explain. "You fought Zeus too. If he sees you, we might as well put a bullseye on your forehead. Angel, we can't risk you being on the field with your condition. Just watch over Keitaro, he's in no condition to fight, and he has too many enemies after him. Shirai, keep an eye on the mission logs, be on stand by just in case."
"Aye Aye captain", Shirai saluted.
"Excellent. Nentou, Haitani, get your gear, we leave in seven."
The residents left the kitchen, and the soldiers took an opposite route to where they needed to be. The only ones remaining were Naru, Kanako Shinobu, and Han. Kanako noticed Han staring at her again. In his embarrassment from earlier, he immediately reverted his gaze to another direction.
"Han, are your friends going to be okay", Shinobu asked in concern.
"They'll be okay", Han tried to reassure everyone, including himself. "Tokui is a great captain, and Haitani has the wild dog genes on his side."
"What about Keitaro", Naru asked. "Is it really okay to leave him out of this?"
"Leave me out of what", Another voice called.
Everyone turned to the kitchen entrance where the voice came from. Keitaro was on all four inching his way into the room. Skinny was there holding his master by the sleeve. No one wasted a second before they were at his side too.
"Brother what happened?! Did you fall", Kanako asked in concern.
Keitaro put his hands to his ears from her shouting, "Aww, not so loud Kanako."
The black-haired girl put her hands over her mouth, "I'm sorry brother, I'm sorry."
"Sempai, are you okay", Shinobu questioned in a whisper.
"I started to feel dizzy, and it was too hard to walk."
"C'mon Keitaro, let's get you to a chair", Naru said as she threw one of his arms over her shoulder.
Han and Naru properly set him in a chair, where he rested his head on the table.
"I don't wanna be hung over anymore. I just want death to give me its sweet relief already."
Han patted the boy on his back. There was nothing else he could really do for Keitaro at this point. There was also the fact that they didn't tell him about Zeus, so that was one way to help him. However, it was more of a delay plan than anything. Keitaro may have to face Zeus again, along with many other opponents.
"Just take it easy Keitaro", Han told him. "We need you back on your feet as soon as possible.
Sorry for the late update everyone, but Midterms had to come first. Plus my birthday was on the first, so I was occupied. A friend of mine is leaving soon as well. He's Mormon, and he's leaving on a mission for two years. It was an honor knowing him. It was memorable to spend some time with him on my birthday, and it's gonna be that much tougher to saw good-bye to him in a few days. I wish him the best of luck. He'll be fine, he has a kind heart, and a good head on his shoulders. Plus he's a Boy Scout. I watched him get his Eagle Badge, so I know he's definently gonna be okay. Back with the fic, I'm working on a few other stories, so there was another time consumer. Not too much happened in this chapter, but it at least set you all up for what's to come. New ideas have been popping into my head, so it will get more interesting soon. Hope you all stick around, and hope you all check out my other fics.