Chapter 6: Ghosts Stand Alone
3 Days Later, Asaka-Tech Examination Lab
It has been three days since the incident. Three days since the Major was put on a table, stripped down and sedated like a common lab animal for testing. Though even though she was unalber to move, or hack, her thoughts still burned and ran fast in her head to try and realize what had happened. And mostly on what to do now.. Or what Cuttner was planning to do next.
Since the death of her only love Motoko remained unresponsive, even before being drugged and such.
Though at the moment, at the other side of teh room, behind a twy-way mirror, Cuttner was watching over her, while he talked to Unit 501. "So no sign of any of the operatives of Section 9 then? This could be a problem. If the Virus spread, then both parties will be butched like cattle."
Kurutsu remained silent not liking how Motoko was being treated, "You know how Public Security sections are, more loyal to the citizens than government."
"Still, it kind of shocked me on how you so willingly allowed the Major to be betrayed," Cuttner said, trying to figure out her angle. "I would have thought you wanted her to be happy. Seeing as you knew her before her memory wipe."
"Let's just say that our situations are different compared to her and the punk you executed." Kurustu stated keeping her voice calm and even at the hint.
"Fair enough. It at least took care of one less problem. Once the Major's dealt with, we can begin the hunt for the Puppetmaster with the next iteration," Cuttner implied, as he walked over to his chair.
Raizo grinned while Kurutsu and Ibachi remained stoic,. The former saying, holding his mechanical arm, "Just say the word sir and I'll fry 'em."
"Actually... the Executioner should be coming in right now... about to voice her complaints," Cuttner said, as he hung up. And sure enough, they did. Dr. Oulette, as she stormed in, but looked to see Motoko on the table, sedated rather heavily.
Raizo spat, "her? Sir you can't be serious."
The doctor looked to Cuttner as she asked, "Why is she like that? Why is she sedated?" "She's been infected by a Terrorist and a cyber-psychotic, the latter of which has been dealt with," Cuttner implied as he seemed rather unfazed at the shock and confusion that Oulette had on her face, "But of course, you already knew that, didn't you?"
"Those are grounds of treason alone if you ask me." Raizo added approaching, and grinned, "So maybe you should do your civic-duty and... wipe the problem clean."
Cuttner shook his head, as he said, "You should have called me right away when something was up with the Major. But instead you let her be with that low-class nothing of a psycho, and told them both everything." "What makes you think you have the right to tell me..." Oulette attempted to argue, but Cuttner cut her off. "2571 took us closer than Arasaka did with Adam Smasher," he said, as he looked to her. He sighed as he said, "it's time we moved on to the next Iteration." "2571 isn't a failure, Cuttner," Oulette argued, attempting to try and change his mind. "I'll delete her memories, the data, and reprogram her. It'll be like she never met him at all." "No,no, no,no, no,no," Cuttner calmly demanded, "You'll download all the data of the Puppetmaster, and then I order you to terminate the Major." Oulette looked horrified at that, while Raizo smirked, as she asked, in shock of this, "What?" "You'll simply build one that's far better than this one," Cuttner explained in his cold and heartless finite decision.
"And if you don't I'll fry you both." Raizo threatens Oulette with his metal claws sparking with elecctricity for added emphasis.
She pleadingly tried again, in order to save Motoko's life, "I'll delete everything..." "You've deleted it before, and it keeps coming back," Cuttner stated. though Oulette said, bluntly, "She's mine." "No, she's Asaka-Tech's and by extention, Arasaka's. She's a contract... with me," Cuttner arrogantly and calmly told her. Oulette though stood up as she stated, "Am I the only one who sees what we've done. We succeeded. She's more than human and A.I. We changed her entire identity. But the one thing that remained unchanged was her soul. Her Ghost." "And that's what failed us," Cuttner stated, showing that he didn't care about the person's soul but what he wanted, "If we can't control our weapon, she's no longer a viable asset to anyone. She might as well be on the level of Cyber-Psychotic." He then pulled out a vial, to which Oulette knew was a poison used to kill animals to put them down peacefully, "Better in ehr sleep than with bullets riddling her." he then pushed the vial to the doctor as he said, "It seems only fair that you be the one to do it. You took her old life, you mgith as well end her life anyway. Such is the fate of the creation of Dr. Frankenstein. That is what they called you, after those 98 test subjects."
Raizo chuckled, "I personally liked the nickname you got doc, fits someone who's making weapons out of useless brats like them."
he then got up, "So you either do what Mr. Cuttner says or I jsut fry her, here and now."
Raizo head to the door, "Going once."
He reaches the door, "Going twice."
One of his fingers touches the door opening, "Going three times."
"I'll do it," the doctor said, as she took the vial, and then proceeded to walk to the room next door. Cuttner looked to Raizo, "Keep an eye on her. There's always a problem with the human heart."
Raizo nodded, "Consider it done."
And then followed Oulette out.
Moments Ago
While Dr. Oulette and Cuttner were arguing, a masked up medical intern walked in with a clipboard. He was wearing a surgeon's red gown and a black mask that distorted his voice, and black gloves, as he walked in. He looked at the Major's charts as he said, "Sedated for three days. Damn, I'm amazed this didn't put you in a coma. You're a lot stronger than you look." The intern looked to Motoko, as he asked, "Can you talk, missy?"
Motoko remained silent not caring about anything anymore...
"Don't you care that they're gonna try and kill you? Don't you have a reason to live," the intern asked, not getting any response.
Motoko remained still, her only reason for living doesn't matter anymore after losing Aaron. Oh Aaron... Motoko shed a tear for him.
"I heard about the Cyberpunk. The one called Aaron, right," the intern asked. "He was something else."
More tears came out of her eyes as she thought about Aaron.
"I guess he was," the intern asked, as he leaned down, "But what we think we lose... has a way of coming back." and then she felt his pinkie finger slipping into hers, as he whispered, "Even if we made that promise, I'll still be with you."
Motoko remained silent hearing that as she turned her eyes to the Intern.
However, at that moment, Oulette and Raizo walked in, as the intern stood up and said, "She's still breathing and her vitals are insanely strong. Sadly though, she's still sedated."
Raizo smirked, "Of course she is, the bitch might be a hacking genius to those stupid enough to think so, but even she can't hack a physical effect."
"You wanna stick around while Dr. Frankenstein does her best performance yet?" Raizo asks the intern.
"I should step out a bit for a bit of a breather," the intern said, as he started to take his gloves off, "It's kinda stuffy in here."
The Major managed to speak, just as Oulette sat her up as she mumbled out coherently, "What are you doing?"
"I'm doing what I'm ordered to do..." Oulette stated as she went to begin typing.
"My name is Major... and I do... I do not.. give consent," Motoko said, trying to at least instill some bit of authority. Raizo smirked at her attempt to stop the process. Though the intern pushed up his left sleeve, as it showed a cybernetic arm, without the two noticing.
"I'm afraid this is one of those things that doesn't require your consent." Dr. Oulette said sadly while Raizo grinned, "I've been waiting a long time for this brat. now you get to join that gutter trash boyfriend of yours in hell."
But then began to frown as he heard the sound of something mechanical unfolding, and felt the barrel of what felt like a railgun poking in his back. Even Oulette was a bit shocked to see the intern standing there... with a railgun-styled projectile system augmentation.
The Intern then said, "I'd like to take the Major now."
Raizo glared behind his helmet, "You little shit."
"I don't hear you saying yes, sir," the intern taunted. "But out of curiosity, do you know who I am?"
"Only one person who has the balls to be like that Major bitch... but we saw you die." Raizo said deducing.
"Didn't you guys know about what happens when a Ladybug lands on a male and female's hand," the intern said, as he pulled his mask off... showing he was Aaron, as he smirked, "We're connected eternally."
"That fairytale shit's not gonna get ya out of this one." Raizo spat his arms sparking now, annoyed.
Aaron took a glance at what the doctor was about to do, but he noticed she ahd a different colored vial other than the red one. he then looked to Raizo as he said, "Look, I don't wanna bruise your already-fragile ego, so why not just le me and Motoko waltz out of here?"
"You two don't get it do you? You belong to him and now you two failures are gonna go where you belong. in the scrapheap."
Aaron half-smirked as Oulette injected Motoko with the yellow substance, as he asked, "So what's stopping you on taking me down then?"
Raizo asks, "How's it going doc?"
Motoko gasped as she arched her back, up, breathing heavily. She then broke free of the restraints, as she fell onto the floor gasping, as she was breathing. Raizo looked to see that instead of the poison, adrenaline was injected into her.
"You stupid bitch!" Raizo shouted as his arms sparked greatly, pushing Aaron's railgun arm away as he went and kicked him before moving his arms forward, running at Oulette, "I'm gonna kill all three of you useless shits right here and now!"
Raizo roared out with electricity and shot at him. However, Aaron's Sandavistan activated as he managed to speed fully dodge the bolts and get right behind Raizo. Then using the implants in his legs, he roundhouse kicked him from behind in his butt. In normal time, Raizo missed and was sent flying through the door as he was indented int the wall, looking like a fool. Aan rushed to the door, as a War-Protocol shield door slammed down.
Aaron then ran over to Motoko, as he took the Intern coat and draped it over her shoulders, as he asked, "Can you stand, Major?"
Major went and hugged him tightly to you, "I thought I lost you..."
"You almost did," Aaron said, as he gently scooped her up and held her bridal style, as he looked to Dr. Oulette, "Why help?"
"Cuttner has become deranged from when we first started this project. The moment that he said he wanted to turn the project into removing ghosts and making them weapons... I just... I just..." She looks at Motoko, gently caressing her face.
Motoko reached out and gently held her hand, as she said, "Cera... you can come with us."
"We've got enough room on the escape plan," Aaron said.
"I'll only slow you down," Oulette said, but pulled something out. Two red discs as she said, "These are your pasts. Your real pasts. Selig managed to back them up. He felt both of you losing your pasts was horrible. The only one that was unaccounted was Hideo's."
Aaron and Motoko asked, "Hideo?"
"You know him as Kuze," Oulette explained, even as the doors were banging.
"Go..." She said hearing the doors banging, "GO!"
Oulette shed a tear, "Please forgive me Aaron, Motoko..."
Aaron nodded, as he ran to the back wall, as he radioed, "Kurt! Now!"
Suddenly, the wall was smashed down, as before the two, Kurt stood there with a battle hammer, and strapped to his back two Zhou shotguns at the ready. Standing behind him was Maritza and Ernesto, as Maritza smiled, "Hey, arrived in time."
Raizo got up and spat out blood, "I'm gonna enjoy frying you punks back to the garbage where you belong..."
However, Kurt pulled out the Zhaou, as he aimed at him, and fired, sending a barage of missile projectiles right at him.
Raizo used his electricity to makign the missiles explode before getting clsoe.
However, he looked to see it was too late, as they were long gone. The Outcasts and the Major were making their break for it as fast as they could, with the security forces ready to go after them. Though as the doctor looked to see them one last time, she heard a gun being triggered, as she turned to see Cuttner with an Overture pistol aimed for her. "That's always the problem with a Human Heart," he said.
BANG!
The blast echoed across the building to where the others heard it, but Aaron didn't dare to look back as he held Motoko close.
Back at the lab, Raizo got up, and looked to Cuttner, "Orders?"
He wasn't afraid, nor was he anything else, he still wants to continue the mission.
Get them back," Cuttner said. Suddenly, the lights went off as emergency red lights lit up, "Someone's hacking into our systems!"
Meanwhile, the others were getting through the hall, but were spotted by a team of security forces about to go nab them. However, the security systems activated, as eletrical tazer traps jolted them all, except for the Outcasts. Seth's voice spoke up, "You should be gettin' a clear path now. Ishikawa's keepin' an eye out while I handle security." Aaron smirked, "Thanks, Seth."
Raizo spoke to all Asak-tech forces, "Kill every last punk but bring back Mr. Cuttner's property now!"
"*Sir, we're being AAAAAAH!" one of the forces said, but sounds of flesh being torn through with blades and the sounds of blood plashing on the wall were heard.
"Mr. Cuttner our forces are being cut down." Raizo reported, "Permission to us the Raiden and the Oni?"
"Do it," he ordered.
In the area, both Fumika and Innoske were slicing through the forces with Innoske's mantis blades as well as mantis blades coming out of his calves, giving him a kind of Grasshopper feet blades. Fumika danced with dual mono-wires, slicking through the guns and the soldiers as well. She even used them as grapnel lines despite slicing through the walls but used it to get good momentum and slicing through them in arcs. The twins were making a bloodbath out of Cuttner's forces.
Raizo went to the armory station that hoses them as he drew them one had the handle that resembled an oni roaring out, facing in the same direction as the blade, and the other a angry yelling man forming the guards of both hands. the moment he touched them his electricity flowed through and went to empower his blades.
He practiced by cutting the wall it was like cutting through butter.
Meanwhile, Innoske and Fumika looked behind them to see a full hallway of blood and cyber corpses, as Innoske sighed, "Fools dying for a madman's whims."
"Better a madman with vision than little shits from the dumps." Raizo comes out holding two swords, that looked familiar to the twins, "We meet again, spoiled brats."
Innoske arched an eyebrow, as Fumika asked, "Do we know you? Fool?"
"You both gave me a nasty scar when we trained together under your old man." Raizo said revealing scarred face under his mask, scars that the twins did to one of their instructors of the sword.
Innoske then remembered it, and then said, "I recall who you are. But tell me... what did you say to us about our grandfather that made us do that to you?"
"I said that if he wanted a successor he should've had you two and the useless one fight to the death till one of you remained standing." Raizo said his arms and blades charging up asn he swung, and actually sent out electricity in archways at them.
Both managed to jump back, as Fumika said, "Funny, I thought it was you called him a worthless old fool."
"Well, that was just a bonus." Raizo grinned savagely as he went on the attack sparks form his arms going through his sword.
Innoske charged forward, as he attacked with slashed as Raizo blocked very attack. Even with Innoske jotting out his leg blades to try and swipe at him. Though he jumped back as his legs returned to normal.
Raizo dodged them before he kicks back at Fumia who attempted an attack from behind.
Innoske reached out and grabbed her hand, as she landed next to him, both at the ready, as Innoske asked, "Tell me something. Why so much hatred for the Major?"
"She's a fucking test experiment, nothing more. Not like all the men and women who worked so hard to get where they are today, some of them died because of that bitch!" Raizo shouted, swinging his swords at them, "So what if she can hack, Big fucking deal! Anyone can when they get enough upgrades!"
He then moved away from the two when they dodged his sword strikes, "All those brats and weaklings were brought to be experiments for something greater but instead of getting rid of her the Doc petitioned to use her for military!"
"I know now your weakness, Raizo," Innoske said as he blocked, while Fumika hopped over, as she found the spot and cut the walls with her monowire.
Raizo roared, "And what's that?!"
"Hatred for those you see who are less," Innoske said as he managed to lock one of the swords, and roared out, "You look down on them believing you are better! But that only pushes them to do better!" And using his Mantis blade, sliced the blade locked in place, and kicking Raizo back, as he stumbled, seeing the oni-faced sword broken from this punk.
Raizo breathed heavily before shouting in fury and lost all his composure as he swung madly.
At that moment, a cannon fire struck the area between them, as both looked to see Fumika atop an orange Tachikoma. Only it was bigger, the legs more armor plating and thicker, with railing around its eyes for grip, and a bigger rear chamber to ride in, its two front arms more like a person's in anatomical movement, while its 'nose' was a mini gun. Though it spoke out in a gruff insane voice, "What's shakin? I'm bacon!"
Raizo glared, "You punks brought in an old Lachikoma?" "That thin deserves to be in a scrapyard." He pointed at it with teh Raiden. His anger now under control now.
However, above a blue Tachikoma fired at him, making him jump up... only for the Lachikoma's back legs to convert into canon projectiles, and fire at him.
Raizo yelled as he was hit and sent through a wall. - As the Major and Aaron escaped she cot a monotoned call, "Major , Do you read us?"
It was the tactical cyborg Tsumugi, the one whose cyber brains were from a pair of twins inhabiting the same cyborg body.
"Tsumugi?" Major asked, "What are you...?"
"Don't have time we only have to give you a message, Priority Alpha." Tsumugi responded.
"Priority Alpha" Major asked, confused by all this now.
"Live as Mamoru wanted you to be." Tsumugi relayed, as the Major found herself being send a message from Kurutsu, Motoko, I haven't had time to explain everything but I'll tell you what I can. Mamoru's bee suspicious of Cuttner since we first met you and there by began another investigation. but as we did the years went by and Raizo became more and more aggressive and bloodthirsty. We couldn't do anything while Cuttner had Raizo in his pocket as his enforcer so we had to play along until the time was right. Before he could meet with us to relay what he found Mamoru died which led you change to Sec 9. You need to investigate the 2572 project that Cuttner's hiding under the corporation floor, it's something that should've remained missing. We'll continue to investigate in the inside until we all have the information. Please be safe Motoko.
Motoko blinked at this, as this sudden realization came in. Her eyes watered again, as she thought, 'Mamoru...' Aaron looked to her as she was still with him and asked, seeing her cry, "Motoko? You okay?"
"I got a message from my teacher." Motoko told him as she helped and gunned down any Asaka-tech grunt and drone that came after them.
Aaron then radioed, "Boma, Pazu. Do we have that lift coming soon?"
"Will you cool it?!" Lee answered as he said, "This isn't as easy as you think Aaron!"
"You're the one driving around with Ghost and your pet project," Aaron said.
"YOU THINK I DON"T KNOW THAT? HUH!?" Lee screamed which almost blew his and the Outsiders' Comms out.
Suddenly, though, the wall not far from them blew open, as the blue Tachikoma and the orange and more outfitted and updated Lachikoma rolled in as well, with the twins riding on the blue one, as the rear opened to show Batou, as he smirked, "How ya doin, Major?"
"Batou!" She shouted surprised.
"Yeah, I'm surprised I'm here too. It's a long story," he smirked.
The Lachikoma's rear opened in front, showing Lee in teh front cockpit, while sittin behind him was Ghost. "If we're done here, we need to go."
Aaron nodded, "outcasts, scatter!"
"Where to," Enesto asked from where he was.
"Anywhere that they won't be expecting..." Aaron said.
Lee got on comms with Ghost, "Ghost. How soon til the evac?"
Elsewhere
In one of the Asaka Armory garages, guards were down, as Ghost was working with Pazu and Boma on a Manticore hover ship. The Nomad was working hard to get the vessel online for the evacuation. Though they had to go through the guards to do so as a result.
Ghost snaps signaling he's working on it.
Lee groaned on comms, "I should have gone with you guys to make sure this would work faster."
Ghost glared, grabbed Boma's head to turn him in the direction of him, he made some mute, and rude, gestures at Lee as he worked harder. Lee got a visual link from Boma's P.O.V. and then got all of the nasty gestures directed at Lee.
Lee sighed, "He's lucky I can't see what he's saying."
Aaron shook his head, "Let's head to the roof. Hopefully, we'll be able to hold up until they get the Manticore ready."
Lee gulped seeing the thumb across the neck gesture repeatedly from Ghost and said, "Good idea."
"And those that try and stop us... " the new Lachikoma said, and then popped out firearms from its legs, "WE'LL WASTE 'EM UNTIL THEY'RE STAININ' THE WALL! HAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Maritza sweatdropped, "Lee, sweetie, you need to work on this A.I."
Lee shrugged, "I think it's fine given the circumstance'." As they drove off.
Ernesto loaded up a Bussaw submachine gun, he gave the Major something, "Here." She graciously took it as it was a Kang Tao G-58 Dian, as he explained, "Grabbed it off one of the men. Figured you need that."
"Thank you."
Aaron managed to loot it off another, as he said, "Wouldn't hurt, right?" And both raced off to the other level. - Cuttner was looking at the situation as he was being escorted to his main office by a patrol team. "Why haven't you done anything to slow them down?" he demanded one of the men to tell him on why this wasn't working. "We're trying to, sir," One of the guards said, "But they seem to keep going forward, and taking down our men." "Sir, we're picking up a signal to Raizo now," one of the comms men spoke. "Put him on speaker," Cuttner ordered, and it lit up saying they were on, "What the hell is going on?"
He heard a groan, before Raizo shouting, "This shit stains from the Yakuza are gonna pay for this! Them and those bleeding hearts from Sec9!"
"They're reaching the upper levels. Possibly going to the roof," Cuttner said. He sighed, as he knew full well what had to be done, "Might as well give them a test run. Activate the EDs."
"Sir... You need the Colonel's codes to activate those." Raizo reminded.
"Ah but he has my permission." as the familiar face of Col. Hozumi appears for the two to see, "I think its time we put that stray dog down permanently."
"Do it," Cuttner ordered.
The Col. nods as she sends Cuttner the codes and also begins activating the prototype weapons, the EDs to get the job they want done.
They all accepted programming on killing all intruders and t he top two on the kill list priority are Maj. Motoko Kusanagi and Aaron Snow.
Floor 78
The group rounded the corner, as they managed to get from the stairway to the next level. It appeared to be still under construction, was the 79th and 80th floor. As they traversed, Tio in the Taranchikoma with Lee, spoke out, "Jeez, how many floors does this building have? 100?"
"I don't wanna think that." Aaron said as he checked his weapon.
"Seth mentioned there were 82 floors, so a few more up," Batou said, as he drove the Tachikoma at the ready.
"Oh man, climbing this is definitely going to go up on my scaling stats," the Tachikoma chimed. "Screw that! Where are the bad guys," the Taranchikoma roared out, "I wanna BTS!" Kurt and Maritza looked confused on that, as Tio asked, "What the fuck does that even mean?" "BURN THAT SHIT," The Taranchikoma cackled in excitement for a battle.
Aaron and the others sweatdropped, as Ernesto groaned, "Damn, that's crazy."
But then he looked to the Major as she stood, at the ready, her back turned to him. He figured there was some mixed feelings on this, as he knew full well he made her worry and sad. He sighed as he remote linked with her, "Major?"
"Aaron, you know you don't need to call me that in private..." She mentally told him.
"Sorry, force of habit... Motoko," Aaron apologized, as he looked around while still talking, "So... after we get out of here.. I um.."
"I'd be happy to go out with you." Motoko said making a small smirk.
"Oh, well, yeah, I figured that, but I meant go over on how Batou, Kurt, your cute tank and I survived," Aaron said, "As well as what was going down the past 3 days to get you up to speed."
"Oh..." She said disappointed, but then said, "I suppose that would be tactically forthcoming of you."
"And then after when we're alone, I'd like to pick up where we got interrupted," Aaron assured her, making sure he aimed to make it up in more ways than one.
Motoko blushed before smiling and said, "I'd like that."
However, there were distant explosions, catching their attention as they all looked around. Their weapons aimed out and about at all sides to figure or prepare for what would come. they didn't see what was coming. Suddenly, cluster bombs were fired out in a barrage going at them all. The Spider Tanks sped once others jumped or latched on, with Aaron grabbing Motoko as she was pulled aboard the orange Lachikoma/Tachikoma hybrid as they backed up in speed to dodge the missile attacks. They got some distance as the fires slowed down and the smoke thinning out as they heard footsteps. From the fire were seven giant machines walking towards them. They stood to 11 feet tall and were 7 feet wide; the body was atop two long but heavily armored robotic chicken legs with three clawed downs in front and one in back, as its head was a smooth dome shaft reminiscent of a crab's shell, with two robotic camera eyes hidden by the dark insides. On its sides were two mini arm joints with 2 cobra cannons with missile launchers, while in the rear was a silo containing the cluster bombs, while on teh front bottom of the 'shell' were two mini arms containing mini-guns.
Lee saw them and did what was appropriate, he screamed.
Tio blinked, "What the hell are those things?"
"Those... are military tank drones," Batou said.
Maritza blinked at this as she said, "Oh crap! They sent in military tech. I know some of us here have that kind of cyber gear, but nobody said we'd be fighting tanks on legs."
"Must be some sort of new weapon..." The Major said studying them, "And I think they have Attack barriers to prevent hacking.
Batou smirked, as Tio hopped out of his model, with Maritza taking his place, as the former 6th Street member smirked, "Kinda makes it interesting."
though when Maritza was in the hybrid, one of the drones spoke up, "ATTENTION, INTRUDERS. SURRENDER THE MAJOR AND PREPARE FOR LETHAL FORCE AND TERMINATION."
"YOU HAVE 20 SECONDS TO COMPLY."
"Seriously?" Aaron asks, annoyed.
He shook his head, as he gave a finger to the drones, "Here's my compliance." He looked to Major as he asked, "Get ready for a dance, Motoko."
"Been waiting for the right partner." She said taking two of the same gun and aimed.
"ENOUGH," the hybrid said, as he pointed at teh drones, "Based on nothing, I'm a million 1,000 percent sure that these guys are a bunch of unmanned drones. And I'm like a million Kajillion percent certain, that they're gonna be tougher than any human. But even so... I'm gonna tear'em ta shreds," and then chuckled maniacally as he shouted, "GET YER ASSES OVER HERE, ENEMY DRONES!"
At that moment, Motoko, Aaron, and Tio bolted to the drones, firing all they got, as Major ordered, "Go for the legs! I've got a hunch!"
Each of the three picked a drone to run under, and the drones picked up on the targets. They attempted to fire but due to a problem with differentiating the targets and each other, it was proving difficult to get a shot at them. Though the other three walked to the Spider Tanks and the others, as Kurt hurled his battle hammer right at the lead drone after them, smacking it right into its face. One of the lenses broke, but the drone stumbled a bit, as it tried to reorientate itself from such a hit.
Tio went and scoped things out before firing at a joint.
Though didn't' seem fazed by this, as it reacted to nothing, as he groaned, "Dammit." The major managed to keep herself shielded by the feet, as she bent down, the coat still hiding her semi-nude body, but the 4th drone spotted her. IT then began to fire as she backed away to dodge it. Aaron noticed it and took a risk, firing Overture at it to get its attention, but then the drone Tio was under spotted Aaron and began firing at it. The drone Aaron was under jumped in fright as it almost hit Aaron as a resu.t Tio backed up a bit, as his right arm pulled up, as it opened up to show a grapnel harpoon as he fired it, magnetizing it to the rear. It then hoisted him up as he climbed up to the top, while the Major was getting the idea he had.
The Major went on the attack firing to distract them.
Motoko leapt up and climbed the leg to the head with the nimbleness of a cat and the gymnastics style of an Olympic gymnast. Once both were on top, they spotted a Motor sensory station. Tio managed to get to his as he fired at it, getting the thing lose, as he then took his time with what he did next. Though the Major shot at it as she smashed through it as she attempted to destroy it. Tio taped a grenade to a knife as he jammed it into the cracks, as eh pulled the pin, and then leapt off it, while Motoko managed to smash through as it stopped moving. Though Aaron switched on his Sandavistan, as he sped jumped up the drone, and returned to normal as he was on top it. He then activated his projectile arm, and fired right through the drone's motor sensor, as it came crashing down.
Tio leapt off his drone as its head suddenly blew up, as he rolled out of the way. Though the legs still moved for a moment, the waist nothing more than smoking stubs, as it hiccupped, and fell back destroyed.
Lee noticed and asked "Hey Mari-chan, have you noticed how they seem to be up their game today?"
Mari smirked, as she said, "Well, then sweetie, let's show 'em our game."
Lee smirks as he gets out his gun and winked, "I shoot, you slice!"
However, one of the drones spotted them both in teh hybrid, it fired, as the drone shouted, "Dagnit!: And drove backwards, with he two inside, while the Tachikoma got in the way, and was shredded up with its legs gone, as it screamed, skidding with the twins on top still.
"Major, help," the Tachikoma cried out, unable to move a bit at this point.
The Major turned and ordered, "Lachikoma help Tachikoma!"
He zoomed over as he grabbed the remains, as she said, "Thanks, big brother."
"I didn't do it because I was ordered to, I did it because I wanted to," the hybrid said, as he shouted to the Major, "YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!"
Aaron sweatdropped, "There is something wrong with that drone."
"We'll get him examined back at the base." The Major Motoko said
Batou and Kurt teamed up as the Ranger called the hybrid over, "Hey, Hybrid. Over here, I got a plan."
The Hybrid blinked, "Eh, what... you got it!" He zoomed over with the remains of the Tachikoma and asked, "What's up?"
"We need the Tachikoma's shell round," Batou said as he unlocked the safety on the cannon nozzle as it ejected a shell. He looked to Kur t and asked, "How good's your throwing arm?"
Kurt took it as he nodded, "Pretty good."
Batou nodded, "When he throws it, everyone fire everything we got." as he lifted his right arm as it began to turn into a projectile mode.
Motoko blinked asks, "When did you get a projectile mod?"
Batou's right arm folded out to turn into a shotgun-like projectile extension as he smirked, "A lot happened when you were gone for 3 days."
"You know I can use that on you, right," Motoko asked as she went to one of the mobile weapons.
Kurt wound up with the shell in hand, and chuckled it hard right at the incoming drone. Though once it did, everyone shot at it, bombarding it until it hit the casing. And then it blew up, destroying the total front of the face as it fell backwards, its cluster bombs going off, as it smashed through the remaining two walker drones, blowing them all up. Game over and the cyborgs triumphed over the drones.
The whole group relaxed at this, but then they heard a humming boom coming right at them. They looked to see something flying in real fast at them. Readying their weapons, it slowed down as it turned to show itself. It was a mighty hover vessel that could carry around 20 people and 2 pilots, with four powerful hover engine converters and armored with black and orange metal. It lowered down a bit as the side opened up to reveal Boma, Pazu, and Seth, who smirked, "How you doin'?"
Aaron and everyone lowered their guards as he shot out, "Rotten. You guys are late."
"This thing is a Zetatech Surveyor," Pazu stated, "You know how tricky this thing is to get started, let alone to handle?"
"Ghost has to get the hang of it before he could get us ere," Seth defended as well.
Though happy on the rescue, the Major stumbled a bit as she felt light headed. Aaron saw it and caught her before she fell over, as he looked to her, concerned, "Motoko?"
Motoko breathed heavily as she said, "Let's get out of here."
He gently helped her aboard, just as another swat team of security forces came out. The Hybrid locked onto the rear as the ship was taking off, while the security forces attempted to shoot down the Surveyor. But it was long gone now, as the target had escaped... for now.
Motoko was fast asleep, as she stirred up a bit. When she opened her eyes, she was a bit confused as to where she was. It looked to be a traditional Japanese hotel room. No, a room in a Japanese mansion of sorts. At least that what it looked like. She looked around and saw a closet, drawer desk, lamps, a closed window, and locked sliding door. She looked and saw she was naked, lying down covered in a beautiful blanket lying in a futon.
Motoko blinks as she thought, 'What is this?'
She sat up, rubbing her head, as she didn't care that she was nude again, but turned to see her attire Aaron had given her from before, but next to it was not only her weapons, but also a purple and pink sakura blossom-pattered yukata.
Though at that moment, the door opened, up as a Japanese girl with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and dressed in a red and black clawed pattern yukata walked in with a fresh serving of water for later. But Motoko realized who it was when she saw the red horn cybernetic attachment on her right forehead, as the girl looked to her surprised.
"What the hell?" She asked, confused feeling the horn on her head.
Fumika blinked, "Miss Motoko?" She smiled, "Glad you are awake."
Motoko blinked, as she asked, "Wait.. Fumika?" She looked at her, and a trace memory of what Fumika usually looked like overlapped her until the current look was pictured, as she asked, "You're.. you look...?" "Different? yes, while at our 2nd safe house, I do like to try and look proper," Fumika said as she poured Motoko a glass of water, and offered it to her, "Here. It's hot water with lemon."
Motoko blinked before she said, "Th-thank you..." Feeling a bit weirded out.
"Sorry if this isn't Section 9, but it's where we went to the Lower Sector," Fumika explained, "IT was the idea of both Aaron and Chief during the three days when your rescue was planned out.
"That's understandable." Motoko admits, still trying to understand.
Moments later, Fumika walked out to the hallway, while a now dressed Motoko in a yukata walked out. She looked rather lovely to say the least, and with Fumika's help, much to the Major's embarrassment that she couldn't figure it out, was able to get it on properly. Fumika smiled as she said, "You look very lovely, Lady Motoko."
Motoko remained silent as she asks, "C-can we talk about why I'm dressed in this old fashion?"
"It's kind of tradition in this house. The females would dress like this as a sign of remanence or symbolism of traditional times," Fumika explained. "Grandpa usually dressed in a yukata as well. It was sort of a thing here." But Fumika smiled to her, "But don't fret. You look lovely in it, Motoko-san."
She blushes looking to the side, "Y-You don't say..."
"Besides, Maritza is wearing one as well, so you shouldn't fret about it..." Fumika said.
"And what about Aar-... the boys?"
Fumika smiled as she gently led Motoko to the area, the dining room, as the two entered... and saw the males dressed in their usual getup, minus Innoske who wore a blue and black yukata, like a yakuza mob boss would usually wear it as. Though Maritza was wearing a dazzling green, white and black yukata, but looked annoyed while wearing it for some odd reason. Batou smirked, "Well, look who got gussied up for the guy who's still missing at the moment."
Pazu groaned, knowing full well what was gonna happen.
Motoko blinked as she looked at round, "wait... Aaron's missing?" Even though she looked around, she still hacked Batou's arm to punch himself below the waist. Causing the larger man to groan and cover himself as he felt the pain.
"Said he was still getting dressed," Lee said as he drank a cup of water, "Ghost was helping him out as Aaron could never win an argument from him."
Maritza sighed, "Dang it, and you got talked into it too, Moto?"
Lee looked and exclaimed, "Mari-chan looks so lovely in her Yukata!"
Innoske though bowed his head, as he said, "Though I do apologize for the Yukata. It is a hobby of my sister's."
Mari sighed, "Dang it, why'd you up and say that?"
Motoko asked, confused, at Fumika, "How is this a hobby that you...?"
"Not me," Fumika explained. "My younger sister.. Konoka."
"Konoka?" Motoko asked confused.
Suddenly one of the sliding doors opened, to reveal the latest occupant. She was a thirteen-year-old Asian Japanese girl with long flowing black hair reaching to her thighs, brown eyes, fair skin a slim slender frame, and cute to boot. She wore thigh high long black socks, a white mini-skirted sailor student outfit with a black jacket on, and had in her hand a camera. "Hello, ladies," she smiled as she said, "I'm Konoka Hashibira, student at Youbei Highschool, chef to these free-loaders that are my siblings, and future fashion designer for all things Yukata or kimono to bring the spirit of Japan alive in the Russo-Nippo-American Alliance." She then smirked, as she looked mischievous, "As well as an entrepaneur for pretty girls modeling my yukatas."
Motoko blushes hearing that, "Can you please not take pictures of me..."
Konoka looked disappointed, "Awwwww, why not? You look so photogenic. I had so many poses planned for you," she then pointed out, "The weeping widow shot, getting a shot of the nape of the neck, the Seiza position with you bowing elegantly, paper fans covering your mouths to make you look mysterious but alluring. I even had plans for a couple shot with Aaron when he got in here."
She blinked and said shyly, looking away embarrassed, "I would not mind that last one..."
Konoka then smirked, "Good, because..."
At that moment, Aaron stumbled in a bit, dressed in a male black and white kimono, as he blinked, "huh?"
"Because your co-model has arrived," Konoka smiled.
Motoko blushed seeing Aaron in such a thing, breathing, "Oh my..."
Aaron blushed, "Uh, hey...?"
Konoka then rushed everyone out, as she said, "Okay, everybody, leave the models. they need to be in synch. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes so take this moment to freshen up, go to the bathroom, call your Togusa and chief as they had to go." Konoka said, as she and everyone got out, but she turned to face the two, "I'll give you both some time to get comfy before the shot." And then closed the door, leaving the two alone.
Motoko blushes furiously as she sees Aaron in his kimono.
Aaron also blushed as well, seeing Motoko in a yukata. He had seen Fumika and Maritza before, but for Motoko, dang, she was making it work for her.
"You look... very dashing in a Kimono..." Motoko stated still feeling heat in her cheeks.
"And um.. you're pretty lovely in yours," Aaron said, but then realized he mixed that up, as he corrected, "I mean, Yukata. You look lovely in that yukata."
Motoko couldn't help but laugh, "You still need to find the right words to compliment a lady."
Aaron chuckled, as he said, "well, it's been years, so I am rusty." the two sat down in front of one another, as he said, "I'm guessing you have one question that you want answered."
Motoko became serious and asked, "How did you and the others survive that onslaught?"
Aaron took a deep breath, as he said, "Well, it started out when you shorted me out."
4 Days Ago
Aaron twitched as he suddenly fell over, his ghost being hacked, leading him unable to move. The same thing happened with Batou, Kurt, and the Tachikoma, as Aaron saw her leave. Though it was not without seeing her emotionally defeated look on her face.
"Motoko... no..." he tried to cry out, but couldn't.
He tried to will himself to move again, as he groaned, 'C'mon, Aaron. You may not be a wizard class hacker, but dammit! DAMMIT MOVE!'
But try as he might move, he couldn't... not with Motoko freezing them all up.
Though he did hear what was going on outside.
He could hear the screams of Motoko as well as hearing Cuttner's voice.
This made Aaron's blood boil as he gave a mute shout, especially as the bullets and explosives began to fly, 'CUTTNER!' And in doing so, causing his Sandavistan to reboot, allowing him to escape the grasp of Motoko's hacker hold, not taking time to realized, Aaron moves to use it to speed the still frozen Batou, Kurt and Tachikoma to the armored vehicle that can survive an ballistic onslaught.
But just before he got the car moving, he stopped and realized something. Cuttner and his crew might look through the rubble to make sure they were dead. Something had to be left behind to ensure they would believe them dead. So, he zipped over to the Tachikoma and ripped its arm off. He then went for his own, and blinked, seeing his left arm. The arm.. he got from his mentor figure and the only one that was like a father to him. He clenched his left fist in thought as he knew he would have to do it. 'Sorry, Maine,' he thought, and with a quick slash of his Mantis Blade, sliced off his left arm. He then zoomed back up and placed the limbs down and ran back to the car, as he groaned, 'Dangit, this is gonna be ridiculous with only a right arm.'
But managed to do so, as the car was an automatic and not stick shift. Using the Sandevistan, he managed to make the car dash fast enough to seem like it crashed through the back garage door. and just as real time returned to normal, the area was shredded and scorched. Back with Aaron and the vehicle, he Sandavistan dashed nearly up to 10 times as he was reaching his limit. His nose started bleeding, as he had got a good distance from the garage as he stopped and time returned to normal. They were now half a mile away from the place, as all they saw was a bright explosion. As that happened, Batou, Kurt, and the Tachikoma regained control again.
Tachikoma took a moment to realigned itself before it screams, "Mr. Batou my leg's been taken off!"
Batou blinked, "wha... what the.. what happened?" Kurt groaned as he asked, "Ugh... was that the Ghost Infiltration the Major does all the time?" But then all three noticed a single-armed Aaron at the driver's seat. His nose was gushing out blood, staining his shirt, his eyes rolled at the back of his head, and his ghost was seen floating out of his mouth.
Present Time
"Moments later, we got a call from Lee, and we went to Dr. Selig's," Aaron explained. "Once there, we went through all the details with the Chief. He was trying to see you stating you were part of Section 9 and a government agent for the CTU. But then Cuttner's lawyers state that your cyber body was still under contract and that they said you were affected by a virus that could threaten everything. Or some legal stuff." He then combed his hair back, as he said, "Anyway, once I got a new projectile arm, and patched up, we went over with a plan while the Chief was going to do what he could about the situation. On the 3rd day, we had a plan hatched out and got you out." He then sighed after a long break, and asked her, "Did I miss anything?"
"So, you're telling me that you lead my team, government aligned agents to storm a company that people go to daily and now burned them and possibly put all their families in danger?" Motoko asked, brow raised.
Aaron looked a bit guilty on that, as he said, "Well, now that you put it like that... I'm starting to feel a bit guilty..."
Motoko sighed, saying with a hand to his shoulder, "Aaron... What you did was very sweet, but you need to remember that my teammates still have connections outside of Sec 9: Togusa and his family for one thing."
Aaron then objectively stated, as he said, "I was aware of that. I insisted Togusa stay out of this."
"It doesn't matter. You saw how he was 4 days ago, he wanted to kill everyone, not just you and Kurt, but Batou and Tachikoma too! And last night... Dr. Outlette..." She stopped and looked down sadly.
"I know, I get it. Believe me, everyday I keep looking over my shoulder for Arasaka just waiting to go after me," Aaron tried to explain, but then said, "But... when I told them the situation, I said I wanted to go in myself. But like always... everyone strong-arms me with their reasons in saying that Cuttner would be expecting someone to get in." He then smirked, "But... there was a reason why we all had to be there."
Motoko tilt her head confused.
"Well, that's also a surprise when we get word on it with the Chief, Ishikawa, and Seth," Aaron said, but also stated, "Though I do understand why you didn't want to put the others at risk. But..." He looked to her and said, "You were at risk of getting hurt. A team's only as effective as the one who acts as the heart. From what I've seen, you're the heart of Section 9. I don't think anybody could replace you, Motoko."
Motoko stared wide-eyed at that declaration before saying, "I love you."
Aaron though stared blankly, as that suddenly came out of nowhere, and asked, "eh what?"
"I mean..." Motoko looked around blushing before she said, "Is it a risk to contact the Chief?"
"Not yet, he's trying to convince Section 6 to help out, as well as build a case with the Prime Minister," Aaron explained, as he also stated, "At the moment, Togusa and his family are at Dr. Selig's.. while there are also punks that Rogue hired to protect them."
Motoko was surprised at that, "So... what do we do now? pretend that Cuttner and Kuze aren't going to try and find us?"
"We're taking a breather for now, until Seth and Ishikawa are done with what we'll present to the Prime Minister," Aaron answered, "As for Kuze.. we'll have to figure that out when we deal with Cuttner."
But he then said, "Until then, for a short while, we can lay low here. Innoske said that this area is kind of a blind spot for drones, and the cops don't usually patrol this area. So we have a bit of time for a rest."
Motoko sighs as she said, "I hope you're right."
"Same," Aaron said. but both were a bit quiet at the moment, as Aaron said, "Well.. if you want, you can hack into my ghost again and punch me a dozen times, if you want."
Motoko had a smooth, but scary expression on her face as she leaned in and whispered, "I have more ways to make someone pay."
Aaron awaited whatever it was she had in mind, as he kept his eyes closed, "Alright, just... make it quick. I mean, I can take it, but... dangit, Motoko, just do it already."
She smirks as he watches him squirm.
though Arron said, "Well, what are you waiting for? You can smack me around or hit me with a wrench."
Aaron was flinching on the inside, as he awaited for what Motoko was going to do to him, 'Dangit, why is she just waiting? Just get it over with.'
She would then make her move as she approached him carefully sets him down and sits on his lap and asks, "Do you like this or should I be more direct?"
Aaron blinked, as he looked and blushed, "Eh-wha...? But what about the punch to the face?"
"how's this for a punch?" Motoko asks, hacking his face forward and they'd kiss in punching explosion of sensations.
Aaron though eased into the kiss as he cupped her cheek, holding her close, as he pulled a bit away, both blushing as he asked, "So what would have been more direct?"
"Something that would've been more destructive for the outfits we were given. She said kissing back more passionately.
Aaron smirked, as he scooped Motoko up, as she was a bit startled, "Well then, my room or yours?"
"How about yours since I fear Konoka is going to see into mine."
She then pressed her lips to his.
Aaron smiled, as he said, "My room it is."
Next Chapter: Ghosts Stand Together