Demon City Tokyo
Chapter 21
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Kiddy yelled as the pistol exploded in her hands, the shock and blast knocking her backward.
"FUCK!" Nami yelped, the smaller woman rushing to her side.
The youma they were hunting actually paused in confusion, obviously not used to humans that (apparently) randomly exploded. The twilight cast the monster in semi-shadow, giving the whole situation an eerie feel.
"Rei!" Mayumi swiftly realized the ADP members were out of the fight, so she ordered her companion, "Pin it!"
"Yes," Rei rushed in, the albino girl dodging two wild punches, then wrenching the three arms behind the creature.
"Rawwr!" the creature thrashed about. It's jaw distended freakishly, then a green venom sprayed out.
"Eeep!" Nami dodged, the fluid actually melting the ground.
Mayumi closed with the monster before it could fire the acid again. Sword drawn she slashed it across the chest, then reversed her stroke and took the head off with a wet squelch. The thing slumped, dead, in Rei's arms.
"Rei, keep an eye on it," Mayumi ordered as she turned to the others.
"Yes," Rei nodded.
"Kiddy! Are you all right?" Mayumi demanded, before stopping cold after seeing what was left of her hand.
The mechanical prostetic hand had been torn open, but there were no flesh and blood injuries. Kiddy looked annoyed as hell, though.
"oh...," Mayumi blinked.
"There's a reason she's the one we have use that pistol," Nami noted mildly.
"You might want to tell people things," Mayumi noted with a scowl, "I though you just blew your hand off."
Kiddy scowled at her, but reluctantly said, "Yeah, yeah. Sorry."
NERV staff arrived to collect the remains, then Nami asked, "Are there any other youma reports we need to check out?"
"I think that's it for now," Mayumi noted. She looked at Kiddy, "Well, at least it worked the first time. One out of two isn't bad."
Kiddy scowled.
In fact the railgun had basically blown the first youma they fought in half. All they needed to do was call in a cleanup team.
On the other hand, it then blew up...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"God damn it, I wanted to go too," Mari complained a little earlier in mission control at NERV as they watched the reports come in.
Misato shrugged, "You're backup, in case something goes really wrong."
"It still sucks. I wanted to try that gun!" Mari complained.
"No, you really don't," Ritsuko noted as she noted something.
"Hmm?" Misato looked at her questioningly.
"It just blew right up on the second shot," Ritsuko said dryly as she brought up the camera feed from Mayumi's suit.
"Shit!" Mari blinked. "It took her hand clean off."
Ritsuko looked over at Misato and said, "I guess you and Mayumi were right about the weapon having issues."
"Yup," Misato said, distracted. "Why is there no blood?"
"She has a artificial hand," Ritsuko noted calmly, "we got her full files, remember?"
"I didn't read it," Mari admitted cheerfully.
"Why am I not surprised," Ritsuko muttered.
Mari stuck her tongue out.
"Yeah," Misato remembered, "she was messed up badly in a youma attack. They used military grade tech to put her back together."
"Aren't those replacement limbs still in the prototype stage?" Mari asked, having picked that information up somewhere
"Yeah. She's basically a test subject," Ritsuko noted.
"Any other youma sightings?" Misato asked as she received a text. "Mayumi is asking if they can head back to base so they can deal with Kiddy's injuries."
Ritsuko checked the reports and said, "Appears all clear. If we have to, we could just send Mari out, anyway."
"Go me," Mari deadpanned.
"All right, Mayumi can head back," Misato ordered.
"I'll have staff get ready to go over her and Rei," Ritsuko added as she stalked off.
"Damn that woman is tightly would," Mari noted after she left. "I should sneak into her bedroom sometime..."
"You wanna get shot by Maya?" Misato reminded her about Ritsuko's possessive assistant.
"Erk. Point...," Mari conceded.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Asuka HATED being on her period. Not only were the cramps unpleasant, but she couldn't work as a Hunter.
(All youma and youkai had a need to breed, driven by instinct. They reacted really unpredictably around period blood, or even the scent.)
"Mayumi! God you look ragged," Asuka noted with a smile.
"Just finished debrief with Misato," Mayumi explained. The older woman was in NERV fatigues, having showered and changed out of the armored suit.
"Did you get something to eat?" Asuna asked her.
Mayumi's stomach gurgled softly, and she blushed. "Just a snack before we headed out," she told her sheepishly.
"Can I join you for dinner?" Asuka asked.
"I'd like that," Mayumi smiled.
Both women went to the NERV cafeteria, where each picked up their choices of food at the counter. Carrying their trays, they walked together to one of the more private corner tables.
"I sort of skimmed the video," Asuka admitted as they started to eat, "was the patrol as hairy as it looked?"
"Not THAT bad," Mayumi answered. "I think Kiddy is military trained. So she kept an eye on Nami, who I think is just a spiritualist."
"Why a spiritualist?" Asuka wondered aloud as she ate.
"Well, SEELE were spiritualists," Mayumi shrugged.
"Point," Asuka conceded.
"I kind of wonder what WOULD happen if we could contain a youma and use prayer, etc etc against it," Mayumi mused.
"I thought the youma were basically aliens," Asuka mused.
"That's the common theory," Mayumi agreed, "but apparently a mystic ritual brought them here. So... who knows?"
"Well, check with Misato first, it may have been tried," Asuka suggested, then added, "if not, bring it yo Yui."
"Sounds like a plan," Mayumi agreed.
As they finished up the food, Asuka fiddled with her drink, "I wanted to ask you something."
"Hmm?" Mayumi finished her own drink off.
"I want to go out with you," Asuka admitted. "A date, I mean."
"Sure," Mayumi smiled.
Asuka blinked, "Huh?"
To be continued...
Notes: Asuka was expecting drama. Anyway...
Demon City Tokyo
Chapter 22
"Well THAT went well," Rally Cheyenne noted dryly.
"Sorry, boss," Kiddy Phenil sighed, her arm bandaged and the stump visible. Techs would fit a new hand on her later.
"It's not her fault," Nami said loyally.
"No, it isn't," Rally conceded. "Has the gun been examined?" she asked.
"The bullet hit the rifling wrong and jammed," Kiddy sighed.
"That shouldn't be happening," Rally sighed. "I'll bounce it back to the lab..."
"Any problems working with Mayumi? I know she pissed you off," Lebia Maverick asked.
Kiddy made a face. "She's actually surprisingly good." she admitted, "I was expecting her to be the team's tag-along."
"Don't underestimate her," Rally cautioned, "you don't get to be a top reporter without a fair degree of ability."
"We'll probably see another newspaper story on the dangers of the new railgun," Kiddy predicted, sighing.
"We could apply some pressure to the publisher," Lebia suggested.
"No," Rally said, adding, "we already looked into them. They're annoyingly clean."
Nami rolled her eyes, "Please try not to sound like mobsters..."
Kiddy snorted.
"Or like politicians," Nami added.
"Now that's just insulting," Rally teased. She shook her head, "Well, it's getting late. We should wrap things up until tomorrow."
"Got it, boss," Kiddy agreed tiredly.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The next morning, Yui Ikari looked up as her secretary called, "Miss Mayumi is here to see you."
"Send her in," Yui ordered.
"Morning," Mayumi waved. "Sorry to bother you so early."
"It's fine," Yui waved her to a seat. "How can I help you?"
"Asuka asked me out," Mayumi blurted.
Yui blinked, "Congratulations?"
Mayumi grinned, "Thanks." She continued, "I wanted to make sure we weren't violating any rules or policies?"
"Ah," Yui realized why she was bringing it up. "No, we don't forbid coworkers doing that. If either of you were supervising the other, it would be an issue."
"So if Ritsuko ever notices Maya, it'd be an issue?" Mayumi mused.
Yui chuckled, "Yes. Tho we'd also weigh the reputation and personalities of those involved."
"Ritsuko wouldn't use her rank to force Maya or something," Mayumi nodded, "except for some kinky power-play or something."
Elsewhere, Maya Ibuki sneezed.
"What?" the leather clad Misato noted.
"Nothing, Mistress," Maya purred.
Neither Mayumi nor Yui were aware of the S & M play going on elsewhere, and carried on.
"So yes, I don't see any issues," Yui concluded. She paused, adding, "I feel weirdly like an approving parent..."
"Thank you," Mayumi smiled wryly as she hurried out.
'I wonder if Lilith has anything to do with this?' Yui found herself wondering.
Her secretary, Yuki, looked inside. "The Mayor wants you to call him."
"Ugh. More hand holding," Yui sighed. "Anything else on the schedule?" she asked.
"Medical examinations of the Rei yokai, paperwork, lunch," Yuki noted mildly.
"Hmm, right," Yui nodded. "All right, call the Mayor's office..."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Bullets ripped across the firing range, impacting against the Hunter uniform. It jerked ans twisted, then once the shooting was over, it was returned to the front.
"Punched through," Ritsuko scowled.
Satsuki Ooi shrugged as the light brown haired woman noted, "We didn't design it for larger calibre bullets."
Ritsuko poked at the hole, "For various reasons, I want the armor upgraded."
Satsuki frowned, then her eyes widened, "The AMP?"
"A stray bullet could strike a Hunter," Ritsuko said dryly. Or an intentional shot, of course, but she wasn't going to say that aloud.
"We're already using the best kevlar substitute available," Satsuki mused.
"Maybe we could add ceramic plates?" Ritsuko mused. "It would increase the defensive power..." she added.
"I can contact our supplier," Satsuki offered.
"Do so," Ritsuko ordered, "I want better armor. It should be doable."
"Yes, ma'am!" Satsuki nodded.
Ritsuko returned upstairs, where she saw Misato checking in. "Rits-chan," Misato nodded, "There's been no alerts, right? I kept my phone handy."
"No alerts," Ritsuko agreed. "I didn't see Maya... was she with you?"
Misato's face went oddly blank.
"Here!" Maya called.
"There you are," Ritsuko smiled at her junior.
Quietly Misato sighed in relief.
"Armor upgrades?" Maya echoed once Ritsuko explained.
"Makes sense," Misato noted, "especially if that railgun misfires again."
"Exactly," Ritsuko agreed.
Maya frowned cutely, "Misato, you have military contacts right? Maybe you could ask about armor upgrades from them?"
"Worth a shot," Misato conceded.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"You FINALLY asked her out?!" Mari demanded.
"Shhh!" Asuka shushed her.
Mari looked profoundly amused. "About time," she added.
"You knew...?" Asuka asked.
"You were kind of obvious, hanging off her every word, etc etc," Mari noted. "Plus the time you got drunk...,"
"Ugh," Asuka groaned.
"So," Mari asked conversationally, "have you figured out what do do for a date?"
Asuka looked at her blankly.
"YOU asked her out, right? So it's up to you," Mari teased.
Asuka thumped her head on the table. "I hadn't even thought of that," she admitted quietly.
Mari laughed, then went back to eating her lunch. "Get some food," she advised, "you think better on a full stomach."
Asuka got some food, then came back. "What is there to DO in Tokyo, anyway?" she sighed. "It's all shut down."
"There's that underground bar," Mari said. "Take her out for drinks?"
"I went there once. HORRIBLE beer," Asuka shrugged.
"Home cooked meal?" Mari offered.
"I can only cook German foods," Asuka admitted sheepishly.
"Seriously?" Mari blinked.
"And I'm out of practice. It's not like we cook much here," Asuka continued with a sigh. "I\m doomed," she groaned.
"You're cute when you're despairing," an amused voice came from behind them.
"Eeep," Asuna jumped. She turned and smiled, "Mayumi!"
"Relax," Mayumi sat with them as she added, "We'll figure something out. I wouldn't mind just staying in and watching a movie together."
"You two are too sappy," Mari noted wryly.
To be continued...
Notes: I need to check if Silent Mobius ever specified how long it takes to repair Kiddy...
NERV is KINDA a gov't organization, but even there there are usually policies around dating co-workers. So wanted to cover that.
Demon City Tokyo
Chapter 23
"The police are basically closing the Keel case for lack of evidence," Yui noted as part of the morning briefing.
"Oh? Is that unusual?" Ritsuko asked.
"Well, it was a moderately high profile case," Mayumi noted, the reporter having covered the story herself.
"Yeah, if something hits the news they usually put extra effort in," Misato said cynically.
"Do they have a theory what happened, at least?" Ritsuko wondered.
"My sources feel it was revenge for what the SEELE cultists did," Yui admitted.
"Which makes sense," Asuka agreed.
"There is a minority opinion he just got unlucky and ran into a serial killer," Yui added.
"Ick. I still remember seeing the head," Asuka shudded.
"We'll be continuing with some joint patrols with the AMP," Yui said very neutrally.
"Whee," Mayumi deadpanned.
Misato bit back a chuckle.
"I'm actually sort of looking forward to it," Asuka noted. She added, "Hopefully without the exploding guns."
"Hopefully," Mayumi agreed.
"Mari, Asuka, your on shift today," Yui added.
"Good. I want to start planning our date," Mayumi smiled at Asuka.
Asuka blushed.
"Awwwww," several staffers said.
Yui chuckled warmly. "All right everyone, to work," she ordered.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The same morning, in another part of town... "I'm not happy it's being dropped," Rally Cheyenne addressed her counterpart in the regular police. She nodded, listening, "Yes, I'm aware it's considered an open case still, but we both know..."
"No good?" Lebia Maverick asked as her boss hung up.
"The police are focusing on more solvable cases," Rally shrugged.
Lebia had to ask, "Why do you think they should keep digging?"
Rally shrugged, "Why decapitate him? Why did he come to Japan in the first place?" She continued, "I think just labelling it as 'revenge' is too easy."
"Fair," Lebia conceded. "We can do some additional sleuthing ourselves..."
Rally made a so/so gesture, "I think we've pretty much exhausted that."
"Still," Lebia said stubbornly.
"All right, moving on," Rally sighed, "is Kiddy patched up?"
"Yes," Lebia said, "and we've gone over the railgun again to try to address the faults."
Rally nodded. "Yuki is having nightmares again," she sighed.
"PROPHETIC nightmares?" Lebia asked, a bit alarmed.
Yuki Saiko was a AMP officer with real, working ESP. She also, not very reliably, saw the future in her dreams.
"We don't think so, but I'm having her write down her impressions every morning," Rally said to her seriously.
Yuki usually knew if she was having a prophecy, but not always. She also picked up psychic background noise in the city...
"We'll have to keep an eye on it," Lebia agreed. "I checked the Hunter's status... we're going to have to deal with that problem child, Mari."
Both women sighed, knowing her reputation.
"If it helps, she does take her job as a Hunter seriously," Lebia added.
"Thankfully, or she'd probably get killed by now," Rally sighed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"WHO WANTS SOME!" Mari yelled as she let the youma charge her.
"Are you insane?" Kiddy complained.
"Is that a trick question?" Asuka asked, following with her Rei.
Kiddy cursed as Mari slashed at the youma. With the coordination of long practice Asuka had her Rei sneak behind and pin the monster. Then both sword users put it down.
"You have to admit, they're impressive," Nami noted, dressed in her shinto priestess garb rather than a uniform.
"Calling NERV for cleanup," Kiddy did so. She addressed the girls, "Give us a chance, hmm?"
"Why?" Mari shrugged casually. "Besides, I thought it would be fun to kill steal from you guys all night."
"What?" Nami blurted.
"You're not insane, you're a ten year old," Kiddy sighed.
"Why not both?" Mari shrugged.
Kiddy growled in annoyance.
"Sorry for my co-worker," Asuka said mildly as the backup team bagged the youma.
"Can't you restrain her...?" Nami asked with a sigh.
"No, not really," Asuka shrugged.
"Great," Nami sighed.
As Mari smirked at Kiddy, the other woman was calling in to HQ. "Any other youma sightings?" she asked. "Uh huh. Right," she hung up.
"Another sighting?" Mari asked.
"Yeah. Over near the financial district. Also apparently a big one," Kiddy noted.
"Oooh, I like big ones," Mari purred.
"Could you stop that?" Kiddy asked as they headed to a waiting vehicle.
"Nope," Mari smirked.
The driver took them across town, then they deployed cautiously. As crazy as Mari was at times, she was careful about the dangers in being a Hunter.
Rei sniffed the air, frowning. "It's not near, but I detect traces."
"Can you track it?" Asuka asked.
"Of course," Rei replied calmly, stalking forward.
"Alleys. I HATE alleys," Mari muttered as they advanced.
"Can't swing a sword easily?" Kiddy noted, "While our railgun..."
"Will make so much noise the whole are will hear it, including any other youma nearby," Mari pointed out dryly.
"Point to her," Nami noted.
"Not helping," Kiddy told her.
They advanced into the dark, narrow alleys, watching warily. Rei lead them unerringly, then off in the distance they heard a scream.
"Let's go!" Mari bolted ahead.
"Oh gott," Asuka cursed in German as she and Rei chased after.
"Goddamn idiots," Kiddy growled as she and Nami followed.
Kiddy caught up, nearly tripping on a body. A second was being consumed by the youma, while Asuka and Mari chopped at it.
Nami chanted softly, trying the containment spells she was there for. They seemed to have SOME effect...
The creature was like a big snake, and it's torso was bloated with whatever it had aten. It seemed angry at being interrupted, too.
"Get clear," Kiddy yelled, trying to aim the railgun and not hit either woman.
"She's right, swords are not doing it," Asuka said as she stabbed the thing, ichor spilling.
Mari made a frustrated noise, but jumped back.
"Say goodnight," Kiddy muttered and fired. The modified bullet punched through the youma's hide, dug into it, then exploded.
The youma gave a scream of pain, it's torso ruptured horribly, yet it refused to die.
"Rei! Pin it!" Asuka ordered as they charged.
"Umph!" Mari grunted as she swung down on what looked like it's neck.
The youma shuddered, then began to melt.
"Do you run into big ones like that often?" Nami had to ask.
"Sometimes," Asuka admitted, "they're a son of a bitch to beat."
To be continued...
Demon City Tokyo
Chapter 24
In a run down hotel, not too far from NERV headquarters...
"This is a VERY BAD IDEA." Kiddy Phenil sighed, laying back on the bed.
Mari Makinami Illustrious was half undressed, the slim younger woman half sitting on the torso of the laying down Kiddy. "Or it's the best idea," Mari said as she shrugged out of her shirt, leaving her in just bra and panties.
"I...," Kiddy started.
"Hush," Mari ordered, putting a finger to Kiddy's lips. She continued, "We're both wired from monster hunting, we both need relief."
Kiddy nodded reluctantly.
"I heard you're a cyborg," Mari said sexily as she undid her bra, revealing small but pert breasts. She bent forward, their breasts rubbing together as she met the older woman's eyes. "Can you actually tire me out?" she purred.
"Oooh, yeah," Kiddy growled.
"I can't wait to see you try," Mari kissed her hard.
"Hmm," Kiddy reached around and grabbed at Mari's ass.
"Yeah, harder," Mari purred as she writhed against the muscular woman.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Okay, where did Mari disappear to?" Misato asked.
Ritsuko looked mildly sheepish as she said, "I'm sorry. She ducked out of the medical wing after I gave her the after mission physical."
"Fuck," Misato sighed. "Phone?" she asked.
"She left it in her quarters," Maya noted. She shrugged, "In addition to just calling her, she probably knows we can track it."
"Yeah, she's not stupid," Misato sighed. "Well, we just have to wait until she comes home..." she muttered.
"Too bad Yui doesn't have a massive security force to go out and search the city for her," Ritsuko deadpanned.
"Who has the budget for that?" Misato shrugged.
Maya decided not to comment. "Is Asuka checked out, ma'am?" she asked.
"Yes, and went to go see Mayumi, I think," Ritsuko nodded.
"Did SHE know where Mari took off to?" Misato wondered.
"Asuka said, and I quote," Ritsuko sighed, "She went to get laid."
Maya snorted, "Probably."
Ritsuko addressed Misato, "Anything else, ma'am?"
"I think we're good," Misato said. "The monitor team will call if anything else comes up."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Lilith enjoyed watching humans, it was possibly her favourite thing. Her 'reach' across Tokyo was nearly complete, and her influence was powerful yet subtle.
Yui had come in, demanding, "Are you controlling the hunters?"
"Oh? What have they done?" Lilith purred.
Yui had scowled, "Asuka asked Mayumi out. And there's Mari..."
Lilith laughed. "You are a doctor," her voice was taunting, "you know that humans, under stress and lives threatened, will turn to one another for comfort."
Yui puffed out a breath, "And the hunters know what each other have gone through."
"Exactly," Lilith agreed.
"And Mari?" Yui had to ask.
Lilith smirked, "She's just a little slut."
"You...," Yui growled angrily.
They had sex, as usual, then Yui had her create a few more Ree. It was getting monotonous, though the sheer guilt and revulsion Yui felt was entertaining.
Lilith observed Mari having wild sex with Kiddy, bemused a bit. Human bodies could certainly bend! And she was impressed by Mari taking a entire cyborg arm... that was probably going to ache in the morning.
Really, if Lilith was going to chose a human 'high priestess' it would be Mari Makinami Illustrious. The human girl had a deep hunger for debauchery, and seemed willing to go farther than anyone else. It was impressive, really.
A pity she couldn't breed...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"You all right?" Mayumi asked as Asuka met her at her quarters.
"Yeah, we had another big one," Asuka admitted, recounting the night's activities.
"We REALLY need to get Mari to stop rushing in where angels fear to tread," Mayumi frowned slightly.
"Good luck," Asuka sighed as she yawned slightly.
"Tired?" Mayumi asked gently. "It's really late. Or early, depending on how you look at it."
"Yeah, I think I'm going to crash," Asuka admitted reluctantly.
As Asuka was getting up, Mayumi waved to her bed, "You can sleep here if you want. I promise no funny business."
Asuka looked amused, "I'd encourage funny business, but I'm too tired. But sure..."
Asuka laid down, still clothed, and Mayumi snuggled beside her. She held the younger woman gently, and it felt surprisingly nice.
"Hmm," Asuka made a drowsy noise and swiftly fell asleep.
Mayumi looked at her tenderly a moment, then drifted off too.
...
THUMP!
"ACK!" Asuka yelped as the door slammed open later that morning.
"There you are," Misato noted, looking into the room.
"What the hell?" Mayumi demanded sleepily.
"Asuka wasn't in her room," Misato said a bit apologetically, "I was worried she disappeared herself like Mari."
"Have I ever done that?" Asuka demanded crossly.
Mayumi sat up, yawning as the asked, "Speaking of Mari, has she turned up yet?"
"She called in from a payphone, she'll be back soon," Misato said.
"What time is it, anyway?" Asuka demanded crossly.
"Five AM," Misato admitted.
"I BARELY GOT FIVE HOURS SLEEP?!" Asuka yelled.
"Uh.. I just leave you alone," Misato quickly fled.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"I told you not to bother them," Yui noted mildly as she drank a much needed cup of coffee in the command center.
"Yeah, yeah," Misato said. "Asuka might have gone out looking for Mari."
"They don't even like each other much," Yui said, amused.
Before Misarto could answer, the security guard at the front gate called. "It's Miss Illustrious, you wanted to be told when she came in."
"I'll go get her," Misato said.
"Have Ritsuko go over her again. Test for sexual diseases," Yui sighed.
"Yuck. Right," Misato agreed, heading out.
Yui toggled through the security cameras, hitting the one near the enterance. Mari looked oksay, if very bleary. Probably had been up much of the night.
'Wish I had that kind of energy,' Yui mused as she drank more coffee.
"Morning," Mayumi came in, also yawning.
"Sorry about Misato waking you," Yui apologized.
"We should have left a note or something," Mayumi conceded. She looked at the screen, "Mari looks rough around the edges."
"Oh, yeah. Hopefully we don't need her for a alert," Yui said.
"Don't say that, you'll jinx us," Mayumi noted wryly.
Yui just chuckled quietly.
"You slept with WHO?" they heard Misato yelp as she and Mari went by.
"Kiddy from the AMP. She's hot," Mari replied tiredly.
Yui and Mayumi exchanged glances. "That won't complicate things at all," Mayumi deadpanned.
"Shit," Yui agreed.
To be continued...
Notes: Bunch of shorter bits. Kiddy is frustrated with being Katsumi's 'other woman' so she banged Mari. Mari, pretty much, doesn't care that this could backfire. And Lilith is watching all this and eating popcorn. Ha.