Note: I do not own Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex or Jormungand. All rights belong to their respective creators.
Eastern Europe: Year 2012 (Universe 72).
Somewhere in Europe, inside a facility owned by a clandestine company, Koko Hekmatyar stood alongside her team of bodyguards: the young Jonah, Valmet, and Mao.
Koko was in the middle of a business deal with one of her newest clients, who had previously requested a shipment of weapons.
The facility's chief supervisor personally greeted them. He was a young man with a formal appearance, his cold and pretentious gaze carefully concealed behind a perfectly positioned pair of glasses. He was accompanied by several security personnel—something Koko quickly took note of—as they were led toward one of the meeting rooms where negotiations would take place.
"I've heard that this company specializes in developing and creating technological advancements, which it then sells to the highest bidder," Koko said, a touch of curiosity in her voice.
"Is that true… or am I mistaken?" She added, tilting her head slightly to the side, her unmistakable smile directed at the supervisor leading them through the building.
The young supervisor suddenly stopped and turned toward Koko, replying in a tone laden with intrigue:
"I expected nothing less from someone from HCLI. However, we do not focus solely on technology; we also explore other fields of science, such as biochemistry, biology, and cellular research. To achieve optimal results, we operate outside government restrictions. In other words, we work in secrecy. That is why we need to be well-armed to protect our research— and that's where you come in."
With that, the supervisor calmly adjusted his glasses before continuing to lead them forward.
"Oh, I see". Koko replied, a smile still on her face as she walked ahead, swinging her arms slightly and glancing around with apparent nonchalance on the way to the negotiation room.
Meanwhile, in a laboratory located on one of the lower floors of the building, a scientist monitors an experimental wave frequency machine. After recording some observations in his notebook, he decides to step out for a few moments, leaving the room empty.
Minutes later, the frequency meter begins to emit erratic readings, indicating a sudden accumulation of energy in the room. Suddenly, an intense flash of light fills the space, illuminating it with a dazzling brilliance.
When the glow finally fades, it leaves behind the figure of a woman: Major Kusanagi. Standing in the middle of the laboratory, she tries to regain her balance after the recent impact. Her eyes half-open cautiously as she scans the room that now surrounds her. Without a doubt, this is not the room she was in just moments ago.
Intrigued and alert, Kusanagi tries to communicate mentally with her team, but each attempt is futile. Only one response repeats in her mind: "Out of range". Frustrated, she tries to access the network but once again finds herself completely blocked. Something is terribly wrong.
Disturbed, the major notices that she is still holding the strange device, the one housing the peculiar energy sphere inside. However, the sphere has now lost its radiant blue color, gradually fading to a dull gray.
Did it lose energy due to that previous flash? Also, it no longer seems to respond to my attempts to reconnect... she thinks while mentally reviewing every detail of what happened, searching for answers to the mystery surrounding her. Then, a memory strikes her: before the blinding flash of light, she had clearly heard a voice coming from the device declare, "Project ORION activated."
"Why do those words sound familiar?" the major murmurs, a thoughtful expression on her face. Suddenly, she remembers where she had seen that name before, prompting her to quickly open her database and search through the files she had previously downloaded. In a hurry, she begins analyzing the file titled Project ORION. After reading it several times, the major, astonished, exclaims out loud:
"THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!"
She grabs her head with one hand, leaning against a nearby wall to recover from the impact of what she just read.
While struggling to stay calm, the major notices that the room is filled with computers. Without wasting time, she rushes to the equipment, determined to find information that confirms her suspicions. She places the device on the desk and approaches the keyboard, surprised by how outdated the computer seems.
"I'm not very familiar with this kind of old technology, but it won't be an obstacle for me," the Major comments aloud as she accesses the information she needs.
After several minutes of reviewing the systems and collecting data, her body relaxes completely. She drops into a nearby chair, resting an arm on the backrest and letting out a deep sigh. For a moment, her gaze is lost on the ceiling, while a bitter smile crosses her face.
"So, it was true... That machine really has transported me to another dimension". She murmurs to herself, her voice filled with both disbelief and resignation.
She remains silent for a few more seconds, processing the situation, before leaning forward and placing her hands on her knees. Her expression shifts, leaving uncertainty behind, replaced by a determined look.
"This doesn't change anything," she tells herself as she rises from the chair. "I'm going to find a way to return to my world, no matter what it takes."
With a new goal set in her mind, the Major takes a deep breath and begins to strategize, knowing the challenge was just beginning.
"Alright, according to the information I gathered, this world isn't so different from mine. The only major difference, and one that could be a problem, is that this planet isn't as technologically advanced... It's as if I were in the past."
While speaking to herself, the purple-haired woman slightly furrows her brow. There was something else deeply troubling her.
"That's not the only setback I have. After analyzing the Project ORION files, I concluded that the device has a mechanical defect in part of its core. Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary knowledge to repair it. If it were something related to the software, that would be a completely different story..."
Her gaze lingers on the artifact for a moment before she lets out a resigned sigh. "I'll have to deal with that later. The best thing I can do now is find a way out of this place".
Kusanagi stands up and begins planning her next moves while observing her prosthetic hands. The situation remains worrisome. "Based on what I've discovered about these facilities, this place could be very dangerous. Especially for someone like me, carrying advanced technology that could attract too much attention..."
With determination, the major sharpens her focus. She knows that every decision at this moment could mean the difference between success and disaster.
As she reflects, the sudden sound of the door opening interrupts her thoughts. Without hesitation, the Major stands up and instantly activates her thermo-optic camouflage, vanishing from sight.
The person who enters is none other than the same scientist from before, who seems intrigued by the anomalies his equipment has detected. He walks directly toward one of the monitors, carefully reviewing the energy readings recorded moments earlier. Completely focused on his analysis, the man has no idea that the purple-haired woman is watching him closely from a dark corner of the room.
He doesn't seem to have noticed my presence. I'd better stay still and wait for him to leave, the Major thought as she adjusted her position to remain outside his field of vision.
But quickly, she remembered with concern that she had left the artifact on the table. With an alarmed expression, she thought fast about retrieving it before the man noticed. She moved stealthily toward the object, carefully watching each step, but just before she could grab it, the man had already turned toward the strange machine.
The scientist, puzzled, picked up the artifact with curiosity and began to inspect it closely. "What could this be? I don't remember seeing it before," he muttered aloud, intrigued.
The Major assessed the situation in an instant and concluded that she needed to knock the man out immediately and retrieve the artifact before things escalated further. However, before she could act, the man, still curious, pulled a pen from his pocket and cautiously brought it closer to the metallic cube, as if testing for a reaction.
The moment the pen touched the artifact, it activated a magnetic field that produced a small burst, forcefully ejecting the pen toward where the Major stood, still completely camouflaged. The purple-haired woman watched in surprise as the object struck her invisible body, momentarily breaking her concentration.
The scientist, stunned by what he had just witnessed, stared at the area where the pen had bounced off. Though he couldn't see anything, he was certain that something—or someone—was there. Fear reflected on his face as he abandoned all logical reasoning, hastily stuffed the cube into one of the pockets of his lab coat, and, without hesitation, bolted for the door.
"Intruders! Intruders!" he shouted desperately as he fled the room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Once outside, the scientist rushed to the end of the corridor and pressed a small red button affixed to the wall, triggering the security alarms, which began blaring incessantly. After alerting the entire building, he hurried away, completely overtaken by panic.
Amid all the commotion, the Major watched the scene unfold with a weary expression. "Looks like stealth is over". She murmured as she drew her MP-5N and quickly moved toward the man, who still had the artifact.
All the while, in the negotiation room with Koko and her team, the young supervisor, who had previously received the white-haired woman's group, was at that moment signing the contract they had handed him. After placing his signature, he nodded toward one of his subordinates, who approached carrying a silver briefcase. With a professional motion, the assistant placed the briefcase on the table and smoothly slid it toward Koko.
The young white-haired woman opened the briefcase with calm curiosity, inspecting its contents: the exact cash payment they had agreed upon beforehand. A slight smile formed on her lips as she closed the briefcase with a confident gesture. This exchange confirmed that the negotiations had come to an end. Koko then raised a hand and made a small gesture directed at Jonah and the rest of her team. Her bodyguards immediately responded with a slight nod, remaining alert to the next steps.
"Looks like my job here is done, so it's time to leave," Koko remarked as she closed her portfolio, her tone light but firm, like someone sealing an important deal.
"Everything is in order. Our personnel have completely unloaded the merchandise from the trucks" The young supervisor responded professionally as he extended the signed contract. He then offered his hand in a farewell gesture. "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Hekmatyar."
"The pleasure was all mine. It's always nice to find such... efficient clients". Koko replied with a smile that, while friendly, concealed a hint of mischief.
"I'm assigning one of my men to escort you to the exit". The supervisor added, signaling one of his subordinates with a brief nod.
But just as Koko and her team were about to leave the room, a blaring sound filled the building. The security alarms began ringing non-stop, flooding the atmosphere with unexpected tension.
In the blink of an eye, Koko's bodyguards reacted, forming a protective circle around her. Their weapons were already drawn, each one prepared for any threat.
"What the hell is going on!?" The supervisor shouted, visibly irritated, as he tried to cover his ears to dampen the deafening noise.
One of his guards, holding a radio in his hand, quickly responded, "There are reports of an intruder in section B. We've mobilized personnel to verify the situation." His voice was tinged with concern, but he was trying to maintain his composure.
Koko, who had seemed almost immune to the tension of the moment until then, raised an eyebrow and let out a soft laugh. "An intruder? Well, I wasn't expecting some extra entertainment." She said in a carefree yet calculating tone, while Jonah and the others exchanged quick glances, ready for any sign of danger.
"This can't be possible!" the young supervisor exclaimed, visibly disturbed as he sank into his thoughts. If an intruder has truly managed to infiltrate our facilities, I have no choice but to intervene personally. This kind of situation falls directly under my responsibility, especially since I'm the highest-ranking person here at the moment.
After quickly reflecting and formulating a plan, he let out a small sigh and began giving orders to his team, telling them to prepare to leave. Before departing, he glanced at Koko's group, who were still in combat stance, alert for any signs of danger. With a mix of courtesy and subtle suspicion, he fixed his gaze on the white-haired young woman and, in a calm tone that barely masked his nervousness, said:
"There's nothing for you to worry about. It's just a small setback that my team and I will resolve immediately. I kindly ask that you and your team remain in this room until we return. Will that be a bother?"
Koko stared at him for a few seconds, her expression seemingly relaxed, but with an unreadable gleam in her eyes. Finally, she responded with a friendly tone:
"You don't have to worry about anything. My team and I will cooperate with whatever is necessary". She concluded with a broad smile on her face, which seemed more calculated than sincere.
Upon hearing her response, the supervisor nodded, still somewhat uneasy. Wasting no more time, he turned toward the exit and left with his team, leaving the room in a tense atmosphere, full of anticipation.
Once outside the room, the supervisor ordered a guard to make sure no one leaves and to report immediately if anything suspicious was detected. Satisfied that he had taken precautions with his guests, the supervisor, along with his team, headed toward the surveillance room.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Valmet looked at Koko with a sarcastic tone. "Are we really just going to stay here?"
The young white-haired woman's wide smile slowly faded, replaced by an expression of deep annoyance. Abruptly, she raised both arms and grabbed her head with her hands, making her complete displeasure with the situation evident.
"Haa...! Why does everything always have to get so complicated? Couldn't they have waited until we were gone?!" Koko shouted, beginning to mutter an endless list of complaints and curses.
Valmet, far from being concerned, watched her with a cheerful expression, thinking about how adorable she looked when she was angry. Mao, on the other hand, remained calm, already accustomed to Koko's sudden outbursts. Jonah, as always, maintained a serious and expressionless demeanor, keeping a close watch on the door, ready for any unexpected event.
When the young woman finished her little tantrum, a malicious smile began to form on her face. She turned her gaze toward the door and declared in a firm, determined tone:
"I don't want to get involved in someone else's conflict. Besides, we've already finished our job here."
Koko lifted the suitcase full of money as if to reinforce her point, and with a simple gesture of her right hand, she gave the order for her team to move out.
Meanwhile, the Major moved stealthily through the facility, keeping her objective clear: retrieving the artifact that had brought her to this world. Using her optical camouflage, she slipped through the shadows like a ghost, eliminating any guards in her path with precise efficiency. Her mind was set on the scientist, trusting that he had not yet gotten too far.
Suddenly, she spotted him in the distance—the man was running desperately, clutching the artifact tightly. The Major observed him closely as he abruptly turned right at the end of a hallway. However, she quickly noticed that the path ahead was heavily guarded by a large group of armed men blocking his way.
She let out a quiet sigh of exasperation as the relentless echoes of the alarms continued to ring throughout the building. Her gaze hardened as she adjusted her stance, loading her weapon with smooth precision. Then, with unwavering determination, she advanced toward the danger, following the scientist's trail.
Similarly, Koko's group had managed to find a way to escape their confinement. At that moment, they were making their way toward a supposed emergency exit they had previously detected.
Jonah and the others cleared the path, advancing with precision, while Koko, always one step ahead, was busy relaying information to the rest of the team through her phone. Between quick and concise orders, she instructed Lehm to organize everything necessary for their retreat.
As they approached the emergency exit, the group suddenly came to a halt just a few meters from their objective. Tension rose as they sensed someone approaching in their direction. With razor-sharp reflexes, they turned and aimed their weapons toward the potential threat, prepared for any confrontation.
However, instead of an enemy emerging from the expected direction, a man in a white lab coat—presumably a scientist—stumbled into view. Completely terrified, he tripped and fell to the ground upon realizing Koko and her team had their sights on him. Clumsily, he scrambled back to his feet and took off in a desperate sprint in the opposite direction.
Yet, in his chaotic escape, something slipped from his pocket—an unusual artifact that rolled to a stop right at Jona's feet.
Koko and the others were momentarily surprised by the bizarre scene they had just witnessed, but they chose not to dwell on it. Their priority remained escaping the building as quickly as possible. Without wasting any more time, they resumed their path toward the emergency exit. However, before moving forward, Jonah paused for a moment to pick up the strange artifact that had rolled to his feet, examining it with a mix of curiosity and caution.
Down the same hallway where the scientist had fled, the Major observed the direction in which her target had vanished after falling at the corridor's end. She moved cautiously, fully aware that whatever had terrified him enough to make him trip might still be nearby. With her camouflage still active and her weapon at the ready, she advanced in complete silence.
" Jonah?!" The white-haired woman called out, trying to get his attention, noticing he was falling behind the group.
Still holding the strange metallic box, Jonah turned to Koko and calmly responded, "I'm coming." However, just before he could move, he sensed something and, with trained reflexes, raised his weapon in the direction of the disturbance.
The most unsettling thing wasn't his age but the fact that, despite her camouflage, the boy seemed to see her with absolute certainty. His aim was steady, his gaze fixed on her as if he could see through her invisibility.
The Major kept her weapon raised, ready to fire. She disliked the idea of opening fire on a child, but she knew that if she hesitated, he wouldn't. The killing intent radiating from him was unmistakable—the same she had sensed in the deadliest fighters she had ever faced. He must be a child soldier, she thought coldly, tightening her grip on the trigger.
However, before she could make her move, a voice echoed in the distance.
"Why are you taking so long? Did you find something?" asked the white-haired young woman.
Jonah shifted his gaze away from the Major and calmly replied, "It's nothing."
Without another word, he lowered his weapon and walked back toward his group, leaving the Major silently watching from her hiding place.
He detected my presence with ease, but his lack of certainty made him hesitate, she analyzed, remaining concealed. Her attention then shifted to the rest of the team. Two of them, judging by their stance and equipment, were clearly seasoned soldiers. But the real mystery was the young woman leading them.
Dressed in a pristine white suit and holding a silver briefcase, her presence was intriguing. Her deep blue eyes radiated calm, but the Major wasn't fooled. Behind that cheerful smile hides her true nature… her aura is terrifying and calculating. It was the kind of presence she had only encountered in a handful of people throughout her life.
This world is full of interesting people… but I'd better stay out of their way. Something tells me dealing with them wouldn't be easy, the Major thought as she resumed her pursuit, focusing on the direction her target had fled.
However, just before moving, her gaze fell once more on the white-haired boy. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed what he was holding in his hand.
It was the artifact.
The very device she was desperately searching for.
For a moment, she was stunned, watching as her only hope of returning to her world was carried away by that strange group.
"Great… now things have gotten even more complicated. Today is definitely not my day". She muttered sarcastically before moving stealthily and beginning to follow them out of the building.