<FIC> Fox Hunt Chpt 9

[Reaper DXR-7]

Full Metal Panic: Fox Hunt
By: Azurathe

Disclaimer: I own nothing involving Full Metal Panic, except the DVD’s I bought ^_^, so anyway yeah. Read the story and I hope you enjoy.

Another short one, I can’t seem to be thinking right.... Oh well what ever, I hope you enjoy this one... Or not.... It’s cool if ya don’t, I don’t mind.... If ya do your probably one of the few who do! Maybe it’s a sign.... hmmm.... let me think about that one and I’ll get back to you!

Fox Hunt...

Chapter 9

It was around 1900 hours when Kalinin and I arrived at the safe house. To my surprise, Kaname was making her way down the stairs from her apartment across the street. I walked over to her building and met her half way down. It was the usual greetings all the way until we made it to the safe house.

Taking my key from my coat pocket I unlocked the door to the apartment, it was just like we left it. I stopped and held the door open for Kalinin and Kaname to pass through. Shutting the door I wondered why Kalinin decided to accompany me here. Placing my keys on the kitchen counter top I gazed at Kaname. Kalinin sat on the couch, “Sousuke,” the Russian man looked back at me. “Will you please make some tea?”

Just as I was about answer Kaname hastily intervened, “um? Mr. Kalinin? I think I will make the tea, Sousuke isn’t that good...” I frowned at Kaname’s remark, she sure could be harsh sometimes.

“Negative Miss Chidori, there are things that you and only you must hear.” So that is the reason Kalinin accompanied me here, he had business to deal with involving Kaname. He stared at me, “I believe you have some tea to make Sgt.”

“Sir, yes Sir!” I saluted Kalinin and walked into the kitchen. I couldn’t make out what Kalinin was talking about with Kaname; I had a feeling that it involved my continuation on this mission. While Kaname and Kalinin continued to talk I completed the task assigned to me. The tea was done. Pulling out a few cups I managed to find sugar and cream, I also found a tray that I could serve the Tea on. After a prolonged silence fell over the apartment I decided to take the Tea out into the main room.

“Oh Sagara, is the tea ready?” Kalinin turned towards me as I walked into the room, I noticed that Kaname’s face was red. Her cheeks puffed like she had been rubbing it constantly, there were tears still hanging on her chin.

I stared at Kaname stunned, “what did you do Lt. Cmdr.?” Kneeling down to comfort Kaname she shrugged me off and ran into my room. Some how I felt I was at the center of her discomfort, I then turned to Kalinin. “What’s wrong Kalinin?”

His stared penetrated the deepest reaches of my mind. My breathing became irregular. “Sousuke, high command has given me new information regarding the Lambda driver.” The tone in his voice made me feel uneasy. “It seems that prolonged exposure to the system causes a brain malfunction.”

“What!?” I dropped the tray that I held in my hands. The ground around my feet was littered with glass and tea, “sir!?”

“I am as surprised as you are Sgt.,” sighing he stared at the closed door which Kaname was hiding behind. “I have already told Kaname all of which I know. This situation is grave Sagara, this system may cause you to breakdown in battle. You could lose yourself during the fight,” he sighed again, “and you may end up like Gauron.”

What!? How could I ever end up like my father, “sir, I will never become that bastard!” How could anyone become as evil as my former father could?

“Sousuke,” Kalinin gazed out the window, “you have already shown the first signs of deterioration. During the fight with Gauron on Melida Island, when you could not sync with the lambda driver.” I thought back to that fight.

The early morning air was crisp, all Shadow type enemies had been defeated. Venom stood upon a damaged building, towering over the SRT teams like some sort of god. He just laughed at the soldiers before him as I unsuccessfully attempted to activate the Lambda driver. Gauron fired down on me but hit Sgt. Major Mao instead whom, at the last second, leapt in front of the blast, saving my life. Luckily for us the Venom supposedly over heated and Gauron handed himself over to us, which in the end lead to a greater conflict.

Sitting there in that dark room I mentally broke down. I can’t believe that my mind will decay, I can’t believe Mithril would make me use a device that could ultimately kill me in the end. Looking at Kalinin I made my final decision. “Kalinin,” turning towards the door to my room I frowned, “I will no longer be a part of Mithril.”

I expected to see a look of surprise on the older Russian mans face, but instead I found a look of relief. “Well Sousuke, I will need a reason to take back with me.”

A slight creaking sound echoed through the apartment, I noticed Kaname peering out of my room. I sighed and then went on with my explanation. “Kalinin, I can not be involved with an organization that uses me as a pawn. I will not be a part of this group any longer because I am a human, not disposable goods.”

“Well said Sagara.”

“Wait Kalinin. I am not finished.” Turning back I made sure Kaname was still listening, “tell high command not to call me back to Mithril, I will not accept the invitation. I have a home now, and Kaname is who I owe my full allegiance to now.” Crying could be heard through out the apartment as Kaname rushed towards me. Tears flowing from her eyes as she held me in a tight embrace. I looked back at Kalinin who just stared at the unfolding scene before him.

“Sagara... I am sorry to say that Mithril has no want to release you from active duty. You are an important soldier, so vital to the success of many Mithril missions.” He glanced at Kaname, then turned his attention back towards me. “But for now I shall have the Arbalest under go upgrades, we will not need you for any upcoming missions. Maybe if we could complete the divers systems, maybe then there would be no risk in using the Lambda driver.”

“You mean the Lambda driver is incomplete?” The air grew cold as the conversation continued, I did feel better about this knowing Kaname was right there with me.

Kalinin nodded, “yes Sgt., the Lambda driver was never completed. Its designer died before finishing the system itself, we have yet to find another Whispered who could tap in to their mind as deeply as he could.”

Just then Kaname stood up, “I can do it...”

Mentally I prayed Kalinin would say no, she was too important to me to get mixed up in this mess. “Very well then...” Kalinin’s voice trailed off as he spoke to Kaname, “it will be tough though. You will be strained beyond belief, are you sure you want to...”

“I’m sure...” Kaname smiled then sat back down next to me, wrapping her arms around me. “After all what use is a mindless, melodramatic, military, maniac?” A genuine smile came across her lips, I could tell she was worried that I would lose myself to that machine and she wanted to make sure I didn’t. “I need Sousuke just the way he is.... I love him just the way he is... If I can’t have him this when then I will personally make sure Mithril pays for what they have done to him.”

The older Russian man smiled at Kaname then stood. “Well then we should go.”

Startled, I asked, “why so soon Kalinin? We have just arrived in Japan, shouldn’t we rest a little?”

“No Sousuke, the helicopter that brought us here is waiting on the roof. We should be heading back to the TDD-1 so we can start on the Lambda System. You don’t want to be piloting it know what you do now so we need to make sure that you can pilot it safely.”

Chidori nodded in agreement with Kalinin, I sighed, “sir, yes sir...”

“I can sense your enthusiasm Sgt., lets be a little more optimistic sounding though.”

I grinned. “Sir, yes Sir!” I shouted, taking Kaname’s hand we ran out the door with Kalinin following closely behind. We made a mad dash to the helicopter on the roof. Sliding the door open I lifted Kaname into the helicopter, I waited for Kalinin to enter the helicopter before I took my seat next to Kaname.

“Awwhh!!” I heard Kaname shout as we were in the air heading towards the sea, to far out to turn back.

Grasping Kaname’s hand I smiled, “what is it Kaname?” I was concerned, but put on a smile to hide that fact.

She pointed out the window in the direction of her apartment. “Two things Sousuke! One, I left all my clothes at home, how am I going to live on the Dadanaan with out all my clothes?”

Kalinin was sitting across from me with a grin smeared across his face, he was waiting for me to come up with something. “Well... Uh... Erm...”

“When we arrive aboard the Tuatha Dadanaan I will request for some men to pick up your clothing.”

Kaname’s face grew bright red, “NO!! I do not want more military maniacs going through my underwear! One maniac is enough for this girl.” Suddenly, out of nowhere Kaname giggled, “what do I do if one of them is cuter then Sgt. Somber over here.” She continued to laugh as sweat trickled down my face. Throwing her arms around me, she pulled me into a kiss, “don’t be like that Sousuke, no one, I mean no one, could ever take your place in this girl’s heart!”

I sighed in relief, “well... Lets get back to the point, what is the other thing Kaname?” Her face grew pale, she began to shiver. “K-Kaname... What is it? Is someone after you? Is it Shirai?”

“No no... It’s just...” Her sentence trailed off, she seemed like she didn’t want to tell me what was going on at all. Her brown eyes met mine and she sent me a weak smile, “my father is coming for a visit,” I sighed. “He comes every year with Ayame to check up on me.”

“Is that all Kaname, well we can contact him from the TDD-1 and tell him that you are busy.”

Just then she smacked me in the head and pouted, “you moron, what am I suppose to tell him?” Bringing her right hand up to her cheek she extended her thumb and pinky as to mimic a phone. “Hi daddy... I have to cancel your visit... Why you ask... Well my boyfriend Sousuke is taking me back to the submarine with him to finish the weapon system for his Arm Slave... No I’m not joking Daddy, he is a top-notch arm slave pilot... Bye daddy...” Kaname sighed as she stopped pretending her hand was a phone. “Do you see my point, I can’t very well tell my father the truth... He... would... flip... out... And I can’t tell him a lie, I would feel so guilty afterwards, which means a certain someone would be my punching bag for a month!!”

Kaname grinned, she must have noticed how pale I had become. “You... You wouldn’t tell your father about me... would you?”

Smack... Kaname hit me again and grinned, “maybe I should Sousuke. Maybe that would keep you in line for a while!” I heard her chuckle, “I’m just kidding Sousuke, god you can be so gullible!” And with that the helicopter was silent, silent until we made it back to the Dadanaan.

“Opening Hatch 1... Loading Transport Copter T5 into hatch one... Loaded, closing hatch one.” It was a routine landing, our helicopter pilot seemed to be very skilled though, unlike all the trainees aboard the sub. Half the ship was there to greet us as we exited the helicopter, it seems all the trainees wanted to get a look at Kaname.

Pulling my Glock 26 from it holster located at my side I aimed at one of the new trainees, his name was Goro Sugitama. “Hold it Sgt. Sagara... don’t be killing off the cattle just cause they glanced at your girlfriend the wrong way!” I searched for the disturbance only to find Kurz standing with the rest of the SRT squad, “so what brings Sgt. Hothead and Fan girl around here? I thought you two would be all hot and fuzzy in the bed right now.. hehehe OW!”

Someone had hit Weber hard, it was Mao, she threw an empty clip a Kurz to shut him up. She turned to us and smiled, “what he means to say is... Welcome home Sousuke!”