[FIC] Class Act (part 12)
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:03 am
Sousuke did indeed come up with an idea. Keeping his cards close to his chest---and making certain to stay out of Kaname’s reach---he was closed-mouthed about his plans. He asked for a phone book and a telephone and got both. After making a phone call, he told Miss Okibasu he would be OK on his own, and headed outside to catch a cab.
There was a shop in Okayama he had used before, by means of the internet. It should have exactly what he wanted. It was pleasant to have a little good luck for a change. It was nice to step outside into the fresh air. Politely, he instructed the cab driver to drop him off at Bubba’s Army Surplus & Sushi Bar, run by a Viet Nam vet with a lot of connections.
The store was even more crowded than the food area. Military clothing styles were becoming the vogue. Middle Eastern style sashes were a big selling item, as were fatigues and shoulder patches. Sousuke wasn’t worried about his wardrobe. He wouldn’t need one of the hand held baskets. A large cart was necessary.
Making his way along the aisles, he grabbed any item that caught his fancy. Rifles. Pistols. Swords and knives. Dummy grenades, mines, and mortar shells. Propaganda posters. Recruiter plaques. MREs. Gas masks. Boots, belts, and backpacks. Ammo cases. Barbed wire and cutters. Helmets. Canteens. First Aid kits. Field manuals. A crutch. Trenching tools. Maps. Anything and everything. Mr. Valentin had given him the Museum credit card and a letter of permission.
When he has headed to the cashier to check out, Sousuke overheard a heated conversation in the Sushi Bar.
“We’re finished. We need the money THIS week. You know that.”
“Hey. Don’t worry. We’ll get it. Trust me”
“Trust you? Your gambling with the wrong people got us where we are. If we don’t have any customers, we don’t get any money. And if we don't get the money....”
“If we get some girls to come in and dance, it will attract guys. Guys buy alcohol. Get some good girls, and the guys will stay and buy a lot of booze. Simple.”
Obviously, the men were the proprietors of a dance club.
Sousuke had come to the realization that girls liked to dance, and that they expected guys to dance with them. Guarding Kaname at one such school function had been problematic. One boy had touched her, then received a karate chop to the neck. Kaname had to be restrained while Kyouko explained that certain forms of dancing required touching. Sousuke had also tried to grab a cup of punch out of Kaname’s hand, wanting to check it for poison. When she pulled it away, he abruptly let go. The red did not go well on her bright yellow blouse. A misunderstanding occurred when some dub noises on a party track sounded too much like helicopter blades. Sousuke had shot out the lights and told everyone to hit the floor while he checked things out. They asked him to wait outside at dances after that. Go figure.
All that was neither here nor there. It had nothing to do with the problems he faced.
“Sure, sure, I know. They get drunk, or they find a broad, and they want to rent one of the rooms. They stay long enough, and they buy the food. But, we still need the girls. Einstein. I don‘t think we‘ll get a lot of customers if YOU are the only one dancing!”
“You worry too much. All we need is some girls…some hungry people…and some folks who want rooms for the night. That will solve all of our problems. You’ll see.”
That DID have something to do with the problems they all faced. Back in the gymnasium, Kaname had assigned him to help procure the food. He could do that AND get the rooms they needed for the night. After he made his purchase, he dragged the large haversack behind him and went to talk with the two men.
“My pardon, but do you both own a place where one can stay the night?” Sousuke gave the men the once over. One was short and rotund, with a greasy goatee and a nervous twitchy eye. The other was impossibly tall and thin, with enormous glasses and a large gold tooth.
“Yes, but we run a class joint. We’re not looking for people hiding out from trouble.” The tall man’s eyes looked huge behind the lenses. His hand grasped tight on the table cloth.
“And we need the cash up front!” The other man couldn’t stop the feeling of hope bubbling up inside.
“Do you have enough rooms for more than one hundred people? “ Sousuke felt his own spirits lift.
“Yes. And will they want dinner?” The tall man looked ready to pass out.
“Affirmative.”
“That’s going to run A LOT of money.” In a cartoon, the round man would have dollar signs in his eyes.
“It is not a problem. But, I thought we might work a trade, as our funds are limited.” Sosuke thought he had them over a barrell. He had learned a trick or two by watching the hawkers at their stalls in Kabul.
“Oh. I see. A trade.” Both men’s countenances clouded over. They hadn’t gotten their hopes too high.
“Yes. The group includes girls who like to dance.” Sousuke played his trump card.
Both men knocked their chairs over, standing up too quickly. “GIRLS???”
“Affirmative.”
“You said they like to dance?” Please please please please please. The short man held his hands together in a prayer pose.
“Yes. They are very active. Very athletic. It is hard to get them to stop.” Souuke nodded his head.
“And they’ll dance for us?” The tall man looked triumphant.
“If they are fed. If they have a place to stay. The boys in our class will need separate rooms.” Sousuke was pleased. He was thinking logically. Miss Okibasu and kaname would be very proud.
“Class?” The rotund man sounded puzzled.
“Yes. Jindai Highschool. Tokyo.” Sousuke showed the men his school I.D.
“Teenage girls?” Both men asked at the same time, their faces flushed.
“Correct. Do we have an arrangement?” Time to finish the deal.
“Do we ever! Wait, let me get a my briefcase. There’s a paper for you to sign.” The towering man shoved a contract in front of Sousuke. Turning to his associate, he whispered “Get on the phone. Call the big customers. This will be right up their alley!”
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Sousuke came into the room like Father Christmas…Basbouchka…Santa Kurohsu. Slinging the mammoth sack off of his shoulder, he spilled it contents on the ground in front of the good little boys and girls. Military surplus items bounced and skittered across the floor.
“Oh great. I told you. Just leave it to Sousuke!” Kaname stood with her hands on top of her head. “You guys are doomed!”
“Kaname, do you wish to assist in the construction of the mobile?” Sousuke made a peace offering.
“Hmmppff!!!” Kaname’s reply was terse and pithy. Even the fine lunch she had while Sousuke was gone didn't improve her disposition.
“Now, if I can have some assistance, I need a number of paints mixed up. I require Olive drab, German Sand Tan, Japanese Jungle green, and Earth gray. I would ask that someone quickly craft pieces of metal in pleasing shapes, paint each in one of those colors, and set them on the floor with the items I procured.” Sousuke spoke as if he were coordinating a battle.
Mr. Valentin stared at the pile of war tools and memorabilia spread out before him. His mouth opened and closed silently.
Kaname, watching the artist, smiled. “Told you. DOOMED”
“Have you made significant progress with the cross bars, chains, and support wires?” Sousuke spoke to the metal workers who had volunteered for that part of the task.
“Affirmative!” The artists stood at attention, snapping off sloppy but heartfelt salutes. They drove in a small forklift, attached the central wire to one bar, and raised the empty mobile off the ground.
“Synchronize your watches on my mark. Mark!” Sousuke was clearly in his element.
“Aye sir!” The artists were pumped.
“Form a fireman’s chain. Begin passing random items along to me. Go!” Sousuke went to stand by the incipient work of art.
“DOOMED…DOOMED…DOOMED…DOOoomph…grffffff…..mrphlmrph…srskysrgra.” The rugby team threw the haversack over Kaname, pushed her over onto the floor, and sat on her.
Artists passed along guns, helmets, boots, field manuals…whatever came to hand. When the items reached Sousuke, he would look at each one critically, test its balance, look for a likely place on the mobile, and either attach the item, or throw it on the discard or maybe later piles.
The class watched entranced. It was like being caught in the middle of a crazy dream. Shinji, Kyouko, and Enrique were busy immortalizing the process. One artist started clapping to a beat. Soon the whole group of them were adding to the rhythm. A watching maintenance man started humming a Scottish fight song.
Sousuke, near the end stages, called out like a surgeon to his assistant. “Pistol…gas mask…Earth gray metal…framed medals display…obituary page…Panzerschrek rocket…kerosene stove…pressed cherry blossoms….”
When all of the attachment wires and chains were occupied, Sousuke stepped back and took a long look.
Kaname, having bitten a number of guys where they sat, managed to stick her head out of the bag. Looking at the mobile, she shook her head. “Doomed, she whispered.
Sousuke looked over at a silent and unmoving Mr. Valentin. Everyone else did the same. You could hear a pin drop. Without saying a word, the usually ebullient man simply turned and left the room.
“Probably went to hang himself instead of the mobile” Kaname said helpfully, breaking the silence. Everyone started to talk at the same time. “That should be memorable!”
Ren yanked on Kaname’s sleeve, trying to get her to take it easy on Sousuke.
Mr. Valentin came back in the room. He was dragging a museum curator with him. “That’s the boy. He’s the one who did it!” An arm came up like the Grim Reaper’s own. A trembling finger pointed at Sousuke.
“Welcome back to earth, Sergeant Swelled Head. I hope this teaches you something.” Kaname sounded smug, almost happy. “Stick to what you know best!”
The curator walked over and looked at the mobile. He looked back to Mr. Valentin, who nodded his head. With all eyes on him, he spoke to Sousuke. “Young man, I understand that you are responsible for all this.”
“Yes, sir. It was my doing.”
“Well then, in accordance with Mr. Valentin’s wishes, I present you with these.” The balding man held out a large pair of golden scissors to Sousuke. “We would all be honored if you would cut the ribbon at the ceremonies, opening the War & Peace wing to the public.”
Kyouko, her camera ready, said “Doomed.”
Kaname picked up the sack and started walking towards her best friend.
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With their creative urges satisfied, the students and teacher met up with their next tour guide, a broad shouldered man with a crew cut called simply ‘Mr. Mishka.’ The man, with a thick Slavic accent, seemed jovial and full of life. Everyone warmed to him immediately, and waited expectantly on his words and suggestions. He led them through the extensive areas dedicated to the sciences, their last tour before the grand opening ceremony for the military exhibition.
Everyone’s spirits were high---this was the fun stuff, even better than the arts and crafts. Wandering through the Science In Every Day Life section, they learned about objects in motion; light and perception; magnetism; chemistry; and physics. Their Russian guide had a tendency to put his emphasis on things discovered by Russians, improved by Russians, and done best by Russians.
True, the static displays were informative and interesting, but it was the hands on exhibits that made the biggest hit. The girls mixed chemicals to make different fragrances. The guys explored various subjects about the senses. Shinji, egged on by the other boys, played a rather rotten trick on Mizuke, Maya, Ryo, and Ren. He switched their sandalwood oil with 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, one of the malodorous chemicals from the anal gland of the striped skunk. The girls should have checked their perfume on one of the available cards, before dousing themselves liberally. Shinji should have known better…and he should have run. He and his compatriots fell pray to the saying What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.
Kaname turned blue in the face when she caught a whiff of the ill-prepared scent. Then her eyes lit up. She went to find someone. "Sousuke, how would you like to try a nice cologne?"
"Kaname, I must refuse. Many means can be used to detect an operative in the field. Camoflauge defeats visual cues. Stealthy movement prevents detection by sound. Wearing an odor-producing substance could call attention to one at a very inopportune time."
"We’re not in combat, Sousuke. You’re not a solder. You can be such a moron, you know? Can’t you ever just be a normal boy--- even for a little while?" Kaname was obviously frustrated, and not only about Souske’s unwitting circumvention of her practical joke.
"Kaname, my behavior is normal for me." Sousuke wondered why Kaname was so angry.
"Well, your behavior STINKS, Sousuke! Do you know that? But that’s OK...if the shoe fits..." She brought up the atomizer and squeezed hard on the bulb.
Sousuke, always aware, moved quickly to avoid the situation, unaware of any particular danger. He roled to the side as a huge noxious cloud of airborne particles passed through the space the young soldier had previously occupied. Unfortunately for Mr. Mishka, he had chose that moment to walk past.
The jovial man lost his smile momentarily. His body shook. But, when the tremors subsided, he laughed. "Ah, to be a child again. But, young lady, I would think that you would wish to set a good example for the rest of your class."
Kaname promised she wouldn’t cause any more trouble. She was thoroughly ashamed. And, it was Sousuke's fault!
The class moved on to the hall covering The Mysteries of Origin, Evolution, and Extinction. They marveled at the assembled dinosaur fossils. The dioramas and realistic prehistoric venues and marine settings were breathtaking. The exhibits on diversity amongst and within species were enlightening.
Sousuke stared hard at one particular display, showing the change in size, shape, posture, and gate along the line of human evolution. The figures were life-sized and remarkably realistic. A number of boys were joking about one particular observation, but Sousuke was oblivious to their insincerity. He thought of a way to try and smooth matters between himself and Kaname.
"Chidori. I have examined the humans and their ancestors. I have noted a trend. As the creatures became more advanced, their posterior areas grew in size. You should be proud. You must be very advanced, Kaname." Bending over, he added. "Extremely advanced."
Kaname’s response was not quite Sousuke had expected. She pushed him over the railing, after kneeing him in the groin. When he stood up, Kyouko took his picture---he was hunched over, right between Ardipithecus ramidus and Australopithecus afarensis.
"That’s about right, I think." Kyouko quipped. Kaname told her friend to stop giving Sousuke too much credit.
"Kyouko, THINK!" she said, tossing her hair. "If Sousuke was alive in the time of early man, there never would have been any later man!"
"You’ve got a point...." Kyouko looked over at Sousuke. Next, she looked at a plaque detailing the existance and disappearence of the Neanderthals. She wondered. No. There could only ever be ONE Sousuke!
Mr. Mishka looked over at Sousuke. "I must ask you to stay out of the exhibits. Admittedly, they do offer a hint of a simpler day and age. Back then, all one need do way club the woman on the head and drag her away by the hair."
Sousuke stored away that fact. Perhaps it would prove useful some day. It was good to have a helpful tour guide.
The Hall of Electricity was a huge hit. The Van de Graaff generator was the largest on display in the Far East and was one of the student’s favorite exhibits in the entire museum. When Mizuke put her hand on the surface of the machine, her hair stood straight out on end. At that moment, her friends sprung into action, executing a pre-formed plan. Ryo, Maya, and two other girls coated her hair with fast-acting extra-hold hair spray.
Mizuke was befuddled when everyone gave Ryo a thumbs-up sign.
"Looks like a freakin’ porcupine," one boy laughed . The surrounding guys and gals burst into laughter.
"Nah, more like a giant pin cushion," one girl chuckled.
"Sea urchin!" one excitable boy said, pointing at the marine life poster across the room.
"I think this will be great for the school paper." Kyouko stood in front of Mizuke, taking photo after photo.
When Mizuke put her hand to her hair, her eyes went very wide. After looking in a mirror, the expression oh her face was downright frightening. Everyone scattered.
She chased Ryo down in the Earth Sciences area and stuffed the mischievous girl headfirst into bubbling dye-filled volcano. Kyouko met her fate in the Optics and Light Science area. Mizuke tied her to a table top with a large electrical cord, turned up her skirt, and charged five dollars a head for the boys to use a working telescope. The other jokers met their own scientifically instructive fates.
The tour guide just stood and shook his head. He had seen many things in his life, but nothing like this.
It seems that the spirit of mischief was contagious. Science was fun. It provided so many opportunities. Mr. Mishka lectured the students on anatomy and the circulatory system as they all stood before a giant replica of the human heart, its great vessels merging with the room’s ceiling. Correct in every detail, the huge organ was hollow. The class would be given the opportunity to walk through it, a few people at a time.
"Hey Kaname, it’s such a big heart, it must be YOURS!" Maya smiled. smiled.
Kaname smiled in return. It was nice to be appreciated.
"Oh, and look what’s first in your heart!" Maya pointed to Sousuke, at the head of the line of students. Everyone laughed. Kyouko, still blushing, took more pictures. No one on the museum staff could figure out how a student could possibly end up inside the model’s left atrial appendage. It took three men and a long ladder to get Maya out.
"Where’s Maya?" Ryo asked at one point.
"Heart attack." Kaname answered with a satisfied grin, much to her friend's confusion.
The time spent in the IMAX theater and Planetarium went smoothly without any mishaps. So did the visits to the Ecology And The Envoronment wing and the Telecommunications room. The same was not true for the final area, the Sports Challenge Arena.
The large activities area was brightly colored, bold in its size, design, and purpose. It was a place to do things, and a place to learn something about anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics and how they related to the chosen activity. One large wall was dedicated to rock climbing. A large oval track was used for races between standard wheelchairs and sleeker more aerodynamic models. There were balance beams of different width to walk across. There was plenty to capture the imagination and challenge the body.
Kaname, wanting to show everyone that she was indeed a leader, jumped at the change to try out an exhibit teaching about balance. A large tethered surfboard floated in a large semicircular container of water. The purpose of the exhibit was to have the room attendants describe what muscles, vestibular organs, neural pathways, and physical actions were important for the staying upright on the object.
Laughing, Kaname took her place. The pool was still, so the challenge was not great. In a slight crouch, she spread her arms, the picture of athletic confidence and competence. All she needed to do was concentrate. If she paid attention to what she was doing, nothing could possibly go wrong.
"Perhaps they should have chosen someone else to stand up there," Sousuke remarked to Shinji.
"Why is that?" Shinji asked.
"Big Loser!" Kaname said, no longer pretending she wasn’t paying any attention to Sousuke.
Ryo ran to get her friends. Something good was going to happen. She just knew it.
"No doubt, those frontal protuberances will throw her off balance…." Sousuke spoke in a clinical tone of voice.
"Frontal?" Kaname started to sway. She had allowed herself to be distracted.
"Protruberances?" Her legs started moving back and forth swiftly, as the board moved sideways to and fro. Her face went pale.
"You…you…you…SOUSUKE!" Arms swinging and twirling, Kaname fought to maintain her balance. The board shot out from under her. The splash drenched the front two rows of onlookers. Mr. Mishka looked like a soggy bear. A soggy and highly perturbed bear.
"Sousuke, they’re called breasts," Shinji said, trying to find something to say after witnessing the prelude to Armageddon.
"Affirmative. The name is not important. The function is critical. They will serve as flotation devices, until Kaname can be rescued after her demonstration of balancing inadequacies." Sousuke should have realized that he was well within harm’s way.
"FLOTATION DEVICES...INADEQUACIES…LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT INADEQUACY!!!" Kaname jumped out of the pool like a Trident missile fired from a SSBN. Her targeting system was spot on. Only one re-entry vehicle was necessary. "Idiot!"
Sousuke lay in a small spreading pool of water. He was unable to move when the men with mops showed up. They put a tarp over him…set out a ‘LOOKOUT!!! SLIPPERY FLOOR’ sign nearby…and headed off to the next clean-up assignment.
************************************************************
‘Mr. Mishka’ had managed to keep a happy face on the entire time, no matter what trouble those misgotten brats had gotten into. If it had been his museum, the perpetrators would all be locked in a small dark cell, with bread for company and rats for food! That, or used for realistic fighting target for bare hands, knives, or entrenching tools. The GRU method of martial arts was very effective, and he needed plenty of practice to stay at peak condition.
That Sagara…and that blue-haired wench…he would love to make good use of them. It's not that he cared what they did to this place, in reality. He was not influenced by what Katja had to say about them, or what she had heard from Kimutaku. His anger was more personal than that. They had been under his supervision and his command, and they had paid him no more nevermind than a Cossack might give a peasant. That insolence was unforgivable!
True name Alexsandr Svyatogor, he was not an actual tour guide. He was a freelance business man, but had once been a member of Spetsnaz GRU, a shadow warrior for the National Reconnaissance Agency. He was a veteran of the fighting in Chechnya. He had been a part of the team that took first place in the International Infantry Competition in Alaska. He had killed men for looking at him the wrong way. It was time to truly enjoy the experiment in capitalism.
After the stupid children returned from the restrooms, he would escort them over to the Peace & War wing. He laughed. What a stupid name. Well, there would indeed be peace---after a short, and profitable war. Zero hour was approaching. There was nothing that could go wrong. A large number of priceless works of art would vanish. Dignitaries would enjoy a chance to tour the world until their ransoms were paid. A few unfortunate souls would lose their lives in the process.
Staring at a model of Cro Magnon man, he whipped a clasp knife out of his pocket with blinding speed. Shortly thereafter, the knife lay embedded in the eye of the early human. After retrieving the knife, he whirled and sent a vicious kick to the replica’s head, sending it bouncing across the exhibit.
Almost time….
************************************************************
Sousuke dialed the number to the safe house in Tokyo. He knew that he would be asking a lot, based only on an uneasy feeling. Looking around the curator’s room, it seemed that a number of past and future exhibits were critical of his decision making. A huge snowy owl, stuffed years ago, looked at him with apparent disdain. The busts of Etruscan and Assyrian warriors scowled from a top shelf, questioning his prowess as a soldier.
After speaking with a field agent, Sousuke was put on hold. They would try and make a connection with the TDD-1 and patch him through. He needed to shore up his resolve before talking to Lt. Commander Kalinin. Looking up at the damaged paintings hung over the cluttered desk, Sousuke caught sight of a painting of the Duke of Wellington. Some of that soldier’s words came to mind:
”There is no mistake; there has been no mistake; and there shall be no mistake.” The only mistake would be staying silent. The cost of being mistaken would not be paid in blood and pain. ”By God! I don’t think it would have been done if I had not been there.” He hoped his suspicions had no merit. If they DID, however, he would need to hold the fort until help arrived.
When he reached his commanding officer, Sousuke relayed the observations that had him concerned. Wealthy visitors were separated from the general populace, along with politicians of note and their families. People with athletic ability---and potentially a greater capacity to escape or fight back---were identified and segregated as well. The three tour guides each left him with uneasy feelings.
“Just how strong are your concerns?” Kalinin asked.
“Very strong, Sir!” he answered, going on to describe how forceful Mr.Mishka had been in making certain that Kaname and the other gifted athletes went with one of his associates. The man’s explanation had sounded reasonable enough, but the his temper had momentarily flashed like lightning when Miss Chidori had asked if she could stay with here friends. There was death in his eyes.
“It could just be that the man had a bad day, or that he had little tolerance for high school students and their hijinks.” Lt. Col. Kalinin offered.
“That is true, Sir. But, there was a moment when he was challenged by an agitated boy who didn‘t want to leave his girlfriend. Though it could clearly be coincidence, for a fleeting second he took up a fighting stance like that taught by the Chinese masters in the province of Guangdong. He looked like a cobra, ready to strike.”
“Ah. The martial arts of the Spetznas GRU, different than Sambo, ROSS, and Kadochnikov method taught to other units of the military ” Even after being expatriated, the older Russian man kept up with the training and characteristics of the fighting forces of his homeland.
“The woman, Miss Krieger, also gave hints that she is more than she appears. Her eyes. They were the eyes of a hunter, perhaps a killer. When she was excited, she had a strong German accent. Some of her swear words were Serbo-Croatian. She seemed like a tightly wound spring, threatening to break at any moment. Perhaps just another coincidence.”
“But each coincidence grows in significance with every other question, does it not?” There was a sound of approval in the senior officers voice.
“The strange man, the one with a woman’s tastes, could also be more than he appears. Dodging a falling object, he showed amazing leaping ability, and hung from the wall by means of his hands and feet. I caught the barest flash of metal on his palms and at the sole of his shoes, but it didn‘t register on me at the time.” Sousuke’s subconscious observational skills were as keen as ever.
“Yes, that is definitely a skill that most tour guides would not have. I concur, sergeant. We should not overlook the possibility that a major hostage situation could unfold, or that priceless objects may have tempted dangerous men into a dangerous plot. You mentioned a ceremony. How long?” The Lt’ Commander needed to be able to judge what methods of deployment would be suitable, and which troops could be sent.
“Fourty-five minutes, Sir. I have to be there in fifteen.” Sousuke double-checked his watch.
“Then I shall not keep you longer. We will provide whatever help we can. Look for soldiers and helicopters with JSDF uniforms and markings. We’ll come in quick and leave even quicker. The priority will be to save people, then property. It is not necessary to capture the enemy at the expense of the museum and its patrons. Is that understood, sergeant?” Mr. Kalinin’s voice made it clear he expected his orders to be followed to the letter.
“Yes, sir. I should add, that there is a contingency of A.S. pilots and machines at the Mitsubishi plant. Trucks could have Type-96s in the area within thirty minutes if everything is ready, and if the threat calls for mecha support. Our troops ought to be gone before the real JSDF arrives. Police forces will no doubt arrive sooner, but should take our soldiers at face value.”
“We will do what we can do. Is Miss Chidori with you? Is she safe?”
“She is with the other student athletes. I will not be able to be at her side until my part in the proceedings is done. Would her safety be considered higher priority than that of the the V.I.P.s, sir?” Sousuke did not want to break protocol.
“Yes, as I do not have a list of attendees. I shouldn’t have to tell you, but use of deadly force is not only permitted, but is expected where the situation calls for it.”
“Uh…”
“Sergeant, is there a problem I should know about?” A slight amount of heat crept into the Russian’s voice.
“Sir, I…” Sousuke hesitated, trying to sort the conflict out in his own mind.
“Sergeant Sagara, I have things to attend to.”
“My teacher, Miss Okibasu, and my student representative, Miss Chidori, have made me promise not to fight or use weapons without their permission.” Sousuke realized how that must sound to his commanding officer.
There was dead silence on the other end of the phone.
“Sir?” Sousuke began to grow concerned.
“We will discuss this matter when the mission is over. For now, I highly suggest that you get that permission as soon as possible. Do your duty, sergeant. Make us all proud. We are depending on you.”
After hanging up, Sousuke wanted to head out to the bus. He needed to get some concealable weapons.
“There you are Mr. Sagara. Let’s get going. This is a very important day, and neither of us can afford to be late. The elderly curator appeared, grabbed Sousuke by the arm, and hurried him out of the room.
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End of pt 12
There was a shop in Okayama he had used before, by means of the internet. It should have exactly what he wanted. It was pleasant to have a little good luck for a change. It was nice to step outside into the fresh air. Politely, he instructed the cab driver to drop him off at Bubba’s Army Surplus & Sushi Bar, run by a Viet Nam vet with a lot of connections.
The store was even more crowded than the food area. Military clothing styles were becoming the vogue. Middle Eastern style sashes were a big selling item, as were fatigues and shoulder patches. Sousuke wasn’t worried about his wardrobe. He wouldn’t need one of the hand held baskets. A large cart was necessary.
Making his way along the aisles, he grabbed any item that caught his fancy. Rifles. Pistols. Swords and knives. Dummy grenades, mines, and mortar shells. Propaganda posters. Recruiter plaques. MREs. Gas masks. Boots, belts, and backpacks. Ammo cases. Barbed wire and cutters. Helmets. Canteens. First Aid kits. Field manuals. A crutch. Trenching tools. Maps. Anything and everything. Mr. Valentin had given him the Museum credit card and a letter of permission.
When he has headed to the cashier to check out, Sousuke overheard a heated conversation in the Sushi Bar.
“We’re finished. We need the money THIS week. You know that.”
“Hey. Don’t worry. We’ll get it. Trust me”
“Trust you? Your gambling with the wrong people got us where we are. If we don’t have any customers, we don’t get any money. And if we don't get the money....”
“If we get some girls to come in and dance, it will attract guys. Guys buy alcohol. Get some good girls, and the guys will stay and buy a lot of booze. Simple.”
Obviously, the men were the proprietors of a dance club.
Sousuke had come to the realization that girls liked to dance, and that they expected guys to dance with them. Guarding Kaname at one such school function had been problematic. One boy had touched her, then received a karate chop to the neck. Kaname had to be restrained while Kyouko explained that certain forms of dancing required touching. Sousuke had also tried to grab a cup of punch out of Kaname’s hand, wanting to check it for poison. When she pulled it away, he abruptly let go. The red did not go well on her bright yellow blouse. A misunderstanding occurred when some dub noises on a party track sounded too much like helicopter blades. Sousuke had shot out the lights and told everyone to hit the floor while he checked things out. They asked him to wait outside at dances after that. Go figure.
All that was neither here nor there. It had nothing to do with the problems he faced.
“Sure, sure, I know. They get drunk, or they find a broad, and they want to rent one of the rooms. They stay long enough, and they buy the food. But, we still need the girls. Einstein. I don‘t think we‘ll get a lot of customers if YOU are the only one dancing!”
“You worry too much. All we need is some girls…some hungry people…and some folks who want rooms for the night. That will solve all of our problems. You’ll see.”
That DID have something to do with the problems they all faced. Back in the gymnasium, Kaname had assigned him to help procure the food. He could do that AND get the rooms they needed for the night. After he made his purchase, he dragged the large haversack behind him and went to talk with the two men.
“My pardon, but do you both own a place where one can stay the night?” Sousuke gave the men the once over. One was short and rotund, with a greasy goatee and a nervous twitchy eye. The other was impossibly tall and thin, with enormous glasses and a large gold tooth.
“Yes, but we run a class joint. We’re not looking for people hiding out from trouble.” The tall man’s eyes looked huge behind the lenses. His hand grasped tight on the table cloth.
“And we need the cash up front!” The other man couldn’t stop the feeling of hope bubbling up inside.
“Do you have enough rooms for more than one hundred people? “ Sousuke felt his own spirits lift.
“Yes. And will they want dinner?” The tall man looked ready to pass out.
“Affirmative.”
“That’s going to run A LOT of money.” In a cartoon, the round man would have dollar signs in his eyes.
“It is not a problem. But, I thought we might work a trade, as our funds are limited.” Sosuke thought he had them over a barrell. He had learned a trick or two by watching the hawkers at their stalls in Kabul.
“Oh. I see. A trade.” Both men’s countenances clouded over. They hadn’t gotten their hopes too high.
“Yes. The group includes girls who like to dance.” Sousuke played his trump card.
Both men knocked their chairs over, standing up too quickly. “GIRLS???”
“Affirmative.”
“You said they like to dance?” Please please please please please. The short man held his hands together in a prayer pose.
“Yes. They are very active. Very athletic. It is hard to get them to stop.” Souuke nodded his head.
“And they’ll dance for us?” The tall man looked triumphant.
“If they are fed. If they have a place to stay. The boys in our class will need separate rooms.” Sousuke was pleased. He was thinking logically. Miss Okibasu and kaname would be very proud.
“Class?” The rotund man sounded puzzled.
“Yes. Jindai Highschool. Tokyo.” Sousuke showed the men his school I.D.
“Teenage girls?” Both men asked at the same time, their faces flushed.
“Correct. Do we have an arrangement?” Time to finish the deal.
“Do we ever! Wait, let me get a my briefcase. There’s a paper for you to sign.” The towering man shoved a contract in front of Sousuke. Turning to his associate, he whispered “Get on the phone. Call the big customers. This will be right up their alley!”
***********************************************************
Sousuke came into the room like Father Christmas…Basbouchka…Santa Kurohsu. Slinging the mammoth sack off of his shoulder, he spilled it contents on the ground in front of the good little boys and girls. Military surplus items bounced and skittered across the floor.
“Oh great. I told you. Just leave it to Sousuke!” Kaname stood with her hands on top of her head. “You guys are doomed!”
“Kaname, do you wish to assist in the construction of the mobile?” Sousuke made a peace offering.
“Hmmppff!!!” Kaname’s reply was terse and pithy. Even the fine lunch she had while Sousuke was gone didn't improve her disposition.
“Now, if I can have some assistance, I need a number of paints mixed up. I require Olive drab, German Sand Tan, Japanese Jungle green, and Earth gray. I would ask that someone quickly craft pieces of metal in pleasing shapes, paint each in one of those colors, and set them on the floor with the items I procured.” Sousuke spoke as if he were coordinating a battle.
Mr. Valentin stared at the pile of war tools and memorabilia spread out before him. His mouth opened and closed silently.
Kaname, watching the artist, smiled. “Told you. DOOMED”
“Have you made significant progress with the cross bars, chains, and support wires?” Sousuke spoke to the metal workers who had volunteered for that part of the task.
“Affirmative!” The artists stood at attention, snapping off sloppy but heartfelt salutes. They drove in a small forklift, attached the central wire to one bar, and raised the empty mobile off the ground.
“Synchronize your watches on my mark. Mark!” Sousuke was clearly in his element.
“Aye sir!” The artists were pumped.
“Form a fireman’s chain. Begin passing random items along to me. Go!” Sousuke went to stand by the incipient work of art.
“DOOMED…DOOMED…DOOMED…DOOoomph…grffffff…..mrphlmrph…srskysrgra.” The rugby team threw the haversack over Kaname, pushed her over onto the floor, and sat on her.
Artists passed along guns, helmets, boots, field manuals…whatever came to hand. When the items reached Sousuke, he would look at each one critically, test its balance, look for a likely place on the mobile, and either attach the item, or throw it on the discard or maybe later piles.
The class watched entranced. It was like being caught in the middle of a crazy dream. Shinji, Kyouko, and Enrique were busy immortalizing the process. One artist started clapping to a beat. Soon the whole group of them were adding to the rhythm. A watching maintenance man started humming a Scottish fight song.
Sousuke, near the end stages, called out like a surgeon to his assistant. “Pistol…gas mask…Earth gray metal…framed medals display…obituary page…Panzerschrek rocket…kerosene stove…pressed cherry blossoms….”
When all of the attachment wires and chains were occupied, Sousuke stepped back and took a long look.
Kaname, having bitten a number of guys where they sat, managed to stick her head out of the bag. Looking at the mobile, she shook her head. “Doomed, she whispered.
Sousuke looked over at a silent and unmoving Mr. Valentin. Everyone else did the same. You could hear a pin drop. Without saying a word, the usually ebullient man simply turned and left the room.
“Probably went to hang himself instead of the mobile” Kaname said helpfully, breaking the silence. Everyone started to talk at the same time. “That should be memorable!”
Ren yanked on Kaname’s sleeve, trying to get her to take it easy on Sousuke.
Mr. Valentin came back in the room. He was dragging a museum curator with him. “That’s the boy. He’s the one who did it!” An arm came up like the Grim Reaper’s own. A trembling finger pointed at Sousuke.
“Welcome back to earth, Sergeant Swelled Head. I hope this teaches you something.” Kaname sounded smug, almost happy. “Stick to what you know best!”
The curator walked over and looked at the mobile. He looked back to Mr. Valentin, who nodded his head. With all eyes on him, he spoke to Sousuke. “Young man, I understand that you are responsible for all this.”
“Yes, sir. It was my doing.”
“Well then, in accordance with Mr. Valentin’s wishes, I present you with these.” The balding man held out a large pair of golden scissors to Sousuke. “We would all be honored if you would cut the ribbon at the ceremonies, opening the War & Peace wing to the public.”
Kyouko, her camera ready, said “Doomed.”
Kaname picked up the sack and started walking towards her best friend.
************************************************************
With their creative urges satisfied, the students and teacher met up with their next tour guide, a broad shouldered man with a crew cut called simply ‘Mr. Mishka.’ The man, with a thick Slavic accent, seemed jovial and full of life. Everyone warmed to him immediately, and waited expectantly on his words and suggestions. He led them through the extensive areas dedicated to the sciences, their last tour before the grand opening ceremony for the military exhibition.
Everyone’s spirits were high---this was the fun stuff, even better than the arts and crafts. Wandering through the Science In Every Day Life section, they learned about objects in motion; light and perception; magnetism; chemistry; and physics. Their Russian guide had a tendency to put his emphasis on things discovered by Russians, improved by Russians, and done best by Russians.
True, the static displays were informative and interesting, but it was the hands on exhibits that made the biggest hit. The girls mixed chemicals to make different fragrances. The guys explored various subjects about the senses. Shinji, egged on by the other boys, played a rather rotten trick on Mizuke, Maya, Ryo, and Ren. He switched their sandalwood oil with 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, one of the malodorous chemicals from the anal gland of the striped skunk. The girls should have checked their perfume on one of the available cards, before dousing themselves liberally. Shinji should have known better…and he should have run. He and his compatriots fell pray to the saying What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.
Kaname turned blue in the face when she caught a whiff of the ill-prepared scent. Then her eyes lit up. She went to find someone. "Sousuke, how would you like to try a nice cologne?"
"Kaname, I must refuse. Many means can be used to detect an operative in the field. Camoflauge defeats visual cues. Stealthy movement prevents detection by sound. Wearing an odor-producing substance could call attention to one at a very inopportune time."
"We’re not in combat, Sousuke. You’re not a solder. You can be such a moron, you know? Can’t you ever just be a normal boy--- even for a little while?" Kaname was obviously frustrated, and not only about Souske’s unwitting circumvention of her practical joke.
"Kaname, my behavior is normal for me." Sousuke wondered why Kaname was so angry.
"Well, your behavior STINKS, Sousuke! Do you know that? But that’s OK...if the shoe fits..." She brought up the atomizer and squeezed hard on the bulb.
Sousuke, always aware, moved quickly to avoid the situation, unaware of any particular danger. He roled to the side as a huge noxious cloud of airborne particles passed through the space the young soldier had previously occupied. Unfortunately for Mr. Mishka, he had chose that moment to walk past.
The jovial man lost his smile momentarily. His body shook. But, when the tremors subsided, he laughed. "Ah, to be a child again. But, young lady, I would think that you would wish to set a good example for the rest of your class."
Kaname promised she wouldn’t cause any more trouble. She was thoroughly ashamed. And, it was Sousuke's fault!
The class moved on to the hall covering The Mysteries of Origin, Evolution, and Extinction. They marveled at the assembled dinosaur fossils. The dioramas and realistic prehistoric venues and marine settings were breathtaking. The exhibits on diversity amongst and within species were enlightening.
Sousuke stared hard at one particular display, showing the change in size, shape, posture, and gate along the line of human evolution. The figures were life-sized and remarkably realistic. A number of boys were joking about one particular observation, but Sousuke was oblivious to their insincerity. He thought of a way to try and smooth matters between himself and Kaname.
"Chidori. I have examined the humans and their ancestors. I have noted a trend. As the creatures became more advanced, their posterior areas grew in size. You should be proud. You must be very advanced, Kaname." Bending over, he added. "Extremely advanced."
Kaname’s response was not quite Sousuke had expected. She pushed him over the railing, after kneeing him in the groin. When he stood up, Kyouko took his picture---he was hunched over, right between Ardipithecus ramidus and Australopithecus afarensis.
"That’s about right, I think." Kyouko quipped. Kaname told her friend to stop giving Sousuke too much credit.
"Kyouko, THINK!" she said, tossing her hair. "If Sousuke was alive in the time of early man, there never would have been any later man!"
"You’ve got a point...." Kyouko looked over at Sousuke. Next, she looked at a plaque detailing the existance and disappearence of the Neanderthals. She wondered. No. There could only ever be ONE Sousuke!
Mr. Mishka looked over at Sousuke. "I must ask you to stay out of the exhibits. Admittedly, they do offer a hint of a simpler day and age. Back then, all one need do way club the woman on the head and drag her away by the hair."
Sousuke stored away that fact. Perhaps it would prove useful some day. It was good to have a helpful tour guide.
The Hall of Electricity was a huge hit. The Van de Graaff generator was the largest on display in the Far East and was one of the student’s favorite exhibits in the entire museum. When Mizuke put her hand on the surface of the machine, her hair stood straight out on end. At that moment, her friends sprung into action, executing a pre-formed plan. Ryo, Maya, and two other girls coated her hair with fast-acting extra-hold hair spray.
Mizuke was befuddled when everyone gave Ryo a thumbs-up sign.
"Looks like a freakin’ porcupine," one boy laughed . The surrounding guys and gals burst into laughter.
"Nah, more like a giant pin cushion," one girl chuckled.
"Sea urchin!" one excitable boy said, pointing at the marine life poster across the room.
"I think this will be great for the school paper." Kyouko stood in front of Mizuke, taking photo after photo.
When Mizuke put her hand to her hair, her eyes went very wide. After looking in a mirror, the expression oh her face was downright frightening. Everyone scattered.
She chased Ryo down in the Earth Sciences area and stuffed the mischievous girl headfirst into bubbling dye-filled volcano. Kyouko met her fate in the Optics and Light Science area. Mizuke tied her to a table top with a large electrical cord, turned up her skirt, and charged five dollars a head for the boys to use a working telescope. The other jokers met their own scientifically instructive fates.
The tour guide just stood and shook his head. He had seen many things in his life, but nothing like this.
It seems that the spirit of mischief was contagious. Science was fun. It provided so many opportunities. Mr. Mishka lectured the students on anatomy and the circulatory system as they all stood before a giant replica of the human heart, its great vessels merging with the room’s ceiling. Correct in every detail, the huge organ was hollow. The class would be given the opportunity to walk through it, a few people at a time.
"Hey Kaname, it’s such a big heart, it must be YOURS!" Maya smiled. smiled.
Kaname smiled in return. It was nice to be appreciated.
"Oh, and look what’s first in your heart!" Maya pointed to Sousuke, at the head of the line of students. Everyone laughed. Kyouko, still blushing, took more pictures. No one on the museum staff could figure out how a student could possibly end up inside the model’s left atrial appendage. It took three men and a long ladder to get Maya out.
"Where’s Maya?" Ryo asked at one point.
"Heart attack." Kaname answered with a satisfied grin, much to her friend's confusion.
The time spent in the IMAX theater and Planetarium went smoothly without any mishaps. So did the visits to the Ecology And The Envoronment wing and the Telecommunications room. The same was not true for the final area, the Sports Challenge Arena.
The large activities area was brightly colored, bold in its size, design, and purpose. It was a place to do things, and a place to learn something about anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics and how they related to the chosen activity. One large wall was dedicated to rock climbing. A large oval track was used for races between standard wheelchairs and sleeker more aerodynamic models. There were balance beams of different width to walk across. There was plenty to capture the imagination and challenge the body.
Kaname, wanting to show everyone that she was indeed a leader, jumped at the change to try out an exhibit teaching about balance. A large tethered surfboard floated in a large semicircular container of water. The purpose of the exhibit was to have the room attendants describe what muscles, vestibular organs, neural pathways, and physical actions were important for the staying upright on the object.
Laughing, Kaname took her place. The pool was still, so the challenge was not great. In a slight crouch, she spread her arms, the picture of athletic confidence and competence. All she needed to do was concentrate. If she paid attention to what she was doing, nothing could possibly go wrong.
"Perhaps they should have chosen someone else to stand up there," Sousuke remarked to Shinji.
"Why is that?" Shinji asked.
"Big Loser!" Kaname said, no longer pretending she wasn’t paying any attention to Sousuke.
Ryo ran to get her friends. Something good was going to happen. She just knew it.
"No doubt, those frontal protuberances will throw her off balance…." Sousuke spoke in a clinical tone of voice.
"Frontal?" Kaname started to sway. She had allowed herself to be distracted.
"Protruberances?" Her legs started moving back and forth swiftly, as the board moved sideways to and fro. Her face went pale.
"You…you…you…SOUSUKE!" Arms swinging and twirling, Kaname fought to maintain her balance. The board shot out from under her. The splash drenched the front two rows of onlookers. Mr. Mishka looked like a soggy bear. A soggy and highly perturbed bear.
"Sousuke, they’re called breasts," Shinji said, trying to find something to say after witnessing the prelude to Armageddon.
"Affirmative. The name is not important. The function is critical. They will serve as flotation devices, until Kaname can be rescued after her demonstration of balancing inadequacies." Sousuke should have realized that he was well within harm’s way.
"FLOTATION DEVICES...INADEQUACIES…LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT INADEQUACY!!!" Kaname jumped out of the pool like a Trident missile fired from a SSBN. Her targeting system was spot on. Only one re-entry vehicle was necessary. "Idiot!"
Sousuke lay in a small spreading pool of water. He was unable to move when the men with mops showed up. They put a tarp over him…set out a ‘LOOKOUT!!! SLIPPERY FLOOR’ sign nearby…and headed off to the next clean-up assignment.
************************************************************
‘Mr. Mishka’ had managed to keep a happy face on the entire time, no matter what trouble those misgotten brats had gotten into. If it had been his museum, the perpetrators would all be locked in a small dark cell, with bread for company and rats for food! That, or used for realistic fighting target for bare hands, knives, or entrenching tools. The GRU method of martial arts was very effective, and he needed plenty of practice to stay at peak condition.
That Sagara…and that blue-haired wench…he would love to make good use of them. It's not that he cared what they did to this place, in reality. He was not influenced by what Katja had to say about them, or what she had heard from Kimutaku. His anger was more personal than that. They had been under his supervision and his command, and they had paid him no more nevermind than a Cossack might give a peasant. That insolence was unforgivable!
True name Alexsandr Svyatogor, he was not an actual tour guide. He was a freelance business man, but had once been a member of Spetsnaz GRU, a shadow warrior for the National Reconnaissance Agency. He was a veteran of the fighting in Chechnya. He had been a part of the team that took first place in the International Infantry Competition in Alaska. He had killed men for looking at him the wrong way. It was time to truly enjoy the experiment in capitalism.
After the stupid children returned from the restrooms, he would escort them over to the Peace & War wing. He laughed. What a stupid name. Well, there would indeed be peace---after a short, and profitable war. Zero hour was approaching. There was nothing that could go wrong. A large number of priceless works of art would vanish. Dignitaries would enjoy a chance to tour the world until their ransoms were paid. A few unfortunate souls would lose their lives in the process.
Staring at a model of Cro Magnon man, he whipped a clasp knife out of his pocket with blinding speed. Shortly thereafter, the knife lay embedded in the eye of the early human. After retrieving the knife, he whirled and sent a vicious kick to the replica’s head, sending it bouncing across the exhibit.
Almost time….
************************************************************
Sousuke dialed the number to the safe house in Tokyo. He knew that he would be asking a lot, based only on an uneasy feeling. Looking around the curator’s room, it seemed that a number of past and future exhibits were critical of his decision making. A huge snowy owl, stuffed years ago, looked at him with apparent disdain. The busts of Etruscan and Assyrian warriors scowled from a top shelf, questioning his prowess as a soldier.
After speaking with a field agent, Sousuke was put on hold. They would try and make a connection with the TDD-1 and patch him through. He needed to shore up his resolve before talking to Lt. Commander Kalinin. Looking up at the damaged paintings hung over the cluttered desk, Sousuke caught sight of a painting of the Duke of Wellington. Some of that soldier’s words came to mind:
”There is no mistake; there has been no mistake; and there shall be no mistake.” The only mistake would be staying silent. The cost of being mistaken would not be paid in blood and pain. ”By God! I don’t think it would have been done if I had not been there.” He hoped his suspicions had no merit. If they DID, however, he would need to hold the fort until help arrived.
When he reached his commanding officer, Sousuke relayed the observations that had him concerned. Wealthy visitors were separated from the general populace, along with politicians of note and their families. People with athletic ability---and potentially a greater capacity to escape or fight back---were identified and segregated as well. The three tour guides each left him with uneasy feelings.
“Just how strong are your concerns?” Kalinin asked.
“Very strong, Sir!” he answered, going on to describe how forceful Mr.Mishka had been in making certain that Kaname and the other gifted athletes went with one of his associates. The man’s explanation had sounded reasonable enough, but the his temper had momentarily flashed like lightning when Miss Chidori had asked if she could stay with here friends. There was death in his eyes.
“It could just be that the man had a bad day, or that he had little tolerance for high school students and their hijinks.” Lt. Col. Kalinin offered.
“That is true, Sir. But, there was a moment when he was challenged by an agitated boy who didn‘t want to leave his girlfriend. Though it could clearly be coincidence, for a fleeting second he took up a fighting stance like that taught by the Chinese masters in the province of Guangdong. He looked like a cobra, ready to strike.”
“Ah. The martial arts of the Spetznas GRU, different than Sambo, ROSS, and Kadochnikov method taught to other units of the military ” Even after being expatriated, the older Russian man kept up with the training and characteristics of the fighting forces of his homeland.
“The woman, Miss Krieger, also gave hints that she is more than she appears. Her eyes. They were the eyes of a hunter, perhaps a killer. When she was excited, she had a strong German accent. Some of her swear words were Serbo-Croatian. She seemed like a tightly wound spring, threatening to break at any moment. Perhaps just another coincidence.”
“But each coincidence grows in significance with every other question, does it not?” There was a sound of approval in the senior officers voice.
“The strange man, the one with a woman’s tastes, could also be more than he appears. Dodging a falling object, he showed amazing leaping ability, and hung from the wall by means of his hands and feet. I caught the barest flash of metal on his palms and at the sole of his shoes, but it didn‘t register on me at the time.” Sousuke’s subconscious observational skills were as keen as ever.
“Yes, that is definitely a skill that most tour guides would not have. I concur, sergeant. We should not overlook the possibility that a major hostage situation could unfold, or that priceless objects may have tempted dangerous men into a dangerous plot. You mentioned a ceremony. How long?” The Lt’ Commander needed to be able to judge what methods of deployment would be suitable, and which troops could be sent.
“Fourty-five minutes, Sir. I have to be there in fifteen.” Sousuke double-checked his watch.
“Then I shall not keep you longer. We will provide whatever help we can. Look for soldiers and helicopters with JSDF uniforms and markings. We’ll come in quick and leave even quicker. The priority will be to save people, then property. It is not necessary to capture the enemy at the expense of the museum and its patrons. Is that understood, sergeant?” Mr. Kalinin’s voice made it clear he expected his orders to be followed to the letter.
“Yes, sir. I should add, that there is a contingency of A.S. pilots and machines at the Mitsubishi plant. Trucks could have Type-96s in the area within thirty minutes if everything is ready, and if the threat calls for mecha support. Our troops ought to be gone before the real JSDF arrives. Police forces will no doubt arrive sooner, but should take our soldiers at face value.”
“We will do what we can do. Is Miss Chidori with you? Is she safe?”
“She is with the other student athletes. I will not be able to be at her side until my part in the proceedings is done. Would her safety be considered higher priority than that of the the V.I.P.s, sir?” Sousuke did not want to break protocol.
“Yes, as I do not have a list of attendees. I shouldn’t have to tell you, but use of deadly force is not only permitted, but is expected where the situation calls for it.”
“Uh…”
“Sergeant, is there a problem I should know about?” A slight amount of heat crept into the Russian’s voice.
“Sir, I…” Sousuke hesitated, trying to sort the conflict out in his own mind.
“Sergeant Sagara, I have things to attend to.”
“My teacher, Miss Okibasu, and my student representative, Miss Chidori, have made me promise not to fight or use weapons without their permission.” Sousuke realized how that must sound to his commanding officer.
There was dead silence on the other end of the phone.
“Sir?” Sousuke began to grow concerned.
“We will discuss this matter when the mission is over. For now, I highly suggest that you get that permission as soon as possible. Do your duty, sergeant. Make us all proud. We are depending on you.”
After hanging up, Sousuke wanted to head out to the bus. He needed to get some concealable weapons.
“There you are Mr. Sagara. Let’s get going. This is a very important day, and neither of us can afford to be late. The elderly curator appeared, grabbed Sousuke by the arm, and hurried him out of the room.
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End of pt 12
OH S**TSKY!!!!!! From guerilla, to merc, to student... now a pimp...
