[Fanfic] Sousuke's last stand - ch 7 (Pg-13)

[Avlor]

Chapter 7 - Stripped
Back in his quarters, Sousuke flopped on his bunk and dialed Kaname. Thanks to the de Daanan’s superior technology, the crew enjoyed being able to make calls home via cell phones, utilizing the sub’s cellphone signal booster and access to communications satellites.

The phone kept ringing… “Where could she be?” he wondered. He’d let it ring 5 more times before hanging up. He was about to hang up, when she answered a little breathless.

“Hello?” she panted.

“Kaname? It’s Sousuke.”

“Sousuke!!!! Why didn’t you call me sooner? Did you get reassigned? Where …”

Before she could interrogate him any further, he calmed her. “Hush… Now, one question at a time…”

Kaname flinched and quieted, “I kept hoping you’d call.”

“I waited until I had news, so I’ll give you the briefing. They will not reassign me to you. They feel that the risk for you is minimal now and I am needed elsewhere…”

She seethed, “What?!?! You’re just gonna go along with this? I can’t believe…”

Before she could get any further in her tirade, he answered, “No, I’m putting my resignation in tomorrow.” His words clamped her mouth shut. He knew if he were there with her, he would have just narrowly dodged the halisen. “I’ll be back in 19 days. So what were you doing before I called?”

She sniffled pitifully as she replied, “I just got back from shopping with Kyouko. We bought new swimsuits and summer dresses.”

“Are you ok, Kaname?”

“I will be.”

“Will you do two favors for me?”

“Of course. What do you need?”

“I need an application to Tokyo University and a study guide for the entrance exam. Please, have it ready when I return. And would you find an apartment for me?” was his request. She picked her jaw up off the floor. He continued, “I’ll call you again soon.”

“Sousuke. I’m impressed – you’re looking to the future. … I’ll be waiting to hear from you and counting the days until you return.”

…

Kaname hugged her pillow. He was coming back soon. What could she do for him – to show him that she loved him? Love him? Well, she really must. They hadn’t said it to each other, but she would remedy that soon – and she’d do something for him … just what should it be?

Kaname sprang out of bed with the idea fresh in her mind. She had a few phone calls to make…

The days seemed to dig in their feet, kick and scream to not pass as they were dragged along, but finally Sousuke’s last day came. First thing he had to do was weapons check in. Dread loomed – he’d never had to go anywhere with out a weapon before. He heaved a large sigh and grabbed his checklist before heading out.

Commander Mardukas walked down the hall to the armory. He had never been fond of Sousuke. He never thought of Sousuke as an ideal soldier. But the idea of him in the civilian world was even more frightening than him staying in Mithril. Mardukas was woken from his thoughts by the announcement, “Sergeant Sagara reporting for weapons check in, Sir!” He didn’t even look up to see Sousuke salute, “Sergeant, lets get this over with. Hand me your checklist.”

Sousuke handed him a thick packet of paper. Marukas’s eyes bulged in surprise then squinted.

“3 RF detonators, ” Mardukas listed.
Soususke retrieved the weapons and place them on the table.
“Check.” Mardukas checked off the weapon.
“1 taser…check”
“30 directional buckshot mines…check”
“45 M61 fragmentation hand grenades…check”
“1 Steyr AUG assault rifle with ammo…check”
“155 Flash grenades…check”

Mardukas paused and put his hand to his head, he was beginning to get a headache. “What in the world were you doing with all those grenades?” he bewilderedly asked and then thought better of it, “Wait I don’t want to know.” Mardukas continued.

“1 AK-47 with ammo…check”
“10 rocket propelled grenades…check”
“1 Barrett model 82 sniper rifle with ammo…check”
“32 MK 3A2 concussion grenades…check”
“1 M-79 grenade launcher…check”
“1 M-203 under rifle grenade launcher…check”
“10 pounds of C4…check” Mardukas’s eyes bulged and then he just shook his head and continued.
“2 reels of primer cord…check”
“1 box of detonators…check”
…
Two and a half hours later…

“Good God Sagara! You had more than half the armory!” Mardukas snarled.

Finally Mardukas read the last item on the list…
“One Glock 26 pistol…”

Sousuke reluctantly unbuckled his belt and pulled off the holster with his old friend in it. . The Glock 26 and he had been through a lot together. He looked down as if to say good-bye and ran his fingers over it’s barrel one last time. Sousuke was going to have to give it up. “Hurry up soldier we don’t have all day! That gun wasn’t yours to begin with!” Mardukas snapped. Sousuke looked up at Mardukas and slammed the gun down on the table.

“Check. You are now free to go and complete the rest of the check out process, Sergeant. Dissmissed.”

Sousuke smoldered as he headed to the next stop. He felt almost violated, like he’d been strip searched for drugs.

…
After the bustle of the day was over, Sousuke wandered around the ship, just taking it all in and letting the memories flow. He found himself in the hangar standing before the Arbalest that he called AL. His eyes traced every line of the AS’s sleek form. It was Kaname who first helped him use the lambda driver. With out her he probably would be dead by now. He never fully understood AL, and wondered if the next pilot would surpass him. For old times sake he climbed into the cockpit.

“Begin voice print check. Your name and identification number please,” AL mechanically requested.

“Sergeant Sagara Sousuke. B-3128.”

“Check complete. Confirmed as Sergeant Sagara. Give your orders now.”

“I came to say good bye AL. I’ve resigned and I go home tomorrow. Good luck with your new pilot,” Sousuke felt odd talking to this machine – it had no emotions. But he just couldn’t leave with out saying something. He looked at his watch. It was time to try to get some sleep. As he climbed out of the Arbalest he heard, “Unable to process. Repeat, re-issue command.”

Sousuke shook his head and sauntered to his bunk.


----------

Please don’t shoot me for having him resign. I have my purposes behind it. I hope you’ll agree with me in the end. Also, I had to look up every weapon but the AK-47. Many thanks to the THIS forum for the weapons info! Please, let me know if I goofed on anything.

6/19/04
- corrected glock type
- chose to leave Mardukas's surprise in the check out (yes he would have probably looked at the log already - Bel is right)

[Belisarius]

Let's see......................

OMFG, talk about a weapons checkout,

One thing, unless he got some of that stuff from 'friends', Mardukas would have known every weapon that Souske checked out of the armory. I know for a fact, as I saw a weapons checkout log book on board my ship. Then saw similar logbooks that dated back to 1986. This was in 1995.


On with the next chapter..................

[Avlor]

I wondered about that. and Mardukas being the hard nose he is probably would have MADE sure he was there early to grill Sousuke more. Sigh.

[HELLFIRE]

“Good God Sagara! You had more than half the armory!” Mardukas snarled.

Errr.... knowing Sousuke, what else is new

THAT many grenades? Glad you found our little info archive
useful, Avalor










Regards