FullMetal*Panic!

Kurz had ridden many things, but NOTHING as exciting as this. A dream come true!

He had surfed the Banzai Pipeline. He had skied the Alps with Greta. Many of the tallest and fasted rollercoasters worldwide had bowed down and called him master. He had attended numerous driving camps, getting a chance to spend time behind the wheels of NASCAR and Formula-1 racers. He had visited similar Russian camps for tandem flying in Soviet fighter aircraft.

All had been fun, but none were as big a conquest as this. He had KNOWN he would succeed. NO ONE could resist the Weber charm forever.

He needed to focus on the moaning woman beneath him. He had lost track of how many times he had brought her to Heaven...let her back down to earth...only to bring her higher yet. He was winded, and his arms were growing weary, but he would give her his all.

Melissa deserved nothing less.

She would be his slave after this. It was far too late---she would have no choice but to develope a craving for him, a sweet addiction. Then, it would be HE who could string HER along, always pushing her back and slapping her down. Yes, it would be....

Suddenly, things were wet all over. But wait...his hair? The dream fragmented, swirled valiantly trying to reform, then disappeared.

"What?" Kurz sat upright, rubbing his hand in his hair. Cold liquid ran down the back and side of his neck. Some ran into the corner of his mouth. Beer!

"Shit, Kurz, this is no time to take a nap. Sousuke will be back in a few hours and we need to have this place ready for him. I sure as hell am not going to do all the work!"

"Damn it, Sis. That was a terrible thing to do!" Kurz looked angry.

"What, wake you up? Why were you moaning?" Melissa stopped what she was doing, glad to give her arms a break.

"Yes...I mean, it was stupid to waste a beer like that." For once, Kurz showed a little discretion. After all, his neck was on the line.

"Of course." She did not sound convinced. She grew steely-eyed. "So, why were you calling out MY name?" She clenched and unclenched her fists.

"Uh...well...I was bound hand and foot like the victim in th old silent movies. You were sitting on the train track drinking all of the beer...without letting me have a single drop!" Oh yeh! That was a good one!

"Bull crap! Try again." She stood up and did some stretching exercises. She probably didn't want to pull a muscle when she whalloped him something fierce.

"But...OK, I'm embarrassed to admit it...." He put every bit of sincerity he had into his voice. He attemped to look utterly embarrassed. "You are still the master and I'm still the student." She wasn't scowling yet, so there was still a chance. "We were in a fight with terrorists, but they seemed like monsters from my childhood nightmares. I couldn't handle them alone. You were the first one I thought of to call for help!"

"Oh Hell. If that's the best you can do, you deserve what's coming to you!" She started walking his way, smacking the pump she held against the palm of her hand.

"REALLY, Sis. You just don't realize how much I look up to you!!!" Kurz wanted to back away, but he knew he would be admitting his guilt if he did.

"Except, in your dream you were looking down at me...." Melissa slid that one in deftly and quickly.

"Oh yeh! We...." His reflexes had done him in. But he was a quick thinker. "We were climbing the Alps looking for Greta. Damn, how I miss her. I think the terrorists had her, but you broke the dream before I could get there...."

"You're a terrific liar, Weber. But I'm a better one. Send a thief to catch a thief. Send a squad leader to kick the living shit out of a lying perverted son of a bitch." Melissa must have been in a good mood anticipating Sousuke's return. Those words were close to compliments.

Now Kurz was backpeddling around the room.

"You weren't having some kind of erotic dream, were you Kurzie Poo?" Melissa's smile could curdle milk.

"Uh, of course not!" What was the saying? Don't cry over spilt blood?

"You weren't getting off on me, were you Dead Man?" That look could boil bodily fluids.

"No...no, of course not! Why would I even look at someone like you?" Oops, that one didn't come out just right!

"I see." Melissa growled, grabbing Kurz by his shirt collar and lifting him off the ground. "This is going to hurt you more than it hurts me."

"But Sis, how can I help fix things up for good ole Sousuke if you snap me in two? And shouldn't you be thinking about him, not your own pleasures? This is a good joke...it would be a shame to waste the opportunity...." He closed his eyes, praying.

Melissa let Kurz go. "I hate to admit it, but you're right. Get back to setting up the candles! I'll get back to rubber Mira. You set-up the two way microphone already, didn't you?" Sousuke would be shocked to find a woman waiting for him in his bed. The blouse on the floor would be obviously displaying a name tag that Melissa had pilfered from Mira's room. This should lead to a choice reaction if Melissa's muffled voice could sound enough like Captain Concepcion's.

"Of course, Cap'n. You KNOW that you can trust the amzing Lt. Weber!" He busied himself placing candles on Sousuke's desk, and by the side of his bed. "Oh, and by the way...you were having a TERRIFIC time in my dream. Sometimes life mimics art, you know...." He was Kurz Weber, after all.

"Ha ha ha. Well, you guessed right. We need to get this done. Enjoy your victory...I can wait...." Melissa started whistling a happy tune, working away at the pump, blowing up the life-size rubber doll. The wig, already in place, looked very much like Casimira's hair. Kurz would soon mimic the doll's lifeless appearence.

Kurz gulped. Well, if he was already going to pay the price, he might as well get the most out of it.... "You're working pretty diligently over there, Sis. But, don't you know, you can't pump your breasts any bigger that way?"

Melissa stopped pumping. The room was totally quiet. That just wouldn't do for Kurz.

"Oh, and it won't fix the lopsided one either!" He started chuckling happily.

Very quietly, in an ominous flat tone of voice, Melissa spoke as if she were only talking to herself. "Ah. I certainly hope the ship's doctor isn't too busy tonight...."

Whatever reply Kurz might have had was cut short when the door opened.

Sousuke walked in. The flight out had been pushed up by two hours.

*************************************************************

His mental turbulence had drained him emotionally more than the bumpy flights had drained him physically.

Sousuke' mind screamed for attention: one part wanted to think about Kaname, their intimate moments, and possible futures; another part was trying to construct a decision tree, providing potential courses of action regarding his pursuit of less palatable discoveries.

Likewise, his emotions clamored for attention. Love. Lust. Friendship. Relief. Anticipation. Interest. Fear. Those, for Kaname. Anger. Disappointment. Eagerness. Doubt. Shock. Sadness. Hurt. Those, for the uncertain perpetrators within Mithril.

Physically, he was both on edge and worn out. Kaname had been relentless and insistant. She had told him they had years to catch up on. A number of muscles still ached from over-exertion during the street battle. His back was stiff from the poorly rigged chairs on the helicopter and the impromptu seats on the overstuffed transport plane. But, his muscles still were hyperactive, twitchy. He was still on a steep adrenaline ascent, and did not relish the fall from such a hight. His body kept insisting that there were things that needed to get done NOW.

Walking down the hallway of the TDD-3, his duffel bag felt heavier and heavier, as did his eyelids. The bag of beer he carried for Melissa certainly wasn't getting any lighter, either. Despite his less than pleasant discoveries, his heart felt buoyant enough to make up for it all.

Opening the door to his cabin, he was surprised to see Kurz and Melissa busy at some form of obvious mischief. Sooner or later, they would make him pay for ruining their plan. That is, if their thoughts weren't preoccupied by the bombshells he was about to drop.

*************************************************************

You could have heard a pin drop.

Kurz and Melissa were caught red handed. Melissa near frantically searched for some way to blame it on Kurz. Kurz eagerly sought some way to turn it to his advantage. Neither felt inclined to speak at first.

Sousuke glanced about the room in rapid succession, taking everything in. Full and empty beer cans. A woman's blouse on the floor, with a name tag that read "Capt. Concepcion." Woman's shoes, stockings, and lace undergarments. Candles on the floor, on his desk, and in Kurz' hands. A half-inflated rubber practice target with a non-regulation wig. A pump in Melissa's hands. A look of shock on Kurz' face, soon followed by a large smirk. Anger in Melissa's eyes at contrast with an embarrassed expression.

Melissa was the first to break the silence. "Damn it all, Sagara. What the HELL are you doing here NOW!!!"

Turning to her long-haired compatriot, she continued. "Kurz, if you f@cked up the ETA Sousuke gave you, get used to singing Soprano!"

Sousuke knew exactly how he wanted to play this. "Well, excuse me for returning to my own quarters after a long and exhaustive flight." He looked at his watch. "I am only five minutes earlier than the time I gave Lt. Weber."

He kept his face straight. "If you wanted to surprise me, Captain Mao, wouldn't it have been smart to start earlier?" He tried to look puzzled. "I had thought better of your tactical abilities. Had we been in combat...."

"GRRRRrrrrrrr." Melissa looked from Sousuke to Kurz and back to Sousuke again. She couldn't decide which one she was more pissed at. Well, when in doubt, fall back to the old standard.

Melissa stood up cat quick and cat lithe, a panther ready to pounce. She took a cigarette lighter out of her pocket, turned the fuel up, and lit it. "Weber, I am going to shove each and every goddamn candle down your pants and light every f@cking one on fire. I am then going to laugh while we all wait for YOUR candle to burn down to a nub!!! It should NOT take very long...."

Kurz tried to duck down behind Sousuke. "Sousuke, you know that's NOT true. That's NOT the time you told me. You have to help me old buddy."

Kurz couldn't see Sousuke's face, but Melissa could. Sousuke winked.

Melissa went about the room gathering candles. "Lt. Sagara, I ORDER you to tell me the truth. You wouldn't cling to a falsehood if it would lead to the SEVERE injury of a squadmate, would you?" Her voice was very serious.

"Of course NOT, Captain. A good soldier would NEVER do that!" Both Sousuke and Melissa tried to keep a straight face and an even voice. "Unless, of course, the squadmate was Lt. Weber!"

"SOUSUKE!" Kurz should have known Sousuke was only joking...but with Melissa, it never paid to make assumptions.

"Seriously, Captain---despite all of the tricks and practical jokes Lt. Weber has played on me in the past, I would never risk our friendship by causing him be unfairly abused."

Kurz looked momentarily relived. He knew Sousuke couldn't keep up something like that for too long. He let out a long explosion of breath.

"But that raises a very important conceptual point for debate. Is it even possible, by definition, to unfairly abuse Lt. Weber? What with all of the times he has badmouthed you, or sworn that he had recieved sexual pleasure from you that you were militarily beholden to deny...." Sousuke couldn't help from grinning briefly.

"DAMN YOU WEBER!!! I can hear your sausage sizzling already!!!" Melissa made a good show of trying to get around Sousuke.

Kurz bolted for the door. Sousuke stuck a foot out, sending him tumbling, stopping right at Melissa's feet. Yelping, Kurz rolled into a ball and stayed that way.

Sousuke and Melissa looked at one another and smiled. It was all they could do to keep from laughing.

"Kurz! What are you doing down there like that. Can't you see that Sousuke just got in. He's probably tired. He doesn't have time for any of your shenanigans!" Melissa walked over to Sousuke and gave him a big warm hug. "It's good to have you back, Sousuke!"

"Ah! Yes, I see. You mean you're happy that I brought you your beer!" Sousuke picked up his bag and handed it to Melissa, who dove into it like a fox jumping into a chicken coop.

"Hell yes! Now I remember why you are my FAVORITE squadmate!" She gloated over her bounty.

Kurz stood up and brushed himself off. "It's good to see you deliver on your promises, Sousuke ole chum. So, where's my redhead?"

Sousuke pointed to the label of a bottle Melissa had taken out to sample.

"Sousuke, I'm very disappointed. But, I bet I KNOW what happened. You kept her for yourself, you rascal you!" Sousuke shook his head.

"No red head? A brunette then!!!" This was a common Kurz routine, but Sousuke's response was subtly different this time. No one else would have noticed, but Kurz was all over it like white on bread.

Kurz walked up to Sousuke, chuckling and rubbing his hands together. Melissa looked on and shook her head, a pained look on her face. She toasted Sousuke sarcastically with her beer.

"So. A brunette. Is that why you stayed an extra day, you dog!" Kurz was in his element. It was time to make Sousuke squirm. He deserved it, after pandering to Melissa that way!

"Yes." Sousuke couldn't help from smiling.

Kurz was tempoarily taken aback.

"Sis! Sis! He's smiling. Whooo-hooo! Gaetano Casanova's baby boy Sousuke has done it again! So, are you keeping count? Good ole Giacomo wrote about 122 conquests that HE had! Oh yeh!"

Kurz threw his hair back and could barely contain himself. "Hey, babe. In honor of Sousuke's good fortune, how about throwing me one of those redheads?" He gave Melissa his best smile and pose combo.

Melissa looked at Kurz like he had just crawled out from under a rock. "Sousuke!" she said, throwing a beer to the younger soldier.

Sousuke was definitely in the mood for a drink. He was enjoying the levity with his two friends---and still looked forward to seeing their reaction to Kaname's 'resurrection'---but the topic would turn much darker soon enough. "Thank you!" He returned Melissa's salute.

Kurz looked between Melissa and Sousuke repeatedly, then scowled temporarily.

His good humor flashed back at full flame. "Sousuke...Sousuke...Sousuke... remember, Casanova's plans to become a priest ended becasue of love affairs...AND drinking! I'm shocked. Totally shocked! Are you telling me you are set on giving up your quest for the cloth?"

"Yes." Sousuke NEVER answered any of Kurz' ribald challenges. Kurz never actually expected him to.

Melissa clapped her hands. Kurz needed a moment to regain control. Something REALLY good must have happened.

"S-s-s-o, Sousuke...give! What was her name? Was it Henriette?" Kurz's classical education was showing.

"No" was all that Sousuke answered.

"S-s-so...." Kurz asked expectantly, his patience beginning to fray at both ends.

Sousuke made it a point to read the fine print on the label of his near empty bottle.

"Need another, Sousuke?" Melissa was smiling, watching Kurz's eyes.

"Please!"

Melissa lofted another bottle, but it was too close to Kurz, who grabbed it with a triumphant yell and an explosion of long hair. He went to twist off the top, only to realize Melissa had tricked him. It was an empty!!!

The full bottle made its way from Melissa's hand to Sousuke. "These are really good, Melissa. REALLY good. After a hard day, they SURE hit the spot." He turned towards Kurz, a fake look of sympathy on his face. "It's a shame you can't have any, Kurz." He took a long pull. "Oh yeh!"

"You were just about to tell us her name, Sousuke!" Kurz put in, helpfully. Or, more accurately, hopefully.

"I was?" Sousuke checked to see if the writing on this bottle was the same as the wrtiting on the other. Melissa chuckled. This was even more fun than banging Kurz' head against the bulkhead!

"Sousuke, would you be willing to tell me?" Melissa knew THAT would be certain to get Kurz.

"Yes."

Melissa got up and walked over to Sousuke, who stood and whispered into her ear "Will you keep it a secret, and allow me to tell Kurz in my time? It may not be easy."

"Yes, I can do that." Melissa's interest was fully piqued at that moment. Just what had Sousuke gotten himself into?

Kurz walked up real close, and put his ear near Melissa's. Melissa grabbed that ear, causing Kurz to wince. She then flipped Kurz over her shoulder, and watched him land in the far corner of the room. Oh! She hopped that Sousuke hadn't been overly fond of that end table.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sousuke whispered "Kaname."

"W-what?!" Usually cool Melissa lost her control ever so briefly. Was Sousuke joking? That was not a subject that she would expect him to make light of. Had he reverted to the days soon after the accident, when he thought that every dark-and-long haired girl he saw was Kaname? Had he met another woman named Kaname?

Sousuke could well guess what thoughts must be running through his superior officer and friend's mind. "The original," he whispered. "We can discuss it later." He could understand the look of disbelief on Melissa's face. He simply nodded his head.

Kurz walked somehat crookedly back to the heart of the action. He moved his hair from over his eyes and stared intently at Sousuke. "So, Sousuke, time to spill the beans. Who WAS it?!"

"Someone you know." Sousuke smiled, knowing that Kurz would frantically try to figure out the identity.

"Aha! From where, Sousuke? The sub?" Kurz' eyes went distant as he ran up a tally of the crew women on board. "Mia?"

"No."

"Rami?"

"No."

"Horie?"

"No."

It went on that way until Kurz's mental list was exhausted. "Not someone on board? Someone at the training facility? Oh! Minister Yokimura's daughter?"

"No."

Eventually Kurz could think of no additional names to ask. Sousuke thought it was just as well, as he grew weary of the game. He stood up and went over to his duffel bag. He removed a recent picture of himself and Kaname taken in a photo booth.

Sousuke handed the picture to Melissa, who immediately and uncharacteristically teared up. "I...I wasn't certain I could believe you, Sousuke."

Kurz tried to grab the picture, but the look Melissa gave him froze him immediately. THAT was nothing to mess with.

Melissa stared at the picture wordlessly for a moment, then stood and walked over to Sousuke, enfolding him in a tender hug. "I'm so happy for you, Sousuke."

Sousuke retrieved the picture and handed it to Kurz.

*************************************************************

Kurz was a fine example of a man at war with himself. Two very different thoughts clamored for his attention, each having a single common denominator.

Kaname was alive.

She and Sousuke had done THE deed.

He KNEW which fact was the more significant, and by a wide margin. How could she be alive? What had actually happened? How had Sousuke run across her again?

Kaname was alive.

She and Sousuke had done THE deed.

Still, this was an epiphany, a major historical event. After so much waiting, the once clueless soldier had hooked up with the beautiful bipolar babe. Why had they kept Kurz waiting so long? The NERVE of them!

Kaname was alive.

She and Sousuke had done THE deed.

Man! He wanted to do cartwheels. Both facts were the best news he had heard in a long long time. As pumped up as he was inside, he found he couldn't speak, couldn't move.

Kaname was alive.

She and Sousuke had done THE deed. Oh yeh!!!

His overheated mind might have stayed in that loop endlessly, if Captain "Helpful" Mao hadn't taken things into her own hands. Strong occular muscles kept Kurz' eyes within his head after Melissa smacked him heartily on the back.

"SNAP OUT OF IT WEBER!!!" Melissa smiled. If the news had short-circuited Kurz' brain, then HE would be the butt of her practical jokes. It wouldn't take het too long to gather up a permanent marker and a pair of scissors. Perhaps even a camera. A no lose situation.

"K-K-K-" His mind was turning over like a cold engine. Melissa though a good swift kick would get it going...it always seemed to work in the movies. She pictured Kurz's ass sitting on a tee, and aimed for the uprights.

"Kan-ouw-ame!" Kurz said.

"Not quite right!" Melissa said. Her foot swung back and forward again, a rather nasty pendulum.

"Ouw. Shit! Ka-na-me." He glowered at Melissa.

"Good dog!" Melissa said, winking at Sousuke. Sousuke closed his eyes and shook his head. He smiled. It was GOOD to be back.

"Damn it all, Sis. If only...." Kurz looked ready to spit. Trust Melissa to find a way to interupt his ecstacy!

"Yes. If only you were a REAL man...then what?" Melissa cocked her head and smiled.

"Then I'd be just like you, tough guy! There's a GOOD reason we never see you in a dress!" Kurz flexed, then clenched his teeth. He shifted his weight onto the balls of his feet. It looked as if he was about to do something extremely foolish. Melissa grinned in anticipation.

"Fine pair of friends you two are. Don't you want to hear about Kaname?!!" Sousuke's words were like a cold bucket of water poured over both of their heads...while they stood on a live electrical grid!

"Oh, sorry Sousuke." Kurz cringed, then looked extremely sheepish.

"Old habits die hard" Melissa offered in lieu of an apology.

"So, where should I start?" Sousuke asked, already predicting what Kurz' reply would be.

"Well, how you found her!" Kurz said, surprisng Sousuke. "I mean, how you found her to be a choice morsel between the sheets!!! Oh Yeh!!! And....arrrrggghh." Melissa pulled a handful of his hair out.

"Start from the beginning, Sousuke. It's OK to leave out anything you find too personnel." She smiled at Kurz, who was giving her the finger and the evil eye. "You can then tell me the rest after we drop Kurz off at sick bay."

Sousuke filled them in on the pertinent details from his recent trip to Osaka. The mission. His role in blunting the gang violence. Kaname's and his discovery of one another. The put-down of her ex-boyfriend. A sanitized version of the time spent at Kaname's apartment.

"Well, Sousuke, you stud among studs, that still does NOT explain why you didn't bring me back a red head!" Kurz laughed. "Do you think Melissa would look good as a red head?"

Kurz dodged a vicious sweep by Melissa's leg, leaping easily above it and out of the way. "Getting slow there, babe! Maybe we ought to bring you back to the dealer for a check up. Unless you just want me to give you a lube job! Oh yeh!!!"

Melissa did am impressive duck and roll, bowling Kurz over, finishing the move off with a fierce elbow to the gut. With Kurz making noises like a hippo with a belly ache, Melissa say down hard on him, and turned her complete attention towards Sousuke. Her face was very serious.

"Sousuke. You said that the two of you discussed possibilities. Unless I miss my guess, your top suspects would have to be Tessa, Stoneface, and who-knows-who in the upper eschelon. Right?" To Melissa, 'Stoneface' was a term of less-than-endearment for Lt. Cmdr. Mardukas.

"That is correct, Melissa."

"You don't REALLY think that Tessa could have been involved in the scheme, do you?" Melissa sounded extremely concerned, torn between her friendship for Sousuke and her friendship for Tessa. "I can't belive she would do something so cruel to you...or to Kurz and myself!"

"Urf...why not, Sis...oof...she always had the big time hots for the love machine over there...ahhh, urrr...and you KNOW she...oof...turned the jets on big time towards...errrr...him afterwards." Kurz was having a difficult time speaking with Melissa squashing his chest and abdomen.

Melissa stood up slowly. "Shut up, Kurz. I can't see Melissa doing something like that just to get her paws on Sousuke. She wouldn't take that kind of risk. She wouldn't do that to me! She knows how you and I feel about him."

"You're probably right, babe. But, there might have been other reasons. Tessa had her own priorities, and we were not at the top of the list." Kurz was being reasonable, but the words sounded dirty even to him.

Melissa turned her back on Kurz. "Sousuke! What do YOU think?"

"I understand how you feel, Captain." Sousuke knew he had to walk wary if he was going to have any hope at keeping Melissa unbiased. "I have a hard time believing that Tessa could do that...both as my erstwhile commander, and as my friend."

He noticed Melissa's tension level drop considerably. However, he had to push onward. "Nevertheless, I am forced to address the matter from a different direction. I pose this question: how could this thing have occured WITHOUT her foreknowledge?"

"That's right, Captain Soft Heart and Hard Head! I want to belive Tessa is innocent as much as you do, but how can we explain THAT?" Kurz was clearly wrestling with the potentially harsh reality.

"Mardukas! That stiff-necked stuffy old bastard could have done it!" Melissa was vehement, bordering on venomous.

"C'mon, Sis. Do you think he and his overstarched pants would have done something like that behind her back, without her ever catching even the slightest hint?" Kurz was incredulous. "Even if someone else forced HIM to do it, don't you think that Tessa would have personally talked to the leader of the I.G. squad sent in to look for details?" It was a damning question. An intelligence gathering squad should have been an automatic response. If one had not been sent, that would be another point of suspicion.

"Who's to say she DIDN'T, you ass?! What if someone higher up put a clamp on things. What if there was a threat too big to ignore?" Melissa's tone of voice brooked no disagreement.

Sousuke found himself unwilling to believe in extenuating circumstances at that moment. Could there be ANY valid excuse for the thing that was done to him and Kaname? Still, a part of his mind realized that he should at least give Tessa the benefit of the doubt to start with. If facts later damned her, he would have all of eternity to curse her and despise her.

"Melissa, I am the one who was hurt the most. Myself, and Kaname. Even so, I do not wish to rush and place Tessa's head in a noose." Melissa's gaze softened a touch, but she still clenched her fists and breathed heavily.

Sousuke would not back off or back down. "We can determine nothing without answers. And, we cannot find any answers by sitting here, clinging to the remants of our hopes and wishes. Can we at least agree on that point?"

"Yes" Melissa said grudgingly. "However, do we need to find the answers? Do we really? We don't know that Tessa did anything wrong by her own hand or by her own design. If we take this too far, she might be hurt unfairly!"

"Unfairly! Sis, listen to yourself! Was anything that Sousuke and Kaname had to live through fair?! You KNOW what they felt for each other...what they were both going through, even in the best of times. How can you take Tessa's side over THAT?!"

Melissa looked as if she were painfully stuck on the horns of a dilemma. "Yes, I realize that, Kurz. I realize that. It's just...." She was clearly having a terrible time accepting some of the possibilities. "But, that doesn't mean we should assume anything. Tessa doesn't deserve pain and hardship any more than Sousuke did."

"Are we sure of that?" Kurz was determined that Sousuke would have at least one person in his corner.

"Kurz, just listen a moment. Tessa has worked very hard at her job, and it has torn her to pieces mentally and emotionally. She has served the greater good in more ways than any of us may ever know. And, she has done that while she was terribly lonely. I KNOW. I wiped away her tears on numerous occasions. She poured out her heart to me more times than I wish to remember!"

"OK. And?"

Melissa stared at Kurz, but his resolve did not melt in the slightest. She continued, crossing a line. "It's not common knowledge, but she was offered a research and developement job landside, at Mithril's top facility. She will be stepping down from the TDD-1's captain's chair one month from tomorrow."

That was news to both Kurz and Sousuke.

Melissa considered whether or not she should go any further. She had already broken confidence. But, this was a serious matter, and all cards should be placed face up on the table. "In addition to that, she has finally found someone she can give her heart to. Someone who has grown to care for her deeply. Do you understand now what we are playing with?"

Kurz began to speak. Sousuke waved him off. He chose his next words very carefully. "I understand what you are telling us, Melissa. I do not intend to treat things lightly or flippantly. I am not out for revenge. I will not use a heavy machine gun where a stun grenade is called for."

"I know that, Sousuke. But..." It was Melissa's turn to be waved off.

"Melissa, I will never ask you to choose between Tessa and myself. That is not my business or my concern. However, as one who does not often speak on my own behalf, I will do so now."

Melissa froze at the tone of Sousuke's voice. There was a ring of maturity that she had not heard there before. It was almost humbling, as if she were listening to someone many years her elder.

"If Tessa is indeed innocent, I will rejoice in her happiness and good fortune. Regardless of whatever she may have done, I will never fail to appreciate the great service she has done for each of us in this room, and I will not forget the debt of gratitude that the entire planet owes her."

Kurz too was struck by the sheer rightness of the younger man's speech. Sousuke was his friend, and someone he enjoyed teasing and harassing. But, he was also someone worthy of great respect and admiration. Not only because of his courage and determination. Not simply for his prowess in combat.

"Nonetheless, both Kaname and I have also served in our own ways as well. Together and separately, we also deserve a chance at happiness. Neither of us can assume that the past can not come back to haunt us. Can you, with no more answers than you currently have, guarantee that Kaname and I are no longer at risk from whatever forces were arrayed against us? Should we feel safe and comfortable, not knowing the motives involved or the individuals responsible?"

Melissa hung her head. There were no answers to counter Sousuke's claims and implications. In a rare moment, Kurz safely lay his hand on her shoulder, offering comfort. In an even rare moment, she squeezed that hand gratefully, murmuring "Thank you."

All three remained quiet for a while, organizing their thoughts.

Melissa was the first to break the silence. In a strong and determined voice, she asked "What should we do then? Sousuke, what are your suggestions?"

*************************************************************

The three had discussed possible options, ranging from ignoring the past, upwards to a highly visible challenge to the High Command to provide suitable answers. As one might expect, the best potential solutions lay somewhere in between those two extremes.

After judging his state of mind, and getting a full accounting of his intentions, Melissa and Kurz were willing to follow Sousuke's lead, allowing him to serve as point person and scout. He would meet with Cmdr. Horowitz and Lt. Cmdr. Ben-Elieden---informing them of his discoveries; seeking their council; and hopefully obtaining their permission for further action.

As there were no current or looming missions, Sousuke had little difficulty arranging a meeting with his two commanders.

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Cmdr. Joachim Horowitz, distinguised commander of the SSBN-AS 746 Ladon before his voluntary retirement from the U.S. Navy, was a stern faced middle-aged gentleman with thick greying hair, a fencer's build, and a pair of exceeedingly keen and intense blue eyes hiding behind thick-rimmed glasses. He had trained himself as an ace debater, and was an exceptionally well read navy historian. He had a sharp wit and a wicked sense of humor, either or which could readily be used to flay any subordinate who crossed lines that should remain uncrossed.

Sousuke hoped that his commander would see the need for this discussion, and would not view him as a trouble-maker or a turncoat.

Lt. Cmdr. Aharon Ben-Elieden, long time member of the Israeli Defense Forces, was a silent brooding rock of a man. Squat, dark of hair and skin, and walking with a ballet dancer's grace, he was extraordinary broad through the shoulders, and had limbs of equally impressive girth. His widely set brown eyes might seem distant at times, but they never missed a thing. He also had the best sense of anticipation that Sousuke had ever experienced, and his judgement was impeccable. To the unaquainted, he might appear humorless, even dull. However, he was simply reserved and efficient. He too was an avid historian.

Sousuke looked at the commander of the SRT forces, very much aware that he himself was under similar scrutiny. They had many similarities in character, and had an excellent working relationship.

When an orderly delivering sandwhiches and drinks had left, Cmdr. Horowitz leaned back in his chair and gave the meeting over to Sousuke. To anyone inquiring, this was a de-briefing attached to the recent Osaka mission and to gang-related events that drew the participation of a member of Mithril.

"We have sixty minutes tops, Lt. Sagara, but I would prefer we leave before half of that time elapses. You stated that you had urgent matters to discuss. You may now do so. The Lt. Cmdr. and I will attempt to hold all questions until the end of your initial report. We will, however, reserve the right to interject when necessary. Begin." The older man's body looked relaxed, but Sousuke knew otherwise.

Because neither man was a member of Mithril during the time of his Tokyo mission, Sousuke gave a capsular summary of his duties and actvities. He went as far as to describe his and Kaname's personal relationship, being of the opinion that such knowledge might provide additional information needed to formulate possible motives and suspects.

Lt. Cmdr. Ben-Elieden interjected with a question. "Lieutenant, do you believe that your relationship with your charge adversely affected your professional performance? Was the mission at risk because of your indiscretion?"

Sousuke was not pleased by the judgement that 'indiscretion' implied, but knew full well that he might interpret things similarly if he were assessing someone else in a similar situation. "In all honesty, I do not, sir. I believe my record speaks for itself, in those regards. If anything, Miss Chidori and I formed a very good team, far beyond the sum of the parts. If there was one area that would have concerned my direct superiors, it was my penchant for precipitating trouble through misinterpration and miscalculation."

"Ah, I would like you to speak a few moments on that, if you may, Lieutenant...." That from Cmdr. Horowitz.

Sousuke gave pertinent examples, and quoted Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin's commentary on the level of dissatisfaction within the Financial Division.

Lt. Cmdr. Ben-Elieden spoke up, chuckling quietly. "I can attest to that characterization. Cmdr. Kalinin and I had a lengthy discussion regarding Sagara's prior performance. I will add, that I am quite satisfied that his judgement has improved remarkably over the past few years. What remains to be seen is whether that was because he was separated from the young lady, or despite that fact."

Sousuke continued his summary, noting the personal and professional changes that occured as a result of his and Kaname's transition from highschool to college.

He then described the preparation for the Iran mission, leading up to the explosive part of his report.

"Before I was to leave, Captain Testarossa brought me an urgent communique reporting that Miss Chidori had been killed in an automobile accident. The next day, she showed me a newspaper obituary and front page story that appeared to corroborate that fact. I was not allowed to return to Japan for the supposed funeral, and had not been back to that land until the kidnap rescue mission. No further information was available to me at the time."

Both older men were visibly shaken by the events and the attendant implications.

"Was a counter story provided to Miss Chidori?" Cmdr. Horowitz asked.

"Yes. She received a communication supposedly from the High Command, reporting that the TDD-1 had been lost at sea, with no further explanation. The message claimed that all hands were on board, and that all were lost. Miss Chidori was also told that she was no longer under the protection of Mithril." Sousuke went on to describe Kamame's actual accident, and her report to Mithril representatives.

Lt. Cmdr. Ben-Elieden slapped his hand upon the table top, visibly angered. "Lieutenant, you were absolutely correct in bringing this matter before us. Now, please tell us what level of discretion you have observed in this matter."

"Miss Chidori and I discussed matters, given we were both victims of the act. I also shared matters with Capt. Mao and Lt. Weber, as they were close friends with Miss Chidori, and because I trust them, and because they should be aware of anything that I---as a squadmate---might choose to do. Beyond that, I have told no one."

Cmdr. Horowitz scrutinized Sousuke closely. "Were this a sailing vessel, under strict naval law, it would have been a serious violation to share those details with anyone other than your commanding officer, who then would give or withhold permission to disseminate things further." He noticed with satisfaction that Sousuke nodded his head, clearly having already thought among those lines.

"You realize that you theoretically could have risked premature awareness by potential opponents, do you not?" The Lt. Cmdr. had a valid point.

"Yes. Especially since Capt. Mao is close with Tessa, and Lt. Weber is not the model of propriety. However, to be honest, my concerns extended beyond that." The look in Sousuke's eyes---and the manner he glanced at each man---drove his point home,

Cmdr. Horowitz smiled briefly, and saluted Sousuke perfuctorally. "True. You could not know for a fact where my or the Lt. Cmdr.'s true allegiances reside. I will try not to take that as an attack on my character."

"Myself as well" Lt. Cmdr. Ben-Elieden added, also throwing a salute. "I must say I am pleased that you followed proper protocol despite any possible doubts. It was the correct decision. As to Mao and Weber, you wanted to work your thoughts out with them before meeting with us, correct?"

"Yes, sir. And, I wanted to make certain I was not overlooking some crucial point, being so close to the matter. Also, I will say that I wanted to be able to judge my comrade's likely actions. If I had detected something of concern, I wanted to be able to bring it to both of your attention."

"I see. I have no problem with that analysis. Aharon?" Cmdr. Horowitz was pleased by the young soldier's presence of mind.

"No. I have no problems either. Lieutenant, your behavior has been without serious flaw. I approve of your decisions." He was gratified to see that his assessment of Sousuke held true.

Sousuke was asked to describe his personal analysis of possible motives and perpetrators. He did so.

"Logical and complete. An excellent synthesis. I would not have anything to add, restricted to your level of clearence. However, there are further points to discuss, and I expect that such discussion will remain privy to the three of us for the moment. Is that understood?" Cmdr. Horowitz' question was purely rhetorical, but it did bind each man to secrecy by point of honor.

Sousuke and the Lt. Cmdr. both assented.

"First, I will say that I have had no reason up to this point to suspect Capt. Testarossa or Cmdr. Mardukas of divided loyalties. That does not mean, however, that either one is exhonerated without further exploration. In this matter, by necessity, they must be assumed guilty until proven innocent. Especially since my knowledge of both of them is deficient in comparison to your own. Is there anything that you know about either of them that would prove useful to us?"

Sousuke nodded his head. "Captain Testarossa was attracted to me, and wished to have a relationship that I did not deem proper. She was persistant in those regards before and after Miss Chidori's supposed demise. In retrospect, I understand that both women viewed each other as rivals for my affections, even though my choice had already been made. Cmdr. Mardukas was not fond of me, in large part because I served as a lightning rod to Capt. Testarossa. He also did not favor my attitude, my judgement, or my choice of companions."

Both older men stored that information away.

Cmdr. Horowitz continued with his discussion. "My second point will be based mainly upon hearsay. Nonetheless, there are some things that speak of hidden truths, personal behaviors, and political allegiances. I am refrering to members of the upper eschelon and their possible connection to these past events. I must say that I have met few such men personally, and have only a cursory understanding of the complete effective distribution of power within Mithril." The Cmdr. broke off a corner of a pastrami sandwhich, chewed a moment and swallowed, following up the morsel with a long sip of ice water.

"No doubt, many of the men possess strong ethics and admirable goals. But, even such men can readily develope personal agendas, and a proclivity to treat unseen personel as pawns in their maneuverings. As such, any member of the High Command needs to be considered suspect, at least at the introductory level of our analysis. There are three members of the group, however, who may warrant closer examination. Those of us outside of the council---who nonetheless are forced to interact with them or their decisions at a higher level---secretly think of them as Rogue Elephants." More of the sandwhich disappered. The Lt. Cmdr. also reached for something to whet his appetite, selecting a corned beef sandwhich and a glass of iced tea. Sousuke was not hungry.

Cmdr. Horowitz sighed, an uncharacteristic gesture for him. Sousuke judged that he was beset by a very heavy realization. "Rogue Elephants is an apt description, and not merely because of the analogy. Imagine yourself a lone hunter, armed only with a spear. You face a fiercesome and unpredictable beast many times your size, seemingly invulnerable. If it wants you dead, you will be a crushed and oozing mass staining the savanah. A gnat or other annoyance it might ignore. An obvious challenge will be dealt with swiftly and severely."

Both Sousuke and Lt. Cmdr. Ben-Elieden were entranced by the mental image of power and unpredicatability. They had each faced unworkable odds in battle on more than one occasion during their careers.

Cmdr. Horowitz paused, giving his sandwhich no opportunity to escape. Wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin, he continued. "It takes a coordinated hunting party---or a man with weapons more advanced than that setting---to bring down such a monster, and even then the collateral damage can be considerable. Another rogue might hold its ground, or might simply pay little heed. A battle between two can be devastating. If more than one rogue joins forces, stepping outside the normal boundaries of nature, one can only imagine the potential ramifications."

Cmdr. Horowitz sensed that both men completely understood the point he wanted to make.

"The first of our three rogues---and the most dangerous, in many ways---is Vyacheslav Borodenko, a French national of Old Russian descent. He is intimately involved in the procurement of funds for Mithril, and there have been rumors that some of his methods go beyond the limits of the organization's moral and ethical boundaries. Allegations of connections with the Russian Mafia have been made in the past, but no proof has come to light. He is, by report, a disarming rascal, a man possessed of unparalled sales ability and unequaled unctiousness. No doubt he does a yeoman's job at winning over investors and budget directors. But, there is also the unending concern that he is just as adept at blackmail and other unsavory methods."

"Sir. I do not wish to interupt, but why would such a man even know of My existence or Miss Chidori's?" Sousuke was clearly puzzled.

"Lieutenant, even if he were the man ultimately responsible, he may not know of your existence, and may have no clue what actions his underlings had chosen. He is a man who sets certain goals, and acts readily on behalf of those individuals he forms alliance with. He is adept at making ruthless decisions, and at assigning expectations. He likely does not dirty his hands with the details. If your actions somehow came to cross purposes with anything in his or his underlings' best interests or preferences, you would be worthy of someone's attention. That goes for anything you may be planning from this point forward."

"Thank you, sir." Worse and worse.

Suddenly, inspiration hit Sousuke. "Sir, my unfortunate reputation with the members of the Financial Division. Could that have somehow gone far enough up the line to draw untoward attention?"

Cmdr. Horowitz nodded his head. "We cannot discount that possibility." He removed his glasses and cleaned them before resuming his exposition.

"The second of the elephantine trio is Lord Rufus Elgin, a direct descendant of Thomas Bruce Lord Elgin, a man both revered and reviled for his bringing of priceless sculptures from the Acropolis to England. Lord Elgin, a former member of the House of Lords, has his tentacles spread throughout the legal department of Mithril. Likewise, he has tight connections with lawmakers from various nations. While I am unaware of any shady activities attached to his name, I have heard that he views himself as a Lord in every sense of the word, and that he is content at empire building within the constraints of his current position. By most accounts, he has admirable goals. But he too is apt to delegate minutia, and some of his subordinates have less than pleasant proclivities when their goals run aground on the shoals of morality. Results are the first, second, and third priority for such men, well meaning as they may be in most circumstances."

"I can see a possible connection with this one" Lt. Cmdr. Ben-Elieden supplied, reaching for another sandwhich. He looked at Sousuke. "If your long history of financial and legal casualties reached that level, someone may have wanted to keep losses and legal entanglements to a minimum."

"Yes, I agree." Cmdr. Horowitz smiled momentarily, restraining himself from issuing a short bark of laughter. "Lt. Sagara, no doubt you have been told this before. You were quite the terror!"

"So I have been told on many occasions, sir."

"No doubt. No doubt. Back to our nature walk. The third of our ultra-heavyweights is General Michael Bonnano, an oft-decorated Marine and hero in two wars. His reputation as a soldier has not diminished since his retirement from the Corps. The term hardass was coined for him, whether or not he was born at the time. His is not a politician...he is a bulldozer on two legs, one of which sports a prosthesis. To some commanders, the memories of being a non-com teaches them humility and empathy. To others, their personal survival of harsh and inhumane conditions simply proves that others should also be able to accomplish the same. General Bonanno falls within the latter category. Body parts are expendable. Soldiers are expendable. Victory is everything. The good guys have to win, whatever the cost. His attitude wraps itself like a vine around the thoughts and decisions of all those officers and officials who directly serve under him."

"I understand. If life and limb mean nothing compared to victory, then the happiness of two intact and living individuals would be beneath notice." Sousuke had met many soldiers with that very indoctrination. "If my actions came to someone's notice, and someone complained to the wrong person that I was too valuable to be wasted guarding one woman...." Sousuke did not need to finish the thought.

"Exactly. Unfortunate, but true. To some men in power, we are all nothing more than dead men walking." Lt. Cmdr. Ben-Elieden had long ago come to terms with that unfortunate truth.

"Indeed" Cmdr. Horowitz comissurated. "Our next line of thought should be potential courses of action. Lt. Cmdr., I would appreciate your rough analysis of the generalities."

"Certainly. We should start at the most basic. Do we leave Lt. Sagara alive, or kill him." He laughed sharply. Sousuke was fairly certain he was joking.

"Yes" Cmdr. Horowitz couldn't resist.

"Seriously, though. The first decision node involves continued service with Mithril. The Lieutenant could resign, and take his chances as a civilian, acting under the assumption that his actions as a soldier would no longer matter by definition. The risk there comes with his exceptional abilities and his long time knowledge of this organization, its methods, and its members. He would be an attractive recruit to any number of organizations, of unknown moral caliber. By extension, he could be perceived as a threat to Mithril."

Sousuke had arrived at that decision independently, numerous times throughout the years.

"Assuming continual service, the next node relates to continued relationship with Miss Chidori. If no relationship is desired, then matters can continue as they are now, with everyone worse for the knowledge they have. Or, the past actions can be pursued further. Should a personal relationship be re-established, it might be tailored to avoid the issues that prompted previous efforts to the contrary. We are by no means beholden to provide the young Whispered with a guard again. Subsequent pursuit of the perpetrators might or might not prove advisable. We do, however, need to realize that we are dealing with unknown mean and women whose egos might not allow them to simply condone a relationship they sought to destroy in the past. Pride, mechanical thinking, an urge for complete certainty, any number of issues could complicate matters."

There were shreds of hope there, but nothing was a certainty. It was simply a matter of assigning levels of risk, and assessing levels of comfort. Sousuke was no stranger to that line of thought.

The Lt. Cmdr. wiped his brow with a hankerchief and continued. "Once we reach the decision node that represents pursuit of those responsible for prior acts, things branch off in complicated fashion. Who should be informed? Who should be involved? Who should be pursued? What methods should be employed? What amount of time can be spared? What level of secrecy can be maintained? How widespread can the ripples spread if the search is a success? How many dominoes will fall if the efforts go awry? When is the best time to act? When should each potential target be scouted and probed? In what manner? By whom? The branches continue to split and split again. It is far too complicated an analysis to pursue de novo and impromptu."

Cmdr. Horowitz nodded his head after removing his cap and briefly rubbing his scalp.

"That, I fear, is the unavoidable truth. I certainly need to sleep on this and consider as many possibilities as I can. I would ask that each of you do the same. I shouldn't have to tell you just how large a powder keg each of us is sitting on now."

The Cmdr. looked purposefully at Sousuke. "Lt. Sagara, if you wish to script possible information gathering missions with Capt. Mao and Lt. Weber, you are free to do so as long as no additional individuals are informed of the events we are discussing, and as long as none of you attempts independent action. You may give thought to people you might wish to employ, and can bring any suggestions and recommendations with you the next time we meet. Gentlemen, I belive that we have accomplished as much as we can today. I will contact both of you when I am ready for further discussion of this matter."

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