Life in the concrete jungle
Waking up after a good night's rest, I quickly headed to the Rookie level bathroom to freshen up before returning to my room and making a call to Licca using my terminal.
Returning to my work bench to put the finishing touches on the grappling hook version 2.0 that I was working on last night, I looked back at the terminal when it rang, indicating the call had been connected. Treated to a screen focused on Licca in fluffy pink pajamas I couldn't stop in my grin which Licca caught as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, "Stop smiling Ragner!"
"But you look so cute in those! Like a cute wittle bunny!"
"Ugh! This is why I hate morning calls! Goodbye Ragner!"
"Wait wait! Wanna have breakfast together before I go out on that mission with Lindow?"
"I guess that would be alright, meet you down there in ten?"
"It's a date, see you later then."
"Gawd, it's just breakfast..." Licca muttered as she cut the call.
Compacting my grappling hook to fit on the palm of my hand, I left my room ready to meet Licca for breakfast. Standing on the balcony overlooking the reception area, while I was waiting for Licca, Ash arrived with a happy lopsided grin on his face.
Whatever is keeping him happy, I really gotta get some, seriously, who stays happy like him in a world on the brink of destruction?
Joining me at the balcony, Ash was naturally first to break the silence, "I'm bored."
You come to me for that? What do I look like? An entertainment system?
Turning to him I simply glanced at him before turning my head forward again, returning to my thoughts prior to Ash's proclamation of boredom.
"I'm bored." Ash whined, a little louder this time.
Turning to him to give him a piece of my mind I cut my sentence even before it came out and settled for a glare from behind my shades, a glare that I'm sure he wouldn't notice before turning back.
Next thing I know, this idiot's tugging my damn jacket repeating the same statement he's repeated twice, "I'm bored."
Fine, you want entertainment? Here goes.
Turning towards Ash, I pushed my shades even higher up my nose as I mentally recalled every aspect of his personality that I had ever seen and put it into the most out of character thing I would ever do (probably for my entire lifetime).
"Woooo! I touched Hibari's ass and it felt awesome!" I screamed in a near perfect imitation of Ash's voice, following his eye line to Hibari's semi exposed top until he realized what I just did.
"Shikigami!" Hibari screamed from behind the desk, slamming her hand down on said desk, making Ash jump in shock.
Running for the stairwell, Ash disappeared so fast I swear, if the floor was made of a flammable material Ash would have left a fire trail.
Watching as Hibari leaped over the counter, chasing Ash and yelling a dictionaries worth of expletives, I couldn't help but grin as Licca walked into the lower lobby, wearing her usual work outfit looking around for me before heading up the stairs. Going down the other set off stairs and running around the counter to sneak up behind Licca, I quickly grabbed Licca by her midsection while covering her eyes. "Guess who."I whispered into her ear, eliciting a gasp in response before the smile on her face turned into a mischievous grin.
"Tatsumi! Stop playing this game!" Licca said haughtily, stamping her foot to comically imitate anger.
"It's not Tatsumi! It's..." Before I could finish Licca had turned around and pulled off my glasses and planted a kiss on my cheek turning me redder than last night's tomato juice.
"Gotcha Ragner!" Licca said teasingly as she took another look at my left eye before putting my glasses back on for me and messing with my hair. Pulling her goggles down over her eyes as my own petty revenge, Licca giggled while faking an annoyed look in my direction as we headed down to the cafeteria.
Leaving the cafeteria after a rather uneventful meal with a little small talk, Licca and I were treated to two blurs rushing past as we walked out, two blurs that looked startling similar to Ash and Hibari.
"What are they...?"
"No clue, c'mon let's go before they come around again." I quickly replied taking Licca's hand and dashing off.
Seeing as we had some time to spare before my mission, Licca and I grabbed a few cans of soda from the vending machine and started watching a movie from the terminal that now acted like a projector. It was quite fun and Licca even cringed and cuddled closer during some of the scary bits.
Standing up and stretching after the movie, Licca did a quick check off her watch before heading off to work after a quick kiss goodbye. Giving her a few minutes head start, I made my way down to the lobby as well, grappling hook safely tucked away in my pocket.
"Glad to see you could make it." Lindow said, smiling as I arrived a few minutes late.
"Ready to head out?" he asked, nodding to the door, Soma glaring at me while Ash continued to try to prove his manliness to Sakura behind him.
"Ready as I'll ever be." I replied, putting on my earphones and plugging it into my iPod.
Taking us out to the god arc storage area, I winked at Licca and got a small wave, the only pleasantries we shared before heading out to the Old City.
"Hey! It's another great day to work! Return to base safe and sound! That is all!"
Most informative briefing from the great Lindow!
"Huh? That's it?" Kota asked, not quite understanding the lack of a proper briefing.
"You won't last very long of you keep questioning him like that." Sakuya whispered.
"What a drag..." Soma muttered.
"Glad to see that with the exception of two of us, our souls are all connected." Lindow said, smirking in Ash's and my direction.
"Hey man what gives! Stop staring!" Ash yelled.
"Whatever." I growl, lifting my God Arc and resting it on my shoulder.
"I'm kidding take it easy." Lindow laughs, waving his hand, "This is the first five person mission this team has performed. Just do what you always do."
"Huh? What about you Lindow?" Kota asks.
Obviously this moron had skipped out on teamwork 101. If the order isn't unethical or stupid, never question a senior officer.
"Well you see... I've been asked on a secret date right after this." Lindow answers, pulling out his handphone for dramatic effect.
Pointing my glasses at Lindow's handphone, I notice that he isn't checking his messages but instead he's using... A tracker program?
"And if I don't get there soon my date will get mad and leave! Talk about impatient!" This guy's acting more suspicious than a shoplifter at the mall.
"Well I'm taking off now guys, my orders are the usual: don't die, make sure you come back alive."
"They're your own orders, make sure you follow them yourself."
Is it just me, or was that an expression of concern from Soma?
"Try not to stay out too late Lindow, ok?" Sakuya said, her eyes practically screaming her concern. As Lindow walked off, I took note of the direction that he was heading before turning back in time to hear Sakuya hop off the ledge with a, "Let's go!"
As Ash and the others followed suit, I clenched my stomach and faked a grimace of pain, "Uhhh you guys go ahead, I gotta take a dump."
"Alright, don't take too long." Sakuya yelled up to me.
"I'll try!" I replied, before following Lindow's footsteps to the Sunken City.
With the modifications Licca did to my sunglasses, I was slightly wary about updating the system on them in case the update removed any beneficial programs that Licca had installed. With no other choice, I folded my sunglasses and put on the aviator pair I was carrying, the latest update including a mini heads up display showing my God Arc's oracle point charge indicated by a small bar at the top left hand corner.
On the way to the Sunken Ruins, I swear Lindow knew I was tailing him. I may have ducked around the corner and hid when he turned around, but I could've sworn I saw him smile as he continued walking off. Stopping by the mission start point for a smoke, a roar echoed through the whole area, followed by the ground shaking as what could only be footsteps started crashing around the area.
Tossing his cigarette away, Lindow picked up his God Arc and just before leaping off the ledge he said, "Stay here rookie." Ok now I KNOW he saw me. Moving out of my hiding spot to get a closer look, my glassed registered the giant moving lump as an aragami immediately and started a search through the database. "Ouroboros?" I gasped when the result flashed across the lens, displaying weak spots and statistics, "Lindow's taking one on alone?"
Before I could even from another thought, a yell of pain came out from the valley below.
"Lindow?" I screamed, leaping off the ledge and heading to the source of the cry.
Reaching Lindow and nearly out of stamina, I took in the whole situation in a single glance, Lindow was on one knee nearly out for the count and the enraged Ouroboros was no different. As it raised it's limbs one more time to deal a finishing blow, I had to act fast, with my stamina in this state, I'll never reach Lindow in time. My heart was pounding and I was out of breath so shooting the Ouroboros now would send me flying back from my God Arc's recoil. Feeling a familiar lump in my pocket, I quickly pulled out the grappling hook and slipped it onto my right hand, the hook itself engaging onto my hand and linking with my glasses wirelessly with a series of metallic clicks.
Pointing the hook at Lindow as the Ouroboros swung its limbs down, I quickly performed the necessary calculations like wind and trajectory before activating the pneumatic clamps sending the hook flying towards Lindow, in my hurry to shoot the hook, I had skipped the power I needed to shoot the hook with bland just went with maximum power. As the ends of the hook bonded to Lindow's jacket, the excess momentum the hook had threw Lindow forward, out of the limbs way and right into the Ouroboros itself.
Well, unexpected results, but accomplished objectives.
Blinking at the icon to reel in the hook, Lindow shot backwards again like a rag doll, sprawling a few feet behind me as I disengaged the hook. Shaking his head as he got up, Lindow looked at me with a lopsided grin, "Thanks for that rookie, but please don't ever do that again."
"Sorry, I skipped a few calculations in my rush to SAVE YOUR SORRY ASS." I growled, turning my attention back to the hundred ton monstrosity in front of me.
"Much appreciated rookie, let's just finish this off and get back huh?" Lindow said, cocking his head at the Ouroboros.
Roaring at the arrival of a new enemy, the Ouroboros tilted its head back and pointed its eyes at us. "Look out!" Lindow yelled, bringing his shield up. Turning and raising my buckler as well, the Ouroboros shot a beam of light from its eyes that caused Lindow to slide back from the impact. Lindow's shield managed to save him from most of the damage, once the beam hit me and my buckler, I was sent flying back the beam also hitting my head and shattering my glasses.
Getting up slowly with blood in my mouth, I quickly spat it out before pulling out the glasses that Licca modified while muttering, "Ow."
Loading up my glasses' OS, I noticed that the changes Licca had made to my glasses were actually more advanced than the ones I had made. The oracle point charge now not only represented by a bar, but a number representing the total charge and the charge I had left. A full body layout that tracked my vital signs and showed which part of my body was injured.
Giving her a silent thanks and promising to check the other functions later, I quickly started up a quick beat song on my iPod before running to it's right flank, slashing it's limb with my God Arc in a dagger grip as I ran past.
How the hell do you hurt a thing like this? It's so freaking huge!
"Rookie! Gets its back I'll take it from the front!" Lindow yelled.
Taking a few minutes to run around the giant lump, I took a look at its tail and had an idea. Before Lindow could stop me, I had started running up the tail and onto the Ouroboros itself.
"Rookie! What are you..." Not letting him complete his sentence, I started hacking and slashing away at the area around what I assumed was its head earning a roar for my efforts. Leaping into the air and slicing its many eyes, Lindow noticed me changing to gun mode while standing on the Ouroboros.
"Don't bother rookie, the Ouroboros is too heavily armored."
Nodding in acknowledgement, I stuck my God Arc's barrel into the Ouroboros itself and fired a few mortar rounds.
In your face you stupid lump of flesh.
Roaring in pain, the Ouroboros finally died, collapsing on its limbs and landing with a resounding crash with me still on it. Falling after losing my balance, I pointed my grappling hook at a nearby building and fired, grabbing onto the wire once the hook attached. Flying by Lindow as he gave me a "Not bad" look, I didn't take into consideration the direction I was going to fly and turned my head and got a face full of wall.
Awesome moment nullified in face of... My face being hurt.
Standing up and shaking my head as Lindow laughed, I sighed as I walked up to the Ouroboros, "Are you gonna extract the core or what?"
"Already done rookie, it's your turn to take a bite, you've earned it."
Sending my God Arc into devour mode, I quickly took a large chunk out of the Ouroboros, my God Arc light flashing when it received the pieces. "Right rookie, let's head back, Sakuya might be waiting for us."
"That and you really want a beer." I said while smirking.
"You read my mind."
Reaching the den and returning our God Arc's I stayed back and waved at Lindow, signaling him to go ahead while I talked to Licca. "So... Did you like the upgrade?" Licca said, giving me a badly suppressed grin.
"I haven't even had time to check them all out yet." "Oh you will. And really, an Ouroboros? I thought your mission was for a Kongou and a few Zygotes?"
"Wait, how'd you know I was..."
"One of the things I installed on your glasses, is a real time situational awareness program, basically, I get all the information about your current situation as feedback on my personal computer."
"Remind me to deactivate that program once I find it."
"Oooh doing something illegal? Or just something you don't want me to see."
"Well, seeing as Ash took a tour of the women's changing room, I thought I'd..."
"I'm insulted Ragner! I thought we had..."
"Just kidding!" I said, interrupting her with a quick peck on the cheek before joining Lindow in the lobby.
"Rookie! C'mon! Have a beer!" Lindow said, lounging in the couch that faced the door to the den. Sitting down and opening the offered beer, I took a few sips when Lindow got right down to business, "So rookie, why'd you follow me today?"
"You were acting suspiciously. You know Sakuya's got a thing for you and you go out on "Dates"? Highly suspicious. I'm surprised she let you."
Laughing at my response, Lindow took a few gulps before replying, "Yeah sure. Just don't tell her we were out fighting an Ouroboros okay? It'll be or secret."
"Only if you can explain to her why I was absent on her mission, I doubt she'll spring for a "We went on a double date." excuse."
"Leave her to me. Ah speak of he devil." Lindow said as the den doors opened revealing Sakuya's squad.
"So you made it back early, good work today!" Sakuya said, taking a few steps ahead of everyone to Lindow.
"Yeah I managed to wrap things up early, ran into Ragner on the way back. How'd you guys do?"
"As per your command, the same as usual." Soma growled, looking away.
"Right, we fulfilled our mission and didn't lose anyone." Sakuya said, attempting to lessen the impact of Soma's rudeness.
"You should have seen us! We were so tight!" Kota added, waving his arms about.
"I don't recall you being of much use." Soma snapped back, cutting Kota to size.
"Is that right? Well I guess it wouldn't hurt to go on more dates in the future." Lindow said, leaning back even further, if that was even possible.
"Aren't you supposed to hook me up with some girls first?" Kota said, walking forward to Lindow and pouting.
"Heh, yeah right. Like you'd be able to handle a girl." Lindow replied with a smirk.
Was that a frown I saw flash across Sakuya's face? Wow hidden issues.
"Staff announcement. Earlier today, the 7th unit successfully detached the core of an Ouroboros. All engineers please report to lab no. 5. I repeat, all engineers please report to lab no. 5." As Licca walked by with another engineer, she gave me a smile and a small wave while she walked by. I winked back, once I did that, I instantly regretted it, I mean, who sees a wink behind sunglasses?
"I saw it don't worry." the words scrolling across my eyes said.
What the?
"Neat huh? Now I can contact you directly." Licca typed.
Another function to uninstall.
"What's an Ouroboros? Is it powerful?" Kota asked, fidgeting a little.
As I looked to Lindow to flash him a grin, he gave me an all knowing smile and nodded for me to keep quiet.
"It'll pop up if you search the terminal, do your homework once in a while." Soma growled at Kota.
"Well I uhh, really don't think the four of us are ready to take one on yet." Sakuya said sheepishly.
"Are you serious? Not even a team like ours?" Kota exclaimed.
"One or two casualties. Definitely." Soma muttered.
"Hey, come on. If we can survive somehow, we'll get it one of these days. Don't worry about that now. Just focus on staying alive." Lindow said, a failed attempt to cheer Kota up.
"You know that line is getting really old." Soma said dangerously, glaring at Lindow.
"Yeah, I'll say it to you till I'm blue in the face. You'd probably head off to your own death if I wasn't watching." Lindow replied, returning Soma's glare.
"Damn you... Shut up." was Soma's only reply, having lost the stare down.
"Oh yes sir! I've got another date coming up, so I'm going for a hearty meal."
Walking off to the cafeteria, I nodded at Ash before taking my leave as well. Sitting in one of the corner seats, I was free to observe the entire place from my vantage point and also free to observe my latest acquisition, a piece of moss that seemed to move by itself when put under light. Why am I not doing this in my room? Because the last person I want to find this, is Licca.
Watching the moss, mesmerized as it shifted and squirmed under the light, I was about to start a scan when I shadow of a person stopped the moss from moving. Glaring up at the source I was not surprised to find that it was Karel and Shun.
"Watcha got there rookie?" Karel asked immediately, just as crass as ever.
"Nothing." I snapped back, stowing the moss away before he could make a grab for it.
"C'mon rookie don't be so stubborn. Just tell him what it is and I'm sure Karel will run along." Shun said, noticing the sparks flying between Karel and I.
"It's some moss I picked up on the way back." I said, standing up, "I gotta go."
I guess my room is the best place to be after all.
Locking the door and setting a new password, I quickly sat at my work table and took out the moss, immediately turning on my desk lamp and starting diagnostics when I felt a familiar set of hands rubbing my back.
Oh Lord why me? Why did I have to date the only ninja in the den?
"Guess who?" Licca laughed, running her hands all over trying to find my ticklish spot.
"The only girl that can bypass any lock in the den?"
"Oh you changed the passcode? Wouldn't work, I was in here already." Licca said, wearing one of her "I just beat you and you know it" grins.
I swear... One of these days...
"What's that your fiddling with? It looks like... Oh no you didn't."
"I didn't what."
"You actually fought an Ouroboros? I thought you were just watching someone do it or something!" Licca cried, clearly distraught.
"I'm here don't worry, I wot do something over my head."
"Please Ragner, don't do anything stupid again..."
"I was with Lindow..."
Pressing a finger to my lips to hush me, Licca continued, "My father... Died in an accident. I don't want to lose you the same way Ragner."
"Alright I promise."
Giving me a short kiss in reply, Licca looked into my eyes as she said, "Thank you."
Standing up to get a better look at the moss, Licca immediately got right to business, "So, what do you plan to do with this moss?"
"It is capable of storing incredible amounts of energy, I was thinking about using it in an upgrade unit..."
Stopping when I noticed Licca was acting strangely, I couldn't help but ask, "Licca, what's wrong?"
"Ragner... About that Ouroboros core that was brought back..."
"Yeah what about it?"
"They made a God Arc out of it."
No freakin way, that thing was HUGE!
"So?" "It's a new-type God Arc, a search was done and a match was found."
"Wow, cool. Don't matches take longer to find?"
"Ragner..." Licca murmured, stepping backwards and sitting on the bed.
Distancing herself, broadcasting anxiety... No... It can't be...
"Ragner, the match is me."
So this is how the world ends.
-End of Chapter-
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