Responsibility Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

Sand flew as her feet pounded, her speed causing the sentries that the Kata Kata had posted to panic. They were barely able to raise the alarm before she was within their formation, her shield slamming into one girl and blowing her away while the other had her Mystic shattered by a point blank shotgun blast.

The base came alive, a heavy machine gun whirring and spitting a trail of fire at her, causing her to hold up Iron Horus and absorb all the fire, her Mystic not even wavering. Honestly, the calibre of thug had really dropped lately, Hoshino mused as the rapid fire died off, allowing her to drop the shield and advance further into the base, drawing attention away from the entrance to allow Nonomi to catch up unmolested.

There was a panicked smattering of fire from rifles and SMGs, but she merely let the few accurate ones hit her, easily soaking the damage. Honestly, it kind of tickled, their Mystics barely enhancing the punch of their bullets. Still, she knew from experience that sustained hits even from unaugmented guns would bring her low eventually.

Weaving to make that harder to accomplish, she rushed for her target. One of the tanks was already whirring to life, the crew of the second were hurriedly falling into the vehicle, but the third, the one furthest away from the compound. Its crew were still running towards it. She sped up, cycling her Mystic through her legs, kicking up even more dust as she burst forward, dropping into a slide halfway through.

Her long hair ruffled from the wind of the shock wave of the tank shell that had just sailed over her head, the explosion of it hitting the compound wall sounding out just as she reached the third Tank Crew. They pulled out their side arms, but only one actually managed to get a shot off from the pistols before they tasted the ground. She used her shield like a battering ram, knocking the whole group over like a bowling ball before making sure they stayed down with four blasts of her shotgun.

Planting Iron Horus into the ground, used her forearm to pump Mystic into the shield while also holding her gun steady, feeding more rounds into the chamber and reloading. The reasoning for this became apparent, with a massive boom sounding out as the second tank fired directly at her. Her mystic took a hit, but Iron Horus stayed steady, allowing her to roll out of the dust cloud, pouring yet more Mystic into her other arm as she lined up her shots, one knee planted on the ground, her shield held sideways as she aimed over it, firing every single one of her newly loaded shells at the armoured vehicle.

The metal of the tank buckled, tore, then burst open in an impressive explosion, a couple of lucky pellets making it into the Ammo storage and cooking off the shells. The blast was so violent that the vehicle flipped backwards. At the same time, Nonomi’s chain-gun sounded out, taking out the infantry who were shooting at her.

Hoshino couldn’t spare a moment for that however, as the flipping tank revealed the last one, its barrel pointed directly at her. She sighed, knowing that taking this directly to her Mystic was going to suck, not having enough time to charge up the shield before the tank fired.

Just then, from over the wall, a barrage of rockets flew and impacted the tank, the explosions turning it into scrap in short order. Hoshino whirled around, spotting Shiroko’s drone as the culprit. But if it was here, then did Shiroko abandon finding Serika?!

“Shiroko lent me her precious just this once, to protect me she said.” Albrecht Sensei’s voice sounded from her earpiece, “Unfortunately I can’t reload it, so that’s the only direct help I can give you.”

Why would he use something that was meant for his protection to help her? She narrowed her eyes but resolved to figure it out later.

“It’s enough, thanks Sensei.” She spoke, quickly turning her attention back to the fight, seeing Nonomi begin to be pinned down by the remaining infantry, “Uhe, you really saved this old man back there. I appreciate it.

“Just doing my job. Oh, hold on…” She heard a shuffling sound as she stood, adjusting her grip on Iron Horus and once more breaking into a run, this time towards the ones who were bullying her kouhai.

Ayane’s voice soon sounded out, “Hoshino-Senpai! Are you hurt? I saw that tank fire at you! I can send a Mystic Booster right away if you need it.”

“Hearing your concern is going to make me blush~” Hoshino complained, tanking fire while reloading again. She quickly reimposed the shield once she was finished and starting to make herself a problem once again, “Save it in case one of the kiddies gets hurt.”

She heard laughter, then Nonomi’s voice, “That’s our Hoshino-chan. Always looking out for everyone but herself.”

“Senpai privileges.” She justified, firing as she closed in on one group, grunting slightly as the butt of her shot gun introduced itself to one of their stupid motorcycle helmets.

“You always say that.” The grumble from Ayane brought a smile to her lips, even as she had to duck behind her shield again, her actions making her the primary target once again amongst the gang.

Unfortunately for them, Nonomi took the opening brilliantly, a withering hail of fire kicking up dust and downing gangsters as it swept over her head.

“Retreat into the building!” Called out an obvious leader, her helmet decorated with red and yellow ‘danger stripes’.

Hoshino wondered if that was what the kids found cool nowadays, but lined up the shot and enhanced it with Mystic, blowing the revealed officer off her feet with a trigger pull.

“Already? But we were having so much fun!” She called out, bringing more attention to herself.

However, even with their leader downed, the Gang followed orders, several of them grabbing the officer and dragging her with them, while others lay down suppressing fire. With the tanks down, Hoshino was happy to let them drag this out as much as they wanted. The more time they spent playing with her, the easier a time Shiroko and Serika would have of it.

Such thoughts were validated when the Kata Kata were fired upon from the direction they were retreating. Emerging from the base were the forms of Shiroko and Serika. Shiroko’s shots were timed and well placed, calculated in her signature way. Serika, by comparison, was pissed. Firing wildly and downing gangsters in a mass of bullets, a furious expression on her face.

The Kata Kata were in no position to take advantage of her compromised emotional state, the sudden attack rendering all their available cover into death traps. If they took cover from Nonomi or her, they left their backs exposed to the ambush, if they took cover from the other two she and Nonomi swiftly dealt with them.

Within minutes the last smattering of gunfire sounded out, the last thug collapsing into the sand, groaning in pain. Hoshino shouldered her shotgun, her shield still out and ready to be raised in case of any fakers among the downed enemies, as she grinned at Serika.

“There’s our cute Serika. Did you miss us?” Her voice caused the glaring cat girl’s eyes to snap away from the defeated gang.

Nonomi arrived soon after, immersing Serika’s head into her ridiculous chest, “Oh, Serika! I’m so glad you are safe!”

“Hoshino-senpai? Nonomi-senpai? I knew you would rescue me!” Her voice was muffled before she freed herself from the depths of Nonomi’s valley.

Quickly recomposing herself, she sniffed, “Not that I needed it. I was getting ready to break out myself.”

“Nn.” Shiroko nodded, “She was crying when I found her.”

“I was not!” Serika whirled on the wolf, eyes blazing.

“I remember you saying, ‘I’m sorry, Hoshino-senpai, every-’” her words were cut off by the growling Serika pouncing on her, trying to slap a hand over her mouth.

“Shut up! I wasn’t scared at all!”

Nonomi tittered, hiding her wide grin behind her hand, “My my, it’s good to see her so lively.”

“Yeah, it really warms my old heart.” Hoshino smiled, “I’m glad you are safe, Serika.”

“Count us in that, too.” A male voice sounded out, all eyes snapping towards the entrance of the compound, the suited figure of Albrecht-sensei standing besides Ayane.

“Serika! You’re okay!” The spectacled girl called out, running across the sand unsteadily before throwing her arms around the other girl, “I was so worried.”

“Lucky timing, Sensei.” Hoshino called out, watching the man move towards them.

“Ayane was directing Shiroko to Serika, so we knew when she was rescued immediately.” Albrecht-sensei replied with a smile.

“Ayane!? Sensei?! You were here too?” Serika was completely befuddled, understandably so in Hoshino’s eyes.

Said eyes also noted the way the small girl trembled slightly in Ayane’s grasp.

“Sensei was the reason we found you so quickly.” Shiroko revealed, eyes softening as her adorable crush reared its head, “Thank you again, Sensei.”

“What kind of teacher would I be if I left any one of my precious students in such a situation?” He asked, shrugging off the thanks, causing Hoshino’s eyes to narrow.

“Oh my, with such a gallant response, you might make me swoon!” Nonomi spoke, smiling warmly at Albrecht-sensei.

“That’s... Well…” Serika looked down, hugging Ayane back and looking embarrassed, ears drooping, “Thanks, I guess. You didn’t have to do that, idiot...”

“You are welcome.” The teacher nodded, “If you are ever in any trouble like this again, please let me help again. I’m glad this was resolved happily.”

He then looked at the defeated gang, eyes flicking to the still smoking wrecks of the tanks, which the crews were just starting to pull themselves out of.

“Clean up looks like it will be fun neh, Sensei?” Hoshino realised what he was worried about instantly.

Gratitude and suspicion warred within her. His plan and ability to track down Serika allowed them to find her quickly, but the FTF was quickly creating a debt with the man. If her current situation had taught her anything, debts were dangerous, especially when they were held by shady adults. Sometimes she wondered if there was a switch that turned people evil after they passed 25. She supposed she will find out in five years time for herself.

“You don’t have to worry about that. I will call in the GSC, the fact that this gang was supplied this well, with armoured vehicles no less… It’s worrying.” He mused, looking at the tanks still, eyes taking in the details.

Now that she looked at them as well, Hoshino realised that she hadn’t seen this model before. They weren’t the cheap surplus Gehenna equipment that usually populated the streets, despite looking similar. The sharper angles and black paint job hid it, but there were several new additions to the hulls that spoke of recent manufacturing, meaning they should have been well outside the Gang’s price range.

She had a sneaking suspicion where they got it from. Indeed, she thought as she looked back at Sensei, adults were always sneaky and untrustworthy.

“How did you find me, by the way?” Serika questioned, extracting herself from Ayane’s grasp, “I know Sensei helped, but what exactly did he do?”

“He tracked you using your phone’s location service.” Shiroko answered, deadpan.

“What?! That’s so creepy!” Serika shouted, causing Hoshino to let out a tired grin.

The Teacher was certainly sketchy as hell, and their debtors were growing impatient, but at least for the time being she could savour this win.

Looking at the happy, bickering faces of her kouhais, she resolved to get to the bottom of this situation once more. But that was for later, for now she had a cute under classman to tease.

---RERERE----

A knock resounded, causing me to start awake. I was immediately hit with the painful sensation of discomfort racing up my spine, my body letting me know that falling asleep in my office chair was a poor idea. Blinking blearily, I looked at the screen in front of me, the report of the missing Kaiser tanks matching the serial numbers of the ones the Kata Kata were using staring back at me. In the bottom corner, I could see the time, 10 AM.

Just under four hours of sleep then.

I yawned, stretching, still in the process of waking up before another knock sounded out, reminding me of what woke me up in the first place. Clumsily reaching for the intercom, I pressed the button and spoke in a thick voice.

“Give me a moment, I will buzz you in.” Holding down the button, I received no reply.

Shrugging, I disengaged the lock, opening up the upper part of SCHALE to the world once more as I stood, stumbling off to wash my face before the elevator could deposit my visitor to my floor. Deciding to take a drink as well, I cupped my hands under the tap and took a couple deep, refreshing sips, before straightening up and drying my hands.

Leaving the restroom just in time, a ding sounded out as the elevator doors opened, revealing a rather peculiar sight.

The Girl in front of me looked like a schoolgirl, but her demeanour was off. She had heavy headphones and a subtle mic assembly hugging her neck, but it was her posture that really tipped me off. Rather than young woman, all I could think when looking at her was a spec ops operator.

Her fox ears twitched, brown hair swaying as she turned crisply to face me, eyes only slightly widening as she looked me briefly up and down before snapping a crisp salute, “Fox 1, Shichido Yukino, SRT. Are you Carl Albrecht-sensei of SCHALE, sir?”

“I am.” I responded, a bit flat footed at her military mannerisms, speaking out on instinct, “At ease.”

She fell into a parade rest with ease borne from familiarity, staring at me with intense eyes, “I am here in response to the proposed merger of SCHALE and SRT. As the highest ranked member of the SRT, my consent is needed for it to go through. I had hoped to discuss the issue with you today. I apologise for not making an appointment, but I had some time free itself up unexpectedly.”

Her hands were hidden behind her back when she spoke, but as she spoke of her freed up time I could see by her shoulders tensing that she was making a fist. A tremble passed through them, controlled but visible. Hearing her reasoning for the visit, I was only slightly confused. Usually this would be done by a Student Council President, but it seemed that SRT was different.

I had assumed that the President was merely secretive to those outside of the Academy, but it appeared that they actually didn’t even have one.

“There is no need for an appointment, any student is welcome to come to SCHALE whenever they need advice or merely want to speak with me.” My words seemed to confuse her, her eyebrows furrowing at them, “But for now, would you please take a seat? This seems like it could be a long conversation.”

Yukino tilted her head slightly at that, the flopping of her fluffy ears exaggerating the motion, “Still, procedure should have been followed. Thank you for the offer.”

She took the seat I indicated, sitting facing my desk. Her hands landed on her knees, kept consciously still as she stared ahead, watching as I took my own seat, the twinge of pain from my back re-emerging as I did so. Ignoring it with practice, I swivelled the chair towards the student who had sought me out.

“First thing’s first, Yukino. Have you been told why the SRT Academy is shutting down?” I asked, the reason only revealing itself to me after I did some digging.

“Because we are failures, sir.” Yukino responded, eyes staring at a point above my shoulders, “Whatever purpose the Academy gathered us for, it is either no longer needed or we are unable to meet it.”

I blinked at the blunt response, instinctively responding, “What?! No, you are not at all failures. How could you think that?”

“If we are not failures, then why are we being thrown away?” Her fists clenched, tone turning bland, matter of fact as she said, “We are simply defective weapons.”

“You are a student of Kivotos.” My own voice’s firmness made her look at me, eyes widening slightly as my tone brooked no arguments, “My student. You are not a weapon, or something to be thrown away. You are Yukino. You are an amazing young woman, one who is being treated most unfairly.”

“What you are saying makes no sense.” She responded, “If we were that important, they wouldn’t be shutting us down.”

“They are shutting you down because they have to, Yukino.” I decided to just reveal what I had learned, “The SRT Academy was set up entirely by the GSC president, using her own personal funds and completely outside of the jurisdiction of the GSC itself. When she disappeared, they had no way of accessing her accounts, nor any way of overriding the SRT authorization codes, meaning that it was impossible for anyone to manage or fund SRT further.”

“So…” She blinked, a shudder going through her body, Her dropping to a whisper, “That’s why they shut us down? Not because of anything we did… but… but a clerical error?!”

“As I said.” My voice turned soft, watching the young woman visibly struggle to contain herself, “You are all being treated most unfairly.”

“Why didn’t they just tell us this?” She asked, finally, shaking her head, “At least then… If we only knew what to do… Then…”

She trailed off, but I could guess what she meant. The self doubt and uncertainty of their situation was obviously taking a toll on not just her, but her team as a whole if this was the state of their leader.

“They likely did.” I explained, “They probably sent reports and updates to the SRT mainframe.”

“Which no one can access.” She finished, tension leaving her body, a weary resignation filling her, ears drooping, “I see.”

Silence filled the room, as I stared at her, taking in her micro expressions as she slowly accepted what I have been saying, Once I saw that she was in a stable enough spot, I continued.

“Obviously, I wish for you all to trust me. To that end, I would be happy to provide you all the documents proving what I’ve said.” I pulled out a USB, showing it to the leader of FOX before I put it into the computer in front of me.

“Ah. Yes, thank you, that would be most helpful. The rest of my squad would want to see that.” But not her, I noted, as she replied, “For now, I would like to ask what your plans for SRT are.”

I wonder why she merely accepted what I told her, not arguing or denying anything. She didn’t strike me as naive, so I wondered what caused the behaviour. Rather than doubt, the eyes that stared into mine seemed to be filled with a strange hunger.

“First, I should specify that SRT as it currently exists will have to shut down.” I started, getting a firm nod from the fox girl, “Without the access codes or the academy’s documentation, there is no way to continue running it in its current formation. Luckily, the logo is actually owned by the General Student Council, so I can buy the rights to it from them and you can keep the name and insignia.”

She absently raised a hand to the armband on her left bicep, realising what she was doing halfway there and bringing it back down firmly, “Thank you for that consideration. I will keep it in mind.”

“As for what I want from SRT, nothing that you have not already been doing, but this time with a more expanded mandate.” She seemed a bit intrigued by that, A small smile appearing before it fled, so I continued, “SCHALE’s job is to investigate trouble in every single Academy and assist students with their problems. A significant portion of that is cracking down on Gang and Delinquent activity. To do so, Once I have been given permission to operate in an Academy’s jurisdiction, I can deputise students to assist me in these tasks, even if they are from another Academy. There is a problem however, when it comes to edge cases.”

I pulled up a map of the city, turning my screen around and pointing to the no man’s land border of winding streets and alleyways that separated Gehenna and Trinity.

“If SCHALE uses forces sourced from Academies to perform their duties…” Yukino immediately saw what the issue was.

“Exactly. If I am working with the Justice Task Force, for example, and the gang we are fighting retreats from the battle into Gehenna proper, it would cause a major incident if I deputised them to act within Gehenna territory.” I nodded, “That’s where the SRT comes in. A solely SCHALE force, which can act impartially to prevent issues like this from escalating.”

“I... understand. I assume SCHALE would fund our education and activities in return?” Yukino looked contemplative turning the idea over in her mind.

“Yes. You would be allocated an increased budget from SCHALE. Vice President Rin has confirmed that it would be possible.” I confirmed, “As for education, I am a teacher. I will personally ensure that your futures are not damaged by the change.”

She blushed at that, my conviction surprisingly effective, “I see. I’d like to- To confirm this with my squad, sir. We need to know where we stand. Is that okay with you?”

“It is. Please, do not feel any pressure to accept. No matter what happens, the offer will remain open.” I responded, staring deeply into her eyes, “You may not believe it, Yukino, but I have seen what you and the rest of SRT accomplished. You are exceptional.”

She broke my gaze, eyes lowering to the floor as her ears furled, “We were just doing our jobs.”

“That is more than enough for me.” My smile went unseen, but her ears twitched in my direction at the words.