Shot Through The Heart, part two {Chapter 12}

[dd]

Preview of coming attractions: The date continues. A carnival. More shooting. Death to balloons. MIME!!! Photos for Tessa. A kiss?

And: The 'URGENT' envelopes...what comes in to Tessa?...what goes out to Kaname?
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After they left the shooting range, they took a taxi to the lake area. As they drove, Kaname saw an increasing number of signs advertising a carnival.

"A carnival, Sosuke? What a Wonderful idea!"

"Thank you, Kaname."

They strolled around the carnival, seeing the sights, riding the rides, eating the food, and trying their hand at games of chance and contests of skill.

Of course, lead by Sousuke, they hit the shooting rink first. "More shooting, Souske?" Kaname asked, a touch disappointed,

"Yes. To get it out of the way. And to gain confidence. I want to be certain to win you at least one prize!"

Kaname smiled. "It's OK, Sousuke, I've had plenty of prizes today, already."

Sousuke had Kaname shoot first, to see what she had taken from their session. After only a few attempts, she had won Sousuke a Bonta-Kun doll. "And I will NEVER let you forget who won the first prize."

Sousuke grinned. He thought that Kaname might perhaps need a comeupence. He walked up to the firing line and picked up the gun. "Rather small, isn't it?" he asked the attendant. "All we got" was the answer he got in return.

Sousuke turned slowly and stared deliberately at Kaname. He looked intent. He kicked his gun case, and raised his eye brows.

Kaname looked frantic for a second, wildly shaking her head.

"Do I win more prizes if I knock them all down at once?" Sousuke asked, only to be told "Sure, why not, can't happen!"

Sousuke turned, faced Kaname, mouthed g-r-e-n-a-d-e and pantomined pulling a pin.

"No, Sousuke!!!" Kaname yelled.

"Yes, I will remember who won the first prize, Kaname!" After that, he won her a stuffed panda, a necklace, and a china tea cup.

It was Kaname's choice next, and Sousuke was surprised at first. Then it made all too much sense. Kaname chose a game where darts were thrown at balloons. She spent a LOT of money. Threw a LOT of darts. Popped a LOT of balloons. Sousuke said NOTHING.

After that, they tried more games, grabbed some more food, and stopped to watch jugglers, a trained bear, and a fire-eater. Things were going wonderfully...until the mime.

Kaname HATED mimes. When the mime was within earshot, Kaname said haughtily "Who would ever WANT to be a mime. Someone afraid to talk to people I guess. Simeone needing to hide their face. How big a failure at everything else does one need to become a mime?" Sousuke guessed that Kaname must have been frightened by a mime as a child.

The mime heard. The mime was not overjoyed. But this was the mime's show.

The mime walked over to Kaname and and got the crowd's attention. He pointed to Kaname, then he pretended to have long hair like her. He then made a really stupid face. The mime then pantomimed an exagerated hourglass figure, looked at Kaname, and brought his arms straight down. The crowd roared. Kaname blushed. The mime then held his hand out like he was a well-endowed woman. He then looked at Kaname and brought his hands against his chest. More laughter. After a few more mocking caricatures, the mime tried to convince the crowd that her posterior was the size of a carnival bus.

Kaname was getting upset, so Sousuke decided to take action.

"Please stop. I am certain this is a good time to cease in your actions." he asked the mime politely.

The mime looked at the crowd, made an 'x' with his fingers on his left cheek, and then made an exceedingly goofy face. Sousuke was not amused, even though the audience was.

Sousuke whispered to Kaname. He then stood up, briefly and stiffly acting like a mime himself. Kaname stood up, and started making the same exact motions the actual mime had made. Sousuke made his hand into a gun and mouthed bang. Kaname clutched her heart, and sprawled on the ground. Sousuke smiled, took the real Glock 26 from Kaname's purse, and pointed it at the mime.

"Oh, shit!!!" the mime yelled, taking off and running. That earned the loudest laughter of the day.

After that, Kaname wanted to get some pictures of the two of them together at a photography booth. She made certain she was hugging Sousuke in each picture. She wanted duplicates. She and Sousuke were having so much fun, she figured it was only reasonable to want to share the magic. She would send some copies to Tessa as soon as possible.

When they were a bit worn out, they got some cold drinks and sat under a nice shade tree.

"I don't want to break the mood, Sousuke, but seeing that we're just resting at the moment...have you heard anything about Kurz and Melissa yet?"

"No," Sousuke said sadly. "Not a word. Their effort truly was responsible for saving countless lives. It was a great success. But for me, even though I was not involved, it feels like a failure...because I could do nothing to help them, and because they have not returned."

Kaname patted Sousuke's shoulder. "Things may turn out well, Sosuske, don't lose hope."

"I won't, Kaname. I've faced failures before, and I have always gone on to fight my best when next I had opportunity."

"Failures, Sousuke? Have you, Kurz, and Melissa failed as a team?" Kaname asked, almost in disbelief.

"Everybody fails in battle sooner or later, Kaname, if they fight enough. It's just a matter of how much, and at how much cost. Good soldiers fail very little, and go on to try again. Bad soldiers fail too much, and often die."

Suddenly nostalgic, Sousuke described for Kaname some of their less than stellar missions. "There was one mission where the three of us were in a South American country, with the objective being a farm used as a drug laboratory by a group of international smugglers. We had out targets picked out by Intel, and we struck those successfully. Kurz thought he saw a suspicious truck outside of an additional large building. He attacked the building with missiles, obliterating it...but not before some survivors ran out...they were sheep. He had destroyed the sheep cartel." Kaname giggled, hearing that. "For the rest of the mission, Kurz sang about lambchops...leg of lamb...and about growing mutton chops to go with his flowing locks. Later, he recived a severe beating when he brought Melissa a gift: a skimpy bikini made from lambs's wool."

"Is that true, Sousuke?"

"Completely, Kaname. There was another time as well. The Bruichladdich distillery at Islay was thought to have been taken over by terrorists, to be used as a chemical weapons facility that no one would suspect.

The distillery had installed webcams in their buildings to show the world that their whisky was distilled traditionally. Apparently, some U.S. agency had locked onto the images, and felt there was something suspicious going on. By some unlikely set of mishaps and miscommunications, and the fact that certain structural steps in the manufacture of whisky were not that dissimilar to those used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction, someone at the Defence Threat Reduction Agency started a memo that snowballed, eventually leading to Mithril being called in.
Kurz, Melissa, and I went in, and destroyed a large number of barrells that day. Melissa would not come out of her cabin all the next day, mortified by how much fine whisky we had saved the world from."

Kaname smiled, and then placed a hand on Sousuke's arm. "I miss them too." She said, and then she told Sousuke of her failures.

"Failures? You, Kaname?"

"Yes, Sousuke." She told him about troubles she had had adjusting to like in America, and troubles when she had returned. Sousuke put his hand on her arm, then.

After they had rested a bit, Sousuke led Kaname in a stroll around the lake. They watched people boating. They fed geese and ducks. Kaname took a few moments to play catch with a couple of young children. The light on the lake was surreal.

Kaname asked to sit on a park bench, and Sousuke sat with her. She leaned against him, closed her eyes and smiled, tired but content. Remembering something he had read, Sousuke made the bold gesture of taking Kaname's hand.

Kaname's eyes popped wide open. She blushed. Then she looked up at Sousuke, narrowed her eyes, and said "This would be a great time for that kiss, Sousuke." She tilted her head back, and opened her mouth in anticipation.

"Yes. Kaname. Should there be any tongue....?"

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The Mithril courier had brought a number of communiques, a handful of data discs, a few mission expenditure forms, and an envelope labeled "URGENT."

Captain Teletha Testarossa, tired from a day saturated by the less pleasant things in a submarine commander's itinerary, prioritized the items into various piles. The items that required her personal attention were further sorted into a "will do it tomorrow after I get some rest" pile and the "better see whether or not it can wait" pile. A single item sat by its lonesome in that latter pile.

URGENT.

Tessa stared at that envelope. If it were TRULY urgent, it might mean a longer night, which would soon enough be turning into another day. She wanted a soak. A warm soak and some chilled coffee. And then some sleep. Hopefully not all three at once.

Thinking of the soaking tub brought a mix of feelings. She thought of companions...some by choice, and some by fate. Some for but a brief moment, and some for longer. Melissa came to mind. Someone she could talk with who didn't treat her like a pretty china doll. True, it might mean a stack of beer cans here and a couple of ashtrays full of cigarette butts there...but what was that compared to friendship? Especially for a woman who was both 'young' and a 'Captain,' two words which had no business being in the same place or same person. And Melissa told it to her straight, no holds barred.

Where was Melissa? How was Melissa? Was there even a Melissa anymore?

URGENT.

"Urgent, " Tessa said to herself. So many things seemed to be 'URGENT' these days. She sighed. She had taken on the responsibility, and certain things come with responsibility. "Bigger things come with bigger responsibility," she said. "More 'URGENT' things come with bigger responsibility." After fighting back tears, she asked herself "Why do I NEED this responsibility?!"

Tessa looked at the clock on her cabin wall. She didn't see the time. She saw the flashing ":" between numbers, seemingly synchronized to the beat of her heart. One beat. Two beats. Three beats. Three seconds of her life gone. Three seconds older. And older and older and older.

Tessa admonished herself. She wouldn't help herself falling too deeply into melancholy. Any submarine Captain had better things to do than fall into clinical depression. That went double for the commander of the TDD-1.

Nonetheless, she wondered what it might be like to be not only young, but also relatively free. And that brought to mind someone else who had once shared a soak with her and Melissa. Someone with whom she had joined forces to save the TDD-1 and everyone aboard. Someone who was fortunate enough to have had things she wished she herself could have.

Kaname Chidori.

That name made her prickle at times, as if she could feel herself grow spines. Long sharp spines. Miss Chidori was althletic and sure-footed where she herself was clumsy and a injury prone. Miss Chidori was full-figured and moved with grace, where she herself was more petite and awkward. Miss Chidori was popular with her peers, people who wished to me more like her. She herself was popular amongst older subordinates, people who thought of her as The Cute Captain, a child performer taking on an adult's role. A curiosity. Their curiosity.

Of course, Tessa had her own skills, and they were far beyond anything a high school girl might have. But, at that moment, they seemed cold consolation. Miss Chidori had the enviable opportunity to form relationships with boys: something so very important to girls their shared age. And---Tessa admitted---Miss Chidori often had almost unlimited access to one particular young man: Sousuke Sagara.

Tessa never really knew how to feel about Sousuke.

It was hard wearing the hat of a Captain on her head and the heart of a young woman on her sleeve. When she thought of Sousuke, her outward spines disappeared almost entirely; but, in their place, inward spines grew. He just didn't seem capable of seeing her for anything but a commanding officer. She constantly found herself wanting to grab him by the collar and yell "I'M A WOMAN DAMMIT...LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M A WOMAN." And when she dreamed, she often found herself holding out her arms to him, asking him to desire her like she's a woman. She always woke up before anything ever reached fruition.

Perhaps the conversation they'd had before he headed back to Japan was an indication that he was at least open to something more than a purely professional relationship....

URGENT

Tessa was the designer and Captain of the most advanced and most powerful submarine the world had EVER seen. She had great men, men of experience and distinction, serving as her advisors. The crew she had must surely be one of the best above or below the seas. And still, at moments like this, she felt cursed. She felt like SHE had fired a bolt into the breast of THAT albatross. She shook her head when she thought of the lives of other women. There were some who grew to think of their spouses or their children as weights around their necks. Would she ever be able to fill her life with the softer responsibilities, or would she be wedded to steel and the sea for the rest of her days?

Tessa finally had enough of introspection. This was not a new thorn in her side. She told herself that there was still time for many things in her life. There would come a time when she would step down, and find a different role in the organization. Until then, perhaps she should take time some day to set reasonable and attainable short-term and long-term goals. Short-term first. Why not now?

For Mithril? To give the organization her all.

For Melissa? A safe return.

For Sousuke? She would perservere, but would not set her hopes too high.

For Kaname Chidori? Perhaps she sould stop seeing her as a rival, and see if she could be a friend. A very admirable sentiment!

URGENT

Yes, and for the envelope? It was time to open it.

She pulled out the papers...Oh, it was THIS! The assignment she had given Sousuke. He had gotten to it very promptly, despite all the things he had been going through. She would not have expected anything less of Sousuke. Let's see what he has had a chance to come up with:

She started reading Sousuke's thoughts on Miss Chidori. It did not take long before her face turned pink...pinker...red...redder. Most scientists are well away of the nature of the term 'infrared.' If any scientist had been in that cabin at that time, he would have gotten an understanding of the term 'ultra-red!'

Physical contact! Karma Sutra! Freakish and infirmed! Stamina! Self-lubricating parts! Stick of a girl with breasts of a boy!

Tessa threw those papers aside and picked up the ones with HER name. More of the same! Personality of a pet! Aiming for things out of reach! Shoot myself if I were her! Misplaced and fruitless! Love not likely! Sexual relationship, Why?!!!

If the envelope had been clever, it would have erased that 'URGENT' before coming in here on THIS night! Hell. if it had any common sense, it would have just jumped into the shredder! She would show that envelope the meaning of 'URGENT.'

It had not taken Tessa overly long to realize that this was not Sousuke's doing, even though these were the original papers. It also did not take Tessa long to figure out WHO was responsible. And why SHE had done this. The only real question was how she had come across Sousuke's papers, and whether or not he had any active role in this. Her guess would be "no." And that would be easily proven to her satisfaction when Sousuke read THOSE responses himself!

Tessa twisted at her hair angrily. To think she had thought of trying to offer some form of reconcilliation! To run up a flag of truce! She had just taken a broadside, pure and simple...but she had the wind at HER advantage. And, she had the larger ship.

Two could play at jokes and deceptions. The blinding light of inspiration filled her mind: she had just the plan. She would remain responsible, and would maintain as much dignity as she could. And she would use the coincidence of events to her advantage. She had no intention of removing Sousuke from his current position on a permanent basis. Especially not for personal reasons. But, with Sgt. Major Mao and Sgt.s Weber and Conrad missing...not to mention the TDD-1 being short on Arm Slaves at the moment...Sousuke would best serve them all by being aboard the submarine. That decision had already been made and approved.

Tessa reached into her desk drawer and removed an envelope labeled 'URGENT.' She got to work typing the message she needed. It might be worth reactivating the spy cams Mithril had secreted in Miss Chidori's apartment, but activated only in times of true potential need. It might make a nice show. Perhaps with wine, cheese, and crackers!!! She had only been joking, but....

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Kaname had to admit it was a fine day. She was still on cloud nine from her date with Sousuke two days before, and was in orbit because of their kiss, as awkward as it was. She certainly had no reason to complain!!! Being able to think Sousuke, date, and kiss all at once was a staggering accomplishment.

She hadn't told anyone at school...but it must show, as so many people had asked what was going on. Asked her what was RIGHT with her! She wasn't ready to tell them yet...this was HERS to hold onto for a while.

Of course, she had to keep things in perspective. She had to learn patience, just as Sousuke had to learn to reach out more, and let go more. Things hadn't exactly blossomed since their date, but Sousuke was more attentive to her feelings, and that was a good start. She would have killed for that alone, a week ago. And, she thought looking at the date jar she had taken out from under her bed, SHE was in charge of the next date. Perhaps she would have an opportunity to tutor Sousuke in the subject of kissing....

Things were certainly looking up!!! It was a fine day to be Kaname Chidori!!!

There was a loud knock at her door. COULD THAT BE SOUSUKE?!! He hadn't said anything about coming by, but he had shown her that he could certainly surprise her.

Kaname ran to the door...but when she opened it, no one was there. An envelope lay on the floor, marked 'URGENT,' and addressed to her. She suddenly felt a prickly sensation at the back of her neck. A VERY prickly sensation.

URGENT

What could be so "URGENT?' Who would send anything 'URGENT?' Could it be some ploy of Sousuke's? Thinking of Sousuke reminded her where she had seen crimson letters of that size and font before. The Mithril courier....

The Mithril courier...and the envelope containing the 'homework' papers she had mailed to Tessa. Kaname started to be concerned, wondering what message someone in Mithril might be sending to her in this manner. Why not just relay a message through Sousuke? SOUSUKE?!!! Could this have something to do with Sousuke?

Kaname's previous joy from puncturing Tessa's inflated ego turned to ashes on her tongue. Kaname had almost perished from the inflation of a huge balloon...might she be be in even greater danger from the bursting of something the size of Tessa's pride?

URGENT

Kaname stared at the envelope. It did not move. It did not make the first move. It did not seem moved.

It just sat there.

It did not open itself.

It did not burst into flame.

And Kaname did not have ruby slippers to click together. But she was certainly very suddenly afraid of the Wicked Witch!!!

She considered calling Sousuke, thinking she might feel better opening the envelope if he was there with here. She might even consider that to BE the next date, if that was what it took!!! Kaname was well aware of something at that moment: the more you gain...the more you have to lose.

URGENT

Enough nonsense! Wasn't she Kaname Chidori? Hadn't she been through SO MANY things and always come out standing?!!! Problems don't go away just because someone refuses to look at them.

Kaname opened the envelope, and removed a letter with the letterhead of the Mithril Financial Department:




Dear Miss Chidori

It has come to our attention that we have been remiss in sending you the ongoing bills for our services. These were to have been sent out quarterly, but by means of a program error, the bills were being sent to an unnamed dead file, escaping the attention of our accountants and the courier service.

You will be pleased to know that we will add no penalty for late payment. Likewise, as you are a priority 1A resource, you will not be charged interest.

Preferred payment is in nontraceable electronic funds or gold bullion. Quarterly payments can of course be handled with payment of funds by yourself in timely fashion. If you wish, given your designated status, we would be glad for you to visit our department in order to apply for a loan. With your references within our organization, there is a good chance that such a loan would be approved.

At the insistance of high ranking members within the organization, your account has been credited with a significant positive balance, due to services rendered by yourself to said members and their subordinates. The numbers below take such a credit into account. Further services by yourself may serve in similar fashion, at the dicretion of members of the Accounting Staff.

The amount due listed below should be paid as promptly as possible. As resources within the organization are currently at a low point, allocation of Mithril equipment and personnel will be both a sensitive and a strategic issue. Accordingly, until total payment is received and verified, all Mithril services to yourself will be considered to be on hold.

Because you are such an important asset to the organization, and because you have rendered services far beyond most non-members, you will not be expected to pass through a review board to obtain reinstatement of the aforementioned services. We at Mithril wish to honor those who serve with distinction.



The remainer of the letter was numbers. Too many numbers. Numbers that made her hospital repair bill look like a pittance. Kaname looked at the Date Jar, and thought it may need to be relabled the Meager Rations Jar.

This was terrible news. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding. Could this just be a joke?! How bad could things really be....

The phone rang.

"Hello?" Kaname answered. It was Sousuke.

"What? When? Are you certain? Has anybody said 'why' or 'for how long?....'" The conversation went on for some time after that.

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The bottom line was that Sousuke had been recalled to the TDD-1. For unknown reasons. For an unknown length of time.