Inception

Chapter 37: AWOL

"Running off in that direction ain't going to do you any good," she said once she'd swallowed half the bottle of milk and her drugs. "There's wasn't a track on the one that took her and no reports in of any kaiju. I've already pinged the area with the fortitude scanner and got nothing all the way up to the ocean. Best bet we have right now is to find the tail of whatever got them their information in the first place." She swore something rank enough to make Soshiro smile. "Kaiju aren't suppose to be able to talk let alone hack. What the fucking hell."

"Kaiju No. 9 was in the disguise of a human when me and Iharu found him," said Leno. "Maybe he hid as someone on base."

"Unlikely," she said. "But I did think about it. Which is why I have Cromwell pulling up all the data on Lena's research on her modified sensor. She has the closest thing we have to whatever can detect a kaiju in human disguise. She also has the most current data that we have on hand about the Russian King Stone."

Leno frowned, but didn't seem confused by that.

Soshiro, on the other hand.

"What the hell is a Russian King Stone?"

"It's what was in Security Room Five," said Okinogi. "Lena got special permission to bring it on base. It's integrated into a Russian suit she inherited from her father. You know about the Metis-40 suits?"

Soshiro scraped through his brain and what he came up with made him wrinkle his nose.

"Those old 70's things they said could track down kaiju?"

"Those are the ones."

"I thought they were, like, the jankiest things after Hugo cars."

"I've never even heard of any of them working myself," said Okinogi, rubbing her face so hard Soshiro could her eyelids popping on and off her eyeballs.

"This one worked," piped up Leno, so much louder than he'd been thus far that he almost made Soshiro jump.

Instead, he raised an eyebrow at his officer. "Oh?"

Okinogi seemed to really see Leno for the first time then, as she stilled in her abused of her tired face to stare at him wide eyed.

"Of course! I should have—you!" She landed a finger towards Leno. "What did your dad do before you lot immigrated here? For real, off record."

"Uhh, I was, like...four when we moved here. Didn't he do, like, manufacturing for the Russian government?"

"Wait, you're Russian?" asked Soshiro. "Lena's Russian? Shit, that's hot—OW!"

Leno had kicked the back of his leg, hard, and only looked like he regretted not kicking harder.

"Point is, I know the sensor works." Leno lowered his chin and stared out at them from beneath his eyebrows. "I've used it before. And the suit."

Soshiro and Okinogi gaped on him.

"You can—you know how to use the suit?"

"Yes, so I just need the direction—"

"Whoa whoa, hang on," Okinogi raised her hands. "The moment it gets out, forget the brass, the Russian Military is going to be out for blood. We're talking assassins!"

"Sounds good to me," said Soshiro. "Kaiju took her west, right?"

Leno spun on place and started marching, Soshiro on his heels.

"Wait!" Okinogi lunged out her chair. She just managed to catch Soshiro by the ankles.

"What the—"

"It's nuclear powered!"

Soshiro scowled down at her.

"Like, you use this you get cancer?"

"Yes!"

"It doesn't give you cancer," said Leno, as though unable to believe how dumb they were. He was already waiting by the door. "The nuclear core is lead lined and stable. Do you really think someone as overprotective as Lena would let me try it on if I could get radiation poisoning?"

"The jury has spoken." Soshiro yanked his leg out of Okinogi's grasp.

"And you're just going to trust him? Wait, guys, I'm serious about the assassins! Hoshiro---!"

The door fell shut behind them, cutting her off.

Energized by the first good news he's had since waking up, Soshiro threw his arm over Leno's shoulders.

"Have I ever mentioned how much I like you?"

Leno shoved off his arm and bared his teeth.

"Don't. Touch me."

"Rawr, jeeze, I'm risking my life for you sister, doesn't that mean something?"

"Not jack shit." He stomped ahead of him, shoulders raised like a child waging a tantrum.

Soshiro couldn't help but smile, because an utterly fond realization had crossed his mind.

If he married Lena, Leno would be his younger brother too, right? He'd always wanted to have a younger sibling, if for nothing else than so he could have someone to lord over as his older brother lorded over him.

Leno would be his lackey yet. Heeeeeee.

A door slammed open behind them.

"Fine! Fucking fine! Die for all I care!" screamed Okinogi.

Leno glanced back, meeting Soshiro's eye.

"BUT I'M STILL CALLING SECURITY!"

They broke out into a sprint.

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Why are nuts giving me hiccups? Hiccups are for suckers.