Then again, considering what he was seeing at the moment, it would surprise some that they were an elite unit back where they came from.
"You know, we do have a lot to do," he said to the man lounging in the seat closest to the door.
Bateau grinned back, and put his hands behind his head. "You worry too much. We're doing the set up, and that means that we take the time to do it right."
"I know that, but I don't think that the major is relaxing at the moment."
"Actually, even she needs to unwind some times."
"I...." Togusa commented, stopping only long enough to see the door open, and notice who was there. "I really don't think that she'd be that way at a time like this."
"To tell you the truth, she's actually out on a little personal recon of her own...."
"I don't think that's...."
"Hey, why should we complain? I mean, she's probably enjoying the chance to test the waters with the person she just met."
"Are you happening to be discussing what I might do with my free time?" said the new arrival dryly.
"Of course, I...." Bateau began, right before he placed the voice. Looking up sharply, he confirmed who it was, and nearly fell out of his chair. "Major!"
"Anything you want to discuss?"
"Uh.... not really."
"I thought not."
"Maybe next time he'll think, or we could always discuss what sort of relationships he has," Togusa murmured under his breath, and saw that the Major had caught his words. He flushed slightly, but her expression got a slightly amused tint to it, making him get redder.
"Now, if you boys have finished talking about things that aren't important to you, maybe we can get some work done. Ishikawa."
"Yes, Major?" replied the bearded man.
"Call up the latest batch of possible recruits, if you would."
"Sure thing."
She looked up at the screen and frowned at the sight of a man who had dark hair and the look of a cop about him. "Leon McNichol. A cop?"
Togusa nodded, and tapped a few commands into the console in front of him. "Apparently was an officer in MegaTokyo's regular cops, and their AD Police."
"Isn't that the anti-boomer squad?"
"Got it in one. Rose up through the ranks of the group, which is a feat in itself, since a lot of people didn't survive front line work. Has a past with some solo actions, and is a good squad leader, with some investigative skills. Unfortunately, any investigations he'd do were stifled by the corporation that had its fingers in a lot of bad stuff. But he didn't seem to simply take it, since his record shows that he's argued with at least two chiefs in his department."
"Sounds like someone that I'd like."
Motoko smiled slightly. "If only we could take it that easily. Next?"
"Hmmm.... Now that's a pretty girl...."
"And a bounty hunter," the most human person in the room reported. "Her name's Iria, and she's a bounty hunter. Very good at her job, and is apparently someone to depend on. She's even killed something called a 'Zeriam'."
"And that is?"
"Let's see.... A biological killing machine that can absorb an individual whole to use their skills and knowledge, but can also take samples of DNA from victims in order to create less powerful creatures to do its work for it. Has only one drive, and that's to kill anything in its path. Unfortunately, it is hard to kill since it can regenerate, and can take weapons fire without permanent damage."
"Damn.... Sounds nasty."
"But let's hold off on her," the Major put in. "She's a bounty hunter, and that means payments and personal freedom. We'd need to check her out before really trying out her on any team. Who's next?"
"Apparently someone called 'Makoto Mizuhara'. He's got the ability to literally touch machines and connect with them. But I doubt that we'll be using him."
"Why?"
"Take a look. He's just a kid."
"And that's not all," commented Ishikawa. "Apparently the boy's got a connection to some ancient machine girl called a 'Demon God'."
"How bad is it?" Togusa asked.
"Do the words 'heavy tactical weapon' mean anything to you?"
"Oooh.... Well then, this should be interesting."
"Oh?"
"Pirotess," the former cop said as the image of a beauty with pointed ears. "She's a dark elf."
"Magic?"
That brought a smile to Bateau's face. "Maybe she can spread some pixie dust around the place."
"This might seem to be odd for us, but there is magic out there," Kusanagi reminded them. "And that means that we need to be able to fight the guys who use it."
"If we go with her, she could be useful," Togusa commented. "She's intelligent, and loyal, though she is dedicated to a certain guy. But her... magic and sword skills are pretty good."
"We'll see. In the mean time...."
"We've got this one."
"Looks young."
"Her name's Naomi Armitage, and her real origin is under passkey."
"It is?"
"Seems that she's a 'Third', but it's being kept quiet to let her live how she wants."
Her brow rose at that. "And she's here now?"
"With a husband. And a daughter."
"But I thought that Thirds were robots," Bateau said in slight confusion.
"'Synthoids' is the term that I think that they're using now," Kusanagi corrected. "They've got artifical systems that mimic a lot of what humans have, but are still androids, except for one major difference. They can have children."
"Think that she'd be like a human mother?"
"I'd stake my badge on it," Togusa responded softly, looking up at the image on the screen.
Motoko nodded in agreement, and looked at the eyes shown in the file picture, while:
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(Posted Sun, 23 Oct 2005 04:28)
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