An Assassin's Respite

Operation Rescue Kazuna

Kagura was standing in front of the mirror in her room, staring at her reflection. She didn't know if it was due to fatigue or what, but she felt that she looked different somehow. Maybe not literally, but something about her had definitely changed. Whether it be for better or for worse would be decided after they rescue Kazuna, that was something she was sure of. She took a deep breath and steeled herself as she left for Kazuna's house, where they would prepare to head out.

Kagura knocks on Kazuna's door and is greeted by Ayanami.

"Kind of odd for you to get here last." She states.

"Sorry, I lost track of time," Kagura replies as she enters the house.

They walk into the living room together, and Kagura is stunned by everything that was littering the room.

In the middle of the coffee table was a 3-D hologram of Zer's base that was constructed by Akeno. She wasn't sure where she got that type of technology, but she assumed that Ms. Katsuchi was behind it. There were earpieces and night vision goggles in a pile, and there was black clothing folded and piled together. There were papers taped to the wall with too many notes for Kagura to read. Akeno and Ayame were studying the 3-D map, Shiba and Chiyo were inspecting the goggles and earpieces, and everyone else was reviewing the notes on the walls. Ms. Katsuchi had walked to her side at some point.

"Stunned, are we?" Ms. Katsuchi asks.

"Uh, yea. There's so much going on that I don't exactly know what's going on." Kagura answers.

"Don't worry; it only seems chaotic if you try and take everything in all at once. It has a much more organized feeling if you focus on one thing at once or on your specific role." Ms. Katsuchi advises.

"Oh," Kagura mutters, still a little taken aback.

"Here, why don't I give you a little tour since you missed the explanation." Ms. Katsuchi says as she leads Kagura to the coffee table.

"This here is a 3-D model of Zer's base that Akeno was able to make thanks to the notes that my helper and I had gotten for her. The earpieces here are what you all are going to be using to communicate with each other. They're made so that the wearer can clearly hear who is speaking but third person people can't hear anything. Don't worry about the goggles. They're for the scouting team. The clothes were made from a special material that is extremely good at absorbing light. As long as the walls aren't white, you all will be nearly invisible. Last are the notes on the wall. They have our plan of attack, escape plan, and a variety of emergency plans on them. They also have the names and powers of the people that we were able to see clearly on the edges of the base. Of course, we'll talk over them together, but being able to study them is very helpful." Ms. Katuschi explains.

"Is this what Kazuna went through on every mission he went on?" Kagura asks in amazement.

"Pretty much. Although, there probably weren't as many emergency and backup plans since he typically went on solo missions." Ms. Katsuchi answers.

"How did you get us clothes that fit? I don't remember telling you my measurements." Kagura asks.

"That would be me." Akeno says.

"How do you know them?" Kagura asks a bit embarrassed.

"My power is intellect; it wasn't tough to calculate. And might I add that you have amazing measurements." Akeno says, causing Kagura's face to go red.

"That's just inappropriate." Kagura says.

"Now, now she didn't mean any harm by it; after all, it is my fault that she had to do it, seeing as I forgot to ask for your measurements." Ms. Katsuchi says.

"I guess I can understand that." Kagura says, relaxing a little.

"Well, now that we're all here, why don't we have a little pre-mission meeting." Ms. Katsuchi says as she claps her hands to get everyone's attention.

 "Everyone, listen close. You all have spent the past week strengthening your bodies and steeling your resolve. You all are an impressive bunch, I must say. You've exceeded my expectations by quite a large margin. Physically you all are strong, but mentally you're even stronger. To be able to accept Kazuna and be willing to save him even after hearing about some of the things he did and what he used to do is something that requires an extremely flexible mind. My son couldn't have found a better group of friends. You all have made a place for him where he can feel he belongs, so why don't we bring him home." Ms. Katsuchi says.

Cheering erupts from the living room as everyone is ready to save Kazuna. Ms. Katsuchi lets them cheer for a bit longer before continuing to speak.

"Now, are there any questions before we start to head out." She asks.

"How are we going to reach their base?" Shiba asks.

"Good question. We won't be using anything over the top like a stealth jet; we'll just use some surveillance vans to get us close, then we'll approach by foot." She answers.

 "Wait, do you have a jet?" Kagura asks.

"Yes, we do." Ms. Katsuchi says.

"Your clan really is rich," Shiba notes.

"Well, assassination is a lucrative business. It takes a lot of money to warrant someone risking their life to take another's and for them to keep quiet about it." Akeno states.

"That is true, but there are also other reasons for our wealth." Ms. Katsuchi adds.

"How will we find Kazuna inside the base?" Ayanami asks.

"You will have Karma with you so you won't have to worry about that. He'll lead you straight to him." Ms. Katsuchi answers.

"Anything else?" She asks once more.

Everyone looks between one another, seeing if someone else had any questions, but they all seemed to have had all their questions answered.

"Okay, why don't you all get changed and grab your assigned equipment. Kagura, why don't you contact Ms. Saugoma after you finish changing." Ms. Katsuchi says.

"Are you sure?" Kagura asks.

"Yes. I had a talk with her so it should be fine." She replies.

"Got it," Kagura replies as she grabs the clothes that Ms. Katsuchi handed her and heads to the room where everyone, but Shiba, who was the only guy, was changing at. 

After they finish changing and Ms. Saugoma arrives, they get into their respective vehicles. The scouting team of Ayame, Shiba, Chiyo, and Akeno were being chauffered by Ms. Saugoma in one car, and everyone else was in the other van being driven by Ms. Katsuchi. Ms. Saugoma was added to the scouting team as an in case of emergency option.

They were traveling for what felt like an eternity. Time felt like it was moving in slow-motion. There was no conversation going on; the nerves and anxiety kept them silent the entire time. Kagura was gripping her sword so hard that her knuckles had to have been white beneath her gloves. 

Once they reach their destination, their overflowing anxiety was able to flood out of them. Everyone took deep breaths and steadied their breathing. The nerves were still there, but the tension was nearly completely gone. 

"Alright, from here on, we're going to split up. The scouting team will head to the watchpoint. Once they reach their destination, the infiltration team will head out and head to the point that overwatch says is safest. Understood?" Ms. Katsuchi states.

Everyone nods, still a little too anxious to speak. The infiltration team stands in wait for about ten minutes before they hear Akeno over comms. 

"Hello, can everyone hear me?" She asks.

"Loud and clear," Ayanami confirms.

"Good, ok, based on how long it took for us to get here, you all should head towards the right side of the base and enter from there. Head north for about 4 minutes, then go north-east, and you should reach the right side of the base after another 4 or 5 minutes." Akeno states.

"Understood," Ayanami says as she releases the button on the side of her earpiece that allowed her to speak.

 "Alright, you all heard her, let's move out." She says as she leads the group onward.

They reach the base per Akeno's timetable. Kagura thought that the base was even more impressive now that she could see it up close.

"We've reached the location," Kagura says over comms.

"Good that fits my time-table perfectly. Slowly approach the side of the base. Once you're within a few feet, Haruka, I want you to release some magnetic disruption. Unfortunately, this will mess up our comms for the moment, but it will make it possible for Emiko and Kagura to cut a pathway in without setting off any alarms or being caught on cameras." She orders.

"What do we do about the hole in the wall?" Ayanami asks.

"The wall is made of iron, so Haruka will use her magnetic powers to fill the hole with the chunk of metal that was cut away. Once she's done that, Haruna will then use her power to freeze the wall through the seem to keep it in place." Akeno answers.

"Roger that." Haruna and Haruka reply, and their team once again move out.

They reach the wall and act according to Akeno's instructions. The seal the wall and, officially, mission: Rescue Kazuna was a go.