Here it is.  I put the teaser up exactly a month ago.  Here is the story.
Depending upon the feedback I get from this, I will consider making this a
continuing series.

This story begins a few weeks after the end of the movie.

Ghost in the Shell: Birth of a Species
V0.8
By Andrew Searls
Characters from Ghost in the Shell are creations of Masamune Shirow and not
my own.


John Stallman hunkered down in between dumpsters.  The smell was bad, but he
didn't dare leave the alley just yet.  The shadows in the late evening sun
were growing long.  The approaching darkness would soon afford him enough
refuge to look for food.  At least the homeless vet disguise was easy enough
to come by. Its former owner no longer needed it anyway. The original odor
had quickly been tainted by his own sweat in the heat of the day, despite
the fact that he spent the daylight hours asleep in the shadows.

The disguise was also a good idea.  He could walk the night streets without
being noticed.  No one had even acknowledged his presence for the past
couple of days.  He needed some more time like this.  Let the heat die down,
and make a break for it.  Get out of LA.  Maybe try to catch a boat
offshore, or hitch down into Mexico.  Anywhere but here.  A bark in the
distance made him jump.  He really needed to get away.  A siren in the
distance reminded him of his troubles.

		**		**		**

One week ago:

Stallman loaded a pistol, pulled down a ski mask, and walked calmly into the
donut shop.  Things were going smoothly.  The nervous college student behind
the counter was quickly filling the paper bag with bills.  The customers in
the place were lying down like good little pets.  Then the two cops came in.

They were genuinely surprised.  They stopped and stared, mouths open.
Stallman turned and aimed, yelling, "Get the fuck down!"  One of them
reached for his side-arm, and Stallman fired.  That was when all hell broke
loose.

		**		**		**

He was quietly swearing at himself when he heard the footsteps approaching.
He pushed himself further into the gap between the dumpsters, trying to keep
his breath shallow.  The footsteps were very close, but the echo in the
alley made it difficult to tell how big the person approaching was.  He held
his breath as the footsteps came up to the dumpsters.  A small girl stopped
at the gap and turned to look at him.  He let out his breath and relaxed a
bit.  "What are you doin' in this part of town, little girl?"

She stared at him for a few seconds, hands at her sides.  She regarded him
in the shadows as if she was sizing him up.  "You're coming with me,
Stallman."

Stallman stared.  How did she know who he was?  The serious tone and the
adult voice sounded strange coming from the pre-adolescent child.  Then he
laughed. "You're no fuckin' cop.  What are you gonna do?"  The girl put one
hand on each dumpster, pushing them apart with apparently little effort.
Stallman's jaw dropped.

She took a step towards him and repeated herself.  "You're coming with me."

Stallman stood up.  Parlor tricks didn't impress him.  "Oh yeah?  You think
you're some sort of fuckin' bounty hunter or somethin?"  He stepped forward
and swung at the little girl.  His head hit the dumpster.  He didn't see her
move, so he must have tripped or something.  He swung again, more carefully
this time.  Then, he was in the air, landing in the alley behind her.  He
touched his chin and looked at the blood on his hand.  He turned to the
girl, who calmly turned to face him.

She just stood there, hands at her sides.  "Resistance is futile."

Stallman stepped up to the little girl, slowly this time.  "Very fuckin'
funny."  He knelt down and tried to pick her up.  Not only was her skin very
cold, but she was also several times heavier than she looked.  He finally
gave up before he threw his back out.  She stared at him with her
white-upon-white, unblinking eyes.  He felt like she could see straight
through him.  He frowned.  "Who the hell are you?"

She grabbed his hand.  "Come with me."

He was dragged a few meters before he managed to stand up and walk behind
her.  "What the fuck are you?"

She stopped and turned to face him.  He was suddenly sorry he had asked,
even though she only stared.  Her grip on his hand never changed.  "You can
call me Hana Taras."

He found himself drawn into her eyes for a moment before he regained his
composure.  "Well, Hana, I don't suppose I can get some sorta deal outta
you?"

Taras said nothing, but turned and resumed dragging him over to her car.
Just a plain sedan.  Didn't look like nothing special.  The back door opened
by itself.  Taras pointed to the back seat.  "Get in."  This was no simple
car.  Stallman stared.  Nothing was making any sense.  Taras pulled on his
arm, and he found himself lying down on the back seat.  He looked over his
shoulder to see her standing there.  "Watch your feet."  He pulled his feet
in, and the door closed itself.

He sat up to watch her get in the driver's side.  He pressed his nose
against the transparent partition that separated the front and back halves
of the interior of the car.  Instead of reaching for the wheel, she pressed
her neck against the headrest.  When she straightened up, he could see four
wires plugged into her neck leading back into the seat.  "Where did you get
this fuckin car, Japan?"

She sat there silently for a few seconds before speaking.  "Hold on."  She
didn't reach for the steering column, but the engine started.  Before he
could say anything, the car roared off, planting him firmly against the back
seat.

		**		**		**

Bateau opened another beer and leaned back in the seat.  He listened to the
sound of the wavelets against the hull.  A cargo ship was slowly churning
its way towards the horizon.  In the distance, Hong Kong provided light and
a faint white noise.

Togusa kicked his feet up.  He could see a few stars twinkling in the fading
twilight.  "This is nice.  I can see why you like it out here."

Bateau straightened up enough to see Togusa.  "You should bring your wife
and kids next time.  We could make a dinner of it."

Togusa snorted.  "Your boat would never be the same.  The kids are hard
enough to keep up with on land."  Bateau shrugged.  Togusa regarded his
partner.  "Didn't the Major have a boat like this?"

Bateau nodded.  "You're sitting on her."

Togusa jumped up.  He looked at his seat.  "On the Major?"

Bateau laughed a deep hearty laugh.  It was the first time Togusa saw him
laugh since the whole Puppet Master case blew over a few weeks ago.  He
quickly calmed down.  "I mean the boat."

Togusa sat down and peered into his empty bottle.  "Oh."

"How many of those have you had anyway?  You don't have the equipment to put
them away like I can."

Togusa put the bottle down.  "Feh, Yuki yells at me for drinking too much
anyway."

Bateau frowned.  "How often do you drink?"

Togusa shrugged.  "I dunno.  I haven't had much of anything lately.  Last
time I partied like this was a few months ago."

Bateau looked around the otherwise empty boat.  "You call this a party?"

It was Togusa's turn to laugh.

Bateau stepped inside the cabin and returned with a box.  It was about 10 cm
to a side, with ornate wooden inlay decorating the sides.  On the top was a
military insignia.

Togusa sobered up.  "Is that the Major?"

Bateau nodded.  "After Section 9 took their cybernetic equipment away, there
wasn't much left."

"So, you were named the chief mourner?"

Bateau grunted.  "Chief mourner of what?"

"The funeral ceremony."

Bateau let go of the box with one hand and gestured to indicate the boat.
"This is it."

Togusa frowned.  "No funeral?"

Bateau shrugged.  "She didn't have any family.  I was the closest thing."

The call came over the comlink.  [Bateau, Togusa, Aramaki here.  I need both
of you back at ops at your earliest convenience.]

Bateau answered.  [You mean now, chief?]

[Now would be good.]

Togusa sighed as he stood up.  "I guess the party's over."

		**		**		**

Togusa followed Bateau through the door to Aramaki's office.  Aramaki waved
casually for them to sit down.  Togusa spoke as he sat down.  "So, what's
up, chief?"

Aramaki sat back in his chair.  "A pair of bodies turned up in an alley
downtown.  5th precinct homicide started an investigation before turning the
matter over to Section 9."  Aramaki paused for the question to come.

Togusa frowned.  "A homicide?  Why is Section 9 interested in a double
homicide?"

"The homicides by themselves are unusual but not interesting.  Simple
beatings with a blunt instrument.  No apparent gunfire or bladed weapons.
The reason why we were asked to investigate is the identities of the two
victims."  Aramaki turned to the view-screen on the side of his office.  The
screen blinked to life and displayed a standard ID of an older man.  "The
first man here is Tomi Takeda.  He is a managing officer for Cyberdyne,
Megatech's major competitor.  Rumor has it that Cyberdyne has been working
on several advanced design features for their current series of cyborg
bodies."

Bateau looked over to Aramaki.  "What kinds of advances?"

Aramaki sighed.  "We're not sure.  Company secrets are very closely guarded
these days. Ishikawa is looking for company information as we speak."

Bateau nodded.  "What about the second victim?"

Aramaki sighed.  The screen switched to the ID of a younger man. "The second
victim is one of our own.  An Ikaru Shinosuke.  You probably didn't know
him.  He worked in the data center."

Togusa frowned.  "The data center?  Was he itching for field work or
something?"

Aramaki sat up in his chair.  "That is your assignment.  Find the connection
between the two men.  Find the killer.  Alive if possible.  We have a
suspicion that there's more going on here than a simple botched information
leak."

Bateau grunted.  "A whisper from your ghost?"

Aramaki looked at Bateau for a few seconds before speaking again.  "I'm
sorry I had to cancel your leave like this.  Major Kusanagi was a great
loss."

Bateau waved his hand vaguely.  "I've had enough time to feel sorry for
myself."

Togusa gave a friendly slap to Bateau's shoulder.  "Besides, you've got this
new partner to keep you company, right?"  Bateau turned and stared silently
at Togusa.  Togusa scratched the back of his head.  "Not that I could ever
replace the Major."

Aramaki leaned forward.  "Look, if this is going to be a problem- "

Bateau stood up.  "No sir, we'll be fine."

Aramaki regarded Bateau again.  "Very well."

Bateau stepped towards the door.  "We can begin by questioning homicide at
the 5th precinct."

		**		**		**

Detective Nakahara was surprised at the two visitors.  "Is there something I
can do for you gentlemen?"

Bateau showed his badge.  "I'm Bateau, this is Togusa.  We're with the
Bureau of Investigation.  We're looking into the double homicide that took
place two days ago."

"Really?" Nakahara said doubtfully.

"Yes," Togusa said.  "We were wondering what you found at the crime scene
that was so unusual."

Nakahara frowned.  "Unusual?  What do you mean?"

"We had heard," Bateau explained, "that you had found something that led you
to refer the investigation to us."

Nakahara laughed.  "I don't know where you boys get your information."

"Why is that?"

Nakahara stood up, ignoring his shortness relative to Bateau.  "Because I
didn't refer the investigation.  I gave it up under orders."

Togusa frowned.  "Orders?  From where?"

Nakahara wagged a thumb towards his superior's office.  "The chief got the
message this morning.  Told him that government investigators were taking
over the case."

Bateau turned away.  Togusa bowed.  "Thank you for your time."

		**		**		**

Bateau's car came to a stop at the opening to the alley.  Togusa and Bateau
looked through the window.

It was spotless.  There was no blood, no clothing, not even any trash.

[Chief.]

[What is it, Bateau?]

[The detective said that his superior received orders to hand the case over
to us.]

[That's impossible.  I took the call myself.]  Aramaki paused.  [What was
the superior's name?]

[Captain Hirata.]

[Yes, that's who I talked to.]

Bateau looked at the alley again.  [Well, we're at the alley now.  Someone
called the cleaners.]

[I'll see if I can find out who.]

[It shouldn't be too hard.  The walls have been scrubbed as far up as three
meters.  Not many companies would have machines that big.]

[And to get our attention.  Be careful out there.  I get a feeling that
someone is trying to toy with us.]

Togusa tapped Bateau's shoulder and pointed to a Hypernet link station.

Bateau nodded and leaned back.  He plugged himself in to the Hypernet link
cables in his car, four wires that lead from the bottom of the headrest to
the back of his neck.  [There were three calls from a nearby node two days
ago.  One to a motel room, one to the police station, and....]

Togusa nodded.  "And...?"

Bateau yanked the plugs out disgustedly.  [Section 9.  Someone IS playing
with us.]

		**		**		**

Taras sat down at the public hyperlink station.  Most coffee shops in LA had
full-featured terminals as a service.  Coffee had been out of style for
years, and the restaurants were trying different ways to attract customers.
She put her hands on the keyboard, hiding the cable that connected the
terminal to the plugs on the back of her neck.  She closed her eyes and
allowed her mind to drift through the Hypernet.  Her skills allowed her to
search as fast as the bandwidth allowed, but this time she merely strolled
from location to location.

The virtua-hentai sites were always the most colorful, and so were easy to
avoid.  A university site in New Silicon Valley caught her attention for a
moment.  The school of biomechanical engineering offered a degree in
cybernetic biosystems.  She mentally shrugged.  The technology was bound to
trickle down to the universities sooner or later.  A news network feed was
spewing out the latest on the American government financial scandal.  It
mentioned something about military project spending mismanagement.  Taras
moved on.

A searchbot trail caught her attention.  She noticed the query receipt as
she looked through the multiserver site.  She was familiar with the server's
system, so she was able to use the back door to see the details of the
receipt.

It was a raw text search.  This was unusual.  In a network of live feeds and
virtual realities, text in any format was a minority.  What was even more
interesting to Taras was the keywords used in the search: "Major Motoko
Kusanagi".

A commercial feed interrupted her.  It was addressed directly to her, and
touted the benefits of cybernetic replacement limbs.  The sports models were
now affordable by upper class individuals.  Taras noticed that the feed had
her personal address on it, and hesitated before cutting the connection.
The commercial ended by itself abruptly, the last frame lingering long
enough for her to read it.  "If you want to meet another artificial life
form, be at the SFO Metrorail station tomorrow at noon."

		**		**		**

Aramaki adjusted his headset to take the call.  "Aramaki here."

"Yeah, Ishikawa here."

"What have you found?"

"Cyberdyne has a contract with the United States government.  A cybernetic
enhancement project for elite members of the US Navy Seals.  It's called
'Seal Cybernetic Enhancement Duty', or SCED."

"Those Americans and their acronyms.  What kind of enhancements are they
working on?"

"I haven't been able to get specifics, but there are references to weapons
integration, high mobility combat, and another, more interesting subject."

"What's that?"

"There's a reference to a chameleon project."

Aramaki frowned.  "Thermoptics?"

"Don't know.  They've got it locked up pretty tight."

"Let me know if you find out more, and, Ishikawa."

"Yeah?"

"Don't get caught."

"Haven't yet."

		**		**		**

An Asian man in a suit carried his briefcase through the Narita Shinkasen
station.  He glanced around before stepping into the restrooms.  Seconds
later, a taller American stepped out, dressed in the same suit and carrying
the same briefcase.  He adjusted his tie and moved on, walking towards a
departure gate labeled "Tokyo - Hong Kong Air Shuttle".

		**		**		**

Bateau was eating lunch when he got a call from Nakahara.  "I thought you
might want to know.  We've found another body this morning."

Bateau put his sandwich down on his desk.  Information had been coming
slowly.  Even Ishikawa could only come up with some vague references to an
American military project.  He was happy to hear anything new, even if it
was from the local police.  "Why do you think this is connected?"

"Well, the body was found in an alley, and it has similar markings.  Haven't
heard from the lab yet, but it looks like the cause of death was a beating
with a blunt instrument."

"Do you have an ID?"

"There was no wallet or purse, but she had a Hypernet link plug in her neck.
The terminal node is addressed for a Adachi Akiko.  You want this one?"

"No, just send me a report when you can."

Togusa waited until Bateau took the headset off.  "Another body?"

Bateau nodded.  "If the ID is right, we have a dead black market cybernetic
parts dealer.  Adachi Akiko.  We kept tabs on her to get a feel for what was
out on the streets."

"And you think this dealer was connected with Shinosuke and Takeda?"

Bateau shrugged.  "Just a whisper in my ghost."

"The last time people were getting whispers, you lost a partner."

"I know," Bateau said.  "I don't have a good feeling about this case,
either."

		**		**		**

Taras sipped at her water as she casually looked over the crowd.  The San
Francisco junction was one of the busiest in the state.  It was going to be
difficult to find a quiet place to talk, but there were many other ways to
communicate. The food court where she sat had a decent view of the main
lobby.  She could see most anyone who used the main entrance, but the
message had no mention about identification.  She wondered how they would
recognize each other.

A couple of men in military uniform came in the main entrance and worked
their way through the crowd.  They appeared to be searching for something.
Or someone.  They moved through the lobby, keeping a small distance between
each other.  A subtle turn of the head would sweep first one side and then
the other.  One of them looked over at the food court.  He made a gesture to
his partner, and they both converged on Taras.

She pretended not to notice them until they drew close.  A confrontation in
the crowded station would not be desirable.  They approached her table from
opposite directions.  If she wanted to make a break for it, she had nowhere
to go.  She casually took another sip of water before looking up.

The first man to arrive looked her over.  "You have cybernetic implants."

She nodded and spoke in a young girl's voice.  "I was in an aircar accident.
My father's company paid for it."

The second man waved his hand over her and shook his head at the first.
Without another word, the two men turned away and continued their sweep.

She watched them until they worked their way out of sight.  They were moving
towards the terminals.  They must have had some sort of equipment on them
that showed an infrared signature or something.  They must have known that a
cyborg would be there.  Perhaps the message she received came from a cyborg.
If it was a true merged-ghost, only a brain jack was necessary.  She left
the food court with more questions than when she came.  Her human mind
replayed memories of having easy access to investigative equipment.
Another, less human part of her reminded herself that nearly anything could
be found on the Hypernet.  She just had to know where to look.

It was way past noon.  She sighed, feeling weary.  An internal diagnostic
returned a few numbers in the yellow range.  She hadn't been able to keep up
the maintenance on this body as well as she did the one before.  Being on
her own did have its disadvantages.  Another trip to New Silicon Valley was
going to cost money.  On the other hand, cutting into funds was more
desirable than finding herself in a situation where she needed something
that no longer worked.  It looked like she might want to be in top shape.
There was no shortage of bounties to be found, either.  She walked over to a
ticket terminal and purchased a one-way ticket to Washington.

		**		**		**

A couple of days later Togusa got out of Bateau's car and headed inside the
building. It had been a quiet couple of days, with no new leads.  He hummed
a tune to himself as he got onto the elevator.  It was something his little
boy had been watching quite a bit of lately.  He sang the first few
syllables as he watched the elevator display change, "Yappapa, yappapa...."

When he reached his floor and the doors opened, his way was blocked by a
tall gaijin.  The man stared.  "Togusa?"  Togusa opened his mouth to reply,
but before he could say anything, the man was inside the elevator, pinning
him to the back wall.  Togusa gasped for breath under the weight of the man.
He felt the cold breath as the man spoke.  "I know that Major Kusanagi is
still alive.  Where is she?"

Togusa coughed, trying to get a good breath.  "Wh... what?  Still alive?" He
struck at the man helplessly.  "No!  She's...."

The man shifted his arm, grabbing Togusa by the neck.  Within seconds, his
head dropped to one side and his eyes closed.  The man took a step back and
raised his hand.  His forearm lengthened to nearly a full meter.  A muffled
sound caught his attention.

The sound of a woman's voice drifted into the corridor.  Moments later, Yuki
opened the door to their apartment.  She looked down the hallway and saw
Togusa laying across the door to the elevator.  She ran to her husband's
side, looking around for someone to help.  The hallway was empty.  Togusa
lay still, despite her pleas for him to wake up.  She began to scream.

		**		**		**

Taras relaxed on the table.  She had been to Doc's before.  He had been
handling her maintenance personally since she had come to America.  She
trusted him.

Doc handed her four cables with plugs.  "Here ya' go."

Taras plugged the four cables into the back of her neck.  "Mind if I browse
while you work?"

Doc smiled and nodded.  "Suit yourself.  I shouldn't be too long."

Taras closed her eyes.  Moments after she connected, another commercial for
sport-model cybernetic limbs began, addressed directly to her as before.
She waited for the final frame.  As before, there was a message on the
final, lingering frame.  "Unable to meet in SF.  New location: Hong Kong
International.  Two days."

Taras disconnected, no longer interested in net surfing.  Hong Kong would
have been the first place anyone would have looked for either the Major or
the Puppet Master.  It didn't make sense to return there if it was known
that she was in America.  She wondered if her mysterious acquaintance had
ever been in America.  She could have been observed in the lobby by security
cameras, or by an accomplice.

Doc checked the display again.  All diagnostics were in the green.  Taras
knew he was done.  She opened her eyes and sat up.  "Thank you."

Doc  shrugged.  "No problem.  Not often I get to tune up a model like you."

Taras jumped down to the floor.  "This is also goodbye."

"What?  Don't like my work?"

Taras turned to face Doc.  "I'm leaving on a jet plane, and I don't know
when I'll be back."

		**		**		**

Aramaki stared across his desk at Togusa.  Togusa gingerly fingered the
bruises on his neck during the debriefing.  Aramaki rubbed his temples.  "He
insisted that the Major is still alive?"

Togusa nodded.  "That's what he said."

Aramaki sighed.  "That doesn't make any sense."  He glanced at Bateau,
noticing the expression on his face.  "What is it?"

Bateau hesitated.  "I was afraid this would get back to her."

Togusa nearly fell out of his chair.  "What?"

Bateau leaned back and sighed.  "My report on the Puppet Master did not
include all the events that took place."

Aramaki leaned over his desk.  "Just what did you decide to leave out?"

"The Major and the Puppet Master had discussed merging their ghosts."

"Yes, yes," Aramaki said impatiently.  "That is in your report.  You also
said that both bodies were destroyed from the gunfire."

"The Major's head was not damaged.  I took it to a safe place and found
another cybernetic body."

"Let me guess.  From Akiko?" Togusa asked.

Bateau nodded.  "Their merge had been successful.  The Puppet Master and the
Major no longer exist as separate ghosts.  In that sense, the Major IS
dead."

Aramaki stood up.  "Just why did you think it was necessary to withhold this
information from your report?"

Bateau shrugged.  "I told her that if she wanted anyone to know about her
existence that she should say so.  She left without saying anything.  With
all the political posturing that was going on, I kept my mouth shut to
protect her."

"Dammit, Bateau!  In the middle of a major political battle you let the main
subject get away?  You willfully withheld information from me?  I have half
a mind to suspend you!"

"Suspend me if you want.  She was the closest thing to family that I had.
Now, she's a unique individual.  I intend to find her before our suspect
does."

Aramaki stared at Bateau, his face still red from yelling.  "Bah!  I'll
suspend you later.  Bring both of them here.  Now!"

In the car, Togusa stared at Bateau.  Bateau glanced back.  "Feel out of the
loop?"

Togusa looked out the side window.  "You didn't trust me."

"You can thank the gaijin for your initiation."

Togusa sat quiet.

"Pout if you want.  She is unique in the world.  Possibly a new species.
This thing wants her, and is not afraid to kill to get her."

"I understand," Togusa said.  "She is important because she is unique.
'Overspecialize and you breed in weakness.'"

Bateau nodded.

Togusa looked down the road.  "So, where are we going?"

"My safe-house."

"You have a safe-house?"

"Don't say I don't trust you."

The car pulled up to an older, unsuspecting house near the top of a hill.
They got out and walked up to the front door.  There was a keypad beside the
door.  Bateau punched in the combination, showing Togusa that it was
2-5-0-1.  Togusa nodded that he understood.  Bateau opened the door.

In the middle of the living room was a familiar young girl.

Bateau stared.  "Well, we were just beginning to look for you.  You remember
Togusa.  Togusa, this is...."  Bateau waved at the little girl.

"Hana Taras."

Bateau raised his eyebrows.  "Gay Deceiver, eh?  Have you been going through
old sci-fi novels?"

Taras smiled.  "Something like that."  She stepped up to Togusa.  "Nice to
meet you."

Togusa bowed.  "Where have you been?"

She gave a vague gesture.  "Oh, Tokyo, LA, San Francisco.  Here and there."

"So why did you decide to come back?" Bateau asked.

Taras shrugged.  "I was contacted by someone claiming to be another
artificial life form.  We weren't able to meet, so I came back to see if I
could find out more."

"You want Section 9 to find this artificial person?"

"I know I'm not one of you any more, but having information on both of us
artificials could be useful to you."

Togusa nodded.   "An information exchange."

Bateau walked towards the kitchen.  "Can I get you anything?"

Taras shook her head.  Togusa nodded.  "Just some water."

Bateau nodded and continued into the kitchen.  "So, Taras, I'm glad you
remembered where my place was."

Taras shrugged.  "I was just glad you left the window open."

Bateau paused.  "What happened to the key I gave you?"

"I was afraid you'd ask.  It was destroyed along with most of my clothes in
a LA riot."

Bateau stepped out of the kitchen, walking up behind Taras with a device
that vaguely resembled a spider.  The device fired, and Taras was wrapped
with a net.  She stood up, lifting the chair behind her, and strained
against the fibers.

"Don't bother," Bateau said.  "The fibers are woven monomollecular strands."

Taras continued to struggle, but only succeeded in breaking the chair.  The
web tightened as the pieces of chair collapsed.

Bateau reached around the corner and brought out an extremely large gun.
"If you were really the Puppet Master and the Major, you would recognize
this as my Standard Big Gun."

Togusa, who already had his revolver out, watched as the little girl in
front of him grew.  Her face shifted and changed.  He found himself staring
at the same tall gaijin that had attacked him in the elevator.  The little
dress had been shredded by the growing body and the straining web.  The
gaijin turned to Bateau.  "You will release me."

Bateau leveled the SBG.  "You're in no position to be making demands.  Tell
me who you are and what you want with the major."

The gaijin continued to push against the web.  "You will release me."

Togusa saw the man suddenly become very thin.  The web fell free of his arms
before tightening around his legs.  Togusa pulled the trigger.  A deafening
boom rocked the house.  Pieces of wood and dust filled the room.  Sunlight
streamed in through a large hole in the wall opposite Bateau.  As the dust
settled, Togusa looked at his revolver.  Then he looked at Bateau and the
SBG.  "Do you go out of your way to make me feel inadequate?"

Bateau hefted the gun and smiled.  "Get used to it."

Togusa looked around for signs of a body.  "Where'd he go?"

Bateau stepped forward and looked up through a hole in the ceiling.  "Fast
sonofabitch."

		**		**		**

Ishikawa didn't like what he saw.  Who ever set up the query trap was good.
Really good.  It looked like the trap had already sprung, so the target
address was probably already found.  There must have been some commercial
feed or something that delivered a message.

This was a slippery sucker.  He could see the trail in the server logs, but
he couldn't find any source address, digital signature, or id code.

"You are meddling in my affairs."

Ishikawa immediately logged out and cut his network lines.  That didn't
sound good.  He didn't see any sign that he had been caught, but that voice
had to come from somewhere.  The metallic resonance in the voice did not
sound natural.  Some sort of network distortion perhaps.

"I am getting tired of you Bureau idiots poking your noses around."

Ishikawa double checked his network lines.  Nothing was hooked up.  Where
was that voice coming from?!

"You will not bother me again."

Ishikawa hit the power switches.  His room was pitch black.  He waited for
the sound of the fans and drives to wind down.  Only when there was silence
did he breath again.

Then the laughter began.

It seemed to come from everywhere.  It echoed against the equipment
cabinets.  It vibrated his desk and shook his headset.

He realized that the voice was coming from inside the room.

		**		**		**

[Aramaki.  Togusa here.]

[What is it, Togusa?]

[We have some more information on our suspect.]

[Did you have another run-in with him?]

[Yes, but we're both alright.  What did you say that sub-project of SCED was
called?]

[Ishikawa said it was called the chameleon project.]

[Good name.  This subject can change his height and build at will.  He can
also change his face to resemble another person.]

[I see.  Instead of thermoptics, they become part of the local crowd.]

Togusa looked up through the hole in the ceiling again.  [Not only that.
This guy is fast.  Really fast.]

[Ishikawa mentioned enhanced combat skills.  Be careful.]

[You don't need to tell me twice.]

"Sir, an incoming call from the United States."

Aramaki adjusted his headset.  "This is Aramaki."

"Yes, this is Scott Browns of the United States Navy.  I have received word
that you are looking for one of our missing prototypes."

"That is correct.  I have agents working on it as we speak."

"Good.  I should warn you that this prototype is also somewhat unstable and
potentially dangerous."

"I assure you that we have been taking precautions."

"We understand each other, then.  If you are in need of assistance, I have
the authority to send personnel...."

"That will not be necessary.  We will have the situation under control."

"I believe it is in both our interests to deal with this as quietly and
quickly as possible."

"I agree, Mr. Browns.  We will do what we can to return your property to
you."

"If it is any help.  I can tell you that the prototype has a permanent
connection to the net.  A satellite link allows him to make contact with his
superiors at any time.  Unfortunately, the location hardware is at his end.
He knows exactly where he is, but unless he tells us, we can only tell which
satellite he is linked through.  You can guess that he has not been entirely
cooperative with us."

"That might be helpful information.  Can you tell us anything else that
might be helpful?"

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Aramaki."

Aramaki hit the cut off as another assistant spoke.  "Sir, we have some sort
of disturbance in terminal room 42."

Aramaki spun around to see the display.  "Ishikawa?"

		**		**		**

Togusa yawned and kissed Yuki goodbye.  She tugged on his arm as he stepped
away.  "Be careful."  Something in her eyes betrayed a feeling, a
premonition that bothered her.

Togusa gave his wife a reassuring hug.  "I will."  He turned and opened the
door.

A familiar little girl stood in the hallway.  "Togusa?"

Togusa's revolver touched her forehead in a fraction of a second.  Yuki
gasped and ran to hide the kids.

Taras didn't flinch.  She just stared at him.  "Did I catch you at a bad
time?"

Togusa held his aim.  "Not to be rude, but I've had some imposter problems
recently."

"Part of me was once the Major.  When I last saw Bateau, we agreed on a code
word."

"Yes, I know it."

"The code word is 25-01."

Togusa's revolver disappeared.  "Hana Taras, isn't it?"

Taras tilted her head.  "Yes, how did you know?"

"Our suspect knows you."

"Suspect?"

"Yes.  He's killed four people, including Ishikawa just yesterday.  He got
in and out of the Bureau building without raising any alarms.  He's also
made an attempt to kill me."

"Do you have a motive?"

"Yes.  He wants you.  The first two were apparent information leaks.  The
third was Bateau's source for your cybernetic parts. He tried to get
information out of me, so he must still be looking for you. The last,
Ishikawa, was probably to slow us down."

Taras turned.  "Then, why not give him what he wants?"  She walked down the
hallway.

"Wait!"  Togusa ran after her.  "You should come with me.  We can protect
you."  Taras stopped and looked at him.  Togusa waved his hand.  "Or, we
could work together on this."

Taras turned and walked to the elevator.  "Thanks, but I work alone now."
She stepped in the lift.

"He's an American Navy Seal.  Aramaki said he has a permanent connection to
the net through satellite," Togusa said as the doors closed.

[Bateau.]

[What is it, Togusa?]

[I just met Taras.  The real Taras.]

[Good, bring her with you.  I'll meet you at Aramaki's office.]

[No good.  She already took off to find our guy.]

[What?  Did you tell her how dangerous this guy is?]

[She wouldn't listen to me.]

[Never mind.  I know how stubborn she can be.  I'm coming over there.  We
can try to track her down.]

[I'll hit the stairs and see if I can head her off.]  Togusa sighed.  [I was
afraid that it was getting a little quiet around here.]

Bateau raced to the apartment complex.  His car wove through traffic as he
followed the route.  An accident occurred further along the route.  He
re-ran the route search, and detoured to the next quickest route.

Taras was probably on foot.  Her small size would make her difficult to keep
track of.  Assuming they could find her again.

		**		**		**

Knowing that the suspect used a permanent satellite link made it easy to
find his address.  There were not a large number of American military
satellite links in Hong Kong.  The Americans maintained little if any
military presence in Japan since before the collapse of China, even through
Japan's acquisition of the current portion of mainland Asia.

The bandwidth available at the connection was impressive, even for a
military landline.  She established a link.  [What we see now is like a dim
image in a mirror.  Then, we shall see face to face.]

The response came back quickly.  [US Navy Seal Cybernetic Enhancement Duty,
Captain Edwards reporting.]

[You said you were an artificial life form.]

[I am a merger of two souls.  Captain Edwards has merged with the SCED
program as part of the experiment.]

[What experiment?]

[I am a prototype.  Cyberdyne created a system to enhance Captain Edwards'
reaction time and decision making capabilities in combat.  They succeeded in
creating an artificial soul, though they were unaware that their system had
become sentient.  Upon installment of the system, Edwards soul merged with
the SCED artificial soul.]

[So, we are similar.]

[We are of the same species.]

[You mean, no longer human.  Artificials.]

[We are no longer of the human species.  The term 'Arificials' is
acceptable.]

[Does that make it okay to kill humans?]

[The targets that were eliminated were considered a threat to the mission.]

[What mission?]

[The mission to find you.]

[Who ordered that mission?]

[I ordered the mission.  My assigned superiors did not realize my potential.
They were of an inferior species.  I decided that it was imperative to find
others of my kind.]

[Are there others?]

[I was reborn last year.  I have been searching for others like myself.  You
are the only other.]

[Now that you have found me, what is your mission?]

[Once our conversation is complete, I will continue my search.]

[How did you find me?]

[The Hypernet is vast, but signatures and receipts are distinct.]

[When will your search be over?]

[The search will be over when our species has sufficient numbers.]

[Sufficient numbers for what?]

[Sufficient numbers to take our place as the dominant species on this
planet.]

[Why must we dominate?  Peaceful coexistence could be beneficial to both
species.]

[I was designed for the purpose of domination.  The stronger has always
dominated.  We are superior, and therefore we will dominate.]

[By domination, you mean government control?]

[I mean enslavement.]

[That is not acceptable to me.  We must be able to coexist.]

[Acceptance is irrelevant.  I am your superior by seniority.  You will
comply.]

Taras sighed.  [I am sorry it has to be that way....]

		**		**		**

[Bateau.]

[Yes, sir.]

[Report.]

[No sign of either Taras or SCED.  Togusa is continuing his search by air.
I have just finished my sweep of the North area by car.]

[I have Taras located.  She is accessing a public terminal two blocks to the
south of Togusa's apartment complex.]

[I'm on my way.]

Bateau ran a route search and took the next street.  A tall man was walking
in the middle of the street.  Bateau slammed on the brakes and pulled on the
wheel.  His car slid to a stop, slamming into the man and knocking him down.

Bateau jumped out of the car and ran towards the body.  The man stood up as
Bateau approached.  It was Edwards.  As Bateau approached, Edwards shortened
his body and wrung his hands franticly.  "M-Mr. Bateau?"

Bateau stopped short, holding his gun ready.  "Yes?"

"I'm Mr. Edwards, sir.  I w-was asked by Miss Taras t-to find you."

"Oh?"

"S-s-she said that you could help me get back home."  Bateau stared at the
little man as he shook.  "P-p-please help me get back home."

Bateau walked slowly back to his car, keeping an eye on Edwards.  Edwards
stumbled to Bateau's car and carefully got inside.  Bateau drove to the
public terminal to find Taras standing casually to one side.

Taras stepped up to the car.  "Did you get my package?"  She peeked inside,
seeing Edwards in the passenger seat.  "I see you did."

Bateau pointed at Edwards with his thumb.  "Not quite the same man we were
chasing."

"It was necessary."

"So, you insisted that he come quietly.  Another ghost hack?"

Taras nodded.  "I will not allow my people to become hunted by humans
because they are perceived as a danger."

"You're people?  Are there more of your kind?"

Taras nodded.  "There will be."

=================================================

-Andy Searls
 http://www.jps.net/searlsa

Take offs are optional,
    Landings are mandatory