A/N: I've recently had a lot of varying ideas and thoughts in my head the last few months, including a lot of real world issues that I will not delve into. The New Year is upon us, and I have decided to take advantage of this time of year to give some life to one of my latest fanfic ideas.

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost in the Shell or Hunter X Hunter.

"Speech"

Thoughts

Cyber Communication

Phone/Radio/Video

Chapter 1: The x Impossible x Train x Trip

Daisuke Aramaki was a man of great experience. He had seen the world be rocked by global conflict twice – both nuclear and non-nuclear. He had seen technology evolve at a staggering rate to the point where the human soul could be examined, quantified, identified, and even directly manipulated. And his time as chief of Public Security Section 9 had shown him the great many dangers that the world of the 'Net posed to people's privacy and lives, as well as the various lengths and means that those who posed said dangers to go to get what they want.

Chief, anything new from the Ministry of Transportation? came a female voice through his cybercomms.

"Nothing since your team moved out, Major," he replied from his place at Section 9 HQ, as he overlooked the support AIs and a digital map of New Port city showing their target moving rapidly. "The train is still moving along the B rail line at 175 kilometers per hour. The Ministry of Transportation has already cleared the trains off of all the tracks in the city, so we're at no risk of collision."

Has Free Magic made any new announcements? a deeper male voice asked. Because I don't see how a runaway train is supposed to get the Higashisanjou executives to give in to their demands, unless they have hostages or something really valuable on that train.

Nothing on that front, Batou, the Major replied. I accessed the rail systems, but I've found no sign of a virus in the system or even any other remote access or attempt at hacking the rail system. If Free Magic is controlling the train, they must have interfered with the hardware on the train itself.

Major, I got something, came another male voice. But you're not going to believe it.

Aramaki raised his eyebrow. After all, Ishikawa was not one prone to making such statements, and there was quite a bit that Section 9 had seen, so the realm of unbelief was thinner for them than most.

What is it, Ishikawa? the Major replied.

I've been going through the surveillance cameras around the time when the train was hijacked, and remember how at the stop right before the train was hijacked and ran away, passengers got off the car, but the train's crew also got off, and all of them insisted that no one else get on?

Their cyberbrains were hacked by Free Magic to get everyone off the train, the Major said. What's so unbelievable about that?

Here's the footage of the incident. Take a look at the elderly couple.

The video Ishikawa showed came to Aramaki's cyber-eyes. He saw everyone get off the train, both passengers and crew alike, and they were pushing and pulling and even fighting on their way off the train to keep everyone out. Aramaki saw the couple at Ishikawa's prompting, saw as the old lady smacked a younger woman with her walking stick, and the man, her husband presumably, wrestling with a suited salaryman. Then, after the train left, everyone who'd been attacking the others suddenly collapsed.

What's so significant about the couple? Aramaki asked.

I used facial recognition to look at their records because they stood out, Ishikawa replied. And here's what I found out: they are one hundred percent natural.

Are you saying that the elderly couple might be part of Free Magic, the Major inquired. And helped orchestrate the runaway train, and used the cyberhacked crowd to escape?

I thought about that briefly, but then I used facial recognition on the rest of the passengers and crew who were cyberhacked, and I found three more people who are 100% natural and two more with partial prosthetics that don't include a cyberbrain. And all of them acted in the same manner as the others, who had cyberbrains.

That IS strange, Batou said. If it was just a cyberbrain hack, then they couldn't have been infected.

Then they're most likely accomplices for Free Magic, the Major said. Either willing, or unwilling.

That's not all, Major, Ishikawa continued. I also checked the cameras for all the stops before the train ran away, and I found these three people who boarded the train on the previous stop but were not seen getting off of it.

Ishikawa showed fast-forwarded clips from the cameras at the stop, before pausing it and zooming it in on the features of three people. One looked like a stereotypical punk, with half of his dyed red hair slicked up to look spiky and the other half left hanging over his face, as well as gold piercings in his ears, torn and ragged blue jeans, death metal T-shirt, open dark purple vest, and hi-top green sneakers. His arms were clearly prosthetics, with black spikes riding the back of them The second was dressed in a black niqab that covered her(?) from head to toe, showing only dark brown eyes. The third, which almost drew a guffaw from Aramaki, was dressed as a cowboy. He had gone the whole nine yards to make it look authentic as well, from the weathered and wide dark brown hat and spurred boots to the long duster covering his frame.

Quite the circus we're dealing with, Batou commented. We got anything else on 'em?

Not much, unfortunately, Ishikawa said. The kid is Konno Rintaro, age 21, 164 centimeters, approximately 60 kilograms, was disinherited by his family three years ago, has a twin sister, Aye, who abandoned the family to join him. The two haven't been seen since. As for the other two, the niqab is preventing identification of the woman, and the cowboy is a foreigner, so I'm not finding him on any local databases right now.

These three appear to be members of Free Magic, and potentially a fourth as well, the Major reasoned. Pazu, Bolma, have you found anyone or anything suspicious at the law firm?

Aside from what looks like a lot of yakuza protecting the board, not really seeing anyone who could pose a threat, Pazu replied.

I've been looking over the building and even the surrounding ones, Bolma said. But aside from that giant target sign Free Magic put up across the street from Higashisanjou, there's no evidence that Free Magic has tampered with anything, and no signs of explosives.

Togusa, the Major continued. Have you found anything the police have on the previous Free Magic cases that could be helpful?

Aside from the fact that they are still being overdramatic like the last four times they appeared, Togusa stated. The only thing that has been seen in any of the previous cases is that big banner they put up across from Higashisanjou, and that was something they used to cover a hole they somehow made in the road behind them as they were driving away.

I've already examined the banner, Bolma piped up. It's made of cotton cloth and ordinary oil paint was used to make the target symbol. I've also looked behind the banner and there's nothing there. The only thing that's so unusual about it is I have no idea what manner of adhesive Free Magic used to put it up, but it's really strong and it's already made pulling it down a pain. Taking it down's going to take hours, and the owners of the building that has the banner have already hired people with power tools to extract it from the side of the building, and police have cleared the area underneath it in case it falls and buries or even crushes someone.

Saito, how is the Board reacting to all this? the Major asked.

I can't listen in to their conversation, not surprising considering it's a corporate boardroom in a building owned by a yakuza-aligned firm, Saito said. But I know for a fact they're still in there. They're acting like nothing is happening out of the ordinary.

"We can't afford to continue allowing Free Magic to dictate the rules of engagement," Aramaki declared. "Major, Batou, how long before the Tachikomas get you on that train?"

We're at one of the stops ahead of the train, and there no diverting tracks between it and us, the Major reported. At its current speed, it'll be upon our position in ninety seconds.

"Don't risk the jump if you're uncertain you can't make it," Aramaki warned.

Don't worry chief! the Major's Tachikoma replied enthusiastically.

We're more than sturdy, quick and smart enough to make it like in the movies, Batou's Tachikoma declared.

Aramaki nodded, although no one saw him do it. "Very well. Board the train, stop it, and apprehend the suspects. It's all in your hands again, Major."

Roger, the Major responded.

Hey, what about my hands, chief? Batou joked.

Aramaki didn't smile at the joke. He was a man of experience, but none of his experiences gave him a manner of context by which to understand Free Magic. They were flashy, loud, used elaborate tricks and plans, and executed their schemes with seemingly reckless abandon but always seemed to be one step ahead of everyone trying to catch them. They acted like the kind of people you would see in manga and anime, with larger-than-life personalities (previously presumed, but probably now confirmed with the sighting of the cowboy) and grand scale spectacles.

But he didn't need to have Major Kusanagi's ghost to know that there was something they were missing, something that would explain what Free Magic was ultimately trying to accomplish.

Something that would explain how an aboveground runaway train could pose a threat to powerful and corporate lawyers over 100 meters off the ground in the middle of a dense urban center in a well-protected building more than five kilometers away.

GitS/HxH

40 seconds to jump.

The train was fast approaching. Both Kusanagi and Batou were inside their respective Tachikomas on the roof of the train stop waiting for the train to pass right by in front of and below them.

30 seconds to jump.

Jumping onto a speeding train like in the movies is technically possible, but it's very difficult and dangerous if any one of a hundred different factors is against it. Anything from the sheer velocity of the train and the state of repair for both the train and the tracks it's on to one's own position relative to the train when it's time to jump and the surface you're trying to grab on to in order to actually board the train.

20 seconds to jump.

Fortunately, Motoko Kusanagi and Batou didn't have to consciously worry about a lot of these factors, considering they were both fully cyberized and were thus both fully capable of superhuman feats of strength and ability, and they were both riding the robotic Tachikomas that were able to break down the math of such a jump in a split second and whose multiple pedes and spider wire made them very capable of sticking the landing once they jumped.

10 seconds.

This was it. She was going to have her first encounter with the enigmatic group Free Magic. She couldn't shake the anticipation of meeting them. Her ghost was telling her it felt like the beginning of the cases of the Laughing Man, the Individual Eleven, and the Solid State Society. She hoped for once it was wrong.

NOW!

Both Tachikomas carrying the Major and Batou immediately jumped forward, firing their spider threads ahead of the train, allowing it to catch them. The energetic robots screamed in enthusiasm as they were briefly pulled in the air by the train, but both landed on the train with solid thumps, both saying 'oomph' to emphasize the impact.

Batou, we're getting onto the train to deal with Free Magic, Kusanagi ordered, as the two Tachikomas headed for the link between the two cars of the old passenger train.

Roger, he replied.

Tachikomas, as soon as we board the train, see if you can find an external cable port so you can take control and stop the train.

YES, MA'AM! they cried.

The hatch opened on Kusanagi's Tachikoma, allowing the rushing wind through her hair and whipping against her body, trying to drag her away and dash her against the ground. She turned to the door the separated her from the train, and saw Batou through the door's window to the other side. They nodded to each other, and as one swung forward, smashing in the doors and rolling against the opposite entrances to the connecting cars.

Kusanagi looked into the car ahead of her. Batou, I see the woman in the niqab in the middle car.

I see the cowboy in the front car, Batou replied. Do you see the punk kid?

No, Kusanagi replied. He's probably controlling the train from the driver's seat. Which means we need to go through the cowboy.

But we can't forget the woman either. Batou noted. If we both go for the front, we'll get caught in the middle of a crossfire. Even if the cowboy isn't keeping in character, the most he could hide under that coat is a semiautomatic rifle. The woman on the other hand could be hiding a rocket launcher under that robe she's wearing.

They should have noticed that we're here by now. Kusanagi reasoned. The fact they're not shooting means they're waiting for us to make the next move. Tachikomas, have you found anything yet?

Nothing yet, Major! her Tachikoma responded. It's also very hard to maneuver on so little surface area when it's moving so fast and- AH! Duck!

Looks like we might have the best chance of stopping the train, Kusanagi said.

Let me take the woman, Batou offered. That way you can go through the cowboy and then head to the front to stop the train.

Sounds like a plan, Kusanagi agreed, holding her pistol up. Batou mirrored her.

Now!

Kusanagi spun and kicked in the door to the front car, running forward several steps and leveling her gun at the cowboy.

"Police! Freeze!" she ordered.

In front of Kusanagi, in the middle of the train car and leaning against the cushioned plastic seats was the cowboy that Ishikawa had shown in the earlier footage. Up close, Kusanagi could see that he had done a good job embracing the Old American West archetype. From a faded blue button-down shirt and red bandanna to the worn brown leather pants and long coat, and he even had a slow-burning cigarette hanging from the edge of his lips. The only thing that told Kusanagi that he hadn't literally stepped out of the Old West and into the twenty-first century was his excellent hygienic state, from his clean-shaven face to a lack of dirty smells.

The cowboy straightened himself up and put his hands on his hips and leveled a confident stare into Kusanagi's eyes. Ignoring Kusanagi, he took another drag on his cigarette, then blowing out a gray cloud of smoke.

Gunshots sounded in the train car behind them, along with shattering glass.

Major, Batou reported. I was right, the lady was packing a pair of shotguns under her dress.

Keep her occupied. I got the cowboy. She put her full attention on the cowboy. "Open your coat, drop your weapons, and put your hands behind your head." Kusanagi directed.

The man let the cigarette fall out of his mouth onto the floor, where he crushed it with his boot-heel. Then he gave her a smile that sat far too easily on his face for her liking.

"You ma'am, are one of the damn finest-looking women I ever laid eyes on. It's a good thing that body is 100 percent prosthetics, so I probably won't be doing any permanent damage. Probably."

Okay, now the little lady's got swords too, Batou told her. She ignored him.

"Now," Kusanagi repeated, taking a step forward for emphasis.

Still grinning like an idiot, he took off his coat, the soft ruffle of it hitting the floor revealing there were no weapons inside it. Also, to Kusanagi's surprise, she saw no guns on his belt, and he even gave her a twirl, showing he had no weapons stuffed in the back.

"Ah, shoot, looks like I left my Peacemakers back home," he mockingly groaned. "Well, 'least I still got my handguns." He held his hands like they were guns, pointing them in Kusanagi's direction.

Major! This lady's got a freaking chain, too! Batou sounded panicked. The bitch is toying with me!

Things were starting to get worrisome.

"Funny, but you're not done," Kusanagi stated. "Put your hands behind your head and lay down on the ground."

The cowboy's smile got a little wider, taking on a very dangerous feel. "You can't see it, can you?"

See what? Kusanagi thought, her ghost suddenly ringing alarm bells like a fire had broken out.

"Oh right, you're ordinary folk. Of course you can't see it. Heck, you don't have a clue what I'm talking about. That's why your comrade back there is getting his ass kicked. And why yours is about to be. Shame too, I would've loved a proper shootout with ya'."

"Put your hands behind your head, NOW!" Kusanagi screamed.

"Bang," the cowboy said, jerking his right arm as if he'd fired a gun.

The next instant, Kusanagi's gun exploded to pieces right in her hands.

"What the-?" she gasped as she stumbled backwards in shock.

"Woosh."

Before she could fall further back, the cowboy was suddenly in front of her, cocking his arm back to land a haymaker right in her face. She quickly pulls her arms in front of her to protect herself.

"Pow."

His fist slams into her arms, crushing the metal limbs under the sheer force of the hit and throwing her body back through the air and into the doorframe.

Kusanagi felt disoriented, and that was saying something for someone with such high-grade prosthetics as hers.

"AAAAGGHHHH!" Batou screamed.

"Oof, I hope you people got spare parts for those arms. Yours and his both." the cowboy winced, looking past her into the next car. "It's a real good thing for you and your friend that you're full-on cyborgs. Otherwise we mighta killed you two by accident. And our boss don't like us killing people he don't tell us to kill. Includin' decent-seeming folk like yourselves who're just doing your duty."

Nothing was making sense in Major Motoko Kusanagi's head. Her gun exploding because a man said bang? A single woman carrying shotguns, swords, and chains and successfully hiding all of them from view under a dress? The cowboy's ridiculous speed? Her arms breaking from a single punch? Now she was wishing looks could kill, so that her glare would at least hurt the cowboy in front of her.

"Hey, geezer!" came a young voice and footsteps. It was Konno Rintaro, the 'punk kid'.

The cowboy sighed and turned to him. "You done with your stuff, Arms?"

"Yeah, everything's ready on both ends," he said. "Had to deal with a couple blue bots, but I shut 'em up and tossed 'em off."

Kusanagi suddenly realized. Tachikomas! What happened?

Sorry, Major! they apologized. We were looking for the external ports, but then we were attacked by a weird kid with crazy prosthetic arms. He stabbed us with something and then suddenly we weren't on the train anymore!

"So, what do we do with the cops?" 'Arms' asked.

"We'll take them off the train with us," Kusanagi heard a female voice, and turned to see the covered woman walk into the link between the two cars, carrying a chained-up and unconscious Batou over her shoulder like a bag of potatoes. He was easily twice her size, and she held him with one arm. "Today is not their day to die."

"You heard the lady," Motoko heard the cowboy say, before a pair of arms suddenly wraps around her and lifts her onto the cowboy's shoulders. "This is our stop!"

For a brief moment, Motoko considered kicking the cowboy, but decided against it, as without the Tachikomas or the ability to stop the train in time for whatever it is they had planned for it, the cowboy was her best shot at getting off the train safely.

They ran back, going to the third car in the back, opening the door and standing on the very back of the runaway train. After straining her neck to look behind, Motoko surmised from the low urban development she saw that they were at the outskirts of the city

"I hope you know what you're doing!" she shouted over the wind.

"Sure we do!" he responded. Then he grasped the woman's hand and the boy (reluctantly) grabbed the cowboy's arm.

"Alright, as soon as we pass through the Gate, we jump! Got it?" the cowboy told his comrades.

"Got it!" Konno yelled.

"Yes," the woman said.

"What gate?" Kusanagi asked.

And then suddenly they passed through.

One moment, Motoko Kusanagi was looking at the empty railroad track behind her. The next, she was staring at the immense face of a glass and steel skyscraper.

"NOW!" the cowboy screamed, as the three members of Free Magic jumped. For a moment, they were falling in the air. The next, the woman's full-body dress opened like a parasol and expanded to the size of a tent and arrested their momentum. Motoko, having no time to marvel at the impossible feat in front of her, then turned her attention to the train-

*CRASH*

-just in time to watch it crash right into another skyscraper.

WHAT THE HELL! Saito cried.

Motoko Kusanagi couldn't believe it. Literally.

WHAT THE FUCK! Pazu exclaimed

She had to be dreaming. But her senses and systems were saying she was wide awake.

The banner van- HOLY SHIT! Bolma swore.

She had to have been hacked. But her immediate dive found no trace of a virus or outside access of any kind.

Wait, Pazu, Bolma, what's going on? Togusa asked.

There had to be a rational explanation. One that explained how Free Magic was able to instantly transport a train on ground level from the Niihama outskirts to the middle of the air in the financial district.

That- that's- this can't be real, Ishikawa stuttered.

She barely noticed when they touched down, the cowboy dropped her onto the sidewalk, the woman placing Batou next to her, and then the three entered a waiting car that drove off.

Oh my God. Major, how did this happen? Kusanagi had ignored the rest of the chatter between her teammates and the police rushing about, keeping people away from Higashisanjou Law Firm, as well as getting them out, before the train lodged into a few of the building's upper floors fell out onto the street or did more damage to the building. But she gave her honest, Socratic answer to the chief.

"I do not know."

A/N: Please leave honest reviews!