Lost
By: XBlue-PhoenixX
The 245th Emergency Response Squadron huddled over their commander dressed in their standard brown uniforms
The 245th Emergency Response Squadron huddled over their commander, dressed in their standard brown uniforms. A grand total of ten members all waited nervously for their long-range teleportation portal to be ready. Young technicians hustled around them writing down scrolls and casting safety augments.
Corporal Subaru Nakajima smiled widely, practically radiating excitement. Having been briefed on the extreme cold of the planet ahead she had wisely chosen to wear slacks instead of her normal skirt.
"All right, listen up!"
It was her commander, a middle aged mage with brown hair. "Here are our orders. We are to head out using a teleportation portal to the planet Terra. Recent large-scale seismic activity has placed over two hundred endangered magical creatures at risk. Our job is to go out there and save as many as we can before the whole place blows and turns into an oven."
"Yes Sir!" his troops shouted, before splitting up into three groups of three members each.
"After reaching check point alpha we will be detailed on our targets, so stay on your toes people!"
"Portal is complete sir!" the head technician called out from one of the catwalks. "You can head out when ever your squad is ready."
"Alright. 245th ERS move out!" he barked the order.
"We get to see all sorts of exotic creatures! This is going to be so cool!" Subaru whispered to her friend and teammate, Haruka Reito.
"Subaru, keep your head in the game. Those creatures are also living a ticking time bomb!" the brunette hissed. "Come on let's move!" and with that, she and Subaru charged into the bright green portal.
A rush of colors turned the purple haired woman's stomach before she was shot out of the portal and into the open skies; several hundred feet above the ground.
"Mach Caliber: Set-Up!"
In a bright flash of blue Subaru reappeared, garbed in her Barrier Jacket and device.
"Wing Road!" she shouted forcefully.
"Stand by:" came the synthesized voice. "Cannot complete task. Scanning: large number of AMF like waves in atmosphere."
"What?" Subaru shouted in surprise. "Mach Caliber, Cyborg Mode release!"
"Cyborg Mode!"
Teal eyes turned gold as a circular magic field appeared. A digital Wing Road shot out from Subaru's roller blades, stopping her decent.
"That would have been really bad." She huffed looking nervously over the edge of the magical platform.
"Error. Cyborg systems not able to maintain magical out-put, partner!"
"Oh crap!" Looking down, Subaru's eyes widened as Wing Road dissolved and she began her decent once again.
Mach Caliber flashed, "Protection." The sound of trees exploding filled the Fungala forest.
--
"Enforcer Langster please report to Commander Nakajima's office immediately. I repeat. Will Enforcer..."
Tiana Langster looked up at the ceiling, an eyebrow cocked curiously. "I wonder what he needs...?" she mused, logging off the terminal she had been finishing her report on.
As an up and coming Enforcer, Tia had been making a name for herself as a efficient and sharp agent. With the kind guidance she received from Fate, Tia quickly got a hold of the ropes and was in line for a promotion very soon.
Quickly fixing her black uniform, she ran a hand through her long orange hair as she began the short walk to Nakajima's office.
"Sir." She saluted walking into the spacious room. Taking the offered seat, Tia politely declined the offer for tea.
"Ah, Tia, how have you been?" Nakajima asked, his mouth smiling but his tinged with sadness.
"Fine, sir. I'm just about finished wrapping up the last report on the illegal seal trafficking bust." She answered curtly in her typically uptight fashion.
"Very good. But Tia, haven't I told you that you don't need to be so uptight around me?" he asked, cracking one eye open with a small smile.
Blushing Tia looked down, "Yes sir."
Laughing at her slip up, he leaned back, "I guess some formality can't be helped now, can it?"
"Um, Nakajima-san, why was I called down here?" Tia asked, fighting the rosy color that was staining her face.
"HQ has given you a new priority assignment." He sent over a window with official orders written on it. "It seems that ERS has a emergency of their own and they are requesting help to solve the situation. During a routine teleportation, three members from the 245th squadron never reappeared at the landing site. The last known signal was sent a day ago from Unregistered Planet 20095KGI, in the fourth quadrant."
"So they want me to research the situation and come up with a plan of action?" Tia asked, slipping into Enforcer mode.
"No, they want you to complete the assignment. Given your history as an Enforcer, as well as your history in Section Six, HQ has decided that you would be best suited to solve this situation." Nakajima sighed.
Tia nodded slightly, "Alright. I confirm that the orders were received." Gathering all the information into Cross Mirage she stood to leave.
"Tia, please be careful. I would be crippled if I learned that something happened to you as well." Nakajima said, hanging his head.
"Me as well?" Tia asked, turning around. Instead of the imposing sight the Commander typically gave off, the vision of an old man hunched over greeted her eyes.
"Subaru... She was one of the people who went missing," he choked. "I didn't want to give this assignment to you but, HQ gave me direct orders."
"S-subaru?" Tia stammered. Her head hung in shock as images of the exuberant woman flashed in her mind.
"I want to get her back as much as you do, but please don't do anything rash. This mission doesn't have a high success rate."
"What do you mean?" Tia asked, sitting back down.
"Despite several attempts by the TSAB to get a unit on the surface, all of these attempts have failed. No one has figured out why yet. They have learned from satellites that the natives call the planet Fungala, and that the inhabitants are elf-like creatures we have dubbed Galla's,"
"So what you're saying is that this mission is impossible from the start?" Tia spoke dejectedly, angry tears forming in her eyes.
"No. Not impossible, but gruelingly difficult"
Tia looked up, a fire burning in her blue eyes. "I will save them!"
Giving a small smile, Nakajima agreed, "I'm sure you will. You and Subaru have been known to accomplish anything with enough motivation." He winked.
"S-sir!" Tia protested, blushing again. How is it that all the Nakajima's can make me blush on command! She whined in her head, visibly shrinking.
"Alright. Well, off you go Langster, you have an early transport tomorrow!" He waved good-bye to her cheerily before heading back to his desk.
"Good-bye sir," with another salute, Tia left the office and headed back to her own quarters.
Falling back onto her bed she opened up the case file. "Three people missing, all ERS mages from the 245th squadron. The only thing out of place with the teleportation portal was that a tracing spell wasn't cast. A file on the planet Fungala?" She eyed the folder, tossing it aside. "That's next to useless." She looked at the ceiling. "Think, what would Fate have me do first?"
Gripping her head in frustration, she turned onto her side. "Sometimes, all the facts won't be open and nicely presented! That's it. I need to look for more information. Cross Mirage?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Perform a wide scale search for anything related to Unregistered Planet 20095KGI, Fungala, Galla, and known magic repressors in the fourth quadrant."
"Yes, Master. With current search parameters estimated time is twenty hours to completion."
Biting her lip in thought Tia added, "Fine, every five hours compile a report on what was dug up and forward it to my terminal."
"That I can do," Cross Mirage blinked orange.
"And ah, thanks." Tia added.
"It is my purpose to support you, Master."
"Still, thanks for doing all of this." She said decidedly.
"You are welcome."
"Better start packing. My teleport is scheduled at 0530. I am not looking forward to spending five days on a battle cruiser," Tea moaned, pulling out her standard issue duffle bag.
"The teleportation blockade for the surround area makes sense, but really?" she placed several shirts and pants into the bag. Reaching over to the small table beside her bed, she mechanically picked up the picture she took with her everywhere.
Inside of the durable metal frame, a picture of the day she and Subaru shared at Section Six stared back at her. Subaru had Tia in a tight hug, giving a victory sign with her hands while Tia was trying to claw at the offending arm wrapped her waist. With a soft smile, Tia gently placed the picture amidst her clothing to keep it safe during the long journey.
"You had better be okay, you idiot. Only you could waste my time while in a totally different division." She huffed gruffly, wiping the fresh tears from her eyes. Kicking the table and screaming in frustration, Tia landed face first onto her bed. "You have to be okay, Subaru..."
The first thing that came to mind when Subaru awoke was the searing pain shooting through her left arm. Next came the sharp pains that traced her whole body seemingly head to toe. Cracking one teal eye open, a vaulted ceiling with dark wooden rafters came into focus.
"Where am I?" she croaked, her voice hoarse and dry. She jerked back in shock as a pair of bright purple eyes popped out right in front of her face. "Gah!"
The mystery eyes pulled back, belonging to a slender girl that bore a strong resemblance to the elves Subaru had learned of as child. Out of the pitch-black hair that framed her golden face two long and narrow pointed ears popped out. Clothed in a white tunic held together by a purple sash her general appearance screamed 'elf'.
"I'm Subaru Nakajima from the 245th Emergency Relief Squadron of the Time-Space Administration Bureau. Can you please tell me where we are?" Subaru said in the most official voice she could muster. The elf, she had decided on calling the girl, tilted her head to side clearly confused.
"Ano...Do you speak Common?" she asked.
"Ehi nos habli ghallen"
"No match in directory, partner. Unable to match to any language files."
"Mach Caliber?" Subaru brought her right hand up and grasped the pendant. "Where are we?"
"Last coordinates place us on a unregistered planet called Fungala. That is all the information I have at this time."
"Oh!" the golden skinned teenager laughed, "Common I speak little."
Just then, Subaru's stomach let out a loud growl. "Ahaha..." she clutched her stomach with her good hand.
"Food?" the elf asked, patting her own stomach.
"Ah, yes, please," Subaru spoke through a silly grin. She watched the elf start to dance and called out, "I almost forgot to ask. What is your name?"
"Gilos." She pointed to herself.
"Subaru!" the injured woman replied with a smile, pointing to herself as well.
As Gilos disappeared through a curtain, Subaru turned her attention to her current predicament. "Mach Caliber, can you send out an emergency signal?" she asked, sitting up painfully.
"I sent one out as soon you hit the ground. Cannot confirm if signal has been picked up by anyone yet."
Letting out a long breath Subaru looked down. Clad in a white shirt that pulled together in the front with green string, she blushed, feeling oddly modest.
Gilos waltzed in with a small red clay bowl with steam wafting out of it. Kneeling down next to Subaru, she placed the bowl and pulled out a spoonful of rich broth. Blowing on it gently, Gilos brought the spoon up to Subaru's mouth.
"Ahhhh!" she opened her mouth wide demonstrating what she wanted Subaru to do.
"Ano no thanks. I think I can feed my-hmmpf!" Subaru gulped down the hot liquid in surprise.
Dipping the spoon for another run Gilos gave Subaru a smile that seemed oddly fearsome. The look in those purple eyes bore right into her mind.
"Um...Ahhhhh," she said turning an exceptionally pink color.
--
Cross Mirage finished gathering all of the data. "Master, search is now complete."
"Thanks, Cross Mirage." Tia cracked her knuckles, shaking out the tension in her fingers. "Who would have thought that there was so much data just floating around?"
"You should rest for a while, Master," Cross Mirage almost sounded concerned, if a device were even capable of such a feat.
"I know, but we only have four days left until we reach the drop off zone and I still have no idea how to get onto the planet!" Tia mumbled continuing to scan disjointed pieces of data.
"I know, but we only have four days left until we reach the drop off zone and I still have no idea how to actually get on the planet!" Tia mumbled, continuing to scan disjointed pieces of data.
"Your efficiency will go down drastically if you do not rest, Master."
Tia rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. "I guess a nap wouldn't hurt."
"I will organize the data while you sleep, Master."
Striping off her uniform and hanging it up, Tia crawled onto the brick like mattress. "Thanks, Cross Mirage."
"You are welcome, my Master."
The overly chipper tune that Cross Mirage played woke Tia with a start. "Agh... I forgot to change that, didn't I?" she groaned, burying her head into her pillow. "That obnoxious song is something only Subaru could stand. On second thought, I think Caro would like it too..."
"Master, the data is now reformatted."
"Ugh... alright, I'll get up!" she let out a loud yawn before slumping back to her terminal. "Back to the grind."
The newly organized data was much easier to look over than the previous, daunting amounts of garbled information.
"This can't be right..." Tia clicked on a file titled Personnel Logs. A total of 57 entrees came up. "Why are none of these referenced in the official report?" she asked aloud, biting her lip.
"I do not know. However, they contain a large sum of information," informed Cross Mirage.
Reading through the entrees did not take long, but pooled together a vast amount of information for Tia.
"So," Tia leaned back, "We seem to dealing with...evil little elves with an unknown type of magic?" she quoted from an open file. She shook her head, "This is getting weirder with every turn. A planet with an unknown type of magic within a TSAB designated zone?" she snorted in disbelief, crossing her arms.
Her eyes caught something. "That's odd, the report was written four years ago from today." She clicked on another one checking the time stamp. "And this one happened around the same time five years ago... They all seem to happen during the same time during the year!" she exclaimed happily.
She quickly pulled up a live satellite feed of Fungala. Changing the scanning mode to a magical signature based setting, she gasped in surprise. The whole planet glowed a bright pink color without a single swirl of green, yellow or blue.
"This is impossible, magic always has a counter-balance... but there is none?" Tia whispered in amazement.
"Yes, master. That phenomenon has been cited before in the matron magic theory."
"Matron magic theory?"
"Yes a theory that came out ten years ago that stated that magic was governed by patron and matron magic in obvious reference to a gender gap in magic. It was dismissed by the magical community as a whole, but this was the only example of matron magic that the study could find."
"Arg, another fact left out of the official report! What the hell!" Tia shouted bring her head to rest on her terminal. "Why is the TSAB keeping so much information about this planet in the dark!"
"Master, this is a good thing." Cross Mirage blinked, "Matron magic governs feminine magic."
"Wait a second," Tia flipped back to Personnel Logs. "Of course...!" she reread each name confirming she suspicion.
"Yes, my Master?" Cross Mirage asked.
"Women! The answer all along... has been women!" Tia yelled extremely loudly, proud of what she had discovered.
Two flight deck members were walking by Tia's room when she exclaimed her sudden revelation. One of the young men sighed, "Lost another one to the other side..."
"Man, why are all the hot mages lesbians?"
"I wish I knew pal, I wish I knew."
Subaru gentle kneaded her left arm, forcing the knots to relax. Cautiously, she sniffed the air around herself and gagged a little. It smelt of sweat, blood, antiseptic and body odor.
"Whoa!" She crinkled her nose, covering her nose with her shirt collar.
Checking to make sure that Gilos was sound asleep on her own bed roll, Subaru rolled up the sleeves of the shirt she was wearing to finally inspect her injuries. What she saw made her groan. Her whole left arm looked like a lump of red and purple, while her right one, thanks to Revolver Knuckle, sported only a few scratches. Pulling the hem of the shirt up she saw that her whole torso was covered in thin, deep cuts punctuated by four freshly sewn gashes, and her legs looked a maze of red lines.
"Mach Caliber how did you fare?" she whispered slowly, lowering herself back onto the bed.
"Barrier jacket systems completely destroyed. Revolver Knuckle at 72 operation, roller blades at 64.5 operation. I can still function, partner."
"I'm glad. Thank you for protecting me," Subaru clutched the blue pendant in her hand.
"Don't mention it! I wanted to help you."
"Hey, can we send any messages through all of the waves we found earlier?" Subaru asked quietly.
"I have sent out several distress signals. However, I have gotten no confirmation that any of them were received. I do not know."
"How about short range transmissions? If I ended up here, then the others must have fallen here as well..."
"We can try, partner!"
Subaru created an open telepathic channel. "Hey, is there anyone else out there?" she called out.
"Subaru?!" balked a member of her team, "Is that you?"
"Lily?" Subaru smiled, "Lily! Thank goodness you're okay."
"Not really, I'm pretty sure I broke my jaw on the way down and I can't move my right leg. Still I fared a lot better than Haruka." Lily shot back telepathically, even her mental voice sounding strained.
Subaru gave a sympathetic moan. "How is she?"
"Bad," answered Lily. "She woke up a few times but she has all the symptoms of a severe concussion. She wouldn't stop vomiting and her pupils are dilated."
"Not good..." Subaru replied. "So where are the others?"
"I don't know! I can't talk you moron how am I suppose to ask? Besides if no one has zeroed in on our conversation I doubt that there even is anyone else here!" Lily snapped angrily.
"Mou, sorry!" Subaru spoke dejectedly.
"Hey, someone is coming in. Shit I think t--t the sign-- being inter--"
"Lily?" Subaru asked, listening to white noise. "Lily! What's going on? Answer me, Lily!"
"Ah, no way!" Subaru punched the air.
"Subaru?" Gilos gave a small yawn. "Problem?"
Jumping in shock, Subaru turned to the small teenager, "Hahaha, no! No problem..."
Shooting the mage a tired look out of one purple eye Gilos turned away from Subaru nestled back into her sheets.
The next morning Subaru woke to Gilos humming a strange song as she lumbered over a large clay pot of water.
Gilos noticed that Subaru was awake and gave her a smile. "Today bath!" she exclaimed happily.
Subaru's face glowed red, "T-thanks..." Gilos kneeled down next to her. "Ano, aren't you leaving?" Subaru asked.
"Subaru hurt, Gilos help." The small women stated soundly reaching out for the green laces that held together Subaru's shirt.
"Hey! No don't do that!" Subaru said pushing the golden hands away and clutching her shirt together.
"Gilos help." The elf said again in a heavier tone, prying pale fingers away from the shirt.
Grunting in surprise Subaru whipped her head around in shock and stared at the elf who was actually able to pry her cybernetically enhanced fingers apart. "How the..." she gasped eyes locking with Gilos's.
"I-I-I ahhh," Subaru adverted her eyes. "I can bath myself..." she mumbled scooting further away. Because of her adverted gaze she missed the flash of anger on Gilos face.
"Su-ba-ruuuuu," Gilos whined leaning forwards with a pout.
"Nooo-ah." Subaru shoot her a quick glace and flushed again. "Really it's fine."
Gilos gently cupped Subaru's face with a soft hand and turned it towards her. "I help...?" she asked again. Subaru's resolve weakened at the hopeful look in her eyes.
"Mou, fine you can wash my back." Subaru hide behind her curtain of purple hair.
"Mh hmm!" Gilos nodded scooting back a bit to allow Subaru to remove her shirt. After that was done Gilos reached into the pot and pulled out a washcloth, but instead of clear water flowing from it a dark green liquid spilled out.
"Help heal and bath!" Gilos said taking Subaru's arm and dabbing it.
"Gah cold!" Subaru tried to extract her arm, but the grip was like steel. "I said my back- hnn oh that feels really good..." she moaned as a cool tingling ran through her body. The cloth was wrung out again and returned to her body.
"Eppp! No nonononono you can't do that! Agh oh get off me...ITTTTAAAAA!"
Tiana looked up, "Did you hear something Cross Mirage?"
"No my master."
"Hmm odd?" she stuck her pinky in her ear, "Guess I am hearing things..."