Chapter 2
Hammerhead Base
Location: Classified
"...Aoi! One Type-R Nova is advancing on your position. Get your squad moving on the double and take it down. We can't let it into the city. Over." Major Janson studied the holo-tank. He grunted as a group of small red triangles scrambled across the flickering landscape, on course to intercept a single purple diamond.
Marching quick-time over a dusty, rolling plain, acting Ensign Aoi triggered his throat mike. "Roger that, command. Squad Alpha Two-Three will make contact with the bogey in four zero seconds. Switching to battle comms. Aoi over and out."
He skidded to a stop upon cresting the last, low rise. Looming over them was the familiar and disturbingly alien form of their target, a Nova. Executing a rapid double click of his teeth, the tactical gear built into his uniform tuned his radio to the squad's private frequency. "All right ladies, we do this by the numbers, drop one bad guy and then the drinks are on me."
From his left, Striker 2 snorted. "Just remember Zuya, one day you'll be old enough to actually get served and we'll all be there, expecting you to make good on these promises."
A ripple of giggles spread through the squad, defusing the last of their pre-battle jitters. Kazuya grinned. "Good thing I'm already saving my pennies. Min, Lin, front and center. Give that Nova something to think about!" Calming his breathing, he slid his feet side to side, forcing his boots into the hard packed earth and strengthening his stance. Normally, a Limiter extended one arm with palm out and then gripped the forearm with his other hand. Kazuya had both arms out, at shoulder width, with his hands open and fingers spread. Reaching down inside himself, he fanned the ever present whisper of power into a gout of flame.
Stalking forward gracefully like two wild panthers, Min and Lin Xiuzhen called forth their volt weapons, gleaming, metallic Bo staves. Identical twins hailing from China, Min and Lin, call-signs Decoy 1 and Decoy 2, were former Olympic gymnasts turned Pandora. Their specialty was a Tempest Turn performed with such perfect harmony you couldn't tell them or any of their images apart. Always silent once combat started, the pair set and launched into battle simultaneously with no obvious signal passing between them.
Gritting his teeth, Kazuya bubbled the twins in a pair of freezings as they broached the larger, hindering field encapsulating the enemy. Pressure sprang to life behind his eyes as the two effects fought for dominance. Able to move unrestricted thanks to Kazuya, the deceptively delicate-looking sisters multiplied into a small army, dashing at the Nova with supernatural symmetry. Weaving a path across the sun-baked loam, they dodged garage door sized missiles fired from the Nova's two main appendages. Nearer their target, the twins bounded free of earth's gravity, sprinting and somersaulting along the snake-like secondary arms. Shrapnel puffed out, rainbow bright in the sun, whenever they shattered one of them as it searched for a target. Reaching the main body, a rain of staff impacts rang musically from the Nova's metal form.
"Strikers, stand by. You move out in 5...4..." As Kazuya counted down, two more Pandoras strode forward a few paces and signaled their readiness. As much as the Decoys were twins, Alpha Two-Three's Strikers were polar opposites. Randi Salinger, Striker 1, stood barely 5 feet tall, raven haired, plain of face and the heavily muscled figure of a gym rat. Arda Olafson, Striker 2, worked as a model when she wasn't training to kill Nova. Cascading golden tresses and a long, lithe body that didn't skimp on the curves ensured the youngest Pandora in the squad turned heads wherever she went. Kazuya's Strikers summoned volt weapons, their bodies coiled and ready. "2...1...Go, go, go!" Springing skyward in a long arc, the girls were on target and synchronized to pass very near the exit zone of the Decoys.
Soaring free of the Nova's engagement area, the Xiuzhen sisters broke from its disabling field. Instantly, the protective freezings dissipated as Kazuya applied his focus to the Strikers. New bubbles sprang to life around Randi and Arda a split second before the pair crossed the boundary of the Nova's opposing freezing zone.
Still disoriented from the attack of the Decoys, the broad chest of the giant alien life form was undefended. Randi zipped diagonally from shoulder to waist using Double Accel. She swung her over-sized, long handled morning star. It impacted dead center. Artificial thunder rolled over the plain as shattered armor plates fell to the sunburnt grass. At range, Arda hurled her matched pair of square headed warhammers with deadly accuracy. Two explosive impacts stripped any remaining protection from over the Nova's core, exposing the beating, mechanical heart of the otherworldly war-machine.
Sweat rolled down Kazuya's face as he fought with the Nova in a different arena. "The core is exposed. Decoys, stand by for round 2. Switch out in 5..." The Strikers positioned for withdrawal, swinging at the tendrils finally snaking their way. Arda let fly a last volley. Her warhammers crashed into the Nova, sending it tilting crazily off center, before they returned to her hands. "...1...Go, go, go!" Racing across the dusty plain, their retreat path brought them within feet of the twin's headlong rush to engage. Once again, Kazuya shifted his protective energies from one pair to the other.
Swarming like bees, Min and Lin used their acrobatics and speed to carry out precise attacks on every extremity the Nova manifested. Methodically, they ripped away the defenses, preparing their target for the killing blow. His own battle escalating, Kazuya ground his teeth, pushing against the suffocating tension. "Fi...Finishers! Stand by...Exchange in 5...4..." Vaulting from the Nova's shoulders, the squad's Decoys zoomed away along their trained path of retreat, designed to mesh with the approaching Finishers. "...1...Go, go, go!"
For Finishers, there was only one goal, one target, the pulsing core of a Nova. Volt weapons in hand, the last pairing in Squad Alpha Two-Three threw themselves into the fray. Kazuya was granted only a moment's relief between dispelling the freezings of the retreating Decoys and wrapping his Finishers in protective spheres. Large drops of sweat stung his eyes, forcing him to blink them clear.
Like a shot from a cannon, Finisher 1 flew straight and true, heavy bladed halberd leading the way. Naomi Barber was the squad's oldest member. Outwardly, nothing about her was exceptional; looks, fitness, martial skills. Dedication and hard work had gotten her this posting to Chevalier Special Ops. Two feet of brown hair fixed into a pony tail streaming behind her, Naomi screamed a fearsome war cry and stabbed deeply into the heart of the Nova. Kicking off into an Accel boosted somersault, she signaled her partner. "All yours Two. Take this sucker down."
Finisher 2 leapt nearly vertical, rising up and up. At the apex, she floated in a void separating one heartbeat from the next, momentarily weightless. Inky, black hair shot through with purple highlights formed a halo, making her the very image of an angel of death. Yelena Malinovka smiled at the welcome tension in her biceps. The thick arms of her volt weapon, an exaggerated Japanese war bow, always placed a deliciously heavy strain on her stigmata enhanced muscles. Accel quickened not only her body but her senses, slowing perceived time to a crawl. Finisher 2 narrowed her focus to the silvery orb and the single slice in it's otherwise flawless surface. She released the ready arrow, a deep thrum vibrated all the way down to her bones. On it's deadly mission, Yelena's projectile shattered the sound barrier. A teeth jarring boom spread from it's wake. Kazuya could swear it left a trail of flames as the missile violently tore a hole through the air on its way to the Nova's core. Biting deeply, it added to the damage done by Finisher 1, delivering a mortal wound.
Withdrawing expeditiously, the Finishers rejoined their squad in time to see crackling energy leaking from the Nova's damaged heart. Exhausted, Kazuya sagged as he gratefully released the freezing fields, bending with hands on his knees. Squinting into the glare, the Pandoras of Squad Alpha Two-Three stood tall and admired their handiwork. A soundless explosion signaled their enemy's demise.
"Secure from training exercise. Simulated enemy has been rendered inoperable." An artificially generated voice blared from speakers placed around the field. "Squad Alpha Two-Three report to HQ for debriefing at thirteen hundred hours."
"Well, shit." Arda, second in command and most vocal of the squad, groused as she checked her chronometer. "Thirteen hundred? You lucked out, Ensign. Definitely no time for drinks. Zuya, howzabout you spring for a quick lunch instead. We promise to eat light." She swung around, wry grin morphing to a grimace.
Kazuya swayed, the ground lifting and falling under his feet after the Nova's collapse. Or so he thought. Wiping at his upper lip to quell an odd tickling sensation, his fingers came away stained crimson. A black hole opened below him and he toppled forward. Garbled words followed him into the void. "Zuya!...medic...the Ensign...down...we need...now, dammit..."
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"Wake up sleepyhead. I ordered room service and it'll be here any minute."
"Humm?" Kazuya stretched in the warm embrace of a down comforter and cracked his eyes open. Brows scrunched in confusion as he took in the room. First off, it was huge and featured one entire wall of nothing but windows. The moon hung large and full in the clear night sky, painting everything in its soft light. Next, he tracked down the source of the voice that had pulled him awake. There she stood at the foot of the great canopy bed, looking much too beautiful to be real. "Satellizer?" Kazuya sat up, fog lifting quickly from his thoughts. "Your room...Bali...We're in Bali?"
"Of course, silly. Where else would we be." She smiled indulgently before her expression fell. "You must have been really tired...from the fight. We made it to my room seconds before you fell unconscious. Oh Kazuya, using your power always takes so much out of you. Frankly, it's hard not to worry." Satellizer rocked from one foot to the other, tugging at the ends of the sash knotted firmly at the waist of her full length, hotel robe. "I'm so sorry, about everything. It seems like I'm always putting you in danger."
"No, Satella, there's nothing to apologize for. Only your brother carries that burden." Right then, his stomach rumbled for attention. "Did you say something about room service?" Kazuya tossed the covers aside and slid his legs off the bed only to discover..."Whoa! Where are my clothes?" He quickly tugged a sheet over his lap. "Satella, what happened to my clothes?"
"It was raining." She stated simply, as if those three words explained everything. An embarrassed silence hung between them. Pink frosted her cheeks and her eyes turned down before she finally added, "I brought you a robe, too." Flicking a finger towards the bed, she directed his attention to a pile of white, fuzzy cloth.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Instantly brightening, she twirled and skipped to the door. "No more talking. Get dressed and have dinner with meee!"
Kazuya reached across the bed and pulled the robe near. He slipped it on and belted it closed while her back was turned. Leaning against a bedpost, he watched an animated Satellizer direct the setting of their table. To him, it appeared breaking free of her past had lifted a great weight from her shoulders.
After shutting the door on the departing waitstaff, she waved impatiently to Kazuya. "Come see what I ordered for us."
BaaBeep...
Ducking, he sought the source of the strange noise. Kazuya heard nothing further and turned to see Satellizer staring quizzically. "I...uhh...thought I heard something." Further growls from his tummy intruded and spurred him to join her at the table. Sitting down, he marveled at the bounty of choices laid out before him. The sushi looked very fresh. Additionally, there were a number of different finger sandwiches and various bite-sized samplings of fruits, vegetables and meats. "Wow, so many choices. I don't know what to eat first."
"Allow me, Kazuya." Instead of taking the other chair, Satellizer slid comfortably into Kazuya's lap. His jaw dropped in shock at such a bold and unexpected move. She used the opportunity to pop a citrus glazed strawberry into his mouth. Out of reflex, he chewed and swallowed, his brain still in neutral. Beads of juice from the ripe berry dribbled down his chin. Satellizer captured the red drops with a gentle swirl of one finger which she then brought to her mouth. As Kazuya watched in stunned silence, a pink tongue darted from between her lips to gather up the tangy liquid.
"Mmmm. Wasn't that tasty?" Satellizer practically purred.
Up close, Kazuya could tell she'd bathed while he was sleeping, smelling of soap and a hint of jasmine. Not her usual choice of perfume. Wasn't there someone else he knew that favored jasmine? Someone...
BaaBeep...
Kazuya flinched, nearly unseating Satellizer. Sliding his arms around her waist, he steadied her while searching for the odd noise.
Worry creeping into her voice, she looked around too. "What is it, Kazuya?"
"Didn't you hear that, Satella? Some kind of mechanical beeping?"
"Are you sure you're okay? You took some pretty heavy punches from Louis." Inspecting his face, Satellizer leaned in closer than he was comfortable with, her breath smelling of minty toothpaste and red berry.
He drew back and smiled. "I'm sure it's nothing." Between the strange noise and Satella's odd behavior, Kazuya was feeling off kilter. Glancing down, he yelped. Satellizer's robe had parted, revealing her long and shapely legs. Heat rose in his cheeks and Kazuya searched for something, anything else to look at. A small and familiar pile of luggage caught his attention while darting his eyes around the room. "Hey, are those mine?"
Following his gaze, Satellizer nodded. "I had your room packed up and bags brought here. There was no telling how long you were gonna sleep and after everything that happened today I didn't want to be alone." Surveying the table once again, she chose a thick-cut strip of seasoned beef. "Here, Kazuya, try one of these." Instead of holding it out for him, she placed it in her mouth, teeth gripping one end. Closing her eyes, she offered the other end from between rosy lips.
BaaBeep...
Kazuya's world went dark for a handful of moments. Startled, he lurched to his feet. Satellizer was sent stumbling but stayed upright. "Tell me you heard it this time." Something was going on. He just couldn't quite put his finger on it. Flashes of another place, dry and dusty, danced before his eyes. "...Hammerhead Base..." The name just came to him, followed by another rush of memories; training, fighting. Around him, the world dimmed, leached of color and mass.
Only Satella remained substantial in the otherwise ephemeral environment. Head down and shoulders drooping, she couldn't look his way. "You have to leave now, don't you?"
BaaBeep...
Reluctantly aware that he was abed in the medical center and this was all a fevered dream did nothing to lessen the ache in his heart. Slogging through the thickening air, he gathered her into his arms and held on tightly. She clung to him, face buried in his neck. He whispered, "I wish it didn't have to be this way. I promise, one day soon we'll be together again." Kazuya's breath caught in his throat as Satellizer tilted up to face him. The hope shimmering in her depth-less, liquid blue eyes tore him to pieces. Moving as one, they kissed.
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BaaBeep...BaaBeep...BaaBeep...
Leaning back on the stool, Arda stared out the window as a rosy glow painted the horizon. That was wrong. Lightly, she traced her lips with a fingertip, wishing to retain this feeling for just a little while longer. What were you thinking girl! The poor boy is unconscious and on top of that, you've got no claim to him. Zuya belongs to Her. The kiss was fading along with her hopes, as she knew they would.
Holding his hand, Arda was startled when Kazuya's fingers convulsed in her grip. She could see his eyes were opening, mere slits as he fought his way to consciousness. The lips that had warmed hers moments ago were moving. Mumbled sounds leaked out. Dipping down to better hear what he was trying to say crushed her.
"Sa...Satella...is it really you?"
She sat up stiffly while her heart bled. "Sor..." Voice cracking, she coughed and cleared her throat. "Sorry, Zuya, it's just me. I drew the short straw, so my turn to check on our layabout Ensign."
"Oh, Arda, hey. Sorry to be such a bother to you girls. I really thought I was getting stronger." Kazuya smiled weakly. He tried to sit up, but was pushed right back down.
"Hold on there, cowboy. Why don't you let the Doc take a look before you go doing too much moving around." Her hand lingered on his chest.
"Okay, okay, I promise no calisthenics until I get the green light." When she didn't withdraw, he looked more closely, noticing her lack of expression. "Is everything okay, Arda? Did someone in the squad get injured other than me?"
Amping up her smile just like she would on a photo-shoot, Arda folded her hands in her lap. "No, no, nothing like that. In fact, I've got good news. Looks like you won't have us to kick around anymore. We're gonna be meeting up with our Limiters and join in on some real special forces training. But don't you worry, I hear they have a gaggle of Genetics girls coming in without their Limiters for some advanced instruction."
"Genetics?" Arda hated how his face lit up as he said it. "I wonder if it's anyone I know?"
"I can't answer that one for ya. Anyhow, I'm gonna let the Doc know you're awake and then hit the mess tent. It's a small base. I'm sure we'll be running in to each other. Just take care, Zuya." She kept her plastic smile in place all the way to the door. Out of view, she fled down the hall and ducked into an empty room. Inside, she slid down the wall onto the floor, hugging her knees to her chest and cried in silence.
Damn you, Kazuya! Why couldn't you have been a jerk. Not once did you leer at me or trip and make lame excuses just to cop a feel. Anything that would let me hate you like every other man on this base. To you I was always just a member of the squad, your trusted second in command, not some object or conquest. I remember the moment I fell in love. Some foul-mouthed Corporal shoved one of my lingerie pictures under your nose and asked if you could arrange a private show. He never saw the punch coming.
She smiled through the tears at the memory of a fuming Kazuya standing over that whimpering oaf. Later, I showed up at Zuya's tent with some ice for his hand. He apologized for his behavior, striking that man in front of us was very uncouth. Right after, he grinned and said he wasn't sorry for the punch, though. I stayed for many hours and we talked. He had lots of questions about modeling and the life I must lead. I learned all about his famous sister and, if rumors be true, infamous partner. Very few Pandora were unaware of the stories surrounding the 'Untouchable Queen'. Whispers spread faster than wildfire in such a close knit community. Never once did Zuya make any moves or try to use the situation to get a little something. Even after I realized I wanted him to.
Sucking in air, she rubbed at her eyes with the heals of her hands. Arda pulled herself upright. Better get the Doc. That's about enough self pity for one day. She peered out the little square window before slipping into the empty hallway. Up ahead, the door was open for Doctor Carver's office, light spilling out onto the tiled floor. Getting closer, she heard angry voices. Arda tip toed the last few feet and tucked up against the door frame. She recognized Carver's voice right away.
"I don't care what you think. I can't keep doing this, not without serious risk."
"Our superiors believe differently, Doctor. Ensign Aoi needs to be back on his feet and ready to go in two days." For Arda, there was no mistaking Major Janson's gruff tones. "Genetics is sending some greenies, bunch of third years, and we want them ready when the new Type S training Nova is delivered. Just pump him full of the same stuff as all the other times."
"I keep telling you, that was purely a temporary fix. Feeding tubes, IV's, protein packs, those are all merely stop gaps." There was a rustling of papers before the Doctor continued. "See, right here. Whatever body fat he reported with is all gone, zero. Hell, you can tell just by looking at him. What that means Major, our Ensign Aoi's body is cannibalizing muscle now. He needs more time before these exercises, get some real food into him and recover what he's lost."
"Slow down, Doc. Granted, Aoi can do more than other Limiters, but in the end that's all he is. None of the others on this base have all these problems. Maybe the kid is cut out for this job, maybe he isn't. It's not our call to make. Dr. Aoi is the man in charge of all this. Do you really think he'd do this to his own grandson if it was truly dangerous."
"Everything I've heard, I'm not so sure about that."
"You might want to tread lightly there Doc."
"My apologies, Major. All I'm saying is, Kazuya Aoi is not like the other Limiters. Without the benefit of baptism and the Ereinbar set, he has to force the power out of his stigma tissue. Imagine if you will, it's like he's filling a teacup from a fire hose with only his body to absorb the backlash. At this rate, damage to his internal organs is inevitable."
"You paint a convincing picture Doctor Carver. Still doesn't change our orders. You've got two days to get Ensign Aoi's boots on the ground."
Backing away silently, Arda made her escape from the hospital. Once into the cool morning air, she shivered in fear at what she'd just heard. There had been talk among the squad, questions raised. It was impossible to ignore the changes in Zuya's body and all the episodes that had sent him to medical. But, like good little soldiers, they assumed their superiors had everything under control.
She didn't know how she could help Kazuya tomorrow or the day after that, but by God she could sure as hell do something right now. Pulling out her phone, she tapped one of her speed dials. Her call was answered after the first ring.
"Hey Naomi, no time for talking, just listen. We've got a little mission. I want you to gather up the girls and meet me outside the mess tent. I'm planning a little party and I need our master thieves, Min and Lin, to steal us some party supplies. Zuya is back in the land of the living and I gave him the news about our new orders. The Ensign took pretty good care of us. Seems only right we all get together for a last hurrah. See you in 5."
Arda hung up and set course for the mess tent. This'll probably be about as useful as me peeing in the ocean to raise water levels, but it's all I got. Who knows, maybe we can get our hands on some of that chicken he loves so much.