A/N: I'm sorry if few characters seems ooc since I wrote this story based on my point of view. *bow* Also if you guys forgotten about the character please 'Google' it. That's all.
Kaizuka Inaho
On that day when they receive the news about Slaine sudden disappearance cause everyone working in the cell to be questions. Few witnesses were brought to tell them all the details they know about that day. None of them seems to know anything other than the mecha who attack them at the first place and luckily none of them got hurt nor dead after the accident. They manage to film the mecha from their surveillance camera and what they can tell is that they haven't seen anything like it before. The shape and its weapon are different from what the Terran possess and the way it was build was obvious shown it wasn't something that Martian would made. The mecha looks more advance than theirs and more flexible which made them wonder who the creator was.
At the time when they decide to call for Inaho and the others was during their afternoon class, Inaho was sitting near the window with one of his hand rest on the desk. His other hand continue to write notes in the class and add extra information so he can get extra credits. He may be looking like he is focusing in his class but the true is his mind is somewhere else thinking about Slaine. What is going on? What reason does Slaine suddenly decide to break out? Why now after two years has already passed? He was thinking every possible things he could thought of until their class was interrupted. The whole class are now looking at the open door to see their familiar teacher who is also known as a warrant officer. The woman who they pay respect especially during her participation in the first line.
Inaho already knew from the start that they will call for him and stand up when his sister give a quick nod toward him as well as his classmates who already involved in war in the same time as his. Inko, Calm and Nina stand up from their sits. Only Inko seems bother to pack her stuff before she walks out from the class along with the others. As soon they walk out they can hear their classmates start whispering something about them but they block down the noise and focus on something more important. Outside from their class Rayet is already there looking serious as always with her arms cross.
"Rayet!" Inko and Nina said her name happily.
Rayet slightly blush before greeting them back.
"Yuki nee."
His sister smile at him before patting his shoulder gently. "Let's go." She said trying to encourage them. "We have been summon by the captain."
"Is it Darzana san?" Nina asks as she hug Rayet.
"Yes." Yuki smiles.
They all follow her to the similar evacuation vehicle that they used to evacuate the citizens at the Second Earth-Mars Wars. Inko gulps when she remember the first time she saw someone die before her and at that situation they were not allowed to panic. It was a miracle that she was brave enough at that time to take charge to control the vehicle and drove them all to safety but sadly they lost one of their friend and comrades in that war.
"It feels like it was just yesterday when we were kids." Inko sighs as she get in the vehicle.
The memories of her in her parent's restaurant and Kaizuka siblings always come by to eat so they won't die of hunger. That is how Kaizuka and she become friends since Yuki will always bring Inaho to the restaurant so they could eat together. Nina sit at the back with Inko, Rayet and Calm with her hands grip together tightly hoping there won't be another war. She doesn't want to see anyone getting hurt or lose them. Slightly she turn to Clam seeing him smiling happily but his legs are shaking. It seems that he doesn't try to act pressure inside this tiny place by trying to have a conversation and try to act normally making her feel so happy to see him trying.
Inaho is sitting at the front sit while reading some kind of report in his tablet as he tries to analyse the data he just received.
"So this is the one that attacked that place."
"That's right." Yuki replies as her eyes focus on the road. "According to the witnesses it suddenly appear out of nowhere and simply bomb a few places causing disturbance. So they can't record any footage of what happen to Slaine and by the time the guards come to the cell room there was a huge hole left behind and the prisoner was gone."
"Have they given us the last footage of Slaine?"
"Yes."
Quickly he check it out and watch the video in silent, Inko and the others lean forward to see what's in the video due to curiosity.
"It doesn't seem Slaine has anything to do with this."
"What do you mean?"
"He looks confused." Inaho points. "From his facial expression and the way he move is enough to tell me that Slaine is innocent."
"So you're saying that Slaine has been kidnapped instead." Inko asks.
"That's one of the possibility."
Rayet look at Inaho with her eyes wondering what the other possibility is. It was Yuki this time who ask the question and Inaho reply it with a secretive tone. "There's a chance that Slaine know who the person in the mecha is and decide to go along with him since there's no clue that Slaine show any type of resistance except for his blood on the door. The blood seems to be from the injury he receives when his room got blown up. The glasses must have hit his back when he was standing facing the door to see what is going on."
"Even without the eye you're still amazing." Calm praises.
"He has always been like that." Inko continues.
The captain is leaning her body forward as she take a closer look on the image taken. She still wondering how the mecha can suddenly appear out of nowhere and the reason it helps their most dangerous enemy known as Count Slaine to escape from his cell. Is this the sign another war is going to begin soon but hasn't the Martians and Terran already coexist? It seems that they have to contact Princess Asseylum again for her cooperation to find Slaine and capture him again. That kind of person can't go loose in this world since he already seems to have a calculative mind like Inaho which means danger. Who knows what will happen if Slaine was left unsupervised by them.
"So they can't even trace where the mecha went?" She asks her commanding officer.
"That's right. From the report they said the mecha suddenly disappear."
Captain Darzana frown at the report before looking back at the mecha. This if the first time they encounter something that can just disappear in the thin air, could it be a new weapon that was made to destroy them? Even though she hesitated but she once again has to ask the younger Kaizuka for help. His the one that can tell enemy weakness immediately and she knows that he can do it once again. His a prodigy tactician and has earn her respect from a long time ago.
"Have you contacted the empress yet?"
Mizusaki nod her head immediately. "She will be in contact once the other has arrived."
It was then Marito walk in, his beard has been shave and his hair has been cut short. Even his face look sober since he hasn't drink for a while and when he walks in he greets the two ladies with a wide smile.
"You're late."
"Hey! I got here in time."
It seems that Darzana seems to hold a grudge against the man but wasn't it solved during the war? Did something else happen between them? Mizusaki look between them wondering why her captain seems to be glaring at Marito. Luckily the others arrived and the tension between them disappear.
"Kaizuka." The captain turn to look at them.
"Captain." She said while looking back at her.
The others quickly take their place around the table to begin the meeting and before they began someone else enter the room looking slightly lost. "Sorry, I got lost again." The man give a nervous laugh when his eyes make contact with them. The captain just ask him to come forward and introduce himself so they can start immediately.
"My name is Richard Stilson the second commanding officer. It's an honor to be meeting you Kaizuka san."
Inaho notice the eyes seems to be looking at him in detail and something is warning him to be aware of this person. This is the first time he heard of this Stilson so it's better if he knows this person before he judge him. He had learnt his lesson when he first encounter Slaine and so he decide not to make the same stupid mistake.
"It's a pleasure." He shook hand with the new officer.
It was then the huge screen before them turn on by itself and the princess face is shown, she looks at them with a smile and few seconds after that they start their meeting. Stilson smile goofily as he listens but unknown to them his eyes focus on the princess and younger Kaizuka throughout the meeting not wanting to miss any words.
"From what we could see here Slaine has broken out from his prison with the help of someone we haven't had the identity yet that ride on a mecha that possess an ability that can dissapear." She said the information that they already knew.
"Correction. Slaine might have not thinking of breaking out of prison at the first place."
"Does that mean he got taken?"
"No, since there's no sign of resistance in the room. Against his enemy Slaine would have use anything around him as his weapon to fight back but since the room seems fine except for the huge hole prove my theory. I fought with him a few times before and Slaine is not the type to back down that easily against his enemy which prove that Slaine knows who in the mecha is and decide to go along with him."
"About the mecha." Yuki suddenly join in. "If it can dissapear but why does the camera manage to take its picture?" She asked.
It was then Inaho starts to explain to them.
"That's the weakness, from what we can see here it suddenly appear when it needs to use the weapon. So, if we ever encounter the mecha in the battlefield someday we could force it to use its weapon for the mecha to remain visible to our sight." He said easily. "It seems that it use the misdirection concept so when our focus suddenly change to another it will capture the surrounding and become one of them like a chameleon."
"Wow, I never thought of that." Calm touches the screen before he got poke at the back. "Shh . . ." Inko place her finger on her lips as a sign for him to be quiet and let the experts do the talking.
"Does this mecha used to belong to one of your count, Seylum?"
Asseylum shook her head looking sad that she couldn't help. "This is also my first time hearing such a thing. Until now, even with the Martian high technology we never build an invisible mecha before."
Hearing that confirms them that this mecha doesn't need Aldnoah drive, could it be possible that it was Terran who build this? Does someone like that actually exist? "Is there anyone that we know who study about Aldnoah?" He asked.
It was then the princess eyes widen.
"Dr. Troyard." She said. "Slaine father has been studying about Aldnoah until the day he dies."
Marito rub his smooth chin as he continue to keep eye contact with the princess. "So that means the person who take the boy away is related to the boy father. Maybe he just feel that it's not right for the boy to be in cell forever and decide to take him away. Since, they have been separated for years and decide to have a nice little reunion-"
"That isn't possible." Inaho cut him off. "If that person really care for Slaine then why hasn't he shown up to take Slaine away from the Martian?"
"So the reason he take Slaine away is still a mystery." The captain sighs.
Stilson raise his hand getting the captain attention. "Then why don't we start from the beginning?" He asked.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Well, we do know that the pilot that control the mecha could be related to Dr. Troyard so why don't we search about that guy? Maybe we will find some clue about them." He suggests. "Sometimes searching from the scratch can give a very reproductive result."
That idea seems good.
"His right." Once the younger Kaizuka said it they all quickly agree.
Princess Asseylum clap her hand together when something cross her mind.
"Slaine mention once about his home near the beach. I don't exactly remember which one but it's near to the ocean."
'That detail is very unhelpful but . . .'
"Thank you Seylum. You can leave the rest to us now and once we find more information we will contact you immediately." Then they cut off the connection. "Stilson, you will assist me in finding the location of Slaine Troyard home."
"Sure." Stilson salute him and this time he is the one that got poke at the back. "Have you forgotten your rank?" Mizusaki asked.
"No, captain." He winks.
How can someone like him become a commanding officer? What the hell is higher up is thinking?
Slaine Troyard
He wonder where he was being taken as he look out from the window. The guy who known as Lealtad is enjoying his glass of wine as he start chatting about his life which contain none important details. After he was taken away, Lealtad provide him the same uniform his wearing but instead of a cravat he wear a golden color ribbon around his neck. There are so many things going now and so many unanswered questions but Lealtad has explained that they will know everything once they reach the headquarters.
"You have grown." Lealtad said proudly. "You used to call me big brother all the time."
"It was you who insist to be called as big brother." Slaine chuckles.
"Has it already been 10 years?"
"I don't remember, everything that happens that day is blurry." Slaine stare at his glass to see his reflection shown. "What about you Lealtad? How are you still alive? I saw you die that day when you lost your . . ." His eyes turn to look at the mechanical arms and legs. "Parts."
Lealtad move the robotic finger one by one to show that he has taken a good control of it.
"It's one of the things your father has been hidden away from you Slaine especially the part that I'm still alive."
"Then . . . why didn't you save me and my father during the first war between Terran and Martian?" He asked.
The older boy shook his head as he smell his wine before taking a small sip. Those eyes that is looking at him with sadness and anger is affecting him a lot more than it should which is kind of funny. It reminds him so much of that woman. It must be genetic isn't it?
"I haven't got these parts yet. How could someone that can't walk save you?" He laughs but that voice that come out from his mouth contain lots of pain. "Then I have to wait for years to recover from trauma, to use my hands and legs properly and to pilot the mecha. It take me a decade, Slaine! Ten fucking years until I can do what normal humans can do and imagine my surprise when I heard the news about you being involve in the second war. I really want to save you Slaine but I can't!" He slam his hand on the table and accidentally break it into half.
"Lealtad . . ."
"We were ordered not make attempt to contact with you once you are under Kaizuka Inaho protection. We thought everything will be okay as long you live but . . . the war is not over."
It was then he look up at Slaine eyes.
"What is the reason you attacked that place?"
The pieces of the glass spread around them and only Slaine glasses remain safe in the boy hand.
"His still alive Slaine, that boy is still alive. Apparently someone thinks its better for him to be alive than dead."
"Who?" Slaine gulps. "Who is it?"
The look given to him has told him everything he needs to know and it was then he drop the glass before he let out a silent scream when the memories of seeing Lealtad body cover in blood before him. Beside the guy there was another body but he refuse to remember the look of the person face or the voices that tried to calm him down from his nightmare. Lealtad look down at his . . . companion, brother or he should just said comrade? Sometimes he couldn't understand why they have to do all this and sacrifice themselves for something they hate.
"I'm sorry Slaine but you have no time to cry. After this we have a mission ahead of us that only you can do but I will be there by your side to assist you." He wrap his arms around the boy before resting his chin on the fluffy blond hair. "This time I promise I won't let go."