Chapter 2
I don't own shit. Please read/review also I'm always looking for new ideas, so please drop me a line or write it in the review.
I also wanted to thank ZIIIX for proofing reading this chapter for me, sometimes when I write I tend to skip my own mistakes. It's a bad habit. _
"Ricchan would you mind washing and peeling some carrots for me?" asked Filicia while she was busy chopping other vegetables.
"Not at all," she said and went to where the blonde was busily working.
"Here," she pointed to the large carrots, next to the cutting board.
The drummer pick them up and was about to wash them until she noticed that this huge kitchen doesn't seem to have a sink. Hopefully the building itself isn't totally devoid of indoor plumbing. "Err, where's the sink?" she questioned.
"Sink?"
"Umm… where would I wash these?"
"Oh, outside you should see a small well that you can use to wash them with..."
"Oh..."
Dusk has fully settled and the sky lit up with a shade of indigo. The air was nice and cool, carrying with it the scent of spring flowers; she loved this scent. Normally for someone like Ritsu, the drummer don't particularly consider herself a romantic, and would never openly admit to liking what she deemed as "girly stuff."
The pvt. rounded the corner to find the stone well. She also noticed yet another girl who looked to be a bit younger than herself. Not noticing Ritsu the girl was busily removing clothes from where they were hung out to dry. She had raven black hair similar to Rio except they are neatly tied by a red bow into two long pigtails. From behind she almost looked like one of her kouhan. As Ritsu got closer the girl seemed to be mumbling something to herself.
"That idiot Kanata, making me do all the work..."
"BOO!," shouted the brunette.
"Whoa!" she gasped, tossing articles of clothing up in the air, some even falling on Ritsu. A pair of white panties with a cartoon lion pattern ended up landing on the ground right in front of her. With a face red as a tomato the younger girl quickly dropped to the ground gathering the fallen clothing.
"Heh, does this belong to you?" questioned the drummer as she held up the scrupulous article, inspecting it.
"G-GIVE me that!" yelled the younger girl snatching it out of Ritsu's hands. "Don't you have any decency? And not only that, you shouldn't sneak up on people," the girl's face was a mix of anger an embarrassment. It was quite obvious who the owner of the panties were.
"You were the one who tossed all that crap at me, and you should see how you look right now," laughed the brunette.
"S-shut up!"
Ritsu only laughed.
"Geez, honestly that's no way to talk to your superiors. I might be younger than you but I've still been here longer than you!"
"Oh really, lion-chan...," she teased. She's just like...
"S-shut up! You idiot… idiot!"
Oh yeah that reminds me, I need to ask 'these people' to use their phone.
There was no time to play around. She'd better get these carrots washed and return them to Filicia. There were more pressing matters, matters of which somehow managed to slip her mind only few moments ago.
The girl was still eying her suspiciously as she washes the carrots. The brunette noticed this but decided to not give her any attention, first things first. Once finished, she picked up the carrots and proceeded to walk back into the building not uttering a word to the girl.
"Aren't you even going to say anything? At least formally introduce yourself," she yelled, she hated getting ignored.
"Nice meeting you, lion-chan," the brunette replied, sticking out her tough at the little girl before quickly walking inside. This left the girl fuming; Ritsu only laughed.
"Oh you're back," said the blonde commander. "I take it you found the well without any problems?"
"Yea, umm there's a girl out there..."
"Oh," she looked out at the direction of the well. "That's Kureha, well you might need to get used to her umm... well... she's young you see and has quite the temper..." Filicia seems to be struggling with what to say.
"I got it," laugh Ritsu. "Say no more. Oh yeah, may I use your phone?"
"The phone?"
"Yeah, I need to call my parents."
"Your parents have a phone?" she blinked. Only royalty and the incredibly wealthy were blessed with having phone systems. However being her usual kind self, the blonde decided to give Ritsu the benefit of the doubt.
"Is it an emergency?"
"Yeah, you could say that." She didn't know what was up with people and why they are so stingy with their phones in this region of the world. It's just a phone call.
"Hmm... I don't see why not. However the phone is normally used for emergencies... Oh, it's in the living room."
"T-thank you," she bowed. "Believe me this IS an emergency."
"Through that door," the blonde pointed. As the brunette headed towards the living room her commander decided to follow her. If she were to say something 'weird' Filicia would be there to correct any misunderstanding between the new girl and HQ.
-
"Umm," she mumbled while looking at the old fashion phone. "Filicia-san," she called to the kitchen only to find that the commander was actually standing right behind her.
"Yes," she smiled causing Ritsu to jump. This girl even has Mugi's stealth powers.
"Err yeah, there's no dial," she pointed to the phone.
"A what?"
"Err there was supposed to be numbers here so you can call other people..." she was kinda exhausted in trying to explain how a phone should look like or work. How can people not know how to use a phone in this day and age?
"Other people?"
"Err nevermind, umm what is this place called anyways?"
"This place, do you mean the clock tower?"
"N-no this city." Ritsu was getting quite frustrated with these people. How did they become so alienated to the outside world?
"Seize, a province of the Republic of Helvetia"
"Helvetia?"
"Hmm...?"
"Umm... err I mean, oh forget it, it's nothing..." At this point the commander gave off a worried look.
"Umm, is Ricchan sick?"
"No, no I'm fine," she picked up the phone. She didn't quite know how to explain it to her superior.
"So how do I make a long-distance call?"
"A long-distance call?"
"What is this, twenty-questions?"
"...There should be someone on the other end once you pick up"
"Oh err I guess I need to talk to an operator," as she picked up the headset. It rang a few time before somebody picked up.
"Hello," came a voice on the other line.
"Hi, umm I need to make a direct call to Japan," said the brunette.
"J-Japan? What's that?"
"It's a country, an island located in the far east."
"Huh? You mean Fuso?"
"Err... sure," she was confused herself.
"This is a secured line, only authorized personnel can access the phone system."
"Huh? It's just a phone call!" Ritsu yelled at whoever this guy was on the other line.
"Who is in charge there?"
"I just wanted to call my parents."
"WHOEVER this is, the line is not for civilian use. Again, who is in charge there?"
"In charge," the brunette echoed the question. This caused the blonde to gently snatch the phone from her hand. As much as she liked to help Ritsu she must intervene before any more trouble could be caused.
"Err I'm sorry, 1st Lieutenant Heideman speaking. We were just testing out the phone system to see if the lines got damaged during the last storm," she quickly made up something as not to get Ritsu or herself reprimanded. Ritsu could only stand there dumbfounded and frustrated as the blonde talked to whoever was on the other line.
"Right, right... Thank you," she said before hanging up giving out a sigh of relief.
"Umm... Ritsu-san," she asked the brunette formally. The blonde was rarely serious about anything, but playing around with the phone system is a cause of concern, especially from a new recruit. "Who exactly are you trying to contact?"
"My parents," the brunette replied. "Look I know how funny this might sound but I don't belong here," she looked around. "This place, this country..."
"Umm..." for once Filicia was speechless. What's wrong with this girl? "Are you sure you are not sick Ritsu-san?"
"Look, I am damn well NOT sick. I don't belong in Helvetia, I'm a Japanese citizen!"
"Japanese? What is this Japan you are speaking of?"
"Japan!"
"Is that like a village?"
"It's a country!" The brunette sighed exasperatedly. "Look don't play dumb with me. You are speaking Japanese right now. Heck everyone here is speaking a form of Japan-," it was then she realized that they weren't speaking Japanese. The dialect was closer to a mixture of French and Spanish. HUH?
"W-wait a minute." Everything got extremely weird for Ritsu at this point. "I... Filicia-san I don't belong in this world..."
"Ricchan are you sure you are not sick?"
"Ahh my head..." she started feeling dizzy. But Kanata, Rio and that other girl. They looked Japanese but why? At this point everything has finally set in, she felt like she was in the Matrix and everything that happened to her before this: her friends, her parents, they were all a lie. Her real parents were killed during the mortar raids of Vingt-et-Un. All her 17 years of going to school with everyone, the band, everything was a lie. She felt dizzy, Filicia decided to hold onto her in case she might have to faint.
"This is all Mio's fault..." and right then she passed out.
-
By the time she regained consciousness it was already past midnight. Rio and Filicia, concerned about the new recruit, both stayed awake all night tending to her care.
"You're finally awake," came the Sergeant's voice. "We were worried sick. Wwhy didn't you tell us you were ill?"
"Uhh..." she didn't know how to reply. In truth she was feeling fine, but in light of the events that transpired, she had made a complete fool out of herself. "I think I'm feeling better now Sergeant, thank you for your concern."
"Rio is fine. Filicia wanted us to be on a first name basis anyways."
"Speaking of which," Rio looked behind her in the general direction of a certain sleeping blonde commander, her head slumped over in what appears to be quite an uncomfortable chair. "She tended to you when you passed out earlier this evening."
Ritsu was grateful to have such a caring commander. I've been so selfish...
Rio got up to wake up the blonde, but it was to no avail. In peace time, when Filicia sleeps, she sleeps like a log. "I'll be back," sighed the raven. She lifted the blonde up carefully as not to wake her before quietly carried Filicia out of the room, leaving Ritsu to collect her thoughts.
Why did I make a scene on the very first day of my first deployment? That's right the phone. She glanced at the door, the direction to the living room. But who was she trying to call? All my relatives are dead, she thought sadly.
"Argh... why can't I remember," she cursed herself as all memories of her previous life began to quickly fade away. This is all her fault. She had probably hit her so hard that she had amnesia. But all whose fault?
"Are you hungry?" came a voice interrupting her train of thought. It was Rio who had returned after having put the commander to bed.
"Umm..." but as she was about to finish, and as cliché as it might sound, her stomach decided to speak on her behalf as it growled loud enough to wake the dead.
"I guess that's a yes," laugh Rio. "Come, let's head to the kitchen."
Ritsu decided to take a look at this room before following her sergeant to the kitchen. Her bags were neatly placed at the foot of the bed. I guess this is going to be my room. It was quite a normal bedroom: a comfortable bed, a wooden desk with an antique lamp, and a nightstand besides the bed. There was a chair adjacent to the door now left vacant. She closed the door as she exited the room.
As they made their way to the kitchen, the sergeant made an abrupt stop in front of a map adorning the walls of the living room.
"This map, from no man's land to the dead seas lies the last vestige of human civilization... Sad really. We are all that's left yet we still fight amongst each other like animals," the taller girl mumbled to no one in particular, running her fingers from left to right as she traced the map.
Ritsu didn't really know why Rio was teaching her such basic geography. It's not like she wasn't taught about the boundaries of this world. However, after what happened today she would gladly accept a lecture in place of punishment.
"So Filicia said you were originally from the Fuso region."
"Actually I thought my family was originally from there," she lied. They had lived in Vingt-et-Un for as long as she remembered. "However we were one of the refugees from Vingt-et-Un. It was right before I enlisted that my mother died of radiation sickness… err, I mean the invisible reaper..."
Rio's eyes lit up. That was not a good place to be from; she of all people would know this.
"I see," she said sadly.
Both girls managed to keep quiet and continue to the kitchen.
Once there Ritsu's eyes lit up as she sees her portion of the food uneaten and covered with a lid on the kitchen counter. Filicia managed to save a portion of the dinner for Ritsu, and having not eaten all day she was incredibly grateful.
She dug into the potato and beef stew, spooning the now-cold liquid into her mouth. Even almost icy cold, with no means to warm it, the soup was still quite delicious. The brunette wondered if there was such a machine to warm cold foods. Maybe she'll invent one; she was sure a machine existed where she came from. She cleared her head. Whatever memory she had of her previous life wasn't important, what's important is here and now.
For the rest of the morning since Ritsu was already up, she took time to accompany Kanata, getting to know her better as she does the morning bugle call. Perfect pitch, Kanata is amazing. Ritsu has always been drawn to music. However, brass instruments never seemed to appeal to her. For someone with her rowdy chaotic attitude she was keener to the drums. Unfortunately, there was very little need of marching drums in the modern army.
"Wow you are amazing Kanata," said Ritsu as they were waiting for breakfast. Kureha was still fuming since yesterday, but some of her anger seemed to have dissipated ever since she heard that Ritsu had fainted. She'll never admit it but she was a little concerned for the new girl. Now seeing her all cheery with Kanata her anger managed to re-emerge. She was determined to teach the new girl a lesson.
"Hehe thank you Ricchan," Kanata said in a very familiar tone.
"You know, you should try playing a guitar," Ritsu replied.
"A guitar?"
"Yeah, like this," and she made the motion. Kanata watched, confused as Ritsu demonstrated her air guitar skills.
"You mean a lute?"
"Huh, oh hehe never mind," she laughed. She doesn't even know how, but she knew exactly what a guitar was. She even knew what model would suit Kanata: Les Paul Gibson Cherry Sunburst.
"Kanata," ordered Rio. "It's your turn to go get Noel." The sergeant eyes glued to the morning newspaper as Filicia was quietly sipping her morning tea.
"Y-yes," the bugler quickly understood the order, and got up off the table.
"W-wait," interrupted Ritsu. "Can I go with you?"
"Sure!"
Busily working away, not accounting for time, as in her world time would've been better off not to have existed, was one of the most "unique" members of the 1121st platoon, Kannagi Noel.
"Noel-chan," a voice called out to her. She eyed in the direction of the voice, not bothering to waste any more energy turning her head. Energy can be spent elsewhere, like fixing this tank.
Ritsu was in awe at the piece of technology in front of her. Standing in the hanger was a relic from long past, the pinnacle of what human beings were capable of in a time where they were the masters of this world.
Autonomous Spider Tank Vector Type-Zero.
"Noel-chan," Kanata called out again.
Platinum white hair peered out from high above them, looking down from the hatch of the great beast. The girl was expressionless, almost robotic, as she looked at both of them and motioned them to join her inside.
Both girls climbed to the top using a ladder located behind the tank. They were greeted by the mechanic as they made it to the top.
"Ah, Noel-chan, this is Ritsu," Kanata pointed out.
"Pvt. Tainaka Ritsu," she saluted; after all Noel was a Corporal while she was only a lowly Private.
Noel only nodded and motioned both of them into the tank. Normally she would join them for breakfast on her own, however today was especially exciting for Noel since she found a mysterious relic hidden in one of the many panels of the tank.
As all three climbed into the cockpit, Ritsu could only feel a bit overwhelmed by all the lights and gizmos. Quite an amazing piece of work, and she was amaze at the past era's technological prowess.
"So this is..."
"Vector-Type Zero Autonomous Tank Walker: The Takemikazuchi," finished the normally quiet mechanic.
"Noel-chan, breakfast," the bugler persisted, yanking on the Corporal's arm.
"..."
"N-O-E-L-C-H-A-N!"
"This," she held a small colorful device. it didn't seem to be military equipment or anything that could be considered a weapon.
"Huh...What is it Noel-chan?"
"...a device from the previous-era," she turned it over. There was an insignia of a fruit with some English letters engraved on the back.
Joe
JN1125-1160
JSRF Empire of Japan: Eastern Civil Defense.
iPod Nano
"Hmm, what does that mean?" asked Kanata.
"The owner. People usually label their possessions to prevent it from getting stolen," replied Noel in her usual monotone voice. "...the owner's name is J-oe."
Ritsu was excited to see the device, it felt so familiar. "This is a music player!"
Noel's eyes lit up for a moment. "How did you know?"
"Err...I don't really... it was just a guess," she knew exactly was it was.
"Does it still work?" questioned Ritsu.
"The device no longer seems to function on its own. The fuel cell has long been depleted, however...," she pulled out a wire with one end fitting into a slot perfectly on the mysterious device. The other end looked as if it should fit into some sort of power source.
"You mean it plugs into The Takemikazuchi," questioned Kanata.
All three searched for a port that might work with the device.
"Here!" shouted the brunette as she pointed to a small USB port just beneath the console. She was incredibly excited at this point. What is this feeling of familiarity?
Noel plugged the device in and after a few seconds it lit up, coming back to life.
"These symbols," the mechanic whispered to no one in particular as letters filled the screen. Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.
"It's Japanese," said Ritsu.
"Japanese?" questioned the other two in sync. Both girls were quite surprised that Ritsu knew the ancient text.
"Yeah, can I borrow it for a moment?" questioned Ritsu. Noel without a word handed the device over to Ritsu, as the drummer touched it the aluminum felt all too familiar. A sense of nostalgia.
"You see, these are songs," said Ritsu as she fluently navigated the device. The other two just watched.
Ritsu browse the artist list, skimming the names of the various bands. It was quite a shock being able to read text that had been lost within the span of many centuries.
Her fingers stopped at one particular band, Afternoon Teatime.
"Houkago Tea Time," she spoke in tongues. The other two looked puzzled.
"Err, it said Afternoon Tea Time," Ritsu translated, but how she knew this she had no idea.
"...," the other two looked lost in her words.
"It's a name of a band," said Ritsu.
"Like a marching band?"
"Err... you can say that..."
"Let's play a song," the drummer shouted excitedly.
"Speaker system on," said Noel giving a thumbs up.
"Alright," acknowledge Ritsu.
Yes this all makes sense now. The brunette's thumb hovered over the "play" button when...
"Hey! what the heck? Where are you guys?" yelled a somewhat agitated Rio.
"Oh," said Kanata and all three girls looked at each other surprised. They forgot all about breakfast.
"Don't make me come in there and get you!"
"Yea, we better go before she gets really angry."
"Yeah, I'm kinda hungry myself," laughed Ritsu, putting down the mysterious device. All three climbed out of the tank to join the raven haired sergeant for breakfast.