Opening song: The walking dead of Dropkick Murphy's.
After the information given by Anaton, the hackers all went to their class. In the second year, there were two gangs and one pack. In the first year there were three gangs. Ling and Kanzashi couldn't believe it. They were back in their old classes. For getting the position of the class representative, they were glad about it, but it meant that Houki, Cecilia, Laura and Charlotte had more time to spent with Ichika.
Ichika sighed before he get in the class, but he found a friendly hand on his shoulder. "Chifuyu-nee." He said. He couldn't remember the last time she was so soft with him. "From now, you have to call me Orimura-sensei. I don't know what the reason they came here, those idiots. To see me and you or to learn the Infinite Stratos. Well, keep your head up. You'll have real boys as classmates." Ichika was somewhat confused, but he nodded. "Eh, Orimura-sensei, which gang gets in our class?"
One look of his sister was enough. "You're joking me?" He knew immediatly who was in his class. After a sigh, he got in the class after his sister and before the sheering of having his sister as homeroom teacher wasn't done and now the ruckus was going about him.
"SILENCE." Chifuyu shouted. "I suppose introducing myself isn't necessary, because you all know me, so I'm going to keep it brief. I'm Chifuyu Orimura and for some of you I was your homeroom teacher in your first year. Due to circumstances, I'm your homeroom teacher of the second year. You'll get a lot of trouble in your back, but I'll get you through this. I hope that the ones of last year didn't forget my most important rules. You don't have to like me or keep me in high regard, but you have to respect me. That's all. Just like a few classes, we have a hacker gang here. These guys have all experiences with Infinite Stratos and those Alcott, were not the most pleasant. War orphan is a name that's perhaps something striking with these guys. Be sure not to anger them, but don't worry I'll keep them under control."
She smiled after she gave a few girls a view of how the world really was. "Would the hackers be so kind to step in and not slice a throat?" The door went open and it was silent for a second.
"Your order for the last one wasn't just a detail, but an important rule, miss Orimura. Nice to see you again, Ichika" And with one look, Ichika had found something that was a Nemesis. The boys had their hoods pulled up with the only exception of Anaton.
"The most of you know me as the kid who spoke to you just a second ago. My name's Anaton Orlejov. I was eight years when a Rogue Infinite Stratos killed my family and Kerlongsj took care after me. I'm a supportive ground type, meaning I'm a defensive specialist. Ground means brute strength, but in my case, that's not fully developed. I like to game, putting my brains to work. I'm excellent in parkour. That's all." He leant on his back. "Okay, Mr. Orlejov, you can sit on the free place at the end of the class." Anaton nodded.
"The rest of you introduce yourself." The first one pulled his hood down after she said that. It revealed brown hair, two brown eyes and one each of his cheek, a scar. It was a point like a bullet flew in. "I'm Tizof."
He began on a friendly tone, yet he was on guard. "I'm a close range fighter, you've seen my weapons on the stage. I rely on dual swords. I joined the hackers when I was three. My hobbies are training and fighting. I'm also the guy who gives lessons to the rest of the guys who have melee weapon." Houki got up. "So you practice swordplay."
He chuckled. "No, I teach how you can stay alive in a fight." Houki got back in her seat. "So I have to make up form that remark you don't have honor in your fighting?" Tizof shrugged only that comment when he passed her. "Aye, but I think my skill can take that up. It's not because you have the bests swords you're invincible in it. Why else would you think that Europeans kept perfectioning their swords? Skill is a far greater tool than weapons or honor. With honor, I haven't saved lives on the battle ground. If you wanna test your Akatsubaki out against Romulus and Remus, I'll take you on."
"That's enough, Mr. Tizof. Sit down." He nodded. "Aye, Sensei." He walked to Anaton and after a short nod, he went to sit down.
"Next please." Chifuyu wanted to get over it as soon as possible, but she knew it wasn't a good idea to rush over those guys. Kerlongsj told her about it and there was a reason why he placed them in her class.
"I'm Thazalof." Said the next guy. He was almost the same as Tizof with the only difference that the scars on his cheeks were swipes. "As the most of you may see, I look a lot like Tizof, basically, because I'm his twin brother. I'm a long range fighter, relying on a program called Athena. Like the most of you may have seen, that's a long bow. It's also a stealth weapon. I'm pretty good by it and it outmatches the most sniper rifles back home. I'm also deadly accurate, better than most Infinite Stratos rifles."
He looked to Chifuyu, but before he had a change to open his mouth again, Cecilia cut him off. "You're stating that you outmatch a sniper rifle. And most of that, also Infinite Stratos. I won't allow your rudeness. You cannot be better than me at long range." He shrugged his shoulders and walked to her. "Oh, really? What's your most accurate shot? I've shot through the riffle of a sniper and it exploded. From 250 meters. So does your case outmatch mine? If not, hold your mouth shut and leave me alone."
They both got a hit from a book. "Enough. I don't think Kerlongsj sent you here to a shooting contest. Go to your seat." Cecilia wanted to protest, but she didn't had a chance. "Alright, Sensei." He replied politely. He gave his brother a fist bump and a nod to Anaton.
Before Chifuyu had to ask, a boy, a bit smaller, but sturdier than the twins stood up. When he pulled his hood down, they looked in a face that had few big scarfs and two fierce eyes. "My name is Kashal. Just like Tizof, I'm a close range fighter. I don't have a weapon. I rely on those two." He cracked his fists.
"I use these to disarm enemies and give them a beating. They are just a set of claws with a slight difference. I'm reckless, ruthless and I'm a man of my word. Don't mess with me, unless you wanna be maimed if you're lucky." He ended it with a shameless smirk, but that got off his face quite fast.
He got a hit from Chifuyu. "Scarring them is not a good idea, Artsjok."
"I didn't scare them, just warn them." When he looked at the rest of the girls, they were terrified. "What already afraid. Back home, nobody really care when I said a thing like that." He went to sit on his place, right next to Anaton and after Tizof.
The next guy was taller than Ichika or the twins, but just like Anaton, he was slender built. Before Chifuyu could ask something, he began to speak. "Raton is my name." Unlike the rest, he wasn't so scarfed in his face.
"I'm the only mid-range fighter of this team, using different types of guns. Shotguns, machine guns, assault rifles, grenade launchers etc. I create them from or in my arms. I have a few special things. I'm Kashal's brother." He had a smirk on his face. "I hope we a have a fun year." He nodded to Chifuyu and walked to his seat. He sat behind Thazalof.
Chifuyu sighed. "Finally, a friendly one." The guy who lifted Anaton up during the stage stood now in front of them.
"I'm Erzof. 17 years, I joined the hackers when I was 6, I'm a long range fighter. I have a cannon on my back, enough to wipe out an army." Despite being a giant, he was quite friendly. "I'm the cook of this team, taking care of the wounded when Anaton is busy. I'm also someone who takes care of animals back home. When they need an accurate shot, they rely on Thazalof. If the place is supposed to go down, I'm the one. I can aim very well, but my shots are quite destructive. Just like the rest of my team, if you mess with the kid, pray you hope to see tomorrow."
He went to his place. The last guy immediately stood up. He had blond hair, blue eyes, but his face had countless scarfs. They weren't big ones like Tizof or Thazalof, they were a lot smaller, but you could see them very well. They were also a lot more remarkable.
On his left eye, he had a giant scarf. When he opened it, Ichika remarked that his left eye looked slightly different than his other. He signed of annoyance. "I'm Izolf Korzolf. I'm 16 years. I joined the hacker 8 years ago. Not Flemish, Welsh from origin. At least, my mother was. I have an unique code. Not implanted with the nanites, just Kashal born with them. Don't know about my parents, if I have them. That's all. Can I sit, Sensei?"
Before Chifuyu could react, Laura got up. "Brief telling, Mr. Kozolf, but if you're Izolf Kozolf, than you must be the kid Schwarze Hase has been seeking for a long time. You've killed Infinite Stratos pilots." He only had a slight look to Laura. He was annoyed and from what Ichika could see, that's not a good thing. Unlike the girls, he didn't have a killing aura.
"Hey, don't blame me. I only defend what I saw right to protect. Besides, it wasn't mine decision to place me at the Germany Border or mine decision to attack Flanders. You lost the fight against us. For a change, Flanders hold his own. I hope you learned not to cross the hackers."
Laura pulled out her knife and advanced to the guy. Before she could react, he had his own grappling hook around her wrist. He whistled when he saw the blade. "A Kampfmesser, that's good stuff. A really good weapon. Most hackers don't want to touch anything related to Germany, France or Britain, but this weapon makes an exception. Usable in both hands, but it's still a normal close range weapon. That's why I prefer this. When it's broken, you just pick a new one. You make the rules for wielding"
He forced Laura back. The soldier made a somersault and landed at her desk. She reached for her other weapon holster, but found a few bullets engraved at her desk before she could pull out her own gun. She looked up and saw how the boy had a Skorpion aimed at her. "I wouldn't pull out your gun. It's a normal pistol, right. That loses against my Skorpion. It's a gift from my mentor. It's a nice close range weapon. Quite small, I can use it in my right hand and in my left hand, I got my blade. Wanna go? Before you get close, you got a bullet in your head. Super soldier or not, a bullet in the head and you're done for. Wanna try it?"
Laura gritted and made herself ready for the jump.
Izolf sighed when he looked to Chifuyu. "I get it, Orimura-sensei." He sheathed his weapons and moved on to the desk passing Laura. "Don't come after me. I've played this game longer than you, and a lot of tougher men have come at me and are now lying three meter underground."
When he got his hands in his pockets, Chifuyu was relieved that he didn't make a ruckus like Kerlongsj told her. Izolf was a strong fighter, but he didn't like to shed blood when it was useless. Laura looked at him, calculated her jump and she floored him. He struggled, but he found her knife against his throat. "I don't trust terrorists like you." The guy wasn't even shocked or surprised from the jump or afraid because a knife was next to his throat.
"Good, I don't like the army. Hate anything that reeks of authority." He looked away with disgust in his eyes. She got real close with her blade and even made a slight cut in his neck. Blood dripped out. "Maybe, I should teach some manners. Learning to respect your superiors, because I think that a monster like you haven't learned that at a place like your home."
"If you're going to insult the only place where they were kind to me, you're going to hit the ground. Second in your remark, your rank doesn't apply on a civilian like me and last. Let me go." Before Laura could react, Erzof stood in front of her.
"Let him go, little girl or I throw you out the window." When he cracked his fists, Laura looked to the guy. It was a young man, but he was huge, bigger than most army men she ever seen and very intimidating. She who stated that, it meant something. She stood back and Erzof helped his friend up. "Thanks." Was the only word Izolf said. Erzof walked to Laura.
She even realized she took a step to the other direction. "Aye, he may be a scoundrel, but he isn't a bad guy. And I think, I rather trust him than you. Because I know him, that he's born out of a womb and blood, not from a test tube like you. You say that he's a monster, but that's okay. His social skills are lower than yours, but back home, we got used to it. We're not normal and we got used to it. He learned a few tricks. Maybe not enough for a normal life, but enough to live with us. At least, he's aggressive in words, not in actions, like you, because that's worse." He went to his seat.
Chifuyu decided to speak up. "Just one second, Mr. Erzof. Why did you stand up from him? I don't think that I asked that." Erzof walked to her. "You didn't have to. Even you said I wasn't allowed, I would have done it. Because we're a gang. We stand up for each other. The kid isn't the only thing we protect, we protect the rest of our group. Mess with one and you got the rest on your heels. Maybe that's something we can teach you."
He got at his seat, the guys applauded for it when he sat down. Chifuyu sighed. "This is promising to be problem. These guys can match personal Infinite Stratos and if I have to believe Kerlongsj, those guys are battle trained veterans, even more than Ichika and his harem."
She sighed. "Okay, that's enough. I want to teach you guys something. I hope that Kerlongsj taught you to listen to teachers." Anaton raised his hand. "Yes."
"No worries, Orimura-sensei. If we have to believe Old man, you're the only person that could take him on one on one. We don't know if that's true, but I don't wanna test that out."
Chifuyu raised an eyebrow. "Who's that old man you talk about?"
"Kengi Orlejov. I call him Old man. He told me that you outmatch him. We don't wanna face him in a serious fight. If you're better than him, we don't wanna face you."
"Well, that's something he taught you. Everyone, today subject is energy transfer." The lesson began and Ichika noticed something. Hacker technology matched Infinite Stratos on a few times. That's why the hackers had no problem keeping up with Chifuyu lessons. Izolf could even answer a few questions that involved Infinite Stratos. After the lesson, it was break time and as soon Chifuyu left, Ichika was surrounded by the girls from the second year. He could see from the end of his eyes that two groups of hackers got in.
They ignored the girls and walked to Anaton. He was chatting with someone online and he looked up when he was touched on his head. "Jozalof, Cirluk. How were you lessons?"
"Well, the lessons, that went normal, the classes, phew, that was quite something and they call us abnormal." Jozalof said and Cirluk nodded very heavily.
The two guys went to sit on Anaton's desk and they began to chat with the boy. The rest of the boys joined up with Anaton's gang. They were laughing, making jokes and telling about the lessons. Ichika wondered what it would be like if more guys had the ability to pilot the Infinite Stratos. Would he be able to hang around like that? Charlotte pretended to be a boy in their first year, but that was only for a few weeks. He was really the only guy. Well, he had good friends, but they regularly kicked his ass. Dan or Kazuma never hit him as hard the girls would do.
He noticed that a guy walked to him and the girls moved aside. "So you're Ichika Orimura? I have seen your face, but don't know a lot from you."
Ichika could clearly see the guy. He had black hair and a brown skin. He also had a few scarfs and from what Ichika could tell, he wasn't European. He gave Ichika a hand. "I'm Cirluk. Leader of the second juvenile group in Flanders. I see you have a question." He smiled. "If you want to know why I look different from the rest of the guys, that's because I'm Palestinian. The Rogue faction took care after they saved me. I only got in Flanders after an exchange. Kerlongsj offered me to train. The Rogue faction agreed with that. "
"Has any hacker that kind of trouble?" Ichika asked. "No, a lot do, but not every hacker."
"So you're a supportive type, like Anaton." He smiled. "No, I'm a close range fighter. I'm a pack leader. We don't have a supportive type."
"I see. May I ask you something?" Cirluk raised an eyebrow. "Sure, what do wanna know?"
"Those guys have been talking about a siege or fight. Do you know something of that?" Cirluk got a friendly smile. "Ah, you must be talking about the dividing."
"What's that?" Cirluk shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry, kiddo. I don't know it, I wasn't in Flanders at that time, but Anaton knows the whole story. Hey, Anaton, come here."
Anaton nodded and walked to him. "What's up, Cir?"
"Ichik has a question for you. The dividing. Can you tell him?" Anaton looked to Ichika. "You sure? It's an embarrassing thing for pilots to hear. For women all over the world, it's embarrassing." Ichika looked up. "Well, I'm a guy, so I'm interested. I never heard of it."
"Ah, I get it. Because you're Far Eastern, you wouldn't know it. Well, here goes the story. Maybe you should listen to." He shouted at Laura, Cecilia and Charlotte. "Then you can learn our side of this tale." The girls ignored him and Houki and Rin went to their side of the room. Kanzashi decided to turn back to her class after seeing how busy it was. Maybe she had a chance in lunch time.
"A few years ago, Ichika, the three giants of Europe decided to divide Belgium. Those three giants are Germany, France and Britain. They made out a plan to take over Belgium by Infinite Stratos. Everyone got a slice of the cake. Belgium has a lot of minerals useful for making Infinite Stratos and there is a lot of labor and factories, easily to turn in Infinite Stratos factories. Belgium is also one of the few lands were both genders lived equally."
Ichika raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?" Cirluk decided to give a few details. "Flanders is always behind technology. At one point, we decided stop carrying about that. Besides that, our government nor private organizations didn't have the budget to buy an Infinite Stratos nor to maintain it, Ichika. Those who could buy it, weren't interested. Normal people just shrugged at the seeing of the machine. There were people interested, but not enough. The rest of the normal people didn't care and carried on with their lives."
Anaton nodded at what his friend said. "What Cir said is true. Hackers have been active in Flanders for thirty years at that time. We were underground, so a lot of people didn't know us. We were also the reason that our government decided not to buy Infinite Stratos. We're a lot cheaper to purchase, easier to update, adapting way faster and less casualty rate thanks to a few rules. We aren't their property, but they know that they can rely on us and they've done that."
"What do you mean, Anaton?" The boy looked away. "There were three factions who were very interested. The British high up, the Dunois Company and the German Army. Does it sound familiar?"
He pointed a thumb to Cecilia, Charlotte and Laura. "But their master plan didn't work like they hoped."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, they thought it was a three day, squeaky clean and easy victory. Well, the three day was the only thing that they were right. They got their asses delivered to them. By us." Izolf had walked to the group. The girls went out the way of him and they looked up to him. "What do you mean?"
He got closer to Ichika until their faces were a few inches away.
"They sent both about three thousands soldiers. Nine thousands soldiers. What they didn't expect were a few hundred thousand men, willingly to fight and die for their country. The hackers assembled every man who could fight. Active, passer, schooler, who you were didn't matter. If you could fight, you were sent to the fight. Kerlongsj overestimated it a bit too much, but it was maybe a good thing. We won that just because our great number. We didn't kill anyone, just got them out the air. We sent them back to their home countries, Infinite Stratos and all. Kerlongsj had a letter attached. He wrote that they were a good exercise, but that the hackers were the one who protected Belgium. If they sent him units again, he would've killed them. That pissed off a lot of the Infinite Stratos countries."
Anaton smirked. "They were furious, but we could only laugh. They never tried it again. And for some reasons, Flanders had a lot of immigrants the months after that who begged to become hackers. Those who could, well, we let them join the ranks. Those who couldn't, we found a position. Researchers, faculties, we need quite some men to maintain the hackers. That's the reason why the hackers have such a bad name. By what the girls were told, we've done terrible things to the pilots. We didn't. Kerlongsj would have killed us. That's also when the government to appoint us as official replacements of the Infinite Stratos."
Ichika looked up. "You fought as well?" Anaton shrugged his shoulders. "Course we did. I'm ranked two of the hacker gangs all over the world. I had to fight. I'm going to become the next leader after Kerlongsj" Ichika scratched his head. "I wonder why Chifuyu-nee never told me."
"Well, because it was your sisters idea to send those girls back alive. We could take on that much and a lot more, but all the pilots in the world, that would've been a bit troublesome. And if Old man said your sister is better than him, well, that means something from a guy who could shut down Europe. So he listened to your sister and sent them back. Is that enough for the story?"
"I have another question. Why do you call Kerlongsj Old man?"
"Cause he is." Anaton responded. "Agreed, he isn't old. Just twenty two, but I call him Old man, because he's my Old man. He's my adoptive father. I called him brother, but now, cause I'm older, I call him Old man."
"So wait, he raised you." Anaton face palmed himself. "No, he didn't. Do you ever pay attention? I told you that I lost my family four years ago. Since then, Kerlongsj took care of me, so that's why I call him Old man."
They heard the bell and knew they had a new lesson coming at them. The gangs packed their stuff and moved on, back to their rooms. "See you at lunch, Anaton." The two boys waved at the kid and Ichika.
"What subject do we have now, Ichika?" Ichika looked in his notebook. "Battle simulation. What's that?" Anaton got his hand after his neck. "That's our fault. It's something to learn how to survive in the battle ground. It's a raw subject, so that's why we got it before lunch." Anaton got back on his seat, before Ichika could ask what he even meant. He looked to the front and saw what Anaton meant. It had a slide with a title and picture. The picture was quite gruesome. Ichika swallowed.
Chifuyu stood in front of the class. "I hope you guys have some resistance in your stomach. This lesson is going to be tough." When she began to talk, Ichika felt how the color in his cheek disappeared. He felt his stomach swirling and the most of the girls felt the same way, even Laura. Despite her training, this was something she wasn't prepared for.
The hackers were just listening to what Chifuyu said and they wrote down what they found important. Yamada felt on the floor after a picture. Chifuyu sighed. "Okay, enough for today. You guys are free. After lunch, I expect you in the arena." She looked at her class. The hackers just packed their stuff. The rest had transformed in zombies.
That's the end of my third chapter. Sorry for the lot of info. The following chapters have a bit more action. I'm still better at normal writing than fighting chapters.
My idea for Laura's Knife comes from Dark Wings Shadenight123. I didn't want to steal his ideas, but I don't know a lot of weapon names. Still, I'm interested in them.
The reason why I got such quick update is because I'm fired at my part time job. I got a bit more time for writing. I'll write quite a bit for the coming two weeks. Week of 17 august, I'm not home. Festival in Belgium.
See you guys later.