Muv Luv Enlightenment

by lonetundrawolf

Shirogane braved the unknown and mastered war. Shirogane braved the unknown, saw tragedy first hand and mastered his cause, but is that really the end? What happens when Shirogane masters his art of war, his TSF, his cause, and death itself. What happens when he tastes victory only to be beat down again. This is the story of Shirogane Takeru s enlightenment. T-Gore and Violence

3. Chapter 1 - Word Games

Dear honorable readers,

The first step into a new world has already begun for many of you. Shirogane will be seeing action a lot sooner and he is really going to become the right hand Yuuko as he would not need to have things constantly explained to him. This is shown a little bit in the dialogue between the two, because Yuuko doesn't need to ask about the authenticity of the equation. She is smart enough to use this first page to start to piece together the equation and sees that only someone like her can come up with that equation. So I didn't just leave that question out due to my forgetfulness, it is the beginning of a very close partnership between the two. I hope that the dialogue isn't too confusing and you the important reader, enjoys it.

-Tundra

P.S. I do not own any of the Muv Luv franchise. The only things I did change are the personality of the characters; and, I threw in some OCs. Also some influences from other Fan-fiction works will be present so I give all credit to the appropriate authors for their amazing works that inspired me.

(Direct Thoughts)

Shouting

"Talking"

"Under the Breath Talking"

Chapter 1

(October 22nd, 2001 – Monday)(Shirogane Takeru)

Bright light cascades down onto my face. I open my eyes on instinct and scan the surroundings as my body rises. A plain modern bedroom with a single bed and numerous game posters comes into my sight.

(The beginning…. My old room…again)

This simple room may not be much to the normal person but for me it symbolizes failure. This is the starting line to another life and indicator that in the last loop, I did not do enough. Before, this room was home to many happy occasions and a sense of relief after a hard day. That relief turned to contempt as I continued to loop back into more grief. Well the sooner I leave the better. I grab my slightly tight uniforms, the Game Guy, the instant ramen packs, and the dull katana that was given to me by Meiya to train with back in the original world. It was a simple katana with a dark blue scabbard and a light blue cord. I still use this blade to keep my form sharp when sleep eludes me at night.

"I`m off"

I step out and take a breath to get my game face on. From this point on my war has already started and I need to be focused at all times. My face becomes emotionless with a sense of serious being emitted. My strides become smooth and fluid like water ready to move at the slightest disturbance. I am sure that if this is a movie then birds would start tweeting right now but sure enough the BETA managed to mess that up too, like they always do. As I ascend the hill to Yokohama base, I take a quick moment to look at all the cherry blossom trees…and salute. Throughout the loops, each of these trees has become a memory for someone. The Valkries, Yuuko, the 207th training squad, and even Sumika have all been remembered here for making the ultimate sacrifice. I pay my respects and move up to the entrance to the base.

"Yo, done with your stroll? You're a weird one, there is nothing but rubble out there…Name, ID, and operational squad please."

Ah yes, these guys. The one speaking is a man in his 30s from Asian descent with a well groomed mustache. The silent but smirking other male is in his 30s as well, is of African descent, and dwarfs the smaller Asian man by at least a head.

"I am classified and wish to speak directly to the Vice-commander Kouzuki Yuuko regarding the XG-70 solution, please inform her immediantly"

I speak coldly with a commanding tone which is responded with a slight shudder from the two men. The tall man stops smirking and levels his weapon on me while the Asian man moves into the security checkpoint. I had learned this pressure from years of being in stressful command positions and it does come in handy for most situations. It really helps to unfreeze war rocked soldiers in battle; no one wants to be killed because they froze up.

"s-Sir, the Vice-commander will see you immediately"

"Ok"

"…"

"Lead the way, please"

"Ah! Yes sorry"

The two men scurry to lead the way as I emotionlessly watch the scene. Though I am chuckling in my mind but I do not have time to laugh on their antics and I need to see Yuuko as soon as possible. I would be able to walk myself but that would be far too suspicious and it may jeopardize my plan. I am lead through the familiar halls gaining a few looks from the working administration staff. Since I do not really need to be lead I find my gaze wandering to many of the surroundings as I absentmindedly follow the lead guard.

"Who is that?"

"Maybe a hotshot ace here on shore leave?"

"No I think it's an honor guard in disguise."

"No way~."

Haaa I cease to be amazed at the gossiping ability of officer ladies. Well I should probably pay attention since we only have a few more levels then we are here.

We reach a hallway with three doors and the Asian man goes up to the center door and knocks on the door.

"Come in"

"Yes Ma`m"

Yuuko usurers us in without sitting up from her seat and dismiss the guards. The men leave with a sigh of relief as quick as they could. I turn my attention to the cluttered room I am so familiar with…sadly. The military had painstakingly taught me to be clean and this would be any career military man`s nightmare. The mountains of papers with varying statistics and reports along the coffee stains all over the floor, would give any soldier a heart attack.

"Who are you?"

"…"

As usual, Yuuko is as concise as possible. I move my cold gaze to meet her equally cold gaze and a staring contest erupts unannounced. After a few minutes, she gets fed up with my silence and clicks the pistol inside her buttoned up coat to pressure me to answer.

*click* "I aske-"

"Shoot me and you will lose your only chance at finishing the 00 unit."

Her eyes widen slightly as I cut her off as she draws her pistol from her coat while slowly standing up and trailing the barrel between my eyes. Though it could kill me, all it would do is send me back two hours so the consequences are low.

"I may just do that just to plug up the leak"

"Of course it is reasonable to do that"

"…"

"Ah wait was I suppose to start my monologue there and start telling all my secrets? You should try practicing your clues better Yuuko"

*gigigigi* "Who are you and why do you know about the 00 unit!?"

"I am a dead man here to tell you the story of victory; whether you like it or not, you have no options then to listen to me."

"Oh really why is that"

I gave her a leading statement and in her irritation, she takes the bait beautifully.

"Because you can`t fit 15 billion semiconductors into the palm of your hand and I can…well to be more precise I have a way to let you build it."

Her eyes become knifes as a small smirk pulls onto my lips. The conversation is still following my lead perfectly.

"Your well informed I'll give you that but that's it, who did you learn the semiconductors from?"

"Simple, I learned this from you."

"Haaaa would you just stop blabbing nonsense and answer my questions, please? Your life is on the line."

"Guns stopped scaring long ago and death only means life for me. You see, I am living proof of your theory. I am, what you call, a casualty conductor and I have been looping for hundreds of thousands of years. In my many years replaying the same war, I found the equation for the 00 unit."

As I was explaining I grabbed a piece of paper and proceeded to write the beginning of equation and handed the page to her. Yuuko grabs the paper without dropping the gun from my head as she scans the contents.

"This…no way...it couldn't be!"

She rockets over to me with the barrel of her standard pistol on my forehead demanding answers. My instincts kick off and I sweep my hand over the top of the pistol before proceeding to pull the slide of the pistol off, breaking the slide catcher and leaving the weapon unable to fire. With my free right hand, I grab the ruined gun and yank it to my left side which pulls Yuuko with it.

"Ah"

"The magic words are please and thank you, not guns and threats"

I say as I release her and step back. I watch as Yuuko pretends to be scared and stumbles back to her desk where the guard alarm is at. When the alarm doesn't sound, she stands straight again and steps back to face me.

"…what did you do…"

"I reconfigured the operating system before I entered so this conversion will absolutely stay between us."

I say as I pull up my game guy that I used as a makeshift hacking device which I configured when I was walking here. During one of my more recent loops, the RLF captured Yokohama base and Pyatkh-san used my game guy to hack the system. I committed the action to memory and have been using it ever since.

"Cautious one aren`t you"

"I learned from you so it's the basics. Now with the antics out of the way, I wish to pledge my loyalty to you holy mother-san"

"…and why shouldn't I believe you're an alternative V assassin?"

"Because you are not dead and plus as a practitioner of the blade…here"

I get down into seiza and slide the katana out of my pack to place it onto ground in front of her. Yuuko stares down at me then her eyes widen and she breaks down laughing.

"Hahahahahahah….haha you…hahahaha got me so… good haha haa"

"Ah I was caught"

"This was elaborate, but just a superiority play. A way to make the opponent feel dread so they are not inclined to betray you haha. Cannot believe it was almost successful on me there hahaha."

"And here I thought I may have beaten my master this time."

"Ah I trained you well, so do tell who you are and what do you want…really"

I rose up while Yuuko was laughing and for the first time really broke into a smile. Though it is only a small one, it is a smile. Then I quickly get professional again to give my explanation.

"My name is Shirogane Takeru and I want to use my experience as a conductor to your benefit."

"Hmmm"

"First, I understand my claim to be a conductor is unreasonable and so I do not need you to believe that with words; I will prove that through actions. Secondly, I want to help you kick the BETA of Earth…and keep it that way. Finally, I will provide 10 pages of the equation for an action that you are capable of."

I explain as Yuuko moves over to computer and looks me up in the UN database, confirming my death. She also pulls up a picture of me to confirm the face and once satisfied she looks at me again.

"Hmmm I`ll do what I can since I cannot let you walk since you know about the XG-70 and the 00 unit, just know that I don't trust the unknown."

"Of course, we are merely business partners. The first tasks I would like completed are as follows; the enlistment as a 2nd lieutenant in a detachment of the A-01 special task fo-"

"AHHH you want me to enlist you in as a special operations soldier after being dead!?"

"Not just any Special Ops soldier, I want to be a detachment from your direct Alternative IV task force. Since the units selection process is completely under your jurisdiction it shouldn't be hard for me to be enlisted then, Right?"

"I can but-"

"Then next I would like to have access to this floor at anytime and finally I would like to be stationed as an assistant training instructor for the 207th Training Squad."

"Cruel cutting me off like that, Haaaa is that all?"

*Nod*

"Ok then it will get done but make sure you give me those pages tomorrow. I'll put you in as a newly transferred veteran officer and when I am done I will send someone to bring you to your room. I`m sure since you're from the future you will know where to go to wait then? "

"Ma`m" *salute*

Haaaa negotiations successful-

"Also, take this boorish weapon with you; it takes up too much space."

"Ah that is insurance for you; gives me a reason to come back"

Then I turn and walk out without another word nor do I let the Vice-commander get another word in as well. I swiftly move to the elevation and go up to the living quarters floor with my pack on my back. I speed through the maze of hallways to get out of the building complex and onto the outdoor basketball court that is never used before I sit down into seiza again. My mind becomes blank as I slowly let my senses go vague in the setting sun. Once the only thoughts in my consciousness are the rhythm of my heart and the flow of air from my deep breathing, I sharpen my mind on one word.

(Sumika…)

Then like a light being flipped I feel my consciousness submerge into the white noise of another's consciousness. Without any rejection I instantly start to form thoughts as if I am in a conversation.

(How are things on your end?)

(I have spoken to Kasumi-chan and explained the need to avoid your thoughts as well as the need to stay as she was around Yuuko-sensei till we tell her otherwise.)

(Great, thank you for your help Sumika, I`ll work hard to see you again)

(You better Takeru, I will keep you updated)

Just as the words are spoken the white noise disappears and the surroundings come back into my senses. I look up at the edge of the sun that hasn't fallen yet and turn around to see two people observing me.

"Excuse me cadet, the curfew is just around the corner so I need you to head back to your barracks."

"Yes, may I have your name and squad so I can escort you back?"

The two observers were both women in UN commissioned officer suits with fair and young face. Though they both look to be in their early 20s there is an air of a soldier on both of them. The first to speak has a head of curly shoulder length red hair and equally red eyes. She has the aura of a battle hardened veteran and a born commander. The second woman is much shorter than the first and has long green hair with bangs. Her eyes are a clear grey with the aura of politeness and any Japanese man would say she looks like the perfect traditional woman.

"Ah yes, my name is 2nd lieutenant Shirogane Takeru and I have just been transferred here so I would like to be guided to the A-01 barracks please."

"Hmm so you're the new guy that I was just about to go find. My name is Captain Isumi Michiru and I will be your new CO so just call me Captain."

"I am a 2nd lieutenant just like you; my name is Kazama Touko so just call me Kazama."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both."

I keep my calm expressionless facade as I spoke to them as my mind drifted to many of the brave actions that captain has done in my loops. In my last one, she pushes Meiya out of the path of a destroyer class only to resign her own life. Captain is one of the many people I greatly respect for both her ability and personality.

"Okay, so captain I will take my leave as I am going to retire for the night. Have a good night to you as well Shirogane-san."

"Good night to you as well, Kazama-san."

"See you tomorrow Kazama and Shirogane-san, please, follow me as I lead you to your bunk. Tomorrow morning, I will send someone to give you a full tour so be prepared."

"Yes ma`m, but I have already been informed of all the facilities so I will be reporting directly to the Vice-commander tomorrow morning. The Vice-commander wants to brief me on my assignment"

"If those are Vice-commander`s orders, then okay but do introduce yourself to the rest of the unit."

"Of course ma`m, I will introduce myself without fail."

*smirk* "well we are here so have a good night 2nd lieutenant"

"To you as well Captain."

As we conversed, we reached the barracks since it was only a short 2 minute walk from the basketball court; I was waiting for them at. I turn the knob and enter the bland and uniform room that I have managed to love. Though the room is more spacious, since it is for a commissioned officer, it is still military through and through. I drop my bag on the floor, shower and change quickly before collapsing in a heap on the bed. As my thoughts wonder through the events of the day, sleep creeps into my body and only releases its grip the next morning.