*THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN REWORK.*
Thanks to all that have commented and gave me some decent Reviews, I know I ain't some good writers like some on this website, but I strike to improve. I made some minor adjustments to the old ones and prepare to re-upload them when I perfect them. Please be patient on the partial rework and enjoy this chapter.
If you do find some very major plot holes or unexplained errors I missed, please comment so I know what I need to fix, Thanks again.
It has been reworked, but as you would know, it may not be perfect. So… yea, keep an open mind please :D
Ch.3
.
I waited outside the classroom door as I was told by Charlotte, I needed to wait for our home-class teacher. She told me to introduce myself to the class when the teacher bring me in, also asked me to think of a more feminine name. I thought that cross-dressing was enough. Apparently not!
Any name would be nice to go by, but names from this era?
My mind went blank.
*beep
My pocket vibrated once, a message arrived at my phone. I took out and looked, it was from Charlotte. It written all the possible feminine names, a very long list. "Thanks Charlotte, I own you another time." I told myself. Scrolling down the list to see if there were any good names.
Just when I thought I saw a good one, a tall lady in black hair and black suit grabbed my phone. She then placed it in her pocket. Her face looks dead serious. "No usage of phones in school building, didn't you read the rules?"
I slightly bow down to show my apology.
"Well, I suppose you are the new student." She continued. "I am Miss Orimura, and this is Miss Yamada. We are your home-class teacher. And you name?"
A split of a second, I recalled one of the names on the list and replied, "Ch-Chelsea." Jesus, my mind only had the name Charlotte! Lucky enough I was able to change the word half way through. That was close.
"You will get back your phone by the end of today, Chelsea," Said Miss Orimura. "Wanna go introduce yourself?"
I nodded and followed Miss Yamada into the classroom. "Everyone, we got a new transfer Student."
I could see the people whispering and muttering in the back.
Miss Yamada continued, "Chelsea, want to introduce yourself?"
"Hello, my name is Chelsea, and I'm looking forward to having you as my classmates!" I said cheerfully and bowed. I was glad that the pills were extremely effective, my voice remained feminine.
"Wow, she is so cute." I heard that while I had my head down. "So lady-like!"
I didn't feel comfortable with those comments if I were in my 'male-form'; but if it was caused by my cross-dressing disguise, then I am pretty successful so far.
I looked back up and saw there was an empty sit at the back, right next to Cecilia, that girl with the blue suit I recalled from my memory. On a second look, Laura was also in the same class too. The teacher then told me to take that empty sit and started some kind of announcements.
One thing caught my attention when I walked down the column – there was another guy in the front row. I thought I was just seeing things, but I checked again, it was a guy. This didn't make sense. Wasn't this a full girl school?
"…this pill I invented originally for another male student…"
A part of yesterday's conversation with Tabane came into my thoughts as I sat down. Was that guy the 'another male student' she was referring to? It distracted me from the class just to think about it, so I quickly got back on track with the teacher as she begin her lesson.
…
I was day-dreaming really during the lesson, thinking about how to escape from this place. Not like I hated here, but I wanted to go back to where I belong, getting back my stuffs and take my revenge. Instead of wasting time here, I want to find out who attacked me. It wasn't some random assault when I thought though all the possibility of me getting spotted under the stealth cloaking of the orbiter. No known technology, not even the sentinels could track me down just like that. There must be something else that got me on a radar.
A signal from the inside of the ship could be a possible factor, but from what? ... Wait…could it be? … Could it be, that sword… no… that was unlikely, or… is it?
"Chelsea! Chelsea!" The teacher called my name as the red small name tag displayed on my desk. "What is the answer for this one?"
I quickly stood up and looked at the board. "Err…" I responded with no idea what she was talking about. "Sorry teacher, I missed it."
"Focus in class please."
I nodded, sat down and stopped drifting off from the class. At least pretend I was paying attention for now.
…
Time passed by, and 2 period lessons went in a whoosh. Luckily I did that little bit of Japanese learning last night, because it helped me to understand most of what the teachers were saying. Phew. Now we got practice time in the open grounds.
The girls headed towards the changing room while I stood still thinking – should I go with them or not?
If I didn't, then it would potentially blow my cover, right?
If I did, I would be a pervert? I haven't even seen a naked girl before!
My heart beat was rising fast, I could hear it! I never had this feeling before, is this what they called purity mind set? They were about to disappear from the classroom, what should I do? USE THE BIG HEAD OF YOURS, VOLI!
Hold on a sec, I don't need to change. I could just transfer my conscious into the Warframe. Boom! Problem solved. Got that out of the way, I decided to head for the hanger to get my Warframe ready.
When I got there, someone else was there in front of the storage room.
It was Tabane. With her was a big crate of a size two times taller than her, a computer set and some other smaller crates. She was taking some notes and walked around the crate. I got a bit curious and walked up.
"Hi, Tabane. What is this?" I asked.
"Glad you ask, this my friend – is your own Personal IS. You will need it in this Academy."
"Woah, 'Personal' – 'IS'?" I stared at the crate, filled with anticipation, like a child getting a present. "Can I open it up?"
"Sure."
I walked up and press the button called, 'ACTIVATE'. The massive locks on the side undone on their own and coolant gases flushed out. Slowly the crate door opened up and a suit standing perfectly still came to the light. Just like the ones the girls have, with long limbs and no chest armor; except this one was slimmer and had a larger back-thrusters. It was golden from head to tail.
"Sweeeet…" I said to myself.
"It is called 'The Golden Ghost'. I designed it and never had a chance to try it on someone."
"Doesn't IS only available to controlled by a female?"
"Only if I programmed it to."
"SO you were saying, this school could be a co-ed? Wicked."
"Yep, but lucky boy like you can only build a harem in this kind of place, right?" Tabane began her teasing again. "How about you take me as your first one?" Lending onto my arms, pushing her body against me.
"Hua!" I screamed and got red.
"TABANE!" A dead serious shout came down the stairs, I could tell, that must be Miss Orimura, "Mind you own Business."
"Aww… Chifuyu, you are such a joy killer!" Tabane got off me and went towards a computer sit laid out next to the crate. "Hey, Chifuyu, wanna help this student out?"
"Ah, Chelsea is it?"
"Yes, madam."
"Do you have a pilot suit?"
"Does that count?" I pointed at the Saryn which was stood outside the store room. Miss Orimura gave it a good look and turned to Tabane. This time, she spoke with a more aggressive tone, "Tabane! What are you up to this time?"
"O, she's a visitor of mine, she is going to take part in helping me on studying space." Tabane answered in a playful voice and continued to focus on her computer screen.
Miss Orimura took a deep breath and continued, "Don't let me find you doing something outside the law." She then turned to me. "Class starts in 5 minutes, get ready."
I walked around the suit and checking every aspects of it. I gently touched the surface of the IS, feeling that Smooth golden metal surface; the sides on the suit was curved at the top and more pointy as it reached the legs; there was a big space in the body of the IS, I think that is where the body sits; unlike the girls, this one had a bigger shoulder plate and a helmet linked together. I asked Tabane, "Hey, what is with helmet? It is connected with the shoulders."
"You will know when you take it for a flight."
I nodded and moved on to inspect the back of the suit. There were 2 wings, folded up and attached to the upper back. I could see two jet thrusters behind the legs; and another two between the back, a smaller one on top of a larger one.
"So, 'Chelsea', do you like it?" asked Tabane as she calibrated some part of the IS systems with the computer. "Your Weapons are placed in those small crates, go have a quick look."
I nodded and walked towards the crates and opened up the tops. I thought I was seeing things when I saw what was inside – a mega size version of my Vectis and Lex with some other modifications. "Tabane, did you take apart my stuff?"
"No, I just scanned them and made a prototype with the similar design." She answered swiftly, swinging around the chair as she finished up all the calibrations. "Go out and give it a try, 'Chelsea'!"
"I know, but I need to assemble with the others first." I replied and took a look the time. "Shit, I got less than a minute!"
I quickly ran out of the hanger. Dashing towards the open, I lined up with the rest of the girls from my class. When I got there, all of them turned and looked at me with a face full of questions. Wait… Have I forgotten to take off my Warframe?
I looked at my hands.
Yes, I have forgotten.
Now I looked like a small tree standing in the wide open, as my head was around half a meter above theirs. It was only normal to be looking at me. Chatters and questions began to come in. Miss Orimura came to the front of the class and addressed, "Everyone attention please! Girls! This way please."
Everyone quickly went silence and turned back to the front. So she continued, "As you have been learning about how to fly in an IS from books and practiced a few times before your holidays, that is why today… we are doing a flying race around the campus."
The girls started to chat around with each other.
"Silence!" Miss Orimura tried to take back control of the class. "Before you go on with the rest of the lesson, you will need an IS. For those who doesn't have personal IS, please head to Miss Yamada, who will help you to get in one…"
As the rest of the class went to get the standard issued IS, some girls stayed behind with me. Other than Cecilia, Charlottle and Laura, there were another girl and the male students. I believed that they also have their own personal IS. Miss Orimura came towards us and gave us another briefing. "You guys will be taking part another training routine. Unlike the others, you will be doing 2 rings instead of one as a handicap for having your own personal IS."
Everyone said together, "Yes, madam."
"I will expect you all to finish both rings before the others even finish one."
Everyone nodded and dismissed. Each one of us spaced out to get enough space to deploy our IS, so that we won't smash into each other. Earlier, Tabane gave me a golden ring with the remark as 'this is the key.' I only spent 5 minutes or so with my IS, I didn't know how to deploy it or how to move around with it.
I observed the others as they deployed theirs, and followed. "Golden ghost deploy!"
The Warframe was lifted up and automatically situated inside the Golden Ghost. It felt like riding an Archwing, but with weights on your legs and unable to move as freely. The leg movements was kind of like walking on stilts, took me some time to get used to it; there were buttons inside the arms where my hands were in, except you couldn't see them. In general, the whole suit was light and quite bulky.
The shoulder pad lowered down and placed firmly on my Warframe, along with the full concealed helmet over my head. There were panels popping up on my helmet and an AI started to speak in a monolog voice.
ACCESS GRANTED.
CALIBRATING…
SYSTEM ACTIVATED.
BOOSTER ONLINE, SHIELD ONLINE, WEAPONS OFFLINE.
COMMUNICATION CONNECTING…LINKED.
As the system finished its last sentence, I could hear the chatting between the girls and that boy.
"…Laura, I will beat you this time."
"You won't stand a chance against the supreme German Engineering, Ichika." Replied by Laura on the Radio. "Not even yours, Miss Shinonono."
"Just wait till you see. My Forth Generation name isn't just for showing."
"Everyone please take this easy." Said Charlotte, as she tried to separate Laura and the other girl I never met before. That must be Miss. Shinonono. Wait…That is the same surname as Tabane. Could that be related? A story for another time I suppose. "I should propably focus on how walk- AH..." Before I even finish the sentence, I lost balance and felt hard on my back. "Phffffffffffffffff….."
"Need a hand?" asked Cecilia, grabbing my arm. "Here."
"C-Cecilia, is it?" I thanked her as I stood up still again.
"You are welcome. It is only normal for us High class to help out the weak."
"…" As much as hated that phrase, she was right about one thing, I was weak on using this so called, IS. "If you don't mind, it would be nice to teach me a few basics."
"Sure," she answered, "first, place your legs wider than your shoulder, back straight. Walking and moving are the same as how you walk and move outside your suit."
I listened and followed.
"Thrusters are controlled by the buttons in your hand slot. Slowly and you should be able hover." Cecilia continued, "The IS is Neuro sensitive, you can active your functions by just thinking about it."
I pressed the buttons slowly and activated my leg thrusters. It was like walking on the sea, except it was a stormy sea. My legs were moving side says, front and back, trying to balance my weight. "So like this?" I asked, "I think I am getting a hang of this…"
And I fell over again.
"… Or not."
"Looks like you need to listen more carefully." She crossed her arms. "Are all boys so dumb?"
"…"
This girl was certainly not easy to get along with, Note made.
…
By the time I got up this time, Miss Yamada already gather around all the girls together. "Everyone listen up! The route you all will be around the island, floats are set up to guide you. You will start at that white line and end there. Remember it isn't just speed that matters, by also how actuate you are following the route."
"Yes, ma'am." Everyone answered and headed to the starting line, one after another in single file. Miss Yamada was at the line and marked down the takeoff time for each person as they went past. And I was the last according to the list.
I wished I got time to practice, I still haven't use this suit for more than 10 minutes. By revising the simple basics I got from Cecilia, I repeatedly simulated the process inside my head. It shouldn't be that hard.
"Chelsea," Miss Yamada called me, "It is your turn."
"Yes Miss!"
"Right, you will follow the rest. Ready in 3…2…1…Go!"
I gently pressed the buttons and up I went. Adjusting the legs' directions and flying slowly back to horizon. Damn, this felt just like Archwing, except there was a bit more weight to it. Steadily, I picked up the speed as I gradually gained more thrust by pressing the buttons. I could see the group of my classmates far in front of me and the others with personal IS a lot further. I had to go faster!
A small box popped up on my helmet, it asked,
DO YOU WANT TO ACTIVATE FLIGHT MODE?
"What? I am already flying!" I checked the speed and the distance remaining for the 2 rings. I travelling at 600km/h at the attitude of 2600 feet; flew 3kms and 117kms left. "Man, screw this. It is called 'Flight mode' for a reason I suppose, no harm trying."
So I confirmed the activation.
Big mistake.
What I expected to happen was to gain speed.
Instead…
My thrusters gave out on me and I fell straight down! The suit started to spin in all direction, like losing gravity in space.
"WOAAAAAH, Shit!", the voice of my shout was being trapped inside the helmet. I could see the attitude reading dropping quick and the speed also increase – vertically downwards, falling into the sea! I pressed all the buttons to get some thruster back to work in the moment of panic. "What the hell! Tabane help!"
Then all a sudden the thrusters activated again just before I touch the sea and pushed me horizontally forward. This time, the thrusters gave so much power that I could feel the pressure building up on my shoulder and the dragging force from my arms. The speed went from 0 up to 2000km/h in just 10 secs! The surface of the sea was split open by the shockwave, and the sound of the wind seems to penetrate my helmet.
By readjusting the thrusters a bit, I managed to push upwards and climb back to my original attitude. The control became so sift; the turning became a much wider Arc. My mind was too slow to react to the change and only manage to get back to the ring of the course. Within secs I flew away from the side of the island and went straight off course. I quickly released all the buttons. The acceleration stopped. And I began to steer this monster back to the island.
With some of my Archwing flying skills, I managed to turn it around and travelled back to the Academy at a constant speed. I flew around it twice and found the open field where we started and headed towards it.
And how do I slow down again?
I looked around the interface, and check the button layouts.
I… don't… know? I'm so done.
Without knowing how, I messed up the control and lost balance on the turn-in. My IS drifted off and smashed into multiple towers or buildings, either way, it hurt a lot when I touched down on the field with a loud and big smash. A clear crater could be seen along with a massive dent line on the ground.
The IS powered off and the suit opened up. I was lucky that it didn't hit anyone. Crawling out to confirm no one was hurt, I lied on the dirt ground, stared up at the clear sky with my ears ringing, and thought – Just what on earth was that? (haha Puns)
Soon, some girls came over and surrounded me, the bright sunlight made me unable to see who were there. One of them sounds like Charlotte, giving some order or requests to the others. A few of them gone off somewhere while I lied perfectly fine on the ground. I decided to talk,
"Gir…"
I quickly shut up as soon as I heard my voice, I spoke in my male voice! The pill… only worked on my physical body?
With my hearing coming back, I could hear over their conversation on asking, where the male voice came from. Shit, they heard me, and yet not knowing it was me. To conceal my voice, I silenced myself and hoped they would just disappear.
Instead of more girls coming in, a taller shadow came over – it was Miss Orimura. "Everyone spread out, let the medical team take over." She demanded. "Keep a clear path please."
I got tired of playing dead and hop out of the transference. "I am fine, thanks madam." I cleared up the situation back with my female voice. "Sorry if that brought any inconvenience."
"Alright then, everyone dismiss. The lesson is over." She said to the class. She then turned to me, enquired what happened. I told her what happened and she closed her eyes to give a thought through my whole story. "You are also dismissed, your IS will be transported to repair. You made a nice scratch on it."
"Understood."
...
Charlotte was standing at the door into the building, changed already, waiting for me to walk pass.
"Hey, Voli." She whispered.
"Shush… call me 'Chelsea'!" I interrupted. "This is my 'real' name."
"Sorry!" She quickly apologized. "Anyway. Wanna join lunch with me and the others?"
"Well..." I replied, "I don't know."
"It is ok, just come with me!"
I nodded and followed her.
After a serval steps, something didn't felt right. I felt weird and sick. The world seemed to be wobbling with the floor shaking, I lost balance and legs began to move on they own. I couldn't walk straight and quickly collapsed onto the floor. The lights began to go dimmer in my vision, hearing got more blurry every sec. My breathing and heart beat got more rapid every cycle.
Charlotte came to my side when my vision was no more than a small narrow tunnel, saying something, looking nervous. I felt I lost my body control completely, and eventually, I saw nothing but empty space in a silence environment.
Well, not the best way to end a chapter, but I go way to connect the next chapter, or this one will be too long :P
I will not be uploading regularly as I got other stuff to do, but I will upload the when I'm free!
Feel free to comment and tell me what you think might happen, what you want to see, what you found out that might be a big problem. Any comments would be fine as long as they are constructive to this story and how to improve.
We all want to have a good story to read and enjoy, don't we?
