AN: originally wanted to add some more to the previous chapter but I decided to cut it short. Being too long can be troublesome now and then so I'll try and keep each chapter between 1000-2000.
Disclaimer: have no ownership of the God Eater franchise but do have control over the OC's.
The first mission
"So you know anything about today's mission?" asked Lindow taking out a cigarette then lit it up and put it in his mouth.
The two of them landed at the mission area which was a ruined city. Instead of immediately heading out to find their targets, Lindow took a moment to learn a little about the new recruit.
"We're to deal with a few ogretails that have been causing trouble for a supply group", replied James.
"You have any plan of action on how to dispatch them?" he asked
"Ogretails can be killed in any number of ways. As you can see I have selected a spear for close range and a sniper for long range which is capable of beating the aragami", replied James
"Alright, now I'll be following you around this time and keeping an eye on you. This is your first mission so it'll be all you this time. I'll only come in if things get bad".
James nodded then headed towards the right side. It did not take too long for them to run into ogretails He expected James to be taken back like so many other first timers, but the teenager remained calm. Five of the aragami appeared and attacked James from all sides.
In response he headed to the open area while the aragami chased him. All of a sudden he turned around on his right hell then swung out at the one at the head of the pack. This resulted with him cleaving the ogretail in two with a single swing. Once James was sure it was dead he ran back to the centre of the area.
Another ogretail attacked with a leap and opened its jaws as it descended. James slid underneath the creature and as it landed and turned around, he shifted from spear to sniper firing a point blank fire bullet straight at the target.
'Of course a single bullet isn't enough to take down ogretails', thought Lindow and he was right. The ogretail charged out of the small cloud of smoke caused from the bullet exploding and opened it's jaws but James did not miss a step. He thrust his spear forward, tearing through the creature, ending it in that instant.
He then turned around and threw the carcass at the remaining three. The dead body acted as a bowling ball, effectively causing all three pursuers to head off in separate directions. James did not let this chance go to waste and pursued the one on the right.
'Hmm,' thought Lindow 'Kid doesn't really look it but he's got a sharp mind and good skills with a weapon to boot. His papers show that he's an above average in all his field tests but there's no way an above average is this good on the first day in actual combat'.
It was at this point he noticed the last ogretail attacking James from his blind spot. Lindow was about to react when James charged his spear, pointed it to the ground then released it's power which shot him into the air, completely avoiding his attacker. Once he was above the target, James shifted himself and fell down spear first so that when he landed, his weapon went through and through the aragami.
The teenager hopped off the fallen foe, yanking his spear out and made his way towards Lindow.
"Well done kid, a little flashy here and there but I got to admit; you did well for your first outing", he said patting James on the shoulder "Now how's about we head back and I'll treat you to a cold glass of beer".
"I'm not old enough to drink Lindow"
"I won't tell if you don't", he teased
In the end James gave no response. The two of them waited for the helicopter to arrive then got on board.
It did not take long for them to get back to the branch. When they did, they left their god arcs at the maintenance bay then headed to the main room.
Upon exiting the elevator, they noticed someone walking towards them. Judging from appearances alone, she was probably in the same age category as Lindow, albeit slightly younger when looking at her face. She had fair skin and black hair in a bowl cut on her sides. She wore on a thin black top with a green material lopping around her neck. The top also revealed some of her hips and stomach. She wore a skirt with green frills that was short on one side and long on the other. She also wore a pair of high heeled open toed shoes. The only accessory he noticed her wearing was a green ribbon tied to her right arm.
James always respected women who were able to effectively fight on the battlefield while wearing shoes that forced you on your toes the whole entire time.
"So this is the rookie everyone's talking about", she said with a kind smile "Name's Sakuya Tachibana, nice to meet you rook".
"James Castor", he said nodding towards her.
"I take it Lindow must have put you through the ringer huh?" she asked pointing her thumb at James' teammate "What did you do? Just stand there and watch the kid do all the work?"
"Hey I'll have you know I was there providing moral support the whole time", objected Lindow, causing James to clear his throat.
"Hey James come on don't leave a buddy hanging", said the veteran, looking for a lifeline.
"It is true that Lindow being there did give me some form of confidence", said James wondering if she'd believe that lie.
"Well this might be a problem for me", said Sakuya with a huff "I was asked by the higher ups to take James out on another mission".
"Back to back on his first day?" asked Lindow in surprise
"It's alright", said James breaking the knuckles in his fingers "I am itching for another round anyway. First let me change clothes."
This whole time he was here, he still wore on the cadet uniforms that Fenrir provided rookies. Now that he was here it was time for him to change into something more appropriate.
"So how did the kid do?" asked Sakuya while James was changing clothes.
"Good, scary good to be honest", replied Lindow looking in the direction the subject of their discussion had gone.
"What do you mean?" she asked
"You know how some people are just naturally good at singing even though they've never sung a song in their lives?" he asked "That's James except instead of singing…"
"It's god eating", she interjected.
"Yeah, the ogretails we fought never stood a chance against him."
"So isn't that a good thing?"
"It would be but the thing is not one person at developmental noticed this", he said looking at her "There's no way I'll believe someone that talented flew under the radar for that long".
They wanted to continue the conversation but the elevator doors opened and James stepped out. He now wore a red jacket that was open to reveal the black shirt inside. His pants were white with black accents along the sides and a pair of black military boots to finish his look.
"How do I look?" he said pushing his hair back.
"Nice, now let's get going", said Sakuya nodding towards the elevator heading to the helipad.
James nodded and in no time the two of them headed out. They did not spend much time talking and soon enough they headed to the mission area which was full of dark clouds and constant rain.
"Damn", said James looking at the tornado at the centre "What is up with that?"
"Rumours say because of how the climate changed drastically because of the aragami attack, the tornado will never stop spinning", said Sakuya in an effort to provide some information.
"Wow…" said James staring at it for a minute then turned around "Is it weird that I want to touch it?"
"Yes very weird", she said stifling a chuckle "So our mission today is to take out three cocoon maidens. I'll provide sniper cover for you from here. Just make sure to stay out of my firing line alright?"
"Got it boss", he said casually saluting her.
As that happened, the two of them turned around, noticing one cocoon maiden rise up from the ground. Sakuya readied her rifle but James held his spear up like a javelin thrower and flung it at the target. The speed at which he threw the weapon, surprised the girl and the cocoon maiden but it was the latter that paid the price. The spear impaled the aragami and James dashed forward.
When he drew closer another cocoon maiden shot up from the ground and opened its chest to attack with a barrage of spikes but James was faster. He quickly leapt up and over the attacker; landing behind it then yanked his spear out of the fallen cocoon maiden, then spun around and lopped its head off.
As the second maiden turned around, the first maiden's head fell just where he wanted. James rammed the flat side of his god arc into the send, turning it into a projectile which hit the cocoon maiden and dazed it for a moment.
'Lindow's right', thought Sakuya looking out of the viewfinder for a moment then back through it 'The kids got skills no one his age should have.'
In the span of another thirty seconds the last cocoon maiden fell. James now calmly walked towards Sakuya who was still having a tough time believing how quickly this mission was over.
"Anything else?" he asked.
"No you're good", she said trying to figure out how fast the rookie in front of her completed the mission.
With the mission over, the two of them headed back to the base. Once there, Sakuya said that she would be going to her room and relaxing a little while James opted to stay in the lounge and do some reading.