"Twenty years ago the Fist NOVA Incursion occurred," Yumi Kim said as she began her review session. Her eyes drifted over to where Kazuya Aoi was seated furiously taking notes. Part of the reason she was giving a review to her freshman class was to help him. She owed it to Kazuha to do whatever she could to help her little brother.

"Since that time there have been eight major incursions and no less than one hundred and twenty four minor ones. Despite all this contact we have yet to discover the reason for their attacks or what their ultimate goal may be. The attacks have come at random intervals with no discernable pattern to them. Though obviously intelligent they have never made any attempt to communicate with us. So far as their motivations are concerned they are every bit as much of a mystery to us now as they were when they first appeared. One thing is certain though; they are the enemy and must be defeated."

Behind her on the main screen a grim image appeared. An S-class NOVA striding though the wreckage of a modern army. Tanks, artillery pieces, rocket launchers, and even the wreckage of helicopters littered the ground.

"During the initial incursion there was no option but to use conventional forces against the NOVAs. As I am sure all of you are aware this resulted only in catastrophic losses. All conventional weapons are rendered useless against the NOVA's defensive perimeter, also known as the area of Freezing effect. Artillery shells, rockets, missiles, even small arms fire lose all velocity and simply fall to the ground inert. The Freezing effect can not only halt movement it can also prevent certain chemical reactions such as combustion. Meaning even underground mines placed in the path of the NOVA were rendered inert."

More images appeared. Ships being blown out of the water. Buildings and bridges burning and wrecked. Masses of people fleeing for their lives. Entire city blocks laid to waste.

"No matter the size of the attack it is always savage. The NOVAs seek out and destroy everything and everyone in their path. Their actions have never betrayed any hint of mercy or respect for noncombatants. They will regularly massacre civilians even when they are fleeing the scene and obviously no threat to them."

Behind her on the screen more images appeared. Some of the freshman girls gasped and looked away. The images were gruesome; men, women, and children lying massacred in some random town. Their bodies sliced open or simply crushed, there had to be hundreds of victims just in this single picture.

"Don't look away," Yumi said harshly. "This is the reason all of you are here now. Why you are being especially trained for battle and asked to risk your lives. You Pandoras and Limiters are the only weapons humanity has against the NOVAs."

Arthur Crimpton put his hand up and she nodded to him. "Excuse me sensei, we all know that our abilities come from the stigmas that our implanted into our bodies and allow us to use our special abilities. I was wondering though where do the stigmas come from and how were Pandoras and Limiters originally created?"

"I am afraid that information is still classified, even I have no idea how the stigmas originated. However the crash efforts that eventually resulted in the creation of the Genetics program were due to this."

Once more the image changed.

Now what it displayed was a massive sphere of white energy expanding in the midst of a city. The next image was taken from high above. It showed an absolutely perfect circle of blackened earth. There was nothing left within the blast radius, not even rubble.

"This is all that was left of the city of Nagoya when an S-class NOVA self destructed. Everything within a five mile radius was vaporized. The first major incursion involved a grand total of six S-class NOVAs who appeared in various locations all over the world over a period of eighteen days. In each and every case the NOVA entered a major population center and self-destructed. Manila, Sao Paulo, Baltimore, Manchester, Milan, St. Petersburg, and Cairo all suffered similar fates. Total casualties worldwide from the first incursion have been estimated at about ten million, the vast majority of whom were unarmed civilians. We theorize that they did this because they cannot survive in our atmosphere for more than about thirty hours. They are silicon based life forms as opposed to the carbon based life that evolved here. We also suspect that the dimensional transport process that brings them to Earth is one way. Meaning wherever it is they come from once they arrive here they cannot return. So each and every NOVA is sent here on a suicide mission."

Another hand rose in the air.

"Yes Kaho?"

"Sensei, if they can't survive here and we can't travel to their home world why are they attacking us? If they can't live here there's no point in conquest. If we can't go to their world we are no threat so there's no point in a war of self-defense. What could they gain from this?"

"That is the question we have been asking ourselves for the past twenty years and we have yet to find any sort of answer. The important thing all of you need to keep in mind though is this; when you face the NOVAs it can only be a battle to the death. Even if they were to wish to there would be no point in their surrendering as they cannot long survive. Each NOVA, both R-class and S-class, that has not been successfully defeated has ended up self destructing within a human city. Always remember that this enemy is here for the sole purpose of causing as much death and destruction as possible. They cannot and must not be shown any sort of mercy. The only way to deal with them is to destroy them." Which is why the V program exists. She thought.

The bell rang signaling the end of the class.

"We will have another review next class and after that is the midterm. I want all of you to study chapter three through five over the weekend." There was a general groan as the students headed toward the door. "Aoi-san, could I have a moment please?"

Arthur and Kaho sent surprised looks his way. What did you do? As the students filed out Kazuya approached his teacher.

"Yes sensei? Did I do anything wrong?"

"Oh no, no nothing like that," she quickly assured him. "I just wanted to know how you are adjusting to campus life here."

"Well I admit it's been a bit strange now and again, but overall I think I'm doing all right."

"I am very glad to hear that." She said nodding. "You know I knew your sister Kazuha. She was a very dear friend and one of the finest people I ever knew."

Kazuya smiled sadly at the mention of his beloved nee-san. "Thank you sensei, I still miss her."

"I'm sure that you do," Yumi said quietly. "I just want you to know that if you need help with anything or just a sympathetic ear I will always be available to you."

"Thank you sensei, that's very kind of you and I really appreciate it."

"Not a problem, I am happy to do it. Oh, and just one more thing. I understand that the Principal took the time to introduce you to some of the older girls at the academy?"

"Yes sensei that's right."

"Among then was Satellizer L Bridgette I believe?"

He nodded. "Yes sensei."

"It would be for the best if you were to not consider her as a potential partner."

He looked at her startled.

"I am not trying to give you an order or any such thing," she clarified. "I just don't want to see you waste your time on someone who is clearly not worth it."

"Is she really so terrible?" So far everyone who'd given an opinion had said the same basic thing. 'Stay away.'

"That girl is filled with anger and aggression," Yumi told him in the same lecturing tone she had used during class. "That is fine for the battlefield, but makes for a very poor companion. Believe me Aoi-san, you can do much better." A couple students entered the classroom and headed towards their seats. "Well you better be going, I don't want to make you late for the next class."

"Hai sensei."

XXX

As he hurried along to his next class Kazuya was troubled by what had just happened.

It was one thing for other students to think badly of someone. But when a teacher said something like that you really had to give it serious consideration. Students could be jealous but teachers were supposed to be above that sort of thing. He had gotten the very clear impression that Yumi-sensei had no personal animosity towards the girl and no agenda against her. That she had simply given him an honest opinion and tried to warn him off.

That was something he needed to seriously consider.

XXX

"It's Friday night and we're free!" Kaho said happily after the last class ended. "How about we head into town for some karaoke?" The three friends were sitting down to an early dinner.

"Sounds fun," Arthur said. "But I'll have to ask Genessa if she's interested."

"Naturally," Kaho said with a roll of her eyes.

"Well there's also the party tomorrow at Elizabeth-sempai's mansion," Arthur pointed out. "Genessa has been really excited about it, she might not want to go out and get worn out tonight. She even bought a brand new outfit for it. By the way Kazuya thanks for getting us all invited."

"Heh, no problem all I did was ask if I could bring some friends with me and Elizabeth-sempai said it would be fine."

"That's at noon, we have plenty of time to go and have a little fun tonight." Kaho said. "What do you say Kazuya?"

"Uh, I'm really not much of a singer," he said trying to beg off. While it was nice having a couple new friends he wasn't really one for going out much. The last four years had been spent dedicated to bringing out his abilities as a Limiter. There had been no time for friends or parties or going out and he was a bit shy about it.

Truthfully the idea of the party tomorrow was enough to leave him nervous. In the end he was able to plead that he really needed to study to get caught up on his classes.

So he was at his desk studying when there was a knock at his door. Wondering if it was Arthur or Kaho trying to get him to come along one last time he got up to answer it. When he answered though he was surprised to find a girl with long auburn hair dressed in heels and a short skirt grinning at him as if she were a cat and he a bowl of milk.

"Well hello there Kazuya-kun," the girl practically sang. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not… not at all Annette-sempai. What can I do for you?"

Neatly stepping forward she grabbed a hold of his arm and pulled him out of his room. "I'm kidnapping you, come along quietly and no one gets hurt."

"But… but I was studying."

"You can study later," she began dragging him away. "Right now you're my hostage."

"But… but…"

Seeing the helpless and confused look on his face she couldn't help but laugh. He might be a really powerful Limiter but looked to be pretty weak on the dating scene. She didn't mind that at all. The one who makes the first move has the advantage, she thought happily.