Truth and Reconciliation

Alex leaves his dorm room and into the hallway. He looks confused as he proceeds across the hall to Ichika's room and knocks on his door.

Ichika answers, "Yes?"

"Hey...uh, can I maybe use your bathroom?"

"Alex? I guess, but why."

"Oh...I...uh...Charles, yeah Charles is taking a shower, I don't wanna use the toilet while he's in there, heh."

"Oh...ok."

Ichika opens the door and steps back as Alex enters, he looks over to see Houki on her bed.

Alex speaks nervously, "Hello, Houki."

"HI?"

Alex walks into the bathroom and closes the door, Ichika looks to Houki, "He seems off to you?"

"A little?"

Inside Alex has finished but he just stands there thinking.

What in the ever loving hell, I'm dreaming right, no way that was Charles. But it looked just like him as a girl, a twin...am I on some kinda game show where they mess with you...no, there would have been cameras. There's no denying it...that was...Charles. Oh god now what...I can't live in Ichika and Houki's bathroom, I gotta go back eventually.

Alex opens the door and exits the bathroom. He looks over to see Ichika on his bed.

Ichika stands up, "You ok?"

"Yeah, just tired that's all."

"You were fine a minute ago."

"Yeah it just hit me; maybe I'm hungry, either way I better head back."

Ichika looks confused, "Ok?"

Alex walks to the door, "Goodnight."

He opens it and walks out. Ichika closes the door behind him, "I hope he's ok."

Outside Alex is standing at his door looking at it.

Alright, here we go.

He grabs the handle and slowly opens the door. Alex steps into the room and closes the door, inside he sees what looks like Charles sitting on her own bed, she is wearing her sleeping clothes while facing the window. Alex slowly sits on his bed, he sits toward the wall. It is completely quiet in the room.

Alex decides to speak up, "well, I guess I was wrong...heh."

"A...about what?"

"Honestly, I tried to figure out why you kept freaking out whenever we changed. One reason I thought was because you had a parasitic twin. Guess I was wrong though heh..."

"That's really what you thought?"

"It was a possibility, but I guess so was this."

Charles turns around to look at Alex, "So you had an idea!?"

"Well like I said, I had many ideas. This one...was at the bottom."

"So...you're disappointed?"

Alex turns around to see girl Charles, "What, how...I had no idea, it was just a guess...anyway you gonna tell me why your dressed as a guy or do I gotta figure that out also?"

Charles looks down, "Uh right, I guess I should, well you see it was the Dunois company presidents idea. That man gave me the order directly."

"So he came to you and asked you to act like a guy...wait isn't the president your father?"

Charles continues to look down, a look of sadness goes over her face, "Alex...I'm a bastard child."

Alex looks shocked, "Bastard child?"

"Two years ago my mom passed away, that was the first time I heard about my father. They brought me in right after, and when I got there they tested me for the ability to pilot an IS. When I was tested they found I had a very high aptitude for piloting an IS. So I became the informal test pilot, honestly I've only met my father twice; the first was when they called me from my home...I was accosted by his Wife. I was called the daughter of a thieving bitch...It hurt pretty badly."

Charles tries to fake a smile, "although my mom told me about it, I was still pretty hurt at the time. Sometime later the company went through a management crisis, mainly because the company fell behind on the generations. We still produce second generation units. While the other companies are already on third gen units. So we lost government funding as a result of lowered interest. The company then started production on a gen three units, the only problem was we were already behind so cuts were made and they ended up facing revocation of our development licenses."

"Wow, that really sucks. Now I've understood everything about this but you dressing up as a guy and coming to this school."

"Simple...It was a ruse, they sent me through rigorous training to act like a guy, so that as a fellow male student it would be easier to approach Ichika and much easier to collect data from him...at least that was the plan. As you came in late I was told to treat you as an afterthought and to only get data from you if I could."

"So you were sent to steal data from me and Ichika so your company could produce a new IS unit?"

"That's correct, I was told to do it by that man."

Alex sits there quietly staring at Charles.

Charles continues to speak "Well that's my story, I'm sorry for tricking you all this time, but talking to you has cheered me up a bit."

"So, did you do it?"

"Huh?"

"Did you do it, did you steal data?"

Alex sternly looks into Charles eyes, she doesn't flinch, "No, after I got here I decided I didn't want to ruin our friendship."

Alex sits there and continues to stare, "alright, I believe you."

"You do?"

"You've never given me a reason to doubt you, plus you don't look like your lying. Besides I could tell anyway."

"What how?"

"Come on, in the short time I've known you I've picked up on clues that told me if you were lying, I did figure you might be a girl remember?"

Charles looks embarrassed, "You said it was at the bottom."

"Huh, I did didn't I?"

"Either way, the company will no doubt go bankrupt...and I will most likely have to go back to France."

"And you're alright with that?"

"Honestly...I don't really care. I didn't chose this and I really don't care, so whatever."

Alex stands angrily, "You asshole! How dare you call me your friend and then say you don't care, I actually considered us good friends."

Charles looks stunned, "Alex I didn't mean-"

Alex sits back down, "Listen, I don't have many friends, actually if any back at home, shocker I know. But I honestly considered you my best friend...I know that sounds weird since we haven't known each other that long, but you just seemed like someone I wanted as a friend...no I needed as a friend, I mean think about it, who else am I gonna have here? Ichika? He's too occupied by four girls, three that want to marry him and one that wants to cut his head off and keep it as a trophy. So no, I'll have no one...I'll be alone again..."

Charles looks saddened at this.

"I was adopted, my parents found me in an orphanage 8 years ago. I was dropped off in a coma and when I came to I didn't even know my name. I was registered as Alex, so that's the name I took. That's also why I can't remember these scars. While I was there, I got along with no one; everyone saw my scars and thought I was a freak. So I took on a horrible personality, I decided I'd rather be alone. So I started finding places that would help me train. I met people who were willing to teach me boxing, martial arts, any form of fighting I could. So if any kid made fun of me I could knock them out. I used to get into a lot of fights, even up until recently. In that place I hated everyone; I blamed my birth parents for my situation. I thought they abandoned me, left me to rot and die in a perpetual nightmare. It wasn't until I met them, the only family to look at the bad kid; I couldn't stand them at the time. When they first showed up I stayed away, told them to leave me alone. I thought they were weird, but they kept coming back, each time trying to talk to me. At first I was odded out but then I started enjoying being with them, the little girl even called me her older brother. After every visit they said they didn't want to adopt me if I didn't want to go. Eventually I said I wanted to go with them, so they adopted me."

"Well it wasn't long after I got in trouble again, I started going to a public school, a kid made fun of me for being adopted so I knocked him out, well the next day him and a gang went after my younger sister. They wanted to hurt her to get to me, that same day I lost my sister in a crowd of people, she wandered off and I was looking everywhere for her. When I found her she was surrounded by the boy and his friends. So being the nut job over protective brother I was, I went over to them. I told them to let her go and fight me, so they did."

"What happened?"

"Heh, I kicked their asses, but I was expelled, after I went back everyone there ignored me. So I was back to no friends, only people that saw me as a freak, in the end all I did was create a situation that almost got my sister hurt. That's why I'm trying so hard here; I don't want to be that way again, alone. Which is why I think of you as my best friend, boy or girl. You actually continued to talk to me even after you saw my scars, you didn't think I was some weirdo, you were just my friend. So I don't care if he is your damn father, he may be the reason your here, but you can be the reason you stay. He has no power here, It's your life not his, just don't be like me and blame him for the life you have."

Charles just stares at Alex with a blank expression, "Alex...you really meant that didn't you?"

"Wait, which part? I kinda spilled my guts to you...wait that's a first...oh god I'm getting soft."

"The part about me being your best friend."

Alex looks embarrassed, "Well, yeah...I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. Anyway as far as them taking you from here..."

Alex walks over to the computer desk and pulls out a book, he begins flipping through the pages, "Alright, as stated in article 21 of the handbook, each student must belong to no state entity as long as they are enrolled. So basically as long as your here, he can't touch you. Hell I'll help you figure this all out. I got your back man...girl...you know what I mean."

Charles sits there speechless; she just continues to stare at Alex.

Alex looks confused, "what?"

Charles just smiles, "wow, there are 55 different articles and you remember that one?"

"Hey I was curious about the rules regarding all the foreign students and ones from companies."

"Is that so, heh, well thank you Alex. I think I've made my mind up."

"Really? That's good, so what, you leaving?"

Charles chuckles, "Do you honestly think I would leave my best friend after he just begged me not to leave?"

"Begging in this case is subjective, and I-"

A knock is heard on the door, both Alex and Charles stand and look at it, Ichika's voice can be heard. "Hey Alex, do you want to go get food? You seemed like you needed some."

Alex looks to Charles, "It's Ichika, hide."

"Right."

Alex walks to the door but turns around before opening it, he sees Charles in the closet.

"The closet really, that's a horrible spot, climb into your bed and cover yourself."

"Got it."

She goes over and climbs into her bed and covers herself. Alex then turns back and opens the door to Ichika.

"Ichika, what's up man?"

"Well, after earlier I figured you might want to go get food."

"Oh is that all, ok."

"What about Charles?"

"Oh him, he's gotten sick, I can bring him a plate."

Charles lets out a fake cough in response.

"Alright then, let's go."

"Got it, Charles you stay here."

Charles replies in a sickly voice, "Ok."

Both walk out of the room and Alex closes the door behind him. In the hall Houki is standing waiting for them. "You guys ready? Where's Charles?

Alex replies, "Oh he's kinda sick."

"That's not good, I hope he gets better."

"Yeah, well let's get food."

The three walk to the cafeteria, they each get a plate of food and sit down.

Alex looks to Ichika, "Hey Ichika, I was wondering since your IS uses a sword, how did you learn to use it?"

"Well I used to train in kendo all the time when I was younger, but I kinda fell off a few years ago. But since I came here I've had Houki training me."

"Is that so, I never even held a real sword before a week ago and now I'm gonna have one as a main weapon, so I'm gonna have to practice."

"Well I can help you and we could probably train together with Houki."

Upon hearing this Houki almost chokes on her food before turning to Ichika, "Ichika! That was our ... I mean...we trained alone..."

Ichika looks confused, "But with Alex there I can have someone else to train with and help me, so why not?"

Houki turns her head angrily, "Fine."

Ichika looks happy, "Really that's awesome, right Alex?"

Alex gives a look of concern, "Yeah...as long as she's ok with it."

"Great we can start tomorrow right Houki?"

Houki nods before standing. "I'm finished."

Ichika looks confused, "oh are you sure?"

"Yes I'll see you back at the room."

Houki walks off as Ichika looks to Alex, "Wonder what that was about?"

"Heh... no idea but good luck."

"Good luck? For what?"

Alex stands up, "Nothing, I'm done so I'll see you tomorrow right?"

"Yeah, meet us at the dojo at 7 tomorrow morning."

"Alright."

Alex walks away and grabs a tray of food and heads back to his dorm. As he walks down his hallway he is stopped by a laugh. Alex looks over to see Laura.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing, I just find it amusing that you ask that idiot for help that's all. But I guess in this case it's the blind leading the blind to slaughter."

"You sure that analogy is appropriate considering your halfway there already?"

"Make jokes now, but when the time comes I will kill you."

"Pretty big threat, I hope you can back that up-"

Alex stops as Laura has materialized one of her IS arms. She is holding the claws to his throat.

"Oh I intend to, and it will be slow and painful."

They both stare at each other as Alex speaks, "I look forward to it."

Laura starts laughing before she dematerializes the arm and begins walking away, "Good it will be fun."

Alex stands there before letting out a sigh of relief.

"Man she is crazy."

Alex continues to his dorm room and eventually reaches it. Once inside he sees Charles sitting in her bed. "I got food."

She turns and looks at him, "Thanks."

Alex sits the tray on the computer desk and goes over to his bed. Charles gets up and sits at the computer desk.

Charles eats a bit before looking at Alex, "Hey about what I said earlier, about this not meaning anything to me-"

"I got it, you're sorry. Listen I'd rather move on with no regrets. No matter what happens I just want to stay friends."

Charles gives a smile, "Yeah same."

"Good now I'm tired and have training tomorrow morning, so I gotta get to sleep."

Charles looks confused, "Training?"

"Yeah with Ichika and Houki for swords. Figure since Ichika has a sword I can learn from him."

"Is that so...well good luck."

"Thanks, I'll need it."

Alex looks up at the ceiling thinking before talking, "Hey, are you gonna continue to be a guy?"

"Well yeah, I've gone through so much training that I'm used to it so I might as well continue, why?"

"Just wondering how everything is gonna pan out now, that's all, anyway goodnight."

"Yeah, goodnight."

Alex falls asleep.

Two weeks later.

Alex is standing on one side of the dojo his training sword in a samurai like stance. On the other side is Ichika who is holding his training sword in front of him. Houki and Charles are watching the two.

Houki holds up her arm, "begin!"

She lowers her arm and both guys rush towards each other. Alex tries to swing to the side but is blocked by Ichika, who knocks Alex's sword upwards. Ichika tries to stab at him but Alex manages to jump to the side. Ichika steps back and readies himself, as does Alex before both move again. Ichika swings his sword but it is blocked by Alex. The two swing at each other a few times, dodging and countering each other. Eventually they stop and both step back again and take stances.

Alex looks out of breath as he grips his sword tighter, "alright Ichika I'm gonna end this."

Ichika just stands there ready as Alex rushes at him. He swings his sword but is blocked again; Ichika then ducks and hits Alex's legs with a swipe. Alex loses his balance and stumbles to the ground. Alex just lays there breathing heavily.

Houki speaks, "Match end, Ichika wins again. Score 10 to 4."

Alex hits the ground in frustration, "Damn, again."

Ichika walks over to him and holds out his hand, "Don't be discouraged, you did really well."

Alex takes his hand and stands, "Yeah but I doubt I'd last long in the tournament."

Houki walks over to them, "Alex you did fine, you're still rough but you can at least hold your own. Honestly I was shocked how quickly you picked up on sword play."

"Well I-"

"But you are far from perfect. You tend to rush too much and you're not fluid enough in your defense to counters. But with that said you are at least proficient."

"Thanks I think...?"

"Well I think that's enough training for today. Let's go Ichika; you're not done with training yet."

Ichika looks completely depressed, "Right, well later guys."

Alex looks to Ichika, "Good luck."

Houki leaves and Ichika follows.

Charles walks over to Alex, "So how you feeling?"

"Like crap."

"You're just not used to all this training."

"I guess. Either way lets head back...I need a shower."

As they turn to leave Chifuyu walks in, "good I found you."

Alex looks concerned, "Did I do something?"

"I don't know did you?"

"If I did you have no proof."

Chifuyu's eyes narrow, "If you did I will find out."

Alex looks concerned, "Like I said you have no proof."

Chifuyu continues, "Anyway, that's not why I'm here, Alex, your personal IS has arrived."

"Really!"

"Yes, so follow me. You will both need to change first."

"Yes ma'am."

Chifuyu turns around and both Alex and Charles follow her. After they both change into their pilot suits she leads them to the practice field and to one of the launch pads, sitting there is a gray colored IS. It is hunched down with its forearms in front of what would be its chest and head area. The IS looks sleeker and less bulkier than other IS systems. It has much thinner arms and legs and 4 long spike like objects protruding from its back, one on each shoulder blade and one below it. The back also has a very skeletal look to it, with a spinal column running down it; armor lines it all the way around to the front. On each forearm looks to be a blade like object running from its wrist and going outward in a curve till it reaches elbow. The fingers each have a silver colored blade on the end.

Chifuyu starts speaking, "This is your personal IS unit the xenomark."

Alex walks over to it excitedly, "So this is it huh, wait I wanted it black."

"It has to resonate with you and go through its first stage, think of this as a protoform. It will change as the AI resonates with you."

"Huh, well can I get some practice in with it?"

"I see no reason why not as no one is using this field right now."

"Awesome, now to activate it, wait how do I-"

Alex places his hand over on the IS and it begins to make a whirring sound before standing up and removing its arms from their current position and places them at its side. This reveals its multi plated chest armor. The armor then begins moving and opens up with the multiple plates all shifting around, the entire chest area becomes open for Alex to enter.

"Sweet, I'm getting in."

Alex runs up and grabs the openings in the chest cavity and pulls himself inside. Once inside he turns around and places his arms and legs into their respective spots. Once done the system makes a beeping noise. The plates begin moving back to their positions over Alex's body. Each plate connects to the other in uniformity until the armor is back complete. The system then projects multiple holo screens with various amounts of information on them.

Chifuyu looks up at him, "alright the system should be on so try to move."

Alex raises both his arms and clenches both hands rapidly, "oh this is awesome, I move my hands and the system reacts perfectly."

Alex takes both his hands and swipes the finger claws down on each other. The blades on the ends of the fingers spark before he does it two more times.

"Oh that is just sick."

Charles walks over to him, "So now that you have your own IS, you wanna try it in a match?"

"You're on."

Chifuyu interjects, "alright then we will hold a training match, first to zero shield points loses understood."

Both in unison, "yes ma'am."

Charles activates his IS, "Alright meet you on the field."

Charles stands on the launch platform which sends him down the ramp. Alex continues to move around a bit in his IS before standing on the platform.

Chifuyu looks at him, "So how is it?"

"Different, it feels so much lighter than the training unit."

"Well that's because it is, your unit is a gen 3. It was developed to be lighter and faster. The downside to this is you lose armor durability and lack a large shield unit."

"Wait I have no shield?"

"No you do, it just isn't as powerful as normal units, it's about 75% what a normal shield's power is. This means that you have a lower defense for a faster IS."

"So it's a tradeoff."

"Either way you won't understand how it functions standing here, go."

"Right."

Alex looks to the field, "Alright, let's do this."

Alex is launched down the ramp and is flung into the stadium; he enters freefall and begins trying to activate his thrusters.

"Come on, not again."

Alex activates his thrusters before landing on the ground near Charles.

"Ok, that went easier than I thought it would."

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, it's just that this is a completely different system compared to the practice units. So I gotta get used to it, but I can do that as we fight."

"Good maybe it can calibrate. Now are you ready?"

"Hang on."

Alex manages to pull up a holo screen of two weapons, one a pistol similar to a long barreled desert eagle, the other a katana like sword.

"Oh these look sweet."

Alex activates them and the pistol appears in his left hand, it has a flat black paint job with neon green features. The sword then materializes in his right; it is also flat black but has multiple silver plates on the broad side while the actual blade is the same neon green.

"Now I'm ready."

"Ok, let's begin."

Both jump back from each other, Charles materializes 2 SMG's as Alex aims his gun at him. Charles jets off sideways and opens fire. Alex follows his movements and avoids the gunfire before shooting back. They continue this until Alex is close enough to slash at Charles with his sword. Alex slashes downward but is blocked by Charles shield; he directs the sword to the side leaving Alex open for his SMG. Charles fires into Alex chest until he manages to kick Charles away. As Charles backs up, Alex aims his pistol and fires, the shot hits Charles in the shoulder and causes him to turn slightly. Alex uses this opportunity to take another slash with his sword. It clashes into Charles chest and sends out sparks. Charles turns to the side from the impact but stops and materializes a shotgun.

Alex looks stunned, "Oh not agai-"

Charles fires the gun and Alex is blown backwards from the force. He falls to the ground but only lies for a bit before standing back up. Charles fires another shell as Alex jets backwards. He goes to the other side of the stadium. Alex stands there and dematerializes his pistol.

Charles laughs, "come on, you can't be scared?"

"No just figured I'd try something different."

Alex takes off at full speed towards Charles. Charles backs up toward the opposite wall and materializes a rifle, he begins firing. Alex dodges the bullets by watching the barrel movement; he quickly jolts from side to side.

Charles's looks concerned as he watches this, "How can he do that without passing out?"

Alex has now gotten close enough to prepare for an attack; he takes both of his hands and holds the sword above his shoulder. Charles tries to aim his rifle but can't as Alex is about to swing his sword. Alex swings his sword but as he does Charles moves to the side and manages to grab Alex's arm and pull him downward with his own momentum. He impales his sword into the ground before smashing into the wall at full speed. Alex bounces off and lands on this ground, his IS reads zero.

Chifuyu speaks over the intercom, "Charles wins."

Charles goes over to Alex who is lying on his back, "are you ok?"

Alex slowly stands up holding onto his side in pain, "Yeah I'm fine, just a little sore, OW...ok a lot sore."

"Sorry, that was a great match though; your training has really been paying off. Actually I was shocked how well you did."

"I seem to be shocking a lot of people today huh? But how were you able to dodge me, I thought I had you?"

"Well that's because you swung your sword too early, I was able to predict your movement and managed to use your momentum to send you flying."

"Man, so it was because of that huh?"

"Yeah, but it was still impressive. I do have a question for you though, are you dizzy, nauseous anything?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well the way you were dodging my gunfire was unheard of, no one has ever been able to withstand that kind of quick movement at that speed without passing out or harming themselves."

"Oh, I didn't even notice."

"Huh, strange."

At this point Chifuyu has walked over to them, "that was a very interesting match. Alex how do you like your IS?"

"It's awesome."

"Good, now dematerialize the IS into standby."

Alex looks confused, "Wait what?"

Chifuyu looks at him annoyed, "Dunois, show him."

"Right." Charles dematerializes his IS and lands on the ground.

Alex watches, "Oh, that's what you meant."

Alex seems to figure it out and his IS dematerializes. A Flat black and neon green accented gauntlet appears on his right forearm.

Chifuyu looks to him, "That is your standby mode; it will remain that way until you activate your IS. Now after your fight the IS needs to recharge, so you can't activate it for a while."

"So no more practice huh?"

"Unfortunately yes, now continue to train like you have and you may actually be a threat at the tournament."

"Yeah, understood."

"Well, since your done go hit the showers."

She walks away as Alex looks to Charles, "So should I take that as a compliment?"

"I would, anyway lets go."

They both walk towards the locker room.