Chapter 7 – Vio's Revelation

"General…?"

Vio was standing at the front doors of what looked like a dark, ruined office of a nation's leader. There were debris all over with the wall opposite the front door torn down. She was looking at a man standing just a few feet away from her facing the opposite direction.

"General?" Vio asked again to the person.

After calling out to him, the man suddenly turned around lazily and started limping towards her.

"A-are you alright, sir?" she asked the man. But the man just slowly walked towards her direction and ignored her question.

By this time, Vio then realized that there was something wrong with this person. She then aimed her handgun at the person but she didn't fired yet. She really wanted to make sure of something before taking action.

"General…, stand down." Vio warned to the person. However, the man just continued his slow approach towards Vio.

"General, I said stand down!" Vio warned again. But the man still continues to limp towards her, this time he raised his arms like preparing to grab Vio when he gets close to her. "Stand down, please. STAND… DOWN, SIR!"

"Grrr…." Grumbled the man hoarsely. "Grraaahh…."

This seemed to confirm Vio's fears, and it was enough to complete her resolve for her next action.

"I'm… I'm sorry…." She muttered in a low voice.

After bracing herself, she then aimed her gun higher, towards the man's head.

"Grraaaaaarrrhhh…."

"I'm… really sorry…"

*BANG!*

"*Gasp*!"

Vio woke up with a startled look while still lying with her back on the bed, wearing a large white t-shirt that reaches down to her upper thighs. In her shirt was a small red bio-hazard symbol printed in the middle. She looked around for a while before concluding that she is indeed still in her bedroom aboard the XBC13.

"It's that dream again, huh." She sighed to herself as she sat up from her bed and peered through the porthole window of her room towards the inky, night sky filled with stars.

"*Sigh*…. Quite a peaceful moment despite being in the middle of a conflict." She mumbled to herself. "I sure hope those two come out alright."

The next morning came. Ever since yesterday's encounter, Vert ordered her troops to sweep the surrounding areas near the Capital of any enemy forces that may still be lingering around. As for Vert and Vio, they continue to monitor the condition of Harley and Nitroplus in the ship's infirmary as they remain unconscious after getting injected by an unknown serum by the man in white named Sherman. The two unconscious girls lay side by side on two hospital beds as medical instruments attached to their bodies continue to monitor their conditions. However, what was weird was that they are strapped in to their respective beds as if to prevent them from getting off it.

"Still unconscious, huh." Said Vert as she arrived at the infirmary while carrying little Yuu with her.

"What took you so long?" asked Vio.

"Well I did gave little Yuu here a bath before coming here." Answered Vert. "So now she is as fresh as she can be, isn't that right, Yuu.~" she said as she cuddled the little girl in her arms, making the toddler giggle.

"Heh, it seems she's growing attached to you, Vert." remarked Vio to her friend.

"Hmhmhm~. That I do not mind happening." Replied Vert.

"Well…, I think it's best if you didn't bring her here inside the infirmary." Vio suggested.

"Hmm?"

"Because before these two fully gains consciousness, little Yuu may find their awakening a bit… scary."

"I see." Said Vert. She then hesitated for a while before saying what was in her mind. "I forgot that this thing also happened to you before. I am sorry for forgetting."

"It's okay, Vert." Vio replied with a smile. "Just take little Yuu away from the infirmary for now so as she doesn't get scared. I'll look after these two."

"I will, Vio. Just call for Compile if you needed assistance." Said Vert. "Let's go back to my room then, little Yuu~?" Vert addressed to the little girl before turning around to leave the infirmary.

Minutes passed, Compile arrived at the infirmary. However, she was accompanied by a person whom they are very familiar with now, especially by Harley.

"B-Bahus…?" blurted by a surprised Vio.

"Well, I have became one with a Fury so I figured out on how to rematerialize in my human form." Bahus answered. "But enough about me. What are Harley and the other girl's conditions?"

"As of now, they are still unconscious." Vio answered.

"Is there any way to help them recover?" questioned Bahus as his worry grows further as time passes by.

"No, there is no stopping the FL-Virus from here once it enters a human body." Vio replied. "We can only wait for its course to end."

"No way. I refuse to believe that there is no other way to help them!" argued Bahus.

"Believe me. There is no stopping the virus!" Said Vio while slowly raising her voice. "We can only hope that the virus finds them compatible so that they could live on and not turn into two undead and mindless Fencers."

"What?!" shouted Bahus in disbelief.

"Oh no! Their vital signs are dropping!" said Compile in a panic.

"Leave them be, miss Compile." Vio told the panicking nurse. "It seems the FL-Virus is taking over their bodies now. Just stay away from them for now until it's over."

"H-huh?!" muttered Compile in shock from Vio's response.

"H-how do you know these things?" Bahus questioned in confusion to Vio.

Vio looked at Bahus for a while and hesitated on what she was about to say.

"Well?!"yelled Bahus.

"Just… stand back from them." Muttered Vio.

And suddenly….

*BEEEEEEEEEEEP*

"F-flat line!" mumbled Compile as she dashed towards to the nearest patient.

"No! Harl-" But before Bahus could finish what he was about to say, he fell into his knees while clutching his chest as if he is in pain.

"What's wrong, Bahus?!" asked Vio as he approaches Bahus to help him.

"I-I don't know…." Bahus replied weakly. "I feel weak all of a sudden…."

"Wh-what…?" was all Vio could say before….

"GAAAAAAAH!" shouted Compile.

Along with her shout, the sounds of the metal frame of the hospital beds clanging were echoing in the room. And when they looked up….

"Wh-what is going on…?!" said a bewildered Bahus.

"It has begun…." Muttered Vio. "This is the reason why I let Vert take little Yuu away from here. The sight really is scary to look at…, even for me."

In the two hospital beds, Harley and Nitroplus' bodies started twitching and convulsing violently. Their eyes wide open as if they were feeling immense amounts of pain. And slowly, their blood vessels can be seen etching underneath their arms, legs, eyes and face.

"NOOO!" yelled Bahus as he stood up with a struggle and made a dash beside Harley's bed.

"There is no helping them from here, Bahus…." Said Vio calmly.

"DAMN WITH THAT!" Bahus cursed to Vio. "YOU'RE JUST REFUSING TO HELP THEM, DAMN IT!"

"Tch… it's not that I don't want to help, Bahus!" Said Vio. It was obvious in her voice that she got pissed off at Bahus for cursing at her.

"Then why do you know all of this is gonna happen, huh?! IT'S OBVIOUS THAT YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO HELP BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CONCERN YOU!"

"BECAUSE I'VE EXPERIENCED THE DARN SAME THING BEFORE, DAMN IT!" yelled Vio in anger.

"G-general Vio…." Muttered Compile silently.

"Y-you what…?" Bahus said in surprise.

"Yeah! I also went through that thing!" Vio continued on. "Are you now happy to know that if those two survived the FL-Virus that they would live on like I do?!"

"I…uh…"

But before Bahus could fully speak, the two girls stopped convulsing and lied still on their beds but their lifeless eyes didn't fully closed and were just slightly open. Their blood vessels also hid back from their skins except in their eyes where it is still visible.

"H-Harley…?" muttered Bahus.

"It is done…." Said Vio after calming down. "Now, we wait and see if the virus properly revives them back to their normal selves."

"Wh-what do you mean, General…?" asked Compile.

"Either they wake up with their sanity and personality intact or they wake up as mindless brain eating individuals." Replied Vio.

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

"Th-their vitals are up again…!" Compile uttered in surprise as she analyzed the medical machine. "Forty…fifty…sixty…, their heart rate is slowly returning back to normal…. Amazing…!"

"Huh, they survived…." Sighed Vio in relief.

"And I… don't feel weak anymore." Said Bahus as he looks down to his hands. "But thank goodness if they are safe now…."

"Hmpf…. I told you to stay calm and wait." Retorted Vio.

"But wait, how can we be sure that they really will wake up normally?" inquired Bahus.

"You see their hearts beating, right?" answered Vio with a tinge of sarcasm. "If they awoken without their hearts beating, then that means they got taken over the wrong way and we end up with two undead girls who'll want to bite on our flesh."

"I… I see…"

"Well, you can stay beside your 'daughter' now if you like to." Said Vio with an emphasis to the word daughter as she turns around to leave the infirmary. "I'm just gonna go and meet Vert to tell her the good news."

"Hey, Vio…" Bahus called for her.

"Yeah?" Said Vio without turning around to look at Bahus.

"Sorry… for doubting you."

"Heh, you have no idea on the situation anyway so it's fine." Vio acknowledges before completely heading out the room.

Two hours passed by, they received news from Compile that Harley and Nitroplus have woken up from their coma. And so Vert, while carrying little Yuu once more, along with Vio and Little Rain headed for the infirmary to meet the two Fencers. And as Little Rain saw Nitroplus awake, she made a dash on her sick friend's bed side.

"Oh thank Celestia that you are alive and well, Nitroplus." Said Little Rain in relief.

"Hehe. Well Ame, as long as there is still evil lingering about the surface of Gamindustri, I will continue to live on and fight." Said Nitroplus.

As for Harley….

"Whoa, you're back to your body!" said Harley as she saw Bahus approach her on her bed side.

"Well, if that white-clothed Fencer can make his Fury take a human or mobile form, why can't I do the same?" replied Bahus. "Anyway, glad to still have you here, partner."

"Yeah. If you ask me, I thought I was a goner back then when we got stabbed by those nasty syringes." Harley said in relief.

"Wait, didn't you two felt what happened when the both of you were unconscious?" Compile asked out of curiosity.

"No…, I can't even remember a thing after losing consciousness." Answered Nitroplus. "Well after waking up, I did felt lightheaded."

"Same with me." Harley told them. "And, it seems that the injury on my right arm opened up again." She pointed out to her right arm which was bandaged but it was obvious that it was profusely bleeding.

"There is one way to heal that wound of yours." Said Vio.

Vio then approached Harley and handed to her a piece of green leaf about the size of a palm.

"Uh…, what do I do with this?" asked Harley in confusion. "Do I apply this directly to my bleeding wound or what?"

"You eat that herb, Harley." Said Vio as a matter-of-fact.

"I… eat it?"

"Just do what she says, Harley." Bahus told Harley as assurance.

"Ookay then." Mumbled Harley as she put the leaf in her mouth and started chewing on it. "Mmm, a bit minty." She added before swallowing.

"Now look at your wound." Vio ordered Harley. "Take off the bandage."

And when Harley did so, not only was she but also the others got surprised with the results. Her wound closed up in an instant she consumed the herb.

"Whoa! That is some wonder herb, Vio." Said Harley in amazement.

"Isn't that Healing herb?" asked Little Rain.

"Yes it is." Vio told her. "And the three of us will be dependent on these herbs when we get injured."

"Huh?"

"What did you mean by that, miss Vio?" asked Little Rain.

"Well, how should I put it?" Vio started. "Harley and Nitroplus here… are now infected by the FL-Virus."

"FL-Virus?" asked Harley.

"That sounds like something sinister." Said Nitroplus.

"Sinister indeed." Vio agreed. "For if you two were found incompatible by the virus, the both of you will end up as one of the undead."

"What?!" shouted the two in unison.

"Actually, you two and me, can already be classified as one of the undead." Vio admitted to them.

And sure enough, everyone in the room, except for Vio and Vert, got the surprise of their lives.

"I-impossible…." Said Nitroplus in disbelief.

"S-so what we're like… zombies now?" Harley uttered in shock.

"Kind of." Answered Vio calmly. "But unlike those mindless critters, the three of us have our sanity and personality intact. And… we also stop aging after getting infected."

"How is that possible?" asked Bahus.

"The FL-Virus was originally made by now extinct Parasol Corp. to make an individual become ageless." Vio explained. "But it turns out, their specimen didn't work like they intended it to do. Sure it prevents cell aging but before it can do that, the virus seems to need to kill the host first before reanimating the body by reactivating each individual cells. But in some cases, when the virus finds the host incompatible, it only reactivates the part of the brain that controls motor functions and instincts. That is when the virus creates an undead being. A mindless, instinct-filled individual that knows nothing but to devour living flesh so that it can sustain its dead body to prevent itself from rotting."

"But how do you know if one is compatible or not?" asked Bahus.

"That I do not know yet." Answered Vio. "To be honest, I was only praying for luck that these two are compatible with the virus."

"You said you are infected by this virus as well, Vio." Nitroplus started. "When did that happened?"

"It happened during the war of the deities." Vio told her. "Parasol Corp. was still active back then and I was one of the captured people that they will use to experiment on."

Vio then wrapped her arms around herself as she recalls those bitter memories of her experience with Parasol Corp. "It was a scary experience…, being trapped in one of their holding cells."

"It especially scared the hell out of me when they suddenly dragged me out of my cell and into their operating rooms." Vio continued on. "The way they strapped me into their operating bed, making sure I wasn't able to struggle free. Then before I knew it, they injected me with the virus. And no matter how scared I was, it didn't prevent me from feeling the sudden surge of weakness within my body. And slowly but surely, I lost consciousness."

"That was quite the experience you got there, Vio." Said Bahus, feeling sorry for her. "So how did you find out about taking care of yourself in that condition?"

"Well, with some sort of luck, I found one of the scientists' notes regarding on how a stable infected like me should maintain my body from degradation." Vio answered. "Because, technically, the bodies of us stable infected are really dead right now. So when we get injured, it doesn't heal because it seems that the virus was only programmed to make the body functional regardless of any damages the body sustained. And it is the virus that keeps our body from quickly degrading."

"But how are our bodies technically dead?" questioned Harley.

"I found out about this when I got shot by a bullet straight to my chest." Vio replied as she pointed out the place in her chest where she got shot.

"You got shot in the heart and you still lived on, General…?" said a bewildered Compile.

"Yup. Even that surprised me too." Vio answered.

"So, how do we sustain ourselves after this…?" Nitroplus asked.

"We just keep eating, that's all." Replied Vio casually. "As we eat, the virus supplies our bodies with the nutrition from the food so that it prevents our cells from degrading and dying completely. So we just eat like we normally do."

"And what about the Healing herbs?" inquired Harley.

"As we all know, Healing herbs work on every individual." Explained Vio. "But for us infected, it is our only way to heal our injuries. No matter what medicine we use, it will not have any effect on us. So like I said earlier, we are deeply dependent on this plant."

"It is a good thing that Healing herbs are quite abundant all around Gamindustri." Vert spoke for the first time ever since the two woke up.

"Indeed." Vio agreed. "From what I have learned from the notes, the extracts of the Healing herb somewhat forces the cells of our bodies to mend itself of any breaches. So I guess it was good enough that the most abundant plant around gamindustri is our healing tool."

"So… I have become a being that nearly crosses the boundaries between life and death." Uttered Nitroplus sadly.

"Not to worry, Nitro." Said Vio assuringly. "If I were able to last long like this, then so will the both of you. Just live your usual lives. Eat well, live well. But just keep some herbs handy in case you get injured."

"Well, I don't mind being like this." Said Harley cheerfully as she stood up from her sickbed and stretched her body, much to Compile's protesting words which she just ignored. "I don't really feel any different than before. And besides, being ageless now is quite a plus."

"But there is one thing we should be careful of." Warned Vio. "Because according to the notes, we shouldn't get our brains receive any forms of damage. If that happens, we die."

"Now I think we've definitely became zombies now." Said Harley sarcastically.

"Parasol Corp. thought that they were finally able to defy death using their intelligence in the field of science…." Muttered Little Rain.

"But it turns out that their age-preventing stunt only puts death closer…." Nitroplus continued. "And I am one of those who is facing death no matter where I go."

"Hush now, Nitroplus." Said Little Rain. "As long as you look after yourself, you will live on like what miss Vio told us. You can live forever…."

"Well, a zombie or not, I'm gonna continue doing what I intend to do." Said Harley casually. "But for now, I'm gonna grab something to eat. So…, see ya guys later." As she said this, she proceeded to leave the infirmary without even changing her clothes from a hospital gown.

"Hey, Harley, at least change your clothes for Celestia's sake!" sweared Bahus as he goes after Harley.

As for Nitroplus, she just lied back down to her bed telling them that she'll just sleep for a while.

"So…, your secret got revealed all of a sudden, huh Vio." Vert said to her friend as she cradles a sleeping little girl in her arms.

"Well it was bound to get revealed anyway." Vio replied. "But I didn't expect it to get revealed this way."

"Well as long as they follow your advice, they should be able to live normally like you do, miss Vio." Said Little Rain optimistically.

"Well, I need to go check on the conditions of the battlefield now." Announced Vert as she makes her way towards Compile to give Yuu to her. "Please take care of her as usual, Nurse Compile."

"I will do so, Lady Vert." Compile replied as she carries the little girl in her arms.

"And I really want to know what that Sherman guy intends after infecting Harley and Nitroplus." Said Vio with a conviction.

And as Vert and Vio was about to leave….

"Uhm…, miss Vio…" Little Rain called out to her.

"Hmm? What is it?" Asked Vio as she stopped at her tracks.

"What does the FL mean in the virus' name?"

"Hmm…" hummed Vio as she thinks about it. "…. It is False Life."

"False Life, huh." Repeated Little Rain.

"The name fits, doesn't it?" asked Vio.

"Why do you think so, General…?" asked Compile.

But before Vio answered, she let out a long sigh.

"I stopped aging five years ago. Doesn't that make you think that I've already died five years ago?"

"General…." Mumbled Compile.

"Because I may be alive now…, but in actual… I'm really dead. Doesn't that count as a False Life?" she ended her words with a smile.

To be continued….