Ch. 8: Zero's Memory of the Past
It's been 3 days since Zero destroyed The Gospel unit that attacked the academy. Zero has spent the time at the research department scanning the core he took out from that unit's chest. He hardly shows up for class and spends most of the time awake.
IS Academy Class 2-1
Ichika and the girls are chatting during break. "Zero really hasn't left the research department since the incident a few days ago." Rin said sighing. "How did he get in there anyways? Since the area is restricted for teachers only." Charlotte asks.
"He must of used his military preferences and got in." Laura said. "So you don't you use your military preferences to get in?" Rin asks as she leans closer to Laura. "He's probably ranked higher than me and I've tried but they won't let me." Laura said glaring at Rin.
"Oh." Rin said backing off. "He really hasn't been back to the dorm room too." Ichika said. "Really?" Cecilia asks.
"Yeah, when I go to bed, he's not there and when I wake up, he's still not there, so he must of slept in the research department." Ichika said replying to Cecilia's question.
Chifuyu walks in. "Hey, Chifuyu, is Zero still at the research department?" Rin asks. Chifuyu hits Rin on her head with a book. "That's Ms. Orimura at school." Chifuyu says giving one of her looks. "And yes, he's still there." She continued. "Oh, Ok." Rin said in a depressed tone.
"Don't worry, he'll be here when he's done." Chifuyu said to cheer Rin up. "Thanks." Rin said as she walks to her desk. The gang looks at her with sad looks. The bells rings and everyone takes their seats.
Half way through class, the door opens and Zero walks in yawning. Everyone looked at him. "What? Is there something on my face?" Zero asks. "No, it's just that you haven't been here for the past few days." Houki said.
"Oh, sorry about that, I've been busy analyzing the core from that Gospel unit and I've just finished a few minutes ago." Zero says while yawning again.
Zero walks to his desk where he falls asleep for the rest of the day. The final bell rings and Zero is still asleep.
"I think we should wake him up now." Cecilia said. "Ok, I'll do it." Rin said. She walks over to Zero and shakes him but no response from him. "Let me try something." Laura walks up to Zero's desk.
"Atten Hut!" Laura yells. Zero stands up. "Captain Commander Zero reporting for duty!" He says standing up quickly and saluting. Everyone laughs at him.
Zero turns to his right and sees everyone laughing. "Not cool Laura, not cool at all." Zero said turning his body around. "Well, Rin tried to wake you and you didn't respond and Laura said she'll try something and it worked." Charlotte said while still laughing.
"Sorry, I guess I was more tired than I thought." Zero replied putting his right hand behind his head. Everyone stopped laughing. "Ok, let's get some practice in for next month's tournament." Ichika said. "Yeah!" Everyone said as they raised a fist in the air.
Everyone goes to leave the room when suddenly Zero hits the floor hard, face first. Everyone turns around and sees him on the floor. "Zero!" Rin yells as they run over to him. Zero is panting heavily and his arm is radiating a red color. "Zero! What's wrong? Zero!" Rin said trying to get a response for him.
Chifuyu walks in and sees Zero's arm. "Move." Chifuyu says as she pushes the gang out of the way. Chifuyu examines Zero. "We need to get him back to his room now." Chifuyu says. Everyone nods and rushes Zero back to his room.
Dorm: Ichika/Zero's room
The gang walks into the room. "Put him on his bed." Chifuyu ordered. Ichika places Zero on his bed. "Where's his bag?" Chifuyu asks. "He keeps it under his bed, by the head area." Ichika says and points.
Chifuyu reaches under the bed and grabs his bag. She opens it and searches for something. "What are you searching for, Mentor?" Laura asks Chifuyu. "This." Chifuyu pulls out a medical box. "What's that?" Cecilia asks.
Chifuyu opens it and takes out a needle and a medical bottle. "What are you doing?" Charlotte asks. "Just watch." Chifuyu says as she flicks the needle.
Chifuyu stabs the needle into Zero's heart and inserts the medicine. Zero's breathing returns to normal and his arm stops glowing. Chifuyu takes the needle out. "Looks like it worked." Chifuyu says. "What did you do?" Rin asks being at Zero's sides.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine now." Chifuyu says as she walks towards the door. "He'll explain when he wakes up." Chifuyu leaves after saying that. Everyone watches Zero as he slept. Meanwhile, Zero was dreaming about the past.
Snowy Mountain Forest: Unknown Time, 1 year ago
Zero walks out of a military tent, wearing blue pants with a sword design on his left side, black and red shoes, a gray t-shirt and a silver and gold sleeveless jacket with a hood and a Z design on the back of the jacket.
"Hey Zero, did you sleep well?" A female said looking at him. "Yeah, I guess." Zero said walking up to where the female is at. "What's the situation?" Zero asks as he looks at a map. "We're still a day and a half away from the final camp site then the factory still be a short hike away." A male soldier said. "Good, it looks like we're making good time." Zero said.
Suddenly someone leans on Zero. "Morning Zero." The person said. "Why do you do this every time I'm looking at maps, Alkaid?" The person gets off Zero and Zero turns around to look at her.
Alkaid is a female soldier with short red hair wearing black pants, a red shirt with 2 swords designed on it and a black jacket with the same Z design as Zero's on her back and red shoes.
"Come on, is that how you greet your girlfriend in the morning?" A male soldier asks. Zero and Alkaid turns and sees a male and female soldier standing together.
The male has short, brown hair, a plain white t-shirt, blue pants and a red jacket with a Z design as well and wearing combat boots.
The female has long dark blue hair down to her mid back, a t-shirt with an ocean design on it, white pants with an ocean wave design on the right side, black shoes and a blue jacket with the Z design on the back.
"Talon and Edge, good morning!" Alkaid said waving at them. "Now that everyone in Zeta is here, let's start the debriefing." Zero said.
Zero, Edge, Talon and Alkaid, these four soldiers make up Zeta. Zeta went into a big tent and started the debriefing.
After an hour, Zeta came out of the tent. "Men, we leave in 10, so start getting ready." Zero said to the group of soldiers. "Yes sir." They said as they started packing.
After a day and a half of hiking, Zeta and their men arrives at the main camp. They all enter the camp and settle in. "Welcome to the main camp, Zeta squad." A soldier says while he salutes them. "At ease." Zero said. The soldier ends his salute.
"What's the situation at the factory?" Alkaid asks. "So far everything has been quiet. No IS units and no troops." The soldier says. "Ok, have everyone relax but also on standby." Zero ordered. "Yes sir." The soldier says and saluted Zero as he went to deliver Zero's order.
"Alright, relax time." Edge said while stretching. "Yeah, I agree with you on that man." Talon said. "You two are lazy." Zero said. "Come on Zero, you need to relax while we're at base." Alkaid said leaning on Zero. Zero sighs. "You're right, I do need to relax some." Zero said in agreement, since he was out numbered. "Yay!" The rest of Zeta said.
Zeta went into their tent and pulled out some drinks. They were chatting about the days of the training academy. "Man, that was the good old days." Edge said after downing his drink. "Take it easy with the drinks Edge." Alkaid said.
"Leave him be, he's enjoying himself." Talon said after taking a sip from her drink. "Fine, what about you Zero?" Alkaid asks looking towards Zero. Zero doesn't says anything, since he has been staring at his right arm and Zedept's gauntlet.
"Zero, Zero, hey Zero!" Alkaid yelled. Zero looked up fast. "Huh, sorry was thinking about something." Zero replied. "Damn, even relaxing you can't stop thinking about the mission." Alkaid said shaking her head. "I just have a bad feeling about this mission." Zero said in a serious tone.
Everyone looks at him. "What?" Zero said being confused by their looks. "Same here." "Yeah." "Same." Zeta says. After a few minutes of silence, a soldier enters their tent. "Zeta, please come to the meeting tent. The briefing is about to start." The soldier says. "Thank you, we'll be right there." Zero said. The soldier salutes and leaves. "Let's go." Zero said to Zeta. They got up and headed to the meeting tent.
After an hour inside the tent, Zeta leaves the tent. "Everyone, Atten Hut." Zero says and all the soldiers inside the camp lines up in front of Zeta. "We strike the factory tomorrow at first light, get plenty of rest for the attack, that's all, dismiss." Zero announced to the soldiers. They all salute and continues on with what they were doing.
"Alright, let's prepare for tomorrow." Zero said as he walks off somewhere. "Wonder where he's going?" Edge asks. Alkaid and Talon shrugs.
The Next Day
Talon and Edge are preparing the troops while Zero and Alkaid are still asleep. "Zero got in pretty late after he told us to got plenty of rest." Talon said. "Just let him be, he'll be fine as always." Edge replied. "Think he'll like his morning gift?" Talon asks. Edge and Talon looks at each other and chuckles.
Meanwhile in Zeta's tent. Zero is waking up. "Mm, morning already?" Zero asked himself. "Morning sweetie." Alkaid said laying under Zero's cover. "Alkaid, what time is it?" Zero asks. "Enough time to spent some time alone before we need to get ready." Alkaid said smirking a little.
"Alkaid, are you naked?" Zero asked her with a weird look. "Maybe." Alkaid said in a teasing tone. "I see." Zero also said in a teasing tone. As they were about to kiss, a soldier opens the tent. "Zero, Alkaid we need." The soldier said before he stopped and saw Alkaid half-naked.
"Did you ever hear of knocking!" Zero yelled as he sat up without his shirt on. "What's going on here?" A few soldier asks as they gather around the opening of the tent. "Woo, Zero got some last night!" A male soldier said. "Hey Alkaid, Do you enjoy the ride?" A female soldier asks. Zero got frustrated. "Everyone get out now!" Zero yelled loudly. Everyone ran away fast so they didn't get hit by Zero's rage.
Talon and Edge are laughing from a safe distance. "Damn those soldiers." Zero said shaking his right fist. "Calm down, besides, I think you bought us some time." Alkaid said as she lays on him and lying Zero down.
"Sorry Alkaid, I'm not in the mood anymore." Zero says as he sits up again. "I understand." Alkaid said. They both got dressed and left the tent. As they walked out everyone was looking at them.
"What are you all looking at? Get back to work!" Zero said still angry. "Enjoyed your morning present from Alkaid." Talon asked. Zero just glares at her. "Sorry, guess I shouldn't of asked." Talon said backing up. "Lighten up man." Edge said patting Zero on his back.
Zero looks over at him. "Fine, it was an accident after all." Zero said. Zeta gathered the soldiers. "Ok, everyone we're moving out, activate stealth mode." Zero said as everyone activated a camouflage system.
Zeta and the soldiers arrive at the edge of the forest where there lies an abandoned factory. "Alright, me and Zeta will infiltrate the factory and destroy it from the inside along with any rogue IS parts." Zero said. "And you guys stay here and take care of anything that tries to get in, got it?" Alkaid asks. "Yes sir." Everyone said. "Let's go Zeta." Zero said as Zeta deployed their units in stealth mode.
Zero has Zedept, Alkaid's unit is a feminine version of Zedept, but the wing system is a Blue Tears model, color of her unit is red (primary) and black (secondary). Edge's unit is a Byakushiki unit, color is dark brown and white. Talon's unit is a Raphael-Revive, color is dark blue.
All of their units have the same size reduction as Zero's Zedept. Zeta enters the factory as they reach the lowest part of the factory. "This is it, the lowest part of the factory." Zero said looking around the corner. Zero signals them and Zeta moves forward.
They found a door. "This must be it." Edge says. "Let's go." Zero said as he opens the door. Zeta enters and after looking around, they deactivate their stealth mode. "Looks like we found the rogue parts." Talon said. "Yeah, let's plant the devices and get out here." Zero said.
They pull out explosive devices and plants them throughout the factory. "All devices are planted." Edge said. "Good, let's go." Zero said. As they were about to leave, a blasts hit the ground it front of them. "What was that?" Alkaid asks. "HAHAHA! Think you'll leave out of here alive, Zeta?" A voice said.
Zeta turns around and sees a female in a Blue Tears model unit. Zero pulls out his gun "Flash Shot!" Zero yells. A blinding flash shot out of his gun. Zeta vanishes as the light disappears. "Damn, I thought this place was empty." Zero said.
"Zeta, come in, Zeta please respond." A voice says coming over the communication channel. "This is Zero, what's happening out there?" Zero responds while still running. "It's a trap, get out of there now!" The soldier says before he got shot. The line went dead.
"Damn it! Why didn't we see this coming?" Zero asks. "Don't worry about it, let's just get out there and help them out." Alkaid said. "Agreed, let's go." Zero said.
Suddenly a blast pierced Edge's body. "Ahh!" Edge yells. Zeta turns around and sees Edge is bleeding. "Edge! Hang in there!" Talon said as she runs to his side. "Where do you think you're going?" A voice asks.
They looked at saw the same female from the lowest level. Edge pushes Talon away back to Zero and Alkaid. "Go! I'll handle her!" Edge yells at them. "No! We're not leaving you behind!" Zero yells back. "No arguing, just go!" Edge yells at them. "Alright, just come back alive, got it?" Alkaid says to him. Edge gives a thumbs up. Zeta leaves.
"How honorable, sacrificing yourself for them." The female said. "I'll always lay my life on the line for them." Edge says. "Sorry Zeta, it looks like I'm not coming back this time." He says in his head. Edge charges.
Zeta is still running, trying to escape from the factory. Talon looks back. "Don't worry about him, he'll be fine." Alkaid says to her. "I know." Talon says.
Suddenly Zero stopped. "What's wrong?" Alkaid asks. Then Alkaid and Talon sees a male in a IS unit. "So you made it this far. Who's my opponent?" The male asks. "I'll be your opponent." Talon says walking forward. "Are you sure?" Zero asks. "Yeah. You two need to get out of here, now go." Talon said. "Alright, good luck." Alkaid says. Zero and Alkaid runs. "Edge, this is for you." Talon thought to herself as she charges the male.
Zero and Alkaid makes it out of the factory. "We made it, thanks to them." Alkaid says. Zero is looking around. "What is it?" Alkaid asks as her looks at Zero. Alkaid then turns around and sees the dead bodies of the soldiers that they took with them. "No way." Alkaid said placing her hands in front of her mouth.
Zero clinches his hands with a mad look on his face. Suddenly a massive group of IS's appeared along with the two that Edge and Talon was fighting. "Two down and Two to go." The male says. "Yeah, they were weaker then we was told." The female says. Zero looks at them. "What did you do to them?!" Zero yells angrily.
"We killed them!" They said in unison. "Damn you guys!" Alkaid said. "Everyone, attack!" The two pilots said. "No more holding back, let's get them Alkaid!" Zero said drawing his sword. "Agreed, let's avenge them." Alkaid said holding two twin swords in a back grip style.
Zero and Alkaid attacks the group of IS's. After 42 minutes of fighting. Alkaid screamed. "Ahhh!" Zero turned around and saw Alkaid injured. "Alkaid!" Zero said as he speed dashes over to her. "I'm alright, just a scratch." She said holding her left arm, still holding her sword as well.
Suddenly the male pilot came rushing in with a sword drawn and ready to attack. "Take this!" He said about to slash Alkaid, who couldn't move in time. Zero saw the attack coming and dashed in front of the attack.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Zero said as his right arm gets cut off. "Zero!" Alkaid said as Zero falls to his left knee. "I'm alright." Zero said in pain.
"Stupid, trying to save someone that's about to die anyways." The female said as they laugh. All of the remaining IS's started to surround Zero and Alkaid. "Damn it, this can't be the end, can it?" Alkaid asks. Zero remained silent.
"This is the end of Zeta." The female said. "I won't." Zero started to say. Alkaid looks at Zero. "Zero?" Alkaid asks. "I won't . . . LET THEM!" Zero yelled as he vanished. "Where'd he go?" The male asks.
Suddenly all of the IS's fell to the ground, destroyed. Zero reappeared in between Alkaid and the male and female. "Zero." Alkaid said as she looks at him.
Zero was glowing with a black aura around him while holding a scythe. Alkaid was surprised by what was happening to him. "Are you alright Alkaid?" Zero asked in an evil tone. "Yeah, but what's happening to you?" Alkaid asks in a concerned voice.
"Don't worry, it's only temporary." Zero said as he turns to her. Suddenly a shot flew past Zero's head and hit Alkaid's chest and pierced through her. Zero's eyes grew wide as he sees Alkaid getting hit by the blasts. "Alkaid!" Zero said as he grabs her with his left arm.
"Stay with me, hold on." Zero said trying to get a response from her. Alkaid doesn't respond. "That takes care of her, now only one remains." The female says as she points her rifle up. Zero's black aura gets bigger and darker. "I'm going to send you to hell, YOU BASTARDS!" Zero says as he disappears.
Zero appeared behind the male and slices him in half with his scythe. "Ahhh!" The male says as he falls to the ground. Zero disappears again. "Where did he go this time?" She says as she looks around for him. Zero suddenly appeared in front of her.
"Burn in hell, you bitch!" Zero said as he slashes with his scythe, killing the female pilot. Zero disappears and reappears where Alkaid is at. Zedept returns to standby mode as its energy reaches zero.
"Alkaid, are you still here? Please speak to me." Zero said as he lifts her up. Alkaid opens her eyes with little strength she has. "Zero." She says weakly. "I'm here Alkaid." Zero says as he starts to cry. "I think that I'm not going to make it." She says.
Zero shakes his head. "No, don't say that, you'll make it just hang in there." He says. The wound where she was shot got more bloodier. "Listen to me Zero." She says as she raised her left hand to his right cheek. "You're a strong man, you'll carry on our dream of making this world a better place for the next generation." Zero interrupts her.
"Quit talking and save your strength." He says while still crying. "Please, let me finish." She said. "Ok." He said. "I know that you'll never forget us but you will need to move on. You'll find a girl that you'll love and she'll love you back for who you are." She continued before he interrupted her again.
"No, you're the only one for me." He said. "That means a lot to me but you'll find love again. Don't lose yourself, stay as the kind man you are now, don't forget that there are people that still care about you, and never forget Zeta's goal of bringing peace to the world." She says as he flinches from the pain. "Alkaid!" he says with concern. "Don't ever forget about us and don't forget that I love you." She says right before she dies.
Her hand falls and Zero yells. "No, Alkaid, NOOOOO! ALKAAAAAAAAIIDDDDDD!" He yells as he holds her body to his. Zero cries even harder. "Damn, I've lost a lot of blood, I'm starting to black out. Evan (Edge's real name), Taylor (Talon's real name), and Ashley (Alkaid's real name), I'm sorry I couldn't protect you all, please for…give me." Zero says as he blacks out falling next to Alkaid's body.
A group of American soldiers appear at the factory as it blows up from the devices Zeta planted. "Quick, check to see if there are any survivors." A male soldier orders. They fan out and check the bodies. "Sir, I found Zero and Alkaid." A female soldier says.
"Check their pulse." The male says. The female checks their pulse. "Nothing from Alkaid sir, she's gone." The male gets a sad look on his face. "What about Zero?" The male asks. "It's very weak but there's a pulse." The female says. "Good at least we can save him." The male said.
"Sir, we've check the destroyed factory and found Talon and Edge dead sir." Everyone got sad. "So with this, Zeta is gone, let's get Zero back to base for medical attention and bring Zeta's dog tags, he'll want them." The male soldier orders. "Yes sir." The soldiers salute as they do what he ordered.
U.S. IS Military HQ: 3 days later
Zero wakes up and notices that he's in a room. "Where am I?" He asked himself as he sits up. "Ow, my head." He said as he tries to grab it with his right hand but doesn't feel anything touches his head. "Huh?" He says. Then he looks and sees that he's missing his right arm and he's wrapped in bandages. "Mm, What happened to me?" He asks himself.
The door opens and Sky and Shana walks in. "Oh, you're awake, that's good." Shana said. Zero looks over and sees them. "Mentor, Shana, where am I?" Zero asks as he tries to leave the bed but stopped due to his injuries.
"Don't move around a lot, you're injured pretty bad." Sky said. "Where are the rest of Zeta?" Zero asked. Sky and Shana looked at each other and back at Zero. "What?" Zero asks in confusion. "First off, you're in the medic room back at HQ and, about Zeta." Sky said. Sky and Shana explained what happened, since they got the info from Zedept's memory.
"No, it can't be." Zero said looking at the bed. "It's true Zero, we got the info from Zedept's memory." Shana said. "Here." Sky pulled out 3 dog tags and placed them on Zero's lap. "These are." Zero said as his eyes widen.
"Yes, it's their dog tags, I'm sorry, if we only found out about the trap sooner." Shana said turning her head to her right. Zero said nothing as he grabs their dog tags. "Please leave me alone for a while." Zero said as he looks at their dog tags. "I understand." Sky and Shana said as they start to leave.
For the next week, Zero hardly said anything to anyone, hardly eating and barely moving from the bed. Sky walked in a saw Zero was laying on his left side. "You awake?" Sky asks. Zero doesn't move but answers. "Yes, what is it Mentor?" Zero said in a depressed tone.
"How would you like to fight again?" Sky asked. Zero sat up and turned towards Sky. "How? Without my right arm, I can't use Zedept and I can fight with my weapons well either." Zero says as he grabs his right shoulder.
"There's a special surgery that has been made to give you a right arm, made from IS parts. So do you want to take it?" Sky asked. Zero pulls out Zeta's dog tags. Which he put on his.
"To avenge their deaths, I'll do anything to fight again." Zero says as he clinches the dog tags. "Alright, I'll set it up then." Sky said as she left the room.
Zero was transported to the operating room and was about to take the surgery. "You ready for this?" Shana asks Zero. "Yeah and with this, I can fight again." Zero replied being prepped for the surgery. "Now remember that this is the first time this type of surgery has been done, think you can handle it?" Sky asks. "Compare to losing Zeta, this will be nothing." Zero said.
Zero was then taken into surgery. "Ahhhh!" Zero yelled, since he refused to be numbed for the surgery. "Hold on Zero, we're almost done." A doctor said. "This is nothing." Zero said in pain. "Now all that's left is to connect your nerves to your new arm." The doctor said. "Do it." Zero said. The doctor connected the nerves to the arm. "AHHHHHH!" Zero yelled.
IS Academy Dorm: Ichika/Zero's room
Zero suddenly woke up and sat up fast, panting hard. "A dream? No, it was a memory." He said to himself. Zero looked to his right and saw that Rin and the gang was asleep. "I'm in my dorm room?" Zero asked himself. Zero got up and left the room. A few minutes later, Rin wakes up and sees that Zero isn't in the room. "Huh? Where did Zero go?" Rin asked herself as she got up. Rin left the room and checked the roof.
Dorm: Roof
Rin opens the door and looks around for Zero. "Is he up here?" Rin asked herself. After looking around, she finds Zero sitting at the edge of the roof. "There you are." Rin said.
Zero turned his head around and saw Rin. "Oh, hi Rin." Zero said as he turned his head back to where it was before, staring at the ocean. "May I join you?" Rin asks. "Sure." Zero replied.
Rin sat next to Zero. "Last thing I remember is that we were leaving the classroom, after that I woke up in the dorm room." He said while still looking at the ocean. "You collapsed on the floor and your arm was glowing, we and Chifuyu took you back to the room and Chifuyu took something out of your bag and stabbed your chest and your arm stopped glowing." Rin explained to Zero.
"Oh, I see, that explains everything." He said looking at his arm. "So it's almost time then." He said to himself. "Time for what?" She asked. "Nothing, don't worry about it." He said to her.
"Hum, Zero." Rin said as she looked down. Zero looks over to her. "Yeah?" He asked. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you but we haven't had time with just the two of us." She continued. "Ok, and what is it?" He asked. "I don't really know how to tell you." She said, still looking down. "You can say it." He said looking at her.
She looks over to him and back down. "I, uh, I." She tried to say. "You?" He said. Rin suddenly kisses Zero passionately on the lips. Zero eyes widen by this. Rin broke the kiss. "I like you a lot and, I just want to be by your side." She said.
Zero turned away from her. "I'm sorry but I can't." Zero said remembering what happened to Alkaid. "I know it's because of what happened to Zeta, since your girlfriend was a part of Zeta." Rin said. Zero doesn't reply. "You don't have to respond right now, I just wanted to let you know." She says to him.
Zero stands up and starts to walk back to the door. "I'll think about it and let you know when I've made my choice." Zero says. "Ok, I'll wait for your answer." Rin got up as well. They walk back to the dorm as the sun sets.
Dorm: Ichika/Zero's room
Zero and Rin walks into the room and sees that everyone else is up. "There they are, are you feeling better Zero?" Ichika asked.
"Yeah, thanks to the meds Chifuyu used." Zero replied. "What is that medicine anyways?" Laura asked. "Since this happened, I'll tell you." Zero said as he sat on his bed.
"When I got this arm, there was a side-effect, it gave my an unknown infection that can only be delayed by taking pills and when it hits certain stages, my arm glows and I have to take this special medicine that slows it down." Zero explained.
"Will this infection kill you?" Rin asked. "Eventually it will, since the infection is starting to build an resistance to the pills." Zero replied. Rin got scared. "As long as I get stronger pills, I'll be fine." Zero said as he saw Rin's reaction.
"So where do you get the pills?" Charlotte asks. "Back at HQ." Zero replies. "So you'll have to go back to the U.S. then?" Cecilia asks. "Yeah." Zero said as he looks at the gang.
"When do you leave?" Houki asks him. "Sooner the better." Zero said as he grabs his bag and puts the medicine away. Chifuyu walks in. "Good, you're up." Chifuyu says to Zero.
"Thanks for injecting the medicine." Zero thanks her. "Thank your mentor for telling me about the infection and medicine." Chifuyu said with her arms crossed. Zero nods his head. "Girls, time to leave." Chifuyu says to them. The girls leave.
"Well, might as well get ready for bed." Ichika said. "Yeah." Zero agreed. They went and got ready for bed, taking a shower, brushed their teeth and had a quick drink and used the bathroom then went to sleep.
