Chapter 9
Guest of Honor
(Just FYI, it's pronounced all-gren. Also I changed the color Rio dyed his hair from black to brown and corrected a mistake in last chapter and put Irma and Tanya in Betty Squad.)
As he saw them approach, the visiting officer slung his bag over his shoulder and went to meet them as well. Now that she was closer, Emma was able to get a better look at him. He was actually quite handsome with strong angular features and short brown hair beneath his cap. And while he looked roughly the same age as her, the fact that he had already been promoted to Captain meant he had to be an exemplary soldier. But what really stood out was the way he walked; straight, confident, seemingly unconcerned that he had been left behind on an island populated entirely by Norma. Even the pilots of the weekly supply shipments were hesitant to venture very far from the plane and were always quick to leave once their cargo had been unloaded. Now he stood before them and Emma found herself speechless as her reflection stared back at her from the lenses of his sunglasses. What sort of man had they sent here exactly?
"Second Lt. Emma Bronson?" he suddenly asked.
"Um yes that is correct," she said and hurriedly saluted him. What is wrong with you? she scolded herself. You're a soldier so get it together. Luckily, the officer didn't seem to notice and he returned her salute.
"I'm Captain Joseph Algren. On behalf of the Norma Management Board, I've been assigned to inspect Arzenal and its systems"
"About that," Emma mentioned. "Where's Col. Ackerman? I was told..."
"Yes I know," the Captain interrupted. "I apologize for the misinformation but it was essential to maintain the security of the operation."
"Operation?"
"Those two Norma that escaped and were subsequently recaptured? I assume you heard of the terrorist attack in Misurugi?"
"Of course but what does that..."
"Then are you also aware that the reason they launched that attack was to liberate one of the escaped Norma?" Emma gave a start. She hadn't read that in the report. "Luckily we recaptured her shortly afterwards and returned her here along with the other."
"No, actually I wasn't."
"And there's good reason for that," the Captain explained. "Norma-sympathist groups occasionally sprout up but they lack the resources or manpower to launch an attack on that scale. There was one particular group that did but they were deemed destroyed years ago."
"Yes I know," Emma agreed. "That so called 'Network,' the one that was involved in the failed Norma rebellion."
"And now it seems as if they've not only survived but have rebuilt their organization. I don't have to tell you the panic that would result if it were made public knowledge that such a group existed."
"But what does that have to do with Arzenal?" she asked. Capt. Algren looked past her towards Commander Jill and gestured for Emma to come closer.
"We can't say for certain," he whispered, "but its possible that these terrorists have made contact with the Norma stationed here."
"In Arzenal? Preposterous! I assure you if any unauthorized contact was made I would know about it!" Too late, she realized she had spoken back to a superior officer.
"I don't doubt your capabilities," he assured her. "However, the Norma are far more clever than you may realize. Which is why Col. Ackerman assigned this task to me. I have experience in other Norma facilities and am well versed in their tricks. As for the Colonel, he is currently following the Network by means of a stealth reconnaissance craft. In the meantime, you are to aid the operation by tailoring all correspondence to reflect that the Colonel is here performing the inspection. We can't risk the enemy learning of the trap." Emma's head spun as a thousand thoughts assaulted her at once. In order to maintain Arzenal's security, the only communication between them and the Norma Management Board was through primitive wireless transmissions. That way, no one could use the Light of Mana to listen in. Between that and her own presence it should not be possible for anyone to have gained unauthorized access to the base. But what if they used a non-Mana based means of communication, she realized. If a terrorist organization really had infiltrated Arzenal without her knowledge then the situation was more dire then she feared. Then again, if she could assist in exposing it then her failure regarding Lady Misty and the escaped Norma could very well be forgotten. Either way, she couldn't risk ignoring the possibility. Not with her own career on the line.
"I agree with your analysis of the situation," she finally said. "You will have my full support and cooperation in this task."
"Excellent," the Captain said. "But I would have expected no less from the daughter of Senator Bronson himself."
"You...know my father."
"I've never had the pleasure of meeting him myself," The Captain said. "But his service to Rosenblum both in the Guard and the Parliament is well known. I consider it a great honor to work with a relative of his."
"Oh...well," Emma said as she hoped her blush wasn't too noticeable, "I certainly appreciate the sentiment Captain." Capt. Algren meanwhile, had stepped past her and handed his bag to Commander Jill. "Soldier, take this."
"Excuse me?" Jill asked. Before Emma could say anything, the Captain's face changed from polite to angry. His sunglasses were removed and he leaned in towards Jill, his green eyes blazing with fury.
"Are you defying a Superior's orders?" Jill's eyes widened in shock but she held her ground.
"I am the Commander of this base," she stated
"And you're also a Norma!" he warned. "Need I remind you that you only are allowed your position by our grace. Especially considering how it was under your command that two Norma not only escaped but kidnapped her highness Lady Misty. All I have to do is make the call and you'll find yourself scrubbing toilets in the most remote Norma facility imaginable for the rest of your natural life. Is that clear?" Emma felt her heart stop as she watched until finally, the Commander relented and took the Captain's bag with a salute.
"I apologize sir." The captain harrumphed in annoyance and gestured towards Emma.
"Inspector, will you please show me the way to my quarters?"
"Yes sir. Right this way." She hurried forward and the Captain followed with Commander Jill shortly behind.
"I apologize for that display," he told her as he put his sunglasses back on. "But like any animal you have to be firm when dealing with Norma or else they turn on you the first chance they get."
"I understand completely Captain." Actually, Emma was quite impressed. Although technically she was superior to Commander Jill, she was frequently intimidated by her steely bearing. But Capt. Algren had reined her in with nothing more than a stern tone.
Perhaps this week might not be so bad after all.
From the window of the Villa, Momoka peered out at the party that headed towards the house. Behind Ms. Emma walked a tall man in an officer's uniform followed by Commander Jill who carried a duffel bag over her shoulder. Is that really Mr. Rio? she wondered. From what the Commander had told her, he had been sent by the same people that had aided Sir Tusk in his rescue of Lady Angelise. Though she hadn't been told why, apparently Mr. Rio's assignment was to keep the Inspector distracted from something called "Libertus." Jill hadn't explained anything further except that if Libertus was found out then Lady Angelise's life would be in danger. And as her head maid that was something Momoka could not allow. Just then, a knock at the door signaled the arrival of her guests and Momoka went to answer.
"Good morning," she announced as she opened the front door. "Welcome to the Arzenal guest house."
"Ah Momoka," Ms. Emma said. "You're doing well?"
"I suppose," Momoka answered. "Though I would feel much better if I could be allowed to serve Lady Angelise."
"And as I've already told you," Commander Jill repeated. "She gets no visitors or special treatment until after her punishment is served."
"Uh yes," Ms. Emma continued. "Now Momoka, this is Capt. Algren and he'll be residing here for the week. You'll be in charge of attending to his personal needs." From behind Ms. Emma, the officer stepped into the foyer and circled around Momoka, his boots clicking on the hardwood floor. A look of disdain spread across his face and Momoka suddenly felt very intimidated as her reflection starred back at her from his mirrored sunglasses.
"So THIS is the maid who allowed herself to be purchased by a Norma? Disgusting!"
"That is correct sir," Ms. Emma answered. "But due to her defection from duty, the Norma in question has been stripped of all properties. I assigned her maid to the guest house after she and Ange were returned to us. I felt that having a domestic would make your stay more pleasurable."
"I am only serving this role temporarily," Momoka stated. "Once Lady Angelise has been released from incarceration I fully intend to resume my rightful duties as her head maid." Ms. Emma flinched and nervously looked at the officer.
"Momoka please! Captain, I apologize." The Captain simply raised his hand.
"It is not your fault," he assured her. "I suppose that it would be more tolerable than having a Norma perform the task." Gesturing to Commander Jill, the Captain beckoned for the bag she carried which he slung over his caped shoulder. "Commander, you are dismissed."
"Sir," Jill curtly said as she saluted and turned to leave.
"Inspector," he continued. "I will require certain documents."
"Of course sir," Ms. Emma agreed. "I shall grant you full access to Arzenal's database and..."
"No!" he interrupted. "Bring me the hard copies. The ones used by the Norma."
"Sir?' Ms. Emma asked as she blinked in confusion.
"I find that the best way to anticipate a Norma's actions is to think like them," he explained. "To that end, I will conduct this investigation as if I were one of them."
"Well...I guess there is some logic to that. It will take a while to get them all together though." Reaching within his chest pocket, the Captain pulled a sheet of paper which he gave to Ms. Emma.
"Perfectly understandable. I need some time to stow my belongings as well as to properly train the maid you've supplied me. I have very specific requirements regarding my diet and how I like my quarters kept. Here is the list of everything I require. I shall contact you once I am ready to begin."
"Understood sir." With a salute, Ms. Emma left to collect the documents. Once the door was closed and they were alone, Momoka followed the Captain as he headed for the parlor. Following a glance out the window, his bearing relaxed and he removed his sunglasses.
"We're clear. We can talk now." The familiar behavior eased her apprehension and Momoka sighed in relief.
"Mr. Rio? Is that really you?" Rio smiled and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Well I like to think a face like mine is hard to forget." Momoka couldn't help but giggle slightly. Mr. Rio was so charmingly eccentric. And of course he was one of the few who didn't turn on Lady Angelise for being a Norma so that automatically put him on her good side.
"I almost didn't recognize you," she admitted. "It was like looking at another person."
"Colored hair gel and contacts," he explained. "Along with some acting tricks I learned from our Head of Intel. Now, could you tell me what happened to Hilda and Ange? Are they alright?"
"As far as I can tell," she answered. "Commander Jill put them in something called 'The Hole'. And for some reason I'm not allowed to bring them anything or even visit."
"Solitary confinement," Rio nodded. "It's not pleasant but it won't kill them."
"Is there anything you can do?" she asked. "If you're pretending to be an officer can't you order the Commander to at least let me bring her a decent meal? I promise I'll bring enough for Ms. Hilda as well." Rio frowned and shook his head.
"Believe me, I wish I could but I'm playing this close to the chest. I can't afford to do anything that might tip off the Inspector." Momoka hung her head and frowned. "I'll tell you what. I can't do anything about their situation but I will have to speak with them while I'm here. Maybe I can sneak in a little something under cover to make their time easier." Momoka felt joy wash over her and she clapped her hands together.
"Yes, thank you so much."
"In the meantime," he added, "I'll need your help. You may not know this but we in the Network can't use Mana to communicate. So I'll need you to act as both my maid AND my secretary. For the duration of this week, consider yourself deputized as a Network agent." Momoka nodded and gave a salute.
"Yes sir. Agent Momoka reporting for duty."
"Good. Now then, have you seen a briefcase anywhere in this house? I'm going to need it for later."
In the waters east of Arzenal, a dark shadow crept beneath the surface of the tropical ocean waves. Long and tubular, much like Neo-Zion, the Blue 6 was another relic of the pre-Mana age. Built as a mobile reconnaissance platform, the Blue 6 lacked the size and armaments of the famed Aurora, but made up for it with a highly advanced surveillance system and the ability to stay submerged for weeks at a time. Which made it perfect as the flagship of the Network's Intel.
Behind the bridge, at the rear of the top deck, Chaplain stood amidst a team of hackers, analysts and other specialists. With the mission currently underway at Arzenal, it was essential that all messages and transmissions from the island be monitored to ensure that Rio's cover wasn't blown before the Norma were ready to evacuate. Behind him, the forward hatch opened and one of the crew stepped through.
"How's our guest?" Chaplain asked. Earlier that day, they had snatched none other than Colonel Felix Ackerman when the agents transporting him had faked an engine malfunction, allowing Rio to take his place under the identity they had created for him.
"Making out with a mop in his room and calling it, 'Lady Misty'," the crewman answered. Chaplain shook his head. One thing he had to admit about Doc's concoctions, they never failed to produce interesting results in their subjects.
"Sir," one of the hackers said. "We've got a transmission coming from Arzenal. It's the Inspector."
"Patch her through." Gesturing to the only Norma in the room, Chaplain called her over to be the voice. One good thing about Arzenal, it's wireless communication was much easier to hack into via technology than mana transmissions. And far harder to detect as well.
"Hello," a woman's voice said over the intercom. "This is Inspector Bronson calling the committee with a priority one message."
"I read you Inspector Bronson," she said. "We're ready to receive your report."
"At approximately 1030 hours, Col. Felix Ackerman arrived at Arzenal. He is currently residing in the Guest Villa." Chaplain smiled. It looked as if his analysis of Bronson's psyche had enabled Rio to pull off the con.
"Understood," the voice answered. "Continue reports as scheduled."
"One more thing," Bronson added. "I'd like to request the service record regarding one Capt. Joseph Algren. He is accompanying the Colonel and I'd like to know what level of authorization he has." Bronson might have been naïve but that didn't mean she was stupid. Well, Chaplain had prepared for this and he nodded towards his subordinate.
"Understood. We will send the file shortly."
"Thank you committee." The line was cut and Chaplain gestured to the team's forgery specialist who pulled up the file he had made for Rio. The hackers meanwhile, began doctoring the Inspector's call before passing it on to the committee.
Behind the desk in her office, Inspector Emma read off the file she had just printed out. Capt. Joseph Algren. Age 24. Height: 6' 0". Weight: 80 kg. Hair: brown. Eyes: green. Born in Rosenblum and graduated from the Academy at the age of 20 via service credit at the Galian Norma industrial facility. Former vice head of security for the Marmeria Republic's Norma colony. Currently stationed as an attache to Colonel Felix Ackerman. Recipient of the Emergency Service Ribbon, the National Medal of Merit, and the Distinguished Norma Management Medal. Clearance level Beta.
It all checks out, she thought. She didn't know why, but as she was collecting the hard files the Captain requested, something had triggered her suspicions. While it was believable that she had been fed misinformation regarding the nature of the inspection, that the committee wouldn't alert her to a possible security risk was a bit peculiar. She herself had the same clearance level so why wasn't that information shared with her? Unless it was the committee protecting their own image, she decided. Emma still remembered how shocked she was when Momoka had first arrived at Arzenal and the committee ordered her to be executed. Though she had been outraged by the prospect of a Norma buying a human to be their servant, in a way she was relieved when Ange used all of her money to purchase Momoka. It almost made Emma think that perhaps a sliver of selflessness existed within her. As if on cue, she suddenly received a Mana message from the maid herself. "Yes Momoka what is it?"
"I have a message from Capt. Algren. He says that he's ready to begin. However, before he addresses the Norma, he needs you to go with him to the Arzenal Bank." Odd, what would the Captain need from there?
"Understood," Emma said. "Tell him I'll be there shortly." Gathering up the files he had requested, Inspector Emma made her way back to the guest villa when she wondered why the Captain hadn't sent the message himself. She ultimately decided that it must be part of his strategy to get into the Normas' train of thought.
As it turned out, the guest house did have a briefcase. Rio was in the midst of dusting it off when Momoka came up to him. "I just contacted the Inspector and she's on her way," she told him.
"Good." Reaching into a pocket on his duffel bag, Rio pulled out two transmitter made to look like primitive wrist watches, one he hid under his sleeve and the second he gave to Momoka. "Take this. It'll enable us to keep in touch in case something happens. Testing testing. Can you hear"
"Loud and clear," Momoka answered as she hid it under the cuff of her uniform. "I just push this button right?"
"Right. If you do call, just be sure to speak softly so no one hears you."
"Got it,"Momoka nodded. "By the way. Mr. Rio, how is Sir Tusk? I'm certain Lady Angelise is worried about him."
"He's off on a surveillance mission back in Misurugi," he explained. "I'm afraid that's all I can say. Don't worry though. Despite how it may seem, he can handle himself. In the meantime, I've got a lunch date to get to."
For the first time in days, Rosalie was actually in a good mood. Although the first squad was still stuck on standby, and Hilda's betrayal still stung, the nights with Chris had helped her get over it. Alone, just the two of them in Captain Zola's bed, it actually felt nice to have a warm body all to herself. Especially since Chris was a much more generous lover than either Zola or Hilda. Besides, it was chicken strip day in the mess hall and the first squad had finished the morning drills before they sold out.
After collecting her tray, Rosalie made her way to the table to join the rest of her squad. On one side, Chris and Salia sat together while Ersha and Vivian sat on the other side. As she took a seat next to her silver haired lover, a conversation from two passing mechanics caught her attention.
"No way! You must have imagined it."
"I'm telling you I saw him! He was huge! And I'm not the only one! One of the pilots from the third squad said that she saw him withdraw a huge sum of cash from the bank." Rosalie just shook her head. The things some girls believed.
"Time for a pop quiz!" Vivian suddenly said. "Who here thinks the rumors are true?"
"What rumors?" Chris asked.
"Oh you haven't heard?" Ersha asked. "Some of the girls are claiming they saw a man on Arzenal. Apparently, he came in on that transport that passed us by during our drill."
"A...a man?" Chris stammered as Vivian lean in towards them.
"They're saying he's as tall as a Para-mail and twice as broad. He roars like a Galleon-class and the ground shakes when he walks. I even hear that he went up to the Commander and made her bow down with just a look."
"It's all unsubstantiated rumors," Salia commented. "Think about it. The only humans who ever come to Arsenal are the supply crews. And they're always female."
"Exactly," Rosalie agreed as she peered over to the front of the cafeteria where the Commander sat at the officer's table. "I think we can all agree that Commander Jill is way scarier than any man could hope to be. No way she'd bow down to anyone."
"Well," Ersha shrugged, "I guess when you put it like that it does sound kind of farfetched."
"Are you sure?" Chris asked. Rosalie put an arm around her shoulder and pulled Chris close.
"Don't worry," she teased. "I'll protect you from the big scary man." Chris looked up to her and managed a weak smile.
"Yeah sure Rosalie."
"Unless he happens to be good looking," she joked. "In that case I might just invite him to join us." Chris pouted and Rosalie couldn't help snickering.
"Very funny!"
Though Salia tried to eat, she found that she just didn't have much of an appetite with all that was going on. She had heard the rumors as well and it only added to her apprehension. With all that was at stake, the last thing they needed was to have the pot stirred even more. In the middle of her thoughts, Salia looked up and saw Ms. Emma suddenly enter through the mess hall's lower left entrance and stand before the officer's table. Looks like this is it, she realized. The Inspector looked high strung, even more so than usual. But it didn't seem as if she suspected anything so that alone was a good sign.
"Ahem!" she announced. "Will all of you please stop eating for now? I have an important announcement to make."
"Oh my," Ersha said. "I wonder what's going on."
"Maybe she's about to tell us she's being transferred," Rosalie said. "After all, it was on her watch that the Breakout Sisters escaped." Despite Ms. Emma's request, the Norma continued to eat and she flushed angrily. She was just about to shout over the crowd when the Commander stood up from her table.
"All of you listen up!" Immediately, every mouth shut and all eyes turned to the front of the mess hall. "There you are Inspector." Ms. Emma adjusted her glasses with a chagrined expression.
"Uh, thank you Commander. As I was trying to say-as I'm sure you all remember-during the Festa last week two Norma, Ange and Hilda, escaped from Arzenal by kidnapping Lady Misty Rosenblum herself and commandeering the royal family's personal transport. Luckily, Lady Misty was not injured and the two Norma have since been recaptured and subsequently disciplined. However, the Norma Management Board has become concerned that further insurrections are on the horizon. To that end, a special investigator has been dispatched to Arzenal to perform a week-long inspection of its operations. Please welcome our very important guest, Captain Joseph Algren."
"Captain who?" Chris asked as something echoed from the same hall the Inspector had just emerged from.
click...click...click
The slow echo of footsteps resonated throughout the mess hall as all eyes turned to the lower left passage and every mouth dropped open in shock as the guest of honor made his entrance. Rio wasn't the titan the rumor mill had made him out to be, but in his own way he was quite impressive. Taller than even the Commander and with a body more muscular than any Norma, Salia also saw that he had dyed his hair brown. She looked to his face, which had healed since she had seen him last, and blushed. He wasn't the same kind of handsome as Kamen Fencer from Holy Knight Pretty Lillian, but it was definitely a face she could get used to.
"Oh my!" Ersha whispered.
"I don't believe it!" Rosalie gulped, her eyes wide with shock. "It's a man! A man is actually here!" Beside her, Chris inched closer and trembled in fear. It was a response shared by most of the Norma present. Several went pale with shock and others stared wide eyed at a creature they had only seen in pictures. A handful blushed like Salia and a few even licked their lips. Rio however seemed oblivious to the silent uproar he had caused as he lifted the briefcase he carried in his left hand and placed it on the officer's table along with the manilla file he carried under his right arm. Turning around, he casually walked the length of the mess hall, the half cape over his left shoulder billowing as every head turned to follow him.
"Hey!" Vivian said. "He's pretty hot." Immediately, every member of the first squad lunged for their youngest member and covered her mouth while down at the front, Ms. Emma's mouth dropped open in horror. Rio, meanwhile, turned his face to the sudden ruckus, his eyes hidden behind a pair of mirrored sunglasses. To Salia's relief, he acted as if the display wasn't worth his time to acknowledge and simply moved on.
"Are you crazy?" Rosalie snapped.
"Vivian dear," Ersha suggested, "now would probably be best if you kept your thoughts to yourself."
"If you wanna get yourself killed then do it in your Para-mail!" Chris hissed. Rio however had finally reached the stairs that led to the upper levels of the mess hall. For a moment, it appeared as if he was considering going up when suddenly he turned around and spoke in a voice that carried over the entire room.
"I am Captain Joseph Algren! As Inspector Bronson has explained, my purpose is to investigate and identify any and all potential threats to the operation and security of Arzenal." With his introduction given, Rio marched back the way he came. "To that end, for the next seven days, I shall be inspecting all aspects regarding the operation of Arzenal. If I find that any Norma, regardless of position or rank, has willingly and maliciously in any way, shape, or form committed acts of sabotage, they will be punished to the very maximum extent." Having returned to the officer's table, Rio turned and rested his hand on his briefcase. "However, I am also a fair man. And I value loyalty and honesty. Even in Norma. Therefore, I have an offer." The briefcase was opened, and every Norma gasped in amazement at the contents within. "I understand you Norma highly value these scraps of paper you call 'cash'. If any Norma comes forward to aide me in my investigation, I am prepared to offer a reward of 10 million." With a flex of his arm, the briefcase was slammed shut and evoked a startled gasp from every Norma present. "Provided that the aide is productive. Wasting my time will be considered an attempt to dissuade the investigation and the Norma responsible shall be punished accordingly. That is all." Salia looked around the mess hall and saw every Norma exchanging looks of uncertainty. Was that really necessary? she wondered. Rio's presence alone was disruptive enough. And now she had to deal with paranoia and greed on top of everything else.
"Wow!" she heard Rosalie whisper. "10 million cash? I think I might like this guy."
"Rosalie!" Chris moaned.
"Don't do anything stupid," Salia warned. "You heard what he said. Waste his time and you become an example."
"Yeah well," Rosalie said, "a girl can dream can't she?" Salia simply sighed and stared down at her tray. The rest of the day was clear so perhaps she should take a little personal time.
From behind his sunglasses, Rio surveyed the breadth of the mess hall. He saw the dark haired girl he had met on the beach sitting with a group of others but no one who could possibly be Sarah. There were a few scattered around with brown hair and green eyes but all of them were too young. Could he have missed her? Or maybe she was dining on the upper levels. He'd just have to hope that their paths would cross over the course of his "investigation". In any case, the age of Arzenal's residents surprised him. Boss had told him that very few Arzenal Norma lived past 25 but most of the girls in the mess hall were still in their teens. And more than a few were younger then that. So many girls, he thought. How many were torn from their families like Hilda had been? How many had lived here their entire lives?
"Captain Algren," Bronson suddenly said. "I'd like to apologize for that horrendous display just now." Rio looked to her and wondered what she meant until he remembered that one girl sitting next to the pink hair.
"No need," he assured her. "Norma live by their base nature. I wouldn't expect anything else." The Inspector sighed in relief but at a nearby table, Rio caught the edge of more than a few dirty looks. Retrieving the briefcase and the documents Bronson had given him, Rio took a seat next to Commander Jill at the officer's table. Though he hadn't spoken to her openly yet, he could tell that between having to go along with his facade along with the disruption caused by having a man on Arzenal, she had developed a distaste to his presence. Bronson on the other hand seemed to have warmed up to him rather quickly. As usual, Chaplain's profiling was right on target. "I will take my lunch here Inspector. Fish, rice, vegetables; all steamed, and unsweetened tea."
"Right away sir." As Bronson ran off to place his order with the kitchen staff, Rio opened the folder and began looking over the first document.
"So tell me Commander," he said. "These are all the Norma currently stationed here?" The Inspector might be occupied elsewhere but there were still plenty of bystanders around who didn't need to know the real reason he was there. Quite a few of them passed by the officer's table, their expressions ranging from intimidated to curious. Overhead, a small crowd had gathered at the railing of the cafeteria's second floor and whispered between them as they watched him. Jill meanwhile, leaned over and peered at the list in his hand.
"Those are all the Norma currently on active duty yes." The way she phrased her answer triggered Rio's suspicions and he read down further. No sign of either Hilda or Ange's name, he observed. If they only listed active duty Norma and since the two of them were in solitary that would make sense. But what did that mean for Sarah? Her name was absent as well so did that mean she was also incarcerated? Had Jill interrogated Hilda after she had been returned and was planning to use Sarah as a bargaining chip? As much as he'd like to give Jill the benefit of the doubt, Boss had warned him to be wary of her. Rio turned to the next document, a listing of the Para-mail pilots for all three of Arzenal's squads, and saw Hilda and Ange's names but not Sarah's. He relaxed a little as he now knew that at least Sarah wasn't in any immediate danger. He had just found the file on patrol and drill rotations when Bronson returned from the kitchen.
"Your order will be out shortly Captain," she reported. "Although I'm afraid the fish will have to come from the troop store."
"No matter," he said. "Would you care to join me for lunch? I would like to further discuss today's agenda with you."
"Yes of course sir." Bronson took a seat next to him and Rio immediately noticed how tense she was.
"Is something bothering you Inspector?" Bronson gave him a nervous glance in his direction.
"Why offer a reward? If this Network is conspiring with the Norma then why are you trying to buy them back to our side?"
"You're making the same mistake this Network has made about the Norma," he explained. "Remember, unlike humans, Norma live by their base nature. That is why we isolate them in facilities like this. Even if the Network has recruited any of the Norma here, the chance for easy financial gain will be too much for them to resist and they will betray them. Then we'll have identified not only the Network, but any dissident Norma as well."
"I see," Bronson nodded. "So we use their own nature against them. That's actually quite brilliant." Of course, if everything went according to plan, Arzenal money would soon be useless anyway.
"Now then," Rio added as one of the kitchen staff came out with his meal, "after lunch, we shall return the reward money to the bank for safe keeping. Then I would like to see the hanger where the Para-mail are deployed from and finally a meeting with those two Norma who escaped. Before any of that though, I am curious as to what the Norma need money for."
For Jasmine, a good day was one that ended in the black. And being the sole merchant on Arzenal, she had many days that did. As Norma couldn't use the Light of Mana, money was as necessary to their survival as air and food. Even more so since one needed it to obtain the other two. At the moment, she had just made a sale to two pilots from Betty squad. Since only two squads were on active duty now, their respective pilots were raking in the cash at a faster rate, allowing them to purchase some long desired upgrades.
"Grade three ablative armor," she read off, "two shoulder mounted rotary cannons, and one javelin. That'll be 22 million cash. I'll have it sent over to the hanger and installed right away." The two pilots left and Jasmine leaned back in her chair, one hand reaching down to pet her dog Vulcan's neck, the other raising her pipe to take a long drag. She might have a reputation among the other Norma for stinginess, but selling them a means to survive was a far better way to live then sending them to their death had been.
"Ahem!" Jasmine looked up and who else should she see but Salia.
"Been a while since I've seen you this stressed," she observed. "So is it true that our guest offered a heaping amount of cash for any rebellious Norma?" Salia frowned and shook her head.
"I can't understand what he was thinking," she said. "It's bad enough that we have to dodge the Inspector but now we have the entire base to worry about." Jasmine hummed in thought and took another drag on her pipe.
"You're not starting to believe the humans' propaganda are you?" Salia looked to her with a bemused expression. "That whole bit was for the sake of the Inspector. To make her think he's some kind of maverick strategist. Remember, the only ones beside us who even know about Libertus are a handful of girls under myself and Zhao Mel. And we're VERY careful about who we bring in. Look, Boss wouldn't have sent this guy if he didn't know what he was doing. You just handle your mission and let him worry about the Inspector. Now, is there something you needed?" Without a word, Salia tossed Jasmine a stack of bills.
"I'm just here to pick up the item I ordered." Jasmine pocketed the cash and gestured to a nearby set of double doors.
"It's in the storehouse." Salia cut a glance to make sure no one was watching and headed towards the doorway.
"I'll fetch it myself." Ever since the incident with Ange, Salia had taken to doing her "stress management exercises" in the storeroom. The doors made enough noise that no one would take her by surprise and the cargo crates provided plenty of cover. Officially, nobody but Jasmine and the mall's stock team were supposed to be in there, but Jasmine had a soft spot for the young captain. Having to take over so suddenly for Zola, the pressure to live up to her image of Jill, not to mention the entire first squad being benched. It couldn't be easy on her so Jasmine could bend a few rules if it kept the kid from cracking. Besides, it earned her a little money on the side which was always good.
That's odd, Jasmine thought. Why did it suddenly get so quiet? The answer presented itself with the click of boot heels on the mall's metal floor. Oh that's why. Vulcan whined as Jasmine stood up to receive her guests. Walking towards her, the Norma giving him a wide berth, Arzenal's guest of honor made his way through the mall with the Inspector hurrying after him. Well so far so good, she observed. Bronson doesn't seem too suspicious. "Inspector," she greeted them. "Captain. Welcome to the Mall. Anything in particular you're looking for?"
"Hello Jasmine," Emma said as she adjusted her glasses. "The Captain was curious as to what the Norma use their money for. So I offered to show him the mall." The Captain, or Rio as he was actually called, turned his head to get a better view of the surrounding merchandise.
"I take it you are the proprietor of this so called 'mall?'"
"You got it," she answered. "Jasmine's the name. See anything you like? We've got everything from kitchen appliances to beam cannons."
"Jasmine please!" the Inspector cried. "The Captain is here on official business. He certainly has no time to waste on frivolous shopping." Rio on the other hand seemed to disagree as he turned away and headed for one room in particular. "Captain?" Emma asked as she hurried after him. In this particular room, guns of every type and caliber hung on display racks or locked in cases. A pair of Norma who were contemplating buying a new assault rifle immediately put it back after they saw the Captain enter and fled. I know you have to keep up a certain image, Jasmine grumbled to herself. But could you try NOT to scare off my customers?
"You allow the Norma to purchase weaponry?" he asked.
"Uh yes sir," Emma answered. "However, while in the base nothing higher than the standard 10 mm sidearm is allowed to be carried. All other weapons are meant to be used in conjunction with the Para-mail during first encounter scenarios and are kept secured in the main hanger to be issued only to their respective owners."
"I suppose that is permissible," he agreed. Walking the length of the display, Rio stopped at one case to examine its contents.
"That's the new model Pancor assault shotgun," Jasmine said. "Semi and full-auto fire, fully modular, gas operated, forward drum magazine, can be loaded with everything from rifled slugs to mini-grenades. Has a bit of a kick to it but its nothing a big strong buck like yourself can't handle. I'll even give you a special discount since you're a guest." The Captain turned and scowled at her.
"Watch your tone Norma," he warned. "You're not so old as to avoid being put back into combat rotation." He gestured to the Inspector and the two of them turned to leave. As he passed her by, Jasmine took the opportunity to slip a piece of paper into his hand which he shoved up his shirt sleeve. See you tonight, she thought as the Inspector suddenly halted.
"Jasmine, why is the storeroom left open?" Jasmine looked up and cringed as she saw that one of the doors hadn't closed all the way.
"Sorry about that," she hurriedly answered. "Must be a bad spring. Just let me get that."
"One moment,"Rio suddenly said. "Inspector, let's make sure a malfunction is all that it is." The two of them went into the storeroom and Jasmine rubbed her head. This was not going to end well.
"Empowered by the light of romance! Defeating evil with love! I am Holy Knight Pretty Salia! You're no match for the purity of my maiden's heart!"
Alone in the back of the mall storehouse, hidden behind a stack of crates, Salia gazed at her reflection in the mirror Jasmine had set up and sighed contentedly. Here, she could indulge in her spiritual cleansing without worrying about anyone walking in on her. It's been far too long since I've been able to do this, she thought. And with all that was going on, she desperately needed the release. Now where was she? Striking the right pose, Salia brought up her wand to cast Love Healing Escalation when she heard a woman's voice calling out.
"Is there someone in here?" Salia froze where she stood. The Inspector? What was she doing here? Salia backed against the wall and tried to be as quiet as possible. Hopefully, Ms. Emma would give up and leave. But then she heard the voice of the one with her.
"Are you sure about this Inspector?" Salia's heart skipped a beat. Oh no no no no no no no! she fretted. Not him not now! It was bad enough that Ange had seen her but if a man actually saw her in costume...the humiliation would be just too much.
"I'm positive," the Inspector insisted. "Whoever you are, show yourself now before we come looking for you!" Her uniform lay on a nearby crate. If she was quick she could change back before either of them found her. She stripped out of her Pretty Lillian costume and reached for her uniform when her wand slipped off the ledge she had placed it on and fell to the floor.
Seeing the open door had been a stroke of luck for Rio. It gave him a chance to check the mall's storeroom without raising suspicion from either the Inspector or the Norma. Unfortunately, just like out in the mall, Sarah wasn't in there either. He was just about to leave when the Inspector claimed she heard something from behind a stack of crates in the back. Nobody answered and the Inspector would have let it go when something fell with a clang.
"Alright enough is enough!" Bronson scolded. "Whoever you are show yourself right now!" When no one appeared, Bronson readied to drag them out herself when Rio put a hand on her shoulder. "Captain?"
"Stay here," he told her as he drew the pistol on his hip. "It might be more dangerous then you realize." Of course Rio doubted it was anything more serious than a rat but if someone was behind there for any reason, something told him it would be better if he found them then her.
"But..I...yes sir." Bronson stepped aside as Rio stalked towards the pile of crates. To his surprise, instead of a person, as he peered around the corner he found a standing mirror placed against a corner with a Norma uniform neatly folded atop a nearby crate. What is going on here? he wondered. Holstering his gun, he stepped into the makeshift alcove and felt something underfoot that wasn't floor. Rio looked down and saw a dress of some kind. Out of curiosity, he picked it up for a closer look and was taken aback by how pink and frilly it was. Is this really the fashion here? As if in answer, he heard a whimper from behind the mirror and tossed the dress next to the uniform. Of all the ways he could have been unmasked this was certainly not one he foresaw.
"I know you're there," he whispered as he stepped up to the mirror. "So you might as well show yourself before the Inspector gets here." A shadow stirred from behind the mirror and a head with dark blue hair done up in two tails peeked out from behind the edge. "Oh it's you," he said. A glimpse of her shoulder and Rio caught the sight of a bra strap, leading him to blush as he respectfully turned away. "Do you know who I am?
"Yes," she whispered. Good. He wouldn't have to explain himself. His foot shuffled against something on the floor and he looked down to see a wand of some kind lying at his feet. Okay, he thought, that explains a lot.
"Sir?" Bronson asked. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm still searching Inspector," he called. "Keep on eye out in case they try to sneak by another way." He'd better wrap this up quick. "What's your name?"
"Salia."
"Well Salia...I'm Rio. I don't have to tell you that if anyone found out who I really was then my life and quite possibly Libertus itself would be in danger. If you keep my secret I'll keep yours. Deal?" From the corner of his eye, Rio watched her nod and he smiled in gratitude. "Thank you." Of course, there were others who knew the truth of his presence; like Jill and that Jasmine woman. But if it made her feel better then he could play along. Besides, he had taken the name of his childhood hero so who was he to judge. Holstering his gun, Rio left to collect the Inspector so Salia could have a chance to dress and escape.
"Sir?" Bronson asked.
"Just a tool that had fallen off of a ledge," he assured her. "Now let's go, you still have to show me the Para-mail hanger."
Keeping perfectly still until she heard the storehouse doors slam, Salia crept out from behind the mirror. She was so embarrassed she thought she might die. Being caught in her underwear was just as bad as being caught in her costume. But at least Rio had the decency to turn away. As she sheepishly redressed into her uniform, she thought back on what had happened. He said he'd keep my secret, she remembered. And he didn't laugh at me. The realization made her heart pound again but for different reasons. Salia was so overwhelmed that she didn't even hear Jasmine come in to look for her.
"Salia?" the older woman asked. "Are you okay?"
"He didn't laugh," she murmured. "He...didn't laugh at me."
The main hanger was a bustle of activity. All around Rio, the air was thick with the grind of machinery and the pungent perfume of grease and fuel as Norma in oil stained coveralls ran back and forth as they worked on dozens of machines that looked like a cross between a jet fighter and a motorcycle. He himself was familiar with Para-Mail. As part of his recruit training, he had learned the basics of Para-mail flight and combat in case he was assigned to the militia. Even as an agent, he was required to report back to Neo-Zion once a year to refresh himself in case a major offensive was ever declared. And with all that was happening, it looked like that was where he would be placed next.
"I hope you don't find this too distressing Captain," Bronson groaned, a handkerchief covering her mouth and nose. "I rarely come down here myself."
"Not at all," he told her. "My uncle was an engineer in the Armorer Corps and he often let me help work on the base's machinery. I would have followed in his footsteps but my aptitudes in the Academy led me more towards a command position." As they walked through, Rio's eyes scanned the hanger but to his dismay still could not find any Norma who could possibly be Sarah. Well that in itself wasn't surprising. She wasn't exactly mechanically inclined though the lack of any clues as to where she could be was starting to grind at him. Where is she? he wondered. Arzenal was big but it wasn't that big. And the list Bronson had given him regarding any and all Norma on duty. If Sarah wasn't on active duty then where was she? The only logical answer was that she wasn't here but that was something he couldn't afford to consider. Ever since he had joined the Network, Rio had discreetly inquired through the pipelines they had established to the other Norma facilities and his attempts to locate her had turned up nothing but failure. Arzenal was the only place he hadn't looked due to Jill cutting ties with them over Libertas. If Sarah wasn't here then Rio didn't know where else he could look. Don't even think that, he told himself. You've still got a week to find her so just focus on the task at hand. "So, these are the Para-mail?"
"That's correct sir," Bronson answered. "In order to combat the DRAGON incursions, we've provided the Norma with the means to fight them on an equal level. Provided they make enough kills, Norma chosen to be riders can customize and upgrade their units however they see fit." Rio nodded and looked to where two Para-Mail in destroyer mode, a yellow Arquebus and a dark blue Hauser, were propped up in their maintenance docks. The Arquebus was being outfitted with new armor while a pair of four-barrel rotary cannons were being installed onto the Hauser. Nearby, an orange Glaive was undergoing heavy repairs by another crew. The machine looked like it had been put through the shredder. Long gashes had been carved into the nose and dark reddish-brown patches had been splashed over its hull. "Though as you can see," Bronson added, "some damage is unavoidable. Not to worry though. According to the report, the pilot survived with only minor injuries so she'll be able to fly with her squad's next deployment. And she scored enough kills to pay for fuel, munitions, and repairs." So the Norma even had to pay for what they needed to do their job with? Rio glanced at the Inspector and smiled as he fought the urge to slap her.
"Excellent. If the Norma can't even slaughter DRAGONS then what good are they?" They continued on and Rio noticed a group of seven Para-mail secured in dry dock, including one in particular that caught his eye. So that's Villkiss, he thought. The weapon of god himself. To think that there was finally someone who could pilot it. But would that even be enough? They thought they had found a pilot for it once before and everything had still gone to hell. And now, with Embryo about to play a hand of his own everything was going to fall on her successor. "Whose Para-mail are those Inspector? They don't look nearly as damaged as some of the others."
"Those are the units for the first squad," Bronson answered. "Unfortunately, as the two Norma in solitary are part of that squad, they've been placed on standby." Well that couldn't be easy. There might be easier ways to earn a living then killing DRAGONS but to deny an entire squad their sole source of income seemed a bit harsh.
"Are only two squads sufficient to fight off the DRAGON incursions?"
"It hasn't been easy for them but they've risen to the challenge. Luckily, incursions don't happen every day." Rio made a note to look further into Arzenal's records regarding singularity occurrences and DRAGON stats. The Network knew about DRAGONS of course but gaining info on them was a bit tricky. If they ventured too far into the waters around Arzenal, government sensor buoys were bound to pick up their presence so all they could do was watch from a distance. "And of course," she continued, "the Armorers have a work ethic that is second to none. We can thank Zhao Mei for that." Rio did agree with her in that regard. Arzenal's Armorer Corps, or "Clan" as they preferred to be called according to his mission briefing, had impressive discipline. As the only man on an island full of women, Rio was not unaware that he was a magnet for attention. But here hardly anyone gave him a first look, much less a second. The only time any of the Norma payed more than a passing glance was when he and the Inspector stepped up to where a group of mechanics stood clustered around a young girl with two short tails.
"Officer on deck!" someone called. Immediately, the Norma present snapped to attention as the short tails ran up to them and saluted. "Captain. Inspector."
"Zhao Mei," Bronson replied. "Captain, this is Zhao Mei. She is chief of the Armorers here at Arzenal." This kid is in charge of all the Para-mail, he wondered. Well I guess it's better than sending her out in one.
"I see," he nodded. "You run a very well-disciplined crew here. For one so young, especially for a Norma, that is a very impressive feat." A few of the Norma off to his left cast a few quick glares in his direction but he ignored them. If they bought it that meant his acting was as good as he hoped.
"That's because the honor of my clan is riding on the success of these machines," she bragged. "Every rider they bring back is a victory for me."
"Provided they kill the DRAGONS of course," Rio countered. "I think I've seen enough. Inspector, let's swing back by the mall for a bit. I require something before I meet with the two in solitary."
"Right away sir." As the two of them left, a few low whispers from a nearby group caught Rio's attention.
"Did you hear that?"
"'Impressive for a Norma,' he says. How condescending can you get?"
"He's lucky he's a human or I would have decked him for that."
Apparently, his acting was VERY good.
As she lay back on her bunk, Ange wasn't sure what she hated most about her incarceration. The lousy food, the boredom, or the smell. It was now her third day without a shower and the entire cell stunk. And if her own ripeness wasn't bad enough, she also had Hilda to deal with. In addition to her funk, ever since the Commander had come by to warn them about Rio's mission, Hilda's usually brash nerve had shattered. At least she had stopped pacing. She currently sat on her own bunk, one finger tapping the edge, her hair a disheveled mess and her top unzipped to better vent herself in the humidity of their cell. "Nervous?" Ange teased. Hilda looked up with an annoyed look.
"I'm not nervous," she said. "I'm irritated. I don't know why he has to constantly stick his nose in things that aren't his business." As if on cue, the door to the prison ward clanged open and footsteps clicked on the stone floor.
"Here we go," Ange said. "Remember your lines?" Hilda shot her an indignant glare.
"Please Princess, I've been playing this whole base for years." From beyond the edge of the cell, the Inspector stepped into view followed by the guard and a man in a white officer's uniform. That's his disguise? Ange wondered. From what she could tell all Rio had done was dye his hair. But then again only four people in all of Arzenal had seen him out of costume so it wasn't as if he was a well-known figure anyway.
"On your feet you two," the Inspector ordered. "This is Captain Joseph Algren and he's here to have a word with you two." With an annoyed sigh, Ange and Hilda stood up as the guard unlocked the cell and Rio stepped through. In his left arm, he carried a folding chair and a bag from Jasmine's mall, the former he set up next to the tray table in front of Hilda's bunk. From the bag, he pulled an orange and an apple along with a folding knife from his pocket.
"So," he said as he began to slice the fruit, "you are the two Norma who attempted to escape. Why?"
"We felt like a vacation," Ange answered. "And Misurugi is nice this time of year." From outside the cell, the Inspector lurched forward and grasped onto the bars.
"I've had enough of this!" she snapped. "And you, zip up your top! Aren't you even the slightest bit embarrassed to be exposed like that?"
"Why?" Hilda asked. "Are you going to throw me in jail if I don't?" The Inspector fumed once again but Rio raised his hand to hold her back.
"Calm yourself Inspector. If you allow them to take control of a situation you become THEIR prisoner." The Inspector backed away with a sheepish expression as Rio finished slicing the fruit which he pushed towards them. Ange couldn't help but notice that the orange he had placed closer to Hilda. Some kind of message? "Here. Have some. I can imagine you haven't had much in the way of good food while you're been in here."
"Is this some kind of trick?" Ange asked. "What's in these? Truth Serum? Poison?"
"Just fruit," Rio answered. "Consider it an olive branch. I'm sure you two had your reasons for wanting to leave Arzenal, despite the fact that it is forbidden. Still, I am a reasonable man. And if residing here is for any reason to your displeasure to you perhaps I can arrange for you to be transferred to another facility. The Marmerian colony is quite pleasant actually. After all, Lady Misty herself asked for leniency so for her sake if nothing else I can extend some measure of kindness to you."
"And what exactly do you want in exchange for this kindness?" Hilda asked. "Here in Arzenal, nothing is free. Not even life." Rio leaned back and crossed his arms.
"What I want is information," he told them. "I have reason to believe you both were in contact with members of an extremist group who have rejected the very tenants of humanity and their stance towards the Norma. I want to know who they are, what they look like, and what their objectives are. If what you say has any merit, I will approve your transfer to a more amicable facility."
"And if we say no?" Ange asked. With a frown, Rio stood up and adjusted his officer's cap.
"I advise against that. Do not mistake my civility for weakness. I assure you, I can be equally uncivil when pushed." With a gesture to the Inspector, Rio exited the cell and the guard relocked the door. "We will talk more tomorrow. I strongly recommend you consider my offer." The three of them departed, but Ange waited until the door to the prison ward clanged shut before she relaxed.
"Okay, I'll admit it. He's pretty good." When Hilda didn't respond, Ange looked over and saw her doubled over on her bunk in shame.
"He saw me," she whimpered. "I haven't had a shower in three days and he saw me. Just kill me now!" Ange fought back a laugh and gathered up the apple pieces.
"Well at least he brought us some real food," she sighed. "So what's the deal with the orange?" Hilda looked up with a confused glance. "He pushed it in your direction. Is it some kind of joke between you two?" The redheaded Norma looked over onto her table and sighed as she gathered up the pieces he had left her.
"I... told him I didn't like apples," she admitted. "It's a long story. But the truth is I hate oranges." Hilda ate one slice and half-grimaced, half smiled. "It's disgusting...but somehow I feel a lot better."
Now that he had seen her, Rio felt a bit more relieved. Despite lacking even basic creature comforts it looked as if Hilda was alright. No sign of any torture, aside from looking and smelling like hell. Well, it was nothing a shower and a decent meal couldn't fix. He'd have to see if there was any way he could sneak them in under the table. I guess I should do the same for Ange too, he decided. I just have to find some way to do it that doesn't alert either Jill or the Inspector. Thinking that, Rio cast a gaze over his shoulder at Bronson as she followed behind him and noticed how pensive she was. "Is something wrong Inspector?" Immediately, she snapped to attention and nervously waved her hand.
"Oh no not at all sir!"
"If something is concerning you Inspector then I would be most interested to hear it. Is it my methods? You have some sort of disagreement with them?"
"No of course not!" she fretted. "I understand completely your approach. You intend to make the Norma seem as if you're not a threat in order to gain their trust. It really is a genius strategy. I think I might even utilize it myself if I ever get the chance."
"Why would you not get the chance?" The Inspector fidgeted and Rio knew he had hit a mark. "Come Inspector," he assured her. "If something about my being here troubles you then I would like to know." Bronson bit her lip and looked away before taking a deep breath.
"Sir...I'd like to know what my punishment is going to be."
"Your punishment?"
"I'm well aware that it was my fault that Ange and Hilda escaped," she said. "Even worse, I allowed them to kidnap and endanger Lady Misty. My actions have shamed not only myself but my homeland, my family, and my career. I take full responsibility and will accept whatever disciplinary action you deem fit." Well that certainly wasn't the reaction he inspected. True, for all intents and purposes Bronson was his enemy, but in a way he felt sorry for her. From a certain perspective she was just as much a victim as the Norma. All she knew was the propaganda she had spoon fed her entire life. And as the daughter of an important figure like Senator Bronson, she had the extra burden of living up to the expectations of others. Removing his sunglasses, he placed a hand on her shoulder and Bronson looked up to him in surprise.
"There's no need for that," he told her. "If anything, the Norma Management Board is responsible. Not you."
"Sir?"
"Col. Ackerman has long argued for a greater human presence here on Arzenal. And after just one day I can see why. You're only one person. To think that you can manage an entire base of Norma by yourself and not prevent all problems is not only impossible but absurd. To be honest, I'm surprised only this ONE incident has occurred under your watch. It speaks a great deal of your ability to manage Arzenal with what limited resources you have." His words seemed to work as Bronson blushed slightly.
"Er...I...it really is nothing Captain. I just..."
"I don't give praise lightly," he told her as he put his glasses back on. "So accept what I tell you and be proud of it. Now then, it's getting late and I still have to finish going over the documents you gave me. Why don't we call it a day and tomorrow, you can show me the operational aspects of Arzenal."
"Yes sir," she said with a salute. "Please allow me to escort you to the guest house and..."
"No need," he interrupted. "If anything, I should escort you to your quarters."
"M...m...m...m...m...me?" Bronson stammered. "But...I..."
"I understand that you've been charged with my safety while I'm here," he told her. "But it would shame my standing as an officer if I allowed a lady to be inconvenienced on my behalf." He gestured for her to lead on and Bronson fidgeted before she nervously smiled.
"Well, since you insist I suppose I could consider it an order." A short while later, the two of them stood at the door to Bronson's quarters. "Well, here we are," she said. "Is there anything else Captain?"
"Not at all," he assured her. "And now I know where I can find you if I need anything. And if you should have any need of me, simply contact Momoka. Despite her affection for Norma, she is an obedient maid and was easy to instruct in how to serve me. Good evening Inspector."
"Good evening to you sir." As Rio walked away, he couldn't help feeling his conscious nag at him. Chaplain's briefing had advised him to lay on the charm but it left a bad taste in his mouth to play with a woman's feelings like that. Not only that, if his mission was a success and he kept Bronson distracted enough for Libertus to be launched then she'd be the one who the human authorities would come down on. Well, he decided, it won't be the first time someone suffered because of me. I can't think about that right now anyway. I've still got the meeting tonight and then I have to come up with a way to smuggle both Hilda and Sarah out of here.
As the Captain walked away, Emma took a moment longer to watch him before she shut the door to her quarters. This day had been a roller coaster of emotions for her. The tension of awaiting Col. Ackerman's arrival, her confusion upon meeting the Captain, her awkwardness when dealing with him, and the way every single Norma seemed to go out of their way to embarrass her in front of him. At least the Captain had been patient with her. Actually, he had been more than patient. He had been absolutely chivalrous. Emma's face blushed and she covered her face as she giggled deliriously.
He's so incredible, she thought. A model soldier if there ever was one. Courageous, disciplined, intelligent, rugged, and a gentleman to his core. She still felt a little giddy when she thought of how he had chosen to put himself between her and whatever danger might have been lurking in the storehouse. And when he had offered to escort her to her quarters, a part of her was hoping he might even ask to be invited in. Now stop that! she scolded herself. He is a superior officer and fraternization like that is forbidden Besides, there's no way a man like Capt. Algren doesn't have at least a girlfriend or even a fiancé. Still, a girl could dream couldn't she? And speaking of which...on instinct, Emma went to her bedroom and looked around at her personal sanctuary. Her privacy and personal dignity were things she took care to preserve at all costs. Hence why she had used third party go betweens to build her collection. She looked around at the Perolina posters on her wall, the memorabilia on the shelves, and the stuffed Perolina doll on her bed and hurriedly gathered up the majority to hide in the closet. If anything DID happen she certainly didn't want Capt. Algren to have the wrong idea about her.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
So, before we get to the meat of this edition I'd like to take a moment to give a shout out to some other fics I've been reading.
1. Cross Ange: Rondo of Angel, Dragon, and Unicorn by CasualFictionWriter23-a crossover fic between Gundam Unicorn and Cross Ange. The author however hasn't updated in a while so leave him a review and hopefully he'll post the latest chapter
2. A Better Tomorrow by SolarisAce-another retelling fic about an OC who is Arzenal's only resident male who becomes a mentor figure to Ange.
3. Mortal Kombat: The Deadly Ally by nds7smash-a mortal kombat fic who I've been assisting with editing. Problem is I've been out of Mortal Kombat ever since Armageddon so I sometimes feel I'm not the best to advise the author on how to do his story so perhaps some other fans might be able to help.
Now then, on to other matters. When writing a fic, do you ever wonder who should voice your OC's if it was a cannon. Well, I thought about it and here's who I see voicing the various OC's in mine:
Rio-Matthew Mercer: Jotaro Kujo (JoJo) Hit (DBS)
Dark-John DeMitta: Kars (JoJo) Coral Conrad (Iron Blooded Orphans)
Schwartz-Jeffrey Combs: Ratchet (Transformers Prime) The Question (Justice League Unlimited)
Boss: Richard Epcar: Old Joseph Joestar (JoJo) Batou (Ghost In the Shell)
Chaplain: Chris Tergliagera: Avdol (JoJo) Tank Top Tiger (One Punch Man)
Major: Mary Elizabeth McGlynn: Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost In the Shell) Hot Ice Hilda (Outlaw Star)
Rhino: Kaiji Tang: Santviento (JoJo) Tsumugu Kinagase (Kill La Kill)
Kamaitaichi: David Kaye: Sesshomaru (Inuyasha) Treize Khushrenada (Gundam Wing)
Vulture: Steven Jay Blum: Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop) Starscream (Transformers Prime)
Kat: Kari Wahlgren: Fuu (Samurai Champloo) Haruko (FLCL)
Spider: Bryce Papenbrook: Kirito (SAO) Eren Jaeger (Attack on Titan)
