A/N: I can't begin to say how sorry I am for not posting this way earlier. I had it almost ready like two weeks ago, but between my final exams and a trip I made, I simply didn't have the time to edit this into a reasonably coherent chapter. I promise I will make up for this.

I'll be posting another chapter before next Monday and I'll try to get my lazy ass into writing another couple of chapters for next week.

All Branches have several emergency bases, which are obviously rather useful should anything happen to the larger ones, and our own Branch is no exception. While this situation we've found ourselves in was not something the builders had in mind when making them, I hardly think that our base catching on fire which turns people to daemons as they touch it doesn't warrant a little bit of precaution.

As we make our way to the nearest of the backup bases (roughly ten hours away), I notice Mary keeps directing odd looks at me. Eventually, I grow tired of that look and just speak to her.

-What is it?

-Huh?

-Don't take me for an idiot, Mary. I've noticed that you've been looking at me every other minute. What is it?

-Alright, alright. It's two things, actually. First off, what were you thinking when you ran inside the flaming base? And second, what is that thing in your arm, anyway? If you risked your life for it, it ought to be useful.

-There were a couple of things I wanted to pick up. One of them was the bracelet, in fact. As for what it does... let me show you.

Showing her is probably faster than explaining it, anyway. With a very specific movement of my arm, the armlet's mechanisms suddenly come to life and in an eye blink a small oval shield deploys.

-Neat. Though it seems of limited utility against Aragami...

-It's more useful than you'd think. And now that we are facing man-sized enemies... well, there's a reason I picked it up, you know?

-Yes, I never doubted that y-

-Good, then let's keep walking.

A good while passes before we spot the first one.

A few seconds before anything can be noticed, I feel the cacophony of voices that is the insects' hive mind speaking yet again. A disorganized mess of sounds, but there's clearly some urgency in them, enough to make me adopt a defensive stance. A few seconds later, I see a lone Marine standing in the distance, its red armor reflecting what little light can be seen coming from the sun in the horizon. Something resembling an axe is firm in his grasp. As soon as we spot it, I know he has spotted us as well. However, the strange Marine does not only not take cover against a superior force, but in fact charges right towards us. Several Old Type gunners and New Types shoot at it, but it's all in vain: it's either impervious to ranged weapons, or it's so derangedly insane it won't react to bullets alone.

As soon as it arrives, it strikes a woman with so much strength her upper body literally explodes. I see several people stopping whatever they're doing and throwing up right where they are.

-BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! - the thing shouts.

I run up to the man-shaped abomination and use all the speed and impulse to jump towards it and stab my Arc deep into its midsection, and when it's done I kick it with as much strength as possible, so as to get as far away as possible. Unfortunately, my sword gets stuck in its armor. As soon as I fall, I look at the monster. However, all I'm greeted with is a laugh as it punches a nearby God Eater, who barely manages to block the strike and is knocked back several meters.

I see Mary running up to it and striking it hard enough to all but obliterate its left arm. However, the thing barely reacts to the strike, and instead uses its axe to slash at her. The weapon passes a few centimeters away from her face as she leans back to dodge the attack. However, the berserk slashes again, opening a deep gash in her forearm. A jet of blood flies away as she stumbles backwards.

I shout to the nearest God Eater to give me some covering fire, and while it is distracted I run up to the armored man again, eventually jumping and grabbing my sword then twisting it in order to deepen the wound. Then I pull it outwards in an arc, causing major damage to its midsection - or so I hope. For good measure, I kick the bastard in the face as I fall. For the first time in the day, it staggers.

However, the bastard still stands, weakened but alive and kicking. I can't help but vocally complain.

-Oh come on! Won't you just die already? - On second thought, he might just feel no pain.

The red Marine doesn't answer, unless a growl followed by some unidentifiable noises counts as answering.

It slashes at me, but I dodge the strike with relative ease, the blade passing a bit more than 30 centimeters above me. The next strike comes faster, and I find it harder to dodge, only managing to do so it jumping; the third slash I cannot dodge, and instead I deploy my arm shield to block it. The serrated axe strikes the black metal with a loud, clanging noise, and I use the instant he stands still to push the weapon aside, knocking it off its arm.

I capitalize on the opening by stabbing it once again in the chest, and then I hit it in the head with my arm shield. The thing falls dead where it stands, allowing all of us to breathe.

-What happened to the fire support? And what about someone distracting him in close quarters, for that matter?

My question is met with nothing but a very awkward silence. I sigh and pick up my weapon from the remnants of the insane Marine and then I go to check on Mary, but not before stabbing the Marine an extra couple of times, for good measure.

Mary seems to suffer no pain, even though her forearm has a nasty wound and is quite literally covered in blood. The attack must have severed a nerve or something, because I'm sure that should hurt. A lot. We should take her to a doctor or something.

-Oh, hey Ev.

-Mary, what's going on? Shouldn't you scream in pain or something?

-I don't know. I don't feel anything other than a slight warm tingling. Even though I know there's something wrong.

-Pffft. You don't say...

-We'd better get to the base ASAP. Every second another bit of blood flows away, and I believe the axe cut deep enough that I'll bleed out if we take too long.

-Can't you do something? Say, apply a tourniquet, maybe?

-I've tried. It appears that applying pressure only increases the speed of the bleeding.

-Well then, let's get moving. I don't want to carry your corpse around till we get there.

We have to wait a minute so the woman who was pulverised -or rather, whatever meager remnants of her there are scattered around the point of impact- can be given a proper burial. A foolish thing to do, really, seeing as how we are in the middle of a trip across an open field where Aragami, insects or Marines could attack us, but I'm not the one calling the shots here. When the burial ends and no one moves, I decide to take control of the situation.

-Alright, what are you waiting for? Let's move.

-We want to show our respect to the deceased. - A man says. - She was my sister.

-Unless you're really looking forward to join her once again, I suggest you show your respect while we make our way to the base. It's not as though she'll blame you for trying to survive. - I can say without a doubt that he's trying really hard to find a counter to my argument, but he's not quite succesful. He simply grunts and begins to move, and soon the rest of our group follows suit.

The trip follows flawlessly, though upon arrival we find out there's a slight problem.

The base is already occupied (some people from other bases must have beaten us to it), though at least it's occupied by actual people and not by a host of insane daemons. Or a band of fanatical Marines. Or huge-ass insects with a taste for human insides. Or... well, let's just say there are plenty of things that could be in here and screw our life.

But that doesn't change the fact that the people in here aren't exactly desperate to let us in.

-You can't pass! We are already at full capacity.

-What? - The words take me by surprise. I'd taken for granted we would be welcome... guess I was wrong.

-You can't pass.

I stop to think for a second, to find a way to convince him. In the end I come up with nothing, and so I take the most... direct approach. Which consists of simply throwing him out of the way.

-You can't be serious.

-You think I get my kicks out of letting people out of here? I hate it, but it's my orders. And we are already beyond our full capacity.

I am beginning to think the universe is actively trying to screw me over and make me lose control. If so, it's being rather succesful.

-Alright, now listen up, you jackass. I don't give a damn about your orders. Now, will you let me pass?

-You'll have to go through me. - He says, trying to cover the entrance with his body. I can't help but laugh before throwing him away with my left hand.

-You thought you could actually stop a God Eater from entering? The people who can carry massive weapons like they're made of tissue paper? Enhanced strength is in the job description, genius.

-I... I'll give the alarm.

-Would you actually attack us because we're looking for shelter? Now, when we need to stick together more than ever, because of the daemonic incursions? - He remains silent. - I thought so.

With the group, I enter into a base which is remarkably empty for a facility working "beyond full capacity". I look at my sister, who's looking like she could lie down and die right where she stands.

-Mary, why don't you ask where the medical facilities are? I'll take care of the rest. - She nods in agreement.

I walk up to the nearest person - a woman who's looking at us with an expression ranging between puzzled and alarmed - and ask her where the person in charge is.

-Take the elevator. Fifth floor, the door at the end of the hallway. Can't miss it.

I practically throw myself inside the elevator and hit the button with the big red "5".

-I've said it before and I'll say it again, we can't take anyone else. I don't like it, but this simply wasn't made for this much people.

-I DON'T CARE! WE AREN'T LEAVING!

-Don't raise your voice tone, please. I have a rather bad headache at the moment.

-Then don't send us to our deaths for no reason at all!

I don't care how much people are there in here, there's clearly room for more. And this guy's attitude just isn't helping.

-Can't I convince you of something? Anything?

-Propose something and I'll evaluate your idea.

He can't even be assed into thinking about possible solutions. What a great man.

-I don't know... take the normal people in and have all God Eaters patrol the area and rest outside? - It's ridiculous that I have to even think of this, but anything's better than all the normal people roaming around outside with nothing to do other than fall prey to whatever spots them first.

-Your idea sounds... decent. I will take it into consideration. Meanwhile, you can all rest outside.

-That. Won't. Happen. The rest of the group is staying in. I'll stay and guard, if necesary.

-Very well. But I must ask: what drives you to do this?

-Have you ever heard of the term "solidarity"?

-Don't mock me, please. There's no need to.

-Then don't be such an unlikeable heap of crap.

I storm out of the office. Perhaps a night outside isn't such a bad prospect after all: it will definitely help me to chill.

The night is cold, though I don't find it particularly annoying. I imagine things inside are tense; I welcome the fact that I needn't be there, and I can get by another while before having to rest. However, my calm guard night is interrupted by an odd noise in the distance. The noise grows stronger by the minute. Almost instantly an alarm goes off, and I begrudgingly stand up, my weapon readied against anything.

Then the door opens, and several God Eaters come out.

-What is it? - I ask.

-A big red thing looking extremely angry is coming. -How reconfortating.

It isn't long before the daemon arrives.

It is a human shaped monstrosity of titanic proportions, with large wings and hooved feet, carrying a powerful-looking axe in one hand and a barbed whip in the other. The red skin is barely visible, covered in a grey metallic armor covered in scratches. Its horns (which protrude forwards from below its jaw) are so thick that they almost hide the being's nigh-canine face.

I can't help but wonder: could this day possibly get any worse?