The place Clarissa sent us to was a military base hidden in the mountains. I looked at it from a distance before riding toward it. They stopped me at the gate for a second made a phone call to verify my 'authority and the necessity of my presence'. Bureaucratic pricks, they always find a way to screw around with someone. Anyway, after I escorted Nee-san to the chopper that would bring her back to a place, I went to the briefing room where I found Clarissa and a petite silver haired girl with an eye patch waiting.
"Sergeant, I trust you didn't have any trouble finding the place?"
"Not at all Lieutenant."
"Good. May I introduce you to my Second Lieutenant Laura Bodewig. Bodewig, this is Sergeant Garisaka Haru, the two of you will be working together in the field from now on."
Laura looked at me and huffed. Wow, I didn't do anything yet and she already hates me. That's got to be a new personal record.
"Lieutenant, I don't understand why I have to work together with this pathetic excuse of a man. This is after all an elite IS squad, not a day care."
You want to play it like that, huh? Let's see if she can back up those words.
"I already understood what this facility was when I saw it. And don't you think that your superior must have a good reason to let me become a part of this squad, Bodewig-san?" I asked her with feigned politeness. I'm not gonna let my ass get insulted by some random German chick I just met two minutes ago, even if she is my superior.
"Even still, what can your pathetic self even hope to accomplish against an IS?" she asked me. Fuck it, I'm going to settle it MY WAY.
"You know what, screw this. Clarissa, can I please show the haughty midget here what I'm capable off in a friendly sparring match?" I asked Clarissa.
"How dare you use such a tone against a superior like that? Don't you have any respect towards the chain of commands?" Laura roared.
"I'll give it to them if they earn it. Don't forget Bodewig, I'm here as a mercenary to help you stop the bastards we're chasing right now so that they can't continue their experiments, not for a real career in the army so that little piece of military etiquette doesn't concern me."
Clarissa started laughing after my response. I'm very glad that I'm amusing you, but you're not helping. Not that I expected you to.
"How about we make this a bit more interesting? Garisaka, if you lose, you'll have to show proper respect towards your superiors. Can you live with that?"
"If I win, the I can speak against you two the way I want."
"Agreed." Clarissa said as we shook hands. Laura looked at us dumbfounded.
"Lieutenant, are you really accepting this?" Laura asked surprised.
"Already looking for ways to get out of this bet?" I asked her amused. She looked at me with an untamed fury in her eye. Good, this fight should be interesting. Clarissa smirked at me, probably knowing my thoughts.
"Very well then. Tomorrow the two of you will be having a match at noon. Bodewig, you're dismissed I still have some things I need to discuss with Garisaka."
Laura saluted, sent me a killing glare and left. Did I cross the line? …Nah, I was still going easy on her. After Laura left, Clarissa took a bottle and two wine glasses out of her desk. Is that wine? I saw the liquid fill one of the glasses. Yep, definitely wine and it's a red one. Hmm ,those are usually the sweet ones. She passed me one of the glasses and I took a sip out of it. Hmm, not bad, this one has a gentle sweet taste that lingers on your tongue after you drank. Is it like this with all wines?
"So, how's your school life?" Clarissa asked me.
"Not bad actually. I already got a girlfriend."
Clarissa spit out her wine before looking at me.
"No way. Is it that blonde girl that Shinonono-sensei made new equipment for?" she asked me. I nodded.
"How did you get her?" she asked me suspiciously;
"Well, where should I begin?"
"With letting me doing all the talking." G said while materializing. Clarissa looked interested at her.
"She's the personalization of my IS Core. I have another one that represents my instincts and manages my weapons."
"But I refuse to let myself be seen." Superstes voice came out of nowhere.
"This is most peculiar." Clarissa mused before questioning me about my school life. G and I started talking and lost track of the time. When we stopped talking, it already was dark.
"Crap, I forgot to give you your new equipment." Clarissa muttered.
"New equipment?" I asked
"It's nothing special, only some grenades and 2 parts that make an smokescreen for your IS."
…
They call that nothing special here? You've got to be kidding me.
"The things lie in your locker at the shooting range. It's the small building at the other side. It also has the necessary machines to maintain your IS and weapons." Clarissa explained.
"Holy shit." I exclaimed. Clarissa showed a small smile.
"You can go there if you want to. Since I'm already aware of your insomnia, you'll have access 24/7 instead of being locked out at 23.00 with the rest."
"I'm going to check it out. Thanks for the drinks Clarissa." I said before trying to stand up. I've only had 3 or 4 glasses and I already have problems with getting up? Maybe I don't do that well with alcohol. After I left Clarissa's face showed a weary expression.
"You won't be able to have the same relationship with her after all this is over."
G materialized next to her.
"She only knows his good side, nothing of the hate and desire of revenge that he carries unconsciously."
"And if he dirties his hands…"
"She won't be able to see him as a normal person then, and he'll be forced to create a new life somewhere else."
"What do you think about it, G?"
"… I hope that he'll be able to keep the life he leads now."
"So do I."
(At the shooting range)
I looked around in awe. There were shooting ranges here with holographic targets that had the possibility to be changed into a person that you hate. The equipment here to customize your IS and weapons were the latest models. And last but not least, a complete zone that can be changed into any war situation. Let me tell you this, IT'S FUCKING HEAVEN FOR TRIGGER HAPPY PEOPLE! After I looked around, I went to my locker and got the things that Clarissa gave me. The machines that were supposed to make a smoke screen were quite small. I can probably mount them next to my wings and nobody will even notice them. The grenades were just your ordinary type and looked the same as the models used when we still had infantry divisions in an army. They may look the same, but their fire power easily increased sevenfold. But I only have four of them, so I'll have to be careful with them. The same goes for the smoke screens
"Actually, with these weapons, we also gain the blue prints and we can manufacture them ourselves." Superstes told me
'And how do you get the materials for that?'
"… that is an excellent question Haru-dono."
"From now on we'll get a steady flow of raw materials from the military to maintain and produce our weapons, so don't worry about that one." G said.
"Nice to know. I'm gonna try the simulation, I need to practice my CQC." I materialized my Phantom Blades and stepped into the field. A hologram of the Uchigane popped up right in front of me. It charged at me and I raised my blades into a basic defensive position. The Uchigane did an overhead slash. I stepped sideways to evade it and I stabbed one blade in his arm to pin him down.
Bad idea.
The Uchigane raised his arm and I flew with it into the air. My blade slipped out of his arm and I fell hard on my back. Note to self, don't fight when you've drunk more than two glasses of wine. I rolled away to dodge the impaling sword of the Uchigane and swept it of its feet. The Uchigane fell forward and I took that chance to jump on his back. I started a series of quick jabs between the wings, forcing the AB to activate. When it got up again I jumped of its back and took my spear. The Uchigane charged at me again and I stabbed it right in the chest, making the hologram disappear.
"What's the current length of the Phantom Blades?" I asked Superstes.
"Ten inch Haru-dono."
"Make it four inches longer, that'll give me more opportunities to stab and slash."
"Very well. In the meantime, please keep practicing with your spear. According to your fighting style, I curved the blade a bit instead of keeping it straight."
When I observed the now foot long curved blade, I saw the reflection of someone in it.
"You can come out if you want, Bodewig."
I saw Laura coming out of the shadows. Her usual stern look was replaced with a slightly interested one.
"How did you do that partial deployment? I thought only females were able to control an IS." She asked me.
I just shrugged, not wanting to expose my secret.
"I dunno. I mean, there's another guy that can also use an IS. His name is Orimura Ichika."
I saw Laura's fist clench and she became really angry when she heard that name.
"That disgrace to the Orimura name is also an IS pilot?" she almost yelled.
"What the hell did he do to make you so pissed off?" I asked her.
"You don't know? Where have you been living the past six years?" she asked me dumbfounded.
"The first five and a half in a research institute cut off from the world, then six months with Shinonono Tabane, and this last week in the IS Academy." I counted on my fingers while telling her that.
"Which organization used you?" Laura asked me.
"The same bastards we're hunting right now. Wait, why do you accept the truth just like that? The others didn't believe me until I showed them my scars." I asked dumbfounded.
"You're not the only one who had to suffer for 'the sake of progressing.'" She told me with a bitter smile. So she's been in the same ship as me huh?
"Do you want a hug?" I asked with my arms spread. Laura looked at me like I was insane.
"Why the hell would I want one?" she asked me angrily.
"You've probably haven't felt any human contact since they did whatever they did on you and you probably were never able to properly show your distress around it, so let it all out in a big bear hug." I said with a childish smile.
"You're just screwing around with me, aren't you?"
"What do you have to lose?"
"My dignity." She deadpanned me.
"Oh please, it's not like anyone is watching."
"The answer is still no." I dropped my arms in defeat, pretending to be sad.
"That doesn't work on me."
"Goddammit. Anyways, if you ever need help with something that's not in your area of expertise, or if you just feel lonely don't hesitate to call me." I said with a smile.
Is that a light tint of pink that I notice on her cheeks? Aw she's embarrassed. Come to think of it, why was she spying on me?
"I-I'm going to sleep. Goodnight." She said before quickly disappearing. I wondered about why she stuttered before going back to training.
(Laura POV)
Why do I feel like this? I was only curious about who was still training at this hour and I happened to run into this boy that just strolled in like he owned the place. But when I saw him fighting, I knew that he had something to back up his lazy and irresponsible attitude. I didn't understand why he could use an IS, but his bluntness made it clear to me. He was also experimented on like me, but he had a life first. I was artificially created in a test tube. That look in his eyes when he mentioned the people we were chasing, it were the eyes of a person with a lot of physical and psychological trauma's. And yet he smiles and acts like a child. And what was up with his fake friendliness and behavior?
"If you ever need help with something that's not in your area of expertise or if you just feel lonely don't hesitate to call me."
Still, that smile on his face was sincere. Why does he care about someone he just met? And why did he seem to shine for a moment when he smiled? Why do I feel funny in my stomach when think about it? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME?
(Normal POV)
It was the afternoon and Laura and I stood thirty feet away from each other, waiting for the signal to start the fight. A lot of people came to watch from a safe distance since… why the hell did they come to watch?
"Odds are fifteen to one that the new guy loses, so bet wisely!" I heard someone shout. So that's why.
"You ready to begin?" I asked Laura. She materialized her IS in response. It was black and had a BIG gun mounted on her shoulder. An information screen popped up with the information of her IS.
Swarchzer Regen, an mass production third generation IS. This is going to be hard, if I can trust the info about its … most annoying assets.
"G, when I materialize the armor put the BITs in stealth mode and wait for an opening to strike her in the back."
"Got it."
"Superstes, use the Survival Program to look for useful data during the fight."
"I understand Haru-dono."
Clarissa stood between me and Laura.
"The fight begins when you hear a gunshot. We will handle the rules of a normal IS match. Am I clear?"
""Yes Lieutenant."" The both of us responded at the same time. She stepped back into the crowd and fired her gun in the air.
I materialized my spear and ran towards Laura. She already stretched her hand out. I jumped in the air and materialized my IS. The light blinded her and I slashed her across the chest. Using the momentum, I spun around and used the increase in speed to make my thrust more powerful. She jumped back and barely evaded the tip of my spear.
"She has locked on us!"
I quickly flew up and in random patterns, but she followed me with ease.
"G, warn me when she fires, I'm going for the Screwdriver."
"Are you crazy? We haven't properly practiced that move yet!"
"This is your practice then."
"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."
"Thank you, but first I'll try something else."
I materialized my rifle and started shooting in bursts at Laura while I kept flying. She stretched her arm again and the bullets stopped around four feet before her IS. Range has been found out. she stopped the bullets, so I can't really say how much she can stop with it. Time for test number two. I threw a grenade at her and started shooting again. She dodged this time. Could it be…? Alright, it's time for my plan to unfold itself. I stopped mid-air. Distance is around seventy feet, minimum speed should be at least a bit faster than a bullet.
"I've got you now!" Laura yelled.
"Here it comes!"
The moment Laura shot with her Rail gun, time slowed down. I activated Ignition Boost while instead going in a straight line, I spun around the trajectory line of the bullet while using the Ignition boost to get the elements of speed and surprise in my favor. I barely dodged the bullet and saw it even fly past me! so this is how Neo feels when he goes through his knees and sees those bullets passing over him. I kept spinning around and sliced off the barrel of Laura's Rail gun… and crashed into the ground. While I tried to get up again while still feeling dizzy, I got grabbed by six cables. One around each limb, one around my waist and on around my neck. She slowly dragged me closer towards her and I did not like the look of those energy blades in her hands. Come on, get out of this, you've been I worse situations than this. Show your strength, and swipe that that sadistic look of her little German face.
"True strength comes from the heart." I heard my mothers' voice. Great, I must be getting delusional. Wait, my heart isn't a heart, but a mass of energy. It's a plausible reason to let a hole for it in my armor. As if the Core responded on my thoughts, it started to light up. Laura looked confused at it.
"Fire." I said with a smirk. An energy beam came from the Core and shot straight towards a surprised Laura. She raised her barrier again just in time, but that was all I needed. The BITs got out of Stealth mode and started shooting at her open back.
"What?" she yelled furiously. I used that moment to cut the wires with my Phantom Blades. I materialized my spear and charged straight towards Laura. I hit her right in the chest and the force pushed her back. The BITs docked themselves back in my wings. Laura looked in sheer anger to me. she materialized her plasma sabers and charged towards me with a war cry. I raised my Phantom Blades right in time to block her relentless assault. Her attacks were cool, calculated and melded together in a fluid movement. It went on like this for a few minutes and I could barely keep up and got hit hard a few times.
"Remaining Shield Points are only 200, The Survival Program is almost ready to be launched." Superstes warned me.
Damn it, time to play dirty. I ducked under Laura's stab and sweep kicked her off her feet. I jumped on her and started with a series of jabs like I practiced against the hologram Uchigane. Electricity started to surround Laura and she started screaming. Her IS became a black blob and I jumped off quickly, because the blob started to eat my IS! Laura became engulfed with it. It morphed into the form of an IS that had the face that resembled Chi-sensei and had a sword of at least five feet. What the fuck is going on?
(Laura POV)
HOW? How can a lowly man like this overpower me? I am part of the Elite IS squad and was trained by Instructor Orimura and yet, I can't kill a scum like him. It's unfair!
"Do you want more power?"
Wait, who are you?
"then I shall give it to you."
Wait, what do you mean, what is this feeAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHH!
(Normal POV)
I stood in a defensive position, waiting for what could happen. That… thing's eyes lighted up with a shining red color. It charged at me with tremendous speed and slashed through my Blades and armor. A nasty gash spread itself on my chest and I laid their on my back. I tried to get up, but the highest I could get was on my knees.
"It is ready, Haru-dono."
A white light engulfed me and I felt the wound closing itself and let me tell you, that was one of the most sick and weirdest things I've ever felt. I stood up and looked at the new changes.
Max Shield points: 650
Shield strength has increased with 40 percent
Launch Cables attached on forearms.
Data on V.T acquired. Currently in quarantine.
That shape kept looking at me with its shining red eyes. I slowly materialized my spear and got in a crouching stance with my spear horizontal behind me. the Blob went into a drawing stance as well. Laura is still in it, so I'll have to get her out of it first.
"I'll save you Laura." I muttered softly. The blob charged towards me. Wait for the right time to strike.
Show no fear, for it will freeze you.
It came closer.
Do not falter, for it will destroy you.
Closer.
Walk with confidence down your path, so you can fully master it.
Almost.
Show pride in your heritage, for your ancestors will guide you then.
She made a wide swing with her sword. THERE! I ducked under her swing and slashed its chest open. Laura fell out of it. The eye that was normally covered with an eye patch turned out to be yellow. The look in her eyes showed sorrow, despair and gratitude. I caught her in my arms and she fell unconscious in them. A guy slowly approached us. He worked at Engineering, judging by his attire and wrench in his hand.
"You alright?" he asked me.
"Yeah, where's the Medical bay or where ever you guys put wounded people." I asked him.
"Right this way." He said. I followed him and the crowd split when we came through, giving us a path.
"Why are you strong?" I heard Laura's voice in my head.
"I'm not strong at all. I can fight and improvise, but that's where it ends." I responded with my thoughts.
"Then you're strong."
"No, I don't have true strength."
"What is true strength then?"
"True strength is what you stand for and in what you believe."
"…Is that it?"
"I think so. At least that's what I've been taught. Though a purpose also marginally helps with these kind of things"
"…A purpose? But… how do I find one?"
"What is your biggest desire?"
"To become like the instructor."
"That one sucks. You'll lose yourself along the way."
"What should my purpose be then?"
"Try to surpass that person then, but beware that you don't lose yourself."
"I won't. What is your purpose?" I remained silent for a few moments
"I train so I can take revenge on the organization we're hunting. And when that's done, I'll just move on and enjoy my life."
I could feel Laura's gaze on me.
"That's not really a good or noble purpose."
"And that's why you're already stronger than me. You were able to get past the grudge held against the researchers."
We arrived at the Medical Bay. I gently laid Laura in a bed and pulled the covers over her resting body. The guy that led me here put some money in my hands.
"That's your cut from the bets that were made. I was kind enough to place a wager in your name." He said with a grin.
"In my name?"
"Yeah, I'm the book keeper and since nobody betted on you, I made a shit load of money. So as a way of saying thanks I'm giving you a cut."
I put the money away and shook his hand.
"Miyabi the Book Keeper, but that one was kinda obvious and you are?"
"Haruka the Thief."
"Well then Thief, welcome to Swarchzer Regen. Get some rest, you look kinda pale." I nodded. He flashed me one last grin and he left while singing.
"I've found a second purpose." I heard Laura's voice again in my head.
"And that is?"
"To make you as strong as me so you can move on as well."
I smiled softly.
"You can try if you want to, but get some rest first."
"You should as well."
I put myself on the bed next to Laura's and fell in a deep sleep, but not before we wished each other a good night.
Chapter nine is finished! Next chapter there will be a new person introduced who'll have a certain amount of authority over Haruka. You can guess which one.
Haruka: You don't mean…?
Oh yeah.
Haruka: you wouldn't dare!
Is that a challenge I hear? And as usual I'll respond the reviews.
Haruka: don't ignore me
Toby860: With the way things are now she'll be alone yes. But Let's say that I have a few aces up my sleeve. A WARNING FOR EVERYBODY, if you thought that it would only be fluff, comedy and a bit action… You're wrong! I'm going to make this story a bit darker sometimes and it will affect the characters which might lead to a few heart broke moments.
Fangking2: I'm sorry to hear about your teeth, but I'm not going to pay the dentist bill. Just so you know. And thank god that you like the jokes, that proves that I have a decent sense of humor.
AnimeL0ver00: thank you for making want to eat chocolate cake for a week. -_-'
Our Guild:
Rose: *Distracted by waving flag*
Haruka: what he'd normally say is that he's glad that you liked it.
Minion: I'm glad that you liked the special, but sadly I didn't have any ideas regarding New Year's Eve. Sorry about that one.
Well, that was everyone. Please review this story and if you have an idea, PM it to me or put it in a review and maybe I can use it and as always, have a nice day.