I think y'all have had your dose of fluff and filler to last you for a while, eh? I just needed to set the stage for what is to come *DUN DUN DUN!* Follow/review, and all that jazz. I hope you enjoy.
(Zero)
Phantom and I slammed the door to Ai's room behind us and we caught our breath.
"You *huff huff* needed me for something?" I ask out of breath.
"*pant pant* Yes it's time for mission briefing. Follow me," said Phantom panting.
We started down the hall to the war room.
"Good to know Ai is doing better," said Phantom.
"Is that a good or a bad ting?" I ask.
"I was hoping you'd be able to tell me that?" Phantom says with a slight tone of humor in his voice. The two of us chuckle.
"How's Alouette?" I ask.
"She doesn't have anyone to play with so she tags along with me all the time. She insists on doing so, even if she is bored to tears attending to war meetings," said Phantom.
"Wouldn't it be troublesome to have a kid in the war room?" I ask.
"No, she quietly watches and has not caused a problem yet," said Phantom.
"She's a good kid," I add.
"She's a reminder of what I am fighting for. A peaceful world where she can play and go to school like any normal human kid, far removed from the strife's of the adult world," Phantom said.
"Hey! What took you! Your late!" a child's voice rang out. Standing before the door to the war room was Alouette wearing a resistance uniform obviously custom tailored for her small form. She stood there with her arms crossed and an angry expression on her face.
"You said you would be right back, what took you? The generals are waiting!" she exclaimed.
"Sorry, Zero held me up longer than I expected," Phantom said throwing me under the bus. I promptly elbowed him in the rib. Alouette shot me an evil look.
"I don't even have time to be mad, we have a war to fight," she said turning and entering the war room.
We entered the war room. The room was dimly lit except for the many computer screens that littered about for various unknown purposes. About them flitted analysts doing various tasks. At the front of the room was a large screen with a map being displayed, it's light obscuring the forms of the resistance generals standing before it, leaving only their silhouettes.
Tech-Kraken and Phoenix Magnion were not the only ones there. There were others with animal like forms including a revived Hanumachine. There were also multiple humanoid resistance generals.
"Pardon my tardiness," said Phantom as he stood before the generals.
"By now most of you will have heard of Zero's exploits, he will be joining our meeting," he said, motioning towards me. The group silently in unison turned their eyes towards me.
"A pleasure to meet you all," I said and gulped.
They nodded respectfully.
"Anyhow, enough with the pleasantries lets get down to business. The Neo Arcadian hold on this region has become very weak and in a last ditch effort to stop our rise they plan to attack this base, just as I planned," Phantom said.
"Just as you planned?" a General chimed in.
"Yes, just as I planned. I had Zero attack their various supply depots an minor bases in the week leading up to now for three purposes. Firstly, to weaken them for the coming battle forcing them to draw resources from overseas which is costly. Secondly to put up a facade of weakness, so they assume we do night raids because we are unable to face them in open combat. Lastly, by seizing their war materiel we bolster our own strength. In short we make ourselves stronger while weakening them, while keeping their false sense of power alive. They lead themselves into a trap of their own accord," Phantom explained.
The room erupts with the sound of hands clapping.
"Earlier intelligence indicates that Leviathan's fleet will be making beachhead of a shore not far from here. In addition Fefnir lead an assault on our weapons factory. Lastly Harpuia plans to bombard our main base. Each general plans on leading the attack personally. That is were Zero comes in. I need Zero to fight all three of them in order to obtain their access codes to Neo Aradia itself. Your tasks in this mission, which is the tricky part is to ensure Zero get's to each one in relative safety. He may be a legend, but he is still as mortal as any of us. Kraken, you are to ambush Leviathan's fleet in the sea to the north with your submarines, you are to destroy all of them except the flagship. So Zero can fight Leviathan and capture her codes, and hopefully we can use their flagship in later battles. Hanumachine, you are to ambush Fefnir's forces in the jungles to the south buying Zero time to get to the factory after defeating Leviathan and prepare to face Fefnir's weakened army. Finally, Phoenix, you are to engage Harpuia's sky fleet and keep them off our base. Be ready to send Zero a transport so he can land on Harpuia's flagship and defeat him," Phantom continued.
"How are you so sure I can beat them all, much less within the course of one battle?" I ask.
"You have the flame chip already, but I have already prepared for you the ice and thunder chip. Leviathan is weak against fire, Fefnir against thunder, and Harpuia against ice. If you match each element against their weakness it should be a less daunting task," Phantom explained.
"I have had sent to each one of you your instructions, be ready the attack will be in a few days. Victory is near!" Phantom said with gusto.
Both generals and analysts cheered at Phantom's words. With the meeting adjourned generals filed out of the room while others conversed with each other. Before I had the chance to leave Phantom approached me.
"You have a few days off, spend the time well," Phantom said.
"What do you plan on spending your time on?" I ask.
"I plan on challenging Alouette to a game of hide-and-seek, and by hide and seek I mean use my knowledge in ninjutsu to seamlessly conceal myself and catch a nap while Alouette practically babysit's herself," Phantom said.
"Diabolical yet effective," I reply.
Phantom chuckles.
"But then again, with all your planning and coordinating, you will need some well deserved rest," I continue.
"Yep, but my combat skills have gotten a bit rusty, up for sparing a bit tomorrow?" Phantom asks.
"Sure," I reply.
"I'm fighting three guardians in one day so I should get in some practice with one right?" I ask.
"Exactly, plus it is a nice break from missions," Phantom replies.
"Then it is settled, tomorrow we spare!" I affirm.
"See you then," Phantom replies leaving the war room. I leave as well an head back to my room.
I walked down the corridor alone. A familiar dreaded voice chimed in, "The day of awakening comes quickly, don't bother with such meaningless friendships."
"Piss off," I say aloud in rebuke.
"HEY!, that's a mean thing to say!" Logos says from behind me.
"Oh sorry, I was not talking to you," I say.
"Then who were you talking to?" she asks.
"The brown cyber elf, the scary one," I say.
"I didn't see him," she said concerned.
"Me neither, I only heard him," I reply.
"So what are you going to do now?" Logos asks.
"Getting some sleep, I am tired," I say.
"Sleep well!" Logos says cheerily and floats away.
The door of my room opens and I enter.
(Player)
I still have not scene any real game-play since the Anubis incident. The ever since then it has all been anime cutscene. I hope I get to play soon, this may be interesting but I am not in the mood for watching anime.
"You will have control of you destiny soon enough, I assure you," the unsettling voice says. I shake my head and dismiss it as a figment of my imagination.
"Ignore me all you like, your eyes will be opened soon enough..."