Chapter 11
"Respectfully asking, but have you been a Limiter for some time now? You're older than us right?" Citroen, Charles's Limiter asked.
"You're half right. I've only been a Limiter for a little over a year, but when I joined I was already in my 20's." Varen answered.
"I thought compatibilities required us to be younger?" Kyoichi asked from Varen's other side.
"They do, but Chiffon made the choice to take a chance with me."
"Plus, you were already exhibiting signs that you could do what you do without a baptism." Andre added while Varen nodded. Steam rose up around them as they sat in a circle within the hot tub. The facility had a fully functional recreation section that included a pool as well as sauna and hot tub.
"I've heard the rumors about you, but to be honest I didn't know how much of it was exaggerated and what was real." Citroen said.
"Same. We hear a lot about the happenings at West, but the stuff about you was taken with a grain of salt. It was hard to take seriously, but now…" Kyoichi said shaking his head and trailing off.
"It all happened quickly and under extreme stress. Life threatening situations basically caused whatever I can do to show." Varen said.
"Charles has talked about Chiffon a bit. Very few things scare her, but your Pandora is top of that short list. Until I saw you both fight today I wasn't sure why, but now I see how strong she is. How'd you two even pair up?" Citroen asked. Varen looked back towards where Chiffon sat on the edge of the pool kicking her feet in the water. Arnette, Attia, and Elizabeth floated nearby on inflatable beds while Ticy, Roxanne, Cassie, and Charles swam casually near where Chiffon sat.
"Not sure myself really. When I first arrived at West Genetics I wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms. She went out of her way to try and keep me company. We ended up becoming friends quickly and spending a lot of time together. Her reputation and position didn't make it easy for her to have a lot of friends let alone anyone who wanted to be her Limiter." Varen explained.
"What about those three? Why aren't their Limiters here?" Kyoichi asked nodding towards the girls. Andre and Varen cringed a little bit at the question.
"Ticy's Limiter was not able to be reassigned to our group in time. She transferred into the Nightingales less than a week ago. Arnette and Attia lost their Limiters in the West Genetics Nova attack last year." Andre explained.
"Sorry, I didn't know." Kyoichi apologized bowing his head. Citroen did the same.
"May I ask why they haven't found new Limiters? I'm sure it's a hard thing to do, but Pandora need Limiters and we need them." Citroen asked and Andre looked at Varen.
"We've been able to function with just Andre and myself performing Limiter responsibilities for the girls. I'm able to provide a freezing effect for the Pandora as a group regardless of location. This allows Andre to focus his abilities in concentrated section as needed as well as allow him to focus more on the battle without worrying about maintaining a freezing field." Varen explained.
"What you all talking about in here?" A male voice asked as a long black haired young man settled into the water with them.
"Shi-Jing this is Varen and Andre from West Genetics. This is Roxanne's Limiter Shi-Jing." Citroen said introducing everyone to the Limiter.
"Nightingales right? Wanted to come by sooner, but Roxanne had me busy earlier." Shi-Jing laughed.
"Some things never change." Kyoichi said and Citroen snorted.
"There is nothing wrong with ensuring your Pandora is kept happy." The Limiter said proudly.
"Agreed!" Andre added sensing a kindred spirit in Shi-Jing.
"Seriously though, I know this whole thing is to help whatever this project is, but right now…that is one real nice view." Shi-Jing said looking back at the Pandora. The others followed his gaze. They all wore swimsuits which to the boys simply meant free access to see more skin than normal.
"Yeah, this is nice." Citroen added.
"Real nice." Varen agreed as they all nodded simultaneously.
"They're staring aren't they?" Cassie asked and Chiffon angled her head a bit towards where the boys were across the way. With her eyes closed they couldn't tell she was looking at them.
"Sure are, and not in the appropriate way either." She giggled.
"Typical." Charles said rolling her eyes.
"Ah, come on now Halfling not like you have anything to look at anyway." Roxanne joked causing Charles to send a spray of water into her face with a splash.
"Shut it zombie girl!" The small Pandora shouted angrily.
"Is it really that bad? Personally, I don't mind at all. Just means that they view us as worth gawking at. Boys always want what they can't have." Chiffon said proudly.
"Oh, he wants it, and he gets plenty of it…" Arnette mumbled and Elizabeth fell off her raft laughing. Chiffon's head snapped towards Arnette a scowl crossing her face. Arnette quickly dipped a hand in the water and pushed her raft a little further from Chiffon who dropped lightly into the water.
"She's right you know. Even you little ones have your own certain charm." Roxanne said nodding towards Charles and Attia who both glared at the curvy redhead.
"It's still a bit embarrassing to be stared at. They aren't even trying to hide it." Ticy said dipping lower in the water up to her neck. They looked towards the boys and sure enough they all were staring in their direction. The moment the Pandora looked over they quickly turned away acting as if they hadn't been staring.
"Pretty sad really." Cassie said sighing.
"To be fair you all are pretty much spilling out of your suits so of course they are going to look." Attia said from her raft lying face down. The Pandora all looked down at themselves and shrugged unable to argue.
"You may not be top heavy but this is worth staring at!" Roxanne exclaimed slapping Attia's rear. She yelped in surprise steadying herself so she didn't fall off the raft into the pool.
"What I wouldn't give to be that hand…" Shi-Jing trailed off in thought. The boys had returned to admiring the Pandora from a distance.
"No kidding." Varen said.
"I have to ask, two Limiters and four Pandora. Is there…you know, something going on?" Citroen asked. Varen and Andre looked at each other before they both shook their heads.
"No, nothing like that." They both said in unison.
"Seriously? Nothing at all?" Kyoichi asked suspiciously.
"Well, Varen and Chiffon have been seeing each other for some time now. So I guess technically there's that right?" Andre asked towards Varen.
"That's true, yes, but there's nothing involving Arnette or Attia and especially not Elizabeth. I know you have a thing…"
"Varen!" Andre yelled cutting Varen off mid-sentence.
"Nothing to be embarrassed about. She's not a world ranker, but everyone knows who Elizabeth Mably is. You're one lucky man." Shi-Jing said. Elizabeth had pulled herself back up onto her raft and was floating on the water with her eyes closed.
"I don't think she sees me like that." Andre said. There was a hint of disappointment and sadness in his voice.
"Don't know if you don't try." Kyoichi said.
"Perhaps." Andre conceded. "What about you all? Charles, Cassie, and Roxanne are amazing Pandora."
"Charles can be a bit hot headed and proud. I'm lucky to have a Pandora like her, but we're just not like that. I think she sees me as more of a brother." Citroen said.
"Same, but then again Roxanne treats everyone like a younger sibling. No clue how she thinks on a romantic level." Shi-Jing said.
"Cassie and I started going out not long ago." Kyoichi said giving a thumbs up.
"No way! Awesome man!" Citroen exclaimed shaking his hand.
"Yeah, Cassie is so cute." Shi-Jing added.
"She's really fast." Varen said remembering back to seeing her on the orientation video his first week of joining genetics.
"Look who's talking. You have Chiffon Fairchild as your Pandora. No, as your girlfriend. Strongest Pandora in the world and a killer body. What's with the closed eyes thing though?" Citroen said. Varen and Andre looked at each other and chuckled.
"Long story." Andre answered for Varen unsure on how to reply.
"You been together for a while now right? Just how close are you two?" Shi-Jing asked with a wink. The other boys leaned in closer their eyes widening a bit.
"What are they doing?" Chiffon asked watching the boys seemingly gather into a huddle.
"Probably talking about how loud you are in the bedroom." Arnette said sarcastically. Chiffon stiffened and turned red in the face.
"You can hear that!?" She asked and Arnette equally turned red.
"I was joking! God, Chiffon I don't need to know this stuff! Come on!" Arnette yelled splashing water at Chiffon.
"Wow, the Monster of West Genetics is actually a pervert. Who'd have known?" Roxanne said with a grin. Chiffon spun towards her quickly and slammed her fists into the water.
"I am not!" Chiffon shouted as Elizabeth's raft floated behind her. She rested an arm around Chiffon's neck from behind hugging her tightly.
"Yes you are." She laughed before pushing off Chiffon's body getting distance.
"Stop it!" Chiffon yelled. Ticy giggled nearby only making Chiffon angrier.
"Can't believe all this time Ms. Monsters weakness was a man." Charles said tapping her chin. Chiffon waded over to the small Pandora until she was face to face with her in the water. Charles gulped as Chiffon moved her face to within inches of Charles.
"Stop calling me that! I happen to think I'm very attractive!" Chiffon argued causing everyone to laugh.
"How long until you are Mrs. Monster?" Roxanne asked and Chiffon looked back at her. Chiffon stood still lost in thought, but didn't seem to react to her nickname this time.
"Chif?" Ticy asked swimming over next to her.
"I'd like that…" Chiffon said softly smiling to herself.
"Like what?" Charles asked.
"To get married." Chiffon answered and the girls all fell silent.
"Think we could? Someday I mean?" Attia asked floating nearby.
"We're Pandora so it would be hard right?" Roxanne asked. The girls all seemed to be voicing inner thoughts.
"I want to get married someday." Cassie said. Her tone hinted at a strong determination as if there was no question.
"Me too." Elizabeth agreed.
"I don't want to be a Pandora forever, so yeah someday I'd like to have a family." Ticy added. All the girls were nodding in agreement.
"Well, Chiffon will probably be the first so we should start figuring out her wedding now!" Ticy said.
"That's true, you and your Limiter have been dating for like a year or something right? I bet he wants to!" Roxanne said excitedly.
"You…you think so?" Chiffon asked looking over at where Varen was.
"Of course! He might just need a little shove to boost his confidence." Elizabeth said.
"I agree, he's pretty easy to read and he's crazy about you." Attia included.
"This is exciting; I've never been to a Pandora wedding." Cassie said happily.
"I don't know about this…" Chiffon said, but a smile formed on her face and she turned red in the cheeks.
Arnette had floated away from the rest of the girls and she turned lying face down on her raft. Conflicting emotions had begun to rise up inside her as she heard the others talking. Feelings that made her both anxious and scared at the same time. It brought back memories of Kyle Monroe and the things he had told them. Chiffon was her friend, as was Varen, yet Kyle had told her that one day she would take him from Chiffon. Nothing seemed further from the truth, but still his words scared her. She buried her face in the raft trying to smother the thoughts.
"I won't let it happen." She said angrily gritting her teeth.
