A/N: Chapter 11 of Freezing: The Lightning Girl. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the chapters except my own. Freezing belongs to the rightful owner.

A special thanks to the reviewers, I truly appreciate it.


Chapter 11: Trouble at East Genetics

Released from the hospital and finishing up some make-up work, Eva found herself swarmed by the first years as they bombarded her with congrats and praises. Rumors fly fast around, especially with the gossip chicks. While she just smiled and nodded at the comments, she noticed that many of the 3rd years were giving her some of those 'I'm watching you' kind of looks which she retaliated with a bored expression.

"Thanks for helping me out with this curriculum Satellizer-san." Eva spoke to the Untouchable Queen one day during lunch break. The two of them sat underneath a huge tree with piles of books scattered around. Burger wrappers also littered and stained the fresh patches of grass.

"Don't mention it." She waved a dismissive hand. "Kazuya told me everything that happened. Luckily you finished everything else at the hospital. Working on the components of a Pandora's stigma and how she is able to release her weapon is a bit tricky."

"I'm happy I have a great teacher like you. You surprise me with your bored expression in class that I have a hard time distinguishing whether or not you're even paying attention to what the teacher is saying." Eva crooned, playfully nudging her friend's arm before laying down, wincing a tiny bit.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"Still getting used to the stigmas in my back, no worries." The girl chuckled as she positioned herself a little more comfortably, using the Untouchable Queen's lap as a pillow. Usually anyone who tempts that close contact with Satellizer get's a one way ticket to the hospital however the 2nd year's eyebrow twitched slightly at the closeness.

"Don't be such a prune, your lap is quite nice." The 1st year purred sleepily.

"Well don't get use to it." Satellizer huffed, a slight blush tinted her cheek. "Besides..." now her voice drops to a very small whisper. "My lap is only reserved for Kazuya."

"Ooooooooohhhhh, Kazuya that lucky guy. Too bad he has to stay in the 1st year dorm. If you two were together, I'm sure he'll use you as a pillow every single night! He'll make sure to leave a kiss before going to bed." Eva turned, pretending to put a fake kiss on Satellizer's leg but the Untouchable Queen moved quickly and she kissed the ground instead.

"Be glad that you're my friend otherwise I would have killed you on the spot for defiling my skin with your dirty lips." She huffed, folding her arms across her chest and blushed furiously. Eva wiped the dirt off her lips and was about to reply with a retort when Rana strolled up, hands behind her back. "

"Ah!" She exclaimed when she saw them and quickly jogged over. "Eva-chan!"

"Hi Rana-chan." Eva stood up and greeted her partner with a small smile.

"Was this tyrant monkey creating havoc while you work?" Rana asked, shooting Satellizer with a stern glare. "I surely don't want to send it to a school for obedience."

"Who are you calling a tyrant monkey, you flea invested gorilla?" The Untouchable Queen tried her best not to hit her 'classmate'.

"You. Calling other people names is quite rude and unladylike. How mature- De Arimasu!" Rana replied, a tick mark throbbed against her forehead. The two Pandoras began to bicker, completely oblivious to their friend who grabbed the books and sat there, watching them with interest. Unknown to her, someone else had her eyes trained on the three of them since the beginning of the lunch break.

Elizabeth Mably, leader of the third years who maintain the Academy's hierarchy and probably rules with Thor's hammer, stared out of her window at the three lower classmates. The glint in her eyes did not go unnoticed by Ingrid who decided to stop and chat with her fellow 3rd year.

"What do you think Elizabeth? Penny for your thoughts?" Ingrid asked, leaning against the wall with a remote expression. The woman didn't respond immediately, watching Rana tease Satellizer a bit before running away in laughter, the Untouchable Queen stomping her foot in frustration and Eva shaking her head with a sigh.

"It's unbelievable...When the 3rd years mentioned that little 1st year to me, I blew it off. I honestly did not think she was worth fretting about. However," Elizabeth narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Her actions may deem a threat to the hierarchy of this academy. Ingrid..." She turned to her classmate. "Keep a close eye on her. Monitor her every behavior along with the other two."

"As you wish."


Yokohama Special Operations Command room...

"Chevalier, all four platoon have rendezvoused at Yokohama Beach!" An operator spoke as her fingers whisked across the key board.

"East Genetics' 2nd platoon currently standing by!" Another operator claimed as she watched the monitor.

"Nova S, target 1, is heading towards the center of the beach! Core exposed!"

"Target 3 has mobilized!"

"Target 4 is also heading towards the beach! 6th and 7th platoon's decoys are all disabled!" All around the control room, voices of many different operators fired off the numerous reports of the battle. A man with a lighted cigar sat still in his seat, the reports flooded before him and he cursed.

"It is unprecedented...to think that in a single area...four novas would appear at the same time..." The Yokohama Beach swarmed with East Genetic Pandoras and their limiters as two towering Novas stared them down.

"Decoys! Spread out!" 4th year Milena Marius's commanding voice boomed over the screeches of attacks. "Create an opening for the strikers to enter!" Immediately after her orders, multiple decoys rushed in opposite directions, drawing fire from the Nova. Taking their chance, the two Strikers moved in, smashing their weapons into the chest plate of the monster. The outer shield crumbled and the core revealed itself.

"It's over!" The finisher, Cassie Lockheart aimed at the core, only to be swatted down. The others were shocked because Cassie was the fastest Pandora in East Genetics and the Nova just swatted her aside. Enraged they tried the tactic once more but the Nova was cunning, wounding the decoys and obliterated the entire group with a nasty beam. Cassie looked around and realized that she got away with minimal damage. The entire beach front went into turmoil as the remaining Pandoras rushed with medical equipment to the wounded and a second wave took over.

What happened? Cassie's mind reeled at the thought as she stood there, oblivious to the shouting around her. It was so fast, I didn't have time to react...


16 hours earlier...

"May I have a word with you? And before you ask, the door was unlocked." Milena entered Cassie's room with a smile. Putting on a very curious face, Cassie quickly prepared some tea for her sempai. Earlier that day, Cassie's limiter Kyouichi Minase confessed his love for her. The news was startling and she didn't know how to respond, besides being flabbergasted.

"It's okay, you don't have to tell me right away. I just want you to know that I won't let anyone else have you." Pleased with his confession, he turned and left. Cassie's friends overheard the news and took Cassie out for some karaoke.

"It's quite late Sempai." Cassie carefully worded, "Is there something you need from me?"

"Do I need a reason to visit you?" Milena let out a laugh however the younger host could hear a hint of threat border lining her voice.

"N-no, of course not." She quickly spoke, covering up her blunder. "You are always welcome here!" Milena smiled as she took another sip before speaking.

"You're trying to get promoted and become a chevalier, right? Cassie...you've always been ranked 1st for three years now. Just looking at your excellent grades up until now, it's only natural that you'd be aiming to be promoted from 4th year support to active duty chevalier." She smiled. "If I had to say, actual combat experience may be the only area where you are lacking...Well, we don't know when or where a Nova will show up so, I guess we can't do much about that." Cassie smile halfheartedly at her sempai's words.

"Sempai...I don't plan to be promoted..."

"What do you mean by that!? Cassie!?" Her upper classmate was appalled by the decision. "If someone with your talent isn't promoted, then who would be!?"

"I have another goal in mind." Cassie explained. "I want to meet and fall in love with someone...and with that person, I want to build a home together...and then finally, I want to protect that beloved family that we built together...Of course, it is also important to stand and fight should we face a Nova threat, but...rather than becoming everyone's hero...I feel that protecting those who are truly dear to me suits me better..."

"You understand everyone aspires to be you, right?" Milena spoke wearily. "How would someone like you ever be considered normal?"

"No one should think that I'm someone amazing!"

"If a genius like you isn't 'someone amazing', then what happens to the ordinary people? What happens to nearly everyone else?" Cassie opened her mouth to speak but Milena spoke right over her. "You were one of the elites chosen to inherit the hero of the 8th Nova crash Kazuha Aoi's stigma. A supreme existence...everyone here at East Genetics acknowledges that fact. You are Cassie Lockheart of East Genetics! One of the people who will lead the Pandora and the Chevalier!"

"But, I don't qualify for that sort of thing..." Cassie spoke. "No matter how many of Kazuha Aoi's stigma I've inherit...no matter how well I do on tests and training...those are just mock battles and exams... When it really comes down to it, I'm afraid of fighting...I lack fighting spirit as people call it...Originally, I joined Genetics to aid my father's political career...However, if the three years I spent completing the basic courses here were of no use to father..then...maybe I shouldn't have come here in the first place..." Her expression and tone become forlorn as she continued to considered herself weak. "When I finish my courses this year, I intend to hand over my inherited stigma to a suitable owner, and then I will quietly leave."

Milena tried to reason with Cassie, tried to make her reconsider her plans however the Godspeed of East Genetics shook her head.

"I'm a coward. I turned face and ran away from my opponent." She remembered the encounter with Satellizer for the first time. Apparently Satellizer's unyielding will struck a deep chord within her and she realized what a coward she was.


Shobario Headquarters...

Deep within the Grand Canyon, representatives from different countries met. The topic of their discussion was undoubtedly the recent Nova attack.

"Four Novas appeared at the same time...!" One man slammed his hands on the table in frustration.

"This is unheard of! Was this part of your calculations!?" Another added. "Answer me! Dr. Aoi!" The main man sat silently as everyone's eyes glared at him.

"We've been monitoring the Novas' activities closely up until now..but this situation was never anticipated." "Looks like the Novas...are beings that far exceed our imagination.."