I don't own these characters; Sunrise does.
14: Coming together
The Windbloom Reactionaries moved as quickly as possible to establish a hidden headquarters. They packed up their camp at the cathedral and decided to go underground. The city rested on top of not only the ruins of the capital's past incarnations, but also a series of caves near the city limits. The rebels decided that would be the best place to set up.
They would have to scout out the depths of the area to make sure the caves would hold them all and to make sure the caves were unoccupied. The last thing they needed was for the Queen's forces to be down there, too. They did find some citizens that had taken shelter in the caves and had to take charge of them. It would not be prudent for them to allow possible enemies of the revolution to go out and tell the powers that be where they were located. All seemed to be clear after that, so they began setting up.
The Mad Scientists group set up their own section of the camp, needing to take stock of their weapons and other technology to make sure the next attack on Garderobe led to the fall of the Otome. Once everything was in order, they would go through each type of weapon and technology with the rebel leaders, giving them a tutorial on how everything worked. If everything went right, the Otome would be a memory by that time next week.
The Scientists did loan the rebels more bonds to contain their Otome prisoners. Maximilian eyed them suspiciously when they handed over the chains. He had wondered where those came from when they used them against Arika. So, now he had to wonder how his people had gotten a hold of these things before the Mad Scientists showed up.
"Are you all right?" Masujiro asked, coming up behind the young speaker.
"Do you trust them?" Maximilian countered, nodding the direction of the Mad Scientists. They were set up yards away in one of the many nooks of the caverns, but Maximilian felt like they were in the "War Room," which was the section of the caves that he and other lead Reactionaries were settled in.
Danton shrugged. "Their weapons do help, but of course I'm left with some questions. Why did they come here? Surely Cardair would've been the better choice. Cardair is a mighty empire with competent leaders for the most part that need to be brought down with much more sophistication. The Otome dogs there also seemed much more intent on being offensive and trying to bring an end to their revolution. Bringing more weapons to aid the Reactionaries there would've made more sense."
"I was thinking the same. Soon Cardair will get over the shock and respond to the bloodshed. The people may split with the revolution, the emperors might be able to amass a true army to aid them, and a dozen of other things could go wrong with that revolution. They'll need more weapons to sustain themselves against a true counter. Why did they come here instead of Cardair?" Maximilian searched the area with his eyes, as if the answers were lying around.
"I'll have someone watch them. For now, let's go take inventory and try to plan out our next move," Masujiro suggested.
Maximilian nodded and they walked off. It felt like they had a village in the caves, which troubled him because that meant the majority of the people were still in the city or had joined the Queen or had fled rather pick sides. It did not help that they had taken the people that had been in the caves prisoner. They were doing this for the good of all the people. Why don't they see that?
Shaking the thought away, he paid attention to the numbers being rattled off to him. The low number of guns was alarming, but people were sent to scavenge for more, as well as for ammunition. He was bothered by the number of men they lost in the little skirmish they had with Mashiro's troops, but worse were the losses from the assault on Garderobe – a battle they had technically won considering the fact that the Otome had not slaughtered the lot of them and they had dealt casualties to the super soldiers. Not to mention, they had got away with prisoners of war.
"Let's see the prisoners," Maximilian suggested.
Masujiro appeared surprised by the proposal. "Are you sure?"
"I'm in the business of war now. It would be wise to examine the assets," Maximilian remarked dryly. While he was not happy to be in such a business, he needed to know what he was working with and how they would be useful to his cause.
Masujiro laughed. "They are that."
Maximilian gave Masujiro a side-glance, but he did not say anything. They marched to a small alcove where a net was draped in front to give the illusion of the room being an enclosed space. He reached out to move the net, but Masujiro grabbed his wrist to stop him, earning a sharp look from the younger man.
"You don't want to touch that. The Mad Scientists put it up to keep the royalist dogs at bay, even though they don't have those special powers anymore. It's electric and contains enough volts to put the bitches in their place," Masujiro explained.
Maximilian nodded and his hand was released. He inspected their bounty, over ten Otome. One especially caught his eye and he smiled.
"Shizuru-san," Maximilian said in an almost kind tone.
Crimson eyes snapped up from the crowd and locked with his own. Something in her gaze froze his blood and stole all the air from his lungs for a moment. He heard Masujiro gasped, so he was aware that he was not the only one affected by her sharp stare. But, after a second, his mind jump-started and recalled that she was locked up and powerless. She was their prisoner, not the other way around.
"Straw-san, how nice to see you again," Shizuru said in her own pleasant voice. From the way she sounded, it would surprise anyone to see she was covered in dirt and blood as well as clapped in chains. He suspected the blood was not hers from how straight and strong she was standing.
"Oh, this is the one you debated," Masujiro realized.
"Yes, she is," Maximilian confirmed with a nod.
"For them to put her on television, does that mean she's high-ranking?" the older woman inquired.
"I believe she was introduced as the deputy headmistress. Sounds high ranking," Maximilian mused.
"She could come in handy. We should interrogate her and the rest of them soon. We can find out what they know about the school's defenses and figure out how to obliterate that damned blight on our country," Masujiro commented.
"I'll leave you to handle that part. Try to get information as to who they all are, also. That information could come in handy. I'm sure we have the daughters of a few nobles, who might be a little more open to our cause if they think they may not see their daughter again."
"I was thinking the same thing. I can handle it. What are you going to do?"
"I want to address the people and try to push the Queen again. I was told there were some civilian casualties in your encounter with her forces. People need to know Mashiro is more than willing to kill them to keep her title."
"Aren't you willing to do the same?" Shizuru inquired in a disturbingly light voice, earning glares from both men.
"Mind your business, wretch!" Masujiro barked.
"We're doing what's best for the country," Maximilian argued.
"Ara, ara, so the ends justify the means?" she said in an absolutely airy tone with a mocking nod. "Telling the people that Queen Mashiro is willing to kill to keep her title, but not point out you're willing to do the same is the markings of a hypocrite."
Maximilian growled. "We're doing what we are for the good of the country! She pushed us this far. All she had to was give us some basic rights and respect that the country belongs to the people, all the people, not a select few, but she didn't even want to that. She wanted to leave us wallowing in the dirt."
Shizuru tilted her head, looking like a curious puppy. "But, isn't your message that the country only belongs to a select group also? You certainly don't include the noble or upper class in your vision of the country."
"They've owned the country long enough and led it to ruin," he snarled.
"And you've done so much better with war in the streets?"
"She started this and turned it into a war!"
A tawny eyebrow arched. "She attacked a school and shot at thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen old girls?"
"They're soldiers," Masujiro hissed. "Don't try to sit here and play innocent. You're all soldiers against our cause and we'll wipe you out. We won't let you put the royalists back into power. We won't let you have this country anymore. It's our time."
Shizuru smirked and Maximilian had never felt so trapped in his life. There was something beyond frightening about this slight, rather elegant woman. Something ethereal, something almost monstrous. It was like she was not a woman, but a succubus, planning to suck the life out of him, Masujiro, and their movement and smile as their hollowed out husks drifted off on dusty winds.
"You'll be the first to be interrogated," Masujiro decided before storming away.
Shizuru did not appear fazed. She clearly knew something that they did not and it made Maximilian's skin crawl. Honestly, he wanted to just get rid of her, but that was impossible. She could be useful, very useful.
-8-8-8-8-
Natsuki sat at a desk in the infirmary, trying to get a hold of Laula. She hoped that the blue-haired Otome was still alive and continued to have a working GEM, but both seemed unlikely as she was unable to contact Laula. Sighing, she took a break and called Nao over. The redhead left a small group and stood before the Second Column.
"What's the plan?" Nao inquired.
"I need weapons," Natsuki answered. "ASAP."
Nao nodded, as if that was simple enough. "What kind and when?"
"ASAP and any kind that we train with."
A sly smile curled onto a youthful visage. "You want to fight them on their terms."
"Exactly. What they fail to take into account is that we are trained warriors. Yes, we have powers, but we can fight hand-to-hand and we have weapons training. It seems like we forget, too, and that's why the Reactionaries have been taking us out. We rely on our powers too much. Time to change it up," Natsuki declared with a smile.
"We can get weapons, too," Haruka chimed in, motioning between her and Chie. She also showed that everyone was listening to anything that came out of Natsuki's mouth, whether it was directed toward them or not.
"How long would it take?" Natsuki asked.
"A few days, mostly because we'd have to figure out how to them in here without the rebels noticing," Chie explained.
"No, that's good. Anybody else that can get weapons, set it up and get them. A few days wait time should be good," Natsuki said.
"You want to go on the offensive already?" Miss Maria inquired.
The pale woman shook her head. "Not yet. I want to play with them a little bit, which is what I'm trying to call Laula about. Yohko-sensei, is Laula's GEM still active?"
Yohko was across the room, monitoring dozens of patients and other things, but she heard the Second Column clearly. "It's still active. You have to remember she might be in a combat situation. Why not try someone else?"
Natsuki snorted. "No one else will listen to me, even if I told them where to find gold at this point. Not to mention, I'm sure they all know I was fired, so they don't even have a reason to listen to me. Me and Laula have our hotheaded moments, but I can talk sense to her if my idea will help her win a battle." Despite their issues now, Laula had been a friend of Natsuki's when they were in school, after Natsuki managed to open up a little.
"What's your plan? I could suggest to another Otome," Miss Maria pointed out.
"It's a bit dangerous, but better than being publicly beheaded. They need to use projectile weapons, their Otome powers should be fine, but they can get help from the Otome that have lost their powers by having them use regular weapons and stay hidden. Then, they should use a couple of quick Otome as decoys. The decoys draw fire while the hidden Otome and whatever military force they have rain down fury on the rebels," Natsuki explained.
Miss Maria nodded. "So, it basically renders their anti-Otome technology useless because they have no targets."
"Exactly. They've been fighting in Cardair long enough to know how the rebels fight, so they should be able to adjust the idea for whatever is going on there. I doubt the rebels would see it coming because the Otome have just been trying to overpower them with their Robes. It's time to stop doing that. Don't fight harder, fight smarter. For us, it's a bit more tricky," Natsuki admitted.
"You want to set up a battle to gain intelligence?" Mai guessed.
"Not want, I am. And, we're going to do that while my weapons gatherers are getting those weapons," Natsuki stated.
Nao arched an eyebrow. "You want set up a battle when you don't have any weapons to fight?"
Natsuki smiled. "Who said I didn't have any weapons? I'll be right back."
The Second Column left them all on the edge, she knew. The ten minutes that she would be gone would probably tear them up inside. She practically ran to her apartment, not expecting the sight that greeted her. Evidence of the attack had reached there with bullet holes peppering the walls. Bullets had gone through Shinobu's room, ripping her little bed and desk, which shredded Natsuki's insides.
"If Spooky had been here …" Natsuki growled. She was starting to understand why and how her spouse went to that dark place inside of her. If something happened to their daughter, Natsuki would have torn the world apart and bathed in the blood of her enemies. Hell, she still might if something happened to Shizuru.
Shaking that thought away, she went to the walk-in closet in their bedroom, which was also destroyed, and moved a false wall. There were two large black cases that she grabbed by the top handles. She carried the huge cases back to the infirmary, earning curious looks from almost everyone in the room. She put the cases on top of the desk that she had occupied.
"Damn, Natsuki, tell me that's not what I think it is," Nao said.
Natsuki only smiled as she typed in codes and the locks popped open. A hissing noise echoed through the room as the lids slid open. Those closest peered inside as soon as they could.
"Dammit, Natsuki, were you gonna shoot up the school?" Nao shouted as she got a good look at the small arsenal that Natsuki was packing.
"I'm from a country that's mostly forest and I have four older brothers. Hunting and shooting are practically in my DNA," Natsuki replied with a shrug.
"Damn," was all Nao could say while everyone else was speechless for a long minute.
"So, now what?" Mai inquired. "I mean, you've got the firepower and you want to set up the battle. How are you going to do that?"
"We arm those who can shoot and then we act like we're trying to fix up the school. I bet if they see we're not running and think we're trying to keep the school going, they'll attack again. It's risky, but you can't win the pot if you don't put in," Natsuki answered.
"What do we do if they actually overwhelm us?" Anh pointed out.
"They won't. They don't have the manpower because if they did, they'd have used it that first attack. We took out a lot of them in that attack, too," Natsuki reasoned.
"You took out a lot of them, but I hope you have more to this plan than just the assumption they won't overwhelm us," Mahya commented.
"That does sound risky," Yohko agreed. "I'm not interested in having more patients in here."
"Well, there are my rifles and handguns. The few other Otome with projectile weapons. We'll have snipers and I believe Yohko has a few surprises for us," Natsuki said, pointing over at the Chief Medical Officer. All eyes went to the doctor.
Yohko sighed. "I've been working on a quick hologram program just to confuse any invaders. I can project images of any Otome, which would draw their fire and make it easier for you to defeat them. I've put together some defensive weapons, too, to fight back and made sure they can be activated from anywhere around here. But, you know none of those have been given the green light and the weapons are still being set up. I only started that after it looked like Windbloom was going to go the way that it did. This is still pretty dangerous."
"That it is, but life's dangerous," Natsuki said.
"And we can't just sit back and let some Reactionaries think they got the best of us," Shiho declared. "As Otome, we have to not only protect people, but also our reputations. We can't just accept a loss."
"What about our powers? Can we get our nanomachines back?" an injured Otome inquired. She had been hit with several anti-Otome bullets.
Yohko sighed and ducked her head briefly. "So far, I have no way to return your nanomachines. Whatever technology they're using remains in the blood and continues killing the nanomachines for days so far. This thing that they've developed, I don't think there's anything more effective in taking away an Otome's powers, even semen. I can't even imagine what else they might have." The mood of the room quickly fell.
Natsuki spoke up just as fast, "We know you're doing your best, sensei. Please, keep it up." The mention of the nanomachines made her wound throb. She honestly did not care about her lack of powers, but she knew that her cannon could have come in handy, but she did not dwell on that. She had her guns and she would do what she could.
"I will," Yohko replied.
"I was able to get touch with Laula," Miss Maria reported. "She was engaged in a battle that ended with them retreating after yet another Otome fell to the anti-Otome shot and was gutted in the middle of the street. Right in front of their eyes. She was shaken up a bit."
"Shit, what did she say?" Natsuki inquired.
"She liked your idea and thought it made a lot of sense to use regular weapons to fight the rebels, especially since the number of Otome with powers continues to drop. She's going to talk to the remaining Otome about putting your plan into effect. She felt it was a good idea not to mention you came up with this plan, especially since they have heard that you lost your position as principal," Miss Maria answered.
The pale woman nodded. "That makes sense. Well, now we have to figure out who is going to be part of this plan and who will do what." She began figuring it out in her head while everyone else who had a job went to get started on it.
-8-8-8-8-
Maximilian Straw was broadcasting again and Mashiro wanted to throw something before he even began speaking. She wished that she could counter his broadcast, but no one around her seemed to know how to use the equipment and no one seemed to know what happened to the people that did know how to use it. Mashiro felt like they were not telling the entire truth, but she was not sure which parts were the lies. It all made her head spin. She knew that she should be able to figure out what was going on, but it all seemed like so much.
"Good evening, citizens of the blossoming Democratic-Republic of Windbloom! The royalists have been trying their best to slow our movement, but we refuse to go down. The Queen is so resistant to any changes, any chances of the average person having any rights that she is willing to wage war in the city where you live and butcher you like lambs in her personal battle against you!" Maximilian proclaimed.
Mashiro was ready to explode about the lies he was spouting until images accompanied his words. There were flashes of a destroyed neighborhood and children's toy broken in the rubble. First came the body of a dog with a collar, clearly someone's pet. Next to the dog, though, was the body of a child, curled up in a fetal position. Mashiro vomited before she even realized that she was sick to her stomach and if that happened to her, she could only wonder how it affected the people.
She tore herself away from desk, refusing to hear or see anything else. She needed to talk to her military commanders. She found them in an office, talking and watching the broadcast.
"Turn that off!" the Queen ordered and the television screen went black. "How could you kill children?" she demanded.
"Ma'am, it's a battlefield," one of the four men answered.
"Not to mention, there's no way to prove we killed those people unless one of our rounds is pulled out of one of those bodies. For all we know, the rebels killed those people. Hell, I'm sure they did," another argued.
"Bodies?!" she shrieked, not even considering it was more than the one that she saw. "How many?"
"We didn't stop and count. Besides, they could've planted those bodies. Who's to say they didn't just kill those people and blame us to make up for the fact that we took out most of their forces?" the third man pointed out with a calm smirk.
Mashiro felt like the room was spinning. This was too much. She found that she actually did not believe her generals. These were men that she was supposed to trust with her life and she did not trust them to even report the truth of the matter to her. She was at a loss.
"Why don't you go on television and just blame them right back? They started it," the last man suggested.
The idea actually turned her stomach. She could not go on television and claim the rebels killed those people because she did not know if they did. In fact, she suspected her troops were the guilty party considering they were the ones that blew up several buildings in the hopes of wiping out the rebel forces. Topping it off, she was the one that brought the war to the streets. Her soldiers had engaged the rebels. To her, no matter what, she was the one responsible for those people dying. It was her fault.
"Aoi," Mashiro whispered and took off running. "Aoi! Aoi, where are you?"
While her heart raced, pace increasing every millisecond that passed, Mashiro feared that her maid had abandoned the bunker. Aoi could be out there in the war zone that was Windbloom, the war zone she created. Aoi could be dead, killed by the rebels, killed by her soldiers. Calling out for her loyal servant once more, she almost plowed the brunette woman over.
"Highness?" Aoi said while catching the Queen in her arms.
Mashiro did not speak, could not speak. Burying her head in Aoi 's chest, she wept, openly and loudly. Aoi gently pulled her into the empty room that the maid just exited. A television buzzed in the background, Maximilian Straw continued railing against her.
"Turn it off," Mashiro ordered, no begged in a mumble.
"I can't. I need to know what the rebels are doing and so do you," Aoi replied.
"I didn't mean for anyone to die."
"Well, that's naïve. You ordered for war and you got it. The rebels asked for pretty much the same thing. Unfortunately, people who were just living their lives got caught up in it."
"More people are going to die, aren't they?" the Queen asked in a small voice.
"They already are. Reports from news crews brave enough to stay here have shown footage of fighting near the Diamond District. People just outraged by everything started fighting with guards of a lord there. There are other places with fighting and a few nobles have already claimed the throne while disavowing the knowledge that you were … purchased from Artai."
Mashiro sniffled. "Is that true? Was I bought?"
Aoi sighed. "I was only a little girl when you arrived. I don't know. I believe you to be the queen."
"But, I don't look like the Royal Couple," Mashiro filled in the unsaid part.
Rather than verbally agree, Aoi shook her head. They had both seen more than enough pictures of the dearly departed king and queen to know that Mashiro looked nothing like the pair. She had none of their mannerisms according to people at court. She was nothing like them and even when she did her best to be a good ruler, she would hear whispers that Queen Sifr could do better on her worse day.
"I screwed up," Mashiro admitted in a quiet tone. She was happy that Aoi was forgiving and not spiteful enough to agree or say "I toldja so."
"Well, you could always try to fix it," Aoi pointed out.
"I want to, but I don't know how. I don't know how and I don't know what to do." Mashiro just curled in closer to Aoi and sniffled.
The brunette was silent. She merely stroked Mashiro's hair, offering her what comfort that she could. At least the Queen recognized her major mistake. Unfortunately, since there was no "undo" button, there might not be a way to correct the problem.
-8-8-8-8-
Nao was out in the city, hearing gunshots not too far from her. She was trying to find any her contacts, informants, or just plain friends, but it would seem that everyone had gone underground. Of course, that was probably the safest place to be when the city was at war with itself. She decided to check Reactionary hot spots, or at least they were hot spots before the city became a battlefield and the country began to devour itself. Everywhere was empty, looking like the rebels grabbed everything they could and took off.
She came to a cottage and found it just as ransacked as the other places. She careful searched the front room and then stopped as she heard moaning. Turning, she saw a door at the back that was blocked by a fallen shelf. She moved the shelf with no problem being one of the few Otome left with powers. The door was locked, but she easily kicked it in.
Dust flew up, blocking her view briefly, but she made out shapes. It seemed to be a storage room. As the cloud settled, she saw that one of the shapes was not an object, but the curled in form of a person. Upon closer inspection, it was not just any person.
"Arika!" Nao dropped to the younger woman's side.
The Royal Otome was clearly in bad shape. Her pallor was jaundiced and her lips cracked. Her cheeks were sunken and there were black circles under her eyes. She was sweating and appeared to be unconscious.
"Shit, what did they do to you?" Nao wondered aloud and used her GEM to contact Garderobe. "Hey, tell Natsuki I'm giving up my weapons search. I found something much more important."
"What's more important than sticking to the plan?" Chie inquired.
"You'll see when I get there." Nao disconnected the communication and turned her attention to the fallen Arika.
She carefully gathered the Windbloom Otome, snapping the chains that bound Arika to the house, and all Arika did was make noise. Despite the fact that she was sweating, Arika was cold, clammy, and Nao worried that she might not make the trip to Garderobe. She took a major risk and flew back to the school.
Dodging bullets all the way to Garderobe, Nao was surprised to make it back in one piece. She ran to the infirmary and practically shoved a group of students out of the way. Spotting Yohko at the far end of the room, she made a beeline to the doctor.
"Hey, doc, I got another patient for you," Nao reported in a rush.
Yohko spun around, obviously about to say something, but all words died in her throat as she laid eyes on Arika. Motioning for Nao to follow her, they had to put Arika on a pallet because all of the beds and cots were taken. Nao stood back and let the doctor work. She was not surprised when Natsuki came and stood next to her, nor was she surprised by the arm around her shoulder.
"The bastards left her chained to a wall to die," Nao hissed.
"Yohko-sensei will save her and we'll avenge her," Natsuki promised.
"How the hell do you claim to be for the people and then leave someone to die like that?" the redhead growled.
"Ideals that they obviously feel should be put on hold for this battle," Natsuki said. "So, let's go show them that they can't take shots at Otome and get away with it."
Nao nodded in complete agreement. She had some respect for the Reactionaries, but that was now gone. Now, they were just another enemy, an enemy to take down.
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: another assault on Garderobe.