Chapter 21
Before anyone could even react the two Pandora slammed the door shut leaving Elizabeth on her knees. Her normally long blonde hair was disheveled wildly. Her eyes were dark and lifeless showing no signs of alertness. Most concerning was that she was stripped down to her underwear and her button up shirt that hadn't even been buttoned.
"Chiffon, blanket!" Varen yelled and she ran to the bed pulling a blanket free. She tossed it to Varen who then handed it to Andre. He wrapped it around Elizabeth covering her body. He helped her up and led her to the bed. He helped lay her down and her eyelids fluttered clearly on the verge of exhaustion.
"She can stay here Andre. You too, OK?" Chiffon said grabbing her shoes.
"What did they do to you?" Andre said brushing Elizabeth's hair back.
"Let's go Chiffon." Varen said and she nodded.
"Varen…" Andre called out trying to contain his emotions.
"Yes?" He answered turning to face Andre who gripped Elizabeth's hand tightly.
"Don' let them get away this."
"I won't." Varen answered leaving the room. Chiffon kept step beside him as they walked through the hallways passing by numerous other Pandora beginning their day. A few eyed them curiously since the way they were walking was with a clear purpose. It was hard for them not to sprint to the command center and break the doors down with force if necessary. Their shared senses through the stigmata was enough that they both knew just how angry they were. He could feel Chiffon's anger rising with each step, and that alone was something to fear.
"Whoa! Slow down champ!" Varen narrowly missed knocking over a red haired Pandora that was around one of the corners.
"Ah, sorry Ms. Elipton my fault." He said hurriedly.
"Powerwalking is good exercise I hear, but a little dangerous in these halls don't you think?" Roxanne said with a laugh.
"Right, powerwalking I'll keep that in mind. Sorry Ms. Elipton, but we need to be somewhere, please excuse us." He said walking past her.
"Call me…Rox…anne?" She said seeing Chiffon follow behind him without even glancing at her. She gulped hard having seen Chiffon's face as she passed by. Her hair stood on end and instinctively her hands went to her sides ready to call her weapons. She had seen that look on Chiffon's face one other time at the last world carnival. It was not a face she had hoped to see again.
"I don't really have a plan Chiffon." Varen said as they walked.
"It's simple we find out why they did what they did to Elizabeth." She answered.
"You really think they'll just let us in?" He asked.
"Then we break the door down." She answered resolutely. They came around to the entrance of the command center finding the same two Pandora Varen had encountered in the early morning. They both instantly shifted into a stance that showed they were ready to attack if necessary.
"Mark Spencer, where is he?" Varen asked.
"Stay where you are Justicar. Do not make us use force." One of the Pandora called out as he continued to advance. Chiffon quickened her pace advancing just a step ahead of him.
"Move." She said coldly and even Varen shivered hearing her voice. There was no emotion in it. The two Pandora seemed to tremble visibly as well. Even amongst the Chevalier ranks Chiffon was well known.
"This area is off limits from students, halt!" The other Pandora shouted.
"Move." Chiffon repeated nearing the two Pandora. The doors behind them opened suddenly revealing a man who looked to be in his early forties. He had short, light sand colored hair cut short and wore a Chevalier uniform adorned with a number of medals. Chiffon came to a stop and Varen stepped up beside her.
"Mr. Askiligar and Ms. Fairchild, good morning. I expected as much from him, but you Ms. Fairchild? This is most unbecoming of a student body president." The man said clucking his tongue.
"Excuse me?" Varen asked angrily.
"I know who you are Mr. Askiligar. I know that you seem to think that you are above the laws and rules Chevalier has laid out. You parade your little group around free of restriction and act like you hold some form of authority. Let me be clear, you do not come here and make demands. You are a genetics student nothing more. This facility and everything in it belongs to Chevalier and as the commander you answer to me." The man said, his tone rising.
"What did you do to Elizabeth?" Chiffon asked her fists clenching.
"Your father would be disappointed Ms. Fairchild. You were the shining example of what all Pandora should strive to become. A shame to see that you have fallen so low as to be paired with him." He responded and Varen could feel flares of energy back-lashing through their connection.
"Don't you speak of my father or me like that. What did you do to her?" Chiffon shouted holding her ground.
"Ms. Mably sent classified information to her family. She put this facility, her fellow Pandora, and all of Chevalier at risk. We do not take such actions lightly, and she was dealt with accordingly. All of West Genetics will be removed from this facility tomorrow morning." He said.
"Removed?" Varen asked confused.
"Your services are no longer necessary and it is clear that you and the representatives from West Genetics were poorly chosen. As such you will be sent home first thing tomorrow morning. The E-Pandora project has no use for people like you." Mark Spencer replied. Varen and Chiffon stood in silence both unable to find the words to respond.
"The E-Pandora project will continue?" Varen asked at last.
"Of course, and perhaps without you here to sabotage it I believe we will succeed. You are lucky that we don't court martial you and all of your group. Unless you would like to press this matter further, then that can be arranged." He responded coldly. Again they both stood in silence letting everything sink in.
"Well, I have more important things to attend to. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you both. Have a safe trip home." He said, every word dripping with sarcasm. Even after he had returned into the command center and shut the door, both Chevalier Pandora following him they couldn't move.
"Chiffon?" Varen asked and she turned her head towards him.
"We're going home." She answered.
"Yeah." He answered.
"He knows we saw something we shouldn't of the other night. That's why we're being sent away without official punishment. That's why Elizabeth is still here." Chiffon said and Varen nodded.
"They're sweeping us under the rug like Gina." Varen said after thinking for a moment.
"Remove the people involved and no one can question them anymore. We get to go home freely without fear of repercussions and they get to continue on as if nothing happened." She responded. They both turned and began walking back towards their section of the facility where their room was.
"I…don't know what to do." Varen said as they walked.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"We can go home Chif, and act like nothing happened. Go back to how it was before we came here. We can tell everyone we're engaged, get married, and start our life not just as Pandora and Limiter, but husband and wife." He said and this time when he mentioned marriage her face did not light up.
"Yeah, we could do that…" She trailed off.
"We'd have to leave them behind. The E-Pandora I mean." He said.
"Yes we would." She answered continuing the navigate through the halls.
"Chif?" He asked and she looked over again.
"Yeah?"
"I won't leave them behind." He stated flatly and he saw the hint of a smile on her mouth.
"No, I suppose that just wouldn't do." She answered. They finally arrived back at their room and entered finding not only Andre and Elizabeth still inside, but also Arnette, Attia, and Ticy. Arnette looked over and saw them enter. She walked up to Varen standing directly in front of him and stared into his eyes.
"Are you still OK with letting this happen?" She asked. It wasn't angry like her tone had been when she last spoke to him. It was distant, and hinted at disappointment. He could see that Elizabeth was awake, but still looked exhausted. Everyone looked at him waiting to hear his response.
"How far are you willing to go for them?" He asked looking over at Elizabeth. She held his gaze weakly, but did not blink.
"As far as it takes." Arnette answered without hesitation.
"Then let's sit down and figure out how we are going to do this. Whatever we're going to do, we do it together and it has to be soon. They are sending us home tomorrow." He said and everyone looked around at each other.
"Are you saying that you'll help?" Arnette asked. Her voice sounded hopeful and Varen put his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm sorry Arnette. You too Attia, I was wrong. I'm so very sorry I didn't stand beside you when you needed it most. I'm here now, I'll do my best to make up for it." He said and her mouth hung open slightly.
"Coup d'etat is what we're talking about right?" Ticy asked.
"Yes, anyone who doesn't want to have any part of this speak now. If we do it, we all have to be in." Varen said and waited. Everyone remained silent staring back at him.
"Are you ok?" Chiffon asked looking at Elizabeth.
"They tried to break me, but I'm not backing down." She answered.
"Everyone understands what we're risking right? I'm not going to sugar coat this so let's be upfront right now and get this out of the way. The best case scenario is we help these girls escape and the world finds out about what's going on here. Chevalier shuts the facility down to protect its image and we walk away like heroes, but in the back of Chevalier's mind they know we betrayed them.
Worst case is we fail and are branded as traitors. We won't go home and our lives as we know it will be over. No second chances and no going back." He said.
"This is why we formed this group. I won't let more people die helplessly." Attia said.
"We aren't fighting the Nova. We're not fighting some creature that the Novitiates created. We're going to be fighting Chevalier Pandora, and they will try to kill us." Varen added. Everyone took a moment to let sink in the scope of what they were about to agree to.
"Any Pandora that stands by and let's innocent lives be sacrificed does not deserve to be a Pandora. It is our obligation to protect those who cannot protect themselves." Elizabeth said weakly.
"You guys really don't mess around do you?" Ticy said light heartedly and everyone chuckled.
"Alright, then we go tonight. Late when the majority of students are in their rooms. We need to get to the E-Pandora dorms. Lastly, we need the data on Mark 3 otherwise we have no proof. As far as getting out of here we'll need to get to the hanger and commandeer an Interceptor." Chiffon explained.
"You make it sound easy." Andre said with a nervous smile.
"I know, and I wish it would be as easy and simple as I just put it, but it won't. At best we make it to the E-Pandora with little issue, but once they are out all hell will break lose." Chiffon answered.
"I have a question. What if they don't want to be rescued?" Ticy asked making everyone look at her.
"I've thought about that too, and it is a gamble. If they truly accept being here and taking part in what is happening I won't force them to leave." Varen answered.
"But by the time we learn that we will have already started our plans into motion." Ticy answered and Varen nodded.
"Right, we have to hope we can get to them with no issues and if it comes to pass that they wish to remain here then we cancel everything and simply go home in the morning." He answered.
"This is a horrible plan you know that right?" Arnette asked shaking her head.
"So was jumping out of the transport at a few hundred feet, but we made it work." He answered with a wink.
"Ok, tonight then." Arnette said.
"Tonight." Everyone echoed.