Chapter 21: Miriana's Test

My name is Alya Elrya, I am 15 years old, my mother is dead and my father left me a long time ago. I lived for 10 years in the facility, run Director Garder F. Morotisan. I hated it, every single person there but two people. One was the Head Guard, Girikuson Vorono, the only one who never had a sadistic look in his eyes. I understood though, that in the end he had chosen his path and I had chosen mine, which makes it all the harder to know that in the end he accepted my torturous life. The other was my best friend Alya, whom I recently came to realize was just myself. Just an image created to help me cope with every bit of harshness that came in my life.

Yet, even if she isn't real…even if I'm not real…my thoughts, my memories, my reactions even if they aren't real, it doesn't matter. My existence is real and therefore, even if Alya is just me, she will always be my friend…I will always be my friend.

The most ragtag bunch of people have joined me, humans no doubt, something I know Alya still isn't exactly comfortable with. It makes me wonder, since I too am Alya, that if I too am uncomfortable with it as well. It's nothing that I would want to dwell on for too long.

The tactical operative, Roy Synth. I can't say I'm exactly pleased with him being here, considering he did try to kill me, but I think I understand his issue. Besides, as someone who's had direct contact with Garder and Vladimir as well as his knowledge of the facilities, he's a valuable player. I feel kind of bad about ripping his arms off…well…almost.

Combat specialist, the soldier Bando. I'm afraid he's going to just shoot me sometimes and that arrogant demeanor gets on my nerves. Then again, I've been arrogant at times too. Like Roy he's a necessity.

Then there's Yin Sandersas, the doctor of the group and the man whom I fully admit that I have feelings for. Knowing the threats we're about to face, I feel that bringing him along will only lead to bad things but nonetheless he insists on coming anyways.

Then there's Kusoku Miriana. She doesn't have any special skills or powers. In reality she's just a girl, a young girl who should never have gotten into this mess. Yet she does have something that is very important, spirit. Her cheerful disposition keeps our morals up, always smiling that lovely angelic smile of hers.

At last, there's of course me, not even able to read and yet I somehow became the leader of this group. Just a single Diclonius with invisible hands that now days seem to amount to nothing considering they got bit off last time. We're like the anti-group to Vladimir and Garder, both of whom I have sworn eternal vengeance against. However, the head of it all is Director Kakuzawa, if we can beat him, and then at the very least we can bring a harsh blow down to this horrible charade.

"AHEM!"

Snapping out of her stupor, Elrya looked over at Roy and for that matter everyone else who was just looking at her.

"Excuse me, oh dear leader…but do you often talk to yourself like that?" Roy asked sarcastically, leaning against the wall and putting one foot behind him to keep himself balanced. "What's with you being the leader…you can't even read and yet that makes you the leader? If anything I'm leading this joint."

"Well I agree that Elrya should be the leader, it's only right." Yin said seriously and the answer he got from Roy grated his and Elrya's nerves. "No offense sir, but shut the hell up. If we all went by her leadership, you'd have all gone rushing up to Garder's facility and gotten your pathetic asses handed to you…again." He added putting much emphasis on the words. "Don't forget I'm the only one here who even has a clue of what's going on, I'm the only one who has even the slightest notion of what these guys are capable of doing. The plan is as such, we're taking care of Kakuzawa first, although we can't just go to the facility itself."

"Why not?" Elrya asked.

"The head facility is located on a small island out in the Pacific, the only way we're getting there is by boat or by plane. More importantly, the place is too heavily guarded; we'd get shot down in a heartbeat in any unmarked vehicles. Are third problem right now is Orlana Zeruda."

"Who?" They all said in unison.

"Originally the 3rd Cent of Vladimir's group, she willingly demoted herself to the 4th Cent. However, this should be clear anyways that you do not want to mess with her. I do not know he powers exactly, only that she is an expert on illusions, code named 'The Clock Stopper.' In basis sense she's above me, and therefore right now if any of you see her, get the hell out."

"What does she look like?" Yin queried.

"Young, black hair and wears a rather simple outfit. One of her eyes holds the specialized silver coin that we have so she often has it closed. She is not one to be trifled with. I should also mention the other members as well.

3rd cent, Girikuson Vorono, The Tank."

"You mean…the head guard?" Elrya said in disbelief.

"2nd cent, Javel Julius, The Zero Point as well as the only Diclonius in Vladimir's group."

"Wait!" Alya burst out, shocking everyone for a moment. "You mean to tell me that bastard is forcing one of my kind to work for him!"

"None of were forced into Vladimir's group. Julius agreed entirely on it." Roy answered simply.

"And correct me if I'm wrong, but Julius sounds like a guy's name…" Alya said, thinking deeply. "That it is, he may well be the only male Diclonius. At the second level, you could consider him second in command, which of course leaves us with the leader himself.

One Cent, Vladimir Cents…The Incorrigible. The man who cares for nothing and nobody, who strives off of making every person suffer for eternity."

"Forgive me…sir…" Elrya said sarcastically. "But it sounds like this entire thing is useless. What the hell are we supposed to do then? We can't go to Garder, we can't go to Kakuzawa, and we can't do anything!"

"Incorrect." Roy said. "Firstly Kurama will be able to keep in touch with us, as Kakuzawa is still under the impression that he still works for him. Secondly, and I think you'll agree highly on this Alya Elrya, it's high time we set the Diclonius free."

"Huh? Not that I don't agree with you, but that would mean going to the facilities which you said…"

"I said Garder and Kakuzawa's facilities we're heavily guarded and dangerous, but there are more than two facilities in Japan. There are in fact 5 facilities counting the main one Director Kakuzawa runs, and the Southern Most one in Osaka is currently the least guarded of them all…"

"Which means…" Yin spoke at last. "If we rescue them, it'll mean more numbers for us."

"Each facility holds at least 100 Diclonius. I doubt they'd listen to us, but Elrya, being one herself could certainly coax them into helping us. With that, helping the other three facilities won't be much of a problem. It will also mean that Kakuzawa as well as Garder will be under a lot of stress, making it easier for us to make our moves. Of course if we do manage to get the weakest facility done, it'll only mean that they'll up the defensive measures for the other ones. This means that by the time we get to Kakuzawa's facility, we'll definitely be facing a hell of a challenge getting in."

"So what exactly is the proposal?" Elrya asked.

"As stated, we're heading to the southern facility in Osaka; it's our best bet right now, not to mention you guys can get some target practice."

"Excuse me…target practice?" Miriana mumbled as if she hadn't heard correctly.

"What?" Roy said snidely, rearing his head back as if 'he' hadn't heard her correctly. "Have you not been listening for the past 20 minutes? These people aren't just going to let these Diclonius go and wave goodbye with smiles on their faces. Times like these are when we kill."

"But…killing is wrong." Miriana whimpered, bowing her head low. "Nobody should ever have to kill…it's so wrong."

"Listen…" Roy uttered with a bit more politeness in his voice. "I'm not forcing you to kill anybody, I just you all to know the truth of the matter. This is not a game, this isn't something where you can just quit and be off. However, if your so against it, Bando."

"Huh?" The brutal man grumbled, lifting his head.

"You wouldn't happen to have one of those tranqs with you. Give Miriana and if you can, Yin one too."

The man grumbled, reaching somewhere inside of his coat which held more than enough weapons to start a small war, and tossed two guns two the intended people. Yin clumsily caught it while Miriana point blank refused to even touch it, backing away as if it was a poisonous animal. "I said I wasn't going to kill anyone!" She cried out while Roy moaned.

"It's a tranquillizer, a non-lethal gun that will sedate the enemy but not kill them."

"I don't know…" Miriana mumbled, picking it up slowly and looking at it with distaste. "All guns…are the same aren't they? It doesn't matter what it might be, it'll just end up doing the same thing…and…"

"MY GOD ARE YOU THAT FUCKING STUPID!" Roy roared, scaring Miriana half out of her mind and putting Elrya on red alert. "DO YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME GIRL! THESE PEOPLE…WILL FUCKING KILL YOU…AND THAT"S THE LEAST OF YOUR FUCKING PROBLEMS REALLY! IT'S TIME YOU GOT IT IN YOUR FUCKING HEAD!"

"That's enough…" Elrya growled, moving her vectors menacingly outwards. "You have no right to…"

"Oh shut up…" Roy hissed, quieting Elrya instantly. "Here…shoot me!" Roy yelled, looking at Miriana. "It's a freaking tranquilizer gun, so just shoot me."

"Huh…b-but…wh-why?" The young girl cried out, still hurt by Roy's outbreak. "Unless you can shoot me, then I refuse to have you go on this journey. Now shoot me."

"I…can't…"

"So…you do not want to help, you in fact want to join us just to get in our way."

"That's not true…I can help…but…"

"We don't need morality at the moment, we need skills. You join us, the only thing you'll be doing is becoming easy prey for Vladimir and the others. What will you do if Vladimir comes at you; obviously you know he doesn't care much about your wellbeing? What will you do if your alone, surrounded by guards who torture children much younger than you? If you can't do so much as pull a trigger on a non-lethal weapon…then you can forget about coming."

"Now just wait a minute." Elrya interrupted, still glaring daggers at the no armed man. "I'm the one in charge of this, Miriana is one of my best friends and I refuse to leave her alone."

"Still spewing out stupidity I see, you stupid little girl." Roy growled, stepping forward. "Maybe you should stay too, useless as you are right now." He uttered while looking at her arms. It didn't go by Elrya's attention who instantly had a retort back. "At least I have my arms…"

"Oh really…you think that'll matter to me…" Roy uttered, concentrating his wires so that his bullets began to float in midair. "W-Wait a minute!" Yin yelled, although his actions did little more than just increase the suspense. Elrya's vectors were poised to strike when something sharp hit Roy in the neck.

"Hm?" the sniper uttered, feeling something on his neck and noticing out of the corner of his eyes a small dart before turning to Miriana, shaking with the gun raised and pointing at him. "Not too shabby…" he whispered before collapsing onto the floor in a daze.

"I-I-I-I sh-sh-sh-shot h-h-him…" She whimpered, dropping the gun while Bando groaned, clearly wondering how this was going to help him find Lucy. "Don't worry kid, he's only asleep…if you've been listening at all."

"I-I-I'm sorry Elrya…it's just that…he was…g-g-going to h-h-hurt you and…oh…this doesn't make me a bad person does it?"

"No way!" Elrya said, meaning the words even more than one would think. "He had it coming, thanks for helping me, I knew you would be there for me." She said smiling. "He is right though, his plan is pretty much something we should do and he is right Miriana, this is going to be very dangerous, something you shouldn't be doing in the first place. Something I don't want Yin to do either…" She continued looking at the man as Alya despite herself snickered in the background of the mind. "Promise me you'll be careful."

The young multi-haired girl nodded once sternly.

"Good…so what do we do about him?" She asked, looking at the knocked out body of Roy.

"I don't care, I'm heading out…" Bando mumbled, again wondering how any of this was going to help him get to Lucy. Yin walked up, lifting Roy up and gently carrying him out while Miriana followed, waving goodbye to Elrya who smiled back, laying her head back on the pillow.

Outside, after a few more minutes and slapping of the face, Yin woke up Roy he shook his head groggily. "Happy now are you?" Yin asked sarcastically, looking at the sniper sternly. "Actually I am…it makes me feel a lot better knowing that the girl can do something if she sets her mind to it. Yin, there is something very important I need to ask of you. Make sure you keep Elrya and Alya happy."

"Huh? Not that I wasn't going to do that but why the notion? "

"Just…keep her happy alright. It's all I'm asking."

Yin, still confused nodded anyways leaving with Roy to the special hotel they were all staying at.