Chapter 25
Varen tripped after crashing out the door of his home stumbling down the steps of the porch and hitting the dirt. He ignored the pain getting back on his feet and sprinting towards the field where he knew everyone would be. His mind raced frantically as he ran as hard as he could. A sinking pit of fear was lodged in his stomach as he thought what could be happening at West Genetics right now.
"Not fair at all, you're strong." Attia said out of breath putting her arm around Amelia's waist. Arnette and Cassie jogged over patting the E-Pandora on the back.
"That was amazing! If I didn't know any better, you looked like a fully trained Pandora." Cassie said.
"Thank you." Amelia said blushing. She looked up, her smile vanishing seeing Varen running towards them. Her heart sank as he ran. The way he was running was the same way the E-Pandora had ran in Spireach. A run of fear and desperation.
"Let's go!" He shouted and now everyone turned towards him. Arnette ran ahead meeting him just as he arrived grabbing his arm to steady him. His sucked in large breaths of air.
"What's wrong?" Arnette asked a look of concern on her face.
"Ingrid…we have to go." He said as the others got to their feet and joined them.
"What about Ingrid?" Ticy asked.
"We contacted her last week to find out what has been going on and let her know we're alright. We're supposed to talk to her again today." Arnette answered while Varen caught his breath.
"How did you contact her?" Abel asked.
"Eh…Varen?" Arnette answered laughing slightly.
"It doesn't matter we have to go!" He exclaimed.
"Why?" Attia asked.
"I talked to her again just now. She's hurt, really bad. Chevalier is attacking West Genetics." He answered.
"Excuse me?" David asked as he and Mayor Augustine joined them. Other people from town began to crowd around as well.
"Captain, we have to go right now. Every minute we wait is crucial." Varen pleaded.
"You're sure of this?" Amelia asked and he nodded.
"I'll explain later, but I can communicate with Ingrid. Their dying, our friends are dying." He answered. For a moment everyone stood in shock looking at each other.
"You, pull the roof and clear overhead. William, get their supplies and stuff together. I want everyone on the barn clear it for takeoff." Mayor Augustine commanded scattering people. Varen looked at her in amazement.
"I'm sorry." He said and the old woman patted his shoulder.
"You're a soldier now right? You just promise me that you'll come back. All of you." She said.
"Come on Kyoichi we'll get everyone's stuff." Cassie said pulling her Limiter along with her.
"I'll get the bird warmed up." Captain Lane said running in the direction of where the Interceptor was stored.
"Varen, is Ingrid alive?" Arnette asked.
"I don't know. She looked bad." He answered.
"How could we be so blind. They couldn't find us so they went for the next best thing. Our friends." Arnette said angrily.
"I'll kill every last one of them." Attia growled. They ran towards the center of town as William brought a few pouches of water and food.
"I'm sure your transport can get you there quick, but take this for anyone who needs it." The man said dropping a few large sets of animal skin blankets on a table.
"Thanks William." Varen said collecting everything together. Amelia and Ticy came with a few armfuls of vials and bandages. Miranda followed shortly behind them also carrying some supplies.
"It's not much, but take this as well. Stay safe." Miranda said helping them to stuff everything into packs. Before long Cassie and Kyoichi returned hauling a large amount of bags.
"Suit up." Varen ordered grabbing his bag. They changed in nearby buildings donning their black combat uniforms once more. A feeling of nostalgia passed over each of them as they pulled their boots on and laced them tight. A sense of anticipation and anxiety with each strap and buckle that was tightened. When they were done they all gathered once more amongst everyone who was in the town square.
"Here." Varen said grabbing one of Arnette's combat uniforms and holding it towards Amelia. She looked at it blankly for a few seconds before taking it from him.
"I couldn't…" She trailed off.
"Yes, you can. Will you fight with us?" Varen asked and she ran her fingers over the fabric of the uniform. She lingered on the red stripe around the arm before nodding.
"I'll fight." She agreed running into the building Varen had changed in. They looked up seeing the Interceptor slowly rise from the barn it had been hidden in settling down in the nearby field. Captain Lane idled the engines down and stepped out opening the side door waiting for everyone.
"You listen, and listen good boy. Come home safely, you hear me?" Mayor Augustine said facing Varen.
"I will." He agreed and she nodded.
"And bring a wife!" She yelled as he ran towards the Interceptor.
"Thank you ma'am, for everything." Arnette said holding the old woman's hand.
"This is your home red whenever you need it. Good luck child." She said patting Arnette gently on the cheek.
"Aye." Arnette winked mimicking their dialect.
"You be careful too little one. War is no place for a child!" Mayor Augustine yelled to Attia stopping the small Pandora in her tracks.
"Damn old woman! I'll be back for you!" Attia yelled, but her smile betrayed the false anger in her voice. Amelia joined them now in a Nightingale combat uniform and climbed onto the Interceptor behind Attia. Varen waited until they were all inside and seated before standing on the edge of the transport looking back at his home where everyone waved. A profound sense of sadness hit him as he said goodbye for a second time. He gave a quick wave before stepping fully inside and sliding the door shut.
"We're in let's go Captain." Varen said after putting the headset on.
"Copy, Commander West Genetics Asakura inbound. Should have just enough fuel." David answered back. The transport lifted up slowly spinning towards their destination and accelerated ahead.
"Push this thing hard Captain." Varen radioed.
"Aye sir. Your home…lovely place." He heard David's voice say through the radio making him smile.
"Our home." Ticy corrected nodding towards Varen.
"Yeah, our home." Varen agreed reaching his hands out. Arnette took his left while Kyoichi took his right. Around the transport they held hands bowing their heads as was customary for them. In silence they prayed together that their friends were safe and that they would make it in time.
"Thank you." Amelia's voice broke the silence.
"Hm?" Varen asked looking up at her.
"I never thanked you all for what you did. I never said thank you for saving my life. I also never said I'm sorry, for killing your precious friend." Amelia said a tear falling down her face. Ticy unclipped her harness and knelt before the E-Pandora holding her hand.
"You did no such thing. You are here beside us. Chiffon died to save all of us including you. Her love for her friends knew no limits and it extended to you too. So please, honor her by standing beside us." Ticy said. Amelia rubbed her eyes to clear the tears falling now.
"I'll try." She said between breaths. Varen nodded and kept silent. Ticy had put it perfectly and he did not need to add anything further. He felt Arnette slip her hand back into his between them to hide it from view.
"So, how did you two love birds talk to Ingrid?" Attia asked making them yank their hands back as the small Pandora stared at them, a wicked gleam in her eyes.
"Attia! That's rude!" Ticy said angrily to Attia.
"What? I want to know." Attia answered.
"Not that! Don't tease them about the other stuff." Ticy commanded.
"I don't see what the big deal is. She confessed and he denied her. Four months later they overcame it in a passionate evening of animalistic love making!" She cheered throwing her hands up high. Varen's and Arnette's eyes went wide. Arnette's mouth dropped open in horror as her face heated up. Everyone's heads swiveled towards them unblinking as they stared.
"Did you two seriously?" Abel asked his mouth hanging open.
"Oh they did, and the best part is they did it in the hot springs!" Attia quickly answered before Arnette or Varen could stop her.
"Attia!" Arnette screamed covering her face.
"Oh my." Cassie said looking away to hide her laughter. Varen put his head in his hands secretly contemplating on how best to throw Attia out of the flying transport.
"Can't wait for Ingrid to hear about this." Ticy said and Arnette lowered her hands just enough to look at the Pandora.
"Huh?" Arnette asked.
"When we get there. I think she'd like to hear about this." Ticy repeated.
"You aren't…upset?" Arnette asked hesitatingly. Ticy looked between her and Varen and shook her head.
"Chiffon's gone. I have no doubt she would want you both to be happy. So, if you're happy, I'm happy." She answered. Arnette lowered her hands the rest of the way and sighed.
"Thank you Ticy." Arnette said relieved.
"Just promise me you'll keep the public indecency to a minimum in the future." She laughed. Arnette glared at Attia who shrugged with a smile.
"To answer the original question, I can communicate with Pandora regardless of distance. Something to do with my stigma body. Chiffon told me about it before she died. It's not perfect, but I was able to reach Ingrid and find about all of this from her." Varen said changing the subject to spare himself from any further embarrassment.
"That's handy." Amelia said.
"Sort of. It only works one way. I can reach out, but not the other way. Otherwise we might have been able to prevent this." He answered sadly.
"What matters is what we do now." Ticy put in. She had moved back to her seat and strapped into her harness.
"We just have to make it in time." Cassie said as the transport raced across the sky.
"Everyone hang on!" Captain Lane yelled into the radio a few hours later. Varen unhooked his harness opening the side door. Up ahead he could see West Genetics. Arnette moved up behind him, but he quickly put his hand out to block her.
"You don't want to see this." He said flatly. She stared at him for a moment before pushing past to look outside. She covered her mouth falling back into the transport in horror. Far ahead, Interceptors crisscrossed the sky above the facility, trails of smoke following behind missiles that rocketed down into the facility. Machinegun fire traced the sky from the ground as well as the Interceptors themselves. A large portion of West Genetics was reduced to nothing but rubble. The buildings that still stood were pockmarked from rocket blasts and bullets. Fires raged all over as Chevalier continued their assault.
"No…" Ticy mouthed leaning over Varen's shoulder.
"What's the call Commander?" David asked making Varen look back at everyone inside. In each of their eyes he saw many emotions. Of all the emotions he could see, there was one absent from everyone's eyes. Fear. He looked back out the door at the place he had called home grimacing at the slaughter going on.
"Take us in Captain." Varen answered. His team strapped back in securing themselves into the harnesses. Varen shut the door doing the same as the transport dipped low speeding up towards the facility.
"Copy that. West Genetics control this is Nightingale zero one inbound from the south west. Do you copy?" David began broadcasting. Static filled their headsets as the Interceptor dropped further.
"Emergency broadcast Captain channel nine, frequency point two!" Varen shouted into the radio.
"Nightingale command this is Nightingale zero one approach vector south west copy?" He called out after switching a few settings on the radio. Static filled their ears once more for a few moments until a panicked voice cut through.
"Nightingale zero one this is command!" The voice answered.
"Patch me in Captain!" Varen ordered.
"We are inbound on your position, hold on." Varen said into the mouthpiece.
"Justicar? Thank god he's here! They're back! Nightingale zero one we're pinned down in the Nightingale complex. Request immediate support." The female voice said and Arnette reached over taking the radio from Varen.
"Creo! It's Arnette hold on we're coming!" She answered.
"Brace! Brace!" David shouted and everyone screamed as the Interceptor lost control suddenly. Smoke filled the transport and the lights went dark. Fires and sparks erupted from the paneling as they held onto their harnesses tightly.
"Impact…starboard! I have no control!" David yelled back. Varen fought to stay conscious from the G force of the spin they were stuck in.
"Varen!" Arnette yelled grabbing his hand.
"Mayday mayday mayday! Nightingale zero one going down! Loss of all elevator control and thrust! Coming in hard!" David radioed. Varen's arms shook as he reached out ahead of his body. A feint blue glow formed between his hands as he let his stigmata take hold of him.
"Come on!" He shouted through gritted teeth.
"One thousand feet!" David yelled still fighting to gain any sort of control on the craft. The glow expanded in Varen's hands forming into an orb that he poured more energy into expanding it further until it passed around his and Arnette's bodies. She watched in fear as he screamed in pain forcing the orb to expand larger until it surrounded everyone. The sphere passed through the walls of the Interceptor surrounding it in a shimmering blue veil.
"Brace for impact!" David yelled as the transport slammed into the ground of West Genetics.