IS: Valkyrie
Author's notes: Ok this is the final installment for the arc, get ready.
I want to thank you guys for everything that has been happening, to be honest I was unsure how this story would turn out but I am happy to see this story be read and loved. Thanks once again, and may you enjoy this chapter of IS Valkyrie.
Disclaimer: I do not own the series and if I did it probably wouldn't be finished.
Morning arose, the night gave the people at the hotel more time to recuperate from the loss of their mission as the sun began to rise in the horizon filling the world with a new day of warmth and protection from the cold of the night, for a particular Japanese pilot however it was the start of yet another day of worry and concern.
In Ichika and Chifuyu's own shared room away from most of the students in the bedroom, the girl laid exhausted with her head on an occupied futon where the head of a dark-haired green tinted tuff of hair poked out from the covers with the face in a peaceful sleep. The girl, disturbed by the growing amount of chirping by the birds as a cold gust finally woke her slumbering mind the female shivering as she began to sit up with her brown hair swept over her shoulders messily, the ribbon that she wore had been unraveled and was lying in a twirled heap beside the futon which she had slept in. The girl rubbed her eyes with her fist, carefully avoiding the eyelashes that would sometimes sting her eyes if she did it hard enough while a yawn uncharacteristically escaped her mouth.
"That dream…again." Houki muttered to herself softly while she tried to shake her head lightly, the images swimming into her memories as she tried to shake them off.
"It felt so real."
She then looked down to eye the sleeping form of her injured partner, a sad frown coming back to the forefront of her mind as she eyed the bandaged cheek covering the burnt skin underneath alongside a wrap covering the boy's neck which had experienced some measure of charring though it wasn't serious as it looked. Houki straightened over Ichika's peaceful look, the guilt and shame of her loss of focus and frustrations swarming like an accusation.
"Houki, are you there?" Houki heard a voice silently whispering from the doorway, careful not to wake the injured pilot in the futon as the Japanese girl turned around with surprise as she saw who was standing behind her, sad purple amethyst glancing at Ichika behind her.
"Charlotte…"
"I hope you've recovered well, Houki." The French pilot spoke politely as always, a slight bow of respect towards the girl who was tying the ribbon back onto the back of her hair while Charlotte took the sign as a good time to come in, making her way to sit beside Houki after she closed the door to the room behind them giving them the privacy. Charlotte focused her attention more on Ichika for a bit, frowning at the severe burns he was having as Houki turned her head away to the right facing the wall still tying her hair.
"Chifuyu-sensei just called the rest of us to a meeting beforehand, she said that the Silver Gospel is still lingering in the closed off zone and also that you're expected to rest easy…" The French blonde fell silent as the message was passed, Houki just sitting quietly as she paused for a few moments the only indicator she was listening before the rustle of the ribbon came back to Charlotte's ears the female pilot taking a deep breath.
"Are you alright?"
"No, Charlotte I'm not." The Japanese girl remarked rather sharply, sparing no attempt to hide her own hidden frustrations and anger at the fact the mission was over with an injury of someone she liked. Charlotte couldn't really say much as she turned back to Ichika who was still fast asleep, unconscious from the burns which plagued the poor boy before she cleared her throat.
"You can't blame yourself for this any longer, Houki." She began but Houki instead shot back a glare when she was done with her ribbon tying, her expression was dark and clouded especially in her eyes.
"If I hadn't lost it and let those emotions spill out like a torrent, we would have been able to avoid that attack and Ichika…well Ichika wouldn't be hurt as well if those fishermen hadn't shown up in that moment. I am to blame for it as much as those men below." Houki stated as Charlotte simply protested lightly at that statement.
"Well nobody would have known-"
"Those men knew when a government sanctions a zone, you don't just waltz into it…it's their fault as well as mine, and I hope they are happy with the results of breaking that rule. Ichika is lying in a bed with burns while they all get away from that incident probably just talking about their close shave…bastards." Houki interjected coldly, her anger now aimed at the people who caused Ichika to block the attack in the first place while Charlotte looked on in concern. There wasn't much she could say to sway the stubborn girl from what she thought was to blame, in fact Charlotte had to admit that a small part of her was angered that the orders of the government were defied by the citizens who had a loss of trust with their governing bodies in recent years even with the crises that arose with the introduction of the IS units into daily life. She even heard conspiracy theories which were relating to the missile crisis against Japan which was thwarted by the very first pioneer IS, that it was a cover-up by a world-wide agreement that to test the IS they were willing to waste a country and Japan drew the short straw…several ridiculous things like that. Even so, the French pilot couldn't believe the denseness of her own race sometimes and the lack of trust to the point of even completely rebelling against the forces that tried to secure peace, the lack of trust part already accounted for in her life.
"Houki-san, just know that even though those men were stupid to get out into the sea it was not their intention to cause trouble."
"Tell that to Ichika and Chifuyu, his sister has been avoiding encounters with me since she called off the mission and has been spending more time in the mission room…if anything else I bet she blames me for what happened out there."
Sigh, this could be the only thing that was occupying the girl's mind right now. Charlotte already feeling her own feelings about to pour out in front of the sleeping Ichika, began to stand up patting her mini-skirt softly and briskly a face of silent defeat while speaking one last time to Houki who was reluctantly placing her hand beside the boy's exposed hands, their fingertips barely touching.
"Cecilia and Rin alongside Laura wanted to find you, they want to speak to you at the beach at 3 in the afternoon as well as the message that the medical team will be coming to deal with Ichika's wounds around noon." Charlotte said her piece as she left, shutting the rice door behind the girl leaving the Japanese pilot to what she was doing a final thought crossing her mind as Charlotte stared at the closed off section of the hotel.
"Ichika…recover quickly, Houki needs you." Charlotte thought sadly as she turned on her heel and left for her room, one final thought finishing her words.
I need you too.
With Chifuyu
"What's the status on the teams? And can they intercept Silver Gospel?" Chifuyu asked as she focused intently on the screen which held the image of the still Silver Gospel, standing right where it was near the coast when the laser had hit Ichika like a statue in the air head hung.
"No, there's nothing yet. The Gospel is still standing in its usual spot and the teams are occupied, so there is quite a constraint on who can take the job." Yamada replied as she opened up yet another comm channel contacting yet another nearby Japanese base, her eyes flickering occasionally between the screen and also her superior's own facial expression which had considerably darkened with each passing minute.
"Hn, are our top pilots on the island still here?"
"Yeah, they all are…I did a roll call and they were accounted for." Yamada spoke as Chifuyu let out yet another hum in response before a bleeping noise signaled the two to respond to the comm channel of yet another Japanese base they were contacting for assistance.
With Houki, the beach
"So what is going on?"
"I think you know what we all are doing here, Houki." Cecilia answered out for the other pilots, Rin was standing on one of the nearby rocks which jutted out of the sand like a platform tossing some stones she had collected into the salty mouth of the open sea her grip tightening with each throw while the British pilot stood in front of Houki with her arms folded as she broke into a staring contest with the Japanese girl. Charlotte in the meantime stood with Laura a bit to the side, seemingly talking about something but Laura soon gave her a hand to cut off her own words leaving the two in silence as Houki gave a puzzled look.
"What do you mean?"
"Silver Gospel." Laura cut into the conversation as Cecilia wanted to jab at the small sized girl for her rudeness holding it in as she ignored that last statement.
"As Laura said, we've been thinking that even if Ichika is out of the picture…we still have five capable pilots including Yamada-sensei. However for what we're going to do, it would just have to be the four of us taking action on our own. You understand where we're getting at, don't you?" Cecilia eyed Houki intently seeing her shift her gaze to the other pilots who were glancing at her for her response to their suggestion, Houki giving a tired shake of her head.
"Yes and I am not going to do it." Her response cut the conversation short as Rin now gripped her stones momentarily before she lost her temper, letting out an angry yell as she threw the remainder in scattered directions jumping off the small rock and stormed towards Houki with a fiery look in her eye.
"Houki, in case you didn't notice Ichika is injured because of that girl! I'm not caring if some fishermen were breaking the rules and caused him pain or grief…that girl up there, Silver Gospel is going to have hell to pay for messing him up like that!" Rin exclaimed while jabbing a finger into Houki's chest, Cecilia already on the move to intercept any aggressive moves from the two who were already on edge glaring daggers at one another as she pushed them out of the way.
"Enough, I won't have the two of you fight here!"
"Screw you, you English tea-sipper! I want to have a few words with Houki about what she was doing when Ichika was suffering out there! I want to hear from her own damn mouth how she can stand here, playing the pitiful maiden while it was her responsibility as a partner to back him up!" Rin retorted sharply, Cecilia already pushing against the Chinese pilot watching over her shoulder as Houki gritted her teeth.
"Rin, that's enough you're not that stupid to pick a fight now are you?" Cecilia said firmly putting down the Chinese girl who huffed, stepping back from Houki as she turned to Houki who was holding in her anger while biting the tip of her tongue.
"What the hell do you know about what happened out there? You weren't even there, you never saw what we were facing." Houki coldly shot at Rin who felt her anger rise, almost uncontrollably as Charlotte already prepared herself to step in leaving Laura to look towards the ocean waves seemingly unconcerned with what was happening.
"I may not have been there, but I know that you wouldn't let your own guard down! So if that's the case, then tell me why you couldn't even have Ichika's back when you were supposed to!" Rin brushed off the girl's words as Houki lost her temper and angrily yelled.
"Fine…you don't have to worry a damn thing about my uselessness! I am NEVER PILOTING AN IS EVER AGAIN!"
*Slap*
Houki felt the world suddenly spin at the end of her own declaration, her next words lost in the sea of confusion that sprouted with the sudden slap across her cheek while her face swung downward to the side her eyes wide while the other girls stopped short of their tension seeing none other than Charlotte who had delivered the blow, her own amethyst eyes betraying her emotions as she glared viciously for the first time at Houki and the others.
"I dare you to say those words one more time, Houki…give me a good reason." Charlotte's calm and yet eerily serene tone began to send shivers down the others' spines, threatening silently to choke the life out of anyone who was pissing her off badly. Even Laura, the normally cocky and stoic of the lot felt a bad chill from her instincts as she discreetly shuffled away from the blonde as Charlotte stalked towards her chosen prey with Houki still holding the side of her cheek.
"Snap out of your daydream, Houki! This isn't all about you and your weakness, we're asking for your help to take down the Silver Gospel and all you can do is sulk! How can someone like you be so selfish?" Charlotte was practically incensed by Houki, the girl grabbing Houki by the collar as she shook her savagely ignoring Cecilia's attempts to grab her by the shoulders and pull her back while she let some of her frustrations loose on the stunned girl.
"Ichika risked his life for those men, criminal or not! Who gives you the right to even judge them, who gives you a right to say who is to blame including yourself?! I want to know, because if you can tell it to me straight that you are serious about losing your IS, the ONLY one your sister made for you…THEN GO RIGHT AHEAD!"
"C-Charlotte…" Cecilia tried to reach for the girl's shoulders before she felt a stronger grip throw her back, the English girl almost tripping and falling onto her back in the sand before she shot a glare at Laura who was nonchalantly looking down at her with an outstretched hand.
"H-Hey-!"
"Don't even think about intervening in this, Cecilia…" Laura warned the girl before she glared at Rin who was about to speak. "And shut your own mouth, pig-tails you were only making things worse than it already is."
"It's her own damn fault that she-" Rin began before Laura folded her arms giving a crossed look and arched eyebrow.
"And I suppose yelling like a little child is going to help Ichika and Houki get better? Do you see any better methods to calm Houki down and get her on our side? If you do, then tell me right now." Seeing Rin finally quiet down from the talk, Laura turned to see the two arguing girls in a staring contest lost in their own world as she motioned to Cecilia to take Rin and themselves somewhere else from the main firestorm.
"Dunois-san…let go."
"No, I won't." Charlotte spoke venomously as she tightened her grip in response to her demand. "You have to open your own eyes and see the bigger picture. This isn't all about you right now, Ichika is injured and we need to finish the job for him."
"But you heard Chifuyu-sensei the mission was over-" Houki protested weakly but Charlotte interjected into her statement.
"It's not over yet, not while Chifuyu-sensei still has more than one pilot for a mission. I and the others are going to fight her, and you can't stop us trying." Charlotte gave her a stern look as Houki looked past the French pilot's shoulders to see the other pilots all giving her a very determined glance as she felt her previously shaken confidence rise if so slightly, though her doubts still kept her back.
"But even if we all attack it together there is no solid guarantee that we will win it…"
"We'll win it, as long as we have the energy left inside of us that is ready to fight." Rin said with a confident smirk much to the displeasure of Cecilia who huffed back at her rival.
"Sure, if you easily run out of steam as quickly as you take to insults, we'll all be held back." Rin shot the British pilot a deadly look that promised unspeakable pranks and horror before Laura put a hand to her face wiping it down her eye groaning.
"Show some self-restraint until we all get to the battle would you?"
With Chifuyu and Yamada
"Chifuyu-san! The IS pilots are taking off from the island!"
"What?" Chifuyu couldn't believe the words she was hearing, the woman already making her way to the screen where five tiny blips could be seen flying away from the island at top speed towards the sanctioned off area where the Silver Gospel stood restlessly as if a shark lazily waiting for oncoming prey, Chifuyu turning towards her subordinate teacher to reach into the communications line. Yamada complied with the silent order, her fingers dancing on the keyboard frantically trying to raise them.
"I'm getting a reply from them now." Yamada said as she brought up the screen where five familiar faces popped onto the screen addressing the cold-hearted stare of Chifuyu Orimura who had folded her arms and a silent demand for the pilots to begin explaining themselves.
"Chifuyu-sensei…we are planning to engage the Silver Gospel, do not try to convince us of otherwise." Houki spoke up first amongst the group as Rin interjected afterwards with her own two cents, her face betraying a shade of her own emotions.
"She hurt Ichika-kun, I won't stand around for it and I'll rip that IS apart if I have to."
"You aren't the only one, Rin but keep it together." Surprisingly the person speaking her mind to counter Rin's words was Charlotte who still had a calm yet hidden fury at the IS for its unrestrained attack onto the boy, the French girl remembering that there was a person still in the machine. "We have to save the girl inside, but I won't show much mercy for the machine shell that holds her captive."
"Essh, look who's speaking in dark tones and wishing she could dish out hurt." Rin piped in at Charlotte's own words while Cecilia gave an equally determined look like Charlotte's but chose not to say anything to the Chinese girl, Laura already ignoring the conversation as she looked back to her idol.
"Forgive me, Chifuyu-sama but this machine has to be taken down at all costs and you still have five more pilots in play!" Laura apologized as Chifuyu gritted her teeth grinding the surface of her teeth with small subtle movements as she stared up at the screens which held the determined glances of the five girls waiting in silent anticipation before the woman opened her mouth looking at Yamada who was waiting further orders.
"Yamada, keep the five of them in radio contact and inform me of any progress that goes on. Meanwhile, tell the previous base we requested for reinforcements to hold off reaching the sanctioned off area for the moment and let the girls have a shot at Silver Gospel. I have to check up on Ichika right now." She ordered turning on her heel and marched out of the room, leaving Yamada to co-ordinate the attack with the team who all gave a series of relieved breaths Chifuyu making sure she was out of the room before she let a small smirk show on her face.
"Was beginning to wonder when the rest of them would put their act together. Now, for Ichika…hopefully he still has some energy for a fight."
With Houki and the team
"Laura, you're in position yet?"
"Yes, I've taken up my place at the rock platform and have Silver Gospel in my sights." Laura replied curtly as she aimed her heavy artillery pieces in the general direction of the silver glint in the distance, Houki then switching the channel to Cecilia.
"How's your end, Cecilia?"
"I am in position above Silver Gospel but it doesn't seem to have noticed me yet. If you are to implement the plan, I suggest not taking too much time." Cecilia said slightly worried as she turned off her line as Houki nodded to Rin who was standing next to her, the two nodding at each other before Houki brought up the line with Laura who trained her aim onto the rogue IS.
"Fire!"
The quiet gale turned into a chorus of heavy explosions rocking the area, the Silver Gospel reacting barely in time just to see two shells explode on either side of it the shields providing maximum protection though it took some damage from the surprise attack. The machine reacted, bringing a lock onto the direction of the hail of fire from a platform out on the island shore as it brought up its defense network to soften the blows as it tried to navigate through the smoke.
"Not so fast!"
"!" The Silver Gospel couldn't anticipate the sudden appearance of Rin's twin-ended blade staff smashing into its shields again scaring some of the armor as the Silver Gospel switched tactics. It launched away from Rin who continued to pursue her prey relentlessly closing in quickly while firing small pressure bullets at the IS which soaked up the hits with its network of shielding.
Clang! The sudden sound of steel ringing against invisible air echoed behind the IS which turned in sudden recoil at the force slamming into its shields once more, the machine unable to comprehend this new enemy who disappeared into the shadows of yet another round of artillery shells this time releasing smoke clouds blinding its vision as it enhanced its vision to counter the smoke finding its target outside of the cloud, Gospel then rushing towards the shape as the artillery bombardment ceased.
"Not even close!" A voice yelled from above as the Gospel narrowly escaped two thin lasers passing where it once was as it retreated back from the attack, Rin appearing behind it for another swipe not giving it a chance to get into long range.
"Ha!"
The ambush was working so far, and Houki was actually happy for once…her previous encounter with the IS may have ended in disaster but she learnt a few things from it, one being that the Gospel was more of a long range than being close up and personal though Ichika and her were able to close in on the Gospel the IS was an adept at keeping distance from them and forcing them away into tight corners with its arsenal of lasers. So why fight it directly when you have long-range backup to distract it? She snapped out of her thoughts as she rushed in again, the Silver Gospel couldn't express it but the movement of the IS revealed that it was trying to compute what it was reading.
"Try and take on all of us at once if you can!" Houki yelled as she and Rin did a team attack on the Gospel which responded to the attacks quickly by bringing up individual networks of shield polygons to counter the hits forcing its assailants back before it tried to discern the bigger threat to go after, though it didn't get the chance to execute it.
Bang!
A laser hit the back of the IS, the Gospel already anticipating an attack like it turned around and used its polygon shields to defend itself against the backstab as Charlotte let out a growl flying in circles as she traded blows with the Gospel who was responding to her lasers with its own overcharged wings, the French pilot avoiding the large beams as best she could.
With Ichika back on the island
"Uh…" Ichika groaned as his eyes fluttered slightly, his vision still as hazy as he tried to focus blinking slowly shaking the feeling of weight and crust off the corners of his pupils.
"Where…am I?"
"Ichika, good you're awake already." Ichika craned his neck and head in the general direction of the voice, his body struggling to implement the acquired energy from the long sleep he acquired as Ichika felt his skin inflame when the fabric of his sleepwear rubbed against some of the bare red skin, causing him to flinch at the injury and his attention went to his arms which were beginning to feel sore before a head of dark greenish tint hair appeared next to him a palm outstretched to support the boy's back. Recovering from his slight daze as flashes of the mission begin to come back to him Ichika turned to see his older sister looking at him stoically as she rolled up the boy's sleeve checking on the progress of his recovery.
"Chifuyu-nee…"
"Don't talk, just relax for now and regain your strength." Chifuyu worriedly expressed as her brother tried to raise himself up before the patches of bandages rubbed against his exposed skin making him hiss in minor pain.
"Houki…the ship…"
"It's alright, Ichika Houki is doing fine. She and the others are fighting the Silver Gospel now." Chifuyu explained as she watched her brother slowly raise his head in sudden clarity, the energy rushing back through his system into his feet as the injured Orimura crouched forwards putting his fist onto the ground of the hard floor in support.
"But the Gospel…my One off Ability can reach it, I have to join in the fight."
"Ichika I don't think that's a-" Chifuyu started to protest before Ichika gripped his fists and interrupted her with a sharp glare.
"I am not sitting here doing nothing and you're not going to hold me back, Chifuyu-nee." Seeing that she was quiet, Ichika looked dead on at his sister who stood up beside him facing him with her stoic orange eyes. "I heard that you cancelled the mission right after I got hurt."
"Ichika, I was concerned for the safety of you as you are family to me…"
"Which I understand completely if this was a normal mission concerning two pilots but the fact that you call it off when only two of us were sent out and you had many other student pilots who are experienced to do so. One of them was a trained soldier in a tank!" Ichika protested as Chifuyu simply folded her arms, already expecting such a response as she crafted her response to it carefully.
"And what about the others like Rin, Cecilia and Houki? Charlotte, even though she is an experienced pilot comfortable the 2nd generation model it isn't going to outgun or even catch up to a modern IS like the Silver Gospel, or even Cecilia and Rin who only used it for practice fights this far like Houki? The only time we the IS academy were ever called into a mission was a very rare and only regarded in terms of proximity or if the higher ups were sure you could handle such a dire situation, and this was one such exception due to the display you performed with Laura in the national competition." Chifuyu rebutted the accusation of Ichika with logic, putting a hand to her head to massage the overall stress she accumulated in the time that Ichika was out of it. During that time she was desperately searching for teams to replace the IS pilots, hoping that maybe a military base would come in to take over the job than letting the other personal IS in her care actually try and complete the mission when it was obviously too high staked for them, and watching out for the movements of the Silver Gospel which she did with fervor like a hawk stalking its prey. To say that the past day or so had done nothing to ease her concern and anger, having Merle attacked by someone who used poison and attempted to take his life already set her at a concern and uneasy position to be in was one thing however the injury of her own brother was something that increased that concern of hers to a maximum level. In fact, Chifuyu almost wished that she had brought that along with her for the trip so she could do the job herself though even the legendary pilot knew that the Silver Gospel would not have stood a chance if she went out into the field right then and there to do the mission…it wasn't the good days when she had Byakushiki or even that first IS she piloted at her back now, times were different.
"Ichika in case you haven't noticed now, I hope you see that the fact of the matter is that no matter how much you'd like to jump in there and take down Silver Gospel you have to face the truth: Silver Gospel is too strong for any of you and having proper experienced pilots from the mainland should cut it." Chifuyu spoke sternly as Ichika paused in his argument unable to even think of a comeback as he noticed something else.
"Where's Houki?"
"She and the others are out there, doing the fighting with Gospel. I told them to stay put, for god's-" Chifuyu suddenly changed wheels in mid-sentence as she cut herself off, giving a well-placed fist over her mouth as she coughed. "I mean I told them to not do anything reckless until I can get proper reinforcements and then we could leave it to them…however it seems that they're just as reckless as you turned out to be after your kidnapping." She chuckled lightly at the statement as she recalled how they glared at her with determined fury back at the control center mimicking her own when she first started out as a pilot herself for Tabane's projects…she was a different person back then.
"I have to get to them, please." Ichika pushed, his eyes giving a pleading look.
"Ichika, I can't let you just…"
"You stopped the mission because of me, I don't want to put the other girls in danger due to my injuries anymore…I'm sick of being the one who's left behind all the time. Back then since my kidnapping I wanted to prove myself to you that I could handle anything that I was handed even the top assignments, I don't want to be seen as weak then or held back by anyone." Ichika spoke with a hint of disdain as he recalled the events that pushed him to even try to make himself a better person, Chifuyu shifting uncomfortably as she glanced sideways past Ichika's head before Ichika moved past her exiting the doorway.
"I don't want to be left behind anymore I need to prove myself to the others and the world that the only male pilot still has talent like the other girls. Don't try and stop me on this, I have to get out there." Ichika left his sister standing where she was, the older woman ruffling her hair with her hand while holding her stern mask letting out a breath of hot air.
"I wasn't planning to." She muttered as she stared out at the direction where her brother had gone to recalling something from not too long ago earning yet another tired sigh from Chifuyu.
"Merle, this self-loathing of weakness…was something you were telling me all along."
With Houki and team
"Damn it, the Gospel is starting to adapt!" Houki cursed as she avoided an array of lasers from the Gospel which had begun to fight back, lashing out with its arsenal when it managed to break out of the corner they forced it into. Although to Houki's consolation, she and the others had landed multiple hits and the unit was beginning to stagger from the shattering blows in the initial attacks as the IS fired more lasers, the pilots dodging it as Laura jumped into the air from her platform avoiding a laser that struck the rock formation and sent it crumbling into the waves.
"I lost my ground position, I can't give any support!" Laura reported, her head hung slightly in frustration that her post was taken out as Houki immediately turned to Cecilia who was still up in the air trying to use her pieces to force the Gospel into a trap area, though trying was an understatement right now.
"Cecilia, there's no choice you have to pull back for now!"
"But-!" Cecilia was about to protest when a sudden blip was detected by the radar of all the girls and Silver Gospel which had paused in mid-flight as it tried to process what the new anomaly was. Laura was the first of them all to speak instead, her voice sending chills down the spines of all the girls.
"It's Ichika!"
Ichika breathed a sigh of relief as he felt his arms stiffen slightly from the small bites of the burn, the boy bringing himself to rest at the side of Houki and Rin who were already eyeing the boy with sudden glances.
"Oi Ichika, good to see you're doing okay!" Rin yelled first, as Houki gave her rival in love a glare that promised some jealous payback while the Chinese girl grinned wolfishly back at her in return.
"Sorry you guys had to take on Silver Gospel while I snoozed around, but now let's take down that IS!"
"Ichika, I suggest we do the previous maneuver now that there are more of us to distract it!" Houki said as the other girls already acknowledge the plan from their viewing of the battle previously, Laura once more firing some artillery strikes to force the Gospel into defense as it ducked and weaved out of the way before Charlotte appeared from the side and shot at the Gospel with the laser bits supporting the French girl and alternated between distracting and protecting the girl while Cecilia fired from her rifle at regular intervals.
"Now, Ichika…up to the sky!" Houki ordered as she and Rin charged forwards pushing the Gospel into a defensive block before they disengaged, Ichika already going into First Shift as he rushed the Gospel which suddenly noticed the two girls jumping back before it eyed the sky above bringing up the network of polygons.
Shields' output to maximum defense…alert, must protect pilot safety.
"Take this!" Ichika yelled as he brought the Naginata down with a mightly slash, once again enveloping the world in a bright flash of light.
"Woah!" Rin said in awe as she couldn't tear her eyes like the others away from the scene as Charlotte and Houki snapped out of their lost thoughts.
"Crap, everyone shield yourselves!" Charlotte yelled to the others as they avoided the small outburst of the energy wave, similarly causing devastation to the island behind before it disappeared back into the source the other girls lowering their hands as they tried to get a good glimpse of what was going on down there before a single dark figure flew out of the clash looking like it was carrying someone in its arms.
"ICHIKA!" Houki yelled in joy as she saw Ichika appear from the vanishing light, in his depleted but happy state the Byakushiki standing proudly as the IS held a slim yet healthy figure of a young woman with long blonde hair beyond her shoulders in her twenties similar to Chifuyu's age, clearly unconscious from the events that had taken place.
"It's done, mission accomplished." Ichika stated with confidence as Houki flew towards Ichika, ignoring the fact that he had a body as she reached out…
And hugged him tightly (don't ask me how they can do it, I'm just being a love-sick puppy writing this passage), much to the sudden shock of the other girls who were either then seething with jealous rage or in Laura's case sharpening a knife that suddenly found its way into her robotic extended hands, a finger running along the edge with venomous words spewing from the corner. As for Ichika though he was absolutely shocked at the display of affection as he stumbled back careful not to drop the pilot of the Silver Gospel before he turned his attention to Houki.
"E-Eh!? H-Houki, yo-you're…"
"Thank god you're alive, Ichika!" Houki burst out, her eyes holding back the tears as Ichika remembered what happened the last time before he smiled at her comforting her with a smile.
"Houki…it'll be fine, it's over…it's really over."
2 days later, Merle's room
"So that's what happened, hmm I understand completely now." Merle said as he looked up to see the blonde-haired American pilot who was sitting down in a cross legged position while explaining her story of how she was attacked by Phantom Task and during the fight which broke out, she was knocked out and the safety system installed had gone to work ignoring commands and left the battlefield to the rest of the pilots and Chifuyu with Yamada as well who was serving refreshments of tea mixed with some coffee which Chifuyu and the pilot accepted, the teacher looking up to the group of young pilots who had made the battle possible and succeeded the first high-ranked assignment.
"Ichika, Houki, you all…I am proud of you all for a job well done. Even if you had to break some rules, you guys got out alive and rescued Miss Fairs and for that the government is sure to have you guys in their books." Merle commented his opinion of their resounding success, the group smiling brightly at each other.
"Well if it wasn't for Houki joining the group in the joint assault then…" Charlotte was about to speak in humbleness before Fairs cut her off, the American blonde smiling in thanks.
"All of you did outstandingly from my point of view even if I was out of it. I saw the footage after my recovery, and you were well coordinated for a team…I would like to work with you all if there is a chance." Fairs commented as Charlotte gave a beaming smile, leaning back slightly to set her eyes upon the only male in the group of pilots. "You though, are even more interesting than I thought you would be. I heard the news but to see the sensation of the decade in action…now that was something incredible you pulled out there young man. I won't forget it."
"Oh it wasn't that special! I just had the help of the others, that's all." Ichika said with a wave of his hand.
"Humble and honest, now if only there were men like you my age…well then," Fairs suddenly paused in her statement as Merle suddenly had a smirk on his face, leaning in to hiss at the American pilot who then listened in on a few words from the man Ichika and Chifuyu suddenly giving angry glares at the man who ignored their death stares, Yamada who was nearby the duo suddenly shot her head up eyes wide at the two who were suddenly giggling to each other trading whispers as Ichika felt a chill crawl down his spine.
Somehow I feel this is going to end badly for me.
"Say, Ichika dear." The sudden voice of Fairs made Ichika turn his attention to the female pilot unaware of the plots that were set in motion for him.
"Oh yes, what is-ULP! U-UH, U-U-Uh…Na-Natasha F-Fai-Fairs-san?" Ichika suddenly felt his legs go to jelly as much to the horror (and anger) of the females in the room, Natasha Fairs suddenly brought her fingers to her bright white blouse and with a single movement unbuttoned the top button of her top immediately sending waves of panic into the young man as Natasha gave a cute innocent look.
"What's wrong Ichika dear? Never seen a woman try to defuse some of that heat from the sun?" She said almost innocently as she moved to another button, the horror of the females more evident than their anger.
"Uh, NO, no that's not it…uh, I mean…"
"It's okay to stare sometimes, you know. After all…" Natasha unbuttoned another button as she got up from her position as though possessed by an unseen force, the older woman smirking inwardly before she stopped at the third moving her body down to face the poor shy Orimura with a teasing look. Meanwhile Merle was already cackling in his mind, the man turning to face Chifuyu with a cocky grin at her glare his lower lip covering his upper lip with a small mew of mischief, Natasha already enjoying the tease she was giving the man who saved her life as she bent forward letting Ichika catch the top of her slightly exposed cleavage making the boy shut his eyes in instinct feeling the sting of killer intent surrounding him like a mist.
"I sometimes like the taste of young innocence." Natasha's voice sultrily blew a puff of wind into his ear, Ichika already planning to make his move before the American gripped her arm and with a single motion laid a kiss on the cheek of her target. In that moment, Merle's smile burst through the roof as the inner corners of his mind counted to five as he saw the room went coldly silent from the sudden action of Fairs who then took her time to disengage the kiss leaving Ichika stunned as hell, the girls pissed as angry lioness and Chifuyu's own eyebrow twitching while her eyes couldn't help but follow and as for Yamada…well she was on the floor breathing heavily from the teasing as Natasha Fairs moved away smiling almost nonchalantly as she did so making her way to Chifuyu who was about to explode on the assistant teacher before Natasha assisted the man from his fate.
"Oh Chifuyu, I wish to speak to you regarding the attack." Watching Chifuyu recover from her shock, the American put on a serious face as she addressed the woman whispering into the ear.
"It regards a pilot who looks like you."
"I see, looks like Merle will be spared for now." Chifuyu said as she caught on, the mention of her own sibling was bad news to her…the woman sighing as she gestured to the way out of the room Natasha smiling as she made her way out with her following behind, Chifuyu giving one last glance at Yamada who was laying on the floor and then one at her brother who was touching the side of his cheek where Fairs had kissed him mouth agape like a fish.
"Yamada we're leaving." The green-haired woman recovered quickly, leaping to her feet as she mechanically followed Chifuyu out muttering brief statements to herself while trying to hide the huge blush on her face as Chifuyu gave one last look at Merle, the man shrugging nonchalantly making her groan in frustration before she left.
"Ichika." A sing-song voice from Rin broke the wafting tension on the air, Ichika feeling his back straighten like the devil was on his heels as the boy turned to watch the air turn venomously cold and saw the dark looks of four (with one Charlotte smiling) girls staring at him, Cecilia and Rin having cold yandere looking eyes while Laura suddenly drew a combat knife from her boot as Ichika instantly put his hand out to defend himself.
"Please don't kill me, it wasn't willingly!"
"Ichika…please enlighten me on what you're doing with her." Cecilia spoke, Rin nodding with her while Laura stared straight at him displeased.
"How dare you take the advantage of this situation, wife."
"I won't have you doing that while I am around here, Ichika." Charlotte said as she smiled widely at him, her features promising pain while Houki gripped her fists.
"How dare you…"
"Uh, girls what are you trying to say-" Ichika said with dreaded breath before Merle decided to add fuel to the fire.
"Just so you know he looked like he might have enjoyed it a bit." Merle spoke as Ichika looked angrily at the man momentarily before he eyed the five girls unsure of what to do as they advanced onto him all semblance of negotiation was unsalvageable as they were after only one thing.
"Hey Ichika!" Ichika turned back to Merle who then smirked at the boy tilting his head slightly to the door.
"Run, rabbit…run."
"IIIICHHHIIIIKKKKKAAAA!" The screams of five girls sounded throughout the complex as Ichika took off running, jumping into the courtyard as he ran from the terror behind taking one deep breath and roared to the sky.
"DAMN YOU MEEEERRRRLLLEEEE!"
With Amasa, hotel room
Amasa closed the door to his own room, the puppet dematerializing into thin air as he sat at the armchair in the living area relaxing his own tense muscles which had unconsciously triggered when the shockwave hit, the aftershakes he was currently experiencing was far greater than anticipated a shiver down his form.
"You can come out now, I know that you are in here." He spoke simply before a shadow outline of a body appeared out from the shadow of the kitchen counter, Amasa immediately tensed as he slipped a gun out of his pocket dropping the suitcase before he flicked on the lights to reveal his unwanted guest the sight stunning the former agent who widened his eyes slightly at the figure who was bathed in the lit room while he rubbed the bridge of his nose a hand shielding his face.
"Oh for god's sakes, don't flash a dead face in front of me." He muttered aloud intentionally, the guest simply gave a chuckle at his own comment as Amasa waved his hand away from his face and moved to his armchair sitting down relaxing his own shaken muscles throbbing at the cores. The guest then came over to the nearby armchair allowing the dim light to shine on the two as Amasa looked down at a glass cup shoved over to his side of the table filled with water, the former Phantom Task agent taking a sip of the water giving the guest a hard look.
"I know what you're going to say, and I am pissed as hell." Seeing his own guest hesitate from even speaking Amasa continued his own voice slightly off chord as he gave a cough sipping more from the fresh cold water that was prepared to quench his thirst. "I want answers from you, our deal…it was broken off when you spewed that crap to Amasa and literally switched my profile in because he looked-no, because he feels and talks like me. I don't know what game you're pulling here, and I want answers…now."
"…" The guest greeted him with nothing but silence, swirling the glass of water in hand as if to spite him as Amasa didn't take any offence to the behavior the man instead sighing as he drank.
"I wanted some goddamn peace, I told you this when I was about to leave for Russia…hell you even handled the whole mess of staging my own death, and then suddenly just when I was about to have a good thing going you rip it out from under me. Why?" He demanded from the guest who then placed the glass onto the table, folding a nervous hand as it reached for its face.
"There isn't much time, Amasa." His guest interrupted the brief silence as Amasa lowered his gaze, settling for the armchair while he drummed his fingers onto the leather seating of the chair tapping another finger to the side of his head.
"Will Amasa be there?"
"He will, once he finds out about me it's all going to come to a point where he will demand answers which you and him both carry. And I suspect that means a lot to both of you, there was no say in the matter." The guest spoke briefly, Amasa clutched the left side of his face sweeping his hair back preventing the hairs from sticking into his exposed eyes.
"Great, I am looking forward to it."
"There is one thing I want to ask of you, Amasa…something that's been going on in my mind for some time." The former agent stiffened, his grip becoming much tighter as he clawed the surface of the leather.
"What is it?" He asked though reluctant to answer any of the person's questions, his guest leaning forward in the chair to stare upon Amasa with dark eyes similar to his as he shrunk back slightly. Amasa dared not eye the guest, his own words and thoughts on the matter that was put forth to him was not the first time it had been brought up before ever since he had received word from the ambassador of a person who looked just like him playing hero to strangers, something he couldn't exactly fathom though the German seemed even more so inclined to pursue the matter of their deal to make sure he wasn't fooling around in the open. But the damage had been done, people who were part of the spy agencies were hunting him for answers as to his presence and he was forced to kill in many incidents to make sure he could get this far to have Merle put down and silence his name forever…that was ultimately what he had promised himself to do, to ensure he was safe.
"Do you still want to go along with this?" Amasa didn't hesitate when he forced his own eyes up to speak to the person in front of him, showing grim determination as he picked up his glass and shook the water inside in front of him.
"If I don't, I may as well never live." He said as he leaned back into his seat, folding his fingertips together while he stared up at the ceiling not even waiting for the reply as only a shuffle from the armchair and the tapping of feet walking towards the room entry was heard, a click of the door signaling that his guest had left before Amasa stared down at the dull glass surface.
"His purpose and ours are one and the same, after all."
End
Author's notes: Yet another hint at the weakness of Ichika regarding strength, for the animation I saw I felt that he was snapping at himself for years and I think I said that in a previous chapter in the story. Well I hope this isn't so sudden as Ichika still doesn't understand the meaning behind Merle's own words regarding strength and it would bite him in the ass as a forewarning…however the next arc would not involve Ichika or the other girls, I decided as it would be one of those private matters for Merle.
As for the guest, I would let you guys guess the motive of this character while dear Amasa prepares to leave and begin his plans…though what does he mean by the final statement? What is Merle's greatest desire and purpose?
Find that out in the next chapter of Infinite Stratos.
One more thing,
You guys have been the greatest in your support for this story and it is due to this and your continued feedback and what not, I am giving you now the only just released and fresh out…Prologue for the next arc that will be coming to you soon after the term I have in May….
The Amasa, Amasa Arc!
It's time.
"Merle, watch out!" Chifuyu's wounded cry rang from the back of Merle who then turned to narrowly dodge the attack staggering back as he stared at the figure, bleeding from his right shoulder where the previous attack had scarred him the teacher gritting his teeth while Amasa simply grinned from the man's back as Merle turned to face the hidden adversary, stretching out his arms in a wide open embrace of the howling winds.
"What do you think, Amasa? This day was coming for all of us, the final chapter where both our true ambitions can be realized in the world! Don't you even know what good you've done by bringing that box to me?" Amasa laughed as he used his fingers to bring Paladin Ripper to his side dematerializing his broken weapon before he moved his right set of fingers, the hidden shadow leaping out at Merle who then spun away putting his AIC into a bubble shield before he reached into his holster and brought out the second semi-auto he had acquired firing at his twin who just smirked.
"You think bullets can stop me?" He said as the image of Paladin Ripper came back to its master's aid for a brief second protecting him from the shots, disappearing again. In that moment, Amasa had already drawn out a thin length sword curved similarly to a katana's with a western hilt built as customization as the man admired the work of craftsmanship.
"It would have been me that would have been able to help Koko build her plan for the ideal ordered world from scratch, but if wasn't for your dear friend Tabane…none of this would have been necessary!" Amasa screamed as he snapped his fingers, Merle in the meantime moving towards his doppelganger with fast strides using the bubble shield as he avoided the swipes of Amasa's second puppet using the detachable lasers from Cecilia's Blue Tears to distract the IS as he closed in, raising his pistol upon the man who was causing Chifuyu such suffering.
"It's over!" Merle switching his AIC to a smaller radius bringing the gun to bear…
Only for his arm to be severed from his body instead, Merle's eyes widened in utter shock unable to even comprehend what he saw before his doppelganger spoke menacingly relishing the scream that Merle elicited from the spurting of blood pouring like a little fountain as the AIC glove fell to the floor seemingly sinking into the marble floor of the viewing platform they were fighting at from the puddle of blood.
"AAAARRRRGGGG!"
"No." Amasa grinned, bringing the sword into a very familiar and deadly stance his feet stretching out in an arch one in front of the other while he lowered his body ever so slightly as Merle blinked rapidly through the pain though the blurry vision told him enough when the man stretched his right hand out which had taken the reins of the strings for the second puppet which was fighting the detachable lasers a deadly chill down Merle's spine as the sword tip gleamed in the deadly moonlight.
"Merle!" Chifuyu screamed out, her own mind trying to resist the heat haze that formed in her brain wrecking any coherent thought.
"Hiratsuki style…" Merle tried one more time to back out as he moved to the side, but yet he was shocked to see that Amasa was smirking as he glanced sideways at Merle.
"Say goodbye to Chifuyu then."
"No…don't!" Merle realizing his mistake recalibrated his shield to a bubble as it covered the wide arc, running back towards Chifuyu as he felt his step and breathing slow to a close halt.
Five seconds…
Amasa charged towards the fallen body of Merle's lover, Chifuyu struggling to rise instead finding it difficult as the fire in her body refused to die out, the woman finding herself on her knees.
Four seconds…
Merle could raise his only unamputated hand as his AIC suddenly began to flicker off, the teacher immediately widening his eyes as he reached out to intercept Amasa's collar.
"Don't even think about it, Amasa!" Merle screamed, stumbling slightly as a flash of the kidnapping went through his mind.
God, please!
Three seconds…
The AIC bubble suddenly failed, flickering and sputtering before him as Merle tried a desperate last act to grip the man but instead failed to notice Amasa's own puppet that had shaken off the laser bits as Merle brought a purple spear to his hand. The puppet reached out with its spear and tried to stab him as Amasa slipped through his doppelganger's grasps.
Two seconds…
The puppet suddenly found itself blocked by Merle who felt the spear fly towards his back as he spun around watching as the bright purple spear make contact with the tangible steel of his opponent making him gasp out a heaved breath as he cursed the lost opportunity, giving one last horrified glance at the man who was charging at the downed Chifuyu.
"CHIFUYU!"
"HIRATSUKI…"
One second…
"I'll aim for your fucking neck!" Amasa leapt into the air, ready for the final blow…
Merle suddenly recalled the first time he had faced this situation before, the man unable to forgive himself as the blood loss began to have its toll on him forcing the man to kneel on a knee while blood poured from his stump.
"Just like that time…I'm sorry, Chifuyu…" He began to say tears already pooling at the corners of his eyes.
CLANG!
The world seemed to slow down for Merle momentarily before a sudden slash lashed out as Amasa realized the black shadow that suddenly appeared in front of Chifuyu, snapping a finger before a burst of wind blew the leaping man back. Amasa cursed loudly as he fell backwards, rolling into a breakfall as he pushed himself to his feet breathing ragged from the charge glaring daggers at the figure.
"What the hell are you trying to do…"
The figure sheathed its hand as the hand moved to the hood covering the head of the wearer, a smooth movement throwing the fabric piece off to fall at the shoulders as a gust of wind blew hard at the open air platform Amasa narrowing his eyes while Merle could only widen his eyes at the close shave Chifuyu had as Chifuyu struggled uselessly against the pain. Under the hood of the trench jacket, with pale blue and emerald green dual colored eyes and ebony night hair leader to shoulder length with the left side of the hair being tucked back around the ear stood a beautiful woman about the same age as Merle, her own teeth gritting into a snarl while her black colored lips frowned deeply in disgust her skin slightly weathered. But what shocked Merle wasn't the appearance of the woman instead it was the next words that tumbled out of the man's mouth, something he wished that he never heard in the whole of his life as Chifuyu's own eyes widened into deep shock.
"How dare you fuck with me…Amasa, sister?"
End of prologue for Amasa, Amasa Arc