"Hey, you're back." Ursula greeted over the comm. "And it seems like Emilia is all right."
"As all right as she could be," I respond.
"So, you must have some time on your hands, with your partner gone. And Kraz is off helping the AMF… So, new orders: let's hit the cafe, On the double."
"The- cafe?"
This wasn't the time to be resting, but as she said I didn't have much to do. However, something still felt off about this. I made my way down to the cafe as soon as I could.
Once I walked in I was greeted by a cheerful voice.
"Ooh hoo! Welcome to you! I did not think to see you here!" It was Chelsea. Sitting across from her was Ursula. I look at her confused.
"She doesn't know I called you here."
Which begged the question.
"Why did you call me here?"
"It's not about work, so ease up a little. I didn't call you for any reason, just to chat. Is that so wrong?"
The obvious lie is obvious. It seemed Chelsea had already picked up on what's going on. "Pardon, but your little lies fool no one!"
Chelsea replied not dropping her smile as she turned her head to me.
"'Sula wishes to hear many things about Monsieur Boss, n'est-ce pas?"
With the exception of that last bit, I understood what she meant.
"Chelsea! Where'd you get that idea?! And what's the problem if a manager wants to know more about their employees?"
It was weird to see Ursula look so shy… It wasn't a bad weird. I may not be comfortable with personal situations, but it's always nice to see people show how they truly feel.
"Speaking of Kraz… he's changed. He's back to the old Kraz, back when he had fire and passion. Thanks to you."
No, Not at all.
At least, I didn't see how I could have.
After all, correlation doesn't equal causation.
"It's not like he's thrown away the past. More like he's found a new way forward. No doubt Emilia's to thank for that too."
"A new way forward?"
"The way he talks about her. Like she was his daughter, after a fashion. I just hope his past doesn't come back to drag him down."
"His… past?"
"He was married once, with a child. He lost them."
Like a punch to the gut, all the air leaves my lungs with that one sentence. I was at a loss of words… as was Ursula. There was a brief period of silence until Chelsea picked up the conversation.
"That's when he started planting himself at the bar. He became like a wild, withered old shrub, watering himself with wine."
"You see…" Ursula continued. "He knew the man responsible. He'd arrested him on other charges before that. He was a good cop. A real terror of the streets, they called him. But he just quit and took up liver poisoning. That's when I ran into him again, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him."
"Ooh, oui. I am remembering your wrath. 'Sula was quite angry! Do not show me that ugly winey face! Something like this."
Ursula blushed.
"Do me a favour and never mention that again, 'kay?"
She stood up from her seat.
"Look, I'm a little thirsty. Hang on, I'm going to order something."
I took her seat as she walked away.
"Those two, Sula and Monsieur Boss, they were how you say, lovers once, yes? No. Tell no one. It is a secret. Hush-Hush."
I nodded silently in response.
"But they are both so busy, so important, they are seeing each other, but they never see each other. Comprendez-vous? Oui?"
…No idea what she meant but I just nodded along once again.
"When they meet again, what is this? Le Boss has a wife and a child! 'Sula is quite upset, as you might think. But, he did seem happy. So she drinks a toast, chin-chin, and says perhaps things are as they should be. Oh, but tragedy struck and he grew all hairy and dark she took it personally, I think."
"-"
"That was when she started this whole thing, you know? The Little Wing. Just so she could hire him as a contractor, oui?"
It must be nice to have someone who was looking out for him even after all he's been through, I can't help but be a little jealous….
But from the sound of it, everyone had it tough.
…My issues paled in comparison.
I don't have the right to complain.
After all, most of Gurhal's pain could be traced back to my mistake.
I don't deserve pity, I don't deserve compassion, I don't deserve-
"Huh? Chelsea? Didn't expect you to be here, too."
"Emilia?"
"Emilia! Welcome back! Your work is done?" Chelsea asked.
She took a seat next to me.
"I think I've done pretty much all I could. Now it's up to and Yut…"
"Hello, Emilia" Ursula sat down next to Chelsea. "Finished what you had to do? What brings you here?"
"Well, I was looking for the boss. Any idea where he's gotten to?"
"Kraz is off helping the AMF. He won't be back for some time." She said.
"GHak. Oh well. See, I found out where Shizuru's hiding."
"Think you could fill me in?" She asked calmly.
"Well, there's this secret facility, someplace that only and Shizuru know about- and someone's been using it. We might be able to stop this coma-plague he's created, but we still have to strike the heart of the problem to end it for good."
In other words-
"You need to get to Shizuru." A big smile appeared on Ursula's face. "Which means you don't have time to waste. If Kraz isn't here, it's up to us to do this. Chelsea, get ready if you would."
"Oui, Oui! Tout suite! Er, I'm on it!"
"Chelsea?! Wait-" Emilia looked surprised.
"What, you don't think we can handle this?" Ursula said with a cocky grin.
"Well, I know you could take care of yourself, Ursula, but Chelsea? What's she gonna do? Confuse him with her strange accent?"
"How impertinent! I was in the army before I became a dancer, you know. Ah, the times 'Sula and I once had!"
My partner's jaw dropped.
"...You're kidding."
Somehow, this wasn't unexpected.
"I'll let Kraz know what's going on. You all get ready to storm this facility, Let Chelsea and I know when you're good to go."
Judging from my last few assignments, I have concluded that I couldn't trust Rose to assist me. I cut off communications and made preparations elsewhere.
I didn't know much about Shi- Khuman's abilities… However, considering we were headed to an Inhelt lab. It's almost certain he'd be near a sub-space generator, that fact alone makes him infinitely more dangerous.
If we took that away, I'd still have to deal with that inhuman speed of his… I have already prepared a few things to counter that-
The most preferred way would be to use that dark mirage blast… however…
- I lack the data and skill to force it out without some sort of emotional trigger.-
Another way would be to overcharge my blade once again and freeze him solid… However, I dismissed this option pretty early on, seeing as overloading it takes too much time.
And there weren't a lot of scenarios this would be a viable option.
That left me with one thing to close the gap between our abilities. TECHNICs. However-
With my preparations complete, I called Emilia and left the coordinates to her. We made it to this underground facility, inside we found a freight train waiting for us. Ursula and Chelsea casually boarded the train while Emilia and I slowly followed behind them.
"A private father-and-son lab, eh? Makes for the perfect hideout." Said Ursula.
"This isn't an inhelt train, isn't it? You sure we should be riding this?" Emilia asked.
"It's the only way to get there, so yes. Don't tell me you're getting cold feet?" Ursula said with a grin.
"Who? Me? O-Of course not! I just thought, what if it's a trap?"
"Heh heh. Silly. OF COURSE, it's a trap. Why else would they have so conveniently let a train here for us?"
"What? You mean you know it's a trap and you're still going to go?"
"Relax, would you? We're not entirely unprepared. Am I right, Chelsea?"
"I know tout detail of this vehicle, down to the synths it carries, oui! A complete scan."
"When'd you do that?!"
"You expect us to walk into a known trap without doing any research? Though I have to admit, the explosives were somewhat unexpected."
"Huh? Explosives?!" I exclaimed.
"We'll have to watch out for them when the fighting starts or we'll have an even bigger problem on our hands. We've been on the move long enough, I should think. Anytime now…" Just as she said that the room began to flash red followed by a loud obnoxious Beeping noise.
"They've sounded the alarm!"
"Intruder alert! Intruder alert! Eliminate all intruders!
Intruder alert! Intruder alert! Eliminate all intruders!"
"Right on schedule. All eyes are on us!" Ursula looked like she was having way too much fun with this.
"Right on… what?! No one told me about any schedule!"
"Fight first, then we'll talk. All right people, make it look good!"
"Fine! Fine! Let's do this!"
And so we fought through the train, from car to car.
Because of the explosives, we were reduced to using our melee weapons.
Except for Chelsea who was frighteningly accurate when she's holding a gun that's as big as her. I gripped my saber tightly in my left hand as I cut through the synths that blocked our path with my right arm dangling at my side.
"I'm guessing we're about halfway through. Too bad. I'm just getting warmed up." Said Ursula.
"You should be more careful at your age, 'Sula! L'esprit may be willing but the flesh gets wobbly, you know."
"Who are you calling wobbly? I'm in my prime. And you might want to think twice about that lingerie, yourself, Mademoiselle."
"Moi? But I am always fit as a weasel!"
"Y-you mean whistle…" Said Emilia, who looked more tired than usual. "and how could you two even h-hold a conversation? I'm so pooped I can barely talk! And here I thought I was all buff"
It was strange, it wasn't very different from what we usually went through.
Could it have been because of Tenma? I wondered.
I began to think it was a mistake to bring her along.
"Don't be too down on yourself. I think you're moving quite well these days. It's clear you've been training." Said Ursula. "Just try not to compare yourself with me, after the meat-grinder the military put me through. There's fit, and there's FIT."
"Oh, what a terrible time it was! I only have to think about it, and anything else I face, it is like nothing, you see?"
I did not… Half of the time I can only guess what she means.
It's almost like she's speaking another language.
"Wait… was the Boss in the military with you?" She asked.
"What makes you say that?"
"Just the way you move. You're like him. Like a pair, almost."
"I see. No wonder the Guardians wanted you."
"Huh?"
"Never mind. The answer to your question is yes. Kraz trained in my squad for a 's where we met." Ursula talked, though it seemed more like she was daydreaming rather than having a conversation. "I was all rules and regulations, and he was… Well, he was Kraz. The fights we had…"
She walked off.
"Um, Chelsea? Is Ursula…"
"Shhh! Look away, oui? Some things, it is better to pretend we do not see. So no one gets hurt, you understand? Mademoiselle 'Sula may look tough like a nail, but inside she is still a little girl. Take care of her, and do not speak."
"Heh. Grown-ups. I'll never get'em."
Just then there was a loud crash in the previous car along with some gunshots.
"They're attacking the back!" Just then similar noises came from up ahead.
"The Three of us can go! Cyruss go on ahead!" Ursula ordered.
"Huh? Wait-" But they were already gone. I went on by myself as they ordered.
With some trouble, I've cleared the room, with some time to spare. I sat in front of the bomb. I held my blade in my right hand but as soon as I lifted my arm, I'd lose my grip and it would slip out of my hand. With little time remaining, I needed to end this fast.
I heard a noise in the car ahead, like metal tearing. I griped my gauntlet around my saber and ran into the next car.
I entered the room and the second I saw the towering figure inside my blood went cold. In front of me was a large plant-like machine rooted in the center of the room.
It was something called a Dilla Griena, a warhead used for infiltrating spaceships and facilities. Once inside it hacks into the systems and takes control… Or so I've heard.
But from the looks of it, this was being used more like a control tower.
I shook off the feeling and charged towards the mech. Metallic vines sprouted up through the floor in front of me.
"-Shifta!"
I swung my blade, slicing through the vines as they came up, and continued my charge towards the main body. Then just as I swung my blade at the stem it was stopped in the air.
Appearing in front of me out of nowhere is a synth blocking my blade with its arm. And quickly grabbed reached for my throat with the other. I feel it's metal hand squeezing my throat tightly.
"...Hah… ugh… "
I gasp for air as I glared at the robotic ninja. I can feel my mind getting lighter and each desperate swing of my blade bashing against its arm growing weaker.
"Zonde!"
A bolt of lightning struck down between me and the mech forcing it to release me. I retreat to the entrance as more metal vines spring up from the floor of the train.
I turned to my partner standing at the entrance.
"What are you doing here? Where's Ursula and Chelsea?"
Even with my focus on the Synth in the center of the room, I could feel the kid giving me a cold stare.
"First, You're welcome- Second, I figured you could use some help and they said they could handle the rest."
"Well, thanks…" I said without taking my eyes off the synth.
"Emilia, your visor…"
"What?"
"These bots… they have some kind of cloaking mechanism to them."
Thanks to those devices, my goggles and her visor, we managed to fight them like any other enemy.
Emilia manages to keep up with the Sinow Beats' swift strikes while I'm barely able to get by with support items that increase my speed. Even when she's not at 100% it's clear how greatly she's improved since day 1.
Still, compared to that ancient, her chances of defeating him are slim at best… but I wondered… if Kuhman can use that much power in Shizuru's body, would it be possible for Emilia to draw power from Mika and even the playing field… if she were to do that than perhaps I wouldn't need to-
Nevermind.
After defeating the synths all that was left to deal with was the control tower. I once again made a charge directly at the towering mech.
"Hey- Look out!"
At that moment several vines rose up from the flooring once again directly below me. The metal vines wrapped around me, tightly cutting into my arms. Fortunately, my right arm had no feeling and my left was protected by the gauntlet.
I grinned and shouted-
"Emilia! Now! Hit it with everything you got! Before it destroys the train!" With the warhead's focus on me that gave my partner a window of opportunity to attack.
A bright blue glow surrounded my partner, this had caught the monster's attention. The Dilla Griena had two other tendrils on its side but with my partner out of its range, it had little it can do.
It spat out a swarm of something resembling large spiky balls. Even as they shot towards her she didn't move. When the balls reached her they broke apart. No, they broke apart before that.
An invisible wall of photons stood there protecting her like a barrier. A barrier she summoned, one that protected her from the swarm that battered against it.
"-Barta!"
A gigantic wave of ice broke through the swarm of balls and went straight towards the stationary target in the center of the car.
The ice turned to white dust and scattered around the room like snow with the remains of the machine. The alarms went silent and we were left in the room alone.
"...I have to stop getting saved." I muttered bitterly as the vines that restrained me slipped off. It wasn't my plan to play the diversion but that's how it ended up.
"You two looked like you were having fun." It didn't take long for the two women to regroup with us. In that time I was on guard in case any more of those damn ninjas appeared and Emilia had a minute or so to rest.
"It's a shame you missed the show." Though, if they were here it wouldn't have taken much effort at all to kill that Dilla Griena. It would make quite the Anti-Climax… however-
"Euh non, we have the company, as you say. Several heat sources approaching from the rear car!"
Just then a large group of machines entered the back of the room. Giant machines. Though, unlike the other machines, they ignored the bombs in the previous rooms and went straight here… I don't know much about machines but I wonder if they were set specifically to respond to losing their command tower.
"Weren't raw materials supposed to be scarce these days? He sure went all out."
Ursula smiled.
"It's about time, I should think."
"About time?"
"Well, Chelsea, time for some bubbly?"
"Mais Oui! I have a fine bottle right here!"
"What?" I turned back towards my partner who looked just as confused as I was.
Chelsea struts forward towards the giant crowd of robots. And Ursula grins in anticipation.
"Hello boys, Chelsea will be your server tonight. It's show time, ok?" She raises her hand and in a bright light several bottles appeared guided by her hand they spiralled around her before stopping. They floated, above her slowly circling around the centermost bottle, before it fell into her hand.
"voilà! Would you care for a taste of my champagne?"
The second she popped the corked off the bottle the others fired off into bright beams of light that shot directly towards the crowd of machines and set off a brilliant explosion at the back of the car… We were lucky this car didn't have any bombs. Or that the car wasn't destroyed by that destructive attack.
Standing in front of the piles of scrap was our receptionist. Still holding that bottle, with dozens of bottles still floating around her…She turned to us and smiled as she stretched out her arm with the bottle in hand and said. "Magnifique."
Ursula was smiling, Emilia's jaw dropped… and I had never been more terrified of the women in our company. Looking back… Had I attempted to force Em into Tenma, they would have torn me apart no questions asked.
"Whoa." A large beep sounded and the train came to a gentle halt.
"Great, what now?"
"Right on schedule. That went splendidly."
"Er, Ursula. Maybe you could explain what's going on to me? Right now? Pretty please?"
"I suppose it can't hurt. Everyone, follow me."
"Where are we going?"
"To the conductor's booth in the lead car… to complain. I've never been so jostled in my life. And the service was terrible."
My partner asked what I wanted to know. And I had nothing of my own to say. So, we just silently followed her into the next car.