Ember's POV:
Working with Char in the hanger, it was maintenance day at the base. Both Char and I convinced Minna that our personal Strikers should be worked on by ourselves only as the Strikers are quite... fragile. Pulling out my many weapons in my arsenal, I placed them on a table to work on before I returned to pulling open my Striker and checking its many complexities with different electrical wires, Magical fuel line, the magic injectors, intercoolers, and Liberion's tested and proves super-turbochargers. Remembering the manual from heart, I went to work with basic maintenance and finished up early. Bidding Shirley good-bye, I was intercepted by Alissa saying that it was time for my training. Meeting her in the usual area I saw that Xala was accompanying her.
"So, today we're going to have a change of pace. We'll be going over your usual swordsman ship, but Xala here wants to teach you a new technique for your blade." She said. Taking my stance, I summoned Xelarion. About two hours of swinging, training, and advice, I found myself in the sky with Xala, Masaki, and Eve in my Striker up in the sky with Xelarion in hand.
"So... What are we doing?" I asked as Xala summoned one of her many swords.
"I'll be teaching you how to absorb lasers through your sword and then use it to your advantage. Masaki, Eve, if you may?" she asked, glancing off to the distance and they flew off. Watching from the side, Xala continued to speak to me. "It's quite easy to master this technique. All you need to do is think of the sword as apart of you and willingly absorb the energy from the laser beams. Anticipate where they are going to shoot as if you were to block the laser, but this time absorb it."
A blue beam suddenly shot out and Xala moved her sword with ease as she intercepted the beam and absorbed it into the sword. The red lines on her body glowed a brighter red from the energy absorption.
"You can then either use it to shoot it normally," her hand glowed as a red energy orbed formed, "or you can use it in your sword, or even fire it from your sword." Xala pointed her sword outwards and shot off a red beam only for Masaki to absorb it. "And of course, Masaki is the only one that can naturally absorb beams without the aid of a sword. How about you try that now?" Taking my stance, I nodded. Concentrating, I began to focus on my sword when I saw an orange beam flash at me. Brining up the sword, I was quite surprised when the beam entered the sword and it started to glow red. Focusing it into the edge of the blade, I swung and a crescent red energy wave was discharged hitting the water causing it to split in two. "Impressive." This went on for a few more minutes when I was called down back to base.
"Sorry to interrupt your training exercise, but I need your assistance, Major," Mio called to me on the intercom. Looking at Xala she only shrugged.
"That's all I needed to teach you for today. You've already got the skills to block a beam. You just need to just think about when to absorb a beam and to use it. Now go, I'm sure what ever task you have with the Major is important." Nodding, we all flew down to the hanger where Mio waited with with a jeep. Landing in front of her, I dismissed my sword and killed the engines.
"You wanted me, Mio?"
"We've got a message that there's been an unusual Neuroi sighting at the 504th that had caused their communications to be cut. They are under control, but Minna wants us to go and get any information on this new Neuroi bug. Plus, this will be a nice time for you to gain some more experience with using the power that comes with your rank." She smiled slightly saying, "Get your Striker into the Launcher unit in the back of the jeep. The weapon slot is broken so what ever weapon you take, just wrap it in a cloth."
Nodding, I turned over the engines and hovered back into the launcher unit and covered it with a cloth when Enelia walked up to me.
"U-Um... Can I come along with you two as well? I've got permission from Xala and Minna."
"If Minna approves, I don't mind. It will be nice for the other Witches to have some interactions with some of the allied Neuroi forces... Though do you need to bring that?" Her eyes shifted up to her wrapped up rifle that was over her shoulder and she nodded.
"Minna told me to bring it incase of a Neuroi encounter. Plus, I feel a bit more at ease with it..." She wiggled side to side slightly as she held it and Mio only nodded.
"Then you can bring it. Though remember, if there is a Neuroi attack, it will be up to you two to kill it. I have faith in you two, but keep in mind you'll be on your own." Nodding, I got into the passenger seat while Enelia got in the back, her large rifle wrapped in cloth standing high into the sky while Mio got into the driver seat. Moving out of the gate, I leaned back slightly trying to find a comfortable position in the "luxury" seating we have in the jeep.
"Any idea what the type of Neuroi the 504th had encountered?" I asked Mio, bracing myself slightly as we hit a bump in the road.
"Unknown. All we know is that they've gone dark for a few days now. Command asked us if we can go and provide any assistance to restoring their base and gather information."
"Any other units in the area that can provide assistance?" I asked and she shook her head.
"We're the only unit that has the capacity to lend any assistance. There's a large formation moving through here but are moving in the opposite direction of their base. I've set up a meeting point where I can pull some supplies we can bring to the 504th before they leave for a new front. I'm also glad you're wearing that cloak. Some people are still apprehensive about the fact that there are friendly Neuroi, or even Neuroi hybrids among them so it will be nice to have your true identity hidden for now."
"Should I wear the eye patch as well?" I asked and Mio nodded. Pulling my own black eye patch out of my breast pocket, I put it on adjusting my hair slightly when we hit a bump.
"Sorry..." Sliding down in my seat, I closed my eyes as trying to get some rest when I heard Mio curse as the engine started to sputter and die off. Coasting to the side of the road, Mio came to a halt and hit the wheel slightly. Sitting up, I peered at the gauges seeing the fuel's empty. "I knew I should have brought an extra jerry can... There's a town near by I saw when I was driving with Miyafuji. I'll be back in a while with some more gas. Stay with the jeep until I return."
"You think someone would steal this baby while we're around?" She didn't answer as she strapped Reppumaru to her back and started to walk. Getting out to stretch, I looked around before I started to wonder what to do. Looking in the jeep, I found the necessities I needed consisting of the tool box, a mat, and a thin wire. Enelia was following me as I walked around to the front of the car. Popping the hood, I knew what to look for as I located the distributor in the engine bay. During the ride, I was heard the engine was running quite rough on the journey over here. I thought I'd be able to work on it in town, but we came a little short. Getting to the wires, I started to go over the firing order of the spark plugs and found that the number two and three cylinders were reversed. Rectifying the problem, I began to think of some more improvements and I pulled a spark plug when Enelia spoke up a bit nervously,
"S-Say, Ember?"
"Hm?"
"I-I've got something to ask you." Looking up at her as I put the spark plug down, I picked up a wire and the wrench.
"What's up?" I asked and she twists around quite uncomfortable. Her shoulders moved up and down as she turned side to side, looking down at the ground.
"T-There's something I n-need to show you... I've been hiding it from the others and the other Neuroi know about it..." She reached up to unbutton her cloak and took it off. My eyes widened slightly as I looked at her and she sheepishly looked off to the side, a light shade of pink crossing her visor.
"Are those..."
"Extra arms?" She raised her two sets of extra arms and moves them independently from each other.
"Since when... I've seen you without the cloak before and you didn't have those arms." Picking up her cloak from to the ground, she dusted it off and hung it on one of her arms while she explained.
"Ever since I came to this world, I've had this defect to my Core. I've been able to control if they appear but recently I've lost that control. That's why I've donned this cloak around the base." Putting the wrench on the crank shaft, I inserted the rod into the spark plug and began to turn it over before I found the top of the piston's stroke and adjust it to run much smoother and more fuel economic. Cleaning my hands I put the engine back together and the tools away when I looked back at Enelia.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I wanted to tell someone else. You seemed like the most trustworthy person in the base..."
"Thank you for that but... There's others on base you can trust with this as well... And do my eyes deceive me or do I see two 1911's in your holsters?" I asked pointing at the two hip holsters and she grinned as she grabbed the two from her hip holster and her arms reached behind her back grabbing two more and pointed them all to the side.
"There's some advantages of having multiple sets of arms," she said, quirking her head slightly smiling under her mask. "Plus, they help with stabilizing myself when I'm shooting long distances with the PTRD." Putting her cloak back on, I took a swig of my canteen when I noticed a car coming towards us. Sitting on the hood, I squinted slightly I could make out Mio in the passenger seat. Stopping in front of the jeep, I the engine was killed and I gave a wave. Mio stepped out of the car thanking the person who drove here there and came out with a jerry can. Waving to the man as he left, Mio turned towards Enelia.
"So... Multi-armed?" she asked and Enelia stiffened up her face mask glowing a hot pink then a shade of red matching my hair before she started to poke her fingers together before lifted up her cloak with one of her arms showing Mio. "Oh... So I wasn't seeing things when I was coming back here... But that's a handy ability you have there, Enelia."
She just stared at Mio but I knew she was smiling under her mask as I grabbed the jerry can and filled up the tank. Getting back into the passengers seat Mio started the jeep up and I listened nodding my head.
"Looks like my changes to the engine worked."
"What changes?"
"The firing order for the pistons were out of order and I adjusted the timing of the firing sequence to make it run smoother," I explained and Mio nodded before putting it into gear and drove through the town she went to and the onto the next. I noticed how the military presence was getting stronger but with a surprisingly high count of Liberion soldiers. Making it onto town, I noticed the amount of armored vehicles that were stationed around when one of them caught my eye. It was a familiar Sherman I saw back in Africa. Stopping in front of what I guess was a supply depot., Mio looked at me and said, "We're here. You can go to that building to say we're here to pick up the supplies." Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. "Those are all the papers you need to get the supplies. I'll be waiting here until you return with everything. And Enelia, you should go with her as well. You can take your rifle if you want as well."
Enelia nodded, getting out of the jeep with me with the PTRD strapped to her back. Looking around, I walked into the main building finding the correct desk to make the acquisition for the supplies. Getting directed around, I found found four Witches that I thought I'd never see again.
"Patricia! Marilyn! Abigail! Noel! Long time no see!" I called out with a wave and the four looked up in surprise.
"Ember!" Patricia called back while the four of them ran up to me and Enelia. Noel greeted Enelia with a smile and patted her head while I shared a laugh with the Patton girls. "You're the one we're giving the supplies to?"
I nodded my head and they told me to follow the back where Noel ran off for some reason. Giving Marilyn the piece of paper, she went through finding the supplies when a truck backed in.
"Here's your truck you'll need for the supply run and Noel should be here any moment..." Hearing some heavy clunking, I saw Noel carrying a large spool of cables with her Striker unit, but it looked different from the last time I saw it in Africa.
"Is that a new Striker?" I asked as Noel set down the cable spool into the truck and nodded as some armor plating retracted from her body so she could jump out of the Striker.
"It's the M18 Super Hellcat," she said before rubbing her hand on the blacker exterior of the Striker. "I call it the Blackcat. It's got a few new toys attached to it from the M2.5 Neuroi Reaper to the 4 shot M5E2 10.5 cm Auto-Loading cannon. They've also done away with the pneumatic spike in favor of a shield and blade combo on that arm. It's taller, armored better, and faster than the original Hellcat Striker."
"A 10.5 cm cannon... Oh my lord, that will fuck up any target you choose..." I said when the last of the crates were loaded up. "Though I hate how I have to cut this reunion short, I've got to run now. These supplies won't deliver themselves. Come on Enelia," I looked in her general direction and some of the other Witches around the base were encircling her and I chuckled slightly as she quickly scurried away and into the cab of the truck. "Tell the General I said high!" I called out when I got into the truck and drove out. Finding Mio at the entrance, I waved and she nodded, getting into the driver seat and began to drive. Following her, we went through more roads when I started to talk with Enelia.
"So, what were those people asking you back there?"
"Well... Just... Just to see who I was and saying that it was a first Neuroi they've seen that wasn't shooting at them... And other things..." Her head sunk in a bit deeper into her cloak and I could see the face mask start to heat up and I chuckled slightly. Silence sat between us when a thought came across.
"Say... Do you uh... Know how Neuroi... Reproduce?" I asked tentatively but I was surprised how straightforward Enelia was at first.
"Either we are made by the mother hive, by our leader, the Neuroi Matriarch, or by reproduction a-as you humans do..."
"B-But h-how will I reproduce with S-Shirley..." My grip tightened on steering wheel as I pulled up my scarf a bit higher on my face.
"W-Well... As a male Neuroi is quite rare among us... F-Female N-Neuroi can um... Produce... A um... An extremity... T-T-To reproduce..." Enelia's voice fell of and she began to shake from embarrassment before there was a light flash of blue and she reverted to her core state. The core hung in the air for a few seconds before it plopped down on the seat of the truck.
'O-Oh my... I-I need to confirm this with Xala...' I thought when Mio took a right towards the airbase Following her, we were stopped at the guard post and I had my cargo checked as I slid Enelia's core into my jacket and we got the go-ahead to move into the base to drop off the supplies. Moving into the hanger, I was kind of relieved to see that the base was quite lively live some Witches. Pulling in front of the hanger, I killed the trucks engine and got out of the cab to meet with Mio and the base commander. Looking around, I remember I had forgotten something. Opening up the cab again, I grabbed the blue Neuroi core and held it in my hands when Mio walked over to me.
"Can you assist the others unloading everything and any repairs you can assist with. I'm going to gather some information about the Neuroi they encountered."
"Roger that," I said with a wave and she turned to go into the base. Moving to the back of the truck, I undid the back of the trailer and set Enelia's core on the inside of the truck when my ears twitched. I could hear a light thump of feet and I instinctually leaned backwards slightly as I felt a breeze of air pass by me. Looking to the right, I saw the body of a blond haired Liberion face first in the dirt with her head buried. I stared a bit longer and I started to crack up before I fell over laughing. "AAHAHAHAHAHAA! That's why you're forever called 'Dirt Mound'!" I yelled laughing when Seris walked over pouting.
"Why'd you have to move?" she whined when I heard Anne's voice as well.
"Because any other sensible person would move out of the way as well, Seris," she said with some of the other members of the 504th flanking her. Getting up, I dusted myself off and I hugged my two friends tightly.
"Ooohhh, I missed you two!" I whined and let them go. "And you got transferred to the 504th?"
"Mm. We volunteered actually. We got word that the 504th needed help with more members and both Seris and I said signed up," Anne explained.
"And the nuggets?"
"Captain Bartlett took over for who ever was remaining in our group. The other girls stepped it up quite a bit when you visited us. They all strive to be great Witches like you, Ember," Seris said happily when I decided to take over the rest.
"All right, enough reminiscing. We can do that after we get this base in running order and all supplies are off lifted on this truck."
"Roger!" The girls quickly went to work and I assisted them with my strength to move around the cable spool into the hanger where a fork lift took over. Looking around as they began to work, I was noting who was making up the 504th JFW. With everything unloaded I noticed that Jane was holding Enelia's core.
"Uummm... What is this exactly?" she asked as she looked at it, turning it around experimentally. "I've never seen a weird looking crystal like this before..."
She was then startled as the crystal began to shimmer slightly and then float out of her hand when Enelia appeared to everyone's shock.
"A Neuroi!?"
"Hm?" Enelia soon was looking around seeing the other Witches and bowed slightly. "My name is Enelia. I am one of the Neuroi rebels you've heard of. It's nice to meet you." Murmurers were traded between the witches and Enelia jumped slightly and started poking her fingers together. "D-Did I say something wrong?"
"You didn't, Enelia," I calmed her down quickly when the girls started to surround her. "Most people haven't seen a Neuroi that not only talks, is blue, and isn't shooting at them."
"O-Oh! Right... I'm sorry..."
"N-No! It's fine! We were just startled by your sudden appearance," Patricia said.
"Moving on, what else do we need to do to?" I asked and was told that we needed to replace some of the power cables. In the building. Assisting them by crawling, hauling, and then attaching the cables, Anne pulled the switch and everything was powered up again. Finding one of the old cables, I inspected it finding it was chewed through.
"Ember," I heard Mio call my name and I put the wide back down. Standing up, I saw that Junko had accompanied her.
"I'd like to thank you for all the help you gave to us. Without these materials, we'd be under severe threat if any Neuroi would come towards the base. We'd be caught off."
"No problem. If it means that we can save lives then I will happily help however I can," I said with a smile.
"It was much appreciable. It seems we're calling on the 501st quite frequently for help though..."
"Don't worry. It's only a matter of time before we'll be the ones calling on you for help," I smiled slightly.
"And we will come!" Seris cheered and smiled before giving me a hug. "But also don't strain yourself to much, Ember... You've been working really hard recently and I fear that you will over work yourself..."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"Ember! We're going now," Mio called out and I said my goodbye's to my friends. Getting into the jeep, Enelia sat in the back. Leaving the base, I reclined slightly and glanced at Mio.
"What did you find out about the Neuroi?"
"From what they can tell, a small drone infiltrated the base and was trying to figure out where the power supply was. Meanwhile, the base was on full alert when the radar caught a Neuroi signature in the distance and they scrambled just as the base lost power. It was quite the miracle that they found the Neuroi as well as because they only had a rough guess to where it was. When they found and destroyed the Neuroi, they found the Neuroi drone at the base and it blew up as the main Neuroi was destroyed."
"So they couldn't detect it because the drone fighter didn't have a core?"
"Exactly."
"... They're getting a bit smarter..."
"And that's what worries me."
"They may be animalistic, but they can learn..." Enelia suddenly said. "They aren't stupid, you know."
"Lets just hope that we can eliminate them before they get to smart..." Mio commented.
The rest of the drive was in silence and when we got back to base, I smiled slightly as I saw Xera and Perrine out on the runway chatting with each other while I saw Xana, Xaila, Xeris, Ene, and Eve laying on a sunny patch of grass on base. Getting into the hanger, I jumped off and looked over seeing Perrine had her familiar features out and strikes Xera with a lightning bolt. Mio looked over in surprise when Xera's red parts started to glow and she held her hands out as she condensed the electrical energy she absorbed into a electrical sphere and hurled it into the sky. Running out of the hanger, I stared up at the sky as it disappeared into a cloud and erupted in a storm of lightning. Covering my eyes slightly I nodded and smiled.
"It seems you two are getting along quite well," I said and Perrine nodded.
"Xera here told me about her powers and we've just done that little experiment you just saw. The results were quite favorable."
"Does it have any combat use?" Mio asked.
"Why of course! From what Xera said, she used to be able to perform that little lightning show with another Neuroi that could wield lightning but she was apparently destroyed..." We looked at Xera and she nodded her head sadly. "Oh, Ember, there's a wooden package that came for you in the hanger."
"Really? Thanks, I'll check that out," I said and found the box at the base of weapons rack on the side of the hanger. Hanging up my 37mm rifle, I put the box on a bench and began to open it when I heard Lucchini and Shirley behind me.
"Whatcha got there, Ember?" Lucchini asked as I got a screw driver and started to undo some of the screws when Shirley also asked.
"Calm down you two. I'm about to open it." I said as I pulled the last screw out. Flipping the latches, I pulled the lid off and pulled some straw to the side revealing two Thompson submachine guns and my heart skipped a beat as I picked up one of the guns turning it over slight.
"Oh! Thompsons with multiple 100 round drum magazines and a speed loader! Nice hit there Ember!" Shirley commented.
"I want to see. I want to see!" Lucchini whined but I leaned my head down slightly as I found an engraving on the side of the gun.
"... Uuumm... Lucchini! I've actually got something to show you in my room!"
"Whah?"
"A treat might also be waiting for you there.~"
"Yay! A treat!~ A treat!~" she sang and pranced away when Shirley patted my shoulder and left after her.
"Thank you Char..." I mumbled slightly when I found a letter in the box. Turning it over, I saw it was signed by Patton himself. Summoning a knife, I slit it open pulling out the letter and began to read.
"I can not put into words how thankful I had you under my command in Africa. You actions not only saved many soldiers, Witches, and citizens, you destroyed the main Neuroi force there. As for why I am writing this letter, I found this crate when we were resupplying and it was pulled from the ruins of the old 370th base. I felt it was appropriate use of these firearms would be in your hands, Major. Put them to good use and don't die out there. I know I've fought out there in a previous life and I know you must have as well. But even a great fighter like yourself have their own downfalls. Don't die out there Major. I firmly believe you are the key to winning this war. Sincerely, General George S. Patton."
Finishing the letter, I noticed that there was a slight water splotch on the paper.
"Why... I thought I moved on from them..." I mumbled as I felt the tears start to fall and I cradled the Thompson that belonged to my old squad mate, Major Amanda Bradely. I then felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see Xala was there. "Oh... Xala," I sniffled slightly and rubbed my eyes.
"Is that one of your friends old armament?" she asked and I nodded before she looked at the large amount of ammo and then to the magazines in the box. "The best way I can think of right now is to let off some steam down at the range. Fire off a drum for your friends."
Nodding slightly, I pulled a drum out and started loading it up. Finishing a few minutes later, I examined the flame engravings that Jenny did on the side and I smilled slightly.
"I remember when you first joined how timid you were... But you also had that fantastic art talent." Slapping in the magazine, I pulled back the slide and took aim. Activating my familiar features, I braced myself and pulled off a few bursts into the target breaking it in before going all out emptying the rest of the drum. Resting the gun, I pulled the drum magazine out and laid the gun down and smiled tracing a single flame. "Thank you all for all the work you've done in protecting humanity my friends. Rest easy for I will fight to the last of my strength as a Witch. And if my magic runs dry, then I'll fight as a Neuroi Hybrid. But I will make sure your deaths won't be in vain nor any one else's... So if you're truly up there," I looked up at the sky, covering my eyes as a cloud floats by exposing the sun, and smiled, "then wish me luck."
Turning to Xala with the gun in hand, I thanked Xala and returned back to the hanger to work on the Thompson's just before dinner. Latter that night though, I pulled Xala off to the side while the other Neuroi were fast asleep. Patting a spot next to me on my bed, she sat down without her face mask on as it was just us two.
"H-Hey, Xala... I was talking to Enelia earlier today and um... W-Well, is it true that I can... Produce... Such an extrematy?"
"Yes. It's quite rare for a Neuroi, or a hybrid as yourself, to use it as they fine the opposite sex as a mate, but there's been some cases that we do produce such extremity," she said quite straight forward.
"O-Oh! I see..." I said sheepishly and she smirked slightly sending chills down my spine.
"So you really with Shirley?" I nodded my head slightly when her Neuroi hide began to disapear exposing her pale skin. "Then I will have to teach you how to use such thing. I've... had experience with a human and I don't want you to hurt Shirley so I'll teach you."
My face began to flush up with what she's saying and before I knew it we were censored by the Centralized Bureau of Liberion Overt Censorship Corporation or C-BLOCC for short.
Sorry for such a late update. School's been heavy so expect even longer updates like this... And Armored Warfare, Fallout 4(Which I've been breaking the fuck out of it with cloning Fusion Cells and Mini-Nukes... Heehee...) and other games... heh... BUT YEAH! I hope you like this chapter! Please, leave a review below if you want. I don't bite... Much... And if you have anyqesionts, feel free to shoot me a PM!