The witches are going to face their greatest threat: Their own darkness... if it consumes them. This chapter will contain canon character deaths... and I hope there's constructive criticism that comes from my readers. Hopefully, the weight from one of the canon characters would be put to rest... and all will depend as to how the story will progress. War will bring deception and betrayal... and it's something I've learned from the Art of War by Sun Tzu.
Responses to my Reviews so far:
To Aviat0r:
Yup... the last chapter's ending is something of a clue... and this chapter solidifies things too... but you'll find this chapter rather damn serious.
To Motown Scrapper:
All the witches will face their demons while the war is happening. I'm sorry... but even the 555th will have that too, but it's considered something to put them to the test from here-on out. The girls of the 501st have gone through hell even before they got to Suomus... and now... the 555th is getting the same treatment. Don't worry. It will not change the fact that they not only stand together... but they're capable of making the impossible... possible! I've read your stories and they not only encouraged me to write something realistic, but also something to make your characters grow for the better too. I suggest getting ready to see their real game faces appearing!
So, let's get this over with: Chapter 27! Hooray! :) Sorry if it took so long.
Chapter 27
"Birth of a new witch, death of a loved one"
The northeast Suomus border outpost-airbase was almost silent for the night with dim light to be sure they don't catch the neuroi patrolling their sector. Lately, anti-air ammunition was running out, and they had to stick to other alternatives to be sure they won't get devastated while others have slept. It's been a silent week when they've been staying there, and military personnel had only this to say: The neuroi are starting to grow brains, at least their enemy, the Red Neuroi. Still, Blue Neuroi are patrolling the area and kept their spirits up. The heated situation is only until the ammunition and supplies would arrive to their aid. Even some of their supply routes are getting sacked for some reason.
It was almost 9 PM and Tonya didn't feel like sleeping. She mounted her wheelchair by herself, not even bothering to wake Tracie up. She decided to look around. She's aware that the base is "dark." She only needed to look at what else was happening besides being silent. She went out from the south living quarters area and rolled in her wheelchair. Tonya stayed near the entrance to look around. The sky has stars… and at least there are many of them. It wasn't the same as Conch where there were only a few at summer. But there were many above Suomus.
"I hope you got a good reason for sticking your head out." Tyler was wearing a white tank shirt as he approached her. "You know it isn't a good idea."
She then shrugged. "When will you realize I'm not… well… stupid?"
"Probably if you've turned into a teen."
"Meanie."
"Look… southern gutsy attitude may count as something unique, but you're not in Conch anymore. You're in a completely different part of the world. May I remind you that you're awful at remembering?"
"I'm just getting used to the feeling, okay? I'm sorry if I'm not…"
"Then let's talk about something else." He chuckled as he shook his head and looked at the starry sky. "Remember the time you were being scouted?"
"By the Deep Science Division?"
"Yeah. You had to do a test-flight for one of our models… and it didn't work out as much as Darla's A-20. I still wonder, though. Our strikers may be advanced, but why didn't it fit for you?"
"Maybe it's not the striker, Tyler. I have a personal reason as to why I fly better with the Havoc."
"And what is that?"
"I look for life as it is, and not something to prosper in. Living simple is enough. Having power is a convenience, I guess… but it shouldn't be used… well…"
"…Abusively?" He then smiled and kneeled in front of her. "I'm proud you think of that too. I know having the technologies out like this is considered the last straw, but we're doing the best we can in beating the enemy."
She shook her head and sighed. "Mom always taught me that having too much of something isn't good."
"That's what I'm afraid of. The brass doesn't quite get that simple statement when it comes to military power and tactics. I suppose you got your own better agenda to stay away from it."
"But… truth be told… I'm fighting for humanity. I know you all are… but you guys shouldn't get too cocky. It's nice to have fire from your jet's afterburners burning up all the hangars here."
Then he laughed. "You know what to say, do you, Tonya? Camille was right for teaching you some sarcasm once a while."
"I guess." Tonya sighed and looked down. "I miss her."
"Fighting for humanity seems harder than it seems, right?"
"Yeah. Everything's changed. It's not just about fighting the neuroi, but about stopping what's about to happen to us if we don't."
"They're leaving us no choice, Tonya. We have to make sure we make the right moves. Sooner or later, we'll be tied up with them. Get me?"
She giggled. "You're cool."
"Really?"
"I wish I'd see you fight again."
"Maybe you will." Tyler stood up and walked behind her wheelchair. "Ready to head back?"
"Not yet. I just… wanna stay here for a while… enjoy the stars a bit."
"Great." Tracie came walking behind them and stopped beside Tonya. "You know… you kinda need some great inspiration to paint. The stars aren't gonna last there, you know!"
Tonya winked. "Yeah. I have that covered. And… what are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" Tracie smiled and elbowed her friend. "I was concerned of you, but I was relaxed to see Tyler here."
"Wow. Nice of you to think of me as a bodyguard than a friend." Tyler's sarcasm caught Tracie off-guard.
"Hey that's not…!"
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm a friend, and somehow with a little benefit."
"Eww! That's even worse than the first one you've said!"
"Did you even get that?"
Then Tracie blushed. 'Oh, crap. This is no thanks to reading prohibited mags!' "I… I gotta go. Tonya, we need to rest." And without hesitation, Tracie handled the wheelchair and rolled Tonya back in the living quarters building. 'Oh, this is crazy.' Then her blush turned into giggling as they both knew what Tracie had in mind.
Tyler chuckled as he looked back at the sky. 'I hope you're seeing us like this, Sasha. If you're at peace and you want me to go on… I'll go on. Besides… I already have Minna, and she needs to be in my care. Bree… is going to be the best thing we both have. I just wish you could be there to see it. I want everyone to see it. Brianna deserves happiness at first glance. Maybe it starts with the two of us… but joy is how I'd want her to see life as long as we fight for it… and I swear to God… I'll fight for it.' He thought as he walked back in the living quarters building. 'Minna's safe and back at the southeast base. I wonder how she was doing for a week there?'
*Southeast Suomus Outpost-Airbase… The next morning…*
"Keep breathing!" Yoshika said as she pushed the wheelchair. All the young Fusoan heard was that Karlslander witch in pain… because of Labor. "Don't worry! We'll make it!"
"Shut up, AND PUSH, MIYAFUJI! Uhhn!" Minna replied in rage.
"That's my line!"
"Uhhn!" Minna moaned in irritation to Miyafuji's calm personality, but nonetheless, was still concentrating. Lately, she was getting false alarms… and it got her alert to what was really coming… a childbirth. Unless it's another false alarm for labor, she has to be patient. 'Bree's kicking quite too fast, isn't she?'
Yoshika finally arrived at the medical ward as she pushed open the doors. "Doctor! If there's anyone…" But nobody was there to entertain her. She thought at that very morning, the dust would settle once the doctor takes care of Minna, but she realized something: She's one, and she slapped her forehead in annoyance. "So, stupid! But… a childbirth?"
"Wait… it's calming down. Bree's… UGH! SHE IS KICKING AGAIN! Hurry! Put me at one of the beds!"
"MIYAFUJI!" Sakamoto called from afar while she ran towards them. "Get her to a bed and I'll carry her on it! There's no time to call for Ghost! We'll have to do this on our own! She's about to break!" The younger Fusoan listened as she rolled the wheelchair to a nearby military bed. As promised, Sakamoto then carried Minna and put her on there. With the pillow comfortably under Minna's head… the Karlslander focuses on holding back. "Minna, listen to me… it has to be now. I can't say anything else, and it's been too frequent. Your daughter's gonna come out!"
"M-Mio…"
"Major… what do we do?"
"You… calm her down. In about 10 minutes… a surgeon is coming but… I have to do the initials immediately."
"Wait… you don't mean…"
"Yes."
"No! Do you even know how…?"
"I've seen a lot of grim images before I joined in the Fusoan Imperial Army, Miyafuji. Tell her to keep breathing. I'll get the gloves and the rest. We should consider it a full childbirth." Sakamoto then ran to the supplies closet of the ward, picking out supplies needed for the childbirth.
Minna kept her head on the pillow and her breathing constant. "Y-Yoshika… come here."
"Yes?" Miyafuji replied as she came closer to the lieutenant colonel in labor.
"I want you to watch Bree if ever I lose consciousness. Lately… I've been getting the feeling she's drawing magic from me. Then Tyler told me something… and it's related to him being a witch. Please… watch Brianna together with others and take care of her if I get knocked out. I won't be able to see it coming, but at least I know Brianna's gonna be born this morning." Minna explained as she kept breathing and laughed a little. "It sucks to do this in the morning. I hate it."
"That's what most women would say." Yoshika giggled and they both saw Sakamoto walk back in with towels and a pair of gloves. "M-Major?"
"It's gonna be messy… and I expect this will be something we all need to see. Minna… try to hold on as much as you can. If there's…"
"Let's do it, Major. I don't care if I get exhausted in the end and faint. She needs to come out."
"Very well." Sakamoto said as she placed a towel near Minna's buttocks, before taking off her panties. The whole situation was while Minna was in her nightgown… but it was comfortable for the laboring girl. "You know what to do, Minna. Do your best… and PUSH!"
"Uggh!"
"PUSH!"
"BRIANNA! UGGH!" Minna shouted as she kept going… knowing that her daughter must come out.
*Several minutes later…*
Soon, the witches of the 501st were standing outside the Medical Ward, hearing the sounds of agony coming from Minna, along with a surgeon in case something goes wrong… and Perrine knew it was for a Caeserian operation if the baby doesn't come out as planned. This had her worried a little.
Francesca kept jumping to see what was happening through the door's windows but was stopped by Shirley. "You're not gonna look in there, Fran."
"Oh, come on! That's the commander you're talking about!"
"Still, it's HER time… and it's…"
"…unbearable? Mia madre è andato attraverso il lavoro! (My mother went through labor!) Mom told me what the pain is about!"
"Eh?" The Liberion's face of surprise became curiosity. "SHE told you?"
"Yeah! Hey… don't even think that Franco didn't come out through THAT."
"That's true." Franco walked in and joined the duo. "When our mother used to carry a baby… of course… she felt uncomfortable. She would sometimes feel she would really give birth, but it would give false alarms. Unbearable, but annoying. I thought a beautiful face like yours would understand."
"Well, excuse me! You're talking to someone who didn't have sex yet!"
"Where did THAT come from?"
"It came from my honest mouth, and I've only been really touched by Fran, so I wouldn't know."
"Thanks for the sarcasm, but that's considered being a dyke… thus it also means sex… then you'd one day be having a baby yourself!" And from Franco's words, Shirley was shocked. However… "And you can relax! It's not happening between two women but of a man and a woman."
"Hmph." Shirley replied shakily. "You're just saying that so you could go out with me."
He groaned and shook his head before he started to walk away. "No smooth-talking for a gentleman. That's one trait you should remember."
Francesca steamed up for seeing Franco leave and turned to Shirley, irritated. "What the heck was THAT?! That was totally out of line!"
"How is that…?"
"…It's simple, really. He's not interested in you… big-boobed… meanie!" Then she walked away… not even bothering to spare another glance at Shirley. This was the first time that Shirley seemed to have pissed Francesca to the peak.
'Did she just…?' Shirley sighed and attempted to follow Francesca, but was stopped by Thelma. "Thelma?"
"Look… you should probably leave her alone for a while. Let the steam cool off, ya know?"
"Um… sure."
"Anyway… you got a little… excessive on the 'going out' part after that conversation."
"Well I'm not making sex a key to getting a good date if that's what you're asking!"
"It's not that I'm implying you do! It's just… well… Franco just tried his best to flirt and you didn't respond to something he'd find nice. He's getting in the flow of the subject at hand. Minna's gonna give birth and it was THROUGH that process, and you're telling him to shove off?"
"Uggh… change the subject."
"Sorry, but I'm with Fran for the meantime. You better re-think." The lavender-haired girl said as she walked to the doors of the medical ward.
Shirley couldn't believe it. "What the hell is everyone mad at me for?" She muttered and walked away in defeat. 'I blame Minna's daughter for bringing this up.'
"So this is what it means…" Erica muttered while she was outside the medical ward, alone.
"Of what?" Barkhorn appeared as an apparition beside the young ace. "It's about what's happening now, huh?"
"Yeah. I'm probably stupid. That nightmare was one thing… and this is another. They're not connected, but I'm actually a little relieved of this feeling. It's an emotion I've had for a while… when one old generation dies and a new one rises."
"I call it balance!" Eila appeared beside Erica. "I know you're feeling happy… and sad."
"NOT helping." Barkhorn glared at the Suomus witch before looking at Erica. "Ignore her."
"No, she's right… It's strange… but it's comforting to hear another witch is gonna join us."
"So you're sure then?" Eila asked. "I heard you already talked to Tyler about being a witch too."
"Yeah. And it makes it more possible that the child is a witch, but it can sometimes or rarely not be the case at all. Most probably… a new witch is joining us." Then Erica jumped excitingly. "This is gonna be great!"
"Push, Minna!" Sakamoto kept instructing Minna to push and the Karlslander kept at it with pain still inside her… but was about to be relieved soon. "Her head's coming out!"
"Just a little more!" Yoshika said to calm Minna through the process. "Calm yourself, and keep at it! You're almost there!"
*A minute later…*
Tyler ran out of the plane from the runway and sprinted towards the direction of the medical ward. "Shit!" He cursed to himself for being late for Brianna's birth. 'Why the hell didn't I see this coming?! This is my wife I'm talking about!'
"She's… coming out!" Sakamoto widened her eyes, preparing for else was coming… and the whole room had heard the cry of the baby.
He then arrived as he saw witches looking inside the medical ward, and some of them were made tones of awe. 'Something must be happening!' "Out of the way!" His voice was heard and the witches moved out of his way. He then barged in starting by opening the door. When the doors finally opened and they slammed on the walls to where they were connected… He stopped to think of the sight he saw. Tyler saw his wife knocked out from the labor, but there was a little bundle inside the towel that Sakamoto held gently. The major then stood straight to face Tyler who had the little one in her hands, and smiled.
"It's as I've seen. It's a healthy baby girl." The major said those words and they were the words that enriched Tyler's emotions. He wasn't just happy. He was gratified.
Then the world around him stopped and he began to think of the things that happened. He met her out of both of them desperately needing love. What first started as a very quick relationship began to turn into a marriage after they've known she was pregnant. Was it all going too fast? Was it worth it to see the baby? Those questions didn't matter. All he knew was that they made a very good story… and Brianna's an addition to their lives now. Besides having went through the events that may have twisted their fates in seeing each other, he was grateful he met Minna. He's improved since then… and it was the same for Minna. She was her life, he was hers.
Minna stirred awake after 5 minutes. It was a blur at first… but it was like there was someone holding a baby wrapped in a towel cloth. 'Oh… It's…' Then her vision became clearer as seconds passed. Tyler had finally arrived… and she knew he was holding Brianna. "Tyler… you're here." She smiled, contented that the whole family was there. "And that's…"
"Your daughter. I gotta hand it to you… she's got your face." Tyler said with a smile as he approached Minna and had shown her the cute face of her daughter from the towel cloth… a little streak of maroon hair was seen from the baby's head. "So… I believe we're really call her that?"
"Yes. The name's perfect." Minna said as she was handed over the baby. The first time she held her daughter in her arms was a reminder she needed to take responsibility. "And now… I gotta really hand it to seeing her growth. I never expected that I'd really have a baby… but now that I'm into making the best that we stay as ONE family… I should retire."
"Retire…?"
"…both as commander of the 501st and Lieutenant Colonel of my current unit. I have a family now… with you."
Somehow, Tyler seemed unsure. He knew very much that Minna helped during the war, and to see her go that soon would probably be a little disadvantageous. However… he understood her responsibility towards her family should go first. "Whatever your decision, they'll still like you as a woman."
"I'm glad you said that." Minna then cleared her throat after noticing no one else was left but herself, Tyler… and Sakamoto. "I suppose if one is ready to take up my place."
"Of course!" Sakamoto suddenly said from behind Tyler, and it spooked him. "I did my best in the service of the Fusoan Army, and I'll try to do my best to be a commander!"
"Wait… hold up…" Tyler then was getting it… and he's taking it quite negatively. "Min… I thought we talked about this?"
"We have… but this is more serious than what we have expected. The baby needs our care… and we have to be the sole caretakers of our new life."
"But the war…"
"…I know. I'm not throwing the war to someone else… Sakamoto doesn't feel it against her and she's capable of being an excellent commander. I need to be there for Brianna, and you know it, Tyler."
Still, Tyler had mixed feelings. "I don't know. I can't have it too sudden, I guess."
Minna smiled. "For now… let's see to it that Brianna's in good hands."
Little did they know that Brianna would be more than a witch in good hands…
*Next day…*
Then a day passed after that. The nurse took care of the baby and cleaned her as much as possible before she would join her parents. Brianna wasn't just the baby everyone knows… but all too soon, she would be someone else…
Early next morning, Minna, who was still on her bed after her wounds from birth are treated, just woke up. She was anxious to know how the baby was doing. As if on cue… Tyler ran in. "Minna… I don't know what the hell happened but…"
She noticed that he was panicked by something. "Calm down, Tyler! What is it?"
"It's Bree… she's…!" Tyler thought he could say it, but he hesitated. Then a nurse came in.
"Lieutenant Colonel, we came to check on your daughter, but she's nowhere to be found!"
"Wait, WHAT?!"
"There's been a sign of a break in. One of the windows was shattered."
"…more like a break-out." Tyler interrupted. "The nurse meant to say that the shattered pieces of the glass from the window went out, and not inward. Someone broke out… but it doesn't make any sense. Look… this happened 5 minutes ago. I don't know why…" Then a soldier came running and stopped beside Tyler, then whispered to him something. He was surprised of the information he found out. "You're kidding!"
"What's wrong?" Minna asked worriedly.
"Darling, listen to me. They found her, but... you wouldn't believe what I'd tell you."
"Just tell me, Tyler! I just can't afford my own daughter gone!"
"No, that's not it!"
"THEN WHAT IS IT?!"
"They found her… but… she's… not a baby… anymore." Tyler's words hit her like a hammer to her brain, making her realize what it means.
*3 minutes ago… Hangar 5-B…*
Francesca was sleeping on one of the roof supports of the hangar when she heard the big door entrance of the hangar open. It stirred her awake and her eyes were on the opening door. 'Who the heck would disturb me at six in the morning?' Her question was answered when her eyes widened at the person she saw. A nude teenager with maroon hair and light to fair complexion pushed her way in past the tight-spaced doors of the hangar. 'Who… is she?' Then she saw the girl was carrying a small knife. This got the Romagnan alerted. 'And why is she carrying a knife? At least it doesn't have blood on it… but I'm not taking any chances!'
The girl looked around and advanced inward towards the darkness of the hangar. Then she saw the switch to some lights inside. Deciding to reveal what the darkness contained, she walked to the switches and flicked one of them, then all of them. She looked at the direction of where the darkness used to be and was awestruck in what she found: A single-engine plane, and she knew the model itself… the P-51 Mustang. "Wow… so this is what the Mustang is… Amazing… I never knew dad could see lots, but… it's…" A tear came out of her right eye and she smiled. "…this is my first time… seeing this…"
"FREEZE!" The dark green-haired girl dropped from above with a pistol in hand and pointed it at the girl. "I don't know why you're here… but you better explain yourself! And you got a knife too!"
"(No… it's a misunderstanding! I'm not a threat!)" The girl answered in Romagnan and this got Francesca's attention.
"Wait… you spoke… (Who the heck are you? And how do you know my language?!)"
"I'm… I'm…"
"Now you're speaking Britannian-Liberion? That's reassuring."
"Please don't!"
"Sorry… but you should forgive me." The Romagnan said before she charged in at her foe… but she dropped her pistol and jumped upwards. The girl didn't expect what came next. The Romagnan teen dropped from behind and the maroon-haired girl saw hands from below her arms, then she felt aroused. Her breasts were being touched. "Well these are something!" The Romagnan said as she chuckled evilly. "Aw… just a consolation prize! At least it's good to hear you're developed… but not as much as Shirley!"
'Shirley?!' The girl thought to herself and she finally got what it meant. "Wait… then you're…"
"Huh?"
"You're Francesca, aren't you?"
"What the?!" Francesca then let go of the mystery girl's breasts and stepped away. The girl then faced the Romagnan. "How did you know my name?"
"Simple: my mom and dad's memories… the important ones, at least. Dad met Shirley, and she told him about you. I just didn't know much about your face from his view… but my mom knows you because you were part of her fighter wing. Right?" The girl explained.
"Oi." A Liberion witch opened the hangar doors wider, and it was Shirley herself. "What's all the racket about, Fran?" Then she stopped to look at the maroon-haired mystery girl and was shocked. "What the?! You're nude in the hangar!" Then Shirley groaned before she took off her red jacket and handed it over to Fran. "Pass it to our girl. Sheesh… she could at least have some clothes!"
It had the girl pissed. "Hey, excuse me! I didn't know I could grab clothes of others! I just felt I would be stealing! That's all."
"So who are you? Why do you have a knife with you? You know you can't kill a witch, right?"
"Of course I can't! What's more is… I know you, Shirley!" The girl just had to say it and was handed over Shirley's jacket and wore it.
"How did…?"
"I can explain that." The girl then threw the knife away. "As for the knife, it was in case if I was in bad territory… but I realized through my parent's memories that it's not the case at all."
"What do you mean… your parents? Are you their daughter?"
"Yeah. My name's Brianna."
"EH?!"
"Hold up, hold up!" Francesca interrupted. "That's impossible! Their baby was born yesterday!"
"Exactly."
"But then… why are you… here… as a teenager?"
Brianna giggled at the question. "Can I call you Aunt Fran?"
"Aunt? Well… it's okay, I guess."
"This is for you both. For some reason… I'm able to change my age. And with that… comes a good IQ adjustment too. I've been quite a good product… of two witches."
"That's true." A young woman's voice came from behind Shirley and Francesca, and Adolfine Galland came into view entering the hangar. "I never knew that you are a witch of true value, Brianna. It seems my hunch was right after all."
"Vice-Marshal… Galland?"
"That's right. You've got quite the good identification."
"It's from my parent's memories. I don't know how I got it, but it may be part of my power."
"So you already acknowledge that you're a witch, huh?" Galland said and she smiled. 'Ms. McGuire would be glad to hear of this.' "You should meet your parents." Then she turned her back and walked outside. "Your parents would be shocked… but they'll love to see you."
Brianna smiled at this. 'True.' Then she looked at Fran. "I'm sorry if I looked a little alerted. I'm just trying to defend myself."
"Hey, I'm the one who should be sorry, Brianna. I didn't know anyway."
"But… if you didn't stop, I could have killed you." Brianna looked at Fran with her honest face, but the Romagnan seemed spooked. "I'm sorry again!"
"Just forget about it." Shirley then extended her hand. "Come on. Your parents are waiting for you."
As they walked outside the hangar, Shirley had to ask. "Just why were you at the hangar anyway?"
"Oh… I thought I'd see the planes around since I'm in an airbase. My curiosity over aircraft is a first… but it's a sign I admire them."
"And you spoke Romagnan quite well."
"THAT was scary!" Francesca added. "I was quite alert that time and I thought she would be a spy or something!"
"Am I that scary?" Brianna muttered to herself. 'Gosh… I can be a pain. I can tell already.'
*Medical Ward…*
Brianna was nervous to finally meet her parents for the first time. 'What is this? I thought I'd be happy and excited… but I'm also nervous. Would they like me? I mean… they may have already known their daughter can change age, but would they like it?' All those questions would be answered only if she met her parents. The reason she broke out of the medical ward was her instinct for survival after transforming into a teen. She never expected that she would be in an military-owned environment, but adapted. She was able to understand that hurting others is not the key, but actually NOT being seen at all.
Then she finally reached the door and stopped outside. Galland was outside the door and motioned her head for Brianna to move in. "They're waiting for you. Don't be shy."
She then nodded. "I… I'll try." The girl then moved to peek her head in the room. She saw her parents, Tyler and Minna, talking to each other. Tyler was sitting beside her wife and seemed to be thinking deeply. Minna was on the bed and thinking deeply as well. 'They must have known already, but I can tell them more about it.' Then she sighed. 'Alright… here we go.' "Mom… Dad?" She stepped in slowly and saw Tyler and Minna's eyes pointed at her with surprise. "Hi." She said with a smile.
Tyler couldn't believe it. He stood up from his chair. "This is… impossible. How… wait… WHEN was this possible?"
"Dad…" Brianna replied. "It's from the time I was already inside mom. Yeah… It may be new… but at least I'm here. It's really me, daddy. It's really me." Then she thought that Tyler wouldn't take the truth and looked down. "I'm… completely different. I know. Which is why… I can respect it if you don't like me and…" But she was stopped when she felt arms embracing her and her body being close to someone else's. The hug caught her off guard and she realized it was her own father hugging her. "…Daddy?"
Tyler's eyes made tears. "No… it's okay, honey… You… I just didn't believe it because I thought it wasn't possible. They told me… that you're no longer a baby. Why?"
"That's… what I wanted to talk to you guys about." Brianna said as her father let go of his hug and she looked up at him. "There's a lot you don't understand, and you'll probably need my word for it. Let's first start with the term… 'Witch of True Value.' It's familiar to you both."
Then Tyler moved for Brianna to see her mom smiling at her. "Yes it is, Bree."
"Bree… a good nickname." The girl then approached her mother on the bed and they both put their arms around each other. "It's… finally the time… I've felt your embrace… mom!"
Minna felt her tears come out as she hugged her daughter for the first time. "This is too fast, isn't it."
"Nothing's too fast if we love each other mom… and I've seen your love with Dad… so I know how it feels like." Brianna said sincerely as she felt tears leave her as well. 'Mom… she's really beautiful. Her embrace… warm… I'm glad I got to see and feel this.' Then they separated. "Mom… you're warm."
"So are you, sweetie." Minna said before she giggled. 'Did I call her sweetie? I suppose that's okay because she's my daughter!'
"Anyway… my highlight… well… can you both believe that I can change my age at will?"
Both of them were surprised. "What?!"
She then shrugged. "I don't know… but being a Witch of True Value can have advantages to powers but they vary, I guess."
"It's true." Galland walked in. "I couldn't help but try to explain but it's what our research would say from before, but I suppose it can wait. Brianna… your gift could be used for something great, and you know it will take your mortality out. I don't even know if you could be called a mortal in a witch's term but…"
"I don't consider myself immortal." Brianna crossed her arms as she looked at Galland. "Don't worry. I'm as much as a learner as someone who lives ordinarily no matter what or who I am. But… I don't consider myself an immortal like how an elf is. There will come a time I'll die… but I suppose it's not with age."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Galland turned her head away. "Just think about it: You'll be able to grow old and change age, and you'll be considered to age only at your will. It won't make as much as sense at first, but you'll have to live long to find out for yourself. I hope nobody abuses your gift. It may be yours but… You have to be wise."
Brianna nodded when she saw Galland's head turn back to her. "There's a whole lot of meanings into wisdom, and I'll look for their meanings myself." Then she clenched one fist tighter. "Even if it takes me so long… I'll find it. It's the only way to keep my sanity together. Sad… but if I wanna be that way… so be it."
Galland noticed that her parents just stared at Brianna. She sensed disbelief in them and this humored Galland. "I already know this would happen once." She smiled as she approached Brianna and put her arm around her shoulders. "You must meet the rest of the witches." Then she looked at Tyler. "Tyler… You should consider giving her a tour to this lovely witch. She may have captured memories of your lives but she needs a background of the base. There's a lot to catch up on now that she's got a start to what her knowledge and wisdom can be expanded to. You're closely responsible for that… as well as you…" She looked at Minna. "You've got the love to give to Brianna even if she's gotten to this situation. You both have a responsibility no matter what. But… don't treat her like a child either. Be… well… flexible." Then she got her hands off Brianna's shoulders and decided to walk out. "I'll see you all later. I have work to do." She said before she left.
Brianna felt a bit insecure by what Galland had said, but nonetheless decided to feel her parents are up to it. 'I have a little bit more to do… but I can't be let loose yet. I know my parents want what's best for me… but although I know some things I want… I gotta make sure I'm still around for them. I can't leave them. Company's the first thing they'll need, and it's my duty as their daughter to return the love they gave for me. They didn't expect so I'll have to live with it.' Then she looked at her father. "Dad… what about you show me around?"
Tyler smiled at that. "I like it. Let's go." Then he looked at Minna. "I'll be back for you later, Minna. Heal up, okay?"
"You know I can be healed easily at this condition, right?" Minna chuckled.
"I'll let the natural time go as long as our daughter is around."
"I guess things will change from what I first said."
"Mom…" Brianna interrupted. "You can relax. You had a difficult time from yesterday." She then winked before she walked out together with Tyler.
Minna took it very well. That understanding of her daughter started to intrigue her. 'This'll be messy at first, but It'll be alright.' She thought as she put her head on the pillow. 'I don't know what fate was able to bring me into… but I thank that Brianna… was born into this world. I thank that she lived.' With a satisfactory emotion, she closed her eyes. Minna then thought of what was going to happen next. Brianna can change to any age. What other adventures await Brianna?
*Airbase exterior…*
Brianna was in a regular soldier's outfit as she walked around. She had a helmet on her to make sure she was only recognized as one. Then Brianna giggled for some reason. Once Tyler once asked what it was about, she answered. "Silly. Why did it have to be a grunt's uniform? I could be made right away."
"Maybe you just needed something to wear."
"And I thank you. But dad… rather have a girl's outfit, at least."
"Only the witches of the 501st have that and…"
"Oh yeah! I gotta meet the witches!" Brianna said as she ran, but Tyler called her back. "What?"
"It's THIS way." He said, pointing north. "The north living quarters building is this way. The 501st is in there, but I doubt you'll be able to meet them there. Oh, wait…" Then he looked at his watch. '6:23, huh? Seems a bit fast, but at least time passed by.'
"It's early, you know. Francesca and Shirley already know me, so…"
"Is that Brianna?!" Erica ran towards the maroon-haired girl and stopped while breathing heavily from the running. "I… can't believe… she's… not joking!"
"Oh, mom?"
"Yeah, she told me about you and… huh? Wait… if you're not a baby anymore then…"
"You're Erica, aren't you?"
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
"Some stored memories from my parents."
"This is so cool!" Erica said as she looked to another direction. "You guys should see this!"
Then Brianna raised her eyebrow, then remembered from one of Minna's memories. 'Oh yeah. Erica's rather having a little problem with the curse spell she took from Rosaimus. Now she has Gertrud, Eila and Wilma's auras inside her.'
"Oh… I'm sorry for being silly."
"You've change quite a lot from what Mom first described of you."
"Huh?" Then Erica realized what Bree meant. "Oh… I only came here to meet you! It's rare to see a witch who's grown up immediately! But wait… how?"
"I can change my age at will. It happened fast."
"Whoa… this is hard to process and…"
"It's best I meet the rest of you."
"Then I have a good idea! All of us will assemble at the mess hall later at Oh-Seven Hundred."
"Good idea!"
Tyler just watched as the two witches talked to each other. 'Brianna's able to converse well. Indeed, it's happening fast, but at least I'm able to get around well as a dad. I don't know if I'm terrible or if I'm good at it. But I'm just glad I'm able to accompany her.' "I got the whole base for you to…" But he stopped when he saw that Brianna ran with Erica in laughter. Tyler laughed at it and knew Brianna's getting a different tourist. 'That girl seriously has some curiosity to what she likes to see. Better watch her just in case.' And he followed the two witches from behind.
It took quite a long while as Brianna and Erica were looking at the different parts of the airbase, with Tyler following from a distance. Brianna knew he was only there to watch her and didn't mind as she walked to see the different facilities… the armory, the hangars for the aircraft, and even the hangar where the witches of the 501st where able to store their strikers in. Brianna looked at each striker unit and was surprised to see each of them in a row. 'For fast deployment, I suppose.' Then she found another hangar for striker units and it was empty. She was then informed by Erica that it's a reserve hangar for the witches of the 555th. 'It's for the Tiny Witches themselves, huh? I've known a little, but they quite got a good grip in combat even if they just started. I hope they make it through the end, though.' With that thought, she left with Erica to explore the air tower, the living quarters of the army staff and soldiers… and finally… the living quarters of the members of the 501st.
The 501st living quarters were somehow a bit personalized since the Strike Witches had it in them to decorate their doors while they stayed. Brianna looked around but didn't go into any of the rooms. She didn't want to spoil the fun and decided to leave with Erica. It was almost 7 AM. It was about time she would meet the witches. There… it would get interesting.
*Airbase Mess hall, 0702 hours…*
"I WANT SECONDS!" Francesca happily said as she raised her bowl to ask for more soup. The mess hall was lively with the witches eating Yoshika's Fusoan made meals. The Romagnan only had the taste of eating soup, and the Fusoan girl had it in her to make a lot just for her. Shirley didn't mind… but she had to mind the Romagnan witch's habit of making sounds while sipping.
Ursula looked around while she was with Major Sakamoto at one table. "Major… where do you think is Erica?"
"Probably sleeping… again." Mio replied before she quietly took the spoon full of Yoshika's soup into her mouth. 'It either maintains or gets better, which is what I like from Yoshika.' She breathed out and made a smile. When she raised her head and was in level, she narrowed them again to see a silhouette from one window of the mess hall, but disappeared for some reason. 'Is there someone there?'
"I'm hungry!" Erica said as she arrived in the mess hall with the girl in the soldier's outfit. "And we got ourselves a new witch joining! Say hello to…" But her mouth was covered by Brianna herself. 'What the?!'
Brianna noticed the girls looked at her, curious of who she is. Then she finally admitted to herself with her face blushing. 'Oh man… Why did Erica have to spill the beans about me being a witch?' "Umm…"
"YEAH! BRIANNA'S HERE!" Francesca spoke out of the blue and…
"EH?!" Except for Shirley, Francesca, Mio, and Erica, the rest have reacted. They didn't know what to expect… but Brianna was none other than Minna's daughter from yesterday's birth. And now she shows herself as a teen in a soldier's outfit?
"Great. Thanks a lot, Erica." Brianna muttered to herself as she removed her helmet. "Um… hi! I'm… Brianna."
"No… way!" Lynette said.
"That's… how…?" Perrine added.
"Wow… she's… what the?" Ursula said in shock.
"So it's true." Mio muttered to herself as she sipped some soup.
Yoshika looked at Brianna, and saw that maroon hair. "Wait… it makes sense… I guess. But… how?" She thought of a number of possibilities, then put it aside. "Never mind! Want some soup?"
Brianna was excited of the offer she got from Yoshika. "I'd love some! Thanks!"
Erica then yanked Brianna to the table where Mio and Ursula sat. "Sit here! You'll love Yoshika's Miso soup!"
"Really? We'll see!" Brianna said as Yoshika came with a tray with two bowls on it.
"Serve up!" Yoshika said as she distributed the two bowls to Erica and Brianna. "Enjoy!"
Ursula was finally beside her twin sister. "It's a bit of a surprise to see you early, Erica."
"Huh? I think it's just about Brianna, I guess."
"Nope… I think you changed from then if you haven't noticed, Frau."
"Oh." Erica said as she noisily sipped her soup with her spoon. 'It's good!'
Mio looked curiously at Brianna while she sipped her soup. 'So this is Minna's daughter who turned into a teen? She seems to act normally as the rest.' "Brianna… That's your name, right?"
For the first time, Brianna looked at Mio's eyes, then noticed one of them with an eyepatch. "Yeah. You got it right."
"Just… how were you able to turn into a teen…?"
"It's simple." Tyler walked in and sat beside Brianna. "Everything okay, sweetie?"
"Yeah, dad."
"Aww…" Erica made a big smile on that even that looked amazing… with father and daughter being beside each other. 'That's nice.'
Tyler then cleared his throat. "To continue… Brianna seems to have adapted to this world pretty quick. But that's not the main thing about her. She claims she's a witch who can change her age at her will. I don't know how she does it but…"
Brianna then continued. "Well…" Then she glowed. Everyone was surprised to see this event. 'Okay… let's give-em the shock of their lives!' They all saw the glow that covered Brianna and the brightness was too much they couldn't see her transform from within. Finally, Brianna's glow disappeared as she looked a bit older, with her maroon-hair extended until mid-back length. "See?"
Everyone was amazed to see this change, but then Brianna glowed again and eventually turned back into a teenager. Then Ursula had to comment. "There's always a mystery as to how a Witch of True Value can have powers that vary."
"Ah. So you've known that too."
"I have, Ms. Wilcke."
"Call me Brianna, Ursula."
Ursula didn't seem surprised for Brianna to know her name and nodded in response. "I see. Anyway… the subject itself is intriguing. You're an important subject, you know. And too many would like to study you. I… however, can't allow others to take advantage of you. You can count on that."
"Thanks, Ursula. I appreciate it."
"But you're not the main subject for being a Witch Of True Value."
"Yeah. Thelma McGuire."
"I bet word on this will come out like wildfire. The northeast airbase witches will probably hear of this pretty quickly."
"It shouldn't yet." Mio said. "For the meantime, Thelma only knows that Brianna is a baby."
"I don't mind, Major." Brianna replied. "Maybe she'll think of those kinds of witches as common, I guess."
"Except you're a different case. Her grandfather and Galland's never recorded of a witch who can age as you can. You're the first in history, but it's not recorded either."
"Then it may have been hidden for a reason." Brianna concluded on the conversation just before Perrine and Lynette arrived. "Enough about that. I got fans."
Perrine denied that. "I wouldn't really call myself a fan, but rather an admirer."
"It's the same thing."
Lynette giggled. "I don't know why… but you've got quite a story to tell."
"Thing is, I don't have… yet. But I'll tell you all once I give a formal statement once I'm introduced by my Mom. It's sudden, I know. The reason is… the 501st needs to know closely about me. But for now… I need to know what else is going down."
Perrine and Lynette nodded in response and Sakamoto gave an order. "The two of you get the other staff to assemble. We need to inform them that a new guest has arrived."
Brianna nudged the major with her elbow gently. "I wouldn't say I'm a guest. Treat me as a fellow witch. You don't need to treat me as a special case. I'm like you, you know."
"Except you ARE a special case."
The Karlslander-Liberion shrugged in response. 'I hope it goes well.'
*Northeast Suomus Outpost-Airbase… 1328 hours…*
Diana was looking at the map that was laid out on the table of the briefing room and was somehow disappointed. Forces from the Orussian Preservists have begun to move visibly and they're doing what they can to protect the nuke. 'What are they thinking?'
General Cabanas himself was there, supervising the 555th, and was with Diana for strategy and command. "At least they've shown themselves. But with this new development how do we know if they're on our side or not?"
"They're not, actually."
"I thought they'd want to see the safety of their own motherland from the neuroi?"
"They think preserving the world from nuclear war would make things better, but it isn't about that, General." Diana sighed. "This is making my head ache, but I'm getting used to it."
Fred chuckled at it. "At least you're getting my point."
"Still, it's fun. Thanks for showing this view." Diana smiled a little, but she let it fade when she changed the subject. "So how's the search for Horan?"
"We're working together with the Liberion government to search for him. I hope he's not killed. If he sold information to the neuroi… it would be worse. If they know about the 555th, it could be worse."
"How could tell if they'd know about the 555th?"
"Think about it: Horan was a congressman but he used loaned money to buy properties for himself, but that patch of land we used for your training wasn't paid to some Xingiet firm. Then he's found to be using a craft powered by a neuroi dynamo engine. Don't you think he could have been manipulated by the neuroi when he has that debt? Liberion has a good alliance with Xing, after all. They know he's a liability."
"Now that I think of it." Diana cupped her chin. 'What have you gotten us into, Mr. Horan? I hope you're okay.' "I can't wrap my head in this for too long. I hope he's found. He's got a lot of info about us and I can't think of him giving that info to the neuroi."
"Just pray he doesn't get captured by the Red Neuroi for that."
"I'm afraid it's too late for that." Ustrea, the Blue Neuroi 107th's commander joined in. "We have a problem."
A minute later… Diana was accompanied by Ustrea and General Cabanas as they went to a separate room, where there was a box. Diana was curious as to what was inside. The general insisted not for her to open it, but her curiosity got the best of her. She opened the box, but the image from inside disgusted and spooked her. She covered her mouth on the bloody image she has seen… and tears fell from her eyes. "NO!" She shouted as she hugged Cabanas for the revelation: Horan himself was chopped to pieces, his head separated along with his arms, legs… and even his feet, still in his own shoes. The grim image only proved one thing: The Red Neuroi already got to him.
Then Ustrea found a note from inside the box and opened it to reveal a message. She then read it aloud. "If the Tiny Witches participate to retaking Greater Orussia, The Conch Republic's base for their only air force available will be destroyed, along with its staff. The CRNS Calypso itself will be hunted, and we will engage and destroy it if our demand is not followed. You have been warned." Then Ustrea saw who the sender was: Rosaimus. "Bastard. He's blackmailing us."
"He deserves to die." Diana muttered… and it was clearly heard by Cabanas. "I don't know how he does it… but clearly… he's heartless."
Ustrea had to calm the Tiny Witch down. "Calm down…"
"…shut up." Diana calmly said before she walked out.
Cabanas himself was surprised that Diana was acting like this, but Diana felt the very core of this was about plucking their joint fighter wing piece by piece.
Diana was walking and now outside the hangar, still steaming when Megan saw her pass by. "Diana… I was looking for…" But before Megan was able to complete her sentence, she saw Diana walk towards a concrete barrier, then clearly, Diana dimly glowed blue as her Bald Eagle familiar features came out. 'Oh crap.'
"BASTARDS!" Diana screamed when she did a Boot Kick, forcing the barrier to fly towards a refueling jeep. The jeep was damaged and toppled upside down before it exploded. As Diana saw the flames of the jeep… her rage turned into sadness. With no awareness, her familiar features retracted and she was letting her tears flow before she got on her knees. Her pain reached her insides… but she knew she was far from completely breaking. With Horan dead and with his information about the 555th sold to the Red Neuroi, she was almost feeling hopeless. She then kept pounding the ground with the disgusting action their enemy had done… and Megan saw it herself.
"Meggie!" Cindy ran after she saw what Diana had done and hugged Megan. "Why is Diana mad?"
Megan only looked at the almost broken Diana on her knees and simply answered: "We lost someone dear to us."
"Who's that?"
"I don't know. This is the second time I've seen Diana like this and it must feel awful. Those shitty neuroi don't know how fucking stop. Screw them." Then Megan looked down at Cindy. She saw tears from the 2 year old's eyes. 'This is not doing us any good. If we can't hold out… what are we gonna…' Then the raid siren rang through the base. "Fucking Red Neuroi!"
Meanwhile, back in the DSD branch in Washington D.C. in Liberion, General Arthur Anderson is talking to someone on the phone in his temporary office.
"I understand. You must be quite excited to finally get it going."
[You don't know anything that I want. We had a deal. You will follow on it and we'll make sure to welcome you back. With your help… nothing's going to stop us from here on.]
"That tech's gonna be used like the Aura Forge that Red Neuroi own."
[Of course. Who else gave you the technology to build striker units? It's too bad we cannot take hold of the original designs of Dr. Miyafuji. Ichiro seems to be the man who hides his own creations. However… he is useful.]
Then Anderson seemed to be confused as he laughed. "Wait… you're speaking as if he's…"
[…alive? Why shouldn't I? How do you think he disappeared after all this time?]
"That's the problem. He never disappeared. He was killed in Britannia."
[Again, you're wrong.]
"What do you mean?"
The man on the other line chuckled. [Arthur, Arthur, Arthur… how do you think we were succeeding in our tasks? The original concept of the cryostasis device was designed by him, but only enhanced by Cryo himself to be sure it is fully functional. Second… the mixed materials of the The Purgemaker also came from him. Little by little, we were already stealing from the Blue Neuroi without them knowing. With Ichiro's help… The Red Neuroi's military power… now mixed with the Blue Neuroi's original technology will be more than a match for both the Deep Science Division and the human armies around the world… including the Blue Neuroi. In case you haven't noticed… we used the good doctor's help… or else, his own daughter would be hunted down. The girl is helpless.]
Then finally, Arthur understood. "You were wanting to send me to kill her as assurance she won't destroy us."
[Of course. She gained power through Amaterasu… now a mortal. You're our greatest asset. The plan from the beginning was to steer the human armies away from the Deep Science Division's plans. Taking Greater Orussia is nothing but a ruse. Once the nukes are indeed taken… Of course… that's where your loyal forces come in. It's going to tear the alliance either to pieces… or apart from each other. And all that blame will be against the DSD itself. Taking DSD off the alliance's hands is the only way for us to win. Do you understand? I hope our agreement stays.]
Arthur made that wicked smile… "I like the sound of that. And… don't tell me I'm gonna falter. You know I'm always in a good mood to tear Liberion apart. They're all weak."
[That's good to know. Now… deliver the last key to one of my human couriers at the docks. He'll take care of the rest and you can join us. Understood?]
"Yeah. I got it…"
*An hour later…*
It was nighttime, and it was raining. While the docks were closed, Arthur was able to drive his car in. There were no people inside except himself, and the courier he's supposed to meet. Parking the car behind one of the warehouses, he got out with an umbrella before walking near a ship that was unused. There… he saw a man in a coat who walked up to him. After they got close, he smiled and he brought out a small paper package. Immediately handing it over to the courier he whispered to him. "Make sure it gets to Rosaimus. No buts."
"Sir." The courier nodded before he walked away. As the general watched the courier walk away, he had high hopes that the Red Neuroi were about to achieve victory… better than ever now. They have what they need: Enough technology to make aura tech the secret weapon against humans who wish to take down the Red Neuroi. After he finally saw the courier gone from his sight, he walked back to his car, and got back in it.
As he was about to start it, however, he felt the cold metal touch at the rear of his head, and he knew what its shape was… like it was a weapon's barrel. "Get out of the car… slowly." The 22 year old lavender-haired girl said before he opened the door, at the same time she does. Thelma held her pistol at him as he walked away from the car. She even closed the doors to make sure he'll have quite a time to get in. The cold rain got on her skin… but she didn't mind. She aimed her handgun at her and she made sure the sights don't leave his flesh. "You… bastard. You sold us out!"
Arthur wickedly laughed. "What do you think was my role in the Deep Science Division? Patton's death was more than just a coincidence before I took over. Taking their resources for myself is the only way… then came the Red Neuroi."
"WHY?! I thought your spine was always for Liberion's interests?! How could you betray your own country?!"
"THEY BETRAYED ME, BITCH!" Arthur snapped back. "Ever since my family was killed back in '34… all they did was give condolences! They had the technology to revive my wife and son! Aura tech is the key to victory… as well as making sure lives are brought back like it was brand new again! But what did they do? They rejected the technology… saying that it can be abused. Then the DSD made Aura tech possible. But at that time… I didn't take interest to revive my lost family. I lost my backbone to keep Liberion's interests safe, so I decided to reach out to the Red Neuroi. I may have sold my soul… but they can save us all. Everyone who died in this planet will rise… with technology combined with the DSD's and the Red Neuroi. We'll be invincible."
"You stole that technology!"
"And now they have it. The Purgemaker is making small progress to distract human forces… which puts the human neuroi revolution in a much effective position."
Thelma began to realize things. 'So the DSD was able to revive Aura Technology. He took advantage of it and slowly stole some while he had a position. Now I understand. He was moved to another position and Patton took over in his place. But with Patton killed, he went back. He used Blitz-Saber to dispose of him!' "Goddamn you! You took Patton out of the way so you could complete your own task! They took you out of your old office and placed Patton, and you sent Blitz-Saber to kill him!"
"Bravo. You figured it out." Arthur chuckled as he clapped his hands. "The bitches will never see it coming… and I don't care if I even die." But he didn't expect what was next. Thelma fired her pistol and the bullet appeared to have reached his head.
Thelma slowed the world down, seeing his body limp after shooting his forehead with her weapon. He fell backward and fell dead to the ground. She only looked at one place and not at him as she processed his words. What she did proves that she had enough of him. He was too dangerous to be kept alive and he had to be stopped before anything else happened. It took about half a minute later to get her back to reality and look down, and she was surprised. No blood came out from his forehead. 'W-What?! How could that be?!'
The hole in Arthur's forehead began to push the bullet out. Red outlines began to appear on his face as the bullet was pushed. It took 6 seconds later before the bullet was finally out. He took a deep breath before he sat up as he breathed. However… his breathing came short as he suddenly stopped… like he never breathed at all. Then he looked at her, but not with the most human eyes she had seen before. They were crimson red, like the blood that was supposed to flow out from him. His forehead healed thanks to the red hexagonal outlines. He made a wicked smile before he stood up. Clearly… Thelma is outmatched as she only thought of one thing… 'He's… a Red Neuroi Hybrid.' "It… can't be."
"Makes sense now? To tell you the truth… I could have done it by killing Patton from using someone except… I'm ALREADY that someone." Then Arthur changed his voice. "Resistance is futile." Then his form finally changed. His camouflage began to appear and his black armor formed with Red Hexagonal outlines surrounding his body. Then his head was covered by the same helmet from his complete armor… made from the purest of the neuroi hide. Thelma wasn't just looking at Patton's assassin… she was looking at Blitz-Saber himself. As he made his Hand-Sabers extend, he groaned in disappointment. "I shouldn't have to do this… but you're rather stubborn, Ms. McGuire. You avoided Liberion authorities just because you don't want to be debriefed after the Counter-Striker unit was massacred. Too bad. I was looking for you, and I was hoping we would add an additional bonus to the Red Neuroi's Hyrbid force. But it seems… you only have to blame yourself for making fate your own bitch. You never saw this coming. You should have looked between the lines as to how the Red Neuroi have been getting more clever."
"And you've sold your flesh to them just for them to succeed?"
"Correct. The only problem now… is that you're alive." His hand-sabers then made a red glow. "For that… I must say goodbye." His world slowed down to a tenth of a second as he dashed towards her victim. He finally made the swing for one of his hand-sabers and made the blade glow bright red. But… what he didn't expect was that a yellow streak was coming towards him. Then it came in front of Thelma. Before his blade reached her neck, Gold Lightning, belonging to a super-powered Serena parried his own attack. When time flowed normally, he laughed. "Savior Serena! I'm glad you arrived to join in!" He said before he did a Boot Kick hitting Serena's torso, then pushed Thelma back as well. Both girls fell down as he stepped back to his defensive stance. "Long time no see, Thunderbolt Prime."
"Arthur… Anderson." Serena muttered before she stood up, with Thelma behind her standing as well. "I should have known. So THAT was why you were using human codes to transfer the data."
Thelma seemed to be confused. "Wait… what are you talking about?"
"Thelma… before I was killed, he was transmitting intelligence via Morse Code to an unknown contact. The intelligence contained the loopholes to Liberion's defenses…"
"Their weaknesses?"
"Exactly. They used THAT to infiltrate Liberion and try to form a force from human power, controlled by the Red Neuroi. That means… Anderson already has a hidden deckhand, and was behind the scenes to getting the Red Neuroi to be successful in attacking each of us, even controlling witches. Think about it! He got past the DSD as well! The Red Rage and Purple Toxin was mixed from the technology he engineered with Ichiro Miyafuji himself! Miyafuji was once from the Deep Science Division while he was making those strikers, and was captured by the Red Neuroi to help them achieve their own goals."
"Then that means…"
"He's trying to destroy the Deep Science Division from the inside!"
Blitz-Saber groaned. "I hate it when people figure out my plans… but at least that's out of the way. I'll enjoy killing you both. THIS was only the beginning, however. The real fireworks begin when something else the alliance gets… will be used for the destruction of the Deep Science Division's main branch. Want to guess?"
Then Serena widens her eyes. "No…!" She looked at Thelma. "Get out of here. His guys are coming after you too."
"But…"
"You'll figure it out eventually… JUST GO!" Serena shouted at Thelma and the Liberion had to follow her. Thelma ran to the car, got in… and got it started. Immediately, she stepped on it and the car was driven away from the scene. Serena felt comfortable just seeing Thelma escape, and thus looked at her opponent. "You bastard. You're gonna use the damn nuke!"
"Again… you ruined the joy in this. Why not make me a villain for life?"
"Except, in my role… The villains die in the end." Serena said before she was in her main stance. "Now and always… just die." She charged at a blinding speed, with Blitz-Saber doing to same as their blades sparked when they were in contact…
CHAPTER EPILOGUE…
"Yoshika…" His voice forced Yoshika's eyes open before she suddenly sat up on her bed. Her sweat flowed from her scalp. The night was late. The moon didn't shine bright. Dark clouds partially covered the sky, and there was thunder in the distance.
The young Fusoan realized something, and the only one who could understand his voice… was herself… and her mother. "Oto-san…" She felt her own heart beat fast at her own word like she knew who was alive.
Someone knocked on the door that late night, and her only instinct was to answer it. She then walked to the door and opened it. It was Sakamoto herself. "Miyafuji… do you have a moment?"
Yoshika seemed a bit confused but answered nonetheless. "No… it's fine. I can stay awake for quite a while. Why?"
"Amaterasu… she showed me a vision before. Then… I followed some instructions she told me. She first told me not to tell you unless it was necessary, but seeing something that I had to regret not telling… it pains."
"Wait… why didn't I see that vision you saw?"
"She's… weak. She can only show this vision to one of us. Somehow… she's not responding to any of my questions… like she's fading. Something wasn't right at first… so I had to follow her instructions regardless and…" Sakamoto paused before she took something out of her pocket. It was a brown envelope. "I got this from someone."
Yoshika took the envelope and was curious. It didn't have any names, except hers on the back of the envelope. 'Someone sent this to me?' "Who was it…?"
"Yoshika… your… father…" Sakamoto paused as she was hesitant. 'It'll hurt her so much it might even break her. Should I tell her…?'
"WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?!" Yoshika shouted in rage. "NO MORE SECRETS… PLEASE!" She even had to say this like she was begging. "I've heard of my father for so long but I don't even know if he's dead or alive! Tell me!"
Sakamoto turned her head away and decided to tell her. "Your father was alive… the whole time… from the beginning." This surprised Yoshika and came to her as good news. But then, Sakamoto continued. "But… he… he was captured by the Red Neuroi the whole time."
This put Yoshika's hopes down as shed a tear. "No… no!"
"The rest is in that letter, Yoshika."
"No… wait… This isn't just…" She shook her head. "Something happened to him… and you know… don't you?! Tell me it isn't true!"
Sakamoto had a feeling Yoshika sensed it. She was powerful in her feelings and most of the time… she was right. 'She'll break once I tell her but…' She frowned and faced Yoshika with bad news. "He was the one who had given me the letter. The whole time, he was forced to help the Red Neuroi. I understand that the striker units had technology that belonged to the neuroi species but… that wasn't just it. He was forced to work for them to avoid getting you into their crosshairs. They know their tactics well… and they broke him."
"What do you mean?"
"He gave me that letter after he concluded his business with the Red Neuroi… permanently." Sakamoto then shed tears to the real deal. "Yoshika… he used my gun… and shot himself."
Yoshika's eyes finally opened up and her pupils had gotten smaller in the story she heard. Then she saw a vision at the exact time Sakamoto had said it…
*Vision… The night of his death…*
Ichiro was crying, and she was holding his envelope. "Please… kill me. No more… I don't want to do this for them. If I'm dead, they'll never reach Yoshika, at least. It's something I must do! Without my DNA, they won't trace her! At least… the blood dies with me, and you know how I want to protect her!"
While Sakamoto was holding her pistol, she knew she couldn't do it. "This is madness… Dr. Miyafuji! I'm not doing it! I'm not…" But before she completed her sentence, she was pushed lethally as her back hit her jeep. It made her let go of her pistol, and he grabbed it before it reached the ground. He stepped back and immediately pointed the barrel to his temple. "Doctor… NO!"
His world slowed down he looked upwards towards the night sky. The stars twinkled at its brightest. 'Yoshika… I know I promised you that I'd return one day… but I have to break that promise. I gave you your wings… and all you must do is use them until its final hour. The Red Neuroi must not succeed in their plans… and half of what I've done is theirs. If I completed their plans… this world is gone…
'Forgive me… Yoshika. Be strong… live strong. Become a warrior… and protect… everyone.' He then squeezed the trigger before the bullet his temple, and ended his life.
*End of vision…*
Yoshika sat forcefully down after her vision ended and started to break… "No… no! NO! OTO-SAN!" Her scream was heard throughout the whole airbase, and everyone felt Yoshika's pain rise…
*Red Neuroi Observation deck…*
The audio feed of Yoshika's scream satisfied him and he knew that one of the strongest warriors of the 501st had begun to break. 'Rise in anger, Miyafuji. This is now the beginning of your own downfall. Until everything else is reset, you will never be able to beat us, not even with your friends. They'll all be part of the graveyard I'm making.' Then he sighed before he left the deck.
As he traveled to the back of the observation deck towards the cargo bay, he finally saw the Cryostasis device which was finished. Cryo finally got it working… but it's only good for one. "Excellent. The Cryostasis device is ready."
Cryo was sweating as he wiped himself with his towel. "Sure, boss. But… did you really have to go that far… you know… even winning one of the leaders of the DSD?"
"Of course. Don't forget. The connection must be deep to remove our opponents."
Then Helena walked in beside him and whispered. "But what about the forced vision you received? You know it will still happen to you, right?"
Rosaimus only nodded before he took a deep breath. 'This is something serious. Even flipping one of the Deep Science Division's twisted leaders wouldn't be enough. The vision I received from Amaterasu is beginning to implant fear in me…' Then he looked at his Cryostasis device. 'The device is my only backup. If I don't attack Liberion at any moment, I will die. Suppose its capitol building may go first, but it's not the only major structure for their government. All structures must be eliminated for my plan to succeed. I've implanted fear into the hearts of my enemies… and even I have this fear.' Then he thought of one thing: 'It means my human-side is beginning to take hold again.' "Mark my words… Amaterasu. I will do this until my last breath. I… will see to it." 'I guess my next step after we execute the capitol building's destruction in none other than my heir. It's finally time to take Erica… my daughter.' "I'm coming for you."
As Cryo made the final touches, he activated the device… and the capsule attached to the device started to freeze the insides… forming ice on the glass. "It's ready. Say the word… plant it anywhere… and get the time going. You never have to worry about losing your own legacy dying."
"Good. This is still standing strong then." Rosaimus muttered before he smiled. "This is officially the end of Phase 1. Taking full control of Blitz-Saber… and making the Cryostasis device has been completed. We now move on to Phase 2… the annihilation of the Deep Science Division and its assets for the human alliance forces. We're taking them down from the alliance's hands to be stronger than our enemies. THIS IS OUR TIME! We shall show them… no mercy."
