Episode III: Crossroads of Fate
Chapter 4-5:

A Glimpse of Things to Come

Sunlight trickled in through the window, glistening as it crawled along the floor. Its sparkly rays creeped slowly but soon burst through the dark and dreary bedroom with reckless abandon; banishing the shadows of night. The bountiful light stopped this time before hitting the carpeting inside, casting a small silhouette.

"Master Quagmire, it would seem you have been summoned to the Guardians Colony for another mission" Frederick uttered. Unable to stay asleep, Quagmire was already awake and staring at the wall for some time now. After a moment's pause, he got up without saying a word and left the barracks for the colony.

The time was earlier on the colony than it was on Parum but not by much. Like every morning, a large group of commuters were arriving at the PPT Spaceport alongside Quagmire, all hurrying to their individual jobs. Deep inside the giant crowd of shifting figures, he spotted an eager Vivienne who had already waiting for him at the gate on the fourth floor of Clyez City.

"Good morning Quagmire!" she said as he made his approach. "I wonder what kind of new mission we will be going on today? Come on, let's go!" Lacking her enthusiasm and energy, with a groan, Quagmire trudged on after her. By the time he got to the fifth floor, Vivienne had disappeared from view. Mina was busily flagging him down with frantic flicks of her hand from behind the large information desk in the back.

"Hey Quagmire. Lou is waiting for you in the conference room, so don't keep her too long. But first, I think you should go save Vivienne from Hyuga" she said, pointing further to the back of the hall. Quagmire peered around the corner of the desk to see that there was a white haired man standing next to Vivienne. With a nod, he went around and decided to move in to introduce himself. "May the Holy Light guide you" Mina trailed off as he reached the conversing pair.

"Ah, it must be the eyes. Clearly they were…" the man said. He paused and gasped, unable to continue his train of thought as Quagmire now towered over him. "I…I'm sorry, I didn't know you had a boyfriend."

"Huh? Oh, this is Quagmire. He is my partner" Vivienne stated.

"…Hello" Quagmire muttered. The man breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why didn't you say so?" Hyuga choked, prying his shirt away from his neck, as if it was strangling him. "N-Nice to meet you; my name is Hyuga Ryght. Perhaps you have heard of me?"

"No" Quagmire uttered.

"Really? Not even a little? A single mention?" Quagmire inspected the man thoroughly to see if he could remember anything. Hyuga's blue and black jacket and grey jeans made him look very neat and proper and even the way he stood held a confident yet pompous air to it.

"No." Hyuga flipped his hair back and shook his head. "…Mina said that…Lou is waiting for us in the conference room."

"Quite right, we shouldn't keep her waiting then." Walking over to the ramp on the right side at the furthest end of the hall, they walked into the office corridors and about administration. Coming to a door labeled "Conference Room", the three entered, greeted by a lone, pink-haired CAST. The room had a single console in the middle and a starboard side window pane where Parum could be seen from.

"Now that everyone is here, we can begin" the CAST said in a quiet and monotonous tone. Looking down at her, Quagmire noticed that she couldn't have been that much taller than Elizabeth. Besides her dull voice, she also had soulless, yet reflective cyan eyes. A peculiar feeling of having seen her before now came over him. He was certain that he had seen "Lou" before, on both Parum and Moatoob. Each time he saw her, she was wearing the exact same black cap, blue skirt with white and red flairs around the ends and the same black leggings and shoes. This was the first time he actually met or talked to one of them however. "There have been reports of damaged to farms and local marketplaces; the cause has been believed to be attributed to altered native creatures." Images of several farms appeared from the console. Hyuga pointed at a particular field that caught his eye.

"That one is Green Green Farm! I oversaw the purification there myself. Maybe this was a mishap by the AMF?" Hyuga mentioned with a sarcastic tone.

"Regardless of the scenario, be it a fault by either Guardian or Alliance Military action, this information cannot be overlooked. You are to report to the Parum Guardians Branch where you will receive further instruction. That will be all." They nod in affirmation and leave.

"Is Lou always so cold?" Vivienne asked as they made their way to the spaceport.

"It isn't her fault" Hyuga answered. "Lou limits her emotions for a reason; you shouldn't let it worry you."

"She limits her emotions?"

"You see, Lou is a special type of CAST, a mass-produced model that all share a conscious. This allows her to process data on a massive scale, so any minute change in her basic function could have an adverse effect on her processing capabilities."

"I see, that would explain why she is constantly transmitting on the same frequency she is uses to receive data. I'm guessing this is the same reason why you are so reticent Quagmire."

"…I….Umm…I…don't think so…" Quagmire choked.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean any disrespect."

"…No, it's…fine…I'm not really sure…Why I can't speak like…everyone else. Maybe I'm just…not as capable as others…But I'm pretty sure…there is only one of me…I wouldn't want to be…part of some collective consciousness." After reaching the Parum Branch and receiving the exact coordinates of their destination, their flyer soon left the base to land not far from the grazing lands of the farm. In the distance were a few docile Koltova corralled inside a fence adjacent to a small house. As soon as they approached the residence, a small, dark-skinned child burst out of the house and rushed over to them.

"Are you the Guardians?! You have to go out and save my mom!" the kid shouted while jumping up and down.

"Your mom?" Hyuga repeated in a quiet, near rhetorical disbelief.

"Yeah! Remlia Norphe! She went out to protect our livestock from the crazed native creatures!"

"Relax, we will find her. Go back inside and take shelter. We'll handle this." Visibly upset, he wiped his nose and ran back to the house. "His mom, huh."

"…Something…troubles you?" Quagmire inquired.

"No, it's just that when I was here last, that boy was so unfond of our client, Norphe. To think he now calls her his mom. He must have come quite a long way since then."

[That sounds similar to Elizabeth's family…At least how she described it…Hmm]

"Well, let's get to it!" Not far up ahead was a patch of grass that was hit by some form of explosion. Wounded and deceased farm life were scattered here and there around the blast site. From the looks of it, the scorch marks and wounds on the creatures came from a grenade launcher. "She must have been through here. Let's see where this trail will take us." The mad creatures responsible for this mess weren't the only ones hit, as a group of Koltova were being chased by a more feral cousin. Distova, a wild variant of the Koltova, harangued and charged at the livestock until they were backed into a corner. The main difference between the two was that Distova lack the fat proportions of the domesticated Koltova, settling for a more muscular physique. Once they had nowhere else to run, the Distova continuously rammed themselves into the Koltova until the only thing remaining were huddled stiffs and bloody masses. Their bloodlust unquenched, they turned their sights to the Guardians. Taking up arms, the three viciously defended their positions. Their assailants couldn't put up much of a fight with their small numbers and methodical tactics however. "It would seem that I may have missed something during the initial purification. These native creatures are still clearly infected by the SEED. Perhaps the purification wasn't really completed after all."

"What do you mean by purification? Is that the destruction of the SEED-infected creatures?" Vivienne asked.

"That is quite right."

"Isn't there anything we could do to help them?"

"Unfortunately, once the infection has set in, there is nothing that can be done to save them."

"…I was told the same thing…I…share your sentiment, Vivienne…It…make me upset too…But we have to protect the people…Above all else" Quagmire added.

"Hold on" Vivienne uttered without warning. "I'm picking up a distress signal from Remlia Norphe. She isn't far from where we are now. Let's go to her, follow me!" A CAST with braided pink hair, sporting a crimson work jacket was holding off two Distova with a grenade launcher. Quagmire dashed forward, crouching down and blocking the charge of one of them with his folded arms. Once it had no more momentum left, Quagmire uncurled himself like a spring, flinging the creature into the air. As it descended, he drew his arm back and threw it up as his knuckle delivered a mighty blow to the falling beast's backside. It grew limp on his extended arm which he dropped, setting the hapless creature onto a grassy grave.

"Guardians? I'm so glad that you came!" Norphe said in a soft, apologetic tone. "I'm sorry I went off to take matters into my own hands. I wanted to protect the residential areas; I couldn't just wait. I didn't want anything to happen to Kalam. I'm ready to lose myself to protect him, even though I know what I say is contradictory."

"I understand" Quagmire stated. "…For family…You would do anything to…protect them."

"Yes, exactly!"

"Well, we are here now" Hyuga assured. "You don't need to exert yourself more than is necessary. Quagmire and Vivienne, why don't you two go on ahead and finish up purification here while I'll escort Norphe back?"

"Roger!" they proclaimed, running up ahead as Hyuga wrapped his arm around Norphe's; casually strolling back the way they came. After slaying a few more creatures, something new popped up. Something not necessarily new but it was something that definitely should not have been there. Jet black with yellow eyes, the sapient creature slowly moved towards them.

"Is that…?"

"…It's a SEED-form!" Quagmire yelled.

"I thought they were sealed away during the Unification Point?"

"…Nav said that…But that doesn't change…what is in front of us right now!" With two quick slashes from both of their double sabers, the SEED-form collapsed. After scrutinizing the location for any more, they continued their advance once everything looked clear. "We…shouldn't be that far from…the end of the path…Purification is almost complete."

"I still don't understand the relationship between Norphe and Kalam" Vivienne rather spontaneously specified in an inquisitive manner. "What do you think of their relationship?"

"…Uhh…Well…I can't really explain it in words…Wait…Well, it is like a bond…A bond that goes beyond ideas of self-preservation…Something that makes you do…irrational things…but you can't live without it…"

"Hmm…" A dark shadow cast over the sun-soaked grassland before they could continue their conversation. The shadow was soon followed by a loud screech and a wave of sweltering heat. The trees combusted and subsequently crushed under the sheer weight of a De Ragan that crashed through and now stopped in front of them. Foaming at the mouth with conflagration, it hissed and roared, attempting to trample its foes beneath its rugged claws. Taking each side, Quagmire and Vivienne traded blows with the beast, rending gashes and holes in its thick skin. A flick from one of its tail whipped Quagmire off his feet and onto his rear as the second tail smacked his head. Unfazed, he drew his handguns and stood up shooting. With one final roar, it made a mad dash only to fall and skid to a halt amongst the trees; lifeless.

"…Are you…okay?"

"I think so. What about you?"

"…For the most part…I think…We have finished here…We should meet up with Hyuga." They left, but not before giving a second glance to the damage the De Ragan wrought, trailing their eyes to its corpse that still hung above the ground against two smoldering and broken trees. Not shortly after, they managed to catch up with Hyuga just as he was escorting Norphe to Kalam.

"It's shocking how many creatures managed to escape purification, what could be the case?" Vivienne wondered aloud.

"Mhm, quite. I'm not really sure myself. At least the farm is safe now" Hyuga replied. Norphe approached the young boy who was impatiently waiting in the door way.

"Kalam, thank the nice Guardians for their hard work" she said.

"I don't care about any of that! I was more worried about you mom!" he yelled, running over to her caring embrace, misty-eyed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Kalam…I was wrong…I promise that I won't leave you alone ever again." A wide smile reached its way from ear to ear across Quagmire's face, unbeknownst to his companions thanks to protection of his helmet.

"…We…completed our objective…We should report back to the Colony" Quagmire quietly mouthed.

"Oh, yes! Quite right! We wouldn't want to keep Lou waiting. Let's go" Hyuga agreed, nearly tripping over his own feet as he rushed back to the G-Flyer. Returning to the conference room in the Guardians Headquarters, Nav was waiting alongside Lou.

"Well, give us run down Hyuga" Nav said as they entered.

"From what I saw, the SEED-infected creatures had appeared from the area the AMF was previously in charge of purifying."

"Hmm…There haven't been any large scale SEED reports. Call it a hunch, but I think this incident may just be the tip of the iceberg."

"Headmaster, judging from the amount of altered native creatures, the possibility of there being more in wait is still quite high. Perhaps we should alert the Alliance Military about the situation?" Vivienne suggested.

"That won't be so easy; they most likely won't be quick to accept this after the heavy firebombing that they might have missed something…But I guess it can't be helped. Lou, connect me to Fulyen Curtz."

"Affirmative" Lou obeyed. After a few seconds, an image of a heavily armored CAST appeared. He had a striking helmet with a prominent green horn that matched the rest of his green and beige army gear. The man held himself high and his tone was incredibly arrogant and sharp.

"This is Captain Fulyen Curtz of the 177th Platoon, what seems to be the problem?" he snapped.

"This is Headmaster Lucaim Nav of the Guardians. I apologize for calling in such an abrupt manner but I have an urgent matter to attend to. We have found evidence of altered native creatures that are now originating from a site you were previously in charge of taking care of."

"That is unlikely. I oversaw that operation you speak of personally. We have confirmed that all forms of life were negative."

"That may be but the presence of the SEED is still there and it is expanding and attacking people."

"I'm positive that we didn't miss anything but I am willing to see to it that an investigation team is sent to search for any unknown element that could be in the works."

"I appreciate your understanding and cooperation in the matter. As one would expect, I hope you keep this incident strictly classified."

"Of course. Curtz, out."

"Wow, Captain Curtz really has some nerve to act so arrogant. How could he be so blind to want to easily absolve the AMF from any fault?" cried Vivienne in outrage.

"What? You must not be familiar with CAST superiority. I think he was being very fair just now" Nav explained.

"Yes Vivienne. You see, Curtz used be very arrogant, but he has changed a lot from before" Hyuga added.

"Not to mention, admitting such a mistake on his part would reflect on the integrity of the entire AMF; that really couldn't help his response either. I hope you aren't going to hold an animosity towards CASTs not because of this. Everyone is capable of faults and imperfections."

"Oh I see…I'm sorry, it would appear that I was the one who was being prejudiced then. Still…Something in my head tells me that this still isn't right" Vivienne complaisantly grumbled.

"Those are emotions" Lou points out. "They obstruct your sense of fairness and give you bias."

"Oh come now, there is nothing wrong with that" Nav says.

"I have to say Vivienne, your sense of judgment makes you quite un-CAST-like" Hyuga complacently jeered.

"Well, enough of that. Lou, if you may, get the confidentiality agreement" Nav gestured.

"…Confidentiality? …What for?" Quagmire questioned.

"This incident must be kept top-secret. Not even other Guardians can know about this situation. The people of Gurhal think the SEED are gone for good. If the truth of the matter was to get out, system-wide chaos is sure to follow. As of now, the three of you are to be transferred to the Investigations Unit. Quagmire and Vivienne, you two will be investigating as an elite anti-SEED task force. I will contact you again when I have another classified mission. Good work today. That will be all." Just as he was leaving, Quagmire overheard Hyuga talking to Vivienne again. He was talking about taking her to a movie which she agreed to so long as Quagmire could come.

"…What's a movie?" Quagmire interjected.

"Oh my, look at the time. I just remembered I had a doctor's appointment. I'll catch up with you two later!" Hyuga mumbled as he left in a hurry.

"You don't know what a movie is?" giggled Vivienne as she watched Hyuga run down the fifth floor.

"…No…Is it a type of food?"

"No, it is something you watch from what I heard. It's a story told by actors on a giant screen. I've never actually seen one, we should go sometime."

"…That sounds…like it could be fun…I have to get going now though…I'll…see you later Vivienne."

"Bye Quagmire! Can't wait until our next mission!"