His whole body ached, the pain of a hundred wounds reminders of all that he'd lost. He was naked and alone. Captured and in the hands of the enemy. His wife and child were gone, saved by his sacrifice, but never to be seen again. Struggling, he opened his heavily lidded eyes, trying the bring the world around him into focus. The pain of restraints bound his hands and feet, and he realized that he was lying bound to a table angled so that his sense of balance was destroyed, and he felt like he was about to fall. He looked around and saw that he was in an empty white room, strapped to a table. Gazing at his restraints, he tried to break free, but did nothing but cause himself more pain, as the restraints punished him for his attempt at escape.
He lay back and tried not to stare into the bright interrogation light that blazed down upon his face. He let out a sigh, the reality of what had happened to him settling in. He'd been captured. Zero Two's screams of despair echoing in his head. He went back to that moment. The moment of looking her in the eye, and her horrified realization of what he was about to do.
Just then, a door opened, and a white-robed figured stepped in, wearing a mask. He felt his stomach clench painfully as the mask that had appeared on all of APE's holos walked towards him. This was Papa.
"Ah." Papa said in amusement. "I see that you are awake."
"Papa." He snarled angrily, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
Papa laughed, a cold merciless laugh that echoed hollowly around the room. "Come now. That's no way to show respect."
He sniffed amused. "Well that's all you're getting."
Papa sighed. "Oh, Code 016…. Don't make this more difficult on yourself."
He smiled, "Well… I always was a slow learner."
"Code 016, you mistake my intentions," Papa said pleasantly. "I only want what's best for you."
He sneered. "Would you mind killing yourself then?"
Papa shook his head and sighed. "I only have a few questions for you. If you answer them, we can make this as painless as possible."
"Ha. I doubt you'll let me go." He said, amused.
"Oh, no, no, no, that won't do." Papa said in an eerily sweetish voice. "You see. You and your friends are horribly out of line and ah… Will need to be reconditioned before they can be brought back into regular society."
He smiled. "Good luck with that."
Papa pulled out a controller from his pocket, and suddenly a stabbing pain shot through him as a hole was blown through his side. He screamed in pain, tears coming unbidden to his eyes.
"Ah." Papa said, fascinated, watching as his wound healed. "I see you've inherited Code 002's ability to regenerate."
He stared at Papa through watery eyes, panting as he tried to cope with the pain.
"Now," Papa said with a hint of satisfaction, "Code 016, I have some questions I need answers to. Failure to comply while unfortunately result in more displays like you just endured."
He stared at Papa. "I won't tell you anything."
"Hmm." Papa said, pressing the controller.
Suddenly a device descended from the ceiling and aimed at his hand. There was a faint click, and something tore through his hand, leaving behind a hole. He gritted his teeth, doing everything he could to keep from screaming.
"So Code 016, shall we begin?"
"No! No, Please!" She cried as they dragged her away, "DARLING!"
Zero Two awoke, tear's staining her face, the whole world strangely cold around her, even as the midday sun blazed through the window. Suddenly her horrible dream came back to her. They were taking him away. Darling. They'd captured him. Somebody had been dragging her away, pulling her away from the one she loved. Her husband, the father of her baby. THEY WERE TAKING HIM AWAY!
"Darling," She said hoarsely, "Hold me. Please. Tell me you'll always be close."
There was nothing.
"Darling." She cried, beginning to sob. "No…No. Darling, please… Don't do this to me."
He didn't reach over. His warm, comforting embrace was gone.
"No." She sobbed, "I refuse to believe it."
She forced herself to get up, her body heavy with their child. He had to be here. He just had to. She looked over, to where Darling should have been, the love of her life, and the father of her baby. But. Nothing. He was gone.
Darling was there, struggling to be free of the guards, as they pulled him back away from her. Darling glanced at the exposed wires on the wall as he struggled to get away. He looked up, and their eyes met, and in an instant, she knew what he was going to do.
"DARLING NO!" She screamed, the horror of what he was about to do, tearing her heart out.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
The door sealed shut, and he was gone.
"No." She sobbed, collapsing onto the bed. "No. No. No. Darling…."
The baby inside her kicked, and she sobbed, clutching her swollen belly.
"They took him away." She sobbed, to their baby. "Daddy is gone."
The image of that door sealing played over and over in her mind torturing her. She held her belly, sobbing tears of pain and despair cascading down her face. She felt the baby inside her. Their baby. He said he'd be there! When the time came, he said he'd be there. They vowed to always be together. To hold their baby in their arms and be a family. But... But now? He was gone. Taken by the enemy. And... And what if they killed him.
"No!" She sobbed, "No… That can't be true. DARLING!"
Just then there was a knock at the door. "Zero Two?" Ichigo's voice came timidly.
She was too numb to respond as she lay there, sobbing clutching her swollen belly. Gently Ichigo pushed open the door, and she was barely even aware of the girl as she sat down in front of her.
"Zero Two," Ichigo said sadly, reaching out a comforting hand.
"Don't touch me!" She screamed, all her pain pouring out of her.
"I'm sorry." Ichigo whispered, her voice full of pain.
She looked up at the girl, anger consuming her. "You took him away from me!" She sobbed, "We could have saved him, but you stopped me!"
Hatred blazing in her eyes, she sprung up and tackled Ichigo to the floor. "We could have saved him!" She screamed, tears cascading down her cheeks. "Why! Why did you stop me!?"
Ichigo only looked up at her, tears cascading down her cheeks.
Zero Two pounded the floor, her fists cracking the wood below. "Why!?" She sobbed, "He was right there! Why!? Why!? WHY!?"
The baby inside her kicked, and she lost her strength. Collapsing to the floor, she held her belly as she sobbed her heart out. "Why?" She sobbed, "Darling…"
Quietly Ichigo sat up, "I'm so sorry." Ichigo whispered, "I knew what he'd want me to do… But... That didn't make it hurt any less." Ichigo sobbed tears cascading down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Zero Two… I'm so sorry."
"Get out…" She whispered hoarsely.
"Zero Two…" Ichigo said weakly.
"GET OUT!"
Ichigo stood and quietly left the room, the door making a faint click as it closed behind her.
"Darling…" She whimpered.
"You really are a despicable person." Papa said finally.
His body went limp, and he collapsed against the table, panting. Papa had been torturing him for hours, hounding him with questions, and everyone he failed to answer was punished. He was now keenly aware of what Papa's machine could do, everything from electrocuting him down to plane old physical torture. Papa had even thrown in a few punches and kicks when he felt like it.
He grinned feebly at Papa, doing his best to stay conscious in the face of his enemy.
Papa slapped him the blow, stinging his cheek. "It appears that I'll need more extreme measures to get you to corporate." Papa said with a note of anger.
He tried to say something but exhausted his mouth refused to cooperate.
Papa sniffed amused. "I have to say, I admire your determination, Code 016. If you weren't so corrupted, you would have been very useful to me."
With that, Papa spun and left the room, leaving him alone with his pain. Now that Papa was gone, he let out a groan of pain, struggling to keep his heavily lidded eyes open. In his moment alone, his thoughts went to his wife and child, and the thought of them brought tears to his eyes. Full of despair, he realized that he probably would never see them again. Papa would kill him as soon as he realized that he'd never get information out of him. Unable to stop himself, he began to sob.
"I'm sorry, Zero Two." He whimpered. "I'm so sorry…"
He pictured Zero Two sitting against a tree, the lake where they'd first met spread out in front of her. A baby let out a hungry cry, and Zero Two looked down at the bundle in her arms. The sweetest smile covered her face as she looked down at the baby cuddled in her arms.
"Hungry?" She said sweetly, gently unzipping her shirt.
Gently she bared her breast for their baby, and the baby suckled happily, Zero Two's love radiating for the whole world to see, as she bonded with their child.
He smiled sadly as he gazed at all that he saved and all that he'd lost. Tears started cascading down his cheeks. "I love you." He whispered. "Both of you. I'm… I'm sorry I couldn't be there. Stay safe. You'll always be in my heart."
To exhausted to stay conscious any longer, he passed out his world going dark, as he plunged into the abyss. His precious vision of love and tenderness vanishing as he fell. Fell. Fell.
When Zero Two awoke, she was lying on the floor, tears stained to her face and her heart full of despair. "Darling…" She called out weakly.
Slowly she pushed herself upright groaning at the effort it took. She felt heavy the weight of her baby weighing her down more than she'd ever realized. Weakly she forced herself to stand, stumbling as she got to her feet. She reached out a hand, and steadied herself against the wall. Numbly she looked at the ring on her hand. Darling's ring. It's sapphire blue surface sparkling in the light of the setting sun. Numbly she began walking, her feet dragging her down the stairs, one hand on the railing for support as the other one held her belly.
Ahead she heard voices, and stopping at the bottom of the stairs she listened, not caring what she heard.
"We should go now." Ichigo said, her voice filled with anger. "He would have done the same for us."
"None of you are in any condition to go." Nana said her voice filled with pain and determination.
"That doesn't matter." Goro said, defiantly.
"Goro, you can barely walk." Nana said fiercely,
"Hiro might be dead if we wait any longer." Miku fired back fiercely.
"And how do you expect to pilot with your arm in a cast, young lady?" Nana said, exasperated.
"It doesn't need to be!" Miku shouted angrily.
"If you ever want it to heal, it does!" Nana shouted back.
There was a long pause.
"Look." Nana said gently after a moment. "I know you all miss him. Believe me, having to deny you this is tearing my heart out. But I can't. Will not jeopardize the safety of this squad for one person. Attacking now would be suicide."
"How do we know he won't be dead by the time we're ready?" Ichigo said sobbing.
"We don't." Nana said her voice filled with pain. "In fact, he probably already is and if…"
"No.." She sobbed, collapsing to the floor. "No. That can't be true.."
Suddenly Ichigo poked her head around the corner.
"Zero Two!" She cried, rushing over to her.
Her cry brought everyone's attention, and hurriedly they all ran out to find her crumpled on the floor.
"No.." She sobbed, barely conscious of anybody. The thought tortured her ripping out her heart, and leaving nothing but a pit of despair. That couldn't be true. After everything, that Papa had taken from her. Not that. Anything but that.
"Zero Two!" Ichigo cried, shaking her, "Zero Two, look at me!"
Suddenly she seized the girl's collar. "Tell me it's not true!" She sobbed, her grip like a vice. "Please, Ichigo…" She sobbed, and her grip slackened as she collapsed back against the stairway, tears streaming down her face.
"It's not." Ichigo said reassuringly, "He's not dead. I know in my heart he's not dead. I have to believe that he's still alive."
Nana sighed behind them, looking miserable. "You all need to go to bed." She said weakly. "We can talk about this in the morning."
"But." Ichigo objected, pulling Zero Two into a hug.
"No." Nana said firmly. "Bed, for all of you. That's an order."
They all scowled at her, ready to disobey.
Nana sighed. "Dr Franxx is already working on a plan to retrieve him if he's still alive. But for now, all of you need to go to bed. We're not even considering doing anything until that's done."
"Fine." Goro said sourly, "But alert us as soon as it's done. I don't care if it's in the middle of the night. I want to know immediately.
Nana nodded. "Deal. Now please, get some rest. We'll sort this out in the morning."
"Come on, Zero Two." Ichigo said, slipping an arm around her.
Zero Two barely heard a word of what was going on and allowed herself to be guided back upstairs. All she could focus on was Darling. He had to be alive. He just had too. Darling was alive. The thought repeated itself over and over in her head, turning into a desperate mantra. He had to be alive. He just had to.
"Wake up!" Papa shouted, his backhand to the face jolting Hiro awake.
Hiro looked up, dazed, trying to bring Papa into focus. "Back so soon?" He said with a weak smile. "You must have missed me."
"Hmph." Papa said with an amused grunt. "You're right, I did. In fact, I missed you so much that I brought presents."
"Really?" He said cooly but giving the room a wary search. "I always did like presents."
"So do I." Papa said, amused.
Suddenly he felt a searing pain, and he let out a scream of agony as Papa drove a knife into him. "This one's one of my favorites." Papa snarled, getting right up in his face. "You see, the techs have been working on it for a while. It'll prove useful in eliminating you freaks and those accursed Klaxosapiens."
Papa withdrew the knife, and he saw a glowing orange blade filled with magma energy. Horrified, he looked down at the wound in his abdomen, his body unable to heal, blue blood running down his side.
He moaned in pain, the wound in his side burning as if the knife was still inside him, tendrils of fire scorching him from the inside. Fear began to overcome him as he realized that Papa could now easily kill him. If this continued, it was going to be a long painful experience.
"Ah, I see you liked that one." Papa said, examining the knife.
He grimaced his eyes watering as he tried to ignore the pain.
"So, Code 016." Papa said, "I hope you and I can be a little more open with each other."
He glared at Papa, fighting to keep his composure.
"You see Code 016, I've been fighting my entire life to create a better world, and Squad 13 has become a major thorn in my side.", Papa said, putting the knife down and grabbing a curved metal bladed knife. "For the safety of all of us, Squad 13 needs to be corrected."
"Being human is not something that needs to be corrected." He retorted,
"Hmm," Papa said, gently pressing the blade to one of his fingers. "I think not."
Slowly Papa began to draw the knife across his finger, the blade slicing open his flesh as his blood stained the edge of the blade. It was all he could do to keep from screaming, furiously, he bit his tongue, tears of pain blinding him.
"So, let's try this again. Where is Plantation 13?" Papa said, gently cleaning the blade of his blood.
"I don't know." He said weakly. "They could be anywhere by now."
"I doubt that." Papa said, putting down the knife, "You see, unlike rational people, they'll be back for you. They'll be foolish enough to assault the Garden, and then I'll have all of them. But just in case. Where are they?"
"They'll never come here." He hissed defiantly.
Papa sighed. "Oh, you see that's where you are wrong. You see Nine Iota, will never let her precious Darling be captured for very long. She'll be back."
"No she won't." He said weakly, praying that the others would make sure she stayed safe.
Papa laughed. "Maybe if she had a lick of sense. But that's never been Iota."
"She has reasons to stay away." He fired back.
Papa chuckled. "Yes. I know the bitch is pregnant, but you're a fool if you think that'll stop her."
Ice flooded his stomach. If Papa knew she was pregnant…
Papa roared with laughter, the sound sickening as he felt his stomach clench in fear.
"You'll never be allowed to touch her!" He spat, fear consuming him. "I won't let you! If you! If you!"
"And what are you going to do about it?" Papa said, amused, picking up the magma knife from the table.
"I'll stop you." He hissed.
Papa slashed his cheek with the knife, and blood cascaded down his cheek. "No you won't." Papa said icily, "And when I do capture her. Oh, and believe me, I will. You wanna know what I'll do?"
He glared at Papa fury blazing in his eyes his chest heaving as he strained to be free of his bonds.
"I'll tie her right over there." Papa said sadistically, pressing the knife to his throat. "I'll strip her myself and make you watch as I take this knife and slice open the traitor's belly. You can watch as I rip out your traitorous seed and dash it against that wall over there, and finally watch as your precious Zero Two bleeds out, her little baby mutilated at her feet. I'll make you watch every second of it, and finally, when the bitch is dead, you can watch as I kill every one of your friends, before finally killing you."
He spat in Papa's face. "Fuck you!" He screamed. "Fuck you!"
Papa smashed his head against the table and slashed a dozen deep cuts in his chest. Grabbing his face and pulling him close, Papa whispered icily. "Every second. I'm going to make you watch every second."
Papa shoved him against the table and turned to leave. "The next time you see me I'll have your whore with me. Try not to die before then. It'll be so much better with you alive."
The door sealed shut, and he collapsed forward sobbing. "Zero Two," He sobbed. "Please, stay safe. I… I can't watch that. No… No…"
Shivering in fear, he desperately reached out with his mind, straining to do the impossible. He had to warn her. She had to stay away. He was not going to lose his family to this monster.
"Zero Two…" He moaned.
Zero Two lay awake unable to sleep. Her fears were all spinning in her head, and it was all she could do to keep from losing control. The baby was moving around furiously inside her, just as agitated as it's mother. She lay there, staring at the wall, her heart heavy with despair. Her entire life seemed to be playing itself over and over in her mind. Her prince. Her Darling. The love of her life and the father of her baby. Gone.
"I miss you so much, Darling." She whispered hoarsely.
Just then, she felt her horns throb, and a glowing red light began to emanate from them.
"Zero Two…" Darling's voice whispered.
"Darling!" She cried, sitting bolt upright.
"Zero Two," Darling said, relieved.
She felt her stomach clench when she heard how weak his voice was, for a moment she closed her eyes and tried to merge with Darling's body. Instantly agonizing pain overwhelmed her, and it was all she could do to keep from crying out.
Quickly Darling shut her out, and suddenly she was back in her own body.
"Darling, She whispered, horrified, "Darling, what have they done to you?"
"Never mind that." He said weakly. "Zero Two, please… I… I have one last request."
"Don't talk like that." She cried, fear gripping her heart.
"I'm sorry, Zero Two." He said sadly, "Please don't argue. I… I can't keep this up for much longer."
"But!"
"No. Listen, please." He said faintly. "Zero Two, you have to stay away from here. You... You must stay safe. Run and hide if you have to."
"No," She fired back. "Darling, I will come find you."
"No!" Darling said sharply. "Zero Two, you have to stay away. If Papa captures you, he will kill you and our baby. I.. I cannot allow that to happen. You must stay away." Darling took a deep breath. "Zero Two, this is my final request. Stay safe, and be happy. I'm sorry, I couldn't keep my promise."
"Darling…" She said despaired.
"I love you." He said weakly. "I always will." Gently she felt his presence sink down into her belly. "Daddy loves you, little one. I'm sorry, I couldn't be there for you. Take care of mommy for me, okay. I'm counting on you…" Gently he moved back up and rubbed his horns against hers. "I love you, Zero Two. Know that I will always keep you in my heart."
"Don't go!" She sobbed, "Darling, please don't go!"
"I'm sorry." He whispered, his heart filled with pain. "I love you."
Then suddenly, he was gone, and she was left alone in the darkness.
"Darling," She sobbed, "Darling…"
Despair overtook her, and she broke down sobbing, and tears cascaded down her cheeks as he cried her heart out. Everything felt cold and dead around her. Where her heart had once been with nothing but a dark pit of despair. Everything had been taken away from her. The love of her life. Gone. What did she do to deserve this? Why!? Why was this happening to her? Hadn't she been through enough? Hadn't life already taken enough away?
Suddenly the baby inside her kicked and sobbing she clutched her belly. "They took daddy away." She sobbed, "I'm so sorry, little one."
Hadn't they sworn that they'd always be together? They'd sworn that they'd raise their baby together and be a family. She pounded her fist on the bed. "No. I will not walk in this life without you." She said defiantly, "Darling, just stay put. I'm coming for you."
She shot up out of bed; strength that she hadn't had a moment before coursing through her. Hurriedly she grabbed her shoes and exited the room, quickly and quietly descending the stairs. As much as she wanted to run, she knew that waking the others would only slow her down. Clearing the bedrooms, she took everything else at a run, slamming the elevator controls, and descending towards the main lobby. Clutching her belly, she exited the elevator and ran across the lobby. Suddenly the door that led to the command center open and she hid behind one of the pillars that held up the ceiling. Peaking around the corner, she watched as Nana half-dragged Dr. Franxx out of the command post. "Sir, you haven't slept for three days." She said fiercely.
"I have to complete the attack plan." He said weakly. "Hiro He…"
"Sir, you need sleep. I've already found you passed out at your desk five times." Nana said as they walked passed. "Hachi, and I will work on it while you rest."
She waited, her heart pounding in her chest. Nana and Dr. Franxx disappeared down a hall, and hurriedly, she made her way over to the hanger bay, only to have the door refuse her entry. Her heart stopped, and hurriedly she tried it again, hoping that maybe. It was just a glitch.
It wasn't, and with a pit, in her stomach, she realized that the administrators had locked them out of the hangar to prevent them from doing precisely what she was trying to do.
"Damn," She hissed, thinking.
Suddenly an idea came to her, and she ran back across the lobby, going down another hallway. She came to a stop next to an access hatch in the wall. Smiling the memory of when she'd shown Darling, the starry night sky came back to her. She smiled softly and put a hand on her belly. That seemed so long ago now. It was amazing to think how much had happened since then. Shaking herself though she realized that she needed to focus. There was no time to waste. Hurriedly she punched in the passcode, and the hatch slid open revealing a ladder. Hurriedly she began to climb but was forced to slow her progress at the effort it took.
"This was easy once." She grumbled, the weight and awkwardness of her belly, making it hard to climb. Slowly she worked her way up, focusing on consistent progress. Still, when she finally hauled herself onto the service deck, on the plantation's outer exterior, it took her serval long minutes to catch her breath.
Still winded but forcing herself to press on, she walked along the service deck until she was right above the hangar. As she looked at the ladder that hugged the plantation's side, she was uncomfortably aware of her swollen belly and how far above the ground she was.
She took a deep breath. "I'm coming Darling,"
With focused attention, she began to descend the ladder, keeping all her senses focused on taking one step at a time. The baby inside her kicked, and she swallowed hard. "I got you," She whispered softly, clinging to the ladder as a gust of wind threatened to throw her from the plantation. She finally made it to the access hatch outside the hanger and slamming the controls the door slid open. Grabbing a support built into the wall, she swung over and into the access hallway, sealing the hatch behind her.
"We made it," She breathed, walking down the tight corridor. Finding the hatch on the other end, she opened it and stepped out into the hangar. Hurriedly she rushed over to a console overlooking the FRANXX and tried to open the hangar. It refused her.
"Oh. Fuck this shit." She said angrily,
Not caring for the consequences, she slammed the emergency release, the hangar doors sliding open, and an alarm blaring. In a full sprint, she dashed over to Strelizia, the hatch descending at her approach. Clambering inside closed the hatch behind her. Slipping into her controls, she activated the FRANXX. "I'm coming for you, Darling." She said determinedly. Strelizia, without her male pilot, immediately descended into her four-legged form, the more primal stampede mode activating.
"I was hoping to never have to be like this again." She said sadly, but taking a deep breath, she charged off into the night. Hurriedly, she set course for the Garden and charged off at full speed the ground, nothing but a faint blur in the moon's pale light. It had barely been a minute before the first call from the administrators pursued her. She ignored it, and a dozen others they tried to throw at her. She was in no mood to hear it. She was going to get Darling back no matter what, and nothing they said would stop her.
For hours she ran her single-minded focus solely on her objective. Eventually, though, she forced herself to take a break, her breath coming in long desperate gasps. Quietly she looked around, taking in how the pale light of the moon shimmered off Earth's dry red surface. As she examined her surrounding, she saw a faint little in the distance. She realized that in the distance, she could see the faint light of the Garden.
"I'm coming, Darling." She said, about to charge off again.
Suddenly, however, her horns gave a throb, and she looked around and saw blue light streaking towards her. The feeling intensified. As it got closer, she realized that it was a massive Klaxosaur dragon, and it was flying straight for her.
"No I don't have time for this." She hissed, hurriedly she made to charge off but…
"Zero Two!" The voice of Maya called out, "Wait. I… I want to talk to you."
She felt her breath catch in her throat. What was she doing here? How had her mother known exactly where she was and that she'd even left, Plantation 13?
The dragon landed in front of her, dust billowing up into the air. Hurriedly Maya dismounted, and reluctantly she crouched down and opened Strelizia's cockpit. Separating herself from the FRANXX, she sat up and waited.
After a moment, Maya stepped in carrying a sword and some sort of device in her hand, her glowing blue eyes focused right on her.
"Hello," Zero Two said, getting to her feet.
Maya smiled, "Hello, Zero Two."
There was an awkward silence as they both stared at each other uncertain of what to say.
"Your father is worried sick about you." Maya said after a moment. "He sounded pretty desperate when he called me."
"My father called you?" She said, surprised. She could have sworn that Nana had dragged him off to bed.
"He did." Maya said, "I don't think I've ever seen a man so desperate. He's scared Zero Two. Scared of what you're trying to accomplish."
"Don't try to talk me out of it." She said aggressively, "I'm not going back without Darling. I will not leave him there to die."
Maya held up her hands in a placating gesture. "I know. I'm not here to stop you."
"Then… Then why are you here?" She said, taken aback.
"To give you this." Maya said, handing her a sword and some sort of device. "It should help you get Hiro back."
"What is it?" She said, looking at the device in her hand.
"It's armor," Maya said, "Here let me show you."
Maya placed the device on her wrist. An instant later, armor began unfolding from the device covering her body and incasing her from head to toe. Maya tapped one of the buttons on her wrist, and the helmet retracted. Zero Two looked down at herself, surprised at how the armor had adhered to her body, the vulnerable bulge of her belly now protected from harm.
Zero Two looked at her, stunned. "Why…? Why would you do this for me?"
Maya smiled sadly. "It's my way of trying to help. Zero Two I was never there for you when you needed me. Hiro was the only thing you had and for so long, and even that was taken away. I cannot allow Hiro to be taken away from you. He needs you now more than ever, and I knew that you'd never be going back to Plantation 13 without him. So this is the only way I can help, and hopefully, with this, you can bring him back safely."
Zero Two looked at her lost for words. "I… I… I don't know how to thank you…"
"You don't have to." Maya said, smiling, "He's your mate, and you two were destined to walk this life together. Love that special is hard to find, and I won't let it be taken away from you."
"Maya." She said, her heart swelling with gratitude, "Thank you."
Maya smiled and walked up to her, gently reaching a hand out and touching the swell of her belly. "Good luck. Both of you." Maya took a deep breath, and she felt a tingling in her belly. "Your baby is good and strong. You should be proud." Maya smiled. "Would you like to know what it looks like?"
Zero Two thought for a moment, sorely tempted. "No." She said gently. "Darling and I promised we'd be there together when the baby is born. I'll… I'll wait until then."
Maya smiled and withdrew her hand. "Well I hope you two agree on a good name."
She blushed. "We can't decide if it's a boy or girl, and we each agreed that if it's the gender, we thought we'd get to name it."
Maya smiled. "What's your pick?"
She smiled. "I think it'll be a boy, who looks just like his father."
Maya nodded, the baby's undiscovered secrets known only to her. "Well soon enough, I guess you'll find out."
Zero Two nodded, the thought of Darling reminding her of where she needed to be. "I should get going." She said, her thoughts drifting back to the one she loved, "He's waiting for me."
Maya smiled and walked towards the door. "Good luck, Zero Two."
She nodded, "Thank you."
Maya turned to leave but stopped remembering something. "Naomi told me to tell you that the Klaxosaurs will be with you. She's sending what she can to help."
Zero Two smiled, her heart full of gratitude for Hiro's former partner. "I appreciate it. Could you give her my thanks?"
Maya smiled. "Of course." Then with a wave, she departed and jumping on the dragon, soared off into the sky.
Zero Two sighed and gently placed the sword by her feet. "I'm coming, Darling." She whispered.
Syncing with Strelizia, the FRANXX powered up around her, and taking a deep breath, she dashed towards the Garden.
Zero Two not once took her eyes off the Garden as she ran, her single-minded focus blocking out everything except the thought of getting Darling back. Before long, the Garden was before her, and she saw the lights of the patrols as they encircled the Garden. Quietly she crouched down and peeked over a small hill trying to find the best way in. Ahead of her, she saw Papa's colossal FRANXX looming over her, its oppressive size making her feel small and vulnerable. Ahead, however, she saw the fateful hangar that had taken her Darling away from her. Sealed now to keep out any intruders after the most recent attack. With a sinking feeling in her heart, she realized that it was the only way in where she knew how to find Darling.
Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself. "I'm coming, Darling. Stay safe."
Backing up, she flexed her legs Strelizia poised to spring into action, quietly she judged the distance. As soon as she had it, she charged off, the top of the hill looming close as she accelerated. She reached the bluff and leaped into the air Strelizia flying over the guards, burying her claws in the side of the Garden with a loud screech. Hurriedly she ran along the wall the searchlights of the guards chasing after her, moments away from spotting her. She felt her heart pounding in her chest, realizing that there was no version of this where she didn't get caught. Leaping from the wall, she flew at one of the guards, jaws clamping down on the FRANXX's head. It collapsed beneath her, just in time for a spray of magma bullets from the other sentry to sailing over her head. She whipped Strelizia's tail around and impaled the other FRANXX. Hurriedly not wasting any time, she flew at the hangar, leaping at it and ripping a hole with her claws. Quickly she slipped inside, magma bullets decimating the spot where she'd once been. It only to her a second to assess the situation, and years of experience fighting in rampage mode came back to her as she cleared the hangar of her foes. Her tail flashed in deadly jabs the confined space, sentencing all of them to die. Sensing danger, she rolled and avoided the cleave that had been meant for her head. Panting she and the last opposing FRANXX stared at each other, weapons poised to strike.
Taking a moment, she breathed deeply, using this as a moment of respite. Doing this was harder than she remembered. Without Darling to make up for her weakened state, the once practiced ease hindered by the life that she held inside her. A moment later, the FRANXX charged sword raised to deliver the final stroke. She rolled passed the enemy, the sword embedding itself to where she'd just been, and without a second thought, her tail flashed, taking the opponent in the chest, and crumpling the FRANXX to the floor.
Quietly she turned oblivious to the carnage around her, her eyes fixed on the door into the Garden. The fateful door that had stolen her Darling away.
"I'm coming, Darling," She whispered quietly.
Quietly she powered down Strelizia, and the FRANXX crouched down. With a sudden shuddered, she de-synced from the FRANXX, returning to her own body. Groaning, she stood grabbing up the sword that Maya had given her.
Taking a moment, she closed her eyes, reaching out her senses to find her other half. After a moment, she found him, buried deep in the Garden passed out from pure exhaustion. Reaching down, she fixed the sword to her waist. She drew the blade momentarily taken aback as the glowing golden blade radiated waves of golden energy.
"Thank you, Maya." She whispered quietly.
Reaching down, she deployed the helmet for her armor and taking a deep breath placed a hand on her belly. "Let's go get Daddy," She whispered quietly.
Strelizia's hatch opened with a hiss, and she strolled out, purposely walking over to the door. One quick glance at the controls was enough to know that this door had been disabled. Quietly she glanced down at the sword in her hand, and with a smile slashed the door. The blade cut like butter through the door, leaving nothing but a glowing orange slash in the metal. Hurriedly she hacked at the door until she had enough room to fit through. Stepping through, she took everything else at a run, dashing down the corridor the light of her sword the only thing to light her way. She broke out into the main hall straight into two guards, but before they could even raise and alarm her blade flashed and they crumbled to the floor.
She ran down hallway after hallway, following the path she trusted to take her to her Darling. The more she ran, the more certain she was of her path, his presence becoming stronger and stronger as she got closer to the one she loved.
Suddenly and alarm blasted, and for a moment, she thought she'd been caught. However, as the announcer cried that the Klaxosaurs were attacking the Garden, she realized what had happened.
"Thank you, Naomi." She panted, running, "Thank you."
Ahead she saw a set of elevators, stumbling to a halt she slammed on the controls. This was it. Her intuition told her that this was where she was supposed to go. She dashed in and stared at a screen, hundreds of floors marked it all of them a potential path.
"Help me find Darling." She prayed, closing her eyes. "Help me find him."
For a moment, she took a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes, her finger was hovering over a floor. Smiling, she pressed it, and the elevator set off. Gently she rested a hand on her belly. It was just moments away now, Darling was so close.
Hiro opened his eyes, awakened from his nightmares by the presence of the one he loved. Confused, he blinked, trying to bring the room into focus. Why was he feeling her presence? By now, Zero Two should be far away, safe from any further harm.
Maybe it was the fact that he missed them. Having to say goodbye to everything he loved… Perhaps that was why he was feeling her—one last moment of bliss before he passed into the abyss. Suddenly the door opened, and his stomach clenched, afraid that Papa had returned to continue punishing him.
But it wasn't Papa…
The figure stared at him, and he had just enough time to notice the glowing sword, and a swollen belly covered in armor. The figured tapped a button on their wrist and suddenly…
"Zero Two!" He cried hoarsely.
Zero Two dropped the sword and ran up to him, throwing her arms around him. "Darling!" She cried, sobbing in his ear.
"Zero Two," He croaked, "I thought I told you to stay away.."
She sobbed and kissed him "You're a fool if you thought I wasn't going to come for you. We promised we' ed walk this life together. I will not let you be taken away from me."
"It's dangerous." He sobbed, "Zero Two, if Papa captures you, he's going to kill you. He said he'd make me watch as he ripped out our baby and let you bleed out on the floor. Zero Two, you must get away, I won't let that happen to my family."
Zero Two kissed him. "I won't. We're going home together, Darling." Gently she stroked the gash on his cheek, and he winced, "Papa is going to pay for this." She sobbed, looking over his mutated body.
"I'll be fine." He said weakly,
"Let's get you out of here." She whispered, wiping away her tears.
Hurriedly she retrieved the sword and carefully slashed his bonds. Weakly he tried to stand, but upon his first step, he crumbled to the floor his body too weak to support his own weight.
"Darling!" She cried, running over to him.
"I'll be okay… He croaked,
Zero Two thought for a moment. "You need to wear this." She said, reaching for a screen on her wrist.
Hurriedly he grabbed her hand before she could do anything.
"You're not taking that off." He stated firmly. "I don't know what it is, but if it's keeping you and the baby safe, its staying on you."
"You need it more than I do," She said, "I know how to take care of myself."
"You're not taking it off." He stated, gently squeezing her wrist. "You're already in enough danger. Allow me this one request." He looked her in the eye. "Please."
"Fine," She said angrily.
Suddenly there was a bang off in the distance.
"We need to get out of here." He croaked, trying to stand.
Hurriedly Zero Two slipped an arm around him and leaning against her. He stood his legs shaking beneath him. Limping Zero Two guided him out of his cell, and they worked their way down the hall, Zero Two holding the sword out in front of her. Off in the distance, he heard crashing and running footsteps.
"Where are all the guards." He whispered as Zero Two led him to an elevator that must have led away from the detention level.
"Naomi sent the Klaxosaurs to attack the Garden." She panted, sheathing the sword and punching a set of controls on the wall. "I'm glad for the support, thou." She said, guiding him into the elevator that had just arrived. "I was prepared to do this myself."
"You just ran off with no support." He said sharply.
She blushed, "I wasn't leaving you here to die."
He made to retort but decided against it. This wasn't worth fighting over.
Zero Two tapped on the elevator controls, and they descended. When they arrived, she wasted no time, and they set off again, her pace practically at a run as she dragged him along with her. Behind them, he heard the hurried footsteps of guards searching for them. Zero Two pressed on determined to outrun them. After a moment, he realized the hallway around him looked familiar. Looking around, he saw bullet holes from the squad's fight to be free.
Just ahead, he saw the corridor that led back to the hangar, and on the other side of the hall, two guards appeared.
"There they are!" The guards shouted.
Zero Two practically dived for the corridor dragging him in with her as bullets whizzed by where they had just been.
"Come on!" Zero Two cried panting.
Desperately he used what little remaining strength he had, and they ran towards the hangar. Ahead he saw Strelizia, and behind him, he heard the sound of the guards approaching.
"Come on!" Zero Two cried as they burst into the hangar, bullets flew past them, and slammed into Strelizia. He cried out as one took him in the back, but with a desperate effort, the dashed into the cockpit bullets chasing at their heels. The hatch slammed shut, and he collapsed onto his seat, hauling himself into place. Zero Two hurriedly powered up Strelizia, and quietly he did his best to mentally connect with her. It worked. Strelizia transformed back into the Iron Maiden and, in a blaze of fire, shot out of the hangar, soaring into the sky. Below them, chaos rained, and the Klaxosaurs assaulted the Garden and horrified he watched as Papa's colossal FRANXX began moving. Suddenly a beam of magma energy erupted from the FRANXX's horn, and he watched as Klaxosaurs melted beneath its wrath.
The strain of connecting with Strelizia took all his remaining strength. The last thing he remembered seeing was a beam of orange light streaking past them as they soared off away from the Garden. And back towards home.
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading Chapter 29 of The Jian Bird.
I hope you all enjoyed, and I'll have the next one ready as soon as possible.
Stay tuned for Chapter 30 of The Jian Bird: The Calm before the Storm