Chapter 4: The Battle Joined…
The attacks on Japan began one day in the mid summer. And it was clear that the perpetrators, thus far unnamed, were targeting the sanctuary of the HiME.
"They haven't found us yet," Alyssa said, looking at the map, "But it's clear that they have some idea where we are. And it's not just the Slaves this time. Look."
She punched up an image on the monitor, and they saw a small shape streaking through the sky. Alyssa slowed down the video and enhanced the object.
"That's a person, using a prototype version of what we're calling a ROBE. They've found a way to grant normal humans the power to materialize objects, channeled through this ROBE."
"We all need to be ready," Natsuki said, "I can sense the Slaves growing near. If they haven't found us yet, it's only a matter of time before they do."
As if on cue, there was a rumbling sound from the far end of the compound.
"And it begins," Natsuki sighed, "Get the children to safety. I'll see what I can do about the intruders."
Natsuki teleported outside, and saw a dozen Slaves attacking the electric fence around the main compound. She also saw a woman in the distance, seeming to guide them.
Natsuki manifested a huge blade composed of finely honed ice crystals, and set to work on the Slaves. But it proved to be a laborious task, and it seemed that a new one popped up for every creature she carved to pieces.
"You're not going to make any headway like that," a woman's voice laughed at her.
"Theresa Marguerite!" Natsuki hissed.
"I go by Tomoe, now," she flew up to meet Natsuki, "And I'm not going to take it easy on you. You came between me and Shizuru. I won't forgive you for that!"
"Shizuru was never yours," Natsuki said, "She made that clear to you from the beginning."
Natsuki summoned her beam weapon, and with a broad sweep, cut down every Slave that was attacking the facility.
"Impressive," Tomoe nodded, "But not good enough. See, each one of those Slaves was contracted with a human host. When the Slave dies, the host dies. But we have reserves. Plenty of people who are more than willing to die for our cause. I'm much more pragmatic, of course. I don't intend to die for my cause. I just need to kill you!"
Tomoe charged Natsuki, releasing a massive attack of her own. Natsuki took a burst from an energy weapon, and tumbled to the ground. She managed to land safely.
"Oh, that's it," Natsuki growled, "I am not allowing you to get any closer!"
There was a burst of fire, and she threw up a shield of ice at the last possible second, but was now pinned down, constantly replenishing the shield as waves of fire swept over her.
She was trying to figure out a way to end this stalemate and return to the skies, when she heard an outraged cry.
"DON'T YOU HURT MY MAMA! DURAN!"
The voice was unmistakably Saiyuri's. And she sounded angrier than Natsuki had ever heard in her life.
There was an explosion of ice, like a glacier coming into existence and then vanishing. And then, at Natsuki's side, was Duran. Only he was different now.
"A CHILD," Natsuki reflected, "A strange creature born out of one's love for another. The strength of that love is the CHILD's power."
And what love was there that was greater than a six year old child for her beloved Mommy, Natsuki reflected, as she stared at this Duran who could have dwarfed an aircraft carrier. His mighty paws crushed Slaves as soon as they sprang into existence.
"Duran, load Golden Cartridge!" Saiyuri commanded. Dozens of gun ports all along Duran's flank loaded their weapons, "Fire!"
The air was filled with glowing bursts of golden energy. Tomoe flew madly, ducking left and right, to and fro, trying to evade the attacks. But she wasn't fast enough, and an orb of golden energy engulfed her.
"Golden Cartridge," Saiyuri said, "An electrical attack that will paralyze any enemy."
And then Saiyuri manifested her Element. Natsuki gasped in amazement. Her Element was a set of six silver wings, biomechanical in nature, that lifted her into the air. Natsuki renewed her ice wings, and joined her daughter in the sky.
"Saiyuri!" She embraced her daughter.
"Let's take care of all these bad guys, Mama!" Saiyuri smiled at her, "Duran, load Rainbow Cartridge."
Natsuki blinked, "Rainbow Cartridge? What does that do?"
She got her answer a moment later, when Duran unloaded his new payload on the remaining Slaves. All of them simply faded from existence.
"Rainbow Cartridge is an anti-materializer field," Saiyuri said proudly, "Anything that can be materialized can be sent away again."
Natsuki landed on Duran's head, and Saiyuri landed beside her. She tapped at a comm-link in her ear.
"Alyssa, make sure that this gets broadcast everywhere," Natsuki instructed her sister, "Because I'm only going to say it once."
Natsuki made sure there was a camera on her, and then she spoke, "I don't know who is responsible for this, and I don't much care. If you attack my family or my friends, you will lose. I can't stop you from experimenting with Materialization, but come after me or mine again, and it won't matter. The HiME are off limits! Now, and forever!"
Tomoe rose from the ground, still alive, but unable to call on her powers. She found Shizuru standing in front of her, holding her crimson blade.
"I thought we were rid of you, troublesome thing," Shizuru spoke coldly, "We're now going to discuss your unprovoked attack on my Natsuki, as well as who gave you this power."
"I won't tell you anything," Tomoe said, "And I will make you mine, Shizuru. I swear I… AAAAGGGGHHHHH!"
There had been a slight flick of Shizuru's wrist, and then a sharp, piercing pain. Tomoe looked in horror as her left ear, the one that held her Gem, fell to the ground, cleaved cleanly from her body.
"Alyssa and Dr. Kuga did some analysis, and determined that little bauble was the source of your power. But it doesn't look like you'll be able to use it anymore, now does it," Shizuru smiled serenely, "Now, the names of your benefactors, before I start cutting off other things."