"Hey, did you know today marks one month since I arrived here at Plantation 13?" you ask Ichigo. "Really?" she asks adopting a playful smile. "I could have sworn I have been putting up with you longer than that."
You stick your tongue out at her as you walk. "Seriously though," Ichigo continues. "Has it really been a month already?" "Yep," you reply. "And it's been 27 days since I was officially made a parasite and your partner." "Not like you are counting or anything," Ichigo jokes. "Not at all," you smile.
The two of you are on your way to the morning's lesson. So far, they hadn't been too challenging, though it has only been two weeks since they began. The topics you covered continue to change by the day but, what makes it interesting compared to what you did in the Garden are the assignments handed-out alongside the lessons. Nana would give out sheets of paper containing questions about the days lesson and expect you to have them finished by the next.
That didn't sit well with a portion of the squad. Zorome in particular disliked the academics and anything related to them. When it came time to work with Hoshu and the maintenance staff on the FranXX however, he sang quite a different tune. Which was good because some of you, yourself included, understood the bare minimum of what the man was telling you about how the FranXX operated.
"What do you think Nana will teach us today?" Ichigo asks. "Hopefully not more biology," you answer. "That stuff bores me to no end. Kokoro seems to be good at it though." Ichigo gives you a slight push, "Not everyone wants to listen to Hachi talk about formations and tactics all day either." "Don't rob me of my favorite part," you say sarcastically. "Besides, the more I know the easier I can make things for you." "You have a point," Ichigo mumbles as the two of you enter the briefing room.
To your surprise, today the desks are gone, leaving the room bare like it had been before the lessons began. Nana and Hachi stand at the monitor with the former also messing with her tablet. Their attention turns to you however when you enter.
"Ichigo, (Y/N), please have a seat," Nana says. "Is something going on Nana?" Ichigo asks. "We will not be having lessons today," the redhead answers. "The rest of the squad will be arriving shortly, please wait patiently until then."
About fifteen minutes later, you and Ichigo always liked to show up early for any event, the rest of the squad makes their way into the briefing room. They appear to be just as surprised as you when they enter the room and are told that there will be no lesson this morning.
"Now that you are all here," Hachi begins. "We will commence with the briefing." This causes several gasps. They didn't tell us anything about being deployed, you think. Nor did the alarms go off. "I am sure some of you have questions," Nana says. "Please hold them until the end of the briefing."
An aerial image appears on screen as Hachi continues speaking. "As of 2100 hours last night we became aware of a new threat." The image zooms in on a large hole in the ground. As it does, a single ant like Klaxosaur makes its way out of the hole. "Our initial scans lead us to believe that we have stumbled on a Klaxosaur nest."
The image once again shifts, this time to a proposed network of tunnels that make up the nest. "An opportunity like this is unlike anything we have had before," Hachi says sternly. "Yes Miku," Nana says to the pistil. "Are we going down there?" the girl asks with a quivering lip.
"Your mission will be to infiltrate and collapse the nest," Hachi answers. "We estimate that there could be as many as several hundred Klaxosaurs of various classes within." "And we have to do it by ourselves?" Futoshi gulps. "You will be working with the FranXX squad from another plantation," Nana reassures him. "Which plantation?" Ichigo asks. "Plantation 26," the caretaker answers.
There seems to be a collective sigh of relief throughout the room. Hachi clears his throat, "The two squads will work together to clear the infestation." On screen two blips labeled as 26 and 13 move through the tunnels to a large central chamber. "Once you have reached the central chamber you will deal with whatever you find there then plant the provided explosive. After that all units will retreat to the surface and the bomb will be detonated." The commander gazes over you once more, "Any questions?" No one speaks up. "Good, report to the docking bay and prepare to deploy. We need to act quickly if we are going to maintain the element of surprise."
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A short while later you enter the docking bay alongside the other members of Squad 13. "So Miku, why did you look so uncomfortable earlier?" Hiro asks. "What?" Miku blushes. "I wasn't uncomfortable, I was just…" "She's scared of bugs," Zorome replies with a wink. "You!" Miku shouts trying to grab her partner by the neck.
"Really, Miku?" you joke. "Bugs? We fight monsters that are as big as FranXX on a daily basis and you are scared of bugs?" "Ow," you grumble as Ichigo removes her elbow from your side. "Don't worry Miku, stay with Delphinium and nothing will happen to you, right?" she glares up at you. "Right," you shrug with your hands behind your head.
As each team makes their way into the FranXX you take a moment to ask Ichigo a question. "Why did everyone look relieved when Nana said that our backup would be Squad 26?" you ask. Ichigo pauses briefly in the door of the cockpit. "Plantation 26 was the plantation we kissed with a little over a month ago," she replies. Ichigo does a good job of masking her emotion but there is still a bit that manages to break through. The telling feature of her sadness being how she suddenly refuses to meet your gaze. Kissing with another plantation, you recall. Ikuno said that was when they lost Goro.
Ichigo takes her position on the pistil's platform. "We shouldn't have anything to worry about," she says. "Code 090 and his squad are capable." "Your word is good enough for me," you reply before grabbing the controls and commencing Delphinium's startup.
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Not long after you find yourself standing near the large hole that you had seen in the briefing. "How much longer do we have to wait?" Zorome complains. "Weren't they supposed to be here like twenty minutes ago?" "We have our orders," Delphinium replies. "We are to link up with Squad 26 and then exterminate the Klaxosaurs in the nest." "Speaking of," you mention. "Genista, is the bomb secure?" "We'll take good care of it," the black and green FranXX replies with a smile.
As you continue to talk amongst yourselves eventually the roar of jets catches your attention. Looking in the distance you can easily make out five figures in formation making their way toward you. As they grow closer you are better able to discern their appearances.
The one in the middle of the formation is discerned by your HUD to be the leader of the unit. This is visually backed up by a mark on the FranXX's armor. She stands the same height as all FranXX, nearly three hundred feet tall. It appears as if she is wearing grey stockings that lead up to a sort of skirt around her waist. From there she has the same lithe and athletic form that all FranXX, minus Genista, possess. Her face is covered by an orange visor while what resembles a veil descends from the back of her helmet. Each shoulder is adorned with a pauldron to guard against attacks and she wears a gauntlet on both wrists.
Finally, she holds a spear, its point glowing with magma energy. The interesting thing about the spear is that it is actually much more than meets the eye. Just beneath the blade on the haft is a small red button. When pressed this button causes the spearhead to fly from its mount, imbedding itself in the first object it finds. Reactivating said button would also cause the spear to deliver a lethal dose of electricity through the line connecting the head to the body of the spear. While the number of times that it could be done on a single cartridge's charge was limited, it allowed for added flexibility in tactics considering each FranXX was equipped with one. You are intimately familiar with these units, after all, they were what you trained with during your time in the Replacement Division. As you look down the line each unit is identical to the next.
"Apologies for our tardiness," a male voice says. It is identified on Delphinium's inner monitors as Code 090, squad leader of Plantation 26. "Bout time you s-," Zorome grumbles but a glare from Delphinium silences him. "It is quite alright," you reply. There is a bit of hesitation in Code 090's response, almost like he is surprised by your voice.
"Right," he says as the FranXX nods. "You have been informed of the operation then?" "We have," Delphinium answers, then motions to Genista. "Genista is carrying the bomb, it's our job to escort her through the nest. Once we reach the main chamber we will detonate it and collapse the rest of the nest in on itself." "That is what we were told as well," 090 responds. "We will follow your lead 015."
It is strange to you to hear Ichigo referred to as 015. While it is true that not long ago you yourself used that moniker to address her, it no longer seems appropriate to you. Maybe staying in Mistilteinn with them has caused me to change how I think, you tell yourself.
"Squad 13 fall in behind me," Delphinium orders. "Wedge formation, Genista in the middle," you continue. As ordered the FranXX of Squad 13 fall into formation as you make your way into the hole, with Argentea and Strelitzia on Delphinium's left and right and Chlorophytum covering the rear.
Squad 26 follows closely behind. "Everyone be on your guard," Hiro says as Strelitzia sniffs the air. "I'm about to choke on the stench of Klaxosaurs," she scoffs. You however smell nothing but earth and ozone, a byproduct of the magma energy powered weapons.
As your group takes their first steps into the tunnels leading into the nest one thing becomes abundantly clear, it is dark. Without the midday sun you had left the tunnel quickly grows dark and oppressive, setting your nerves on edge. "Commander, we are commencing the operation," you radio. "Very good," Hachi replies. "You may lose contact with us once you are beneath the surface, but your units should still be able to reach one another on the inside." "Understood Commander," you reply.
As the last of the light fades from the entrance you are left in complete darkness. There is a series of slight clicking sounds and suddenly beams of light become visible. Investigating the source, you find that on top of each of the helmets Squad 26's FranXX wears there is now a glowing bulb projecting a small cone of light. "We should be able to proceed now," Code 090 states.
"Switching to lowlight mode," Chlorophytum announces. Delphinium, Strelitzia, Argentea, and Genista follow suit. Inside the cockpit the previously black screens come to life once more. The image is only in black and gray, not color. But given that you can now see perfectly underground it is a vast improvement compared to where you were moments ago, or the situation Squad 26 is in, only being able to see as far as their lights shine and within the narrow beams.
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"Does this place give anyone else the creeps?" Argentea asks as you continue down the tunnel. It has gone from the steep grade that you had originally encountered to a much smoother decline. "I don't like it down here," Genista whimpers. "Keep it together," Delphinium says from her position at the front of the squad.
"I'm more concerned by the lack of Klaxosaurs," you remark. "Didn't Hachi say that there could be over 100 of them down here? We've been walking what? Half an hour? And haven't seen any." "I know," Chlorophytum replies.
Suddenly Delphinium lurches forward. You barely have time to react as she begins to fall. Fortunately, Strelitzia grabs her by the arm and uses her immense strength to pull you back. "Thanks," you huff while Delphinium pants on her back. "What the hell was that?"
"It appears we have reached the end of the tunnel," Chlorophytum announces. As Delphinium regains her footing you find Strelitzia and Chlorophytum looking over the edge of a cliff you had nearly tumbled over. "How far?" you ask. "Can't say for sure," the voice of Code 090 answers as his FranXX kneels beside the cliff. "But, if we are careful we could probably climb down. Though it would take time. There is no telling what is waiting at the bottom."
"Alright," Delphinium nods. "How boring," Strelitzia pouts. She then swan dives over the cliff carrying a screaming Hiro with her, "Zero Two!" Shit! "We have to-" "I know," Ichigo interrupts you. "Genista stay with Squad 26 and wait for the all clear. Argentea, Chlorophytum," both FranXX nod, the command not needing to be finished.
"I'm gonna strangle her for this," Delphinium mumbles as the thrusters on her waist come to life. Meanwhile Chlorophytum flicks her arms and the fins fan out from their folded positions. Delphinium and Chlorophytum share a glance before both FranXX step off the cliff, the first depending on the thrusters to control her fall, while the second glides carefully on her winged arms. Argentea's descent is much louder as she digs her claws into the cliff face and allows gravity to carry them down.
"Strelitzia respond," you order as you fall through the darkness. "Strelitzia? Strelitzia?" Delphinium's face appears on the rightmost panel. "We agree that she is being reckless right?" "While charging is sometimes the best course of action," you answer. "Doing so blindly and without regard for your team… that's foolish."
Delphinium appears ready to respond when you notice something coming rapidly toward you out of the darkness. What could that? Oh hell! Floor! You yank back on Delphinium's controls as hard as you can, causing the thrusters to fire at full force. They manage to slow your descent so that it is not terminal, but Delphinium still impacts the ground and skids before coming to rest in a heap.
"Ow," she grumbles as she rights herself and prepares to stand. However, at that moment she is once again thrown to the side. "The hell was that?!" you shout. It is eerily quiet for another several moments as nothing further happens. Just as you let your guard down, out of the darkness comes a set of pincers that attempt to grab Delphinium by her head. You can also feel another pair grasp her right shoulder joint while something has her legs pinned together at the ankles.
Ichigo screams as the pincers begin to apply pressure to the FranXX, and by extension, her body. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! you panic. Gotta get us out of this somehow but with our swords pinned against our back we are sitting ducks.
"Monsters!" a voice shouts and suddenly there is an explosion of mist that clouds your vision. Immediately following the cry there is a schick, as something imbeds itself into one of your assailants. Moments later several million volts flow into the creature as it lights your vision. You can easily make out the joints and bones of the creature as it writhes and contorts before expiring. The last attacker is also dealt with, Strelitzia standing with her usual triumphant smile after having pierced its core.
"Thanks Hiro," you sigh as you start to regain your composure. Delphinium however shoots to her feet and pushes Strelitzia against the wall. "Damn it Zero Two!" she shouts. "I told you to listen to me!" "Maybe next time I won't save you," the red and white FranXX snarls as she pushes Delphinium aside and marches off.
Inside the cockpit Ichigo is panting heavily and her body convulses. You can see on her headdress that her paracapacity score is dropping. "Hey," you say calmly opening a private line with her. "Come back to me. Listen to the sound of my voice, everything is fine." After another thirty seconds or so of you speaking in a soothing voice her score returns to normal.
"Sorry," she apologizes. "I let my emotions get the better of me. "It's alright," you answer. "That was pretty intense, and it could have been either one of us. Gives new meaning to the phrase look before you leap though, doesn't it?" The image of Delphinium rolls her eyes before winking out. "Tough crowd," you say to yourself.
"Here," a hand reaches out to you. Looking up you find it belongs to the FranXX Code 090 pilots, but the voice was certainly not his. Delphinium grasps it and allows herself to be lifted back to her feet. "Thank you." "You're welcome," the FranXX replies but this time a name is given when she speaks, Code 112. "I'm guessing we owe that fried one to you?" you ask looking at the only Klaxosaur corpse that had not exploded into mist. "That is correct," 090 replies. "Well, thanks for the save," you smile.
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About ten minutes later the remainder of Squad 26 and Genista arrive at the bottom of the chasm. During that time, you had begun to explore the room you were currently in, but what you found amazed you. "Is it just me, or does this place look like the mine we cleared out on our first mission?" Futoshi asks. "I think you're right," Mitsuru answers while Chlorophytum inspects the walls.
The walls are no longer the earthen tunnels you had used to descend into the nest but are now steel like the plantations. "Take a look," Mitsuru continues as Chlorophytum points to wording on the wall. "Sublevel 4," Argentea reads aloud. "So the Klaxosaurs made their nest inside an abandoned magma energy mine," you summarize. "I guess it makes sense," Hiro offers. "I mean, they probably wanted the magma energy for themselves and once they drove us out there was already a place they could stay."
"Pulling up schematics for the mine now," Code 090 states. "You can do that?" Zorome asks. "Indeed," he replies. "As squad leader we have special privileges for information." Delphinium's face appears in the cockpit. "Did you kno-" "Nope," Ichigo answers. "Mind sharing?" you ask over the coms. "Certainly," 090 answers.
Moments later a rotating 3-D image of the mine floats before you. "I believe we are here," Code 090 begins as a small blip appears on the image about halfway down. "If we continue to the east, we should run in to the central elevator shaft. From there we would have access to the remainder of the facility."
Now, you say to yourself. If I were a swarm of Klaxosaurs hiding in an abandoned mine, where would I be? "We should head here," Delphinium announces pointing near the top of the structure. "That is the opposite direction of the nest's most likely location," a male voice states. The coms identify him as Code 252, speaking from one of Squad 26's standard FranXX.
"True," Delphinium answers. "But, that is the location of the central control hub for the mine. If we can get it running again, we may be able to get the lights back on and power restored to the rest of the mine's systems." "That's a gamble," 090 interjects. "The mine's power grid could be damaged and there is a very real possibility that there is no fuel left to power the generators." "There is only one way to find out," you answer, backing up Ichigo.
"We could split up," Argentea offers. "We do have two squads after all." "No," 090 hisses. "Whatever we do, we do it together. With the number of Klaxosaurs estimated to be in the nest and them knowing the area better than we do, we are at a severe disadvantage. Delphinium's ambush just goes to prove it."
"You've made your point," Hiro states. "So, we go to the control center then," you say. "Getting things online would lessen their advantage and make it easier for us to escape after we have planted the bomb. If the elevators are still running, we could just ride them to the top."
There are several mumbles of agreement before Code 090's FranXX nods. "We'll do it your way." "Everyone watch your backs and check your corners," Delphinium orders as she once again takes the lead. "They could be hiding anywhere, and we know now that they can see in the dark."
With that final statement your group sets off for the central elevator shaft. Squad 13 resumes their wedge formation, but this time Squad 26 reinforces it. As a result, there are two FranXX at each point of the diamond, the front being shared by Delphinium and Code 090's FranXX.
Your journey begins in silence but as you continue in the direction of the central shaft a buzzing noise begins. "Anyone else hear that?" Zorome asks. "Klaxosaurs," Strelitzia growls. "Maybe we can go around them?" Genista asks worriedly.
Another five minutes of walking and the sound begins to dissipate. That's odd, you tell yourself. Surely they heard us. They aren't going to just let us go, are they?
"Movement," Chlorophytum announces. "1100 feet in the direction we came from." Your column of FranXX stops and turns to face Chlorophytum, who has swapped out her hands for her hand cannons. "Strelitzia," you begin. "I smell them," she interrupts. A large smile blooms on her face, "Here they come."
"Defensive formation Delta," Delphinium orders as Squad 13 moves to stand in front of Chlorophytum. "Units 4 and 5 protect Genista," Code 090 orders. "2 and 3, you're with me."
The chittering sound from earlier begins again, this time louder than before. You strain your eyes looking into the darkness for where the Klaxosaurs could be. The hall is still mostly intact, only slight damage has been done to the floor, walls, and ceilings, but it appears to be from disrepair.
You wait close to another thirty seconds as the sound continues to mount, the cacophony now nearly deafening. Then at the edge of your view range you catch your first glimpse of movement. The creature before you looks unlike any of the Klaxosaurs you have seen before. It is clearly insectoid like the ant looking one you had seen during the briefing. However, this appears to be much heavier armored.
The creature's body is covered in a thick carapace and it skitters toward you on six legs, three on each side of its body. The head of the insect is roughly oval shaped with a pair of mandibles that end in a point. The force with which it clicks them together as it runs leads you to believe that it is stronger than the normal ant like Klaxosaurs. Finally, behind it as it runs you can see a tail that ends with a club like protrusion.
"That looks significantly stronger than the ones we faced a while ago," Code 090 states. "Sounds like fun!" Strelitzia shouts from beside you as the jets in her feet ignite. You are ready to join her however a rumbling in the ground causes you to hesitate.
When Strelitzia begins to move the subterranean hall shakes and the sound of bending metal can be heard behind you. "Guys!" Genista screams as a massive breach appears in the wall of the tunnel just past you and Klaxosaurs begin to pour out of it. Most are the weak ant like ones but several of the heavier ones emerge as well.
"We're surrounded!" Futoshi yells. "Damn it," you curse. "Hold fast everyone, keep a level head and we'll win this," Code 090 orders. Squad 26 turns to face the oncoming horde from before you and fire the spears in unison. The first several Klaxosaurs are fried as a result but the remainder simply climb over the corpses of their fallen brethren.
"Genista, focus fire on the armored ones but keep that bomb safe," you shout. "Chlorophytum, the little ones are yours." "On it," Chlorophytum announces as she begins her barrage. "Argentea let's move," Delphinium orders as the two FranXX rush toward Strelitzia, who is just about to make contact with the incoming force.
Strelitzia laughs with delight upon reaching the charging horde. One of the brutes initiates the brawl by stopping and swinging its club like tail. This turns out to be a foolish mistake, one it will not have the chance to make again, as Strelitzia cuts off the tail with a single swipe from her lance.
When Delphinium and Argentea arrive ten seconds later Strelitzia is already covered in the entrails of several more Klaxosaurs and looks ready to gut the remainder. "Nothing gets past," Delphinium orders. "Not a problem," Argentea grins. The pink FranXX flicks her wrists, extending her claws to their full length before bending to a kneeling position.
In a show of flexibility Argentea springs forward dragging her claws through anything within reach. As she nears the ground she enters a roll, resulting in her returning to her feet and facing back in the direction from which she had come. Instead of fighting her momentum and attempting to stop however, she embraces it, pushing off with her feet once more and backflipping several times through the horde. As such Argentea easily makes mincemeat of the lightly armored foes by extending her arms so the claws may do their work.
Delphinium meanwhile battles several of the heavy ones. The first swings its tail aiming for Delphinium's head, but it is batted aside. At that moment the other two charge. One manages to wrap its pincers around her ankle while she dispatches the next. As the creature begins to squeeze the joint there is a reverberating boom and it explodes into mist, the round from Genista's cannon detonating on impact.
The final insect tries a new tactic that catches Delphinium momentarily off guard. Considering these larger ones are easily longer than a FranXX is tall, when the last bends its legs and propels itself into the air it is unexpected to say the least. However, this also proves to be the creature's fatal mistake. When on the ground they were much harder for Delphinium to defeat because of the curvature of their carapace deflecting slashing weapons like her blades. In the air though, it nicely exposes their unarmored underside. Delphinium thrusts both swords upward and skewers the creature on her blades before tearing it in half as she pulls them apart.
The battle continues for close to fifteen minutes with no clear victor. The Klaxosaurs continue to be cut down by Squads 13 and 26, but just as quickly more take their place. Sadly, the combat is beginning to weigh on the FranXX. The Klaxosaurs that appear are fresh, but you have been fighting this entire time.
"Where are they all coming from?!" Argentea whines. "We have to have killed at least fifty of them!" "It doesn't look like they are slowing down either," Mitsuru grimly adds. "We are running out of energy," Code 423 says as the standard model FranXX jabs her spear into one of the creatures.
"Right then," you shout. "New plan, on my signal we all break for the elevator shaft." There is a chorus of acknowledgements. "Ready, go!" As you finish speaking Strelitzia, Argentea, and Delphinium rush back to Chlorophytum and Genista. The pair cover your retreat and when you arrive fall in behind you as you make a break for Squad 26.
Upon reaching the defensive line Squad 26 had made they fire their spears once more, electrocuting the Klaxosaurs in a line to open a path forward. Both squads rush through the gap which is immediately filled after.
"They're still coming!" Genista shrieks. "Don't stop!" Delphinium shouts. As you round a corner the elevator shaft comes into view. In an unbelievable stroke of luck, the elevator is not only on this floor, but its doors are open and waiting for you to board. "Everyone in!" you shout as Genista, Strelitzia, and two of Squad 26's FranXX pile on behind you.
Unfortunately, this is where things begin to go wrong. As Genista steps into the elevator there is a loud creaking sound, followed by a snap. That sound was the cable holding the elevator snapping wasn't it? Time seems to freeze for a moment as you realize what is happening. The elevator suddenly shakes violently, then lurches, sliding down several feet. Argentea is just about to reach out her hand as there is another snapping sound, and the elevator enters free fall.