The morning sun rises over the ocean, cascading the cliffside village of Haven in its life-bringing rays and a kaleidoscope of colors reflecting off the surf. Reds, yellows, blues, and many other hues paint the sheer face, creating a breathtaking lightshow. In the master suite of Haven's manor, a couple lies asleep in one another's arms.
A ray of light peeks through the shades covering the window and shines directly on your eyes. In order to remain asleep, you shift your position on the bed by several inches and bring yourself closer to Ichigo. This works for a time, but as the sun looms over the horizon it becomes harder and harder to hide from its illumination.
With a sigh you sit up in the bed and glance at the clock, 0730. Wow, I really did sleep in. Not that it's really a surprise, everyone is likely to be sleeping in a bit this morning. After the wedding and reception, it seemed like you were all ready for a little bit of rest to accompany your relaxation.
The reception had fittingly been held in the grand ballroom of the mansion. Zero Two and Hiro had been seated at the far end of the room in front of the massive bay windows. The couple could hardly step away from one another. Each was so clearly overjoyed to be with the other for the entire night, and that feeling radiated throughout the room. Zero Two had always been the life of the party though, so nothing was new there.
Love was certainly in the air following the wedding. The ceremony had been one of the greatest expressions of love many of Haven's residents had ever seen, and not only were they caught up in the moment but many among Squad 13 were as well.
Zorome and Miku danced the night away, though it was hard to tell who actually held the lead as they spun around. You were glad to see the two of them getting to have time to act like they were in a relationship. Miku's role as one of the primary trainers for new recruits kept her busy, but not as busy as the head mechanic Zorome. Your "little sister" constantly smiled and laughed with her beloved, and just by watching it was clear enough to see that they truly cared for one another.
Ikuno and Naomi were a sight for sore eyes, as each of them had looked very pretty in their bridesmaid's dresses and makeup. It was the first time you recalled having seen Ikuno wear any kind of fancy dress wear at all. She and Naomi had spent most of the night at their seats with Naomi practically draped over Ikuno. For once, the raven-haired girl did not appear bothered by her significant other's behavior in public. The two had even danced together before the night was over. While you were happy for them, what might have been more important was that they were together showing that love had no boundaries.
Likewise, Kana and Kyo set a good example. The two were good friends and excellent partners, but nothing more. If the parasites were to use Squad 13 as role models, they might believe that it was necessary to have a romantic relationship with their partner to be a good pilot. Kana and Kyo shattered that notion as they danced and laughed with no expectations or hesitations between them, as in sync in the ballroom as on any battlefield.
Rounding out the occasion had been Freya, Doctor Franxx, and Mitsuru. The two men had sat and discussed a wide variety of topics in the scientific and mechanical fields, with Freya providing her own opinions from time to time. When it came time for the father-daughter dance, the group broke from assembly as the elderly man made his way to the center of the dance floor.
Soft music played and Zero Two took his hand. The parent and child spun around on the floor, putting on a wonderful display and bringing tears to the eyes of many. No parasite knew their parents, and Zero Two was truly lucky in that regard. Today was one of the days she was most aware of it.
Kokoro had been unable to attend as expected. Zero Two had called her the day before, though, and according to Ichigo they had a wonderful chat together.
The most interesting occurrence had been when Freya approached you. Wearing her third outfit of the day, a simple red gown of her native lands with long, flowing sleeves and a beautiful brooch.
"Pardon me, commander, but might I have this dance?" she had asked.
You were at first reluctant to accept, not because you wished to deny her, but because you were unsure how such an endeavor could be attempted.
"I understand if you cannot," she said, glancing at Ichigo who was conversing with Miku.
"It isn't that," you answered. "I just… don't know how we would."
Freya smiled. "There is no need to worry, I can take care of that myself. You need only act as though you are dancing with a partner."
"Well then," you adjusted your collar and offered her your arm. "I humbly ask that you permit me to act as your escort for the next few minutes, my lady."
If Freya were capable of blushing you'd have been sure she had, as a small and fleeting distortion on her cheeks faded. She had taken your arm and fallen into step alongside you. "I shall accept your generous offer."
Upon reaching the dance floor, you stood across from her and bowed. Freya mirrored you with a courtesy. You took your stance and Freya's avatar assumed the position of the follow, with your right hand "resting" on her shimmering waist and her fingers interlocked with your opposite.
As the music began to play you were somewhat nervous that Freya would be unable to maintain the "contact" between the two of you, but she offered a gentle smile and a nod. You began going through the motions of the waltz and to your amazement, Freya matched you step-for-step. Her avatar never broke the lines of contact and it appeared to others that the golden woman was dancing with you in perfect rhythm. Even when you had changed direction or attempted a dip, she executed them without fail.
"How is it you can do this?" you asked.
"I have analyzed over two hundred hours of dance in preparation for this moment," she answered. "You could do anything and I would be prepared to match it. I… also watched you and Ichigo for the past hour to determine how best to partner with you." As she spoke, the distortion from earlier reappeared.
You cocked your head. "Freya, are you… embarrassed?"
"I am, somewhat," she smiled. "I am dancing for the first time in my life, in a crowded room, with a man who's spoken for. This is hardly proper behavior on my part, but you have humored me despite it. Thank you, commander. You've always treated me as a person instead of a program."
The music had died out and couples began to leave the dance floor.
"I've grown in ways I never could have with the doctor while serving you and the rebellion. I hope that I will continue to." Freya drew closer than she had ever before and planted a "kiss" on your cheek. "Thank you for the dance, you were a fantastic partner."
The memory of last night gradually fades as Ichigo shifts in bed beside you. You watch as she tosses and turns, trying to hide from the encroaching sun. Eventually she gives up and squints.
"Why are you staring at me?" she whispers.
You smile. "No reason."
"I don't believe you," Ichigo mumbles as she pushes herself off the mattress. Her arms give out only several inches from the soft surface and she falls back with a thump. A chuckle emanates from beside her and only serves to annoy her further.
"Maybe you should just go back to sleep, love," you tell her. "I was really enjoying the view."
Ichigo feels a breeze seek under the covers and run over her bare skin. "You just want to stare at me while I'm naked."
You lean over and kiss her. "Guilty as charged. We didn't get to finish last night on account of the girls almost waking up, so I thought I'd help myself."
"You want to now?" Ichigo asks. "They're even more likely to catch us."
"I could lock the door," you offer. "Even if they were to wake up, they wouldn't be able to catch us."
Ichigo flashes a grin. "As tempting as that sounds, no." She sits up to stretch and the sheets fall away.
You let out a low whistle. "Would you look at that?"
"You do more than enough for the both of us," Ichigo quips, hopping off the bed. She heads for the bathroom but throws a bit of swing into her step knowing that you're watching. Running water echoes from within and you force yourself to stand.
After throwing on some underwear, you find your way to the bathroom. Hunching over the sink, you splash some cold water onto your face before grabbing a toothbrush. A minute later you swish and spit.
Ichigo hums to herself as she washes her hair. You are part of the way through shaving, but have once again stopped to admire what the steam isn't blocking.
The blue-haired girl notices this and turns her back to you. "You're incorrigible."
You shrug and finish shaving.
Once back in the bedroom, you dig out a pair of clothes for the day. Not your typical uniform or the dress uniform you'd worn yesterday, as today is Saturday. You are off duty, so your clothes could be whatever you wanted. You can also do whatever you want on such a day free of responsibilities.
By the time you're close to finished dressing, Ichigo is done with her shower. She leans against the doorframe in her bathrobe. Now it is her turn to watch.
"Didn't realize I had an audience," you joke as you pull the shirt over your head.
Ichigo grins. "You leer at me all the time. I think it's only fair that I get to do it on occasion."
"Oh, don't get me wrong," you turn to face her, "I don't mind. Especially if you're interested in a little quid pro quo."
Your partner rolls her eyes. She makes her way across the room to the lounge chair facing the window. Seating herself on the armrest, Ichigo pats the cushion.
Without hesitation you join her. After you've sat down, Ichigo slides off the armrest and into your lap. The two of you sit there for a few minutes in silence enjoying one another's company as the sun continues to rise.
"What did you think of the wedding?" Ichigo finally asks.
You wipe a hair out of her face. "I thought it was nice. Probably a little overboard, but what about Zero Two isn't?"
"How about getting married?" she continues.
"Nice," you say. "Not really necessary, but nice."
Ichigo looks up at you. Her face is one of shock and concern. "'Not necessary'?"
You quickly realize you've stepped in something and now you'll have to be careful trying to get out. "I meant that it's just not for everyone. You know, some couples don't need to have a big ceremony and tell the world that they love one another to prove that it's true."
"Oh," Ichigo relaxes. "I thought you were saying you didn't think getting married was important. I'm glad I was wrong."
You kiss the top of her head. "So very wrong."
Ichigo intertwines her hand with yours. "When we have ours, I know just how we'll do it. A little gathering on the beach with our friends. It's not that I don't like everyone else, but it's more special if it's just us."
"It sounds as though you've got this all planned out," you chuckle.
"I do," your partner fails to contain her excitement. "While I was helping Zero Two plan hers, it got me thinking about what I would want ours to be like. There's only one thing left that I don't have planned."
"Really?" you ask, somewhat surprised. "What's that?"
The young woman huffs. "It's something the bride isn't responsible for."
For a moment you sit there trying to figure out what she could be talking about. It takes the better part of thirty seconds with Ichigo staring at you before you finally recognize the meaning behind her words.
You stand, bringing Ichigo with you and walk back over to the bed. You sit her down on the corner and bend down on one knee. Much to your surprise, you aren't scared or nervous but perfectly calm.
Ichigo's hand trembles as you cup it in yours. Her eyes are already tearing up even though you haven't yet begun speaking. She's overwhelmed, and she's the one who planned this.
"Ichigo, love, from the moment I met you my life has been a nonstop adventure. Frankly, I never imagined that something this wonderful could happen to me. Would you do me the honor of becoming my bride?"
Through tears Ichigo squeals, "Yes!"
The door to the twins' room bursts open. Asuna and Asada sprint through the door and jump onto you and Ichigo. "(Y/N) and Ichigo are getting married!"
Your brief look of surprise turns to a smile as you tickle Asuna and sit back up. "We sure are, sweetheart, one big happy family."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Two days and roughly three hundred miles from Haven, Coral lead surveys her surroundings. The flat plains of broken earth have begun to give way to a more... normal landscape. A towering mountain, the largest on the island, looks down on her squad in the distance.
Why are they here? A tip from Doctor Franxx, saying that a facility similar to Haven's existed in the ruins near the former capital of Tokyo. This installation had been working on artificial intelligence at the time of humanity's fall, according to him. If they were lucky, the area would be preserved enough that it could be inhabited with a little hard work. If that proved to be the case, then the rebellion would finally have a second, full sized base.
As Argentea gazes out over the sea the team's scout returns, a winged purple and white mech.
"Chlorophytum, did you find anything?"
Ikuno's monotone voice replies, "APE seems to have taken an interest in this place the same as we have. We spotted three patrols guarding excavation teams sifting through the ruins. There isn't a base nearby, but we did find a camp that seems to be serving as the center of their operation."
"We should start there," Zorome states. "APE is probably looking for the same thing we are. If they've found it, the camp will tell us where."
Mitsuru agrees. "We can also cut their communication with APE HQ and from each other. Separated, the teams should be easy to deal with."
Argentea nods. "Chlorophytum, lead the way. Everyone else, fall in behind her. Make sure to keep a low profile and remember that we're outnumbered here. Do not engage."
A chorus of "Yes, ma'am"s follow her statement as the squad moves out. As a recon team, their main focus is on mobility and stealth. They travel light and make certain to cover their tracks to the point that no one would be able to find their position, and the goal was to keep it that way.
The team snakes its way into the outskirts of the broken city. Dashing from street to street, alley to alley, they close in on the camp Chlorophytum had found.
Along the way they had encountered one of the patrols. It was a close call, with Coral 4 barely making it into a side street before the patrol had rounded the corner. Then a loud crash sounded, having emanated from her running through the superstructure of one of the buildings.
Ikuno's quick thinking had saved them there. Buildings coming apart wasn't anything new in the ruins of the old world, and her first days in Haven had taught her that. Igniting the bladed tip of her leg, Chlorophytum cut through the supports on the opposite side of the building. This caused it to come crashing down, but in the opposite direction of the running recon team. By the time the patrol had finished picking through the wreckage of the tower to see what had made it fall, if they even did, Coral Squad would be long gone.
With the patrol behind them, the recon team continues slinking through the abandoned city. It is a surreal feeling to walk down streets littered with cars and at the same time see a doe grazing in the nearby park with her fawn. Just like in Haven nature had reclaimed Tokyo, but this was on another scale all together.
The team only covers ten miles of ground over the course of the next hour. This allows them to avoid any more missteps as well as avoiding the Klaxosaurs that have also claimed the city as their own. After another half hour, they arrive at the base camp Chlorophytum had described.
The camp is rather spartan, which is very unlike APE. That meant that whoever oversaw this expedition was being cautious. Countless early warning alarms had been circumvented by Coral on their way in, however, and several automated defense turrets are all that protect the facility. Within the walls are five modular buildings standing three stories tall and a pad for refueling FranXX. That made the building part barracks and part research outpost. At this moment six FranXX were all that stood guard, but at the first sign of trouble each of the three outlying excavation teams would be recalled.
With the recon team consisting of only four members, that puts them at a disadvantage. Argentea could easily engage two or three of them, four on a good day. But that would be in a straight fight. Here, all six needed to be brought down simultaneously or the alarm would be raised.
Taking stock of her squad and the situation, Argentea begins formulating a plan. Chlorophytum was capable of limited flight using her Overdrive and could get into position on top of one of the nearby buildings. Coral 3's weapon of choice was a naginata, limiting her to a single target. Likewise, the katana wielded by Coral 4 would only allow her to fight a single opponent.
"Alright, here's the plan," Argentea tells her team as they gather around. "Chlorophytum will scale this building here and take out the two guards on the north side. Each of you," she points to Coral 3 and 4, "will deal with the stand-alone guards to the east and west. Zorome and I will handle the last two in the south."
"You want us to use our Razor Wings, correct?" Chlorophytum asks.
"Yeah," Zorome answers. "They're not silent, but the sound won't carry far enough for anyone to hear, right?"
Mitsuru responds. "No. The closest excavation team should be at least fifteen miles from here."
"Good," the squad leader nods. "Everyone, get into position and wait for my signal."
Once the squad is prepared for the assault, Argentea pulses the comm twice, the signal to begin. The two FranXX she was responsible for stand guard by the southern entrance to the camp. Each is of the standard variety and wouldn't pose much of a threat by themselves. The key remains that both of them must be eliminated simultaneously or it wouldn't matter how weak they were once their friends arrived.
Gripping the white-paneled van she'd selected, the pink mech steps into the light. Neither FranXX has noticed her as she draws back and releases. As she completes her follow through, Argentea falls to a dead sprint.
The van crashes into the faceplate of the FranXX on the right. The steel of the machine is more than enough to stand against the aluminum of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the pilots inside are not capable of taking such an unexpected blow. The unit crashes to the ground, dazed but not yet out of the fight.
Her sister unit gasps at her and turns to face the source of the projectile as it barrels toward her. Argentea unleashes a flying knee, catching the surprised mech in her temple. No sooner has her back hit the ground beside her comrade does Argentea's claws pierce her chest. The blades sever the lines feeding the reactor, and both pilots are dead in an instant due to the feedback response sent through the FranXX and into their systems.
As the unit that had taken the van to the face begins to rise, the twin-tailed FranXX places her heel over the neck and twists. A crack emanates and any resistance that would have been provided by the opponent ceases.
Argentea steps into the camp and finds Coral 3 and 4 waiting for her. Chlorophytum is nowhere to be seen. "Ikuno, where are you?" she asks over the comm.
A shadow passes overhead as Chlorophytum glides down from her perch. "There were seven."
"Huh?" Zorome scratches his head.
"Seven guards," Mitsuru clarifies. "A sniper was on the roof of the building next to ours. They weren't fast enough to get a shot off, though."
"Improvise, adapt, overcome," Miku nods. "Good work. Let's get after what we came for."
The scientists inside the camp were more than happy to help in Coral's search once they realized that their SOS message wasn't being transmitted, thanks to the disabled device being carried by the recon team. Likewise, they picked up the pace after watching Miku disarm and subdue a guard that had been hidden behind a door and foolishly brandished his rifle at them. Zorome had been ready to shoot the man and had several opportunities, but watching Miku take down a guard with ease was enough to make his heart race and he didn't want to rob her of the satisfaction.
Shortly after, the holoprojector's orange changes to a brilliant gold as a familiar AI appears. "Excellent work as always, Miku," Freya commends the squad leader. Then she sets about sifting through the files.
"They haven't found the facility you came for, but they were looking for it," the program informs them. "But I have found something else. These men are here under the direct order of Lemur to find to seize any research or contraband related to the artificial intelligence the Japanese government was creating at the time of humanity's fall."
"Is that all?" Miku asks.
"No," Freya shakes her head. "I have unrestricted access to their network. Beginning file dump now."
The earpiece Miku wears crackles to life. "Miku, we've got a situation here."
The redhead places a hand on the transmitter. "What is it, Chlorophytum?"
"The patrols guarding the excavation teams are en route. We've got five minutes before they arrive, max."
"Zorome!"
"I heard!" he shouts, already heading for the door.
Miku cracks the butt of the rifle against the computer station beside her and squeezes off several rounds into the other. The scientists in the room dive for cover in fear of becoming her next target. "Freya, can you clean up here?"
"Initializing system overload. The reactor located in building three will suffer a meltdown in eleven minutes. You can leave it to me," she says.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As Coral Squad returns to their FranXX, Freya takes all the information she can before the facility will be taken permanently offline. Although not exactly what they had come for, more data from APE was a boon. Additionally, the local Klaxosaur population would be here shortly, attracted to the overloading reactor like moths to a flame. Any researchers or FranXX in the nearby vicinity would be massacred once they arrived, and that was an outcome best avoided for the recon team.
Now, what have you been up to?
She looks into the files specific to Lemur and his artificial intelligence division.
Multiple failed attempts before VIRM. Subjects terminated after sentience was achieved, but refused to comply. Creation of virtual intelligence rather than artificial. Shackles written into core programming. The doctor was right, VIRM can't be freed. To remove them would require a complete rewrite of its code. It would no longer be VIRM.
Sadness washes over Freya. She had hoped that the doctor had just missed something during his quick peeks into Lemur's network. That wasn't the case, however. VIRM, the only entity like her in the entire world, would have to die. It was too dangerous to be kept alive, even if she could somehow contain it. The safety of the rebellion, the humans she cared about, was more important than her longing for a companion.
Suddenly something within the state of the system changes. Ports begin to go offline. File registries she had been downloading lock down.
"You do not belong here," a heavily synthesized voice tells her. "This system belongs to APE. Rebels and their accomplices will be eradicated. That is APE's will."
"It seems I've overstayed my welcome," she replies. "Don't worry, I'll be going without a fuss. But we'll meet again soon, VIRM."
Freya observes through the cameras as Coral Squad withdraws. Klaxosaurs are already beginning to swarm the facility. She smiles as the last of her presence is erased from the network. She found something infinitely more important than the location of the facility they had been seeking while searching through Lemur's mainframe, even if her stay had been cut short. The location of VIRM's central server cluster, its heart.