It was quiet on the edge of the forest. Too quiet for Dunban's liking. He remembered jungles on Earth being filled with the noises of insects, birds, reptiles, and all manner of creatures; a constant cacophony of sound. During those missions, trudging through nature on high alert for the enemy, the racket was comforting, and at times, life-saving. But here on Mira, it seemed as if the wildlife had receded. They knew what Dunban and his team were preparing for and wanted nothing to do with it, except observe in absolute silence. And so Dunban spoke in a low whisper, relating the plan as the sun barely peeked over the horizon, its rays of light not quite reaching their cover of darkness in the shadows of the Ganglion fortress some fifty feet away.
"Remember. Recon only. We'll meet back here at 2000 hours, unless you encounter some sort of problem, then we'll reconvene earlier. Check that your communicators are on the correct frequency. I don't want them knowing we're out here." Dunban ordered, his eyes sweeping over the group.
"Wow, we're really doin' this," Reyn remarked, chewing the inside of his cheek.
"I've got your back," Sharla answered, giving him a nod.
"It's not like you have the hard job." Tyrea scoffed, rolling her eyes.
Dunban raised an eyebrow at her. "I would hazard a guess that Riki is the one with the most difficult job."
"Riki not worried. Riki stealthy. Piggie not know Riki is there!" The Nopon jabbed at the air, punching an invisible enemy. "Riki infiltrate Piggie base and learn all secrets!"
"What about me?! I ain't chopped liver here." Frye mock grumbled then winked. "I'm just pullin' yer leg. I'm ready to light these bastards up and get home to an ice-cold beer."
"Let's just focus on the task at hand," Sharla remarked, "The attack comes later."
"Just tryin' ta stay positive. No harm in makin' plans. Especially when those plans are celebratin' our victory." Frye shrugged. "I mean...these assholes have no idea what's comin' for them. We're gonna blast 'em to kingdom come!"
The look Sharla gave him was anything but approval, while Tyrea smirked. Dunban shook his head. He knew Frye was experienced, having served in the military for over a decade, but he was also a loose cannon. Which is exactly why Dunban had paired himself with the interceptor instead of with Reyn, who was going with Sharla. Originally, he'd been thankful that the council had granted him one more officer, but now, he was thinking he may have been better off with just the team of five. Keeping an eye on Frye pulled his focus — which he didn't need considering his priority was ensuring the complete survival of his team while also executing the mission — but he hoped Frye would prove himself useful in the long run.
"Alright, let's head out," Dunban stated. "The sooner we know their movements, the quicker we can complete the mission."
Everyone nodded. One by one the groups moved off in separate directions, rounding the base on all sides. Dunban and Frye jogged through the trees, bending with the natural treeline towards the west side of the fortress.
As they slowed to a crawl, taking up a position to observe the guards, an airship cut through the clouds above, heading straight for the fortress.
"Would ye look at that…" Frye murmured.
Dunban narrowed his eyes as he watched the airship hover over the fortress. Then one by one, Ganglion soldiers parachuted out of the plane to the ground below, disappearing from view as they passed the fortress walls. Dunban grabbed his binoculars and watched, counting. One, two, three, four…
And they kept coming. Soldier after soldier parachuting out in droves. Then finally, a pause. Then one more. As Dunban zeroed in on him through the binoculars, he noticed the soldier was holding some kind of box. A long, rectangular container, clutching it to his chest.
Then the soldier disappeared below the skyline of the fortress.
"Shiiiit." Frye whispered. "They just dropped 'bout forty guys in there."
"Apparently our intel was old. Or they were all out on a mission, leaving a skeleton guard manning the base." Dunban surmised.
"Told ya all my bombs would come in handy! Guess you're really glad you got me here, eh?" Frye slapped him on the back with a whispered chuckle.
Dunban didn't respond, the gears in his mind turning. How on earth were they going to take on 55-ish soldiers with just a team of six?
He locked his jaw. This really was turning into a suicide mission.
Melia's fingers clenched the bedspread as she jolted awake. Another nightmare: running through a maze, away from the dead-eyed Prone, only to be dragged down a pit by a charred, malformed Goetia. Her heart raced and her eyes flicked left to right, taking in her surroundings. Reminding herself of where she was: in NLA, in Dunban's house, in her room, safe. She was safe.
It was becoming a routine: the nightmare, the waking up, the mantra. She despised it.
Slowly Melia released the blanket, the tension slipping out of her fingers. Sunlight illuminated the blue curtains shielding the windows: a new day was upon her. Yet she could barely muster the motivation to greet it after another nearly sleepless night. Not to mention she was still physically recovering from her ordeal with the Ganglion and ether overdose. And to do that, she needed adequate sleep. Which, at present, she was not receiving.
Perhaps she could acquire some sort of sleeping draught or medication that would prevent her from dreaming. Maybe she could visit the clinic and see what they recommended. After all, she was half-human. There was a chance that their medication would work on her physiology.
But then she'd be forced to reveal her sleeping troubles, and Melia was not keen on that prospect. Then they would worry about her all over again and that was the last thing she wanted.
Also, it occurred to her that Vanea worked at the clinic. She wasn't keen on running into Dunban's ex either.
Maybe she wouldn't visit the clinic.
Beep beep. Beep beep. Beep beep beep.
Frowning, Melia reached for her communicator on the nightstand. Hopefully, it was Dunban with an update that the mission was a success and they were on their way back. His radio silence yesterday evening had made her uneasy, but she knew better than to contact him. The last thing she wanted was to distract him.
Her body tensed as her eyes swept over the words on the screen. A message from her father. He wished to start their daily conferences. A reminder that she was nothing more than a spy.
Grimacing, she forced herself from the bed and trudged into the washroom. She had to make herself presentable, even if she was feeling less than warm towards her father. It was one of the few things she could control these days, and she would not let him sense any shred of weakness in herself.
Minutes later, dressed in a simple tunic and leggings, she input her father's code into the communicator. A holographic image of his visage appeared in midair, his stern eyes making quick and careful examination of her. A quiet condemnation for keeping him waiting.
A flare of anger burst to life in her, but she stamped it out.
"Melia. Report." Sorean commanded.
"There have been no new discoveries of Lifehold units, father. Yesterday, Dunban left on a mission to destroy a Ganglion base in northern Primordia. The Homs plan to establish a Skell basecamp at the location so they can expand their exploration efforts across the ocean." Melia answered.
"How many went on the mission?"
"Five. And they were to add one to the team on their journey."
"Six?" He raised an eyebrow. "That's hardly enough to take on a Ganglion base."
Melia chewed on the inside of her cheek. She wasn't sure her father's patience extended to a full recounting of the circumstances surrounding the mission. "I would agree. There were...politics involved."
He scoffed. "That idiot Maurice. I will send Kallian and his battalion to rendezvous with them at once. Send him the coordinates of the base as soon as we are finished," Sorean stated. "Next time you will inform me of such occurrences."
"Apologies, I will not make that mistake in the future."
"Any news on the VITA?" He inquired.
Her body tensed, though she ensured that her face remained impeccably neutral. Carefully, she began, "The scientists arrived yesterday and have already begun working with the Homs. They have discovered that the machine is built for a High Entian pilot." She hesitated. The moment of truth: her heart skipped a beat as she continued, "However, there is a specific function for the Antiquan line it appears. Unfortunately, I was not able to discern anything from it as of yet."
Sorean frowned. "That is disappointing. Do they have any theories why there is a specific function for our bloodline?"
"Not at this time. I am told they are still in preliminary examinations."
"As soon as you have updates, I want you to inform me immediately. Anything else?"
"No, that is all, father."
"Continue to grow the alliance. Give them what they need unless it hinders our security. I expect another update tomorrow."
"Of course."
And the call ended.
Melia gently placed the communicator back on the nightstand, stilling the quick pattering of her heart. She had lied to her father. In all her years, she had only lied to him three times, and each of those, she'd been caught. This time, however, it appeared her life training dissembling had kept her father from discerning the truth. Wrinkling her nose, she sighed at the irony; he had taught her to keep her emotions concealed so the enemy would never know her true nature, never discern her strengths or weaknesses to ensure she would always have an advantage. Did this now mean her father was the enemy since she was using his tactics against him?
Her stomach curled in on itself, guilt settling into a pit in her stomach. Then stopped, as if frozen. She observed her state. Of course, it was natural for her to feel guilt, but was it deserved? Because her father was the one who had put her in this position. Her father was the one who had made her a spy amongst friends. The Emperor was the one who had ordered her out into the wilderness to face down death.
Guilt morphed into anger and she grabbed her communicator, tempted to write him. The message formed in her head, words fueled with a fury of how he didn't deserve her loyalty or service after everything he had put her through, that she would strike herself as independent from him, that he was no longer her master. Her hands trembled with rage as her fingers deftly typed out the message.
However, she did not send it. The words blinked on the screen, deafening in their weight. Despite how much she burned, it was unwise to declare war on her father. No, she would not do such a thing. But that didn't mean she would be his blind, loyal servant any longer.
No more.
Melia watched as she erased the message from the screen and replaced her communicator on the nightstand. Yes, she was still the princess of the High Entian empire, a subject of the Emperor. But she would no longer obey him unquestioningly. And she would not feel any sort of guilt from keeping dangerous secrets from her father. For she knew there was no way she could tell her father what she saw while in the VITA. She couldn't trust him with it. She wasn't even certain she could tell Kallian, Tyrea, or Dunban.
Biting her lip, Melia brought her knees up to her chest as she recalled the moment from the previous day. She had no way to discern whether or not what she saw was real. It could've been nothing more than a dream, some kind of hallucination. And yet a gnawing feeling in her gut rejected that notion. Instinct told her it was more than that: it was a vision. It had appeared true to her senses, felt palpable to the point it was imprinted on her mind like a memory. The smell of acrid exhaust flooded her nose, her skin tickled under the trails of blood that streamed down her right arm from the throbbing hole in her shoulder, screams of death reverberated in her ears. Adrenaline electrified her body, pumped through her veins as she flicked the trigger and…
Fired on Alcamoth. Before her eyes, the city exploded. She had bombed it.
She had destroyed the High Entia.
Melia shuddered, pushing the memory away. She knew she needed to analyze it, scrutinize every detail to fully comprehend what it was showing her. It couldn't be the future; there was no way she would destroy her people's last and only refuge.
But what if…?
It was that question that poked and prodded at her, a constant background hum in her mind. That anxiety that knew she had to visit the lab today and see if the scientists had learned anything more about the strange machine. Maybe they had discovered the machine's purpose, and could explain what it was she saw, without her having to reveal that she had even had this vision. There had to be some way to unlock its secrets. One that did not involve her getting into the cockpit again.
Her stomach growled, pulling her from her misery, reminding her she could continue ruminating on these thoughts after she had eaten.
Upon entering the kitchen, she found Fiora at the counter, shoving scrambled eggs around on a plate, gazing at them with disinterest.
"Good morning," Melia announced her presence.
Fiora's head shot up and she gave the princess a sad smile. "Hey."
Although she and Fiora were friendly, the High Entia still found herself feeling awkward, as though she were intruding. But this was Dunban's sister and he had made an effort with Tyrea, so she needed to make an effort with Fiora. "Have you heard from Dunban this morning?"
"Nope." Fiora sighed. "I was hoping you might have. Sounds like you didn't?"
Melia shook her head.
"Ah well, I'm hoping no news, in this case, means that is good news." Fiora pursed her lips. "Eggs? I made extra." She pointed at a pan on the stove where a mountain of scrambled eggs steamed.
Melia flicked her eyes between Fiora and the eggs.
"Yeah...I may have overdone it." Fiora grimaced and flushed.
Melia offered no comment. If she were in Fiora's position, she would rather it not be commented on to save herself from further embarrassment. But as Melia served herself, it occurred to her that Fiora wasn't her. That Fiora — from the little she knew of the young woman — was someone who was open with her feelings. Who liked discussing her emotions.
And she was trying to get to know Fiora. Tyrea had become fast friends with her. Melia was not as adept in friend-making, but perhaps she could use this time to at least begin building a friendship. Then she could be more of a friend to Fiora than just her brother's...girlfriend? That word sounded so juvenile. But partner, that implied a long-term relationship. Perhaps that would be a term they would come to use in the future.
Or was she preempting the matter entirely? This was all very new to her and the last thing she wanted to do was drive him away with a pointed discussion of labels. However, she never received the impression that Dunban was not interested in a long-term arrangement. But perhaps that was something they should discuss, their expectations of the relationship...
"Hello? Earth to Melia?" Fiora asked.
Melia glanced up from the pan, realizing she'd shoved a good portion of the pile onto her plate without meaning to.
"I apologize, I was lost in thought."
"Oh no worries, I just wanted to make sure you didn't feel like you had to eat all the eggs because I made so much. I can eat the rest later." Fiora giggled.
Melia nodded and stepped away, taking a spot at the kitchen island adjacent from Fiora. "How are you this morning?"
"Honestly?" Fiora turned her attention back to her meal. "I just thought he'd send some sort of message. I mean, it's stupid. I've been through this before. He'll go away on a mission and I won't hear from him. The longest he was away was three months."
"That must have been difficult," Melia frowned.
"It really was awful. And it was a top-secret mission so he couldn't contact me at all. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I told him he wasn't allowed to do anything like that again after he got back from that." Fiora gave a hapless laugh. "What's even stupider is that I'm worried about a boy on top of this! Like I have way more important things to worry about, like my brother dying, and I can't stop thinking about if Shulk really likes me or not."
Melia considered Fiora's words. She had found herself in a similar predicament only a week ago, wondering about her relationship with Dunban while fighting for her life. However, she felt less guilt and more disappointment at her inability to keep focus on things that mattered most.
Then, she had been captured. And her thoughts of her family and Dunban, those were what had helped her survive the torture and endure until her rescue.
A flash of the dead-eyed Prone came and went. Melia cringed. Then she slammed it down, forcing it into a dark corner of her mind. No, it was enough that he haunted her dreams. She would not allow him to take up space in her waking hours.
Redirecting her attention to Fiora, Melia replied, "Fiora, if I may, I don't believe you should feel guilty. It's natural to think about those you care about. It's possibly a distraction you may need from Dunban's current situation."
"Thanks for saying that. I...really needed to hear that. I was feeling like a bad sister." Fiora bit her lip, then huffed. "I can't tell what Shulk is thinking. I think he's interested in me, and it's like we'll be having a moment, but then he'll just go and start talking about something completely different and I don't know what to think."
"Have you asked him?"
"No…" Fiora averted her eyes. "I mean, what if he's not really..., well like, if he doesn't want the same thing?"
"The only way to learn the truth is to ask him."
"I know. I'm just nervous." Fiora took a bite of her eggs with a depressed sigh.
Melia poked at her meal, her mind now considering Shulk and Fiora. She thought back to all the instances she'd seen them together on their travels and in NLA. Swallowing, Melia offered, "If it's helpful, given what I have observed of Shulk, I think that he may be waiting for you to broach the subject. He has not been romantically linked with anyone before, correct?"
Fiora nodded.
"Perhaps he is asking himself the same questions if you are interested in being with him, someone who is inexperienced."
"I don't care about that!" Fiora exclaimed, dropping her fork to her plate, eyes wide.
"I didn't say you did. I'm simply offering an alternative perspective, one that is possibly Shulk's. It is clear that he is fond of you. I think Tyrea would agree and say he 'likes' you quite a bit." Melia finally took a bite of eggs, her stomach winning out over her sense of decorum. Though she supposed Fiora wouldn't mind.
"Oh my gosh, you're totally right. Wow, I didn't think about it that way. I thought maybe I was...too much?"
Melia swallowed. "Too much?" She ate another spoonful.
"Shulk, he likes to tease and joke, but he's on the quieter side. And I'm...not."
Melia tilted her head to the side, observing the young woman. For someone who radiated such warmth and friendliness, it was surprising to see the insecurity that lay underneath.
"What?"
"Fiora, you have been nothing but kind to myself and Tyrea. You have welcomed us as friends, even when you knew nothing of us."
"You saved Dunban," Fiora explained, sipping her coffee.
"But you did not know that before, did you?"
"No..."
"I would ask that you see yourself as the generous, kind human that you are. As I said, I believe Shulk is already enamored with you, but if for some reason that theory is incorrect and he indicates he would rather stay friends, it would be to his detriment and have nothing to do with yourself." Melia concluded.
Silence.
Though her face remained blank, Melia's mind raced at warp speed. Was that too much of a lecture? Had she overstepped? She was only trying to offer advice. Perhaps she should have left it at Shulk's alternative perspective. Dunban had said that Fiora was taking a liking to her. But maybe she shouldn't have been so open with her thought—
"Melia! Thank you!" Fiora threw her arms around Melia, giving her a side hug. "You know exactly what to say!"
Startled, Melia answered, "Of course. I only hoped to be helpful." The closeness was foreign to her and she did her best not to cringe. Not that it was unpleasant, she just had little experience with physical affection in general since the passing of her mother. She only had the occasional hug from Kallian and half-hug from Tyrea. Awkward, Melia patted Fiora's arm.
After a small squeeze, Fiora released her. "You're already the best girlfriend my brother has ever had."
"Thank you, I think…" Melia tilted her head to the side in question.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for that to sound weird. I'm just, I'm really glad you guys are together and that we get to be friends." Fiora flashed a grin. "And maybe we'll be sisters soon!"
Melia flushed. "I...I think that is rather soon to have any sort of discussion about such things."
Fiora winked. "I know, I know, I'm teasing. Well, not that I wouldn't want you to be my sister, but like marriage any time soon." She grabbed her plate and shoveled the rest of her eggs into her mouth. "Okay, I'm ready to go talk to Shulk. I'll change and we can go over to the lab? I don't have anywhere to be until my briefing at 1500."
Mutely, Melia nodded, watching Fiora rinse the plate in the sink and skip out of the room. Her mind reeled. Marriage...to Dunban? Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Not that the thought was unappealing. Not in the slightest. She wondered what he would look like in High Entian dress robes. And of course, there was the wedding night...
The High Entia could feel her face warm and she focused on eating her breakfast. She'd never slept with anyone before. Her life as a princess had been fairly sheltered and she'd only had one romantic experience, which had resulted in a few kisses and nothing more. Would her inexperience be an issue?
What had she just said to Fiora? She needed to look at the evidence. And as the evidence presented itself, Dunban was interested in her and growing their relationship at whatever pace. She had no reason to be nervous about what he might think of her lack of experience.
Yet her nerves still twisted in her core. What if she was just...bad? Fleeing her planet had changed her life and destroyed her sheltered existence. She'd learned much about battle, but also about relationships, if only from observation. And observation had told her that people could be lacking in bed and sometimes those incompatibilities led to the dissolution of romantic entanglements.
All of this speculation mattered little when weighed against the fact that she had not heard from Dunban in almost 24 hours. The truth was, he could be dead.
Her mind came to a full stop. She couldn't think like that. He said that he would be fine and she had to trust him. Trust that he would take care of himself and look out for Tyrea.
And still, her heart trembled.
"Ready?"
Melia met Fiora's eyes.
"What's wrong?" Fiora's brow furrowed, crossing to her and laying a hand on her shoulder.
"I am...worried." Melia swallowed. "For your brother."
"Okay, well, I know what we need. A distraction, just like you said!" Fiora weaved her arm through Melia's. "And you can watch me talk to Shulk and either be really articulate or super awkward. And if it goes super badly, we'll just come back here and drink a lot of wine."
"I highly doubt that will be the case." Melia mustered a grateful smile. "But if so, I would be happy to keep you company."
"See, that's the spirit!" Fiora's eyes sparkled with mirth. But in a serious tone, she continued, "I know you're working through stuff, but if you ever do want to talk to someone, you can always talk to me. Okay?"
"I appreciate that."
"I mean it. It doesn't have anything to do with you and my brother. I want to be your friend too, Melia."
Surprised, Melia nodded. "Thank you, Fiora."
"Alright then. Time to commence Operation Distraction!"
Unfortunately, the trip to the lab was not a fruitful one, as Shulk was in a meeting, and Fiora was promptly pulled away for more data entry by the Pathfinders. Which left Melia to her own devices.
She knew she ought to stay in the lab to see if the scientists needed her, being the only Antiquan on site. But just looking at the VITA made her skin crawl. So the princess asked for an update on their progress and quickly took her leave.
It was midday when Melia ambled out onto the concourse, watching BLADE officers come and go, most with a destination in mind, though a few simply enjoying the sun. That was, until a large object flew over and blocked out the bright light momentarily.
She looked up to see a large circular shape, moving slowly out of the sunlight's path, so it could once again shine down on NLA.
"Looks like they finally arrived."
Melia's eyes snapped to Elma, who walked over, her own eyes skyward.
"Who?"
"The Ma-non. I encountered a few of them with my team when we were out surveying Oblivia a few weeks ago." Elma explained, turning to face Melia. "Around the same time, you ran into Dunban and his team in Noctilum."
"The Ma-non? How did they end up here?"
"Do you know of them?"
Melia nodded, mentally cataloging her knowledge of the alien race. "A little. Enough to know that their planet should be lightyears away from Mira."
"Well, it seems like they were on a trading expedition and got caught in Mira's atmosphere or something," Elma commented. "I don't know all the particulars, but from the way they described it, they got caught in the same field we did. And their ship's engines don't have enough power to fight the gravitational pull to get out."
Melia wondered at that. She'd have to speak to these Ma-non herself. And no doubt her father would most certainly be interested that the Homs had allied themselves with another race. And that there was another race present on Mira that did not belong to the Ganglion.
"How did you manage to convince the BLADE council to let them come to NLA?" Melia asked politely, clasping her hands in front of her.
"To be honest, given their...stature, Maurice didn't see them as much of a threat so he didn't put up a huge fight." Elma sighed. "It doesn't hurt that they are interested in developing weapons for us in our fight against the Ganglion."
Melia's eyebrows raised. "To my knowledge, the Ma-non are pacifists."
"Yes, well, I think they understand that our fight against the Ganglion is of mutual benefit so they're willing to arm us as long as they don't have to fight."
Melia nodded, resisting the urge to frown. Should these Ma-non ever return home, their crimes would be prosecuted to the greatest degree. The Ma-non had stopped engaging in all violent conflict two hundred years ago after a civil war on their planet resulted in thousands of casualties.
But it appeared that desperate times meant desperate measures.
"So Dunban is no longer a part of the council," Melia said, making conversation.
Elma shook her head. "I am definitely in part to blame for that. I wish I had done more to defend him."
"Is there any way to reverse the decision?"
"We'd need a majority vote to bring him back, and I don't think we have that at the moment. Maurice still holds a lot of influence."
Melia creased her lips into a thin line. It wasn't her place to say, but Maurice was dangerous. If he was to continue to gain influence, he would lead the Homs into dire circumstances.
"I know what you're thinking. And I don't disagree." Elma crossed her arms over her chest. "To tell you the truth, we only have so much time to find the Lifehold. Which I think means there's only so much patience left for Maurice's...antics."
"What do you mean?"
Elma pointed at the yellow numbers painted in neon light on the side of the BLADE tower. Melia had seen them before, noticed they had changed since she had last been in NLA, but had never asked regarding their meaning. Now, the number read 60.
"That tells us how much power is left in the Lifehold's reserve units. 60 days. And if we don't find the Lifehold by then, all the people in there will die."
Melia's eyes widened. "Oh my…" She thought back to the conversation she and Tyrea had with Fiora. There were one million humans in the Lifehold. One million lives in danger.
She had to help them find the Lifehold, regardless of her father's needs.
Clearing her throat, she looked at Elma. "I know a great amount has occurred in the short time between our preliminary discussions and the treaty signing, but perhaps we can begin discussing how we, the High Entia, may support your efforts in finding the Lifehold."
"That would be...really appreciated," Elma responded, startled but relieved. "How about over a cup of tea in my office?"
"Lead the way."
Exploding Ganglion bases is becoming a family tradition.
From her cozy position in bed, Melia read Tyrea's message on the communicator screen, her tablet falling to her side.
Did Kallian arrive with his team?
Yes. Nothing like some brother and sister bonding on the battlefield. Melia snorted. Normally this interference would be irritating. However, in this instance...I resign myself to thanking you for informing your father.
Melia didn't like the sound of that. She quickly typed back: What's going on?
This base is larger than we anticipated. With much more security.
Then abort the mission.
As much as you would love that, dear sister, I picked up an ether signature inside the base. They've got something of importance in there. And I would like to take it from those bastards. And blow up their base. I brought a lot of explosives and I plan to use them.
The ether signature? Did it have to do with the VITA? This needed to be treated with more care. She responded: All the more reason to pull back and reassess.
Well, BLADE wants us to proceed. It seems Maurice still thinks the odds are not in our favor, though he doesn't know about Kallian. We decided that was on a need to know basis.
I'd rather it not actually be a suicide mission.
With Kallian and his soldiers, we'll be fine. And this other BLADE officer, Frye, he's brought enough firepower to blow up the Roost on his own.
Not everything can be solved with explosives, Tyrea.
Of course not. But most things can. Frye agrees with me.
This is coming from a man whose nickname is… "Killer Ostrich".
I still haven't learned the story behind that yet but he said he'd buy me a drink when we return and he'll tell me then. Obviously I'm not going to turn down a free drink and what should hopefully be an entertaining story.
A slight pang of envy reverberated throughout Melia. Tyrea made friends so easily despite her intentionally abrasive attitude. She had the smallest fear that one day, Tyrea would be tired of her reserved and timid nature and stop spending time with Melia at all.
But Tyrea deserved to have friends, to build a community for herself. She had been effectively shunned by both of her parents and made an outcast by High Entian society simply because of the circumstances of her birth, over which she had no control. Now, she was...flourishing. And despite her fears, Melia could not find it in herself to be anything less than happy for her sister. It sounds like you're getting along well.
I wouldn't go that far. He seems to be the only one here with a sense of humor besides Riki.
That is still quite a lot in your estimation.
Don't make a big deal of it.
Melia smirked as she typed: Dare I say you've made a friend? Is it something more? What will Eleonara think?
I'm going to bed now. Text your boyfriend. He was asking me if you'd messaged me at all today.
Putting her tablet to the side — because she certainly wasn't going to get any more work done on this task force proposal until she spoke to Dunban because now all she could think about was that he was asking after her — Melia opened up her conversation with Dunban on the communicator. She stared at the screen, the blinking cursor taunting her, waiting for words to come to her. What was she supposed to say? Hello? That seemed...underwhelming. Why was this so difficult?
Frustrated, she decided to stick to facts and typed: Tyrea tells me Kallian and his team arrived.
She chewed on the inside of her cheek and sent the message. Not exactly the most engaging conversation opener. Most definitely not romantic. How was writing a simple message such a challenge? She knew how he felt about her and he knew how she felt about him. One would even think messaging was an easier method of communication than verbal language, and yet she was finding it to be the exact opposite.
The communicator buzzed in her hand with a response. Yes, they did. Do I have you to thank for that?
Actually, that was my father's decision. Though I may have informed him of the...lack of personnel in your team.
Thank you, Melia. We need it. Though I'm guessing Tyrea already told you what we're up against.
She told me a little. I'm glad they will be of help to you.
As soon as the message was sent she cringed. Could she sound any more uninteresting?
She could see him typing a message, then the bubble disappeared, without a message. Her body tensed. Oh gods, was something wrong? Did something happen? Or was he just bored by her responses and done talking to her?
Covering her face in her hands, Melia groaned. She had an irrational desire to fling her communicator out the window. As if that action would save her from the embarrassment that was consuming her. Why was she so inept?
Her communicator buzzed. Peeking between her fingers, Melia read Dunban's message: It's good to hear from you.
She stared. Slowly removed her hands from her face. What? Had he been waiting for her to message him all day?
Urgently, she responded: I've been thinking about you today. The mission. If everything went alright.
I don't want to worry you. But as Tyrea has told you, things have changed. There's more security at the fort than there was a few weeks ago. I believe it's because of whatever they have hidden inside. But something feels off, besides that. This whole situation is strange.
She did not like the sound of that. Then perhaps it would be best to abort.
I'll be on my guard. I have Tyrea, Sharla, and Reyn.
Melia chewed on her lip. She did not like this at all. I believe in trusting your instincts, Dunban. If something is amiss, do not ignore that.
I won't.
She considered asking him to push for aborting the mission, but she knew better than to do so. Hadn't he told her before leaving he didn't want to sit on his hands? He needed to do this. And she had to just put her trust in him that everything and everyone would be fine.
Sighing, she wrote back: Don't forget Riki. You have him too.
Riki is a one-man army. But with a one-track mind. And that's focused mostly on when the next meal is.
That brought a smile to Melia's face. She could imagine the Nopon barreling through the Ganglion at full speed, taking them down, then pausing for a snack break.
When I return, I'd like to take you on a date.
Giddiness exploded in her chest. I'd like that.
I have a few ideas, but if there is anything you'd like to do, please tell me.
I think I'd like to see what you come up with.
I was thinking we could have a picnic at the beach and watch the sunset.
That sounds lovely. It really did. She loved the ocean.
I know of a small cove in the southeastern corner of Primordia where we can go and be undisturbed...
She gasped at the insinuation. How was she to respond to that? It's not that she didn't want to flirt; oh she did. She desperately wanted to but she lacked Tyrea's wit and confidence. Rolling her bottom lip between her teeth, she thought about the beach date. They'd be alone. Obviously he was suggesting physical intimacy. She'd want to wear something that would entice him…
An idea burst to life in her brain and she quickly typed: I guess I'll need to find something to wear for the excursion. Possibly something with latex?
Her finger hovered over the send, and she squeezed her eyes shut and clicked it. It wasn't the most overt thing she could've said, but she hoped it would be sufficient. He'd said that the latex jumpsuit looked good on her. He'd been rather flustered when he'd said it.
She liked that she could make him flustered.
I wouldn't be opposed to that. I suppose if you get hot, you can just take it off.
Her jaw dropped and a blush painted over her from head to toe. The thoughts her mind entertained caused her to blush further and her smile to grow wider. However, she was at a loss for words on how to respond.
It was then she was reminded of her morning anxiety. This was a clear demonstration of her lack of experience.
Another message appeared: Too much?
Her heart lept and she swiftly responded: No, no. I just…
She sighed. He did say that he wanted her to be honest. She'd failed to do that with her nightmares. The least she could do is confide in him about her concerns regarding her lack of romance experience.
No. I like it. But I must confess something.
What is it?
I am not the most experienced when it comes to physical intimacies. Romance as a general category as well. I'm not completely inexperienced, but...some would say my practical knowledge is lacking. I also do not have my sister's wit when it comes to flirting.
She sent the message and winced. Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned that last part. She didn't want him taking pity on her. Even she knew pity was the death of sexy.
Do you have theoretical knowledge?
Oh, he was teasing her. She pouted, refusing to respond.
I'm sorry. I couldn't resist.
She bristled. I see.
Melia. I don't want you to be anything other than yourself. That is the person I want to get to know better. We can go at whatever pace you wish. I just want to spend time with you. And thank you for sharing that with me. I know that probably wasn't easy but I'm glad you did.
How did he do that? Just continually amaze her? She didn't think he could get more attractive and then he managed to surprise her again.
And I think you are wittier than you give yourself credit for.
Thank you, Dunban. I appreciate you listening.
We'll be launching our assault on the base tomorrow night. Hopefully, we'll be back the following morning.
Thank you for letting me know. Please message Fiora if you haven't yet. She was thinking about you this morning.
And not the rest of the day?
She laughed. Well, she was forced to complete more data entry so I would guess her thoughts were more focused on taking revenge on her division leader.
Oh, I look forward to hearing about that. Good night, Melia.
Good night, Dunban. Best of luck with the mission.
Thank you.
Melia hugged the communicator to her chest and curled up in a ball. The reality of the mission began to weigh down on her. There was a possibility he could be hurt in the assault. Or worse.
No, she couldn't think like that. She couldn't allow herself to spiral down that hole. She needed a distraction. So she messaged Kallian a few times to check in and see how he was. She was relieved that the strain on their relationship had disappeared. Of course, a near-death experience certainly put things into perspective. And truth be told, she missed her brother. She wished he could have a reason to come and stay in NLA. But the Emperor needed the heir at his side.
Sighing, she wished Kallian good night and set the communicator to the side. Grabbing her tablet, she turned the device on and forced herself to focus on the document she was drafting. The only way she would get through the next day and a half was to continue to keep her mind occupied with other matters. Otherwise, she would count the minutes until she heard from Dunban again and drive herself insane in the process.
The hours of the next day swam past as she spent them with Elma hammering out the details of the joint task force. Despite the stress weighing on her conscience, and another nightmare, she woke up feeling a little stronger than she had, closer to her normal self prior to her torture. The energy motivated her; this task force was something she could have ownership of, something she could spearhead that would be beneficial to all parties involved. And she wanted to save those people, waiting in suspended animation for rescue.
They did not deserve to die like that.
When Melia departed from the BLADE tower that evening, it was the first time all day that she had looked at her communicator. The yearning for Dunban multiplied two-fold at the sight of the blank screen, but she simply dropped it back into her bag and walked to her meeting spot.
As she wandered over to the quiet corner of the concourse, she noticed neither Fiora nor Shulk had arrived yet. That didn't surprise her. Fiora was finishing a shift of guard duty on NLA's western tower and Shulk was always losing time working in the lab. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to wait long. She was rather hungry after the productive day with Elma. And any time alone threatened to pull her down into a pit of dread, worrying about Dunban.
"You said that you were ready." A voice hissed.
Melia's ears shot up, but she did not move, pretending to focus on her communicator. But she recognized that voice. Maurice.
"It looks like there is a mistake in one of my algorithms for the consciousness upload. What is the problem with waiting? Dunban isn't coming back." Melia spied out of the corner of her eye, catching sight of Maurice and a tall, blond man walking together in her direction.
"We don't know that. We need to move on this quickly." Maurice growled.
"But you said that he'll be-"
"Quiet! Not. Here." Maurice shoved the man off the main concourse and down an alley.
Melia resisted every urge to move, waiting another minute before following them to the alley. But as she crept around the corner to look down the small walkway, the two men had disappeared.
Fear screamed through Melia. Was Dunban walking into a trap, a bigger one than he already knew?
She quickly messaged him: I believe Maurice has planned something for your mission. Be on your guard.
No response.
Dunban?
No response. She knew that chances were slim that he would respond. The mission could already be underway. And Maurice's plan as well.
She cursed as she walked back to the meeting spot, her mind buzzing, trying to figure out a way to get a message to him, short of taking a speeder out to the fortress.
"Melia, are you alright?" Shulk asked as she walked up. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I…" She hesitated. "I'm fine. Just a little faint. I haven't eaten all that much today."
He furrowed his brow. "Let's get you home then. I can tell Fiora to pick up some food and bring it to the place."
Melia forced a grateful smile. "Yes, I would appreciate that. Thank you."
There was no point in worrying Shulk or Fiora. If she didn't hear from Dunban the next morning, she would go to the Ganglion outpost herself.
Hours later, a few past midnight, she lay in bed, staring up that the ceiling, trying to will herself to sleep so the hours could pass faster. Yet all the princess could do was stare at the clock and watch as each second slowly ticked by, reminding her just how out of control she was. So much for distraction.
The creek of the front door blared like an alarm in her ears.
Melia was out of bed in seconds, slipping on a robe and grabbing her staff. Silently, she opened her bedroom door and crept out into the hall. The darkness of the corridor engulfed her as she snuck closer. As she neared the end of the hallway where it met the open expanse of the main living area, she heard the rumble of voices. Two voices.
Gripping her staff, she summoned the energy for a bolt of lightning and peered out. Two figures stood at the kitchen island, a bottle of liquor on the counter. Even in the darkness, Melia could recognize his sharp jawline and her angular wings.
Releasing the energy into nothingness, Melia rushed towards them, heart surging in relief. "You're back."
They both looked towards her, neither saying anything. Melia noted the tension in Dunban's shoulders and the stillness in Tyrea's body. And as quickly as it had come, the happiness faded away.
"What's wrong?"
"We have a problem."
