Girls und Transformers
Chapter 8: And that's how the cookie crumbles
A quick message to my viewers thank you all who have stuck with me and waited patiently. Ik I take forever and ever, but I'm working really hard to crunch out these chapters and imbed new storyline ideas.
Thx for your guys' reviews.
Thx Nazz 11 for the constant reviews.
It dosen't matter how long the review is, a simple compliment means the world.
Now please enjoy…
The Ooarai girls tankery team had arrived at school in an anxious hurry.
The Volleyball team were the first to arrive followed by the Gamer Girls. With the freshman coming in last and gasping for oxygen.
Karina collapsed on all fours while Aya and Yuuki used Saki for support who remained unfazed and not fatigued.
The History club walked up to the doors of the tank garage and knocked in a certain pattern.
The door knocked back in acknowledgment before opening up to reveal Alisa. Her face was unclean and full of sleep deprivation. Her hair was a forest of nappy strands, "Hey…" her voice was gravelly.
The girls of Ooarai expressed their deep sympathy through facial expressions.
"Hey Alisa. How did everyone hold out?" Erwin took her cap off and nervously played with her hair.
Alisa stepped aside and beckoned them in, "Take a look for yourself.".
The girls stepped in and suddenly found it hard to breathe.
The badly injured remained in stretchers, but those who could walk adored bandages or casts for fractured arms. A few girls were curled up in opposite areas of the rooms rocking and mumbling to themselves.
A short number of the girls who were completely fine physically and, for the most part, mentally continued to cater for their friends.
"Few of us are still hanging on to a thread of sanity. And last night one of the girls on patrol tried to run off, but luckily her partner was there to catch her." Alisa reported.
The situation was only getting worse by the hour. It had been a whole night now since Miho, Kay, and the student council left for Pravda to hopefully get some answers or clear the air.
The one upside to everything however was the showcase of everyone's tanks in complete repair and working order. They looked brand new even.
Turned out Rust had been an engineer on her planet Cybertron…
Rustung's wounds had been tended by the Automotive club to stop the leaking of what they now know is energon. A fluid that acted as blood which sustained and kept her bio components in working order. Once she was all patched up she began to work on helping her new allies and proving her allegiance.
The Girls of Ooarai and Saunders lended their ears and attention to the alien as she worked.
However not all of Saunders were actually in the mood to listen.
Kay stood further back with her hands shoved in her pockets sharing limp side glances before returning to Alisa and some other Saunder girls.
"Wooow, so your entire planet is made of living metal?" Ayumi asked.
"Basically yeah. The core of Cybertron sustains a continuous flow of energon for the planet, but when Megatron infected it with dark energon. The planet initiated its self defense protocol and went under a systems shutdown. A sleep basically so it could repair itself, that's how Optimus explained it at least." the Autobot explained as she held two tanks in her hands.
"Woooow!".
"So cool."
"Intriguing.".
The freshmen girls cooed at the story.
"Ahem!" Sono of the triplets coughed in her fist, "Mrs. Rustung I am terribly sorry…" she bowed to the Autobot in embarrassment before turning to the girls of Rabbit team, "Don't you think it's rude to say 'cool' after someone just told you their heartbreaking backstory?" she scolded.
The spinning wheel of death hovered above the girls until their confusion suddenly shattered like glass as realization came smashing through.
"We're terribly sorry!"
"Please forgive our foolishness!"
"We didn't mean it like that, Rust!"
The girls cried their apology.
Rust didn't know how to respond, so she just laughed, "It's fine. I know what you meant by spark.".
"Spark?".
Rust realized her error in speech, "Well heart in your case." she cleared.
With the M3-Lee and Kay's Sherman in her grasp she worked and explained with little effort. And not only were the Automotive club in awe at the Autobots engineering skills, but the other girls were captivated by the display of work.
Rust's protective optic mask clicked back into place around her eyes.
From Rustung's wrists were protruding several worm like metal tenderals with blue rings of energon circling along the lengths. The tips varied depending on their use, some acted as hands with claw-like grips, others spewed a strange blue liquid over cracks in the tanks armor before hardening. Then another appendage with a blowtorch-like head went along the crack and instead of a blue flame, a green steam of electricity sparked and sizzled over the blue liquid.
Tsuchiya played with a wrench as she watched in astonishment, "That's a bit freaky though. How do you manage to control all those… tentacles? Prosthetic arms?".
Rust continued to work but hummed in thought, "Hmmm… it… I-I don't know really. It's just natural for me, like the equivalent of human breathing. You don't really think about it." she explained.
"Well just don't you even think about getting cozy. Tank maintenance and repairs is our territory, but I guess we could take you in as a novice." Keiko quipped.
The Automotive club shared a laugh.
Within minutes both tanks had been buffed out of dents, cleansed of scorch marks, and ridded of broken armored plates.
The Autobot examined the two tanks like toys or models in her collection before adding them to the row of other refurbished war machines.
It really was incredible how the living machine worked.
"Has Miho or Kay said anything yet?" Alisa asked, splashing some water from a bottle on her face.
"Nothing yet, we were hoping they'd be back at dawn at least." Oryou stated, appalled by the whole situation in general.
Alisa rubbed her face with an annoyed grunt, "Aaaah damnit!" she snapped.
Her voice cut through the silence causing a few ears to twitch at the change in volume, "Nothing has gone right at all!".
Erwin stepped up to the plate taking her german Marshal jacket off, "Hey now it's going to be okay…" she covered the pigtailed girl in a comforting hug with the jacket, "Anzu left me and Hippo Team in charge till they got back, meaning whatever it is you want you can run by me and I'll get the hall monitors to handle it." she addressed the triplets with a wave of her hand.
The triplets in sync scowled at the blonde.
"Hey now that's not what you just said a few seconds ago!" Sono pointed a sharp finger.
Shinobu then gently put the accusing hand down, "I think what she meant is that you three have clearance second to the student council for getting around the school.".
"Wouldn't it have made more sense to just put us in charge then?" Moyoko brushed her hair back.
Alisa rubbed her temples from the small bickering, "You wouldn't happen to be able to get anything more filling? Or at least meat based dishes, Ooarai can't be that poor can they?" she then realized she subtly snapped again, "... sorry… me hangry."
Nakajima examined the Saunders girls pigment, "You have been looking rather pale lately." she observed.
"Oh!..." Noriko perked up, "That would probably be a symptom of malnutrition it's where-
"I know what it is!" Alisa snapped. Quickly picking her pieces of composure and putting it back together she sighed, "Sorry… look, moral here is at an all time low. We don't need a giant alien robot to come and kill us, everyone here is already dead for the most part." she sulked her shoulders.
Nekota suddenly popped up in front of Alisa causing the girl to step back unprepared, "We have just the cure for boredom! Do you have a proper workout etiquette to channel your frustration?" she flexed her arms as her thought to be fake cat ears perked up.
"Or how about a board game to take your mind off the doom and gloom?" Piyotan calmly popped up beside her friend.
"What about a little fun in the digital world of video games!? Fantasies come to life!" Momoga was last to appear with a peace sign on one hand and a gameboy in the other.
A bead of sweat lurked down Alisa's face, "Ugggggh…" she put her hands up trying to dismiss herself from the gamers.
The Volleyball girls huddled up quickly whispering among themselves before nodding and breaking formation.
Noriko stepped past Alisa with a determined look, "Alright!..." she barked before clapping her hands together and rubbing them together, "Outside ladies!".
All the other doors whined and creaked from the stubborn hinges.
The light crept into the garage and drenched the girls in warmth, some however groaned in annoyance as the rays of sunshine pricked at their eyes.
*CLANK!*
*CLANK!*
*CLANK!*
"Load'em up!" Noriko slid several buckets together.
"Catch Taeko! Hep! Ho!" Shinobu tossed two bottles of soap.
Taeko flicked the caps open before distributing the colored liquid evenly amongst the buckets.
*SpliiiiiiiIIIIIIIIISSSH!*
Shinobu then went to work filling the buckets up with water from one of the hoses.
The freshman laughed and danced in the drones of bubbles.
One bubble was locked on by Saki's unbreakable stare before popping on her nose and making her twitch.
Noriko fished out a number of various sponges, "It's yours Akebi!" she began to toss the sponges up one by one.
"Up we go!", Akebi leaped up and spiked the sponges one by one in the buckets causing soap and water to slosh.
Minutes later…
The rundown band of Saunders girls stood slumped and unmotivated outside with the girls of Ooarai behind them and Leopon's Tiger present acting as a base for relaxation for the Automotive club..
In front of everyone however. On the stage of dirt and in the spotlight of the sun stealing the show and everyone's attention. Ooarai's one and only Anglerfish Panzer IV displayed in all its glamour… well… to be restored to its once glamorous state.
The tank was currently discolored from its mud brown to a puke green. It's hull was covered in wet glistening patches of slime that seemed to have made themselves home steady on the metal. So much more could be said to the interior, but there aren't many words to describe the horrendous state.
"What is this supposed to be?" one of the girls asked.
Erwin found it chocking to come up with an explanation as she scratched a nervous itch on her chin, "W-well uuuugh…".
Yesterday before leaving for Pravda
*SPLLLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRSSSHH!*
Water fell from the hatches of the upside down Panzer IV like a plague spreading across the tan dirt infecting its coloration.
Many of the Oorari girls squealed and recoiled in disgust as if there was an army of fire ants as the soiled water inched closer to their feet.
All except Miho as her school shoes were hugged around by the flow of water. She starred with the most dead eyed half opened stare. Her lips were almost invisible, being just a black line.
A few pillows, bottles, and girl hygienic essentials raced by with the flowing water.
*CUTHUNK!*
The ground shook as Rustung placed the dripping wet frankenstein looking tank on the ground.
The Autobots stature shrunk seeing the bitter emotions displayed. Failing to meet any of their eyes she looked around at her feet while shamefully tapping the tips of her fingers together, "... I sowy….".
"It's a Panzer obviously." the german themed girl played dumb. Probably not the smartest card to play.
"Really!? Is the sky blue too? No shit it's a Panzer! I mean what the hell is this?!" the girl waved in frustration at the several pales of sparkly soap water ringed around the fished out tank.
"After the Panzer was so kindly returned to us. It needs to be a little… refurbished." Erwin explained with a 'pretty please' smile.
"Oh hell no, forget this." the girl diminished any chance for explanation as she walked away.
"Pissing on us without the decency to call it rain!" another protested before leaving for sanctuary in the garage.
Other girls groaned and moaned before dismissing the area.
Sono sighed with a shrug, "Well go figure huh?".
Caesar gasped as the plan was falling apart, "Hey guys wait!" she reached out to the rejective girls, "I promise there's a better and more positive meaning to this than it's intended to look." she explained desperately.
But her pleas failed to reach their hearts. However-
"HEY!" Oryou's voice cracked through the air like a tank shot and broke through the arrogance of Saunder's, "You guys all reek of dejection and just in general stink! This isn't a Holocaust concentration camp so how about being alive again for a few hours!".
The Saunder's girls were struck back by the Hippo members' outburst.
"Are you serious!?" one of the girls started, "Last I checked your school is still standing so where do you get room to talk like you were in our shoes?!" she retaliated with other girls reciprocating the feelings.
Keiko shot up from her tanning position upon the Porsche, "Don't be such a Grinch!".
"Keiko don't." Maria put a hand on her friend's soldier.
"No no she's right…" Oryou encouraged, "It's expected from a bunch of rich girls whose school can afford pride over honor. Bunch of spoiled rotten girls still thinking it's all about them! Well think twice because we've sacrificed a lot for you guys to!".
Saunders' sour mood shifted like the direction of the wind, blowing away the arrogance clouding their judgment.
"W-well, what is it you expect us to do then? Take our uniforms off?".
"And give them to the twins for washing." Erwin finished with a thumbs up.
"WHAT!" the triplets and Saunders girls echoed.
"That's taking it too far now!".
*Zzzzzzzzzzziip!*
A zipper was drawn down and seemed to seal any arguments away.
The girls turned to see Alisa stripping her foul tattered tankery uniform off exposing her discolored skin small semi-flat physic. She wore a black sports bra underneath, and was soon revealed to be wearing bloomers as the skirt was dropped next.
"Alisa you don't have to do this." Alisa's crew mate also know as Helmet-chan, surpassed her timid character for her commander.
"And go back to sitting in a dark tank garage… go back to falling even when we thought things couldn't get any lower…" her tone was dry. Her spirit was deprived, robbed of its usual playful and mischievous perks.
It was sad to see this husk of a once brighter known soul before them. The girls just watched as their vice commander worked at her boots.
"I don't know about you guys, but if sulking is your way of coping then you're only bashing yourselves. This is stupid no doubt… but maybe its a wake up call that I can't see, but feel slapping across my face.".
"Is she trying to be poetic?" Ayumi asked.
"...does it matter if it still hits?" Aya replied.
"Shh!" Sono shushed.
Alisa finished peeling off her socks and walking to the tank.
Grabbing a sponge.
And began casually washing the tank.
There were no words to describe it or even a feeling to call an emotion.
*Zzzzzzzziip!*
Another girl zipped down her jacket.
*Zzzzzzziip*!*
And another until several jackets and skirts were splayed across the dirt. Some girls were left in either active wear of undergarments, however no one cared to judge. They all carried bruises from battle and mental scars that will forever plague them.
Eventually the Panzer IV was being cleaned from all sides.
Erwin snapped, raising a finger, "Time to put the cherry on top…" she then pointed to the Leopon team, "Music!" she exclaimed.
Tsuchiya clapped in glee, "I've got the perfect track for this!" she disappeared in the tank.
Hawaii Five-0 theme
Music began to play from the speakers that had been installed inside the tank.
The music was like energetic party music for the beach.
Some of the girls were familiar with the party beats and smiled, even tapping their feet to the rhythm.
Alisa was grabbing the hose and looked up to see helmet-chan turned back to her washing the tread armor.
*SPRAY!*
"GEHEHEH!" Helmet-chan shivered as the cold water kissed her bare back, "Hey what the heck!" she whipped around.
It was small, but Alisa actually smirked, "What?" she shrugged as if she did nothing wrong.
Helmet-chan (That's what it says XD!) looked to be distraught, but maybe she was too fatigued to be angry because she found the desire she had to be mad betrayed her as a smile forced itself on her lips. Scooping a handful of soap from her bucket and chucking it at her friend.
Laughter erupted from Alisa. The dying star began to shine once more.
And like magic the others were hooked on the fun too. The music and sounds of joy was like a calling to those inside who eventually came out to see the air sprinkled with rainbow shimmering droplets and feather weight gobs of bubbles soared.
One of the girls with a bucket dumped it over three of her friends and ran laughing as she was chased.
A few of the stretchers were carried out so that everyone could indulge on the excitement.
Erwin hummed with a smirk as she tipped her marshall's cap, "Nice initiative taking there Oryou." she nudged her friend.
"I didn't know you could explode like that." Saemonza was taken back.
Oryou brushed back her unruly black hair with a nervous chuckle, "It was the Volleyball team's idea to do this." she tried redirecting the attention.
"Hey give yourself some credit…" Maria hooked around the girls neck, "You gave a hell of a rant there.".
The Saunders girls continued to feel alive again ever since.
The whole point was never to get Saunders outside, hell it wasn't even on the 'to do' list for them to have fun. What Ooarai was trying to do was to get them to understand that they are still alive, that they still have each other. Stitching a wound is painful, but it's a lot easier if you have someone helping you. They needed to realize that trying to get back up from where they were would be no easy fret, but if they all rose hand in hand… then they would prevail.
The sight of the water party was viewed by an intruding pair of eyes from a far.
*SNAP!*
A camera went off.
*SNAP!*
It went off again.
A figure draped in a brown leather trench coat submerged itself deeper within the cover provided by the neighboring lush forest vegetation.
A slender tan hand reached into one of the pockets of the coat before snapping out a clam phone.
Dialing a number, she then waited.
The call was picked up, "Something to report to add to my next drink, detective?" Commander Chono's voice played through.
"Seems like the Nishizumi girl was telling the truth." the detective spoke in a cold tone.
"You're kidding?" the gravity of reality seemed unreal to comprehend.
"Got the pictures to prove it." the detective confirmed scrolling through her cameras.
"*Siiiiiigh* Dear god…" the sigh was heavy.
"Looks like drinks are on you tonight." the detective's attention spiked as it saw the StugIII begin to drive off with the vice commander of Saunders joining the Hippo team.
"I'm dispatching a team to take them all in until we know what to do, they should be there shortly.".
"Not yet Commander, not yet… there's still something I need to look into. Place them on standby till further notice."
"Well make it quick, I gotta be at Chi-Ha-Tan soon to ref their match.".
"Guess I gotta have my scout fill in for me. She's a novice, but it'll make good practice." The call ended as the detective melted into the forest and vanished.
After minutes of water war Alisa timed out and pranced over to the teams of Ooarai, "Well…I'll be a monkey's uncle. Who would've thought of this turnout huh?" she heaved dripping wet.
"Need a towel?" Piyotan offered.
"Please…" Alisa accepted and began to ruffle her hair and dry her body, "By the way, I wanted to discuss something earlier." she admitted.
"Something bothering you? I'm all ears.." Erwin acknowledged.
"Well actually, it's everyone. See supply is a bit short right now..." Alisa's cheeks dusted a bit pink, fiddling the towel.
Sono furrowed her brow as she and her sisters were collecting the discarded jackets and skirts, "Come on! We ransacked the cafeteria two days ago!".
"And before that we had to scrounge enough to buy from the store." Moyoko added in with less shouting.
Sono threw the clothes into the Char-B1, "Exactly, we're not made of money here!".
"Sono, please keep your voice down." Nozomi modestly pleaded.
"It's not food… it's uggh…" Alisa's cheeks burned beat red, "Come on we all go through it!" she fummed.
Erwin blinked as three dots blinked in a line above her head. Then realization stabbed like a knife as her stomach tensed and her face heated, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight." she pulled down her marshal cap to cover her embarrassed look.
The Stug III drove through the streets of the floating village.
Alisa and her friends needed… important essentials.
So, Hippo team agreed to go on a grocery run while taking Alisa with them.
"Are you guys sure these are street legal? I mean we're in a pedestrian area." Alisa voiced her complaint. She was kindly provided with an Ooarai uniform to wear.
The tank drove at a good jogging pace down the road sticking out like a lemon on an apple tree. People looked in confusion and surprise while kids pointed while tugging on their parents at seeing something cool. Roads in this area were under low speed limits so they didn't have to worry about blocking any traffic.
"I mean no one has complained about it… yet." Caesar spoke.
"Well my school has rules prohibiting off campus usage of tanks.".
"Booooriiiing…" Erwin pointed out, "We've done this before and nothing has happened yet." she reassured.
*WHOOOOP! WHOOOOP!*
A sudden siren blared from outside the tank.
"... you're shitting me" Oryou groaned.
"Ooooh nononononon what are we gonna do!" Alisa quickly submitted to panic.
"Hey hey hey just breathe Alisa." Saemonza began putting the girl through breathing exercises.
Erwin tapped Oryou with her boot, "Pull into the shoulder here."
The Stug III swerved over to a stop in the shoulder lane with the police car towing close.
Erwin pointed to the Saunders girl, "Stay here, not a peep or even a twitch. Got it?".
"Have your crew show themselves from the tank immediately!" the cop announced from the megaphone.
Alisa frantically nodded, sweating her nerves out.
The tank crew opened the hatches and stuck their heads out.
The cop in the car kept his shades on and didn't move from his seat, remaining like a stone sculpture in his car.
Robotic vision triangulated on the four faces, giving them each a scan, and confirming them as a match with their targets.
*SCREEEEEECH!*
The tires on the car cried as rubber burned to smoke.
The cop car shot from the shoulder and zoomed down the road with its sirens on.
"...".
"...".
"...".
"... uggggh… wut?".
It had been decided to forget about the strange encounter and to just press on with the matter at hand.
Elsewhere
The cop's figure inside the car twitched with static before the hologram was taken down
"Crunchbite come in, I've got eyes on the black listed humans!" the police car sirens whined as the vehicle sped lane to lane avoiding other vehicles.
"How many did you see?" another voice radioed in.
"One tank, four of them inside, this is just our luck!".
"Just our luck? We've been searching for this damn campus all morning and only found one group of them!" the other voice angrily announced, "Are you going to be the one who tells Hind of our lack of progress?".
"Don't be such a parasitic drainage man, they're close, try northeast of here…" the police car drifted into a barren alleyway. The police car continued to slowly cruise, "Do you still remember Ooarai's insignia?" the law decored vehicle pulled into a spacious trashy area behind a store where a large green and white dump truck remained parked.
"Of course I do. You just need to worry about handling your findings." the voice spoke once more but closer.
"Imma tail 'des fools and eliminate their label as a threat. 'bout make up for Treader's failure." the police car parked parallel with the dump truck.
"Hind said not to underestimate their battle capabilities.".
"Oh but he makes them sound so fun to kill." he seemed eager.
Crunchbite sighed, "Remember to do it subtly Blackice, Hind doesn't want us-".
"I know what he wants, the boss loves me. So let's not wait any longer and do the job properly." the lights on the police car flared up.
"Tsk!" the dump truck rumbled to life, "You never excelled at following orders so you better not screw this up brother, I will not be held accountable again for your irrational behavior.".
"Come on, give me a little credit. We've always gotten the job done!".
The two vehicles exited to the open road.
The StugIII entered the parking lot of the store.
"Yeah Chi-Ha-Tan and Anzio have their mock match later this evening. Wonder if any of them are even up to it." Caesar commented, "I've heard a lot of girls have been dropping tankery in different schools because they're either afraid or their parents have forced them. Any of you guys been talked to by your parents yet?".
Oryou sighed as she began parking, "It's complicated, but I haven't been forced to do anything.".
Erwin hummed in agreement, "What about you Alisa?" she turned to their fifth carry on.
"Can't, phone busted during our hair death away escape, Im probably being mourned by my parents at my funeral about now." she stated a bit too calmly.
Saemonza grimaced in discomfort, "I mean I live with my aunt, she's not much of a worry wart, but she did talk about it with me, but my little sister cried in my arms, scared for my life… I almost made the decision right then and there to quit.".
This caught the members of Hippo off guard a bit.
Alisa spoke up, "And what stopped you?".
Hippo team's ears yearned for the answer.
"...you guys…" she turned to her team.
Oryou forced her attention back to the system of levers and finished reverse parking, "Well we're here." she played off the conversation, leaving it in the dirt.
Erwin cleared her throat tidying up her uniform, "Alright Alisa, you remember what we talked about".
"I know I know, stay hidden, don't open hatches, but do you remember what-".
Erwin pulled out a folded up list, "I do, and man there is a variety here." she examined the different brands.
Alisa bubbled with embarrassment once again, "Were all different alright it's none of your fricken business!" she blurted.
The girls of Hippo team laughed as they exited the tank.
As they walked into the store their movements were eyed by the ice blue cold stare from within the same Mazda RX-9.
"Psssh, well this is anticlimactic. Can't confront them while inside…" she then looked over to the german tank, "So I guess I'll dig at a different source." the detective pulled down her fedora.
Her phone suddenly vibrated, earning her attention to see her news notification ping, and upon reading it, "... fucking Komada." she cursed, almost crushing the phone.
Hippo team began crossing off their shopping list item by item.
Caesar walked over to the front and looked behind the checkout desk to see a wall of assorted cute charms. Tapping her chin she scanned the wall for any Hippo theme charms, her eyes spared a split glance at the T.V. before returning to- WAIT!
Caesar darted her widened eyes to the news channel and gasped.
The headline read: Pravda Prevailed?
The camera angle was from a helicopter circling Prada's campus smoldering and in rubble, but it wasn't completely destroyed unlike Saunders had been.
"Sad news people… we thought it had been a one time thing with Saunders, but now the cruelty continues at Pravda Girls High School as the campus is under siege by police and the Sensha-Do Federation corps. No side is for sure what caused the destruction to erupt, but if the trail of demolished tanks has anything to say about it, this is starting to look more like a series of attacks that both schools have desperately tried to repel…".
"Hey! Hey! Turn that up!" Caesar pointed to the news feed.
The clerk dropped her hands from her surprised face to do so.
"Survivors of the supposed 'attack' were several girls of the Pravda tankery team as well as several unexpected Ooarai students, amongst them their Sensha-Do commander Miho Nishizumi…"
A picture of the brunette was displayed for all to see.
Caesar's eyes were like spot lights, glued to the screen with a dropping jaw.
Hippo team wasn't the only to share in the shock…
Kuromorimine Girls Academy
Dozens of Kuromorimine students on campus were huddled around students with phones watching the same news feed. Those in the cafeteria were swarming the old style radios.
In the Sensha-Do conference room Erika and Maho were completely appalled by the revelation on the screen.
Erika turned to her commander with worrisome eyes trying to read if she should say something or remain biting her tongue. Not like she would even be able to say anything that could remotely come close to bringing any ease.
The little sister had been a thorn in her side… but she didn't deserve this
Maho's facial expression was weekend, no longer the stern cold stone face of a commander with eyes that could cut one's soul. That Maho had shattered like thin glass and had crumbled. Her legs trembled and buckled as she slowly fell back into her chair and covered her leaking eyes.
Nishizumi Household
Shiho had been present at the meeting with the Sensha-Do Federation board as well as the news feed she was watching right now. The subject of her daughter was very choppy and made it unclear what would be done with her considering she was harboring Saunders survivors without notifying officials which could be a punishable offense and had been a front seat eyewitness to the massacre.
Miho had already been questioned, but the detective didn't share much. And she couldn't be allowed to see her at the moment, such an absurd rule.
But the aftermath of it all...
"Furthermore, the wreckage of what appears to be Saunders CM-5 Super Galaxy was found on the airway of Pravda as well as survivors of Saunders High including their Sensha-Do Commander, Kay, who all were thought to be dead. Many speculations have begun to affiliate Ooarai with the possibility of withholding vital information of the girls disappearances and what their significance for the attacks is. A series of actions that could be seeing heavy charges…"
This didn't paint a very inspiring picture.
She can see how her family name might start leaving a bad taste in peoples mouths which in turn only backlashes onto the principles of Kuromorimine and possibly even jeopardize her responsibilities running it.
Not only would the Nishizumi name be harmed by judgment from the public eye perspective, suspicion would lead people astray from the truth. Lousy conspiracy theories were like hurricanes that would stirr winds and devastate the structure of truth.
The legend of Sensha-Do sharpened her bladed stare at the screen.
She wouldn't standby as the Federation dragged her name through the mud.
Now was the time to take action …
Standing from her kneeled position in front of her desk she walked over to a red wood and bronze cladded pay phone and put in a number.
Her title with the Federation was platinum framed, she worked up the branch pretty fast and is very loyal to them… well… was loyal.
Fuck'em.
"Sensha-Do Federation this Kikuyo speaking." a female voice played through.
"Hello Kikuyo.".
"Oh Mrs. Nishizumi! I can't believe you're calling so soon after everything that has happened, especially after seeing you on the news." her soft voice was ecstatic yet shocked, "To what do I owe the pleasure?".
"Putting formalities aside, I regret to inform you that I'm not calling for the likes of catching up. I need a favor from you." Shiho didn't peel, but rather cut straight to the point.
"If it's about Miho, say no more, I've already started a case." Kikuyo confirmed with confidence.
The usual regular bitch face barren of any hints of joy actually smirked, "You know I really miss having you around.".
St. Gloriana's Women's Academy
Darjeeling and her friends were sitting in a glamorous humble room at a table with elegant small dishes and pastries with a hot kettle still filled with steaming fluids.
The girls' appetites and desire for tea was robbed from them as the news continued to only worsen moods world wide.
"While most of the injuries sustained from the survivors aren't lethal, Pravda's red star student Snow Drift Katyusha remains hospitalized in critical condition while under a coma. No further information has yet to be updated on her condition as of this moment.".
Darjeeling found her two finger grip failing her and letting the tea cup slip from and shatter on the floor.
Ooarai
Maria had received a text from Caesar, she had opened it expecting a simple text saying they were on their way, or if there was anything else they needed, but no… it was far from expectations.
Her expression changed as she quickly explained to Leopon the emergency and soon they mimicked the urgency, leaving the triplets in charge and taking the Porsche to the road.
Shimada Manor
A Boko teddy bear with a black eye and bandages hugging its face, leg, and arm plopped to the ground.
A pale-skinned girl with light brown eyes and blonde, shoulder-length twin ponytails tied with black ribbons. She wore a blue and white flowered spring dress.
Alice stood in front of the T.V. mortified. Her hands trembling, moving to cup her mouth.
"With the number of deaths rising overseas in these attacks and Sensha-Do seeming to have some sort of connection, many citizens are beginning to worry about campus affiliation with the sport. Well known schools have started to see a valley in their numbers.
A disclosure from the Ministry of education that Oversea Academic Carriers might be seeing an end to their travels."
Her mother rose from a kneeled pose at the living room table in shock.
This disaster had taken a toll on many people once, but this felt like it hit twice as hard now.
Vines of tears raced down Alice's face, "M-M-M-Miho… why?" she suddenly fell to her knees sobbing.
"Alice!" her mother raced to her comfort and enveloped her daughter, "Oh sweetheart. This will be over soon, I promise." she whispered.
Alice really wanted to hold her mother true to those words, but she knew well her mother didn't even know herself.
No one did.
The detective exited her vehicle and made a steady pace for the tank.
She was surprised as a car suddenly cut her trajectory off with a screeching halt facing the store the girls had walked into.
*WHOOOP!*
Alisa's nerves shot up like a shock of electricity, "Shitshitshitshit!" she cursed as she dared her luck in taking a peek through the driver's eye hatch.
The police colors made her tremble, but when she scanned the police symbol on the side she had her own alarms going off in her head.
Erwin and the others joined up with Caesar only to share in her shock.
"Oh god.".
"Hours after the Director of Sensha-Do, Director Kodama and his committee made a formal statement to the press…"
The screen switched to Director Kodama standing at a podium of branching microphones. Behind him stood the other members, Commander Chono, Shiho Nishizumi, Chiyo Shimada, and Administrator Tsuji.
"For as long as I have served the Federation of Sensha-Do it has never crossed my mind once that these young children would have to fight for their lives or even lose them. In response to this second attack and speaking with the board, I hereby seize any further proceedings of the Winter Tournament, therefore resuming its hiatus…".
Storms of questions thundered from the crowd until one man was chosen.
"What about just standard mock battles? Should tankery even continue at all to be exact?"
"As for any Sensha-Do battles, The Chi-Ha-Tan and Anzio battle today will be the final tankery match in Sensha-Do until further notice. However the Federation has no jurisdiction over what happens under the responsibility of the branching sport Tankathlon …".
The statement sent the crowd in murmurs induced by shock and surprise.
"That's not to say clubs must disband their teams, but they cannot and will not drive their tanks off campus without strict permission from me myself. This course of action is to be effective immediately.".
"What about Ooarai Academy! Didn't Commander Nishizumi force the Saunders refugee's into hiding?"
Shiho cringed as rushed up to the podium, forcing the mic in her direction, "Do not by any means regard my daughter as the one at fault! She is just as a victim as anyone else and her means are just! And anyone who puts those labels of delinquency on a little girl is a scum!"
"Ms Nishizumi!" the Director forced the mic away from any further speech.
Shiho seemed like she was about to shoot lasers into the crowd before storming off.
"Pardon my colleagues' rudeness…" Kodama cleared his throat, "My stand on Ooarai is neither with or against them. Actions of Sensha-Do that steer from the purpose of sport are highly not condoned. This is a highly sensitive matter by which no one including myself has the means to make a heartful decision. In the meantime however, I am suspending any and all Tankery business with Ooarai academy. No practice, No public showings. Until my official say so. I personally however don't believe that Mrs. Nishizumi is affiliated with these attacks, and that her and her teams presence, as unexpected as it was, in good faith.".
The words washing over the mix of ears soaked into their hearts.
Some seemed to take pleasure thinking that this was justice while others shook their heads disapprovingly.
"What's triggering these sudden attacks!? Is it Sensha-Do or are all highschool carriers in danger!?".
Administer Tsuji took the stand, "After talking with the Ministry of Education I've ordered an immediate recall of all academic campus carriers to their home ports until this matter is resolved. And I'll leave it to the detectives to find the answers to the more complex questions." he finished his statement.
The screen returned to the news reporter, "In other news, a hurricane is said to strike just off the main land near the island of Tsushima, population 31,550 and home to girls of Tatenashi High School…" she continued on.
The girls had heard enough.
Everyone had heard enough.
The world they all knew was being hunted.
The detective paced towards the police cab with heat in her step and her badge presented, "Officer, can I ask what you think you're doing-?".
*Chik! Chik! Kreeeenk!*
*Pssssssskta!*
*Chik! Chik! Chik!*
The police car suddenly expanded its form, exposing its metallic insides through the rivets.
The wheels extended out from its axle to allow room for machine guns to get cozy.
The hood folded in on itself and made room for a stubbed double barrel that extended into a long dual 50 cal gun.
The sirens were split, shifting up and to the side as small rocket silos joined the party.
The detective was puzzled, but instinctively drew her pistol.
Alisa stared at the controls and was scrambled, "Damn why are Germans so complex-WOAH!" she fell back into the seat as the lever shifted and the tank jolted before reversing
Inside the store the Hippo team were oblivious to the few seconds of life they had left as their forms were locked on, "This was too easy-GAAH!".
*CRASH!*
The Decepticon was baffled as the Stug III crashed into its side.
The rockets fired a second late and veered from its initial target.
*BOOOOOM!*
The back of the store erupted into fireworks causing several pedestrians to scream and run in terror.
The glass windows were sprinkled on the ground and showered the detective, "DUH!" she grunted as she was thrown back by the hands of force and rolled with the impact. Her fedora was flung from her person to allow her chilli red hair to wave out.
The tank crew screamed as they were thrown over the front counter and into the wall.
Their recovery was enhanced by their commander's vigorous arrogance to stay down, "We're a tank crew, we've taken hits like the Japanese on Hacksaw Ridge and they kept charging so let's go!" she stood her friends up and pushed him along.
"You gotta be cappin'!" Blackice growled as he continued being pushed
The detective gasped as she barrel rolled out of the way. Reacquiring her pistol and firing her entire clip into the windshield where the cop sat, but his figure dissipated like a mirage.
This only left the detective to further question her eyes.
*SKIIIIIIIIIRRT!*
Blackice's wheels cried as he reversed back and swerved out of the tank's crushing ram.
Erwin and the rest burst from the store with a few cuts and smokey soot makeuping their disarrayed look, "Alisa what are you doing!".
Blackice drifted around to a screeching halt, facing the teenage tank crew with several mounted weapons to greet them.
"Oh…".
"Shit!" Alisa cursed, pulling the lever back.
The air cracked as the guns set off like strings of firecrackers and bullets whizzed like a swarm of angry wasps.
Hippo team covered themselves knowing it was the end and scared to stare into the face of death.
A sudden shadow loomed over them like a mobile cover
*PING!*
*ZIP!*
*BWOW!*
The sound of treads and an angry motor drowned their ears following the ricocheting bullets.
The detective ducked under another parked vehicle.
The crew's eyes split open to see their tank and the hippo's anus looking right at them.
Blackice grew more furious, "Yall humans are just shrapnel in my ass, duces!" he then shut away all his weapons before reversing aggressively out of the store and onto the streets, almost hitting a few concerned pedestrians and receiving several raged honks, "Heeey Crunchbite... now don't get mad.".
"Were you already spotted in your original form?" Crunchbite seemed to know what to expect.
"No, and what do you mean already? I just haven't killed the humans yet.".
"I told you not to underestimate them! We were warned!".
"I know I know, but I didn't see a reason not to until now." Blackice's excuse was rejected by Crunchbite's care.
The dump truck came to a stop at a red light as several ambulance and police personnel rushed to the scene, "And I see you still love to hog all the attention…" the Decepticon drove past the red light and made a left in front of oncoming traffic which caused many honks to sound off, "Still can't believe you're the older brother.".
The young tank crew were still swimming in their near death experience like deer in headlights. Processing the events that seemed to have happened a hundred miles in front of their face.
Alisa popped up, "Stop gawking and let's move some tread!" she pulled them out.
The hatches slammed shut.
"Positions!" Erwin ordered.
Caesar lifted a lethal shell, "RAH!" she fisted the round in the barrel.
Oryou grunted as she worked the levers running off her raged fumes of being blasted a few minutes ago.
The StugIII flattened bushes and a street sign as the war machine made haste with its own wrath after being shot at.
The roads weren't clamored, but the crew still needed to be mindful of the innocent.
The detective grunted, pushing herself up. Glass crunched under her boots as she did. A little blood trickled from her forehead, "Okay… so I'm not crazy… and the girl was straightforward with me… which means…".
She hissed holding her stinging arm, she had no idea what the hell had just happened…
She reached for her phone before dialing Commander Chono's number, "... hey… yeah, your guys are clear to move in. And one more thing, I want to question them all personally… she may have been telling the truth…".
But she would find out.
Chi-Ha-Tan Train
*Chug-chug-chug-chug! WHOOOOOOO! WHOOOOOOOOO!*
The air whistled as the steam trumpet sang.
The train adored a camouflage combination of shaded greens and grimy yellow.
The side tank of the steam locomotive bore an emblem representing the name of Chi-Ha-Tan.
The sun's rays refracted through the windows of the train and strobed from the passing trees.
A girl sat staring out at miles of forest. Resting her elbow on the window seal, and her cheek snuggled on her soft palm. She has mid-back length dark-brown hair that has square bangs hanging on the right side and a pair of brown eyes.
Commander Kinuyo Nishi. The Tamer of her ferocious Chi-Ha tigers ready to claw and tear into their prey. Her motto was to always face your problems head on. To charge head on, no fear, no regrets.
But that was when the sport of Sensha-Do made her feel indestructible.
Nishi's eyes scanned the news article on her phone with a sulking look.
Pravda High was under siege by police and Federation agents investigating what is said to have been an attack.
Nishi had thought that the incident with Saunders was just an accident, but this is no coincidence. Her feelings twisted her stomach worse as she read on.
Commander Kay was found alive at the scene.
Katyusha is being hospitalized with no certainty of making it yet..
And… Miho… AnglerFish team, maybe even the whole Ooarai team, were acting as a billboard of blame for everyone to see and point fingers at.
Within hours of Director Komada's speech and following questions. Riots broke out in regards to this very match.
People in the dozens want Sensha-Do to be temporarily ceased. Others want it banned completely.
It made her sad to see the world divide itself, and knowing that she was partly responsible for following through.
An image of Miho came up, and it made her eyes water, "Miho… what have you done?".
A knock came from the door, "Commander?" a female voice.
Nishi straightened herself, wiping her eyes and putting away the phone, "Come in, Tamada." she acknowledged.
Tamada pushed through the door, her uniform was similar to that of her commanders, but lacked the authority vibe. Tamada looked at her commander, noticing the red in her eyes and grew concerned, "... Nishi." she sighed.
"I'm fine Tamada, really…" the commander reassured, "Do you have some news?".
Tamada was hesitant knowing it was a lie, but would touch on it later, "You want the good news or bad news?".
Nishi sighed resting her chin in both hands on the small table, "I'm due for some good news." she put on a small smile.
Tamada nodded as she put a rolled blueprint on the table and rolled it out. Using a book and cup to keep it from rolling back up.
The prints read: Danuta Mod
Nishi's color sparkled, "This is!..." she seemed speechless.
"Yeeep! The mod shipment finally arrived. Snatched these before we left and wanted to surprise you and the team." Tamada winked.
"Hmmm, this sounds like it's leading to the bad news. I might have an idea." Nishi sighed, hanging her head tiredly.
Tamada patted her commander's head with a bit of force, "Eyes up commander, sulking isn't your forte so don't make it a habit!" she pushed her friend a bit by the shoulder.
Nishi looked up to Tamada not as her commander, but a friend in need, "What should I do? What do I say to make this better?" she pulled the article on her phone, "... busted." she sighed letting out the tense strains in her body.
"Who else if not you!? Our charismatic smokin' hot commander!" Tamada exclaimed, slamming her hands on the table.
The tankery commander stiffened up from her slouch. Nishi's skin was like a rising thermometer down from her neck to face, "R-repeat that again.".
"You're the mother of our tankery! When life pins you in a corner, you charge straight at it, but don't leave us behind because we charge as one!... Also Fukuda is genuinely starting to scare me. She can get mean." Tamada got goosebumps.
Fukuda being mean. That's how you knew it was bad. But Tamada's words added some fuel to the dying coals and put a little fire back in her heart, "You're right Tamada…"
"Of course I am, I'm your vice commander!" she crossed her arms with a pearly white confident smile.
"Thanks for snapping me back though, I almost lost myself to the world's problems for a second there." Nishi rolled up the Danuta plans.
"Well, trying to ignore them won't make us better in today's match." Tamada pointed out.
"Who said I was? This will be addressed at a later date…" Nishi put the plans away for the time being, "But for now, call everyone to the main carriage, there is something I need to say.".
Tamada sharply saluted at attention, "Yes ma'am!".
The girls of Chi-Ha-Tan were assembled in the main carriage and were seated with their prospective teams.
Commander Nishi stood at the start of the asiel looking amongst her kin.
The energy was usually an abundance of chatting and overkill story telling of past battles and how they went out persistently.
But now the loudest was the sound of the train cranks and gears moving the metal trailers along. Everyone was currently murmuring amongst their groups or napping until the ride was over.
Fukuda stared out the window curled up and shielding her face.
Hirai, Fukuda's gunner, planted a soft grip on her commander's shoulder, "Fukuda.".
"Don't." the timid girl shrugged her off, "Just please leave me alone until we arrive." she pleaded.
Fukuda had pretty much isolated herself from the family of sisters she had. Some pried, but she wouldn't budge, at times she even snapped a bit, something very uncharistic.
Hasegawa, Fukuda's gunner, excused herself and made haste to Nishi. In doing so, she could hear some of the first years complaining about how lame it was that the sport they just started was now getting put on hiatus.
Gossip like:
"This is so lame, why now of all times?"
"The world is going crazy, Tankery may never be the same again."
"You think it's just Sensha-Do?"
"My mom wants me to drop Sensha-Do after this and attend a mainland school."
"Will our team break up?".
Everyone was asking the same heavy questions with little to no answers to lighten the load.
A group of first years in particular were a tad more chipper yet bitter at the same time.
Two girls looking to be identical twins, but different attitudes sat side by side. They had matching long braided brown hair with yellow-brownish eyes.
The twin cross armed and frowning was suddenly wrapped by the arm of her more chipper sister.
"Grey skies are gonna clear up bum-ba-dum, put on a happy face! Come ooon Nomi!" the other twin sang, cuddling the pouty girl.
The pouty sister wailed leaning her head on the table, "I just was really looking forward to kicking ass with this taaaaank." she fake cried.
"B-but-but you will in t-t-to-today's m-match right?" another girl that was part of the crew stuttered. She had long flowing black hair with large spectacles over her brown eyes.
"You bet I will!..." Nomi pounded the table with her fist, "I'm the Sovereign Sniper of Sensha-Do!" she proudly pounded her chest, "But it's just sad that all of Himi's hard work is going down the drain just for a one battle use" she slumped.
"That's understandable…" the last of the group. A girl with sky blue eyes and long brown hair tied into a bun. She wore a Japanese tank helmet with goggles hanging from her neck, "But no one's really gotten their way recently. Not the Federation…" she began counting with her hand, "Not the Ministry of Education, not Administer Tsuji and aaall that bad luck trickles down to what you see around you." she motioned with her hands.
Nomi scanned the carriage of girls as lost causes before looking back at her friend with a pair of dead eyes, "... was that some cryptic therapeutic message to make me feel better Moteki?… because you suck if it was." she put it bluntly.
"We'll get to use the tank for practice still on campus grounds." Nene nudged her sister.
"Really!" Nomi beamed gloriously.
"Yep!" Nene popped.
"Happy again!".
"Haaaaa!", "Haaaaa!"
The two sisters embraced lovelily.
Moteki stifled a laugh with her fist.
"Well th-that was-was fast. I Think Nene is-is a g-gr-gr-great motivator for the-the t-t-te-team!".
Nene glowed with delight, "Awwww thanks Watabe! Someone's gotta raise spirits when the word is ending." her enthusiasm was slightly off putting.
"You seemed a bit too happy saying that." Moteki cringed.
Nomi gawked like she was offended, "Hey I'm motivational to!".
"You were just moping about not being able to drive the team's newest edition." Nomi poked fun at her sister.
The effects were yielding good results as Nomi blushed a bit, "Hey don't think I'm a downer just because I say what we are all thinking." she turned away.
"I-I-I don't-t think y-y-you're a downer!" Watabe reassured her friend.
"HA!" Nomi boasted.
Moteki groaned, "I think you two get more under my skin than the damn mosquitoes.".
Hasegawa walked up to Nishi, "Ma'am permission to speak freely?".
"Anything to help me right now!" Nishi desperately searched for a life line.
"Well… Fukuda hasn't been on edge recently. This whole thing with news has her upset. You're good with her, better than me or Hiari. Can you open her up again?".
Nishi looked to see what Tamada and Hasegawa meant, and they were right.
Hasegawa leaned on a hand railing yawning, "It's bad, I don't know how the team is gonna stay together after this." .
It was bad, Nishi's face saddened at the sight, but a wave of realization hit, washing away the sad expression, "That's because you're thinking it all wrong… I understand now.".
"What do you mean?" the tank driver tilted her head.
"Thanks Hasegawa!" Nishi hugged the girl before strolling past.
"Ugggh… your welcome?".
Nishi now understood what was at the core of her team's disquietness …
"Ahem! Ladies!..." the commander caught her followers' attention, "I understand that with recent events, many of us here feel discouraged…".
It wasn't the fall of a competing school…
"And that with Sensha-Do coming to a close with this match, some of you first years…" Nishi directed her glance to Nomi, Nene, Watabe, and Moteki.
It wasn't the disappointed freshmen either…
"This causes some dismay. However, I firmly believe that there is a common feeling we share that trumps the rest. A perturbation that continues to dawn on our thoughts…" she stopped next to Fukuda's seat who was looking away from her, "And it has changed some of us… leaving the rest of us worried.".
Fukuda shrank into a ball knowing she was the target of her words.
"We are all scared that this bond we have, our sisteren, will perish with the sport. But that couldn't be farther from the truth!" Nish clenched her fist, "The Chi-Ha-Tan spirit lives within the kin. Have we ever backed down from a challenge!?"
"NO!" the entirety of the rail carriage was rattled by the girls' chant.
"Will we charge this catastrophe head on!?".
"YES MA'AM!".
"Now let's show what people have to look forward to with Chi-Ha-Tan in the next generation of Sensha-Do!".
"YEEEEEEEAH!" everyone cheered and hugged each other with morals raised to the stars to rival the sun.
However a shadow of doubt continued to loom over one individual.
"But!..." Nishi's voice deescalated the cheering, "We still have one. More. Obstacle…" Nishi hinted at, "One we all must work to achieve."
Everyone leaned in with curious ears to know.
Nishi clasped her hands together with a bright smile, "We need to bring our Fukuda baaaaack!" she sang before turning on her tippy toes, "Fukudaaaaa!" she sang gleefully.
"Fukuda!".
"FUKUDAAA!"
"Fukudaaaa"
"Fukudaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" the twins synced.
"F-F-Fu-Fukuda!".
"Fukudaaa!".
One by one another Chi-Ha sister would pop up next to where Fukuda was curled up calling her name to come back to their open arms and love.
The cabin began calling to their littlest sister whose resistance continued to endure, but the integrity began to crack as she trembled until finally…
"You're our little treasure Fukuda, and we'll never let you go." Nishi cooed.
"WAAAAAAHAHAHAAA!" Fukuda wailed as she turned to assault her commander with a crushing hug, sobbing into her breasts.
It was losing the family that accepted her the best.
"She's back!" Nishi announced.
And the whole cabin thundered with laud and seconds later a mass of girls formed in one mega Chi-Ha-Tan spirited hug.
Spirit had once again bonded them in these dark hours, but for how long can it keep them together.
Spirit is a fictional state of mind.
For when reality SLITHERS in, will their moral be enough for them?
Before yall say anything, no I did not skip a chapter. I thought this would be a good way to get you guys wondering. Hopefully my decision works out in the end. Res assured you guys will find out.
This Chapter actually was so big I have to make it a two parter.
Now there is an expected conflict with Desepticons at Ooarai and a sneak of the Chi-Ha-Tan team in the upcoming Chi-Ha-Tan vs. Anzio.
Now some of you guys may have noticed some unrecognizable characters in the Chi-Ha-Tan train scene. Those are not my OC's I want to make clear. But a good friend and fellow author Nazz 11. He is the author of The Tigers of Chi-Ha-Tan ReRise. A good story I recommend. Thank you again for giving permission to write these characters in! So much fun!
Hey, hakimsohit51 I hope the answer to your question in this chapter was satisfactory.
