FINALLY DONE! This has bee the LONGEST piece of writing (the whole story) I have ever done. Yeah, yeah, I know it's kinda pathetic *laughs* It took forever to edit this damn thing. O__X Yep.
Well, the only complaint that I have about reviews is that YOU WILL NOT DARE report this for plagiarism. I will FIND you, HUNT you, send a virus so lethal to your computer that it will explode and cause your brain to go into spasms and then liquefy and I will, PERSONALLY, come and exsanguinate the rest of your body—WITH A STRAW! ^^;; but, really, if you have a complaint with my reviews (which I haven't left in months…) or just me—leave an email. Don't be stupid and leave a one-liner saying this is stupid and "i sux." Okay? Everyone will laugh at you for having so very little intelligence and manners.
Also, I apologize to everyone whose reviews got taken down when my fic was so very RUDELY taken down. I was going to save them, but I hadn't expected this. X__x;; Oh well, just tell m'what y'think of the new one. I gotta stop using so many aphaereses…I sound like a hick O.o;;
'' Anything in single quotation marks is a thought
Telepathic speech, singing, and narration are in italics
Dreams and a Burgeoning Pilot
All the Pilots awaited her. Dressed formally and cleaner than normal, they all stood, waiting for her. One person was missing, though.
The Candidates stood behind the Pilots, fidgeting nervously at the sight of their superiors. The officials of Zion stood up front. They were all old as their gray hair and their sepulchral faces outlined their age greatly. All the Pilots who had seen comrades fallen had never seen these officials there. Only few knew they even co-existed in this world with them.
Courrs stood still looking out to Zion. He just kept wondering what was happening. All these questions and still no answers and just where was Zero at this moment?
"This is my last goodbye, mother. I will carry this burden for you. Every moment of my life…everything will be for freeing the burden." Zero bent over and kissed the Goddess gently on her cheek, just as a mother would her new-born.
Teela's body lay covered in white flowers—flowers of Zion. As if prepared to be buried with her planet the Goddess' eyes lay closed as if offering no answers to her off spring. Yet it was only her physical body being buried, for a Goddess lives forever.
To everyone's surprise her coffin was brought to the room. It bore the symbol of the White Goddess. The metal glinted in the light which caused some of the Candidates to flinch, but were quickly reprimanded by their instructors.
The headmaster was making a rare appearance at the funeral. Zero appeared next to him bearing a serious look. "Teela Zain Elmes, will be buried on our last star, Zion."
Everyone seemed to be aghast at that notion just made. There were whispers among the Candidates, but the Pilots stood still as they should have.
"Salute! Teela Zain Elmes!" came the loud voice of the headmaster. The coffin was loaded onto a spacecraft that began its descent towards Zion. The Pilots and Candidates all saluted traditionally in unison. Their Repairers did the same.
Moments stood still in time…Things passed through which were not. If someone were to die in that moment, death would be reversed and their life would be anew. It was as if a songstress with a pristine and shattering broke the crescendo of a ballad and her talent flooded the room…that death of a Goddess brings new things unto this universe. For they are life.
'A long journey, towards the star, my home. Protect it, my child'. Teela's home was now in the bosom of the Ingrid. Yet Teela could not move it as if it were herself. She was a baby not yet weaned. A child in her home but could not move. A full-grown being with no life. An incarnation of sorrow of something left behind…
The black-haired Pilot made his way though the ranks of Candidates with his Repairer gracing his—side only to be greeted by his instructor. "Good luck, Zen Ayami! And to your repairer, Elique Arei, we well." Ceremonial music played in the background as they departed from GOA.
The home of something that was eternal. Three years devoted to that place, those two were. If they were lucky they would pilot and Ingrid for that long. If they were lucky…
"We will be the ones to awaken this conformity, Elique. Won't we?" His Repairer smiled an almost mischievous smile.
"It has been like this long—too long", came her reply.
Zero stood in his room watching Zion turn in the depths of space. The lonely planet spinning slowly…spinning, turning, rotating. 'Why are you alone? What happened so long before I was born? You who are alone in the universe, you who are our last hope, you who have given us strength, you which we protect. Where are your brethren…?
A loud and hollow knocked coursed through the room. A startled Zero turned to see his roseate-haired Repairer standing not too far away. Kereema stood there, dutifully, waiting for her partner to ask why she was here.
"Zero, Zero", Kereema said, as she waved at Zero playfully. Yet, it still failed to catch her partner's attention.
Zero snapped out of thought but that didn't keep him from thinking. 'So far away. Will her soul guide me to infinite power? Why does that voice taunt me?'
"What are we going to name the Ingrid? Zero! I need your input, Zero." The frustrated Repairer jumped in front of her dazed Pilot.
Wandering thoughts still plagued his mind: 'Does she not remember what happened? Her tears, they were broken. Shattered but reborn.'
The frustrated Kereema threw her hands up in despair and then landed a blow on Zero's knee. He flinched in pain glowering at her. Kereema had a smug look on her face as she smiled glowingly at him.
"OWWWW! What was that for?" Zero demanded.
"You need to listen more. I have been talking to you for five minutes now. Have you been day-dreaming or something?"
"I wasn't!" Zero was rather embarrassed and Kereema could tell.
"Well, not good enough." Suddenly Zero tackled her and they wrestled around playfully fighting. Kereema was always a tomboy, she understood Zero more than the others.
Zero felt weird about this. Having to hold back his strength, it scared him how powerful he had gotten. His EX had caused his strength to become enormous. Even a light punch from him could utterly devastate a normal human. Zero was careful—but scared, of even himself. Not only had these long years caused his physical strength to metamorphose, but also his mental strength. He now understood what it meant to pilot an Ingrid: the extreme mental pressure. He was in a way, the ultimate Pilot. What more would you expect of the son of a Goddess? Or was it something else? An experiment…
'Maybe it is best like this. To keep my love from him, but I should not hide it from him'. Kereema laid thinking as she and Zero gazed up at Zion while lying on their backs.
They both got up and brushed themselves off. "Now onto what I was talking about. What are we going to rename the Ingrid? Do you have any suggestions?"
"I don't know, Kereema. It was hers to begin with."
"Zero, I need to leave my mark in this universe and this may be the only chance I get. You are the Pilot, something I will never get to experience and this is my mark."
"I will keep 'Laties' in honor of her. The first name is your choice and yours only." Zero walked away leaving her to rename the Ingrid.
Kereema sat, thinking in Zero's room. This seemed to boost her thinking quite a lot. "So much regret here…. I can feel his brotherly love towards her. She was his best friend and Repairer. They shared a dream. I cannot be her. He misses her and yet he can see her in me. Kizna…
Having now left Zero's quarters Kereema decided to finally rename the Ingrid. Mentally gathering courage she stood next to the Ingrid, fidgeting nervously, even if she shouldn't be. Kereema kept ruminating the idea of the name, but none worthy of the Ingrid came to mind. "I don't know Errn-Laties. I couldn't rename you. What would she think? I shouldn't hesitate now, I am going to name you what I have always longed to call you. Sophri, after my mother…"
Kereema stood there in the bay of the Ingrids. Though her mind flowed elsewhere. "Mommy, don't go. Stay home, mommy. I'm scared…."
"I shouldn't be long, dear," said a cherry-haired woman. "Amyia will take care of you." With that the cherry-haired woman left.
The plump and old baby-sitter lay on the couch watching the holographic-TV. Visions danced across of far off colonies where food was abundant. People could live freely. The little six-year-old Kereema turned and at that moment she saw it, Zion. The planet shined in all its magnificence—capturing the mind of the young girl.
A jolt. A crash. An explosion. The assault rocked the Colony. A massive Victim ravaged the Colony. Its size unparalleled and the odious glare of the creature sickened the mind. Yet the holy beings of the universe arrived. The Goddesses entered through the eternally dark realm of space.
Then Kereema saw the one, the White Goddess. Her incandescent light overpowered the Colony. Letting her presence be known, the-then Errn-Laties, stood above all the Ingrids. She stayed until the other Ingrids had finished and then delivered the deathblow. Her grandeur body and ornateness amazed the young girl. Her young hand reached towards the sky. "Goddess…" It was quickly torn away by the woman and the young Kereema was thrust into a shelter, away from the Goddess.
The weary Pilot wandered around the halls of GIS aimlessly. He passed the pair from Luria-Karrou walking silently. 'That Pilot, why does he act so quietly?' Yet he noticed the Repairer to be very talkative. She shot off phrases left and right. 'Such an odd pairing…" Zero walked away to go rest. These past few days had exhausted him mentally, physically, and emotionally, something even the son of a Goddess could not even handle without sleep.
Zero and Kereema's quarters had been moved. They both felt the luxury of being the top pair in GIS. Kereema was right across from him. They had the most wonderful view of Zion from their rooms. The view of the ancient and mysterious planet awed them. Kereema always marveled at its beauty, but Zero had seen the true beauty of the planet.
Zero felt secluded now, cut off from all the Pilots. He just wanted to hop right over and talk to Courrs. He was at the very top of GIS near the quarters of the headmaster.
'Must I live the way she did? This is not me. I just want to be near them away from this lonely and secluded corner'. All this thinking had lulled him into sleep and soon he was no longer part of this world, but of the surreal one.
The darkness of space surrounded him. He felt that ache again. "What is this? I rid myself of this fear long ago! Why is it coming again?"
Zero's body was engulfed by the land Zion, for he was on it. He watched the planet go though time. The shifting of the planet and the turning. The turning made him sicker than before. He felt the need to vomit, but suppressed it.
He saw two souls intertwine within the planet. "Goddesses." He watched as they graced the planet with their beauty and eternity. "How could there be two?" Slowly, one moved away, becoming farther from her partner. Soon she broke off and faded from the view. Her soul left the planet and disappeared into the vast realm of space.
Now his mind jerked him into his last battle. Teela was fighting with Hiead—her blade clashing against his. Then she delivered final blow to him. In the instant the Black Ingrid was destroyed he saw a young girl with flowing crimson hair and deep black eyes. "Who is that?" She looked scared, but his eyes deceived him. She then tilted her head up to stare at him with those eyes. Her body then began to quiver and suddenly something so horrible appeared that it awoke Zero from his sleep.
He awoke in a cold sweat, his palms and arms sweaty. "What was she?" Zero could think of nothing else to calm his nerves. He left his room and proceeded to the quarters of the other Goddess Pilots.
With her face in a hardened look the Repairer weaved around the Ingrid. "Wow. This is amazing. Am I really the first to check this?" The White Goddess Repairer now focused her full attention to the armaments of the Ingrid. "They should have called her "Number One and Only" because this Ingrid is so complex that I am having trouble getting through it! The way the pressure seals are arranged are so odd and the weapons are just so…" The sheer vastness of the Ingrid just seemed to gaze down at her as if some kind of burden. Kereema glared back into the Ingrids eyes as if seeing someone inside there.
'Such as she was…this name. The name she has given to my embodiment. It resounds of a tone. A tone once lost. A tone I mourn….' Teela's words flowed through the Ingrid as if it were comeuppance to herself. "I have brought this penance upon myself. I shall retain it until the end. Until God shall free us."
Kereema carefully took notes so she could brag to the other Repairers about her Ingrid. "Wait 'til I show Marou!" She gleefully moved about the Ingrid checking everything carefully once more.
"You must have been scared. Hands of the unknown repairing you. I won't leave you, Sophri, and neither shall he", said Kereema. It was as if she felt no regret for leaving Eemna-Leena. Even though she had been loyal to that Ingrid for so long Kereema felt it was time to move on. To her dream.
At last reaching his destination Zero stood in front of the door to his friend's room. He knocked, the hollow reverberation coursing through his ears.
"Come in", said Courrs.
Zero followed the voice coming from inside. The voice led him to the light-haired Pilot. Courrs was lying on his bed staring up nonchalantly.
Courrs did not reveal a surprised look on his face, as it had only been one day since he had seen Zero. "The Victim is dead, that is our top priority isn't it?" The tone of sarcasm distinctly coming through.
Zero stood still. His mouth moved but no words came out. He wanted to tell him of all his life, the days on his Colony, his days a Candidate, but most of all about his dream. Zero couldn't though. His mouth fumbled trying to gather the words.
"Do you plan to say something, Zero?" asked Courrs. "Or will you just stand there pretending to be someone else." Courrs looked like he had almost regretted saying that, but not all of his body said that.
The unnerving tension waived Zero from delivering his words. Zero couldn't stand becoming more like her. 'It isn't me', Zero repeated to himself over and over in his mind.
"Courrs…I" Zero's words trailed off leaving Courrs' mind wondering. Zero stood in the doorway. The tenuous light of the window leaving a streak of light across him, this illuminated his face more than the rest of Zero's body.
Zero couldn't do this. He just walked coldly and silently from the room. His dreams and pain were too much to bear alone. 'That girl…"
"Must you keep her memories alive? She is dead now, Zero." Somehow he had hoped his words that were spoken to himself had reached Zero.
"Suri… I can feel you now. Your soul wonders aimlessly in the Ingrid. Why must you leave him? He needs you. He tried to get near you didn't he? Don't worry, in this universe you are safe from them." Teela coursed through the Ingrid. Her body the Ingrid's and the Ingrid's body hers. The Goddesses acknowledged her as one of them now.
The new pair had just arrived at GIS. Their minds set differently; being at GIS was much different. "Guess you can't show off so much now, Zen."
"Just watch me, Elique, just watch." The boy stood there in the hallway between the ship and GIS. 'Halfway there or halfway away. I can't decide. Elique is pushing me too much in spite of what I think. I just can't live up to it all.'
The mechanical voice still rang in his head. "Candidate number forty-five, tests complete. Score: Fifty-nine percent." Zen remembered his old days. Being that naïve and weak Candidate; he hadn't even met Elique then, because she was assigned to him after her partner deciding not to use her as his Repairer for the Goddess. She was furious, raging, and not at all happy to be with him. She pushed him unimaginably hard—too hard, because she wanted him to be just like her old partner. This is how Zen saw her as the one responsible for where he was now. Zen tried not to remember those horrible test scores. 'Even though I don't show it often, I'm grateful for you, Elique."
"Greetings, Zen Ayami, and, Elique Arei. An official of GIS greeted the new pair. He had a rather steely look upon his face and his tone was nearing a tone of austerity. "I trust you know which Ingrid you shall pilot. Do you know the regulations of renaming your Ingrid?"
They both replied in unison. Of course they knew, it was Elique who spoke out though. She was always the more outgoing one. "The last name shall be kept and the first name shall resemble that of the Pilots who died for Zion."
"Very well, I shall have an Observer show you to your quarters then." The man walked off his posture as rigid as ever, just like his voice.
"They're too serious here, Zen", said the orange-haired Repairer. Sometimes I just wish we could pilot the Ingrids without having to worry about Zion. One day we may be able to…"
"You're such a dreamer, Elique", said Zen. If you want that dream to come true you're going to have to work. We're going to be the ones to make that dream come true."
"You are the new pair I presume?" There stood one of the profound, but few Observers of GIS. His hair fell over to the sides in deep and brown. His hair looked creamy and tender from the light shining on it, but it only went to his ears. The Observer stood average height, nothing special. His skin was a medium tan and his face was rather round riddled with deep green eyes. His uniform was black and white, regulation. The uniform draped down past his knees fluttering around like a lost butterfly as the vents above released the air.
"Yes, we are", they both replied (this seemed to be a commonplace thing among the two). Elique and Zen stood there watching him in awkward glares. Somehow they felt out of place being new here.
"I can tell you look a little perplexed", he said smiling. Don't worry, you'll get use to it; I felt the same when I came here. Your quarters are this way, follow me." He motioned towards a long and metallic hall.
"Before we go anywhere, can we have your name?" asked Elique. The maturity of her voice threw him off. To him she sounded well past the age of sixteen.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry," he said smiling once again. "It's Ravu Invime", he said, standing there, waiting for them.
Elique just glanced at him happily then nudged Zen along. The two walked silently along the hallway following the Observer. They watched the boy lead them to the space they would be living at for the next couple of years. 'He certainly is young', thought Elique. 'Doesn't look much older than I do.'
They arrived at the living space. It wasn't luxurious, the room was just modest. A step up from GOA at least.
Elique had her own room right next to Zen's. The rooms had a window in which only Zion and its empyreal light could be seen. This was to remind the Pilots of their goal as Pilots. To save the last star, Zion.
Zen stood in the room looking at it. He noticed the closet where he found his uniform. It was a pearly-shade of blue. The entire top spanned over his shoulders. Two-thirds of his arm was covered by the skin-tight material; the material was tight but very flexible. The covered lengths on his arms were divided quarters allowing his arms to breathe. A blue and white stone shone in the middle with blue-green imprints running along the sides of the stone. The slits ran along his stomach in a diamond pattern. The bottom of the outfit was mere black shorts running. The boots were a simple blue and white design. They had black heels on the end to support him. He looked at this damask outfit in amazement. "Now… I truly am a…Pilot."
Zero had walked over to the bay where the Ingrids silently stood, or so he thought. The Ingrid was just a mask, a home to the real soul of the Ingrids, the Goddesses.
He stood near Eemna-Leena. The light bounced off shining over her, magnifying her glory. "I'm sorry, Elia, I had to leave you", apologized Zero. It wasn't my choice. It's funny how now I regret leaving you when I had longed to ride the White Goddess." All he was doing was talking to a complex machine; somehow wishing it the Goddess could hear him.
The Goddess heard him, for a Goddess' ears are ever-listening. "He doesn't want to let me go… Must he brood over me? I cannot feel the same. They only feel one of us, yet we have felt many of them…" Her words trailed off in the Ingrid. The Ingrids were empty to her now, yet somehow Elia didn't feel lonely because she was in their company now.
Zen stared at the door. The markings of the Blue Ingrid upon it, somehow he had always felt destined to pilot her. Now his dream has come true. He unpacked and then headed off towards the bay with his partner beside him.
"Esala, this is the first time you have ever touched one of them. Why did you? Even in the death of previous Pilots you stayed away. Why must you touch them now?"
"I couldn't let him bear the feelings of unknowingness all alone. You have known all your life what they feel like. I must grieve for them, even if it means letting them know I am here, Teela." Tella-Kallisto stood silent, but inside she was "awake."
"Kereema", said Marou. The cheerfulness in her voice resounded quite well. "How has Zero been?" The young Repairers stood in a dark room, alone and tired.
"He's been fine, Marou, but I wonder sometimes", said Kereema. "What was his life like so long ago? Most of all, I wonder why Zero misses her. I had rarely seen her and she always seem to have a look shunning out emotion. He cared for her, though, in ways I can't explain."
"Sometimes things weren't meant for us to know, Kereema", said Marou dolefully.
"Elique, are we still going to name the Ingrid on what we planed? Zen walked next to the girl as his spiky black hair waved in the air. "It should do just fine as Nerria-Irrina."
Three of the six Pilots sat in the GIS cafeteria eating. Kellaru, Temme, and Rells sat together eating. "This has certainly been a weird week", said Kellaru breaking the silence.
Rells glared at him as if he had broken some crime. He just stood up and left. Temme ate quietly not wanting to disturb anyone. "What's his problem?" Kellaru quietly spoke to himself while leaving the table.
All that remained was Temme, by himself. His body lay still and silent. The blue hair, unmoving. "Why must they not speak of… I know she is there and they will soon…?" His voice trailed off into the silence of the room. He was an ever-perplexing mystery of words. Though he would never let anyone figure him out. He remained the enigmatic Pilot that everyone longed to no about but did not care to get close to. 2
Zero walked away trying not to look at the Ingrid. "So many memories", Zero soliloquized. He walked away silently not looking back; Zero feared the Ingrid might leave a face of sorrow hanging in his heart.
"Zero, where are you going?" Kereema stood next to Sophri-Laties as Zero walked by. Kereema had been at the Ingrid's side all day and now she was beginning to tire.
"Nowhere", he said smiling. "How's it going? I can't wait to pilot her!" He looked at his partner who seemed rather perplexed at the moment.
"Sophri needs some work done", Kereema commented while looking up at the new addition to the partnership. I should have her completely finished in a day or so. I just need to memorize the location of the A cables and right arm pressure seals—." Kereema was suddenly interrupted by Zero.
"Sophri?" Zero stated a little bewildered. "Where did you come up with that?" Zero stared rather blankly at her, his sapphire eyes bulging out as if they were his ears.
"Is it ok with you, Zero? I named it after my mother because my mother was always there for me," Kereema said, rather embarrassed. Just like she is going to be there for us."
"Of course it's ok with me! I just wondered where you got that name from", Zero said cheerfully. "Mothers do watch over us in strange ways…"
"So this is it, Elique", exclaimed Zen. "The great Eemna-Leena, who has had the same Pilot for five hundred years. Doesn't it sound like time for a fresh start?" Zen stared up at the Ingrid. Her eyes glaring down; they gave an almost reluctant glare towards him.
"I am going to input the data", said Elique. The Repairer stared down at the panel, her face sweaty from being a little nervous. After all, this was her first time repairing an Ingrid.
The robotic voice came over the ears of the pair. "Input data."
"Inputting data from identification-number ninety", commanded Elique. She seemed so professional at this, even though it was her first time.
"Data received. Name of new Pilot"
"Zen Ayami", Zen delivered it clearly.
"Name of new Repairer", asked the robotic voice.
"Elique Arei", the maturity sounding through in her voice.
"Name of new machine."
"Nerria", said Elique. Elique was confident in her decision; Zen and Elique had decided on the name a month before they were chosen. It was the name chosen by the first Pilot of the Blue Ingrid.
"Irrina", said Zen. The ultimatum carrying through in his voice.
"We've finally did it! She's ours at last!" shouted Elique. Without warning Elique latched onto her partner's body. She hugged him tightly.
A little taken aback but not frightened, an even happier Zen hugged her back. Their embrace meant more than words could say. Dreams come true, happiness, hard work paying off, and their mark in this lonely universe.
The darkness of the room failed to illuminate its beholders. Two, a pair, conversed in the recesses of GIS. "I suppose you heard of their naming? This hasn't happened in a while, correct?" The ears of GIS had been relayed to these men, the seers of all that went on in GIS. The Ingrids' ever-watching guardians.
Four had passed since that day, and yet, no Victim have appeared. In this time a meeting was held among the Observers and Pilots. The second meeting of this kind.
At the room stood the three main Observers of GIS, all dressed formally as were the Pilots and Repairers. "As you know, it has been four days since the last assault on Zion", spoke the eldest of the Observers. "I am sure you are all aware of the current changes in Pilots. With that, let us proceed."
The meetings between Observers and Pilots are rarely held. Usually, they are held on a one-on-one basis if the Observer sees something wrong within a pair of an Ingrid. Although, they are occasionally held after a new pair is brought aboard GIS, not always, though.
The youngest of the Observers stepped forward. "Aoron, may I speak?" he whispered into the other Observer's ear. The other Observer silently agreed to this.
"As you can see the number of Victim attacks has been decreasing. Although, they have been decreasing, the numbers have been increasing. All these attacks seem to be concentrated on one specific area." He moved up a little towards a sphere-like object. "Bring up Star Map Six, Area Red. The map glowed, illuminating the room.
'That's the area where Hiead fought her…', Zero's thoughts caught up to him as did the Observer's words. Zero was in an odious or rather, a fighting mood, so the Observers failed to catch his interest. He wasn't one to plan, he was one to fight. 'Could he still be alive…?' Zero's thoughts trailed off as the Observer presented the information.
"It seems they may be hiding something within the confines of this area. We shall collect data the next time a battle takes place in this area", said the Observer, his green eyes quivering. "That is all."
The now-dismissed Pilots and Repairers moved about heading to their quarters; to eat; some of them went to check up on their Ingrid. Just then, it hit him. Zero. They are coming, the Victim.
Zero froze in his tracks, the voice of the Goddess resounding within his mind: Had he really heard her? The question remained in his mind. "Teela", Zero muttered.
You must listen, Zero, said the faraway voice.
'It is her…' Zero stood in the hallway gaping at the metal surrounding him. He stood there, just standing.
Go to her now, I am waiting.
Waiting for me? Her? Zero's questions could not be answered, for this was not the time.
The Ingrid, Zero. Enter her, be one with her. Now go, I can no longer stay here.
The feeling Zero once left him and was replaced with a vision—a vision of Victim… They ravaged space, carrying hate and malice from the unknown. Their movement seething with death—the Victim…
Zero walked slowly to the Ingrid. His pace quickened, entering a state of near panic, but he quickly calmed himself. 'Should I warn the other Pilots? It's not what she would have done. Should I? No', the reply to himself confirmed his present task. Zero jumped into the Ingrid without thinking. Kereema had not performed the final checks. Zero knew the risk, but he took it.
Zero flew through the chassis of the Ingrid entering the sacred sanctuary of the Goddess. He felt her presence in the Ingrid, even if Teela was only a spirit now.
"I must not go to him now; he will grow too fond of me… I must let my world float apart from his", Teela's words feigning her from the battle. "His first battle within this vessel. How shall you fair, my son, Rei?"
Zero launched into space with Sophri-Laties arched against the stars. The Ingrid rocketed forward as Zero shot forth through space. "These controls, are so… Different", said Zero. "No wonder she was so powerful…all this, at her disposal. "Now I know why humans were not meant for this vessel…it has something in it. It has been made pure. A holy relic of ancient times…the first one. I feel it. Crystallized with in this pristine beauty. It is ugly and beautiful at the same time…yet it is our only hope and I must use it."
"He has found it. The true power source to this Ingrid; use it, Rei, it is all that is left—every last bit."
The alarm resonated through GIS sending the Pilots fleeing to their Ingrids. Courrs ran hurriedly towards Tella-Kallisto― trailed by his Repairer. Courrs and Marou were the first to arrive, then came the dumbfounded Kereema. "Where is he? Did he take off without me doing those checks? Zero!" The agitated Kereema stomped off towards the GIS Repairer Base, bellowing about her partner. "That damn hot-head…AHHH! I'm going to kill him…" Kereema laughed, letting go of her nervousness and worry. "Who am I kidding? He's been a Pilot for five-hundred years; he knows what he's doing."
"I must fight like her, as if I were her", said Zero, gazing towards the vastness of space. "Teela…" The Ingrid moved on, contrasting against space, searching for Victim.
"Tella-Kallisto, checklist complete."
"Reneglein-Klein, checklist complete."
"Agia-Keimeia, checklist complete."
"Luria-Karrou, checklist complete."
"Nerria-Irrina, checklist complete."
'Well, it seems someone finally decided to break the conformity around here', thought Zero glancing down at the new date he had received via Kereema. 'He should be interesting in battle.' Sophri-Laties flew smoothly out of GIS, launching into space. First to arrive, as usual.
Nerria-Irrina flew second in command, though her Pilot's skill was far from second-best; that's how all rookies. Her Pilot operated the Ingrid with somewhat relaxed skill. Yet, he seemed, off in this group. Somewhere he did not belong. Not better, not worse. Not even in the middle. He was away, somehow.
The rest of the Ingrids followed, leaving a wake in the path of nothingness. The nothingness of dark space; the dark space that haunts them all, shadowing the Victim. It is their home, their birthplace. Should it be theirs? And should we take Zion and in our own arrogance leave to them all the treasures of the vast universe? For this is not only a war for that lonely orb amidst this universe, but is for the universe.
"Five Type-R Victim approaching from the left", called Reneglein Klein.
"Ignore them", said Zero. "They are decoys. Something that small is just an annoying bug."
So you know, Rei. They are becoming smarter. It only took time. Zero moved forward pressing his Ingrid on.
"We have a received a distress call from Colony F-21. All Ingrids proceed there", said Rells. "I am sending orders to GOA for the Candidates to take care of the remaining Victim in this area."
"Understood", said Zero. His voice resounding clearly—no falter, no laugh, no pause, no hint of emotion. Just like her….
Zero kept moving, but he still wondered about his dream. 'What was she? I couldn't tell….' That face, the hair, and worst of all, the eyes. The piercing black eyes, eyes of death, eyes of cold ash, eyes enmity, they hurt.
The Ingrids arrived at the Colony only to witness swarms of Victim attacking the glass sanctuary of the humans. Their repulsive heads ramming it with no care, their souls striking fear within them, their appearance was sheer terror. Utter devastation upon their faces, hope shouted from their bosoms. Hope to the Goddesses. This is how every fight involving the humans started off—entrusting of the souls to the more powerful beings. It was the way of humanity and it shall remain that way forever.
"How many Victim are there, Reneglein-Klein? Specific count", commanded Zero.
"I am ascertaining that now", said Rells. The Pilots waited anxiously for his reply. At last, it came: "Four hundred Type-R Victim, leader is a Type-O. Proceed with the attack."
The Victim swarmed over the Colony like underfed circus animals to a piece of meat. The glass cracked, slightly, but the Ingrids took action, or rather, one flew into battle head-first without thinking.
"Stop, Nerria-Irrina. Follow the attack pattern", mandated Zero. "Did you not see the one that Reneglein-Klein has just given you? Zero was already galled by the new Pilot. 'Why did you leave me?' Teela stood in the background, unwavering. She would not answer that, it was not the time. Teela could sense the other feelings on his mind: Her.
Zen looked at the attack plan and faltered at his own weakness. "Why must I listen to him? I am my own leader," the Pilot grumbled to himself silently.
Nerria-Irrina stopped, her Pilot piqued by the authority of the White Goddess. "Understood", Zen said, with a tone of disapproval in his voice. "I will follow formation 3-C."
The Ingrids moved into position: Tella-Kallisto taking up the middle, Agia-Keimeia on the outside left-wing, Nerria-Irrina on the outside right-wing, Luria-Karrou and Reneglein-Klein behind, and Sophri-Laties leading. They moved as a team, an invincible party of souls.
"Agia-Keimeia, deploy shields; Tella-Kallisto, begin attack from the right", commanded the White Ingrid Pilot.
"Is setting four all right?" A responding yes from Zero prompted the shields further. "Shields deploy, main target: Colony F-21. Sub target: Ingrids. Setting four." The triangular units set out, seeking their targets, but not to kill—to protect.
"First, (they had given Zero her name; Zero was annoyed at this, although he said nothing about it. There were some things you needed to accept, but can't) there is an abnormal pattern within the Victim—they're disappearing and we're not even attacking!"
The worry in the voice of Reneglein-Klein's Pilot showed, not only his words, but in the Goddess. She had feared this for some time, an overpowering sense. Not just here, all of them. The Goddesses cowered in fear, hiding the recesses of their Ingrids. All of them, except her.
"How many Victim have 'disappeared', Reneglein-Klein?" Zero asked, a little wary, as if struggling to believe it (for he had never seen this). "Have their life signs disappeared? Tella-Kallisto and Nerria-Irrina, how many do you have confirmed dead?"
"I have five confirmed dead", said Courrs.
"Three", said Zen.
"I—I have one hundred-thirty that are confirmed gone", said Rells, rather shakily.
All the Pilots starred oddly ahead, the suddenly, a solution had almost dawned on Zero. The leader…" Zero whispered to himself. "Reneglein-Klein, deploy the sensors now! Set the quantum-detection scan to max! Zero said in a hurried and panicked voice. The scanners formed a pattern surrounding the battlefield. The empty and desolate are of space now swarmed with Man's technology (or was it Man's?), metal poured over the thickness of space, taking over the field.
'So, you see it, Rei. You've seen through their plan, their evolution has begun, and so has ours', thought Teela, watching her son pilot the being known as an Ingrid. 'One day, we will join as two, entering those gates into the past. You will see, Rei….'
"There!" Exclaimed Zero as he spotted the gluttonous beast.
The leader, hiding (now exposed) through a veil of quantum energy excreted during his feast on his Victim. The Victim was now huge, nearing an S-Type. It jutted through space, an asperous creature clawing through the void.
The inexperienced Pilot shot through the other fear-stricken Pilots. Hot-headed, but was he what would save them?
"NERRIA-IRRNA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" The enraged Zero shot out. "This is not a one-man team. Turn back immediately." It was too late though, the hot-headed Pilot had already found himself entangled in the Victim's grasp.
'Hs soul, it is so contrary to mine. I only stood and watched…merely a pawn to them, a strong one. I acted only to help…even at times if I was letting them die, it was not my will. Yet, he cares for them. I can feel it. The screaming held drops of solicitude, unlike my words. I was cold to them, but they never knew I cared. I didn't wish to see life extinguish at my hands, yet they didn't know. This group and the others before it know that he cares. My dear, Rei, grow strong.' Teela watched as the battle raged outside. 'No longer will I affect your lives….'
Sophri-Laties charged, the Ingrid moving at full speed. Then, it happened. Everything froze—exactly where it was. Only the Goddesses lay awake, pondering the thoughts of their unknowing Pilots.
"You are scared, aren't you?" The Goddess said to her Pilot. "Afraid of dying, being dismissed. I know your fears, young human. Your life has just begun, fighting for the world, in which you must protect with the quintessence of your soul—your life and your youth." The Goddess ran her ethereal fingers through the Pilot's light brown hair, feeling life. "Young Pilot, do not forget what life is like, as I have…for I long for it."
The dimensions reappeared and appeared through the eyes of the White Ingrid Pilot. Then a flash came, and Zero entered the purview of the Victim. The Ingrid's eyes gleaming towards the venomous death. Zero unsheathed the blade and struck the Victim. The Victim answered with a resounding screech, unheard by anyone. Nerria-Irrina continued to remain in its grasp.
Tella-Kallisto joined the fight, lending her sabers. "I will take the left, Zero." The Red Ingrid moved fluidly with the movements of Sophri-Laties. They swerved in and out, on a direct path to the Victim. As if blood and light somehow combining their ways. They struck the Victim in synchronized moments, letting it bleed freely. The beast, too caught up in its own pain, let free the Blue Ingrid. Nerria-Irrina relaxed slightly and then joined in. Soon, the other Ingrids had followed as well.
"Set up the T-Shields, Luria-Karrou. There is a level-one continuum disturbance in this area", said Rells.
The Violet Ingrid deployed her units, followed by the Orange Ingrid. The two colors moved about space, mixing with the murkiness of space.
"Deploy attack, Nerria-Irrina and Tella-Kallisto", said Zero.
"Elique, send Number Three", prompted Zen.
The new Repairer's hands raced across the keyboard, multitasking, double-checking. "SENT!" she shouted back to her partner.
The weapon arrived in the bulky and argentate case, the nano-machines quickly dissembled to reveal the weapon. Massive in size, devastating in power. The ordnance attached itself to Nerria-Irrina, the whole process shortened by the upgrades she had received. The weapon fired, leaving streaks of plasma in its wake. It hit the Victim with irrefutable puissance, sending the colossal creature into a series of spasms, weakening it.
'Yeah! Zen got a hit!' Elique beamed to herself as she sat in her space. It felt weird coming to GIS. Being the Top Repairer, and now being shot to the bottom. She had no chance against all the veterans; Elique told herself over and over she would get better. And now, she has that chance.
The Repairers raced over their Pilots data, checking everything with care. "Status report, Somi", called out Kereema.
"S-Type Victim on field, both shields deployed, and currently Nerria-Irrina and Tella-Kallisto are in battle engagement. The Victim is currently weakening, no signs of recovery detected. Sending date."
Tella-Kallisto went in, delivering her share of pain to the Victim. "Deliver the death-blow, Sophri-Laties", commanded (the only command Renegelein-Klein had over the White Ingrid Pilot) Rells.
Sophri-Laties emanated with light. Her glowing body spat forth at the feet of the Victim. An instant and then—an empyreal explosion rocked space. The Victim's body shattered beyond anything. Vaporized in instants. The true power of the Goddess Judgment, something that only—and only—the Goddesses could possibly realize the true extent of. Only an infinitude of human lives in this universe could you then begin to grasp this overwhelming power.
The Ingrids lay back in space and watched the ripples die off, a flower of bright energy fade. The center multiplied and then spread, as if causing it to unmultiply back into more. Silently they moved towards GIS, the iron beauties floating mysteriously with their Pilots protected inside.
The Pilots docked in silence. Not even a "good job" came from any one of them. That is, until their Repairers greeted them. Happy, but not showing it. Their partners eyed them happily knowing that they were back for another day, another hour, another second. Something was not lost today. Some embraced their partners with tangible happiness, and others just communicated through their eyes knowing, silently, their work was done, and another day would come for them to be together.
When the Pilots had left the Repairers set to work checking, rechecking, fixing, and monitoring their Ingrid. They worked, and this work created sweat. They were the saving grace, the only thing that could touch the Goddesses. For the Goddesses did not like the hands that were rough and scarred from battle….
And with that, one more day was done. Another battle fought. Another day lived. Now they could dream and rest and the Goddesses could rest. Life could go on, but life is short. In contrast to this universe we live but a second, our lives leave nothing. That is why they seek to leave something. They must.
