Prologue

Hornst shivered as he felt the snow fall into his boots. He felt his temperature dropping, so he turned off his internal coolant. While he couldn't feel pain the way a human could, it felt contrary to nature to be under such pressure. It is against nature for reploids to have crossed wires, for example, so the result is very similar to the pain that humans feel. Right now Hornst was feeling his heating system exerting itself as much as it could, but not even coming close to easing the cold around him.

"They're all the same…" Hornst muttered under his breath.

Hornst was told a long time ago that each snowflake is different. He couldn't remember who said it, but he figured it must have been some human. They always lied to him. He didn't see any difference between snowflakes; but they were all cold.

The three other people walking ahead of him paid no heed to Hornst, who always stayed in the very back.

"It's been quiet lately," said one man in a green uniform. Hornst knew this man. He was his superior officer. Hornst always envied him for his social abilities. It seemed that he always knew what to say. "There haven't been many neo-Arcadian attacks lately. Things are almost too peaceful now…"

Hornst felt it best to at least try and join the conversation. "Well, if Ciel's new energy system really solves the crisis, Neo Arcadia won't have a reason to attack us anymore."

Ciel turned towards Hornst for a moment. Hornst could tell that she was worried about something. "Actually…" Ciel said. "I've already informed Neo Arcadia about my system, but I haven't received a reply yet…"

Hornst snorted to himself. "Typical." He thought.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll hear from them soon." Said Cain. "There's no more reason to fight, and we can finally live in peace!"

The red Reploid taking point was visibly annoyed. This to Hornst was not a good sign.

"We're in the middle of a mission. Put a lid on it and walk!" he snapped.

Ciel gulped. "What's his problem, anyway?" thought Hornst. He saw the two together over the past few months. He saw that there was more there than Zero would like to admit.

Their conversation ended abruptly. Ciel looked at her mini-comp. "The readings are getting stronger. We have to be close."

It felt like divine intervention for Hornst when the snow started to thin out and gradually fade. "W-wow!" cried Cain. A huge monolith stood in the distance. They couldn't see it before because of the intensity of the storm.

Zero stared at it for a while, and finally said "Is that some kind of base?"

Something even more distressing came to Hornst's attention. It had crashed into the earth. Ancient space stations were always a myth, until this day.

"Ciel… This thing had to have crashed from an extreme height! The crater around it is huge!"

"Yes" Said Ciel. "But what's more… It's giving off the same energy signal as the Dark Elf."

She glanced apologetically at Zero. "I'm sorry I had to drag you into this, but I just have to know what's going on."

Zero didn't even glance at her. "Neo Arcadia has the aria ahead cordoned off. You guys should stay here until I make sure it's safe."

"Okay… Be careful Zero."

Zero nodded and ran ahead.

CHAPTER 1