Infinite Stratos: Hidden Trump

by Blackshadow999

My life was going the way I wanted, then the Bunny called me, to get her kicks by messing with my life again! Now, I'm going to the IS Academy, all my classmates are my age and females... This'll be some of the hardest challenge I've faced! That Rabbit will pay for making my life HELL and that's a promise I'll KEEP! No Ichika in this story. OC main.

12. The Truth

A/n

Okay, this chapter when I started writing it… I knew it would be long, but it exceeded my expectations in that! This chapter itself is packed with things, a bit of Sai's past, action, a fight, and of course hilarity here and there. Well, enough from me, on with the story.

Chapter 12: The Truth

-Sai's pov-

I was on my way back to the operations room, fuming and sulking the whole way as I went. This is a habit that I have, and it comes up whenever I have to talk with the rabbit, the foul mood is stronger on the occasion that I end out facing the bunny in person. She frustrates me so much now, it's so hard not to be mad and do things to her, but it wouldn't help as it wouldn't change anything. It didn't take me all that long to get back to the operations room… Not the fifteen minutes that it had taken me to find Chifuyu. However, my mood hadn't improved really, so I was sulking still. I entered the room silently and began to walk to where I'd sat previously to going to make my request to Chifuyu. However, I didn't make it to that spot as Cassidy spoke, stopping me, "Sai, what's wrong? You look put out about something."

I stopped where I was, paused, then waved a hand in a placation. What troubles me right now is a subject I've never liked and don't talk about with others. That being namely the bunny and having to face her after three years. The last time I'd seen her, she popped up at Ichika's funeral, though none noticed that she had been there, still, I did. Putting on a forced smile, I responded to my friends to get them to drop the subject, "It's nothing to worry about, there's work to be done, so let's get to it."

Matt narrowed his eyes on me, "Sai, that's one of the biggest whoppers that ah've heard in a while. Ya can tell some real tall tales, but this is one of the sorriest attempts of ya telling stories to get others to believe ya."

"Yes, Matt is correct… Even if he has a roundabout way of saying that," remarked Luther.

Glancing around to see that the faces of all of my friends said they knew I was lying and trying to put off what was bothering me. In fact, all of them had ceased the work of learning about the Silver Gospel and were looking at me. The mental barriers that I use to protect myself, began to be strained. "Like I said, it's nothing to worry yourselves about… my personal problems really, things I'll deal with myself." I said in a flat tone, which was almost mechanical.

"Sai, you know that you can tell us anything and we would not judge you," commented Olivia.

The mental walls I had built for myself, started cracking at that comment from my French friend. Chifuyu was the only one that knew of the true relationship that I had with the hasenpfeffer and the porcelain doll, and I haven't told her everything. My 'sister' didn't join up with the Infinite Stratos project for the first six to nine months so, I was alone with those two women for that time. At first, that was fine, both the rabbit and the doll had been nice to me, so I'd thought things would be fine.

That was before I began to learn what the two women were really like! There's a reason that the phrase, 'you only get to know what a person is really like when you live with them' exists. The Hasenpfeffer was a perfect example; she didn't leave me alone for very long. It hadn't been much over two months before I learned the bunny was very different behind closed doors. As for the doll, it took her a few more weeks after the rabbit had shown her true self for me to start seeing the difference, which was her showing emotions around me. If not for the marionette, I would have been molested, but Alice had kept the bunny from doing so to me.

So, Chifuyu only knew a part of what the rabbit was truly like when the bunny wasn't as openly eccentric as she is now. Hence, most wouldn't know what she's really like… when others she isn't closely acquainted with aren't around. Personally, I think it's because the rabbit has a thing for Chifuyu… I don't want to know what it is, and that's why she doesn't want her to drop her like a bad habit. The problem for her and the upside for me, Chifuyu quickly became protective of me. Probably due to my age and that I had no one else other than the bunny and the doll at that time, and they ain't good role models. I've always kept to myself the grief those two women have done and caused to me. At first, I thought it to be a sign of strength, but as time had passed, the experiences had become chains, which I had carried for a long time now.

The continuing stares of the gang were getting to me and the difficulty in my mind was increasing. The silence was affecting me, making the walls I built, threatening to cave in on me. "This isn't… I'm not," I stuttered, trying to explain myself, but in reality, I was making excuses and I knew it.

"Iya, we're here for you Sai," cried Jia and vanishing then shortly appearing near me, she hugged me from behind me, "Don't push us away."

My mental barriers… The walls that had taken time to build up and protect me from emotional and mental pain for years, they were shaking and trembling by this point. I haven't faced parts of my past, and I admit that my past is a hard one and most of what troubles me now happened in the formative and developmental years. Yet, it was Cassidy that delivered the final blow that shattered my defenses, "You've known us for long enough to know that we won't think any less of you, no matter what you might have gone through."

The walls crashed down around me at that one line, for it's true and I couldn't deny it with any of my friends in this room. I couldn't speak, so I nodded instead and pointed to the door to gesture that this discussion continue in a more private setting. We all left the room and made our way out to the forest behind the hotel, for it fit the privacy needs I had. Once out of the line of sight of the hotel and hearing distance of anyone else, I began telling the story of my past… My full past, not the censored or simplified version, but the complete truth.

I started with the first event that changed the path my life, in a good way in hindsight had been on the day my 'father' had left and abandoned me. I had acquired several marks… In particular, four scars on my back stand out to me, mostly because I still have them today. The first was a foot long and is parallel to my spine, two inches to the left of my spinal cord and beginning a bit above my mid-back. The next two markings were more noticeable than the first; they formed an X shaped starting just below my shoulders and stretched a foot and a half diagonally downward. The last was a scar that begins at the back of my left hip and goes diagonally up at a thirty-degree angle and is a foot and a quarter in length. After he had given me the collection of scars that I have on my back, he left the house and never came back again. I'd been left on the floor where I had collapsed after the beating, I'd writhed for a time from the pain before I had crawled up to my room and wrapped myself up to stop the bleeding.

Then came the second event that completely changed the path my life would have forever… Which was meeting the rabbit and the life-like doll. It had been a week since my 'dad' had gone out the door, though, the man who was supposed to be responsible for me left, I stayed in the house, not because I wished to, but for the reason that I had nowhere else to go and it was familiar to me. Due to being in a 'quiet neighborhood', no one knew that I was the only one in the house now. Plus, around the neighborhood, I was seen as an unintelligent child because I didn't speak to others much if at all. So, most assumed that I wasn't able to speak at all or didn't know how yet. Since I was able to look after and take care of myself, which did include making simple meals, I was okay.

The evening in question had been like the last few, eat food, then wash up and tend to the scars that I had forming now, and end with reading books in bed. Books were the one escape that I had now, the one way that I could forget what my life had become recently. So, after I had eaten and had returned to my room and books that I had. That night I'd been reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Jules Verne in particular, I was reading Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. My attention was caught by the sound of the door opening and voices, was the last things I thought I would hear. Heck, I thought I was imagining things at first, but as the voices continued, it was plain that I wasn't. I'd gotten out of bed and snuck towards the sounds with the book I had been reading clutched to my chest like some sort of shield. Once I had crept downstairs and hid behind the doorway to the living room. I'd looked around the corner and to my surprise, I found two women that I didn't know standing there.

The first of the two women looked like she was in her mid-teens, like fifteen or sixteen in age and stood at around five feet tall. Even if she was in her teens, she had a big chest… definitely bigger than anyone else I've seen in that area. As the woman was glancing around the room I caught the sight of her slightly lighter than neutral purple colored eyes and the same colored hair. Her hair was straight and long, extending to almost her hips. The clothes that this young woman was wearing made me wonder a great deal about her… I've never seen people wear an outfit exactly like the one she was. Not to say that I haven't seen what she was wearing, I'd seen some pictures in books, though not the particular coloration that she had. The purple-haired lady had a dress that maids would wear, but it was blue instead of black and had a few pieces that weren't what I've read about. The final piece was the two metal things on her head that had hinges in the middle… they kind of look like rabbit ears the longer I looked at them.

I glanced over at the second woman and was just as mystified as I was with the first one. This female was an inch taller than the other, but a little over five feet. She was a bit thinner than the first girl but also had a big chest. The second girl looked to be in her teens like the other, yet older, around seventeen or perhaps eighteen. She had very pale toned skin… it was close to white, I wonder if she doesn't get out much and so doesn't take in a lot of sunlight. Her blonde hair was quite pretty though, it was shorter than the other lady, only went to her shoulders. Noticed that she had light blue eyes that matched the bow on the top of her head. Like the other woman, the second one wore clothes that weren't what others would wear. She had a dress that was sky blue went to her knees and had puffy sleeves. She had another piece of clothing over the dress, but I don't know what it's called… looked kind of like short overalls. She also had a white apron I think, over the lower section of her front, and then she was in hiking boots.

Both women looked quite odd to me, and I've no idea who they were or why they even came into the house! If they're thieves, then their outfits really made you hesitate and question them! I shook my head and turned away to go back to my room. Maybe if I hide from them, they'll go away and leave me alone. I didn't get more than a few steps when suddenly something popped up in front of me. "Hello hello hello! Do you live here little boy," said a female voice.

I jumped literally, almost a foot in the air, for directly before me was the purple-haired woman and she was smiling at me. My heart was racing at her sudden appearance, it had been like she had just materialized. Stumbling backward in shock at the appearance of one of the strangers, I seriously began to wonder. How did she do that?! How did she just appear in front of me? I didn't see or hear her move and people aren't able to disappear and reappear, it doesn't make sense.

But as I move backward, I felt myself come into contact with something else… that felt like fabric. When I gazed upward, I saw that I had bumped into the blonde girl, her face had no expression on it. My eyes were wide, like a picture I've seen of a deer with headlights shining in their eyes. By this point I was beyond scared, I was terrified right now. There are two women that I don't know in the house, just feet away from me, and the last 'adult' I had been around hurt me badly, what's to say they won't do the same?! Clutching my book to me and didn't say anything, speaking around adults had always gotten me into trouble previously. Whenever I spoke to my 'father', it made him mad and it would end out with me getting hurt normally.

"Are you alright," asked the blonde in a flat voice.

I sunk to the floor shaking in fear, trying to not start crying in terror. Unfortunately, within the last year, my father had gone to lengths of instilling me with the fear of adults, he had done a good job of that, for I was more than just scared of them. I hate the man who's supposed to be my parent and care about me and for me so, I was glad he was gone. That didn't change the point that I'm still scared of him and I think some adults are like him. What if these two women are like him?! I was so scared that I started quoting my favorite stories. The line that came to my mind happened to come from the same book that was clutched to my chest. "The sea is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion, it is the 'Living Infinite' …The globe began with sea, so to speak, and who knows if it will not end with it? In it is supreme tranquility," I muttered to myself, shutting my eyes.

"Ah! That's a line from Jules Verne 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, have you read that?"

My eyes shot open and I looked up at the purple-haired woman who had spoken the question and stared. She hadn't… gotten mad at me for talking differently than children the same age as me? I nodded slowly, "H-he's my favorite a-author," I said quietly.

There was silence for a bit, before the blonde spoke, "As there is a heavy storm outside, would it be alright if we stay until it passes?"

Her voice was still flat as could be… quite something really, never heard anyone speak like that. These two as odd as they were, didn't seem like they would do anything to hurt me. Still, as they didn't seem to be bad people, I nodded. Once they went off to find a place to sleep, I retreated to my room. Another hour passed before I was able to fall asleep, as my mind had thoughts bouncing around it, which kept me awake for a time.

When I'd woke up the next morning, I snuck downstairs and found out that the two women from last night, hadn't been a dream in any way. In fact, the blonde one was in the kitchen, making breakfast. She simply looked at me for a moment and then went back to what she was doing. The purple-haired one came in a little later and after eating, they were getting ready to leave. However, before they headed for the door, they turned back to me, "Hey, do you want to come with us? You are smart like us and could help the two of us, so what do you say," said the purple-haired lady.

"Indeed, there is nothing here for you," that was from the blonde.

Leave the house and go with these two women that I only met last night? The blonde was right that I had nothing here really, but this house is all I know. "Who are you and what do you two do," I asked quietly.

The purple-haired lady smiled broadly, and the blonde's Face didn't change at all… was there something wrong with her face so that it couldn't show expression? "Well, my name is Tabane Shinonono and this is Alice Masta, and we're going to change the world," said the purple-haired girl announcing her answer like it was some kind of revelation and the blonde just nodded.

Change the world? I mulled over the choice in this. I wanted to do more than I was doing here, to challenge myself and climb to greater heights. Now was as good a time as any to do that, I guess. Nodding to the two women, I said, "Okay sure, my name is Sai, I'll go with you. I don't want to stay here anymore, and I want to see how far I can go."

I'd tried to sound confident, but that's not as easy for me as it once was, thanks to my male sire. The purple-haired lady beamed and started jumping up and down while the blonde… did nothing. So, within thirty minutes, I was leaving the one place I had known, no matter how bad it could get, it was home. I had no idea where I was going to go or what I would do, but at least it would be different from what I had left behind.

Once I had followed the bunny and the doll, things had started looking up. Back then, the bunny had been nicer, and the doll didn't show emotion around me. The amazing part to me, the access to information the two women had and through them, that I now had, was awesome! The things that I was taking in and learning had been beyond my dreams before. The bunny, doll and I had traveled for a few weeks until we came to an island to build a place where we could do work without being disturbed by others. I'd learned rather quickly that the two women were different from one another in personality. The Rabbit was a dreamer and could somehow translate what she imagined into reality, she is usually upbeat and was oblivious of the effects of her actions concerning others or much at all. In contrast, the porcelain marionette appeared to lack emotion; however, she was a practical realist and looked to the empirical results in the work that she did. I was somewhere in between of the two or that's what I would consider myself.

We had begun a truly amazing idea, we called it Infinite Stratos and the three of us believed it could change the world in a way that will make the world for the better. Less than a year after we started, Chifuyu came into the lab, brought in by the hasenpfeffer. The rabbit knew her, didn't ask as to how they knew one another, but by that point, we had already started constructing the two prototypes IS cores and needed pilots. Chifuyu had been really surprised to see me there, I'd been close to seven at the time but still was a kid. I had come a long way in the months I'd spent with both the bunny and marionette. Wasn't the scared child that they had met on a rainy night, I was more confident and had started standing up for myself, even with the rabbit and doll. Back to the point, Chifuyu had shouted at the bunny… accused her of kidnapping and some other stuff that I hadn't understood at the time. Honestly, it was pretty funny to watch the two women argue with each other; even if I didn't fully understand why they were. Knew the meaning of the words said, just not the implications of them.

I gave my friends a brief summary of the environment that I had worked in during the development of the IS. Then I got to when I left with the assistance of Chifuyu, a week before Infinite Stratos was introduced to the world. Before arriving at the house that Chifuyu had… No idea how she got the place, but anyway, I'd little comprehension of what a family was supposed to be like. After all, the only example I knew was the man that had abused me and then abandoned me. Then both the hasenpfeffer and the doll had taken me in and had 'looked after me', which meant that I did a good portion of the 'house chores' kind of jobs. I had met Ichika, who had been excited to meet another boy in the same age range he was in. Ichika had even thought that my developed vocabulary was awesome and didn't shun me at all. It had only taken a few days for me to acclimate to life in the house with Chifuyu and Ichika before it felt like I had been living there for years.

I learned a few months after arriving that a friend of Ichika had left due to 'unknown circumstances'. He never found out the circumstances… Though by the descriptions he gave, now that I think about it, fits Houki. She may be the one Ichika had been talking about, but I can't be sure with what I know. So, we started after that spending a great deal more time around one another. Also, I had begun high school a year after coming to live with Chifuyu… And that had been a rather difficult experience. It didn't help that the rabbit would pop in at random intervals and times to see Chifuyu and me. She also took a liking to Ichika and would get rather clingy with him and me. The times the rabbit would appear were annoying as she gave no fair warning at all, but then, she was rather spontaneous. How she came to visit without being spotted or stopped because of being recognized after she introduced the IS to the world, I'll never know. I kept talking about what had happened to me over the time before I had met the gang.

When I finished my tale, my head drooped, and silence filled the air. I've told no one much of the details that I had gotten into, with what I'd said to the gang. I didn't know what they would think… yes, it's unlikely that they would hold what I've said against me, but I just don't know. I've done things that I'm not proud of, unknowingly committed crimes with the bunny and the doll. The lack of sound continued for a few minutes, it was a hand on either shoulder that caught my attention. I looked up and saw the hand on my right shoulder belonged to Cassidy and upon turning to my left, saw that the one on my left was Matt's.

"You were doing the best you could, you were a child back at the time, so you didn't know what would happen," said Cassidy.

The others said things that were in line with what Cassidy had said. Again, I haven't the faintest idea of what I did or how I was so lucky to have friends as I do! But damn it, I sure am glad that I have them! The reason that I don't go into details about my past, would be that I hate reliving the events… My nightmares do that for me already. Plus, I really don't want the pity of others, to me that felt like admitting I'm weak and have others feel sorry for me. Yet that's not what my friends were doing for me and I knew it, they were listening and offering comfort… And pretty much none have done that. Offered pity and false understanding of my situation absolutely, but actually sympathizing… That's only happened once before now like it was with the gang, and that had been with Ichika. Chifuyu cared that I existed and I'm grateful for her doing what she has and have fond memories of the days that I lived with her and Ichika. However, Chifuyu had been busy normally, whether it had been with school or something else, so I never fully opened up to her… respect her, but not confiding in her.

I had been eleven, close to graduating high school when I had confided in Ichika about what my life had been like before arriving at the place that Chifuyu had and looked after Ichika and myself. He had listened to me and had believed me… But by that time, we had become the best of friends and so, we told each other things that we wouldn't others. After having paid attention to my story, I heard his and sadly, it wasn't much better than what I had gone through. Chifuyu and he had also been abandoned by their parents, though he didn't say why his parents did. Chifuyu had been a great person and instead of thinking about herself, she decided to look after her younger brother.

It had been Matt and then shortly after him, Cassidy that had befriended me that had literally saved my life, even if I hadn't known that at the time. I say that because, if not for both of them and the gang as a whole, then I would've never been able to have taken Ichika's death and been able to accept it instead of falling into a deep, inescapable depression. My friends had been and still are my lifeline in crisis when it comes! I sniffled a bit, "Thanks all, don't know what I could've done to have such good friends, but I'm glad you're here for me!" I choked out.

The next thing I realize felt wrapped up in an embrace that came collectively from all of the gang. Usually, I would feel sickened and the desperate need to get out of such a gesture, yet, for once, it felt warm and right. Probably due to the fact of whom it was coming from, is why the hug felt different from those before now. In response, I smiled… A real genuine smile, which for me is rare. I felt as if a huge heavyweight had been lifted off my shoulders that I had been carrying for a long time. We stayed like this for a little while, before the task at hand came back to mind and so all of us headed back to the operations room and got back to work with a renewed focus and vigor.

The others brought me up to speed on what they had learned about the Silver Gospel. The more information that was brought to light, the more I wondered if either the bunny or the doll had a hand in this IS's creation. Granted, it's possible that the development of some of these systems was just chance, but some particular systems and features resembled a few from the two prototype ISs systems and abilities, not the exact same or matching quality… Still too close to be random. The current issue was this unit's stealth capabilities, they were making it very hard to locate this machine, even for me with the current information that we had. If a way couldn't be found to pinpoint where this machine was, then this mission ends before we've really gotten started.

"I know the specs said that the anti-detection system was efficient, but there has to be some way to find this thing!" Commented Cassidy with exasperation.

We kept trying to come up with a way, to either crack the system encryption on the Silver Gospel or some way of tracking it, but after ten minutes, none of us could think of anything. "Sacré Bleu! Even with satellite cameras, this IS is escaping notice! The GPS system isn't providing anything of use either." Exclaimed Olivia with frustration.

All of us were nodding in unwanted agreement… Yet… What Olivia said sparked something in me. GPS System? … … OF COURSE! How could I have missed something so simple?! Every IS, no matter the generation, have a simple program to determine its location at any time. It does so, by sending requests on a low priority channel to the GPS system network according to the hemisphere it was in. The satellite nearest the IS unit will transmit the location back to the machine, and there is a short-term record in the GPS system Server. With the speed that this thing has been likely traveling with its capabilities, it would be making requests fairly frequently and consistently. Plus, there were few ISs in the area as of late that we couldn't identify and rule out as the target of our search!

With what my 'Eureka' moment had presented to me my fingers quickly began to type on the keyboard at speeds that most would have their jaws dropped and slack at. At least the chatting of the gang faded as I kept typing away. The reason that I was typing so furiously, was that I was… Letting myself into the network that the GPS system runs off of. That's… Technically, not allowed and so I would be committing a crime right now, but as long as I'm not caught getting into the network… I see no problem. The challenge is that this particular network server, its security wasn't weak… quite the setup really. My method of entry was making it look like I was an outside server that was asking for information, so I could avoid raising any flags to alert operators who might be looking. My hacking skills are hard to match, and so it was extremely unlikely that I would be caught, still best to be safe, rather than sorry and stupid. It took me sixty-five seconds to deal with the security the network had and making sure that there was nothing to tip-off any that someone was accessing the GPS system without permission.

"Um… Sai what'cha be doing friend," asked Matt.

"What Olivia said reminded me of a simple point that we missed. All IS units determine their own location by sending requests to the Global Positioning System on low priority channels that go unnoticed. The system keeps short term records within the network server that the GPS information goes through," I replied.

"Okay, that's good to know, but how would we get that information? I very much doubt the server that you particularly mentioned is one that's open to the public," inquired Luther.

I shook my head, "No it isn't Luther, not in the slightest, very elaborate and strong security system, I can tell you. However, we need to find this machine, so I see nothing wrong with borrowing the server's services, since none will know as I don't see a reason to mention anything about it," I retorted.

I brought up a display of the stream of data that I had coming in now from the GPS main servers. Cassidy was the first to speak after seeing what I displayed, "Sai, something tells me that were others to know what you're doing right now, you'd be in a lot of trouble, especially with those who asked you to help with this. This is considered…"

"Hacking, illegal, against the law, yes, I'm well aware of what people call this idea and the very bad and well-earned reputation it has Cassidy. Nevertheless, it's a skill I have and will use when I see a reason and a need to do so to get the job done," I returned.

"Iya, this is so cool," Blurted Jia.

There was silence for a bit, then I chuckled, "Thanks Jia, nice to have someone appreciate the skill, most don't."

Jia's outburst seemed to act as a release for everyone else. Cassidy smiled and shook her head before she began typing on the terminal she was sitting at. Luther had pretty much the same reaction though he was harder to see. Olivia and matt were grinning as they began to look over the specs of the Silver Gospel again. I used the IS's ID to try to narrow down the list of requests that had been made in the last twenty-four hours. I didn't expect much from that, so I was surprised when the ID brought up the particular set of requests that I was looking for.

The Silver Gospel had apparently started in the country of Israel, not in a city, middle of nowhere really, probably a laboratory if I were to guess. It then had begun for some reason, to travel eastward after going south and reaching the ocean, I can't really say why there's too little information to determine that. By the location points that came from the records, Cassidy, Luther and I plotted the course this IS took and it was kind of odd. The unit was going east, once it had gotten to the ocean, then it was almost directly east. I filed the suspicions I was having on the course that this IS was taking into the back of my mind and continued to go through the list of location requests.

It took a few more minutes to draw out the complete flight as of almost thirty minutes ago. If the Silver Gospel continues on the direction it had been, which had been a nearly straight line, then it would come within a reasonable distance to where we were tomorrow late mid-morning. By the time Cassidy, Luther and I had constructed the course that had been traveled thus far, a post came in to say that a request from the IS in question was being received. Apparently, the Silver Gospel was asking the GPS where it was right now… Sweet! You don't know how we can get information more current than this!

-Chifuyu's pov-

The girls who had an interest in Sai were following me as I headed for the operation room that had been set up by the staff for emergencies. I didn't know what exactly to think about the five that showed serious interest in my adopted younger brother. Houki and Charlotte I was less worried about going over lines, they seemed to know better. Rin was okay, and I recall Sai and Ichika mentioning one that fit her description before so again I wasn't all that worried. Cecilia was ignorant of Sai's dislike of egoistical fools which he learned from me, but she appeared to be improving. Laura, the girl was still foreign to social interaction with peers her own age outside the military, that hadn't changed at all really.

Then, Tabane was also with the group, why she was, I couldn't say, likely her wanting to attempt to make up with Sai. However, I doubt that Sai will be inclined to give her a chance right now, not with telling her to assume the position more than once. Sai only said that to Tabane or Alice when he intended to 'spank' them for something they did wrong. And it had been something else to see a seven-year-old have Tabane bent over and slapping her rear when I saw the point for the first time. Tabane tended to get the treatment more than Alice Masta did, though that woman was different than most. Honestly, I was more wondering what it was that Sai needed help with for he wasn't one to ask for help often.

So, when I reached the operation room, I slid the door open and found Sai and five other adults that appeared college age. As such, I assumed that they were probably friends of Sai's that he had referred to when speaking about Spring Break. They all seemed to be working on something and the only clue that I could see was the large display at the opposite end of the room. On that display was a map, a line that looked to start from somewhere within Israel, was being drawn through the China Sea and was going to the Pacific Ocean.

Sai didn't turn when our group entered, he was still typing away and looking at the display. After ten seconds, more information appeared on the display including a moving target that was going along the line that had been drawn on the map. From what I was seeing, the 'target' whatever it happened to be, was traveling east along the line. Once that was on the display, Sai turned to face us who had come into the room. His face gained an angry frown when he saw Tabane showing as I thought, he was not happy to see her.

I focused my gaze on Sai, "Well then Sai, time for you to start explaining what's going on with whatever it is that you need help handling," I stated.

Sai nodded in response to my statement, "Yes, I suppose it is, but first I believe I should state and all here in the room are to take seriously. What I and my friends are 'handling' as you put it Chifuyu isn't a subject to be spoken of outside this room period. As it happens, we have been asked to keep our mouths shut about this by the director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the deputy director of the National Security Agency from the US government. So, this is serious business and no joke in any way," he said.

What has Sai done to be involved with people like that, or do I even want to know what he did to know them. Sai wasn't one to draw attention to himself if he could help it and he had shown that clearly. Dead silence filled the room at Sai's statement, not all that surprising as he pretty much stated he was helping the US government. "So, if any have a problem with being tightly lipped about things, now would be the time to back out," Sai spoke again.

"What?! But how could you know anyone from those organizations," demanded Cecilia.

Sai didn't answer immediately, probably was thinking about if he wanted to answer. Finally, he spoke, "Well, I was involved in some bad business, it was not by choice I assure you." Sai stopped for a moment, sent a glare in Tabane's direction before he continued. "Because of that business, I've gotten to know some interesting people that I wouldn't have thought I would meet. Please don't ask for more detail, I don't want to go into any, it's an experience I would love not to remember," I said.

He sent another angry glare at Tabane who was looking a bit worried at the looks he was giving her. I was looking between the two, then the realization hit me, Tabane had been involved in the 'bad business' Sai mentioned. More than likely, Tabane had gotten Sai into whatever the business had been and in doing so, Sai had then been forced to take some sort of punishment. Comprehending that, I glared venomously at Tabane saying that I would be getting more details on what was being inferred to. Getting Sai into crap is a no-no with me, I made sure that Tabane and Alice understood that if they did such, they would answer to me.

Sai cleared his throat to regain everyone's attention, "So, as no one has exited the room, I take that to mean none have a problem with keeping any information you hear in this room, to yourselves and not spill any of it to others, correct," I posed.

-Sai's pov-

Upon receiving the affirmative, I began giving the explanation of the situation that was developing with the Silverio Gospel. I went over some of the important points, such as the IS not having a physical pilot and a bit on its origins. I curtailed the course of the Silver Gospel as we had put together from the GPS records that had been acquired. Cassidy gave a rundown of the specs of the Silver Gospel including; weapons, defenses, and basic abilities. The girls had various looks on their faces, most were sporting worry or apprehension, to which I didn't blame them.

Amidst the discussion that ensued, the question of who would go came up. I had a spot in the task as this was my responsibility since I had been asked to take care of this. But I'm not dumb enough to think I could do this job alone, even if my unit was fully operational, which it isn't, it would be a challenge for me. I needed another to help me in taking down the Silver Gospel, period. We were weighing options of who could be the best choice to assist me, which for me, I was going between Cecilia and Laura. Cecilia with her IS, had good power and range though lacks the speed that would be very helpful in this. On the other hand, Laura's IS had a good defense, a long-range gun, but also didn't have the speed that would provide an edge in this battle.

Yet the discussion was interrupted by the woman who annoys and frustrates me so much, "Hey Chi-chan, Sai-tan, I have a plan and it's… printing. So, where's your printer," asked the rabbit.

My right hand rose and was halfway to hitting the rabbit's head in the form of a hard chop, but I stopped myself and forced my hand back to my side. I growled, "No one asked what you thought hasenpfeffer so, do us all a favor and shut it!"

"What are you even talking about Tabane," asked Chifuyu.

Why does Chifuyu even ask her, it only encourages her oddities and annoyances. The bunny got a beaming smile, "Listen you two, it's time for the Akatsubaki to shine!"

I sighed with the excitement that the rabbit was showing, I've forgotten how she used to do this often enough that the marionette and I would make the habit to avoid her when she was in this kind of mood. I'll likely regret asking this, but I will ask anyway. "What's this Akatsubaki and why is it the time for it to shine, hasenpfeffer?"

The bunny smile, which irked me, "Silly Sai-tan, Akatsubaki is the first fourth-generation IS that is hand made by me for my little sister, Houki!"

I gritted my teeth at being call silly by the damn rabbit and held myself from forcing the woman to bend over and slap her rear right here and now! So, this Akatsubaki is the name she gave the IS unit she designed, and as usual, she disregards what the doll and I do and our work. My unit the Freedom would be considered a fourth-generation IS or on par with one from the fourth generation when it's finished, and maybe it could do better perhaps. I don't doubt the porcelain doll is building her own unit or is finished with it and is testing.

The bunny continued, "It's specs are above the current generation models," she then went into unnecessary detail of why the IS unit she built was so good. Her irritating habit and knack of boasting were grating on my nerves as I was forced to listen. Grudgingly, I had to say that Houki and the IS that was being described would be the best choice to help me with this job. After hearing the hasenpfeffer talk for two minutes, I had enough, "Alright bunny! You've made your point, now close your mouth before I do it for you," I snapped back at the purple-haired woman.

"Right then, the job will be done by Sai and Houki, she drives, and he shoots," said Chifuyu in the air of command.

I waved a hand in acceptance, knowing that arguing wouldn't help in this right now. Never mind that my unit can go supersonic and even hypersonic if I really push it. "Yeah sure, got it," I replied.

Houki agreed though she seems somewhat distracted by something that only she knew about. We separated for the remainder of the day to prepare for the job tomorrow.

As for me, have you ever had an experience that you dread, and wish wouldn't happen, but you know it needs to occur? Well, that's what I'm forced to do for I was on my way to go see the one female that I wanted to have the company of the least. If any have to ask why then they haven't been here when I started this tale clearly. The bunny and I have vastly different views when it comes to people around us and just people in general. I care about what might happen in the upcoming operation and the Rabbit cares as much as the average person would about a rat's a**.

With Houki as my work partner, I wasn't entirely sure how this would work out in the end. I already knew what I was getting into enough to know what I needed to do, however, I don't know if Houki really does. Going against the Silver Gospel could possibly get one, if not both of us hurt or the worst-case scenario gets killed. The best way to narrow those chances of bad things happening is to prepare correctly. I don't like the bunny, but I'm willing to put aside my feelings about her to try and get the rabbit to comprehend the danger that her sister is going to be in. Houki's life very well may depend on the IS unit the hasenpfeffer made and would adjust, she needs to do it right!

-Houki's pov-

I was taken to a glade by Tabane for doing the adjustments for the Akatsubaki. Once we reached the place, I decided to ask the question on my mind, "Tabane, just how well do you know Sai?"

Tabane's face brightened and she smiled widely, "Oh, Sai-tan is a smart and cute individual, he can also be really fun to work with!" The smile Tabane had faded, "But then, Chi-chan took him away and he became stubborn like her, ever since then he hasn't been the same and is so mean to me," she replied sadly. "I miss the old Sai-tan!"

That doesn't say much or really answer my question much at all other than saying what she thinks of him. If anything, it only raises more questions and Sai doesn't seem interested in talking about my sister much since he always changes the subject. I would have asked more, but Tabane began to do the adjustments to the Akatsubaki. "Folding-Armor activate," she ordered. Parts of Akatsubaki's frame detached and energy formed between the spaced made, "Folding-armor is now standard to all fourth-generation IS models and assists in-"

"Optimization," said a male voice tiredly.

I looked forward and saw Sai walking into the glade, Tabane spun around and smiled, "That's right Sai-tan, but how do you know that" she asked.

Sai rubbed his forehead with a hand, "Ignorant as always bunny, the doll and I came up with the general principles for it a little less than two years ago. I bet the doll has her own version of the idea, just as I do Rabbit," he said.

"Sai," I muttered.

Sai waved at me and gave me a soft smile, to which I blushed, then he focused back on Tabane, "But I'm not here to discuss or correct your foolish assumption about fourth-generation IS models. I came around here so that, perhaps I could have a word with you rabbit for there are things that need to be said that involves the upcoming operation," Sai stated.

Sai gestured to a pathway that led from the glade and Tabane followed him, while I was left to wonder what was going on. By the brief conversation, Sai was aware of fourth-generation models, which shouldn't be the case at all. Then there was this character 'doll' as Sai referred to them as and with the her used was likely a female. Tabane appeared to know to whom Sai was talking about when he said doll, but I couldn't even guess. The references to Tabane Sai uses, all referring to her mechanical 'rabbit ears', so I assume that 'doll' points to an aspect of whoever they're talking about. There's so much I don't know in this that I wonder if I know Sai as much as I thought I did.

-Sai's pov-

The bunny and I went a distance down the pathway, out of earshot of Houki when I stopped and faced the Rabbit, glaring at her, "Bunny," I got out.

"Aw Sai-tan, call me by my name," she whined.

I grimaced, "No! I see no reason to call you by name anymore, not with the crap you've done. But I'm not here to deal with the issues that I've collected with you. Make no mistake, I detest what you've done in recent years. You pulled crap that was it any other person to do, they would've to end out in prison for most of their remaining life bare minimum, if not for the rest of their life. Then you use others to get yourself out of suffering the consequences, I'm freaking living proof of that!" Pausing, I took a deep breath before I continued, "I haven't forgotten what you did a year and a half ago, hacking into the Pentagon and then messing around. It was just plain wrong rabbit!"

The hasenpfeffer seemed clueless at what I was referring to. I got upright in her face and pinned the woman with my glare, "Were you really so clueless and dumb to think that such an action wouldn't be looked into thoroughly?! You broke in, within a little over five minutes! Not just anyone can do that stunt!"

I backed off a bit and ground my teeth with the frustration and anger at what had come next, I managed to control myself, "Then, you come to me, one of the few that can stand to be around you or be willing to do something for you before you abused that privilege. You call, tell me little to nothing about what you did, and then ask me to clean up the 'mess' that resulted from what you pulled. Honestly, it's like stabbing me in the back before throwing me in front of a damn speeding bus hauling above lawful highway speeds! You should've done just that, it would've been quicker and kinder!"

The hasenpfeffer was looking a bit nervous by now, "But Sai, it wasn't meant to be a bad thing… you're just so good and fixing things, so…"

I was shaking with barely contained fury, "Not a bad… fixing things," I took a moment to calm down, "You know what, it's not worth reprimanding you right now like I should. The reason I'm here is to try and get you to see the big picture and make sure you take some things into account rabbit. Me, being the responsible one out of us inventors, I'll get straight to the point. You have made it clear that you don't care about anyone other than yourself much at all over the years. But for once, think about another before yourself, when you do the adjustments on Houki's IS right, double-check them before you call it good," I had stated the last sentence firmly to make sure it wasn't missed while I held her gaze. "Your sister's life is going to depend on that machine you built, make sure that it's working the best it possibly can! If she gets hurt or something goes wrong, you will take responsibility for it, I'll make sure of that personally and I doubt I'll be the only one," I state with finality.

"Why are you badgering me Sai-tan," the hasenpfeffer whined, "You know I build great things perfectly."

Taking a few deep breaths, keeping myself from attacking the woman in front of me was very difficult. With logic in the front of my mind, I replied, "I'm not saying that I doubt your building capabilities, I'm reminding you to check over your work before calling it done and ready bunny. You've got a habit of rushing things and not checking over what you do to make sure things work right. The shield stability issue is a perfect example, which I ended out solving when I noticed it or rather redesigned the shield system in essence when you and the doll ignored it."

The rabbit jumped at me with a smile that I knew all too well. I took a leaf out of Chifuyu's responses and grabbed the bunny's head and held her at arm's length to prevent her from hugging me in any way. "Aw Sai-tan, you're worried about Houki-chan, that's so nice of you! Let's hug to affirm our love for wonderful little Houki-chan," cried the annoying woman.

She was pushing forward towards me with greater insistence, but I wouldn't let her do as she pleased. Grunting before I glared at the woman, "Let's get a few things straight hasenpfeffer. First, how I feel about and see Houki is my business and none of your freaking concern, get that in your head. Second, I'm reminding you to take the time to check your work as you always were impatient and so would skip the important step of checking your work and overlook things that can come back and cause trouble. Then third and most importantly, you got no hugging privilege with me and have a great deal to do before I even consider giving them back to you," I growled.

I moved to the side and let the bunny go forward and end out bent over my lap. The Rabbit shook her head and then took in her position to me, "Please no Sai-tan," she squeaked.

My hand rose and then smacked her posterior which had her squealing in pain, "With all the stuff you pulled over the years, I should spank you until I lose feeling in my hand and then start using my IS arm and keep going until you can't walk steadily," I iterated as I continued to spank the Rabbit. "Your sister's life is going to be on the line, so don't let your impatience screw her over!"

After five minutes, I let her up and left before the rabbit could do anything to get to me at all. The rest of the day was spent preparing for the operation tomorrow. The next morning and the day of the mission to deal with the Silver Gospel and put it down. The interesting thing, I got decent sleep last night which I hadn't expected with the stress I had collected over the day. For the last three months, there have been contributions to sleep deprivation, mostly because classmates vying for attention until they're forced to obey curfew and doing college work. So, it's a bit of a rare thing for me to get the amount and quality of sleep lately. Now, I was on the beach that I had found Chifuyu yesterday, waiting for Houki to show up so that we can start the mission of handling the Silver Gospel. The sooner that we take care of the Silver Gospel, the better, at least I'll feel a lot more at ease when that machine is shut down and not out for a flight.

The sound of footsteps approaching caught my attention and I turned around to see it was Houki coming up to where I was. However, that first look lasted a while as my sight locked on to Houki as she was wearing a different pilot suit that I've become accustomed to seeing with her and the other first-year girls. It was still the same design as before, but instead of the dark blue color that could almost be considered grey, Houki's suit was white, as were her socks. Even if the only real difference was the color, the difference was more noticeable.

With the white color, it seemed to emphasis her figure, specifically on her chest and hips, which as I had seen before now. But with the emphasis on her chest, made it unmistakable that she wasn't small in the slightest, between a D and an E as I have seen when we met. Yet the same collection of genes gave the bunny the voluptuous chest she's got, like an F or so. With that example in mind, who knows how much Houki could still grow? Then Houki's hips well, my former roommate had an hourglass figure that was still developing, and that's something to think about, increasing in the sizes for her… hmm. Probably the results of her doing kendo training… Yes, Houki is fit and I couldn't deny it, more so seeing her now.

This morning, Houki was wearing the normal green ribbon along with her pilot suit and had her hair tied up in the hairdo that she had most days. Looking at my former roommate at this point, I have to admit that Houki is very pretty. Like I've said, it's not that I'm not interested in girls my own age or older. But due to a perverted hasenpfeffer and sisterly marionette well, I have problems creating close, lasting relationships with females. What a wonderful 'older sister' Houki has, doesn't she? She doomed friendship with the guy she shows to have an interest in, aka me, to be very hard.

"Morning Houki, hope you're ready for the operation today," I said in greeting to Houki.

She nodded to my greeting and smiled, "Yes, I'm ready for this. Now that I think about it, it will be just you and me with this mission," she said confidently yet with a tone of happiness.

My thought processes slammed on the breaks and screeched to a slow crawl as I stared at the girl I called a friend. I knew her to be dependable and level headed and have good self-control, yet she was potentially disproving that picture of her with how she was acting currently. Yes, Houki is normally confident, but this doesn't feel right somehow. Houki is acting like she's almost invulnerable and can do anything, that's more than self-confidence, that's just being an ignorant idiot. It's causing her to think recklessly and that won't end well! "Glad to hear that you're ready, just be sure to understand that this is no competition or class match. The mission of taking out the Silver Gospel is a serious matter! A mistake could end out with one of us getting hurt, please keep that in mind," I commented in response to Houki's 'new' mood in hopes that she would snap out of whatever brought this on.

Instead of Houki focusing on the task at hand like she would do every time before now and that I had come to know while we had been roommates… Did she giggle? If that was to lessen my worry, then it didn't set my mind at ease at all! "You don't need to worry Sai," Houki replied.

Don't need to worry huh? I can't say that I agree with that view right now. My sense of foreboding about what could happen during the next few hours was increasing with how Houki was presenting herself. She continued, "The two of us will be able to handle this rogue IS."

This girl who looks exactly like Houki, but isn't her, it's really starting to creep me out in ways I shouldn't state vocally. She's… good God! She's beginning to show qualities that the rabbit has! Please, Lord, say it isn't so! Don't let Houki turn into a person like the hasenpfeffer is! Houki is too nice a girl to waste on becoming like her dumb and outright annoying older sister. She can do SO much better than the rabbit and I can guarantee that as one of the two that know the bunny in a way no other even her family does, I can say that. I sighed rubbing my temples with my right hand, "It's nice that you are confident. And I'm not doubting that we can handle the Silver Gospel, it's doing so in a way that neither of us gets injured or hurt that will be hard. The specs on that IS aren't to be taken lightly. Honestly, it's like you're a different person than you usually are ever since you got that IS unit from your sister."

-Houki's pov-

Sai is confident that we can do this, then there is nothing to worry about! And now that I have my own personal unit, I can keep up with the others. I felt my cheeks heat up a bit, "Oh, that's not really the case, I'm the same as I have always been."

I had a smile on my face, and Sai pulled back a bit before he shook his head. the time set came, and we activated our units. After we were ready, we waited for the final briefing for the operation and we get the green light to go and get the job done. Thankfully, we didn't have to wait all that long for just a couple of minutes. Chifuyu came in on an open channel so that both Sai and I could hear her, "Taichi, Shinonono, do you read?"

"Coming through crystal clear ma'am," Sai replied without missing a beat.

I adopted a more serious look at hearing Chifuyu, and our teacher began the final briefing, "The success of this mission is dependent on the two of you getting in, doing the task and getting out quickly," Chifuyu started.

Sai was nodding at what Chifuyu was saying, before Chifuyu continued, "Do both of you understand that once you get there, you're on your own until you get back?"

"Yes ma'am," I replied while Sai just nodded again.

"That being said, the target will from now on be referred to as the Gospel, is that clear," posed Chifuyu.

""Yes ma'am,"" we said at the same time.

A thought came to my mind, if something does go wrong during this operation, I would be there and could help. "Miss Orimura, should I provide assistance if I can," I asked.

I would do my utmost to assist in any way I can. Sai is important to me… I might not be able to truthfully admit it to Sai himself yet. However, I know in my heart that Sai is a friend that I don't want to lose any time soon! Chifuyu's reply came after a short pause, "Yes that's fine, should the need arise."

-Sai's pov-

While the briefing was going on, I had a private channel opened and listening to Cassidy, "Sai, it's Cassidy, you getting me?"

I nodded slightly as if I was agreeing to Chifuyu as she was going over things and asking if we understood what she said. But in reality, I was showing Cassidy that I was hearing her and for her to continue. My friend continued, "The more I look over the data that we have on this IS… the more I believe something's off in this."

Nodding again as I agreed with her for the Silver Gospel with its assist AI system, shouldn't have gone rogue. After reading the specs, I had seen that several fail-safes would prevent the system from taking over unless there was a desperate need… Especially when there wasn't a pilot in the IS. It was that point that hadn't made complete sense to me, and I couldn't figure out how the present situation could've developed. Cassidy spoke again, "I'm beginning to think that someone is responsible for this occurring and the others agree."

I moved my head up and down slightly as I completely agreed with the assumption that Cassidy had. This situation had the signs of sabotage, definitely not a random event or an accident. That was before I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Houki speak, "Miss Orimura, should I provide assistance if I can," she asked.

I stared at the girl across from me with apprehension. The excited tone in which Houki had asked Chifuyu if she should assist me, and here I thought there wasn't a way for me to be even more creeped out. I'm not what many would call paranoid, but I do tend to be suspicious of others, especially when someone that I've been around starting acting differently than they normally do. Chifuyu's reply came after a short pause, which made me believe that she noticed the unexpected tone that Houki had used, "Yes that's fine, should the need arise."

Houki's smile widens at the answer and that worried me for a few reasons. It can't just be me that sees this, Houki is acting like a… I would say a giddy and giggling high school girl, but that's what she is, so that wouldn't quite say it. She definitely wasn't being her normal self, perhaps that damn bunny of a sister of hers had an influence on her, I hope not. I then heard the voice of Cassidy again, "Sai, be careful on this, this Shinonono girl is being really overconfident. I've seen the results of pilots that are overconfident enough to know it doesn't go well for them or their teammates."

"Trust me, clearly obvious, but thanks for the confirmation that I wasn't the only one seeing it," I muttered in answer so that only Cassidy heard.

The briefing came to an end and so, that left Houki and me to start off to where the Silver Gospel will be with it staying on the course it's been taking. Both Houki and I lifted off the ground, our machines hovering five feet off the ground, before slowly rising. We gained altitude and when we reached five hundred feet up in the air, we picked up forward speed. Within a few minutes, Houki and I had entered Supersonic flight and maintained that on course for the intersection point when our path would cross paths with the Silver Gospel. I focused on the job at hand, letting stray thoughts and worries go away from my mind.

Houki and I flew along for about thirty minutes before we entered the area where we would likely intersect and bump into the rogue IS. Both of us started scanning the skies and water for signs of the machine in question, however, there were none that I could see. This was odd, the Silver Gospel had thus far been many things, but above all, it has been consistent and methodical. The course it had traveled had been almost a straight line, nearly no deviation, while at a marginal range of speed that was consistent. Yet, Houki and I haven't seen a single glimpse of the unit.

"There it is," called Houki.

I gazed over in the direction that Houki indicated and saw an object heading in our direction. I activated the ranged target scope that my unit had and used it to zoom in and get a closer look at the object and saw that it was indeed our target. With that confirmation, I dropped out of supersonic flight, kept myself going forward at a high velocity towards the Silver Gospel. The IS showed no signs of spotting us or if it was, it didn't view Houki and me as a threat well, doubt that'll last very long. I had my beam rifles appear and took them out, combined them together, brought the long rifle to bear on the opposing unit. As I aimed, I calculated where I would need to shoot, taking into account the forward motion of the Silver Gospel. I had to adjust my line of fire ahead of the machine to compensate for forwarding momentum.

Once I had a clear lock on the white straight flying duck that might as well be sitting for the good its course is doing in the point of me shooting it. It was 'a sitting duck', so I pulled the trigger, letting loose a fair-sized beam off in the direction of the Silver Gospel. I felt satisfaction as I watched my shot nail the 'sitting duck', I mean the IS, and it fell ten feet before it recovered and leveled out in its flight path. It can safely be assumed that the Silver Gospel's AI is now assessing the situation and making a logical strategic method to 'deal' with Houki and myself.

Fifteen seconds passed before the target IS began to respond to the attack I made. Houki came up not too far from me, though I was focused on the Silver Gospel as it was now going into action. As the rogue IS shot towards us, Houki and I shot off in opposite directions, in the hopes that we could split and confuse the AI. However, the Silver Gospel spun around and by doing so, unleashed an area attack, that was widespread in all directions, outward from the IS. Light blue energy balls came from the machine's wings, which they then flew towards Houki and me. I did some aerial acrobatics to dodge the incoming enemy fire, though at the same time I caught glimpses of Houki. She was doing her best to evade the shots and did avoid being hit by the majority of them, but some made contact. What actually held my attention, was the seemingly random flickering and arcing of the energy shield Houki's unit was doing. Those occurrences are signs that the adjusting hadn't been done correctly, at least not completely. As I had feared, the bunny rushed some of the adjustments and now there was a possibility of system failure as a result.

The reason that these signs stood out to me as they were pretty much the same subtle signs I had corrected during the designing of the energy barrier feature of the IS. It had taken me almost two weeks to come up with a way to fix the problem that had been happening. The said problem was a few components of the system that didn't sync like they were supposed to or the way envisioned and so created errors in the shield deployment and field emission. The issue itself wasn't a huge thing to worry about normally, takes a sizable amount of stress to cause the shield to fail. As ISs are used in competitions, should the shield fail somehow, it's not the end of the world, to everyone that is controlled circumstances and all. Yet in a situation like this, a shield failure would be a far more serious occurrence. The reason is, a shield failure like this doesn't active the mandatory unlock, so the unit still is active even if the shield isn't. That puts the pilot at risk of being injured and there's no one to stop the situation if it goes that far as there would be in a competition.

The fight continued, and the Silver Gospel was making it very hard to get very close to it, which would've given a chance for a direct strike. As such, Houki and I were kept at a moderate distance and with the speed that this machine had, it was able to dodge most attacks. The battle was getting grueling as it dragged on and would likely become more so the longer this went on. I evaded a shot that whizzed past me flying down to the ocean below, that something caught my eye. The sight of a ship, a fishing trawler if I'm not mistaken but, there shouldn't be anyone in this area right now! This area of the ocean is prohibited for fishing or for ships to sail without permission, but whatever the reason, those on the ship below were in danger.

As more energy blasts kept coming in my direction the realization of the ship and its crew, whomever they are were now at risk of being hit by stray shots. I dove down and put myself between the Silver Gospel and the ship, using my wrist light shields to deflect the blast that came at me while shooting a volley back as best I could. The Silver Gospel didn't let up and was trying to pin me down until it overwhelms me. However, before that event could happen, Houki blocked some of the incoming blasts helping me by taking some of the payload coming my way off my shoulder.

Looking to Houki with an expression of gratitude, yet I received a glare of incredulity. "What are you doing?! Why are you wasting time?! We need to take this IS down quickly," yelled Houki.

Apparently, she didn't know about the fishing trawler down below well, I gestured downward at the ship below to show my point. Houki glanced down at the ship, eyes widening at the sight. She then looked back at me, her expression changing little, "You got to be kidding me, no one is supposed to be here, just ignore them! Ships are not allowed in this area, that makes them criminals, it's their own fault that they're here right now," Houki snapped back at me.

I stared at the girl who had just answered me by saying to ignore the people below us, I hadn't expected her to say anything like this. The Houki Shinonono that I have come to know over the last few months wouldn't say to ignore other people. That would be what I would expect from the pale marionette and the stupid rabbit as that's how they normally are, they don't care about others. So, where did this new side of Houki come from? Did that horrible sister of hers manage to affect her? I'll slap her rear hard and long enough that she won't walk straight for days when I get to her for this!

As for me, I won't do such things, if I did then I would be no different than those I dislike in my life. A frown formed on my face, I didn't pay attention to what Houki had just said and gone back to blocking shots from connecting to the ship, before replying to Houki. "If you think I'll ignore people just because they decide to do dumb things, then you don't know me well at all Houki," I shouted back.

Houki looked shocked at my reply, "What are you saying?! Those down on that ship aren't worth protecting," she shouted back.

Not worth… I said days of the bunny not walking straight, I will make sure it's a week at a bare minimum! Only the bunny's influence can serve as a logical explanation as to why Houki has changed as she has. This is just getting ridiculous! Although, now that I take the time, I see the opposing IS had ceased firing blasts off at us. I can't say why it has, maybe the AI is listening, by the specs, it's supposed to be able to learn somewhat from what it observes. But, back to the current problem while there's a rest bit, we're fighting one another more than we're going against the Silver Gospel, and it needs to stop! "ENOUGH HOUKI!" I bellowed.

Houki stopped glaring and focused on me, which I held her gaze right now. I then got the thoughts in my mind out in the hopes that Houki would listen, "With great power, comes great responsibility to use it for good and to help and protect others! It doesn't matter who they are, or what they've done. We're all human, and so we make mistakes. You're better than to let power blind you to this fact, that's no different than what your sister does. You're better than that Houki," I stated.

My companion had stopped where she was adopting an expression of pain and realization. Houki's weapon slipped out of her hands and fell dropping a distance, before disappearing in a flash of light. I noticed the tears that began to fall from her face as she was stuttering words that I couldn't make out. A blared warning snapped back to the situation at hand, the fight with the Silver Gospel. The IS was done listening and was charging up the weapons in its wings and was facing our direction. However, it wasn't the same light blue energy that it had been shooting at us previously, but something else and from the readouts, it was going to hit hard!

The memory of the subtle signs of possible failure with Houki's shield came back to the forefront of my mind. With Houki, in an unstable emotional state, as she was, she wouldn't have the time to dodge and so would likely take the shot directly. Houki's unit's shield hadn't been adjusted correctly and so could fail. Even if it didn't, there could be a few different things that are possible outcomes. The system could use energy faster than it would if calibrated right. It could just outright not block incoming shots, leaving the pilot to take the blow directly. In other words, the rabbit had been impatient and hadn't gone over the energy shield to check to see the adjustment correctly and screwed Houki over like I had told her it would if she didn't listen to me!

If her shield failed in some way… Houki would get seriously hurt. If it didn't, then it would more likely hit zero and the IS could disengage and… what are we? Over five hundred feet up in the air? It doesn't take a genius to figure out what a fall from that height or more will do to a person. …So, what do I do so that Houki doesn't get hurt or worse dies? There's but one answer, I use my body to block the shot, while hoping and praying that the life support system built into my unit will be able to handle a bad situation if things go wrong if my shield isn't able to block the incoming blast fully. My unit has a way to disburse energy that it absorbs, but it isn't infallible and if it doesn't work, it won't be good for me!

I rushed forward to set myself between Houki and the Silver Gospel, readying myself. As I didn't hear anything from Houki, I don't think she even saw me move in between the dangerous IS and her. I barely managed to position myself, when the IS that Houki and I were here to deal with fired off not one, but three blasts in our direction… Crap! The blasts were a darker blue than the energy that had been fired at Houki and me before now. I only had time to watch as the three shots flew at me and if I hadn't seen three separate shots fired from the opposing IS, then I would've thought it was just one large shot. However, when the blasts impacted my unit, there was no doubt that it was three individual shots hitting me with the force I was feeling! All three blasts slammed into my front within the timespan of a little more than a second.

The first hit just above my heart, the second over my right lung and the last over my left lung. My shield had blocked enough to not get me critical, life-threatening injuries right then and there. Nonetheless, where my unit may have absorbed and disbursed the majority of the energy, it wasn't enough to prevent me from taking a good deal of force directly to my own body. The shock that my chest took felt like a little more than receiving a solid body blow from a champion boxer. So, the wind not only got knocked out of me but sent that breath a few blocks away as well. All the air in me was sent out in a single motion, "GAH," I cried out in pain.

Thus, there was a lack of oxygen and I was gasping attempting to take in air. Hell, I'm surprised my chest didn't rupture open forming a gaping hole with blood streaming out with what I had just taken! My logical brain was trying to figure out just how much damage had been done while screaming at me for being so stupid. I came to realize that I hadn't got out of taking the blasts without physical injuries even if my unit had lessened what I took directly. There was unmistakably blood flowing out from under the front restraint made sure I knew that. I was having quite the time just staying awake and not going off to la-la land or to the ether right now as it is.

"SAI!"

I barely registered Houki screaming my name as my unit began to drop like a stone with smoke streaming out of the damaged chest restraint and alarms going off in my ears. In seconds, the system controls switched over from taking input from me to automated system control settings. Yes, Corinthos was assuming control as he was supposed to in times of crisis as it was supposed to. The next thing to happen was the life support functions were started for me and the pain I was in lessened slightly. I was still plummeting downward at rather alarming speeds though it was weird, I knew what was happening, but I wasn't much in the state to care, strange. I managed to get some of my breath back and regained use of my voice, "Corinthos… execute, 'exit stage left'," I choked out.

"Affirmative, executing exit stage left protocol, engaging full armor mode, plotting a course for extraction," Corinthos replied.

It didn't take long for my unit's 'shifting armor' to deploy and encase me for further protection. Yet the pain was getting worse, I would need medical attention soon, Life support was helping, but the current circumstances weren't helping at all. The quicker that was obtained, the better off I would be. "Corinthos… you need to hurry," I got out.

"…"

I struggled to keep awake and alert, Corinthos not responding was weird and now isn't the best time for this to happen. All I was getting through the sound channels were static, "Corinthos?"

The sound of static stopped, and I expected to hear Corinthos so, I listened for his reply, "Beginning pilot and situation assessment," stated a feminine voice.

My blood ran ice cold and hearing, not Corinthos, but a female toned voice that I hadn't heard in years other in the nightmares that I had which involved my past. It couldn't be, it shouldn't be possible for that system to still exist, not after the damage that core zero had taken. Chifuyu had literally sliced the core into two pieces among other things she had done to the IS I had piloted!

"Assessment complete, pilot condition becoming critical, evacuation required, executing extraction," said the female voice.

I felt the motion of climbing upward, but I couldn't confirm that with my sight as it was blurring and crossing. "Course set, entering supersonic flight in, Five, Four," said the female voice for the third time.

I was seeing the grey tunnel of unconsciousness appear and start closing in on me. Staying awake was becoming nigh impossible, but I tried to keep myself from blacking out as hard as I could. "Three, two, one, zero."

I felt a hard pull from behind or was it thrust forward, I can't tell anymore! The grey tunnels were quickly closing in and blackness was following them. Within seconds I lost my battle and blackness overtook me completely.

-Houki's pov-

Sai's defending the boat below was wasting time that was needed to take down the target, "What are you saying?! Those down on that ship aren't worth protecting," I shouted back.

If we don't deal with the Silver Gospel, then it will escape and cause more havoc then it already has. I moved forward and blocked incoming shots from our opponent from hitting Sai. But then, our opponent stopped firing at us, there was no reason for that to happen, and I couldn't explain the change. "ENOUGH HOUKI!" Sai bellowed. I focused on Sai, "With great power, comes great responsibility to use it for good and to help and protect others! It doesn't matter who they are, or what they've done. We're all human, and so we make mistakes. You're better than to let power blind you to this fact as that's no different than what your sister does and you're better than her Houki," he stated.

At hearing that, I stopped for I realized that Sai was right and was calling me out on not thinking about my actions. I was indeed being like my older sister Tabane, not thinking about anyone but myself and it's horrible. Both my swords slipped out of my grip and fell downwards before they vanished. Tears began to flow from my eyes as I looked back as saw that I had been acting like such an idiot. I attempted to apologize, but words just weren't coming out right from my mouth. In the next few seconds, something moved in front of me, then there was an explosion, "GAH," Sai cried out.

I blinked, and my eyes widened as I realized that Sai had been hit, or rather Sai had taken a shot that was aimed at me. Now Sai was falling downward at an increasing speed, "SAI," I screamed and shot forward.

Yet as I chased Sai with him plummeting downward fast smoke was coming from parts of his IS unit. I kept going down after Sai, but as I flew after him, red flecks kept hitting me, yet on closer inspection, the red specs were drops of blood. Looking forward I realized that the specs of blood were coming from Sai himself! Our opponent had managed to injure Sai which shouldn't happen with an IS's energy shield defending their pilot. Of course, there are a select few exceptions that such could be possible, but overall the shield of an IS should defend its pilot.

The next thing I saw was Sai's unit morphing and metal was spreading over him before the IS pulled out of the dive it had been in and instead climbed. I then saw energy appearing around Sai's IS, very much like Akatsubaki fold-out armor looks when it activates. Yet, that would imply that his unit could and likely was a fourth-generation like my own was which didn't make sense as Tabane just created hers. Sai's IS then leveled out and held its course, I tried to contact Sai but there was no response from him. Then his unit rocketed forward and at speeds that shouldn't be possible with IS units. There was a boom as Sai's unit sped up and broke the speed of sound by several times. I attempted to keep up in the Akatsubaki, but I was trailing behind him by a growing margin.

By the time I was able to catch up, Sai's IS had already landed and his unit had disengaged, and Sai had dropped to the ground. When I landed myself, Sai had been put on a stretcher and I got my first view of the extent of his injuries. Sai had taken shots for me in exchange he had gashes and deep wounds over his torso and blood was seeping out of the wounds. As Sai was carried off, I was forced to listen to Chifuyu state that the operation was a failure and that all of us were on standby until further notice.

After an hour, Sai was pronounced stable, but that was all no other details were provided for his condition. The other girls went to see him, but I couldn't bring myself to do so at this point, I was the reason that he was in the condition he was right now. It was only later that I slipped into the room that Sai was in to see one who I wanted to consider a friend. When I saw Sai wrapped in bandages and hooked into medical equipment it made the feelings of guilt I had worse. This had been the opportunity I had believed I could help Sai, and yet, I end out hurting him instead. It seemed like a consistent thing for me, whenever I tried to do something for Sai, it backfired on me.

Memories of what had happened to put Sai in this state flashed through my mind, of how he had taken a shot for me. He had been defending others as he had shown before now and even those that had been below that shouldn't have been there. Then he had defended me without hesitation even though it had put him at risk of getting hurt. And the exchange that had gone between us hadn't been the best and that was putting it mildly. I had been so focused on the mission that I had lost sight of some things without even realizing it. With what Sai has to have gone through, he can somehow able to forgive those that knowingly do wrong, and I can't understand how he can do that consistently.

It had been Sai's stubbornness and reasoning that had snapped me out of it but it had been too late by that point. Sai had been injured in my place and is now lying in this room unconscious and no idea as to when that may change. Perhaps it was the point of Sai being so different that made this hurt as it did, that he protected others even when he didn't know them. It made my "show of strength" feel more like I was venting past issues that I've never been able to settle.

Looking at Sai, it made me question a lot of things I hadn't before and it was weighing me down.

After an amount of time, I left the room unable to stand myself and knowing that I was responsible for Sai being in the condition he was. To escape from the guilt I wandered around the hotel to be alone and not have to hear that it was my fault, I told myself that more than enough already. Sai had changed views I had without me realizing it until later on and maybe he didn't even know that he had.

-Sai's pov-

When I opened my eyes and looked around, I found myself in a place I didn't want to see ever again. It was from a view that I couldn't ever forget and knew instantly that I was in a nightmare. One that has haunted me from time to time and served to remind me the first lesson I learned, "never count on a person's position guaranteed that they would fulfill the responsibilities that position is supposed to do" there will be those who won't. One man taught me that lesson well at a young age. Footsteps came from behind me and turning around, speak of the devil. The man who got the lesson of not fulfilling the position, the man that I'd come to loathe greatly, my 'father'.

His eyes were bloodshot and he had a length of wood, over two feet in length, somewhat thin but sturdy. The stick of wood which resembled a ruff sword to an extent was in his right hand, the feeling of fear flooded me. It was all too familiar as my 'father' had asserted dominance through fear with me in the last year. This was taught through the beatings that this man had given me at least once a week, usually more, whenever I would speak, and he heard me. The feeling of the 'wood sword' coming down on my back as I tried to get away from my 'father' was so realistic, that I for a moment thought I was a child again, living through this horrible experience. This nightmare was of the final beating that I got before the man that was my male sire left the place I called home, never to see him afterward.

The first hit had hurt, registered to my mind more as a burning sensation than an impact that it was. Only later was I to understand that what I thought was fire on my back was the foot-long scar which started at my mid-back and ran parallel to my spine and was two inches to the left of my spinal cord. It stung like no other, the impact hadn't been nice but the gash that I got which formed the scar I still carry after the years that had passed. The wood sword object that my 'father' used, it may have not been all that sharp, but it was sharp enough to cut a gash in my backside. I had cried out in pain and no one could really blame me for doing so with the pain I was feeling. I'd collapsed to my hands and knees after the blow, yet I managed to not touch the floor with anything else than my hands and knees.

It hadn't stopped there, no, my 'old man' kept going with more gusto after getting a reaction from me. The hits came with increasing frequency and each of them hurt, it took a lot to keep me from screaming out in pain again. If one cry had brought this, I didn't want more, yet the tears flowed from my eyes, though the man wouldn't see them as my face was pressed to the floor. Yet my silence didn't last long as around a minute after the first scar I would take from this experience had come, two more burning pains came, and I cried out once more. This time the flaming sensation was on my upper back, went from both of my shoulders going down diagonally for more than half my back. Both the burning lines came close to the first one but didn't touch it. I collapsed the rest of the way to the floor soon after those burning strikes came. But, that brought on another searing pain that was worse than the previous three as it felt longer than the ones before. The last had started at my mid-back and gone down to my left hip. Only after that did the striking to my backstop. I heard my father say something, can't say what it had been before he left the house.

…

Cracking my eyes open which had small tears at the corners from having to relive one of the worst nights of my life. I saw an unfamiliar ceiling, felt like sh*t from all the pain and had no idea what was going on. I heard beeping from somewhere above where my head was positioned. And then, there was an object sitting on my face, specifically over my mouth and nose, the feeling of air hitting my mouth and nose softly did register to my brain. I attempted to move different parts of my body; my arms, legs, anything, but little if any responded to my commands. All that came to me, were signals of pain to my brain from pretty much all over my body, most notably from my chest, which was throbbing horribly.

I was wondering what the deal was when out of nowhere, information popped up in front of my face. It took me several seconds to focus and see that the 'information' was from display readouts. On closer and longer inspection, I saw the info being displayed were details of bodily physical condition, my condition in essence. Yet, that doesn't make much sense, why would there be info on my condition be shown to me, and how is it being done? I glanced downward, but I found my line of sight blocked by, an oxygen mask that was set over my mouth and nose. That explained why I had been feeling a soft stream of air around that area. The air had been fresher than one would expect normally, meaning I was breathing close to pure oxygen, if not pure oxygen.

A sharp pain shot through my head, making me forget about the oxygen mask. Out of reflex, I brought a hand to hold my head. However, I instantly forgot about my headache at seeing black where that color shouldn't be. My eyes widen as I took in that black was encasing my arm where it shouldn't be.

A black rectangular casing was visible, which my arm was slotted in, by the feel to around just behind the center of the forearm. The metal arm kept going for another two feet from where my fingers were touching the manipulation controls. There was a metal ring that was three inches thick that was right behind the wrist. On what would be the 'top' of the arm was a plate that started at the same size as the arm. It went back of the arm increasing in width to being one and a half times as wide as the arm at just before the elbow, then curved inward a small margin. There also was an almost circular orb at the point where the top plate curved inward and from the orb forward, was a white stripe to the front end of the plate. The 'hand' was made up of the palmtop cover and the grey mechanical fingers, though my upper arm was still free as were my legs.

Upon raising my upper body, even with the pain that came with the action, I pushed through the pain. Once I got my head high to see what was going on. Glancing downward, I saw an orb that was glowing dully in the center that was set directly over my heart and covered my upper chest, down to the bottom of my ribcage. The orb itself was surrounded by a two-inch-wide ring, the bottom half was white, and the top half was grey. A small plate was set at the top section of the ring and went over four inches, covering the part of the orb. Below the lower section of the orb ring, approximately five-inches a black rectangular plate that was three-inches in width, stretched up and went almost halfway up the orb to end at just under the center. Two black parts came over the chest orb slightly on both sides, and both pieces had white vents.

That clenched it to me in my mind… what I was seeing was parts of the 'Black Knight' IS unit. I would know better than any other what it looks like, I'd been the pilot after all. The 'Black Knight' IS, equipped with prototype core zero. However, the problem was that I was absolutely sure that it was gone. The damage that had been received in its final operation I had participated in, wasn't small! Yes, my unit's core is built from the remains of that core, which I don't believe either the bunny or the doll knew survived at all. I suppose that even with what had remained, it's possible parts of it still exists. Yet that's just plain crazy but, that's the story of my life as of late. The readings that are being displayed, I took another look at the readouts again and saw that the IS was doing what it could to heal me. The 'Black Knight' was equipped with a life support system that was built in the unit was no joke! It was beyond state of the art back at the time when it had been built, it probably still is now. I took a moment to slowly lower myself back down to lay in a horizontal position and sighed.

But the question I have, how is the Black Knight even still able to materialize in any shape or form? What had remained of the zero core, could it have been enough for me to work with to build a working IS core and an amazing one at that. But the point was that the damage had been extensive and that just doesn't quite say it! So how is it possible… unless it's been restoring itself over the years little by little. With that prototype, along with the 'AI' that was an assistant to the main control system it had, it wouldn't exactly surprise me if the unit could have somehow managed to do so. The AI of the Black Knight had been something else, its design was what I used as a basis to make Corinthos, just made sure to not put in a few particular things that the first AI had that had caused problems. After all, I couldn't forget hearing the AI's voice at the end of the fight with the Silver Gospel, never could forget that voice.

I exhaled, took a moment to do some delicate IS hand manipulation and removed the oxygen mask from my face. Then said a line I had thought I would never ever say again, "Veda, what's the current status and condition of the unit and myself?"

I didn't have to wait, apparently, the AI is still as efficient as it was before, "Calculating, overall status is at fifty-four percent, chest section damage is estimated at class C. The time needed for unit self-repair system to complete repairs, approximately thirty-six hours. Pilot condition, bodily injuries, overall midrange, damage to heart and lungs area, highly moderate. Regenerating circulatory system damage and cardiovascular system shock damage has commenced. Time until regeneration completion, twenty-four hours with minimal activity," replied Veda.

Great, that's not what I wanted to hear, though it could be worse for me right now. Yet, the question 'what now' comes to mind, since I have no f**king idea at the moment. All I can say with any surety right now is I feel like sh*t. I really, REALLY want to cause problems and pain to the hasenpfeffer for what she's done recently to me, to Houki, and to anyone else she's screwed over!

I was sulking and brooding, I was contemplating my vengeance on the rabbit when the sound of female voices came to my ears. Upon further listening, I identified that the sound of voices was that of arguing, and there was some screaming. Although I couldn't tell what the subject matter was or why it was occurring. I sat up slowly to attempt to minimize the pain that was flowing through me. I didn't exactly succeed, but I didn't completely fail, it hurt to sit up anyways. It was more painful to get to my feet, but I did just that. The IS chest section remained equipped as did the forearm parts. To say that I was in pain, would be an understatement, I was in an ass load of pain and wasn't happy right now. NO SIRY!

I… well did something between a shuffle and limping in making my way towards the door. There was too much noise for me to get any sleep and I was very tired. The screeching and sniping had gotten very annoying, really quick! None of the deployed parts of the Black Knight IS, inhibited my movement enough to notice a difference. Once I got to the door, I paused as I was breathing hard and took the time to catch my breath. A stitch had started on my right side, was like a knife pressing in with every breath I took in. I'm not saying that the life support system that my unit had wasn't doing its job, it's the task is a large and difficult one.

Chapter end.

A/n

And that's where I'll leave off with this chapter. First I admit that for the timeline that involves Tabane and the IS might be off a little with how the anime and manga have it, but I use the liberty of bending things as a writer. Second with Sai's past, he was different than he is now, but I would say most are different when they're children than when they're adults. Please take the time to review and tell me what you think of the story or if you wish to bring up a point or mistake that you see. Hope you enjoyed and peace out all, until the next chapter, can't say when that will be.