Special thanks to co-authors deadzombie and Tech Jammer.

Chapter #3: Strelizia Blooms

+ 001. M42 +

+Plantation #13 Barracks +

"Darling…" A voice called out to him. He was surrounded by mist.

He looked around, recognizing the lake he had first met Zero-Two. Yet the mist that surrounded him reeked of a sickly sweet scent. It clung to his nose and throat, invading his palate.

The young man stumbled around in the thick fog. Searching, he was searching for that voice. He found her uniform draped over her like a blanket whilst her form was barren, Her large teal eyes staring up at him under the visor of her hat's visor with pleading stare.

He picked up on the shackles around her neck, wrists and ankles and reached for his chainsword… only to find it shattered. The blades hanging limply from the broken chain, its frame twisted and mangled . He turned his head back to her and reached out for her.

"Zero-..."

Casten's eyes strained against the blinding sunlight that filtered between the curtains. The Knight-Scion grumbled and threw his forearm over his eyes in an attempt to block it out, rolling on his bed to get some more sleep; though, this really only served to wake him up more.

"Wait...curtains?" He slowly sat up, head swimming in a mixture of mild pain and confusion. "Where…am I?" He mumbled.

He looked around; finding himself in a room with two beds, two desks with chairs and two closets. He rather liked its simplicity. Still, that didn't explain where he was. Casten threw the blanket off and his eyes widened. He was naked, completely naked… who had undressed him?

He had a good rest, dream aside. The smell still faintly lingered somehow, Zero-Two's form still in vivid detail.

… Casten concluded that it was best for his health that he keep that to himself for now.

Shaking the thought from his mind, the knight walked towards the window and drew the curtains aside. The Knight-Scion stared out at the simulated forest of Plantation #13s villa; he still refused to call it a Barracks.

It was dawn, if the projected sun was accurate to time. The room he was in was located towards the rear of the villa, facing a glass paneled greenhouse styled to look like a birdcage. Bordering the small enclosed garden were two massive ponds split in two by a bridge of rockcrete. The light of 'Dawn' gave the water a purple hue.

Slowly the memories returned. He had just won the duel and returned to the garage. The moment his Throne had disconnected; a searing pain had shot through his spine. Then darkness, the strain of piloting Ave Rubrum so many times over the course of two day had taken a toll on the newly minted Knight.

Behind him, the wooden door to his impromptu bedroom opened with a creak. The poorly oiled hinges swinging open to reveal the mild-mannered Kokoro.

"Sorry… I've brought clothe- Kyah!" she stood at the door, a bundle of clothing held to her chest. Her face flushed red at the sight of very much nude Casten.

She took a step backward, the Knight giving her a slight sigh. "...My thanks. If you don't mind, please leave it on the floor. I would rather not turn to face you at this moment."

The girl nodded, stiffly leaving it on the floor before taking off down the hallway in a sprint, her cherry red face held in her hands to try and calm herself down. Running with no destination in mind, simply running for the sake to rid herself of the embarrassment. She passed her squad leader's partner, Goro, on the way.

"Hey Kokoro, what's-" The blonde boy was answered with only the rush of air when the girl sprinted past him. He turned back, hand still raised in greeting. "... Up?"

The sound of heavy footsteps on marble drew Goro's attention back toward the direction Kokoro had come from. He saw Casten stalking down the corridor, features fixed in a disinterested expression as he walked. The Knight wore a tight, black T-shirt that seemed to just about fit his broad frame and a pair of grey pants and black boots that looked to be ones the guards often used.

"Do not mind her," Casten suddenly said.

The boy grinned awkwardly, unable to help but feel nervous. "What exactly happened?"

The Knight paused and thought about what to say for a moment before giving him an answer. "She forgot to knock."

Goro's eye widened in shock for a moment when the meaning finally broke through.

"AHAHAHAHAH...!"

The blonde broke into a rolling fit of laughter, arching back with arms hugging his aching belly as he ran out of breath. He doubled over forwards, laughter devolving into a wheezing mess. It took a full two minutes for him to calm down, even then Goro had to wipe a few stray tears from his eyes.

Casten, for his part, was completely dumbfounded. "Did I say something… amusing?" He asked, head tilted in puzzlement.

"...hahaha...hah...ha…" Goro's laughter finally died down; just as Casten was about to walk away. "Hey, wanna hang out?"

The Knight raised an eyebrow. "Hang...out?

+ Plantation #13 +

+ Squad #13 Barracks +

+ Garden +

Casten walked along the bridge that separated the two ponds he had seen outside the window to his room. His back straight, shoulders squared and strode with decorum. The boy beside him didn't seem quite as measured, walking casually with his back tilted backwards and hands in his pockets. His legs seemed to swing more than properly step. Goro's relaxed basking of the environment was in stark contrast to Casten's brooding glare.

"Your leader didn't agree to this, did she?" Casten's question seemed to be more of a statement.

Goro gave the Knight-Scion a sidelong glance and smiled. "Nah, she pretty much ordered all of us to give you a wide berth."

He nodded. "An outsider assigned by a higher power suddenly coming in and beating a member of your house to a duel? I would do the same… Which begs the question. Why are you speaking to me now?"

Casten stopped in his tracks. The Parasite followed suit, meeting Casten's gaze. Both stopped midway on the bridge, the simulated sun draping them in its orange glow. Both assessed one another, the former searched for the purpose behind Goro's actions. The latter seemed to be searching for something else, something only he seemed to know how to find.

"It isn't just that, Zorome's the kind to piss a guy like you off… I get that," he raised his arms in a stretch before folding them behind his head with a grunt. "Ichigo's upset about someone else, you just so happen to be in his place.

The Knight-Scion fell silent, trying to recall what he could of Ichigo's outburst. "By that, you mean those people… Hiro and Naomi?"

Goro nodded, staring up at the holographic sky. He seemed to be recalling something of the distant past. "He's the reason we all have names instead of codes."

"She was… interested in him?" Casten realized.

Goro forced a grin, head tilted back towards Casten. "She'll never admit it but… yeah, you got it in one."

The Knight-Scion nodded, head lowered in thought. It was hardly his fault that he had effectively replaced this 'Hiro'; though he understands the pain of losing someone close. "Perhaps… I could beseech you to speak to your squad?"

The blonde boy smiled and nodded. "You seem nice enough, if a little weird. Sure."

"My thanks," Casten replied, making a curt bow with his right fist over his heart.

+ Some time later +

+ Plantation #13 +

+ Squad #13 Barracks Lounge +

The members of Plantation #13 Corps gathered in the lounge of their barracks. Twilight beamed tangerine light though the tall windows, shadows quickly growing and casting dark shapes over the group. Zorome, Futoshi, Ikuno, Mitsuru and Kokoro sat on the circular leather couch.

"So, that Casten guy… don't you think it's a little unfair that we judge him already?" Futoshi said, taking a bite out of a biscuit.

Ikuno sighed, her eyes closing as she spoke. "Well we all know why things have been tense lately. When Casten showed up Father hurried Hiro off to make room for him."

Zorome released and indignant huff. "Feh! He couldn't pilot anyways. No way Hiro could stay and be such a wimp that he can't pilot a FranXX!" He leaned back, elbows braced against the backrest.

"I don't know. If Casten's going to be Hiro's stand in, I see you fared just as well against him in that duel as you did in para-sync numbers against Hiro." Mitsuru coldly mumbled.

Zorome glared in his direction. "I-I would have won if someone didn't fall over during that attack on his back!"

"Hey! You didn't know he had that weird barrier! Plus, you're the one that got him mad! Don't you remember he was clearly in pain!?" Miku exclaimed.

"I don't bother remembering crap like that," Zorome waved her criticism off. "Waste of time anyways."

His partner cringed. "You're unbelievable, haven't you heard of learning from past mistakes?"

Kokoro raised both hands in a stopping motion. "Don't fight! It'll affect your numbers..."

"Either way, there is nothing we could do about it. Father won't accept a parasite that can't pilot. Hiro would have been gone even if that Imperial and Zero-Two didn't show up. At worst all they did was accelerate the inevitable," Ikuno concluded.

Futoshi set down his half-eaten bun, his mood drawing a darker tone now. "Yeah. We all know how many kids disappeared from Garden because they couldn't pilot."

"It's so sad…" Kokoro mumbled.

There was a long minute of silence as the parasites remembered the faces of children they had been raised with and disappeared as the years went on. Miku broke the silence with a frustrated sigh.

"Well Ichigo's no better for treating him like this. Don't you think she's being too hung up on Hiro? I wouldn't want to hang around us if I were him. With her being our leader, I don't know how Goro puts up her her as his partner," she shrugged.

"What does Goro have to do with this?" Ichigo's voice cut in.

The girl walked into the lounge from another corridor, Goro in tow.

Her brother seemed confused. "What about me?"

Ichigo walked across the room, her glaze that of cold detachment. "If Hiro had just stayed to become a Parasite, he would have been a great help to us. That's all there is to it."

Miku gave her leader a shake of her head. "If he did. But Hiro didn't and he isn't here anymore, Casten is."

Ichigo's impassive facade cracked. "He would have had a chance if Headquarters didn't have some off-worlder just barge in and take over his place!"

"I'm not so sure," Miku crossed her arms. "Well, what's done is done and it wasn't Casten's fault. We shouldn't have gotten him mixed up in our feelings."

Mitsuru saw fit to voice his opinion in his usual arrogant flair. "Ichigo," he called.

"We all know why you wouldn't want to accept that off-worlder. Sure, Hiro was a cut above, even among you Double-digits. We all thought he would be the best of us, lead us and show us the way…" He stood up, arms spread for emphasis.

"But," he continued, "reality had other ideas. We should just give up and cut our losses, I didn't want to say it...but Casten and Zero-Two are a good trade off for a useless Stamen."

Ichigo grit her teeth and looked down. She knew they were right; that she wasn't being objective to either Zero-Two or Casten Tears pooled at the edges of her eyes as she stormed off to some other part of the Barracks. Goro, for his part, sighed. He would have went after her, but in truth, he saw this coming.

Turning to his squadmates, the taller boy smiled. "What was that you all were going on about the new guy?"

+ Meanwhile +

+Plantation #13 Training room +

"RRRAAAHH!" Casten roared, swinging his Chainsword across the air. The sacred engine roared when he depressed the throttle at the zenith of his swing.

The venerable Chainsword, a weapon that predates even the Imperium of man that so widely employs it. Any user worth their salt knew better than to think of its roaring engine and tearing teeth as barbaric or overly cruel. This Hecate-pattern Chainsword's protective casing is painted a dark red, inlaid with silver encrusted details marking the casing and the handle. Weapons like this were given out to all members of House Zelius. As was the plasma pistol at Casten's belt, his house crest visible on the casing of the pistol.

It is dependant on the pattern of the armour mounts for every Knight. The better in tune with their machines, the combat skills outside their armour translates to one's own innate prowess. Thus, Casten has always trained to better himself. Though in this case it is to rid himself of his accumulated stress.

"HAH!" The Knight-Scion met his phantom sparring partner with a shoulder charge, followed by a diagonal slash imagining the Chainsword's teeth eviscerate his opponent.

Making a new home and purpose was not proving easy when those parasites he was around constantly seeked to remind him of how unwelcome he was. He wondered briefly where Zero-Two was. He had not seen the pink-haired whirlwind since coming to in the villa.

"HAH!" He delivered a kick meant to stun his adversary, following with an overhead swing. "RRAAAAH!"

A dull tingle at the back of his mind brought his attention to the window above the training room meant for observers. He found his observer to be a welcome one. Zero-Two stared at him, fingers wrapped in white gloves pinching the stick of the lollipop she had in her mouth. She regarded him with a smile; he returned it, albeit slowly.

He raised an open hand, gesturing to ask her if she could wait for him. Zero-Two nodded with a pout; he mouthed an apology before she turned away with a flourish of her long pink locks.

Casten closed his eyes, imagining his invisible sparring partner once more. "HEEAAH!"

Casten ran the sweat-dampened towel over his head and face, before letting it lazily hang around his neck to catch whatever stray beads that perspired down his neck. The young Freeblade had spent nearly two hours training: attacking, countering and falling victim to his imaginary adversary time and time again. It made for good training if one knew their own weaknesses.

Still, he couldn't help but feel guilty to have made Zero-Two wait for him for so long. It wouldn't be surprising if she had long since gotten tired of waiting for him and left. His guilt was made all the more palpable when he found her asleep against one of the four pillars at the circular chamber that led to the other parts of the Plantation.

He approached as quietly as he could and took a knee in front of her, careful not to wake her. Casten found himself smiling again; she was adorable.

Zero Two rested with her elbows on her knees, head leaned to the side whilst her cascading hair cast a shadow over her eyes. Casten's eyes focused on the two small protrusions on Zero-Two's head. Some more radical to the creed might have been foaming at the mouth, screaming to burn her at the stake for not adhering to the perfect form of humanity.

"How could anyone want to hurt you?" He whispered. He reached out, knuckles ghosting over her cheek.

"You'd be surprised, perverted darling," Zero-Two suddenly said, catching Casten off guard. "Quit staring at me like that."

He smiled at her; it was a small one, he wasn't quite used to smiling yet. "Sorry, I couldn't help it."

"It's fine darling," she rose to her feet and stretched backwards. "The doctor said it was better for darling to be a little pervy."

Casten shook his head. "I wasn't leering, it was simply too hard to look away from- wait… he spoke of me, specifically?"

"You're a sweet talker, darling," she grinned, holding her hand behind her back and bending forwards to look up at Casten.

She stood up straight and spun on her heel, back facing the Knight when she started walking away. "Lets go."

He raised an eyebrow at that, briskly walking after her. "Go? Where to?"

Zero-Two didn't elaborate, simply expecting him to follow her. So he did. Through unfamiliar corridors that all looked the same to him and passing metal bulkheads that seemed to lead to nowhere. She seemed to have a good idea of where she was going; her gait was too confident for it not to be so.

He followed until they approached a strange gate. It looked to be a projection of some kind. He couldn't read the words on it very well. Some of the letters seemed familiar similar to Harkat or maybe Low Gothic, but they were arranged wrong. The translator around his neck worked only for spoken words, not letters or alphabets.

"What's this?" Casten asked, reaching out to touch it. The display turned red and the words seemed to shift, forming a solid glass-like surface. "I may be mistaken Zero-Two but it doesn't seem like-"

Lost in thought, the Knight only noticed that she had already passed through it, a pict projection on her palm with a few curious symbols. "They didn't give you one darling?" She asked.

Casten's response was a simple shrug. "I suppose I can't go, it's restricted to me isn't it?" He sighed.

He began to turn around when he felt her fingers wrapping around his wrist. He turned to find her smiling up at him as she pulled him back so her chest was flush against his. He ignored this, if for no other reason than to preserve his own sanity. Taking his cue, Casten wrapped an arm around Zero-Two waist and held her close.

"Ready darling?" She grinned. He nodded, seeming to understand what they were about to do.

One, two, step. The pair made their way towards the security barrier. The stance was familiar; reminiscent of the court dances he had seen some of the non-militant nobility perform. At times he'd seen resplendent halls and the manner they danced. Sometimes the Knight houses would humour them and dance with their sons or daughters.

Though as Kingswards, the personal battlefield wards of whomever reigned, matters of celebration and courtly dramatics were left to other houses. House Zelius only attended formal occasions as a show of hand, battlefield matters were more their concern.

The screen seemed to part on contact with their joined hands. It felt like passing through a thin wall of water, passing over his skin with a shiver of static. The girl let go the moment they were through, making him stumble for a moment. Zero-Two spun on her heel and leaned forwards, a triumphant grin on her features.

"See? It was easy darling!" She grinned.

Casten didn't know how to feel about what they had just done. Deciding in the end that trespassing or not, he was already through and what was done was done. "I… suppose it was. Thank you?" He warily said, unsure how else to respond.

Zero-Two's grin held even as she skipped towards a large arching door that parted upon her approach. It took awhile for Casten's eyes to stop stinging from the bombardment of golden light that assailed his vision. When he could see clearly, the sight took his breath away.

A city, they took on the edge of a balcony overlooking a great city of steel and light. It was a scene both breath-taking and terrible. "Throne of the God-Emperor..."

It was familiar, yet not. Similar to the civilised-world level cities that dotted Avalus he had even seen either in person or pict capture or vid-display. The only difference was that the entire city was made inside a moving giant dome. It reminded Casten of the stories he had heard of land behemoths used by some Imperial worlds. Though... those were more building sized rather than city sized.

"How did you find this?" Casten walked to her side and rested his hands of the railing.

Zero-Two's eyes were fixed forwards. Yet she did not look impressed in the least. "All Plantations have a similar design. I've been to enough of them to find out that this one is nothing special."

"That makes sense I suppose," he paused, trying to put into words how to describe Imperial hives. "We have entire worlds covered in cities like this, Hive Worlds. Turgid, sweltering and…"

"Dead?" Zero-Two finished.

Casten gave a sad nod. "Very, pits of predation where the powerful rise above and all else toil beneath them in squalor. Well, those that don't turn to heresy or preying on others anyways."

She gave him a sidelong stare. "Darling, you aren't doing a very good job of selling your Imperium."

"It's the truth," he turned his gaze to meet hers. "Not every world is like this, Hive Worlds are rare by their nature. Avalus, for example had a single supercontinent with a myriad of biomes and ecosystems: plains, forests, mountains and a single, massive ocean. Human settled small cities or towns."

The girl turned away to look at the city once more, perhaps wondering what the sight he described might look like. Casten's gaze remained on her visage. "Why are you staring at me again?" She didn't seem to mind; only glancing in his direction briefly.

"I've said before. You make it hard to look away," Casten smirked. "Or I suppose I should be looking more at Nana? She is quite fetching."

Zero-Two regarded him with a glare. She reached out with both hands and cupped his cheeks her palms soft, yet had the strength of a vice, pale teal orbs looked into her darling's navy-blue. "Look only at me darling." Daring him to say otherwise.

Casten gave her a small smile. "Of course," an errant thought came to mind then. "A name, the other parasites all have names that stem from their numbers in your language. What about you?"

She hummed in thought, releasing his face from her grasp and walking over to the railing and swinging herself over it, extending her arms to balance on the decorative stalk-like extension from the balcony. Her hair whipped in the artificial breeze, where did such air current come from in a sealed dome only the fabricators knew.

Though Zero-Two's antics were becoming the norm for the Knight-Scion, he couldn't help but feel nervous. "That's dangerous!" He explained, reaching out to her.

She ignored his protest. "Once we parasites die, it'll only be a statistic. What difference will it make what we're called?"

Her worlds alarmed him. "That isn't safe! Zero-Two come back here! Please!" She wasn't listening to him.

"Hey darling, just look at this lifeless city. There are no skies, plains or oceans like your home had. It's isolated, on a one way street to nowhere… a dead end excuse for life." Casten's heart raced, something told him that her words were more than just idle commentary.

He stayed silent as she turned to face him. Her hair whipped in the breeze as she opened her eyes slowly. "Say, darling."

Casten swallowed, his throat suddenly drying up. "Y-yes?"

"Want to run away with me? Away from all this?" Before he could respond, she began tilting to the side. The Knight's heart seemed to stop, time passing in slow motion to him.

Zero-Two extended an arm and hopped to the side. Backflipping back towards the balcony with such grace Casten had never seen. She jumped high over the railing, giving him a good view up her leggings. He would have appreciated it if his heart wasn't pounding like it housed an entire company of charging Black Templars.

"Just kidding!" Zero-Two smiled, bent forwards towards him.

Casten's body seemed to have a will of its own as he rushed to hold her in a tight embrace. "Don't… Don't do that to me again," he whispered.

The Knight-Scion held the girl tight, the sweet aroma of the soap she used to was her hair tingling his senses. "You're more than a statistic to me, I thank the Emperor for our meeting at every prayer."

Zero-Two was shocked for a moment before her own gloved hands moved to embrace his as well. Her arms barely wrapping around his broad back. "Sorry darling…" she sighed, closing her eyes. He was trembling at her touch.

Casten pulled back and allowed his grip to slacken but leaned down to have his forehead gently press onto hers. He ignored her small red horns that pricked his skin, focusing only on looking into her eyes.

"One day…" he began. "I'll build a place for us with the oceans and plains I knew, just like you said. This is my oath to you, as a Freeblade."

Zero-Two leaned forwards slowly. "I look forward to it… darling," she whispered under her breath.

The girl withdrew a hand from Casten's back and dragged it across his broad chest, briefly feeling his thundering heartbeat. White gloved fingers spread across his jaw. Her thumb pulling his lower lip down, her own lips parting when they moved into a deep kiss.

Casten tasted something sweet, her lips felt so soft. Yet her kiss bore a hunger, tongue seeming to explore ever part of his mouth and wrapping around his own. He felt a need from her, an emptiness that sought him to fill that void. It felt like his duty to do just that.

Zero-Two devoured her darling. She knew. Since the first time they met. She knew he was something else beneath his loss and fury. Casten tasted, strangely enough, like sweet peppermint. A refreshingly sweet sensation that spread from her tongue, sending chills down her spine. It wasn't just his taste, he made her feel safe… wanted.

They parted, but they never let the other go, and just stayed silent, hugging each other, reveling in the the simple innocent act of enjoying each other's presence.

+ Two days later +

+ Plantation #13 Briefing room +

"Headquarters has ordered in a sortie," the man named Hachi's brisk tone reminded Casten of some Imperial Guard commanders.

The Plantation #13 Corps stood assembled in the room for their briefing. Clad in their piloting suits. Casten stood in the back, behind the circular seating platforms. He wore his suit and plates, helmet set on the floor beside him. The Knight gave Hachi a scrutinizing gaze.

His uniform was that of any other of the APE staff. Though lacking in the medals an Imperial equivalent of his rank would have; bearing only a strange pin made to resemble wings, one silver the other purple. His arms were crossed over his chest and his shave grey hair sat as little more than fuzz on his scalp.

His eyes… Casten didn't like them. Those cold brown orbs screamed of a man that were unconcerned with the welfare of the parasites before him. Though there was always a possibility that he was wrong. That approach to warfare was fine so long as the troops were well aware of their plight, such as with the stoic Kreigers, not with this band of quivering whelps.

"Huh?" Futoshi gasped. "We're fighting real Klaxosaurs already?"

Nana stood beside him, a clipboard in hand. Her smile must have been reassuring to the parasites. "Don't worry, we won't send you in to fight the Klaxosaurs like the Mohorovic-class Casten killed on your first operation.

"Hey!" Goro called out. "How'd you kill yours?"

"Y-yeah!" Futoshi nodded. "Weren't you nervous?"

Casten's gaze shifted to the boy. "Steel yourself, mankind's survival demands you expect the worst of the Xeno foe."

The look the parasites shared among each other was not one of inspired confidence.

"We'd like to ease you into this, if possible," Nana continued, bringing up a holographic display of a surface facility and a shaft that penetrated deep into the planet's crust. " but we can't afford to, unfortunately."

The Knight-Scion took a step forwards and squinted at the projection. "Is it an extraction site for this 'Magma-Energy' I've heard so much of?"

Nana nodded, "It is, inside you'll be facing a Conrad-class Klaxosaur."

"It's a bit smaller than a FranXX," Hachi explained.

Nana pointed to a section of the underground facility. "Klaxosaurs feed off magma-energy and appear in its vicinity. Lately, they've been showing up in this Level-8 mine and wreaking havoc throughout the facility."

Ichigo raised a hand. "What about the automatic bulwark system?"

She shook her head. "No use, it can't keep up with them."

"Also," Nana gestured to Casten. "Ave-Rubrum and Strelizia won't be part of this mission."

"Hah!?" Zorome gave an indignant cry. "Why not?"

"My armour's main armament is unsuited to use in there," Casten walked forwards, heavily armoured suit and steel toed boots thumping along.

He jabbed a finger at the projection of the massive at the top of the shaft, slowly following it down to the massive stockpile tanks. "A single shot," Casten paused, raising a gauntleted finger for emphasis. "A single shot from my Thermal Cannon will immolate anything at the point of impact. What if I miss and hit a fuel line?"

Hachi nodded. "He will act as backup in case anything happens up here."

Nana nodded. "You'll need to defend the Plantation by yourselves at some point. If you aren't able to deal with this Klaxosaur then you won't be able to handle any in the future. Focus on the task at hand. Ichigo and Goro will have field command."

"Roger," the pair responded.

+ Later +

+ Plantation #13 OCC +

Casten frowned at the display screens. More so that he could not read many of the letters than anything else. Though he guessed from the cockpit vid-link that one of the FranXXs were not faring well. The Knight-Scion crossed an arm over his chest raised his other to pinch his chin in thought.

"What's wrong Chlorophytum?" Hachi asked.

Mitsuru's dispassionate voice answered. "It doesn't seem like Ikuno can do this."

"I'm nearly there! Just give me a bit!" His partner protested, trying desperately to establish a link with her Stamen.

"Mechanical issues?" Casten asked, looking towards one of the half-masked APE adepts that seemed to be fussing at her console.

"No, Chlorophytum's para-capacity is below required levels and dropping. Ikuno just isn't connecting to her Stamen for some reason." she half-responded to the question and reported to her commander.

"Hmph, no go huh?" Hachi mumbled. "Chlorophytum will stay behind. You three go without her."

Casten left the darkened room, deciding against further disrupting their concentration. He couldn't read any of the messages or script from the dataslates or pict-terminals anyways. The Knight-Scion clicked his tongue in frustration. He would need to ask for a manual or book for him to learn the language of the locals if he wanted to glean a better understanding of them.

He instead returned to the briefing room. Where it seemed observation vid-feeds to the FranXXs eyes were being played as they approached the facility.

"What a giant shaft, I wonder how far down it stretches…" Kokoro thought aloud, her voice carried through by Genista.

Argentea looked upwards at the large arm that held the main line. "That's one monster of a pipe," Zorome explained.

Goro whistled. "So they use these to extract the magma reserves huh?"

The FranXX approached the edge and mounted a platforms attached to a cable system. Each taking a platform to carry them to the depths. Supposedly these were designed for transport of heavy-duty mining equipment and was near impossible to break; even under their combined weight. "Descend to level 8."

As the FranXX began to make their way deeper into the facility, Hachi's voice filtered through the intercom. "As you're all well aware, in order to neutralize a Klaxosaur you have to remove its core and shatter it with your weapons."

"I don't think they need a reminder of how to kill the Xeno," Casten mumbled, watching the pict-screen as they wound their way past metal corridors and rocky sections that haven't or wouldn't be converted for mining.

As there seemed to be a lull until they would reach their target, Casten's attention turned to the automatic doors that hissed open. Mitsuru and Ikuno approached; the latter seemed… nervous? Uncomfortable? Either way, her hands were clenching nervously in front of her.

"What happened?" Nana asked. "Are you not feeling well?"

"No, that isn't it," Ikuno shook her head.

The caretaker sighed, still managing to smile. "Very well, you've never been the most stable in para-numbers. We'll run some tests on you tomorrow, just to be safe."

Casten stared at the two, expression void of emotion. There was no excuse for failure, to him this was a grave insult to their squad that now lacked a member. But this was not Imperial space, not yet at least. So the Knight-Scion held his tongue, however his gaze was that of unmistakable ire.

"If I may," Mitsuru offered. "maybe the two of us have compatibility issues?"

"A lot of parasites experience this at first. It isn't on grounds for splitting you two up," Nana reassured.

"Is that so?" Mitsuru's gaze wandered. Landing on the Knight-Scion.

Casten noticed something in his voice. Something that drew a shiver down the Knight-Scion's spine. Those snake-like dark green eyes did not land on him out of idle thought. Mitsuru gave him the same aura of those arrogant and ambitious nobles in Imperial society. A dangerous personality that believed in their own superiority to such a degree as to sacrifice and undermine all others. Many an Imperial Guard and even a few Knights have fallen victim to their hubris.

Even though he was probably in the wrong for judging so quickly, the thought disgusted him. Casten couldn't decide to liken Mitsuru to a vulture or a snake.

"We've got a visual on the Klaxosaur. FranXX spreading out." Ichigo's report drew their attention on the monitor once more.

Casten focused on the spherical Xeno that had latched onto the what appeared to be a magma tank; sucking at it like a tick. Was a Conrad-Class that small? How did it break past the automatic defenses of the mines? Something wasn't right, No creature so pathetic would be able to cause such havoc on its own. He would have cautioned them to hold one FranXX back in case of an ambush; but it wasn't his place to do so.

"Commencing attack," Delphinium announced.

Argentea shrugged. "Huh, smaller than I thought it would be."

Genista breathed a sigh of relief. "What a relief, I was scared they wouldn't be much smaller than that Mohorovic."

Casten viewed the creature with suspicion. While it was true that he was inexperienced; many records, both Imperial and the tomes within his House's annals recorded such luring tactics. One specific mention was that of a young knight in a past age being drawn out by the temptation of easy prey only to get led into a pre-prepared ambush. Needless to say, his demise was recorded in gory and shameful detail.

"This looks like a trap. The Genestealers of the Tyranid-breed Xenos are fond of such trickery," Casten offered his word of caution, he was solemnly ignored.

"Stay alert, we'll do this as we planned." Delphinium warned.

Though a that seemed lost when she immediately rushed forwards and stabbed it with her magma blades, sending a spray of blue blood spurting from the small creature as she dragged to off the tank. It bounced like a rubber ball across the wall, four small claw-like legs extending from its lower body as it screeched. Genista followed up, impaling the Klaxosaur with the oversized bayonet on her battle-cannon. She lifted it into the air for Argentea, magma claws extended to stab into the struggling Xeno.

"Well done!" Nana exclaimed.

Argentea struck a pose. "See that space guy!? That's what I'm capable of!" Zorome's voice boasted.

"Hey, cut it out! You're embarrassing me!" Miku protested at the vain gesture.

Casten's eyes widened at the display, he stormed up to Nana and snatched the headset she used to communicate with the FranXX pilots. "You incompetent fool! Quit boasting and kill it! Kill it now!" He yelled into the vox.

"Darling's right." A familiar voice spoke up.

Casten turned, finding Zero-Two leaning on a wall with a lollipop in her mouth. She stared at the events unfolding with a bored disregard. "It isn't over till you kill it."

The FranXX visibly winced at the coarse howl. "He's right, it's not over yet. Destroy the core immediately." Delphinium agreed.

"Sheesh, I know-I know," Zorome sighed.

Argentea turned back and raised a claw to stab into the Conrad's fallen form. Still wasting time by rotating her arm to loosen up; as if a machine had need of it. "For a Klaxosaur this thing ain't such a big deal."

The Conrad that had appeared pacified suddenly let loose a deafening screech, jumping up at the pink FranXX that was about to stab it. Argentea fell back from both shock and the creature's sudden momentum. Immediately the monster began tearing at her desperately with its metallic talons and teeth.

Miku's panicked screaming filled the speakers as Argentea struggled.

"Damn you!" Futoshi roared, firing a shot point-blank at the Klaxosaur's penetrating its metallic hide and exposing the core.

Gritting her teeth; Delphinium fell upon the Klaxosaur's exposed core, stabbing down with both blades. After a moment's struggle it fell dead with a final hiss. "Miku, report! Are you okay!?"

Delphinium's concern was cut short when a mass fell from a tunnel dug from the rocky ceiling. Another Conrad, identical to the one they just killed.

"T-there's more!?" Goro exclaimed.

"Wait a second…" Futoshi's voice was filled with horror.

Another one fell, then another, and so on until the metal floor was littered with the small, spherical Xenos.

"How many of them are there!?" Genista gasped, stepping back slowly.

Delphinium moved Argentea's arm over her shoulder and began dragging the fallen FranXX back. "Let's retreat for now!"

+ Plantation #13 Operation Control Center +

"This is bad." Nana clicked her tongue. "They've attracted several Klaxosaurs with by releasing magma energy."

"See what I mean? Told you Darling was right. You should have just sent me right from the start," Zero-Two huffed, leaning back with her arms leisurely behind her head.

"You…" Nana grit her teeth.

Casten closed his eyes and reached up to massage his temples. He felt a headache coming on.

"Are you sure about this? They're gonna die, right darling?"

Casten nodded and turned to glare at Nana. "My honor to my fallen House and Emperor demands I save them. I'm going,"

"That's not going to happen" Hachi coldly interjected.

Casten glowered at Hachi's projected form on the pict-screen. "You would ask me to do nothing when they can yet be saved? Are they not your valuable warriors?"

"You're not one of ours. You're an envoy from the Imperium of Man, not a Stamen," Hachi continued. "What if we lose you too?"

"Darling doesn't follow our rules, who's going to stop him from breaking through like before? You?" Zero-Two bounded over to Nana.

"Send me in with my darling." Already tall compared to most girls, her heels made her stand slightly taller than even the older woman and cast a shadow over her.

This failed, however, to intimidate her. "You will not be allowed to sortie, especially without a Stamen," Nana's tone was firm and her gaze remained impassive.

Casten grit his teeth, about to argue further until Mitsuru's raised hand turned all attention to him. "Why don't I go?"

"I'm the only Parasite Stamen present and she's right, they're all going to die if we don't send help," he continued. "Then I have to go don't I?"

Nana's expression turned grim. "Strelizia is no ordinary FranXX, the connection-"

"Is no problem," Mitsuru interrupted her. "There's no way I can't do it."

The woman paused in thought for a moment, then turned to Zero-Two "Can you ride with Mitsuru?"

Casten's scowl deepened as dark as his mood, this upstart was using the situation as a opportunity. Giving himself the chance to connect to Zero-Two. Either that or he intentionally failed to connect to his partner. The damn snake had then cornered either way.

Zero-Two released an exasperated sigh. "Did you lot hear me? I'm riding out with my darling."

"Casten's not a Stamen!" Nana countered. "He is an alien!"

He shoved between the two and bend down to meet Nana's gaze, his expression that of extreme rage. "You dare spill that from your tongue?! Call me! A Freeblade, A servant of the Emperor, a Xeno?!"

Casten's grip tightened over his chainsword, the insult to his identity by insinuating with the like of Orks, and the Tyranid, was enough to give him an aneurysm that would make a Space Marine proud. He was quivering with zeal and fury that made him imagine himself going on a personal crusade.

He took deep breaths, maintain his decorum, he was better than a zealot; he IS better than a zealot, he is an Imperial Knight-Scion, a Freeblade, Zero-Two is depending on him now...

"I...forgive you, for the insult to my identity as a fellow human. I am new, I am not of your world. I may be contracted to the Queen as my status as a Freeblade, but my patience and forgiveness is not an infinite resource. Please consider your words carefully for the foreseeable future, for if it were other than me that you insulted...only blood would enough to demand reparation." Casten proceeds to back away from everyone, lest he does something that he will regret. The words stung him with a vengeance, but otherwise his calm restored.

Nana took a tentative, almost unnoticeable step back, hiding her shock at his sudden change of mood. He was an alien wasn't he? She relented, not taking his warning at face value. He didn't strike as the type to make idle threats

"Zero-Two will ride with Code: 326, Mitsuru." Hachi suddenly said.

Casten sent the man a hate-filled glare. Hachi remained impassive. "Father ordered it."

Father… that man Casten remembered vaguely from his battle with the Mohorovic-class Klaxosaur. A man in regal robes of white. Really while looking through Ave-Rubrum everyone looked small anyways. This man was something akin to this planet's leader, if a direct order came from him… Casten was in no position to say anything more.

"FETH!" He roared, jamming a gauntleted fist into Hachi's projected face. The monitor somehow stayed functional despite the massive spiderweb crack that expanded from where his fist was buried. Petty as it was, he did gain some measure of satisfaction.

He breathed deep then, calming himself once more. Pulling his fist out of its self made crater in the wall, glass and metal shards falling to the floor. He moved to the seats and sat down, his wrists resting on his knees and his gaze fixed on his boots. "Do what you will."

Zero-Two said nothing. She couldn't even muster her usual devil-may-care smile for her darling. Only taking one of his gauntleted hands and giving him a gentle squeeze to reassure him. Though this didn't seem to work, Casten's gaze remained on the floor.

Zero-Two turned, regarding Nana and Mitsuru with a sour expression. "Come on then, since you're so eager to die."

Nana looked on as the pair left. Her gaze turned to the dejected Knight-Scion. She seemed to want to say something to him. "Keep your peace," Casten said, looking up slowly.

He back straightened and his usual scowl returned full-force, "I will follow your commands as far as I see fit. Nothing more, nothing less"

"Excuse me?" Nana exclaimed.

"The Imperium of Man, is an empire of great majesty Miss Nana, it demands we to fight for each other, united in some hope that we can reach the dream the Emperor envisioned for all mankind…" He cast his gauntlet covered hand a gaze; as if there was something within that held a great truth.

Nana remained silent as she took this opportunity to learn more about this Imperium and what she would report back to Hachi and APE to understand the people that held ultimate space superiority.

"However, such an empire that spans a million worlds, also means the Emperor has need for people that while they mean well, may not be as they seem. Inquisitors...assassin's...spies, all are necessary to maintain our vast empire no matter how dishonorable some of their actions may be."

He returned to proper form, his anger processed, but his disapproval not abated.

"I cannot speak of your station, as that is the task you are assigned to do, and all that entails. Just know that while you are a vital necessity, I do not approve of your role as a manipulator. Perhaps we can discuss this another time in hopes we meet eye to eye...if not...well this will be quite a difficult relationship."

His piece said, his fury processed, he sat back down, his arms crossed, but his eyes shone with renewed focus at the mission at hand. A mission that he could see in their bickering was dwindling before his eyes, and he could only clench his teeth, masterfully hidden behind his stoic mask that there is nothing he could do.

Nana likewise kept her silence, as she kept his entire dialogue on record. Information vital to her superiors. She felt something, it was clear what he was insinuating. Casten wasn't fooled by a smile or cheerful encouragement like the parasites, there was no need to force herself to speak to him like she did them.

She had to wonder, what kind of society would raise a child to look out for such cutthroat tactics? She found herself trying to imagine an empire vast beyond reasoning, where entire planets have been rendered lifeless by their own admission simply for tactical or strategic convenience. She supposed a small part of her felt… pity, for him.

Her eyes followed him as he slowly rose to his feet. Stalking over to the windows that overlooked the FranXXs garage. He laid a hand on the glass, metal gauntlets scraping it slightly. Casten's gaze looked at Zero-Two with what seemed a wistful longing and an even deeper scowl when he looked upon the Stamen beside her.

He sighed in defeat and made to leave the room entirely when the two disappeared into Strelizia's mouth, having completely lost interest or simply deemed the events a waste of time. Maybe he just didn't want to see Zero-Two linked to someone else. Either way, he wasn't keen on staying any more.

Which was why the young man suddenly fell to his knees in agony, his eyes wild and mouth open as if he was shocking on something. Sparks of electricity jumped from the metal MIU implant's socket. Hands clutching at the metal that led into his brain.

"EEEAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!"

It felt like a bolt of lightning was charged through his body, his brain was submerged in freezing waters that overloaded the senses where he could have sworn he could taste the color blue and flexing a fist was scrunching his eyelids. He could feel the cold-hot link to the Throne Mechanicum and Zero-Two as if they were one person, but there was a foreign and unwelcome presence in what should have been a synchronous of three: Zero-Two, Himself and the Throne. Mitsuru was being violently rejected by the Anima within the throne, as he struggled to overcome the anger, pain, disgust, contempt, greed and other emotions he couldn't place nor control.

"Casten!?" Nana gasped, she didn't dare approach him. It was like the socket behind his head was a lighting rod.

"Something's happening in the bay!" An alarmed voice from the OCC yelled.

She ran to the window to find Strelizia's lion-like form writhing, smashing against her moorings and clamps. "What's happening!? Mitsuru, Zero-Two, respond!"

+ A few moments earlier +

+Strelizia's cockpit +

Zero-Two settled into the Pistil's position, Mitsuru following soon after into the Stamen's seat. She looked over her shoulder, regarding him with a cold glare. He returned her glare with a smile; more out of triumph of having made a fool of Casten than any friendly gesture. It was sickening.

"Let's get along," Mitsuru offered.

Zero-Two clicked her tongue in irritation and resumed her stance, the monitor hood lowering over her head. "You aren't my darling."

"Strelizia, prepare for activation," Hachi announced.

Handles extended from her suit's outer thighs and the monitor-hood lit up with the para-capacity number displays. Mitsuru grasped them and concentrated, trying to establish a link with the rumoured single-digit. The spinal column of Zero-Two's suit lighting up.

She didn't want this slime to ride with her. Even if darling wasn't a Stamen. Maybe if she's lucky, he can push him so hard, he dies on the first go instead of the usual three; wouldn't that be a record? Before she too concentrated to establish the link, wanting to get it over with so that she can come back to her darling, hopefully with one less nuisance around.

As the saying goes in the annals of Holy Terra's history; never tempt fate, less the Emperor grants it for you.

Where instead of the familiar feeling where she could feel becoming one with her current partner, it instead gave her pain; the worst pain that she has ever experienced in her short life. It hit her with a force like being rammed by a Land Raider!-what the heck is a Land Raider? How did she know what's a Land Raider?!- and the feeling of white hot needles being jammed into every pore of her skin!

The entire cockpit sparked and shuddered, arcs of electricity burst from every seam. Flares of errant energy travelled from Zero-Two's suit and through the bodies of Strelizia's Pistil and Stamen.

"Wait- wha-AAAAAHH!" Mitsuru cried out in pain when the shock hit him and travelled up his spine.

Despite the agony of having every nerve roasted by electricity Zero-Two managed to hold back, gritting her teeth through it all until she blacked out.

+ Location unknown +

Doctor Franxx watched the proceedings with vexed interest. He wasn't too keen on forcing Zero-Two to pilot with someone not of her choosing, he didn't know the risk of doing so. Though he was curious as to how her strange relationship with the off-worlder was affecting her para-numbers. It was good that the remote link from all the cameras to his lab had been made beforehand.

This however… this was equal parts concerning and fascinating. He scratched his metallic chin. "Oho… how interesting."

Perhaps he could ask Casten to come in for a medical examination? Would the Imperials even allow it? Well, those questions are best reserved for later, supposing Casten would even survive whatever was happening.

+ #%01100101 Error 01110010 % +

A plain. Zero-Two found herself lying down in an open plain. There was grass, open skies and the rolling waves of an ocean in the distance… things she had never seen before. Where was she? It felt warm, not in a temperate sense. It was a sensation of warmth that she had felt before. It felt like the embrace they shared yesterday.

Something shifted beside her. It was Mitsuru she realized. "Ngh… What happened?" He moaned, rousing slowly.

"Thou art intruding on our sanctum" A new voice answered, this one sounded warped and hollow, like he was speaking through a vast empty chamber.

The parasites turned to find a foreboding figure looking down on them. A man clad head to toe in metal armour, a cloak of smoke fluttering and dissipating in the breeze.

A moment of silence followed, each waiting for the other to do or say something. Zero-Two was first to do so. "Where's my darling?"

The helmet tilted to the side and gave her a puzzled gaze through his eyeless visor. "Thou art speaking foolishness. This place is Questoris Zelius."

The armoured man pointed to a structure in the distance, at the end of large paved road. It was a fortress. Even from that distance, they could see massive multi-barreled turrets topping each massive towers. The man's armour rattled as he started walking towards it.

Seeing as there was nothing better to- wherever she was, shrugged and followed after the apparition. In contrast to her lax fare, Mitsuru on the other hand was confused beyond all reason. Whatever happened was nothing like when he linked with Ikuno.

Back and forth he looked, wherever he was, nothing to this place except the building that the armoured man Zero-Two was following, he swallowed down the phlegm that built up in his throat, trying to stay calm and keep thinking that he was still in control.

'Pity the poor fool who believes he was in control.' that treacherous part of him nagged, he was a Parasite! He was still here! Hiro's not around anymore, he has a chance to be something!

In the days to come, he would realize how much he would have preferred Hiro's company, for at least he knew as sappy as it was Hiro was kind. Casten was nothing like Hiro, he was worse…

"Hey! Get back here! We dont know whats going on? Didn't Father always tell us not to speak to strangers?!" He tried to assert his authority to his current partner that followed that weirdly dressed man.

Zero-Two didnt even looked back, she picked her ear, as if she only imagined the blowing wind.

It already set off his frayed nerves, but to be treated like he was nothing. No, less than nothing was the last straw to his rationality. He followed after the pair closing the distance between them on this dirt path to the fortress.

"Hey! Now listen here! Don't igno-" He reached a hand to grab his partner's shoulder.

Not seeing the flash of silver that just lopped his hand.

"UWWAAAH!"Mitsuru screamed, holding his stump. Trying to stem the fountain of blood that gushed forth.

It hurts! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! It hurts so bad! No, It's just a dream! That's right! It's only a dream! He tried to reason his frantic mind, but the pain was too real!

He kneeled, clenching his stump, not noticing that his missing hand disappeared into mist which would hint that wherever they are is not a real place. Mitsuru looked up from his quivering, mewling form and saw that Zero-Two actually turned around to look at him, but instead of concern for at least being a parasite, she scored a cruel malicious smile the sun above her casted a shadow that made her horns glow red, and her teeth showing her incisors; she enjoyed his pain.

Mitsuru knew then that she was not like them, they were not like Squad 13 she didn't give a damn. He knew fear.

"Filthy cur," He flinched at his assailant when he heard the sound of the sword that decapitated his hand being put back into the scabbard, backpedaling away from the two who did this to him.

A strong wind blew over the three, and before they knew it, they were in a different place altogether. They realized that they were now within the very fortress that the knight showed them, in an arena of some kind with massive gates that looked too large for the Franxx to go through, a shadow covered them and they looked towards the shadow that casted their beings. Up high upon the balcony on a dais that held a viewing box most likely for the people of important stations, was a massive stone statue of a man.

He towered over everyone in the area larger than any Franxx, larger than even Darling's machine. He wore a wreath around his head and long hair that flowed to his back. A sword in his hand and the twin headed bird that seemed to be the Imperial symbol was displayed on his chest, the statue was a grand work that must have been carved from a single piece of stone.

Zero-Two quickly put two and two together that whoever this guy is must be the Emperor that darling keeps praising to over and over again. She did not even need to see the knight kneel before the statue; his veneration clearly means alot to him and Darling.

Mitsuru could care less about some statue; he was too occupied bawling at his lost hand.

He once again stood back up, and with a flourish of his sword, the group was transported again; this time, upon the massive shoulder of the statue. It would have been a magnificent view, had the occasion been any different. Zero-Two's patience was running thin. She turned to the armoured man once more, bereft of fear and eyes that is more than ready to challenge him. He seemed to be pleased with such qualities by the bob of his helmet.

Zero-Two gave the eyeless slit an impatient glare. "I won't ask again...Where is my darling?"

There was a heavy silence, before the knight gestured once again to the clearing. One blink later made all the difference.

Where the was once a plain of verdant beauty...

Was now a shattered hellscape that could not be described in any language that exists in Mitsuru's vocabulary.

The sound of thunder was rampant, it happened every few seconds of every minute! Guns barking, smoke threatening to choke him, and the smell of blood and oil so thick that he could feel like he was drowning in it!

The once blue sky was a horrific shade of purple that if he looked hard enough he could see what looks like countless teeth with terrifying crooked grins. There were ships that floated in the skies that made their plantations look laughably tiny, mighty cannons scorched other ships of equal might, and on the ground, liquefying the peaceful plains into molten lava.

The guns that dotted the fortress thundered relentlessly, hitting targets both on the ground and in the sky. The Battle on the ground was of millions of soldiers that pocketed the landscape as they barrel into monsters that he thought were only in ones most twisted nightmares. Scores of machines like Casten's charged or fired upon other machines that appeared to be twisted parodies of themselves in visceral fashion. Where one could almost feel the crunch of one's skull being crushed when one of the machines stepped on another like him.

The worst of all though...was the giant that was coming closer to them.

It was horrible…

It towered over the battlefield, like a specter of death, it was an engine that only promised oblivion and bathed in delight of the suffering it showers upon the lesser. Mitsuru didn't realize nor could he even hear how loud his chattering teeth clicked and clacked like a musical orchestra, before realizing that this must be what a devil looked like. He saw only himself in its glass dead eyes, as it trudged over to him. Valiant knights tried to stop its path only to be blocked by its escorts, or simply crushed underfoot.

Zero-Two however saw it very differently. She held her head high, and looked upon the world before her...This was her darling's world...this was once her darling's home...and the ones that are violating and desecrating it...are her darling's enemies.

More importantly, this is her darling's war…

"Your 'darling'," the man pointed his sword up at a small swarm of stubby-winged flying boxes that rose lazily into the air. Away from a battle already lost. So that they may fight again another day. No matter how bitter the defeat.

The girl knew this was a memory. Yet she called out to him all the same when she saw the young man standing on the open ramp of one of the retreating aircraft. She felt a fire, a burning sensation that filled her chest and made her want to scream out. Only now did he know all those little feelings she felt around him were something more. She felt his anguish, his pain, his outrage.

It was not long until she was face to face with the enemy that shattered her darling's most cherished place, and she could only feel hate for this wretched monster. A flutter to her side, she saw the armoured man that travelled with them rushed towards the beast on air as he would on the ground, with a sword aloft, as he dove straight towards the towering terror.

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

The knight stabbed its sword into the Traitor Warlord Titan and everything lit up in a flash of white.

"I see...we are not so different darling…" Zero-Two's were her last thoughts as she feels herself drifting, drowsy, before sleep took her into its comforting embrace. She dreamed of her darling and in it, was her darling going to war.

"Never again…" she hears his eternal vow, and Ave Rubrum walks once more.

+ Magma energy mines: Level 8 +

"What do you mean Strelizia isn't coming!?" Delphinium cried out as she braced against the blast door, trying to hold the horde of Conrad-class Klaxosaurs that bashed against it at bay.

Argentea sprang back to life. Miku seems to have come to, taking control of her FranXX once more. Genista gave a cry of celebration. "Miku came back to life!"

"Hey! I never died!" Argentea yelled back.

"Are you oka-!" Delphinium's concern was cut off by the Klaxosaur's increasing numbers on the other side bashing against it some more.

The two other FranXX scrambled to help their leader brace the groaning metal. "We can't hold on much longer! Why can't you deploy Strelizia!?" Futoshi cried out.

There seemed to be a commotion happening on the other end of the line, emergency klaxons sounding off in the background amidst their struggle against the Conrad-class Klaxosaurs. Did something happen at the plantation? Was there an attack?!

"HQ!?" Delphinium asked, receiving no response. "Are you receiving? We need help!"

"Casten!? Are you alright!?" Nana's distress was heard, broadcasting on the open channelf. "What's happening to Strelizia-unconscious!? Get a medical team down immediately!"

"HQ!? HQ!?" Delphinium desperately screamed into the radio.

Ichigo began to panic, were they about to die? On their first operation? Before they could have accomplished anything? She couldn't hear her brother's voice call for her to be calm herself; too focused on the very real possibility of their deaths. Her mind travelled to Hiro, what would he do? How would he save them?

"Ichigo! get a hold of yourself! Hey, ngh-!" Goro jerked forwards, the handles attached to Ichigo's thighs suddenly feeling like leadened weights in his hands. "Why… so heavy!"

Delphinium fell to her knees, the FranXX's Stamen and Pistil no longer in harmony. "H-Hey! What's gotten into you!?" Argentea cried in alarm as she was left to push back the weight and force the horde behind the door on her own.

Thankfully Ichigo snapped back into focus a moment later, regaining full control.

But the damage had been done. The blast door crumpled under the strain and Argentea only narrowly managing to jump backwards far enough to not be pinned underneath it. With their barrier gone, the squad had only one choice.

"We can't stay here!" Goro yelled, taking charge from Ichigo. "Make a run for the center! we need to get out of here!"

The three FranXX took off, the swarm of monstrosities that literally filled the corridor behind them; clambering after their vaunted food source. Their high-pitched shrieks and clattering claws haunting the squad's every step. Through halls lit up with the red glow of emergency lights the FranXX sprinted towards the central magma-energy pipe and the cable-elevator platforms.

As the reached their destination however, Genista suddenly stopped. The other two FranXX running into her back. "Hey! What's…wrong..." Goro's throat dried up at the sight that greeted them.

The return cable-elevator was completely covered in the spherical Klaxosaurs. Whether by chance or design, they were cornered. A deep rumble drew Argentea's attention to a massive figure that seemed to crawl down the largest tunnel, blocking the light from the mining lamps with its immense bulk.

"H-hey leader, what do we do?" Argentea whimpered.

Delphinium's face monitor was frozen in abject horror when the massive version of the smaller Conrad-class Klaxosaurs loomed over the three. Its X-shaped maw opened to reveal thin, tentacle-like mandibles filled with razor sharp teeth. It slowly drew closer to her face, ready to snap shut and begin feeding on the rich magma-energy within the FranXX.

Her mind travelled to Hiro, what would he do? How would he save them? They had all expected him, the best pilot of them all, the one that had given them their names, to lead them. To hold them together and know what to do in times of crisis.

Ichigo was never ready to for this. She stared into the toothy pit that would be her end. "I've failed as a leader… everyone, Hiro, I'm sorry…"

A loud horn echoed throughout the chamber, the sound penetrated the skittering Conrad swarm's frenzy from the unknown sound. The horn got louder, as it got louder, its arrival muffling the whistling sound of its terminal velocity descent. A large shape collided directly atop of the abnormally large Conrad-Class Klaxosaur, its dynamic entrance applied in the same way in which it will doll out its retribution.

The Conrad-class exploded into squalorly fountain of blue biomechanical blood that flooded the tunnel and drenched everything in the vicinity. Its collision and the explosion of kinetic energy was strong enough to send both FranXXs and the Klaxosaurs get swept up in the backlash of the multi-ton projectile in a cloud of blue blood, metal fragments, and dust, essentially blinding both friend and foe. The magnificent display was enough to snap everyone out of their panic, dut still dazed by the impact left in its wake from essentially being close to ground zero.

"Hiro?" Ichigo looked up.

For Ichigo, as a result of a combination of panic and relief was still in the throes of delirium as her first experience of being so close to death, when she could see, feel, and smell the Klaxosaur just moments from killing her. In her eye's their rescuer's silhouette, transposed Hiro as if he was standing right in front of her. Her heart swelled in joy and relief seeing him again to rescue everyone, unconsciously moving her hand towards him to take his hand, his gentle smile there to pick her up.

Reality however was a cruel tormenter; she bit back a wince as instead of a gentle guiding hand, she felt the cold surface of Ave Rubrum's adamantine chainsword casing shoving her FranXX to stand. Hiro's shadow was gone like a paper sheet torn in half, meeting face to face in the baleful fiery glow of Ave Rubrums lenses before all but shoving her behind the wanted to cry, as moisture gathered that threatened to break past her eye sockets at the harsh and unforgiving truth.

Hiro was gone. Casten is here to stay no matter how much she could cry, beg, and scream every night before she fell asleep from exhausting her tears.

Ave Rubrum did not stay idle, and took the opportunity to do a full spin sweep while the shock drop lasted. "Withdraw! I will grab their attention." He stabbed at another one, before crushing it underfoot core and all.

"Come xenos! Show me what passes for fury amongst your misbegotten kind!" If it showed any damage with such a reckless tactic it certainly didn't show it, inside however was a different story.

Casten gambled high on his recklessness and prayed for the Emperor's protection. Using his chainsword as a makeshift climbing axe, he made solid headway that, while controlled in his descent, lacked the speed he urgently needed. Only when the large Conrad-class xeno came into Ave Rubrum's sensorium did he take immediate action, kicking off the wall, dislodging his chainsword and hoping his descent crushing the xeno will absorb any excess impact. Praise be in His name it worked! If a little too well, as readings indicate his knight suffered some negligible stress, dipping the lower half Ave Rubrum's structural integrity into the yellow.

A trio of Conrad-Class Klaxosaurs were perforated into shreds, their crystal cores shattering under the spray of Rubrum's heavy stubber bullets. Only for five to take their place, before a sweeping strike of the venerable chainsword ripped them into twine. One of the crystal core was still intact on a twitching Conrad-class, before a swift stomp crushed it underfoot.

If the stories of knights fighting against the Tyranids was anything remotely like this, he was fighting a losing battle, realizing how ill-equipped he was to deal with the sheer quantity of the xenos. Doubly so when their crystal cores are high priority targets lest they regenerate and continue fighting.

Squad 13 were already in full retreat even before Ave Rubrum arrived. Genista being the only one with the gun, the normally gentle soul tried desperately to help in any way, but the knight was constantly on the move, the emission from his cannon, the roar of the chainsword and even his loud cants blaring from his speakers attracted all the klaxosaurs to him. Whenever they started to pile atop his ion shield, the thermal cannon ensured that he had the means for a keep-away strategy melting any potential swarming maneuvers, before getting back into melee. She tried to help yet fear kept her from risking friendly fire; perhaps it was for the better, but as Rubrum said, the mission was lost, and they need to leave.

Delphinium was the first to get on the platform with Argentia's help before getting on the next one. Genista was not far behind, keeping a firm grip on her gun, while holding tightly to the cable that would get them out of the mines.

Rubrum's sensorium tracked the current roster of Squad 13 as they ascended up the cable. He stabbed another charging Conrad right down its gullet and revved the Reaper's engine, blue ichor spraying as the two halves fell away.

"I walk in the Emperor's immortal shadow!" Conrads on his left were peppered into blue chunks by the barking heavy-stubber.

"I am the Knight that protects his children!" Thundering feet carried the Knight armour forwards and into range to sweep his chainsword

"The stars belongs to mankind, as is our birthright!" A mental command in configuring his Thermal Cannon, a spray of agitated molecules incinerated the final group of Klaxosaurs, giving him the space he needed for a short reprieve.

This was foolishness. Casten knew that well enough. Ave Rubrum's gaze turned upwards to see the platforms the FranXX ascend to safety. He would have no such luxury. There was no crane that could bear the weight of Ave Rubrum arriving anytime soon. All around him lay the shredded and broken bodies of the Xenos, his armour's heraldry covered in streams of blue alien blood.

He had cleared the Xeno from the main shaft's circular chamber for the moment but the fighting here was taxing. Even now he hears their skittering legs as they clambered towards him from every tunnel. As unsuited as his Knight-Errant was to fighting such massed foes, there was no turning back now. His mind wandered to the text he had read of Merek Grimaldus of the Black Templars Astartes chapter and his deeds and words during the Third war of Armageddon.

Ave Rubrum's feet stomped down and drove massive dents into the metal panels of the floor. "I have dug my grave here Xeno scum! I will either triumph or I will die!" He declared, revving his Reaper as the new swarm rushed at him from every tunnel.

A tide of blue and black surged forth, seeming to gather on the opposing side of the shaft's chamber. That suited him just fine, it gave him the chance to fire another two bolts of searing heat into them. This barely gave the swarm pause as they screamed at the Knight, who had already bore his Reaper chainsword at the ready.

He met them in a clash of ripping Adamantium blades and biomechanical talons. His Ion shield rippled; having to deflect so many minor blows, the golden barrier seemed to waver. Though the Reaper cleaved through the many of the group with ease, the remainders fell away at his flanks and reformed into smaller waves.

Ave Rubrum twisted his torso to the side and swung again, his other arm letting loose a half aimed shot from his Thermal Cannon at the the other group that had tried to surround him. Casten hissed in frustration when more streamed into the chamber.

Were they acting as a hive mind like the Tyranid-Breed Xenos? No, if the records were correct then they would have already overwhelmed him. These were simply attacking in response to a threat or were following one another. In short, he would have no choice but to kill them all to get them to stop.

Ave Rubrum's heavy Stubber let loose a torrent of slugs in a wide arc, crippling those Conrads that the didn't kill. This was bad, he wasn't killing fast enough. They crawled all along the walls of the shaft now, leaping at him at random intervals and forcing him to change his Ion shield's facing or swing his chainsword in response. In that time those on the ground approached to leap and clawed at his armour's greaves.

He felt a stinging pain, as if he had just run through a bush of razor-sharp leaves. His Ion shield was focused on this back to prevent them from striking at this exposed components. Conrads snapping against the energy barrier. So many had gathered that he was reduced to stomping on them with every step even as he maneuvered to swing at others.

Another rumble, another swarm was about to rush in; this one, however, was different. Ave Rubrum's lenses was met by the tunnels literally overflowing with the Klaxosaurs. He fired his cannon as fast at he could, yet those tens he killed in a single shot were but drops in the ocean.

"GA-ACK!"

They formed a tsunami of bodies that crashed against his chassis, knocking the Knight off his feet and into the ground with a fountain of blue fluid and shredded Conrad body parts. Ave Rubrum's Ion shield fizzled as it strained to slow so many blows at once that slowly chipped away at his armour. To Casten it was like lying down in a rainstorm of needles and blades.

The Reaper chainsword tore through them as he blindly forced the ripping blade through the mass that buried him. Trapped under them, every panicked shot blew a massive hole in the pile, but it was useless. They filled the entire chamber like running water, the thrashing Knight's struggles growing fainter as they piled on.

The ruby life glow of Ave Rubrum's lenses slowly began to fade as his visor disappeared under the forms of the Klaxosaurs. His cannon's desperate fire died out and the sounds of talon stabbing and chipping at his Adamantium armour permeated the pipe-shaft. Pain spread throughout Casten's mind as each stab or scratched burned at his skin. His Heavy Stubber had been torn off, readings from his diagnostic cogitator of his armour was being breached.

As the darkness consumed his vision, Casten's thoughts wandered to Zero-Two. He saw her smile in that distance speck of daylight so far above him.

"RRRRAAAAHHH!!"With a final yell of defiance; Casten willed Ave Rubrum to force his Reaper through the growing floor of Klaxosaurs.

Covered in blue blood, Casten saw his own hand in the place of Ave Rubrum's Chainsword, reaching up to her. Pain from the link to his Knight permeated through every nerve in his body, driving the young knight to delirium. As more Conrads buried the Knight and obscured more of his vision, his mind began to drift away.

His lips formed a wistful smile under the helm.

The pink-haired girl's form grew more and more distant, darkness almost completely spilling over his vision, Ave Rubrum's outstretched chainsword now almost completely buried. He saw the blue luminescence of the Klaxosaurs as their talons started to wrench his cockpit's hatch open, their shrieks and the agonized groans of Ave Rubrum's hull echoing inside.

"I'm sorry… goodbye."

With that, he closes his eyes. His war is coming to an end, the Emperor's judgement awaits him. May He find him worthy.

+ 01100001 01101100 -ERT, ALERT ST-01100001 01110100-US CRITICAL +

Zero-Two saw her darling on a hill, surrounded by a field of green. He stood steadfast and straight as he always did. She smiled, skipping towards him. Her gait faltered when she got closer and entered the shadow of ominous black clouds that cast a grim gloom over the field. As she got closer, the hill Casten stood on saw revealed to be Ave Rubrum's twisted wreck, the cockpit split open like a can.

Casten doubled over in pain, using his broken chainsword's casing for support. Blood leaked from the seams of his armour, she saw him wrench off his helmet to vomit a torrent of dark red staining the scorched metal of the downed armour in crimson blotches.

Her eyes widened. "Darling!?"

She started running, passing the burned out hulks of various other Knight armours and tanks. Past the broken bodies of various species that she hadn't seen yet known, over the grass that had now been reduced to black cinders; not matter how much distance she seemed to run, her darling seemed to remain just out of reach.

He seemed to notice her calling to him. He was still hunched over, yet his navy-blue met her teal for but a moment. Blood still streamed from between the young Knight-Scion's teeth when he sent her a weak smile. She reached out to him, still running, still never drawing any closer.

Split, bloodstained lips whispered to her. "I'm sorry… goodbye."

+ Strelizia's cockpit +

A flash of lightning across the sky brought a blinding light that forced her eyes shut. When Zero-Two opened her eyes, she saw the flashing red error messages across every surface of the Strelizia's dark cockpit and the monitor-hood of her parasites suit still drawn over her head. She pushed up and looked behind her, withdrawing the hood.

Behind her, Mitsuru was awake, his eyes wide and huddled in the fetal position, muttering a string of unintelligible ramblings under his breath. He was shivering and twitching at random, yet his eyes remained fixed forwards at some unseen horror.

She didn't say anything. She simply casted the Stamen a disgusted glare.

Zero-Two felt a sudden stab of pain at her chest. She brought a hand over her heart and clutched at the her red piloting suit. Her breathing quickened, a shiver running down her spine at the sensation. This cold fear, she knew it's meaning.

"Get out!" Strelizia's cockpit hissed open, Zero-Two throwing the quivering wreck out of the quasi-lion mech's mouth.

Med-teams intercepted Mitsuru's traumatized body, cushioning him from falling off the gangplank. Putting the unfit Parasite on a stretcher, their attempts to give Zero-Two similar aid was met with the red teeth of the lion headed FranXX, followed immediately with it thrashing against its harness.

The manacles didn't take long to resist as they were built to keep a FranXX in place, not to restrain against one. Strelizia clawed its way out one paw at a time, before sprinting right into the hangar doors, pulverizing it in a shower of debris.

"Hang in there darling!" Zero-Two's frantic cry understated her true desperation.

Plantations always distanced itself at least five kilometers from the mission area; this distance being short enough for when FranXX needed to evacuate or quickly deploy reinforcements. Even as diminished Strelizia's form was, she could make it. If her darling would last until then.

She had long since lost hope for a happy life, ready to die without meaning, or purpose. Just fight until she dies, enjoy the struggle and the rush of battle in that moment. That is, until her darling came into her life.

He was everything she thought would have been: a huge stick in the mud, unyielding, abrasive; and that silly code of honor. She was happy that he was all that, and much more. Most importantly to her that came with all that: he was kind. He cherished her, made her feel wanted. No matter what the Parasites or APE said, she was human to him. Whatever this feeling they shared, she doesn't want to lose it. If this feeling they shared was lost, she might never know how to go forward.

She ran as fast as Strelizia's four limbs could carry her. In her mind's eye, she could see the monsters were so close to her darling, their talons but an arm's length away from tearing him from his mortal coil. She didn't care about the screams or orders from the Plantation for get to stop; it was her darling, nothing they could do or say would stop her.

She hated a lot of things; one of them were those stupid prayers the weaklings perform every morning and every night. The council were just old men, nothing more, nothing less; they can be killed like any other. However; this Emperor person that her darling prays to, would he listen to someone like her?

He better be, because if her darling's devotion to him was that strong, then he would help her give the strength so that she can save her darling. So that they can continue fighting. So that her life finally can have meaning, and that was right next to her darling. It wasn't just for him to make a place where he belonged anymore, it was for her to stay beside him.

The talons scratched plates on her darling's armour. That was it, it was all or nothing, her fury reached her boiling point, and a fire blossomed in her breast as she yelled to herself and her darling.

"Come on! Don't you want to save darling!?" She screamed, pushing her FranXX further.

"Zero...Two...?" It was Casten's voice that filtered into her cockpit.

+Plantation #13 +

Watching through the Plantation's camera feed, the APE command staff seemed to panic. Strelizia was establishing a Para-Sync with the Questor that wasn't even close. Gauges of red and blue flashed and raised before stabilizing.

"Oh! Amazing Strelitzia!" Doctor FranXX exclaimed. "Go! Shine like how you were meant to be!"

Strelitzia floated for a brief moment as Zero-Two began to feel the changes to her body. Strelitzia's quadrupedal body shifted, standing on atop two feet, her legs shifted to become her shoulders, and her head mounted upright on a proper neck.

She was no longer a beast, but a proper Franxx. In her darling's words, the divine shape of humanity; and she can save her darling.

Strelitzia rocketed towards the mines, flying faster than any FranXX squad could ever hope to achieve, leaving a sonic boom in her wake.

+ magma- energy mineshaft +

Like a stone thrown into a lake, Strelizia's dive into the swarm of Klaxosaurs splattered them against the shaft's walls in gruesome fashion, blue blood exploding upwards like a fountain of ichor.

Landing in the small opening made by the sheer force of her landing, Strelizia stabbed her bladed lance down to wrench off the Conrad-Class that had been scrambling halfway into Ave-Rubrum's cockpit. The glowing blade arced wide, shearing off the Klaxosaurs that were too preoccupied attacking the downed Imperial machine to even bother with her.

She saw Ave Rubrum laying on his back, armour chipped, scratched and dented in more places than she cared to count and covered in completely in Klaxosaur blood. Zero-Two felt rage boil her blood at the sight. Strelizia's eyes widened as she cast a baleful gaze over her shoulder.

"You. Hurt. My. Darling." Her grip on her lance tightened.

A flash of her amber lance split ten Conrads. The FranXX pivoted her footing in a pirouette that spun body her like a deadly dance. What should have been one swing, following with another, became a continuous sequence of a physical melody of massacre. Strelitzia's form and mindset was an epiphanic, almost divine balance between tranquility and rage. A toss of her lance jammed several Conrads, a twist of her cable, and with a flick of her wrist, her lance became a living morning star, where it collided with its forsaken biomechanical brethren.

In the midst of Strelizia's rampage, despite her unreal force and tranquil fury, she never strayed far from Ave Rubrum; from her darling.

There was a beauty to her savagery, where every Klaxosaurs snuffed at the end of her lance meant one less threat to her darling. She slashed, she stabbed, and she crushed. This feeling in her body, where she fought not just for herself, but also for darling. Their numbers dwindled away, as one by one and sometimes five by five, her blade carved and painted to an orchestra of combat in blue blood.

Her symphony, came to an end, with a crystal core crushed underfoot by Strelitzia's metallic heel.

"Z...Z..." The Knight's external vox speaker crackled, tinged in white noise and static but still audible.

"Zero-Two?"

Casten's fragile consiousness beheld the face of his rescuer, and he could not help but chuckle at the curiosity of these machines. They were very pleasing to the eye, such sharp and powerful eyes like a noble eagle, her face sharp and the facsimile of 'her' mouth was a sweet shade of red like lipstick. Her painted torso, for lack of a better word, bloomed of womanhood, narrow hips and full breasts; she was the definition of a strong beauty.

Strelizia rushed over to Ave-Rubrum, his head tilted up to her. One of his lenses were cracked and flickering, sparks showered it every once in awhile as the mech's head moved; it seemed exhausted, reflecting the Knight within.

Strelizia straddled the knight's waist; carefully, she leaned down. Casten was alive. She knew he was in pain, but her heart fluttered that he was alive to feel it. Her hands reached out, digging her fingers in to pry open the jammed cockpit hatch before peering inside. He sat motionless on his Throne Mechanicum, grey suit stained a deep crimson and armour plating shredded from the claws of the Conrad that had managed to break partway in.

"Darling!" Strelizia gasped.

It looked like the iron maiden leaned down to kiss the angled faceplate of Ave Rubrum, supporting it with both hands. Her features returned to a blank white and her cock pit opened. Zero-Two climbed out, using Strelizia and Ave Rubrum's heads as a bridge to reach him. Ignoring the wound on her own head.

They had cut him all over, some deeper than others but none vital. The Throne had already disconnected him. The blood dyed his suit almost entirely. He was exhausted by that point, without even the strength to lift his head to look at girl as she practically tore off his helmet, which sported numerous gouges that cut far enough to reach his face and draw wide gashes.

Yet… he smiled. It was his usual weak, thin smile. His eyes were closed, already unconscious but still smiling.

"Idiot darling," she huffed, finding a grin crawling its way onto her features. She leaned down, planting her lips onto his before hauling his arm over her shoulder.

+ Later +

Squad #13, alongside Brigid and her Imperial retinue, gathered at the edge of the shaft, watching as the FranXX and Knight were recovered, cables attached to the mechs below winching up. It was twilight at this point. The two were trapped in the mineshaft for nearly a full day until the APE staff could get a crane powerful enough to haul Strelizia and the much heavier Ave Rubrum up.

"Ave Rubrum saved us all again, huh…" Kokoro sighed.

Futoshi hummed. "I didn't expect him to just jump in after us or for Strelizia to jump in after him."

"I-I'm sorry. That was my bad," Zorome apologized reluctantly.

Miku looked to her partner and sighed. "Don't be stupid. It doesn't matter whose fault it was. We're partners, right?"

Her partner seemed moved to tears. Though Miku seemed to be less enthusiastic about his sobbing.

Goro turned, noticing Ichigo's dark mood. "What's wrong? You weren't acting like yourself."

"Sorry," she feigned a smile to hide her heartache. "I guess I panicked when I heard help wasn't coming."

"They have returned," Brigid suddenly said.

Ave Rubrum came first; some of them were shocked at the state of the Imperial machine. Brigid began to throw a fit at Ave Rubrum's damage, rambling about the processes she would have to go through to repair him. Cleaning the suit and unclogging the joints and vents from Klaxosaur blood and so on.

Then Strelizia rose from the depths next. Her cockpit left open, Zero-Two sat on the open hatch, the young Knight-Scion lay upon her lap with his armour all but removed by the girl. The squad gasped at Casten's condition and wounds, though he seemed alright for the moment; Zero-Two had used his emergency first aid kit within the Knight's armour.

She ran her fingers through his short black hair, teal eyes locked lovingly on his sleeping features. She leaned down and gave him another peck on the forehead.

"Thanks darling," she smiled, uncaring that he couldn't hear her at the moment. She watched the sunset with her darling on her lap, a hand caressing his cheek.