Special thanks to deadzombie and Tech Jammer for BETA and co-authoring.
+ 001 M.42 +
+ Location Unknown +
A flash of light from a viewscreen in the council chamber displayed numerous recordings of FranXX engaging Klaxosaurs in battle, a group of holographic pentagonal bars raising and lowering at the center of the circle of councilors. The chamber bore the same barren dead forest on its view screens behind the APE councillors, that same oppressive white light.
"Klaxosaur activity has increased as of late," Father announced. "Large ones are reportedly showing up everywhere. This is unprecedented."
Another councillor piped up. "The Nines are dealing with with them for now. However, they have their own tasks to accomplish."
A muscular councillor huffed indignantly. "How long will Strelizia fool around?"
Father kept silent at that, waving a hand to bring up a few projections of Strelizia's recent transformation. Fighting to save Ave Rubrum and rising from the depths of the shaft. Another brought up the final events of the day; where Zero-Two was nursing the wounded and exhausted Knight.
The gathered councillors were dumbstruck. Some leaned in to take a closer look; others murmured to their compatriots.
"She established a remote parasite-synchronisation with our Imperial guest," Father nodded. "While he was in his own machine no less."
"That's impossible!" The muscular APE councilor exclaimed.
"Yet t happened; the evidence is before us," the female counselor said. "We should recall her, this might taint her blood."
"Wait," The thin councilor interjected. "This could be an opportunity. Imagine if we could use this technology to double the number of our forces. Plus we all saw the effectiveness of their machine."
"There is more to it than the machine," Father revealed a recording of the young Knight-Scion during his time during the Ritual of Becoming.
The others watched tentatively as the recording played out. Hachi's voiced drone out an explanation detailing the events. "This recording was captured from a hidden camera in chamber. The sound has been muted, the reason will be made obvious."
"As far as we know the 'Throne Mechanicum' works in three stages. The first is physical," He paused the video feed and zoomed in on the back of the Knight's neck, specifically the black umbilical cable attached to the socket behind his head. "The Imperials have Implantation technology called a Mind Impulse Unit."
"When connected to the Throne it starts by firing every nerve in the body. Zelius's… Sacristan," Hachi seemed uncertain for a moment. "Personnel that are responsible for maintenance and care for suits of Knight armour. According to Sacristan Brigid, this starts firing every single nerve in the human body. Causing muscle spasms when random nerves will start firing and intense pain."
The councilors sat in silence, watching the recording of the Knight thrashing in his bonds. After a long moment, he stilled and started speaking to the air. "This is stage two," he continued.
The projections showcased the bonding ritual at its zenith. Zero-Two having already curled up on his lap and comforted the Knight amidst his pain. "The final stage is linking with the armour itself. As you've already seen when he battled the Mohorovic-class Klaxosaur."
Two new hololithic projections appeared before each councilor: One of Ave Rubrum engaging training targets. Another that depicted a multicoloured scan of Casten's brain, taken while he was unconscious and given medical aid. It showed a brain that had a 'normal' state of activity at rest represented on the sensors as branches of light. Bits of metal and fine unnatural fibre that all led to the neural implant highlighted by the X-ray.
"This was taken after his recent actions left him wounded. We took these scans under the pretext of giving him medical aid."
"From what Doctor Franxx has told us, each Knight armour has an 'Anima', an almost fully aware consciousness in the machines. According to the Imperials Knights, they were made to be guardians and protectors of human colonies throughout space in hazardous environments. To prevent a Knight from turning against the people it's supposed to protect, the original inventors built a failsafe that affect the pilot's brain chemistry."
One of the councilors made a sound akin to one clearing his throat. "So not unlike some of our technology."
Hachi's voice hummed in agreement. "Yes. It increases aggression in combat as well as strategic thinking but it also ties the pilot to a house and people. As you know this particular one has none of those, but Doctor Franxx has confirmed he has some emotional investment in Zero-Two. Please observe."
Another image window appeared next to to the X-ray scans. It was the medical ward that Casten was resting in, his head still in the diagnostic scanner ring, the door hissing open. Zero-Two stood at the door frame and walked to sit at his bedside. Casten's brain immediately lit up with activity, flaring and rousing him from his slumber. The readings indicated a elevated levels of certain chemicals in her neural chemistry.
The moment Zero-Two approached, his brain scans showed a massive increase in Glutamate Dopamine, Oxytocin… a host of chemicals associated with the human emotions of love, relief… even small traces of those present in parental care of young.
"Doctor Franxx, in a recent test, has confirmed that Zero-Two has been showing odd results in her more recent tests. Almost exactly the same symptoms as the off-worlder," Hachi finished.
The female councilor gasped. "He's in a constant para-sync with Zero-Two yet not suffering from the effects of her past Stamen!?"
Father nodded, though he needn't have done so. "So it would seem."
She lost all composure at that point. "He has tainted her! We must separate them at once!"
"With respect," Hachi interrupted. "The only way to do that is by force; he's shown to be protective of Zero-Two to an unnatural degree. Even if she goes willingly, he will defend her and knowing her, she would be persuaded to stay."
"The Imperials aren't fools. They sent what they call a 'Freeblade Knight'. To them he's more or less a very valuable mercenary. A political tool as well as a warrior. They would lose relatively little if we killed him since he has no 'House'. But..." Hachi trailed off.
The thin man gave a hum in understanding. "If something happens and he dies, then our spaceborne friends would have a pretext to attack, at the very least this will sour relations and rob us of a golden opportunity."
He continued. "Well, Plantation #13 corps is an experimental squad after all. Perhaps we could have Nana open a dialog? We may stand to gain if we stay in his good graces for when he inevitably reports on us."
A sudden murmured cacophony opened up between them as they voiced agreement or disagreement. Some loudly other softly, in rage or calmness, all a mess.
"Enough," Father's holographic projection rose to stand on the air, his voice bringing the discourse to an end. "I approve of continued study. Let us learn more of this… Freeblade; this council is adjourned."
+ Plantation #13: Squad #13 Barracks +
+ Medical wing +
"I-It's the face… the face of a demon," Mitsuru muttered and rambled on and on. "No! No! Please-!"
Futoshi gave the canopy bed an unnerved glance, picking up the tray of food left completely untouched. As he strode past, the overweight boy leaned down to check on Mitsuru. His condition hadn't changed; the boy shivering and babbling his stream of unintelligible recounts of some horror that nobody could understand.
He stepped out into corridor, to the rest of his squad that gathered there. They wore grim expressions, wracked with worry.
"How is he?" Ichigo, his squad's leader said.
"He hasn't touched any of his food," Futoshi said, looking over his shoulder at the bed. "Maybe I should eat it so it doesn't go to waste," he looked down at the food on the tray.
Zorome peeked over the door frame. "He's been like that ever since we got back."
The telltale sound of heavy boots, thumped at the wooden floor. Casten approached; he appeared almost like a muscular mummified corpse from old myths, wrapped in bandages all over his body under his form-fitting black shirt and grey pants.
He observed with an impassive sweep of his head before folding his hands over his chest in the sign of the Aquila.
"Greetings," he finally murmured, voice muffled by the bandages wrapped around his lower face.
His head turned to the medical wing that he had recently been released from. "No change?"
Zorome sneered. "No thanks to you!"
Ichigo said nothing. Though the blue-haired girl did give him the usual scornful glare.
Casten gave the diminutive eyesores an icy glare in retort but closed his eyes a moment later. Scorn would earn him no allies; the Stamen was right, in a way. He relaxed his rising ire and took a deep breath to calm himself.
"I did not consciously cause his plight. I had no way of knowing that the MIU link had established a… connection to Zero-Two. My apologies," he dipped his head and raised an open hand, staring at his palm as if he could see the bond that bound the girl and himself.
The others seemed to believe him. Though he wasn't paying attention.
Though he didn't smile, his mind drifted to a myth from pre-Imperium ancient Terra. Something about a red string that bound those fated to one another. Casten would have found such superstition was humorous if it didn't remind him of her absence. It left a hole… to put it plainly, he missed her.
"I shall… speak to him," he suggested. "Perhaps I will understand his plight."
Kokoro, Goro and Ikuno seemed relieved, or at least appreciated the sentiment, flashing him smiles or small nods. He nodded back, straining a smile to hide his longing. Casten was alarmed, even as he took the slow steps towards the bed. He hadn't expected such a strong desire for a specific person's company before.
He stared into the opening of the bed's canopy; at the fetal shaking form that sat huddled in the darkness, bandaged from electrical burns. "Mitsuru."
The Knight's voice was kept low, reminding himself that this boy was not a proud citizen of the Imperium. He had not seen the horrors of the great foes of mankind or known the comfort of the Emperor's light. He took another cautious step towards the blinds separating him and the boy; maintaining a relaxed but steadfast composure.
The Stamen released a whispered mumble. "Shut up already! I can- I can still hear it! Loud sounds of guns everywhere and everything; I can hear them laughing! They can't be real! My head hurts remembering! The Astra Militarum were overrun-… Wait... what's that? No... no, I wasn't there!"
Casten's eyes widened. Was he hearing the boy right? He didn't remember mentioning the names of any other Imperial forces. He tried again.
"Mitsuru," He called once again, parting one of the curtains. "Mitsuru by the Golden Throne what's wrong with you? What happened?" Frustration and uncertainty leaked into his voice now.
"Wh- what… happened?" Mitsuru's dark green eyes rolled up to meet Casten's navy-blue.
The Knight saw madness in those eyes, not unreasoned madness, a mad panic like he had been fleeing from some unseen horror. He was reminded of those Imperial Guard or citizens that had been broken by war. Mitsuru's whispers of fields and the High-Gothic he somehow learned… Casten understood immediately.
"You saw," the Knight's statement of the obvious seemed to spur Mitsuru into action.
He lurched forwards and grabbed the round fabric around Casten's collar, pulling himself until their faces were just inches apart. "The mask! That iron skull mask! Demons! There were Demons! How-h-how... do you fight that…?"
"Calm yourself, fear is not failure. Failure is to falter in that fear." He grabbed Mitsuru's wrists.
He gripped the fabric of his collar even tighter. "H-how… are you still standing...fighting? When you know what's out there!"
"Mitsuru!" Kokoro cried.
"Calm down!" Handing over the tray to Zorome and started rushing over.
"That THING you call your armour cut my hand off! It'll kill you if you show even a little weakness!" He cried. "You're insane to trust that thing! Both you and that girl are both insane!"
Casten's features remained an unreadable blank slate. He stared into the boy's eyes with an impassive gaze, even as Futoshi moved to restrain him. Mitsuru began sobbing now, head hung low, heavy on his shoulders.
"Just lie down man…" Futoshi sighed, setting the boy onto his back.
"What was that?" Ichigo asked.
All eyes were on him. Casten's however, remained on the wooden floor. He seemed lost in thought, processing what little he could make of the Parasite's ramblings. He had seen Avalus fall. The Mechanicum often cautioned of the Anima of particularly ancient Knight armours or Titans. The Princeps often receiving vision of past wars and memories not their own, filled with the machine's will.
Zorome's shout snapped him from his stupor. "Hey! space guy!"
The Freeblade Knight finally looked up at Ichigo. "My Throne carried my memories. Due to the para-sync, he must have seen it..."
"It?" Kokoro seemed afraid when she asked, a quiver in her voice.
He gave her a long distant stare. The gentle girl seemed unnerved. Had she asked something wrong or offensive? Should she apologise? She need not have worried, Casten was merely deliberating how he should tell her in a way that wouldn't make her end up like Mitsuru. The Knight would deny, if asked, that he wanted to protect the gentle Kokoro from the truth, though he knew he was.
"The foes of mankind are horrible and innumerable in equal. During the brief link to my Implant and Throne they must have seen the death of Avalus, my home," he gestured to the unconscious Mitsuru."What he saw is what we Imperial Knights are trying to protect you, and all humans of this world, from."
Casten's expression shifted to that of pain, of anguish. The children had only seen him as a cold callous person or blood boiling repressed anger.. This new side of him was something they had never seen before. He continued speaking, unconcerned or perhaps simply too embroiled in emotion to notice.
"What happened to Avalus will happen to this world," he looked over each of them.
"It may not be today, tomorrow or the next century… if you're lucky. But Avalus was a whole planet of Knights clad in armour like mine, scores of tanks and millions of Imperial Guard and House Guards…" He trailed off for a moment, eyes unfocused for a moment before he snapped back to attention.
"It didn't save us, and you are fools if you think your FranXX will save you. I cannot guarantee my actions will, but we want to prepare you as best we can under Imperial protection. May the Emperor protect you..."
Casten sighed. He was at the age of seventeen, barely considered eligible for Imperial Guard recruitment but inside already seeming like he was tired. Too tired to deal with this, too old, like a heretical spell that accelerated his mind's age had been cast on him. Dragging a hand over his bandaged forehead and rubbing his eyes, Casten let his stance relax.
"I apologise again. He was not prepared for the truths I had been raised with; none of you are. I hope you will be soon. For now I'll take my leave." He made another curt bow and turned to leave, again disappearing until alarm klaxons or vox messages called him to action.
Casten sighed, rising from his seat on the log at the lakeside. He seemed to go back to that lake often now, where he first met Zero-Two. The sight of the misty water calmed him, remind him of her when she wasn't around. The feeling of longing weighed heavily on him. Why? This feeling… it felt foreign, like it didn't belong to him. He couldn't help it; for some reason, even now, thinking such doubts stirred a nagging voice in his mind. A voice that told him he was committing some sort of heresy just by thinking them. His thoughts were interrupted by a soft burst of static from the vox bead in his ear.
"Freeblade Zelius, your presence is requested by Nana and Hachi at lift A-4," it chimed.
Casten reached up and pushed the button down. "Understood, I will be present shortly."
+Plantation #13 +
The doors opened to Nana, Hachi and Zero-Two, the latter leaning on the railing beside the tall windows of the metal box. Casten gave her a wave and a weak smile, though she seemed to ignore him after giving him a cold glance. That bothered him more than if anyone else did the same. The other two nodded when the Knight raised his hands in the sign of the Aquila.
Nonetheless, he made his way to Zero-Two's side and placed both hands on the railing. He stared out at the dead city below just as she did over her shoulder as the doors slid closed. Nana cleared her throat to get their attention; though if they heard her, they didn't bother looking in her general direction past a dismissive glance from Casten whose gaze quickly returned to the city below.
"Yes, Klaxosaurs need to be eliminated," she began. "But that doesn't give you two free reign."
"Freeblade, this is still our planet and that was our facility. The way you went in and the fighting heavily damaged it." Nana's admonishment wasn't lost on him.
"You both didn't need to use that much power on Conrad-class Klaxosaurs. We almost lost Mitsuru," she paused for a moment when she saw no visible reaction from the two.
Placing her hands on her hips, Nana's irritation was growing by the second. "Are you both listening to me?"
Casten actually did nod to her, though Zero-Two's response was more callous. "I wanna leave. I feel like I'm gonna suffocate in here."
Nana leaned forwards, a scowl on her features. "Why, you little-"
"As long as I have my darling. I don't care about this place. The rest are sure to die soon, anyway." She turned to Casten. He felt a tug; her expression told him she was making a point of something.
He did turn his head to face the girl then. He seemed confused for a moment; should he chastise her for the callous disregard of human life? No. These weren't Imperial lives and he had no say dictating how much they should value lives, so far no one listened to him anyways. Instead Casten raised a curious eyebrow.
"Zero-Two," Nana began again. "Those kids are your fellow FranXX pilots, even if you belong to different units."
The girl in question scoffed. "Fellow pilots? Are you serious? Those weaklings are only a nuisance, no matter how many there are."
Casten fixed Zero-Two a knowing stare. She was right, the Knight knew it to be so. Though he would have worded it differently, with respect to his position as an ad hoc diplomat and envoy. At least she had stated what was on his mind, the squad of Plantation #13 was wholly and utterly unprepared for action of any form against the foes of mankind. They were indeed, regrettably…weaklings.
"They may be an irregular squad, but they're all carefully chosen for their high aptitude." Hachi, who had been silent since his entry, now spoke.
She scoffed again. "Really? Those guys?"
"You only feel that way because you are special." He said.
Zero-Two's features shifted into a scowl. Immediately Casten felt an intense heat within his chest, burning like an ember dropped into his heart.
"Are you talking about how I'm not human?" Her scorned gaze locked on Hachi.
"I'm talking about your abilities and-"
"Be silent." A stern, if muffled, voice interrupted him.
Hachi and Nana blinked at the Knight, they should have expected him to come to Zero-Two's defense. Though instead of barbed threats of violence he gave something else. His fury was tempered by logic and his navy-blue eyes were filled with not spontaneous contempt, but disappointment.
"You drivel as if I am not within the same room. She has bled to save your unworthy lives, at the very least be grateful. Besides that, Zero-Two speaks truth about the children, as they are now at least."
He turned fully to Hachi and Nana, stepping beside Zero-Two. His posture was tense, gaze hard, even with one side of his face wrapped in bandages. He wasn't scowling at them per se, but rather, he was simply staring into them as if to look right through their characters. It seemed to be working.
"I apologize for my hastiness, but I will not apologize for rescuing your Parasites, the Emperor abhors wasting his valued warriors. My actions were my own and my thanks lies with Zero-Two for saving me."
Casten was met with silence, simply lacking a response for the blunt fact.
The doors hissed open to the Operations Control Center deck. Hachi was first to enter, Casten followed, then the two women behind him. Brigid was waiting at the sealed door, her metal knuckles interlocking to form the sign of devotion to the Cog Mechanicum. Casten returned the gesture, though his was a single wing of the Aquila crossed with one side of the Cog.
The dark chamber was completely empty of the usual APE personnel that staffed it, instead Brigid's servitors had data cogitators and manipulator arms tipped in interface ports on numerous consoles. They keyed the codes and channeled frequencies, performing the myriad rites and cants of complex tasks and constant adjustments needed for seamless communication with the Faber Ferracius in orbit.
After a burst of static on the pict screens, the visuals of High Queen Artra and Shipmaster Zetros flared to life. Artra seemed to be in slight shock at his state of injury, though glad Casten was alive all the same. Zetros on the other hand focused on Sacristan Brigid. No visible change in their facial expression could be discerned; yet Casten knew that they were transmitting streams of code in the binary blips of the wordless Lingua Technis language of Mars.
Casten did not kneel this time, merely forming the sign of the Aquila to Artra, as she was no longer his queen. To the shipmaster he made the sign of the Cog Mechanicus and a respectable bow.
Nana and Hachi made their own curt bows. For her part, Zero-Two merely looked on with mild interest. Though the girl did cast the blonde queen a wary glance.
"How did this happen to you?" Artra asked.
His reply was that of dry humour. "The local Xenos species are quite the hospitable hosts."
The woman gave a smirk at that. "Always getting into trouble, little brother?"
Shipmaster Zetros cut in; he was in no mood for pleasantries. "I believe you have a report on the locals to make."
Casten nodded. "Indeed, there is much of concern." his grim expression leaked through even with most of his face bandaged.
+Later+
Four hours of talk, detailing the local conditions, what he learned of the FranXX and Xenos, organisational structure, Plantations and so on. The enemies he faced, his own skirmishes against the Mohorovic and Conrad-Class Klaxosaurs and the means to defeat them.
Four hours that left Casten throat sore. He wasn't used to so much talking, doubly so as he was still recovering. He wondered how the houses more concerned with the Courts ever manage to find such discussions for days on end. How did preachers make speeches in broad tones to the the masses, using the power of their voice to stir them into fanatic fervour?
"There's something else," Casten said, reaching up to pinch his aching throat.
He gestured to Zero-Two. "This is Zero-Two. I am her… darling."
She stepped forwards beside the Knight-Scion, her expression unreadable. Though she said nothing and made no gesture of respect.
Artra's eyes widened in a cocktail of shock, disbelief and curiosity. The shipmaster's expression was, as ever, unreadable behind his metal mask and cables, though he did mutter something about 'biologicals'
The High Queen looked amused and irritated at the same time. "I assume you do not mention this as a wedding invitation, Freeblade?"
"No." Casten shook his head, forcing down an embarrassed blush and keeping his features as grim as he could manage.
Zero-Two's cheshire grin wasn't lost on him. It took a good deal of self-control to repress the urge to face her.
"There has been a development between us, beyond romance… she's been in my mind, dear sister. She's seen Avalus burn."
The silence was palpable. Brigid chipped in on her Knight's behalf. "He speaks truth. The locals found fluctuating signals between Ave Rubrum and Strelizia when they were both active… it appears that the Ritual of Becoming has shifted its anchor from house to charge, but I will require a Magos Biologis to confirm this."
"What did you see? How did it feel?" The usually silent Shipmaster surprised Casten for a moment.
He paused in thought for a long moment. "I feel like I do when joined with Ave Rubrum, only all the time. When she feels anger I feel heat and disdain at what is the cause of her ire."
He closed his eyes, as if feeling the unseen thread that bound them. "When she isn't with me, I feel the perpetual strain of separation as if I had just separated from Ave Rubrum. I feel her presence somewhere, when she's in danger… I know where she is, Shipmaster. I need to know, by the Golden Throne… what is this?"
"Communion… by the Omnissiah you have performed communion!" Zetros's electronic voice sounded surprised; the first hint of emotion Casten had heard from the ancient Shipmaster.
The Knight raised an eyebrow. Unseen by the other occupants, Nana reached into her pocket to tap the recording function of her handheld communication device. This was something doctor Franxx and the APE council would want to hear. Zero-Two on the other hand was simply… bored. The girl had taken to spinning on one of the vacant chairs.
"Communion, Freeblade, is used by the Legio of the Collegia Titanica. It links the Princeps of all God-Machines remotely. They feel the pain of losing one of their number and the hate of their machines, but also achieve greater feats of coordination by the sharing of thoughts and emotions."
Casten nodded. "Is it unheard of for this to occur with Knights?"
"To my knowledge, yes. This is a strange step in the quest for knowledge. I will send for a Magos Biologis to examine you," Zetros nodded his hooded, cable ridden head.
"That concludes this report." Casten bowed, forming the sign of the Aquila.
Casten dipped his head in thanks. He caught Zero-Two staring at him; he stared back. He felt an unease in her gaze, navy-blue to teal. He felt a rumble in the pit of his stomach, like a storm within both of them. He felt dark clouds in her as well; he wanted to calm her, to reassure her… but how could a storm calm another one?
The pict screen blinked black once more, the connection now cut.
Her sidelong gaze was cold. The storm ceased to be; it was now a blizzard in his soul. Zero-Two's icy reception was… distressing. It was as if he was no longer welcome to her.
Casten reached out to her. "Zero-Two-"
She turned on her heel and walked away, pushing her flowing pink hair back. Nana and Hachi looked on in a thinly veiled shock. Staring at him as if to gauge his response; though they quickly turned to leave when Casten gave them a hard glare.
The Knight found his hand had already closed around the grip of his Hecate-pattern chainsword, already responding to his habitual source of relief when stressed. It looked to be another day of hard training ahead to clear his mind.
+ Meanwhile +
+ Squad #13 Barracks +
The parasites of Plantation 13 lounged around in the lounge room, waiting for Nana to give them them the word on their activities. Like always, when they had nothing better to do, they made small talk on whatever the could to escape boredom in their own way.
The silence prevailed, broken only by the sound of Futoshi's eating. Then Zorome suddenly decided to talk about the first thing that crossed his mind. They were waiting for Nana to get back from her debriefing on Casten's report to his superiors. Of course the Imperial would be the first thing on his mind.
"So what do you guys think the space man doing now?
"I mean, what do you think he's gonna say about us? I betcha he's huffing and puffing over there, like he's the boss of us. What a pain." Zorome, ever the most vocal of their little group, was the most obvious in his unwelcoming stance toward their Imperial guest.
Futoshi nodded with some degree of agreement. He took a bite out of the pastry in his hand. Even if he didn't really have any real negative feelings for Casten, the teen had little good to say about the perpetually scowling young man.
"Well I guess you're right about that, he's not exactly a friendly sort of guy." He bit into the pastry once more contemplating his next opinion. "I mean, I didn't get yelled at like you did-" Zorome frowned at the memory, "-but if Father is ok with it, what can we do?"
Miku's displeasure for the Knight-Scion was something that even she could agree with Zorome, him and the bizarre horned parasite; and they hardly agreed on anything.
"Why is he here anyway? I mean, why stick around here if he's just gonna be a jerk to us?"
"I'm not so sure about that." Miku turned to Goro, his own thoughts and experience speaking in the Knight's defence. "He doesn't come off as someone who wants to get on anyone's bad side, I honestly think he wants to get to know us."
The tall parasite snuck a quick glance at his partner; sure enough, he could feel the scathing glare of disapproval. He continued before anyone could catch the silent exchange with his leader and partner.
"It was short, so don't get the wrong idea, but I have a feeling that he's just... lonely."
The conversation seemed to die there. Most didn't know enough to say otherwise. While the Knight-Scion had all but made one attempt at camaraderie with Goro, everyone had their own piece about the extraterrestrial visitor. Most of them could all agree that they thought of the loud, violent and overbearing Imperial being hurt by loneliness was just ridiculous.
Almost everyone treaded carefully wherever he stepped, his presence unwelcoming, as unapproachable as his attitude; such candour would drive anyone away yet, he and the equally enigmatic Zero-Two seemed to click despite such differing personalities, and only invited their caution. Kokoro did not see such things however.
"When you think about it, it makes sense." her soft response was not rebutted as extreme in everyone's reaction as Kokoro was nice to everyone; they just thought even she would find him off putting.
Ichigo however had enough of where this conversation was going.
"Lonely or not, doesn't matter in the end. We are us, and he is himself," the leader of Squad 13 blinked at the sharpness of her inclusion about the Knight, that stunned them that it almost scared them.
Goro frowned and tried to tell her that she is making a mistake, to not let what she has to say be compromised by her emotions through the creasing of his brows. Ichigo summarily ignored him.
"Father entrusted us to make sure that we can protect everyone in Plantation 13." She turned to face her fellow pilots, her fellow Parasites "We are the ones who will protect everyone here, not some outsider and his clunker excuse for a FranXX."
Miku raised her hand "But he did save us twice, so doesn't that say something?" a cold glare from her leader retracted her hand and her question.
Ichigo didn't allow her judgement to be questioned; they won't fail in their duties, Hiro and Naomi's departure will not be in vain. As the appointed leader, she will get them through this and prove to everyone just what Squad 13 -Ave Rubrum not included- was made of.
"I'm sure everyone here may have a bone to pick with Casten, but remember he is only a guest, and that means we are the ones with any authority." Ichigo could feel her confidence spiking as the burning fire in her was being fed and growing "We'll do our part the next time we deploy, we'll show Father and everyone that we could be relied on and not on some outsider."
Ichigo started to pace around the lounge chairs, making sure that everyone had eyes on her. "Hiro and Naomi aren't with us, and I am sure that everyone here misses them, now that they had to replace by someone worse than them."
The statement was not something they would actually agree with; some had their own thoughts and feelings about Hiro and Naomi. Some more painful than others, but if they had to be honest, if it was a choice between Zero-Two and Casten with their long gone friends, it was an easy choice who they would rather have.
Ichigo had them right where she wanted them, she spurred their sympathy by comparing them to Hiro and Naomi, all whist also raising their spirits in being the chosen children to protect mankind. Now for the clincher.
She rested a hand on the still gloom Ikuno, and she smiled "Don't worry Ikuno, you'll do fine in the next battle."
The otherwise quiet girl despite her seemingly aloof nature couldn't help but smile at the support.
Goro, unnoticed by everyone frowned, in disapproval at her pep talk. While he could feel the sincerity of her spirit to be a leader and instill courage to the Squad, he could see right through the hurt, the anger, and the frustration that laced behind her speech with an underlying goal in mind. Getting everyone on her side while pushing Casten as far as possible.
The feel of defeat dug deep, knowing that nothing he could say at the moment would deter her from this course, lest he weaken her image as leader. He just hoped that the consequences could be avoided before anything irreparable happens.
+ Squad #13 Barracks: Bath +
Casten settled into the bath with a sigh of relief, letting the water calm his worries… it was admittedly a poor one. The Knight closed his eyes and slid down into the water, elbows braced against the edge of the tub, which was more of a small pool. The bathing room was more fit for ten than the measly four people in Squad #13 that would be bathing at any one time, though he supposed their positions afforded them some measure of luxury.
"Small bribes for the sheep to march into the slaughter, huh?" He sighed.
The Knight leaned his head back, trying to focus on the water and relax his strained muscles. There was slight pain when the hot water touched the still healing open cuts.
Then he felt her, and opened his eyes.
Zero-Two stood over him, hands at her hips. Though she was smiling, it didn't serve much to ease the tension he felt. He tried to smile in greeting as best he could; it was not convincing, though if that bothered the girl, it didn't show.
Still fully clothed, the girl calmly plunged a boot into the water, then another. Casten didn't move, but he did sit up slightly, eyes locked on her. She spun in the water to face him and leaned down. The Knight was pushed back when she wrapped her arms around his torso. Her elbows bent as she leaned in, looking up into her darling's dark blue eyes.
The Knight's composure did not falter. At this point he had resigned himself to accepting the oddity that was Zero-Two behaviour. Though this one seemed distant, inside he felt a hollow longing and… doubt. He understood now, why she had been so distant of late.
"You doubt me," a statement of fact. His stony facade faltering, shifting into a look of bitter disappointment.
She didn't answer him. "Hey darling. Run away with me."
Zero-Twos fingers traced his wet skin, snaking up to his jaw before holding it in a firm grip. "As long as you're with me, nothing else matters." Each word, each breath was hot against Casten's skin as she leaned closer to his face.
The demand raised an eyebrow. He felt unsure how to respond to that. Run away? The thought brought the bitter taste of bile to his tongue and the memories… The memories of how just shy of two months ago he had fled, helpless before the traitors. He did not want to flee again, never again.
Zero-Two felt it too. The unease filling her darling's heart the moment she said those words...and her own was filled with dread. Her head dipped down, red horns deliberately pushed closer to the Knight-Scion's eyes. Long hair cast a shadow over her features.
"Or… are you just like everyone else?" She raised her face to meet her darling and stared him down with icy contempt . "Do you think I'm a monster too?"
The Knight didn't answer her with words. Instead he brought up both hands to cup her face in mimicry of what she was doing, then leaned in. There was silence for a long moment after, save for the light smacks of skin against skin and the splash of steaming hot water. In that moment the doubt and tension between the two dissolved.
"I would run if there was anywhere to go with you," Casten breathed upon their separating.
"But there is nowhere to run. At every turn there is darkness except in the light that is service to the Master of Mankind. So… Zero-Two, run no longer. Fight, fight with me against all that is Xeno and heresy. Fight so that we may build that place we belong in his light. Fight so that those who dare refute your humanity are silenced, together." He pressed his forehead against hers, uncaring of the horns on her head that dug into his skin.
Alarm Klaxons screamed, filling the air suddenly and violently. A voice called from the speakers above. "We've detected one worm-type Klaxosaur. It's reacting to the energy emitted by the mobile kissing setup. Squad #13, prepare for immediate sortie."
Casten looked to her, his eye determined. "War calls us. Will you run? I will request transport for you to Faber Ferracius in orbit; regardless of what your high command says."
"You're staying," she knew he would. Her darling was brave, more than that he felt he had a duty to act if he was present… as if to prove himself to some unseen judge.
The Knight nodded, she felt a wave of nausea in the pit of her stomach. Her darling was nervous again, he was… scared. Scared that she would be unhappy with his decision. He needn't have been. A grin bloomed on her face; he gave her a grateful smile in return.
+ Squad #13 Barracks +
Mitsuru strained to stand. The burns from the electrocution suffered from the FranXX rejecting him burned as if he just received them. Even worse, the nerve damage he suffered had only recently been repaired, even attempting to stand is excruciating.
"Shit!" They boy cursed. "I can… I can!" focusing his mind trying to convince his aching body.
"Can you move?" Ikuno asked, her face an emotionless mask.
He fell back onto the bed as he tried stand. Even so, he didn't ask for her help. "This…is nothing,"
The girl knew well enough of her partner's disposition, displaying no outward signs of worry that he would perceive as pity. "Grab onto me."
"I don't need to." The Stamen hissed, powering through the pain.
To his credit he did manage to stand and even take a few, steps. Even if his back was hunched over, gait unsteady and agonizingly slow. He wasn't fooling anyone, even some part of himself knew that. Yet, he took a few more steps… and fell forwards. Almost.
Ikuno caught her partner and sighed. "You awkward boy." Mitsuru remained silent as she supported him.
+ Later +
+Plantation #13 Operations Control Center +
Casten and Zero Two approached the pict screen and Nana. The Knight-Scion walked with an eerie calmness, each step a heavy thud and clatter of armour plates. In stark contrast to him, Zero-Two's steps were light; she even made occasional hops despite her high heels, almost jovial. Though this was refuted, both showed no outward joy; the former's features a grim line and the latter bored stare.
Nana glanced over her shoulder at the pair that had caused her no end of headaches. "Changing into your suits won't help. We're not deploying Strelizia and Ave Rubrum while we're unsure of the medical risks involved."
The Knight crossed his arms, gauntlets clanking as the metal met. "You say that as if we even need your permission. Last I checked you had not made your garage doors Knight proof."
Zero-Two's cheeks puffed out, looking at her darling. A hand hovering over her lips as if to hide her very obvious laughter. Casten allowed himself a lopsided grin in return, his dull humour often came out without him realizing it now. It was childish to laugh, yet he felt for the first time in a long time that it was alright to do so.
Still grinning, words came out in barely controlled laughs. "I'll respect your wishes. We'll remain here until the Emperor deems it necessary for me to enter the fray."
Casten's grin died when he noticed Nana's incredulous expression staring at him. "Is there something on my face?"
"I've…" Nana murmured. "I've just never seen you laugh is all."
She turned back, deliberately ignoring the seething glare Zero-Two was sending her. All three looked up at the screen.
+ Outside +
Four FranXX accelerated forwards, flying just a few feet over the ground. Wake turbulence from the thrusters built into their skirts and legs kicking up quartet clouds of sand behind them.
"We'll hold it here!" Delphinium ordered.
The four FranXX split up into different directions, multiple different windows tracking each one of the unit members. Delphinium boosted towards the worm, its form vague inside the the massive cloud of sand it kicked up with every slither of its body. Delphinium squinted though that did nothing to help, only the blue bioluminescent glow from its mouth was visible at this range.
"No telling what this one can do! Follow the plan!" Delphinium called.
Pointing the thrusters backwards, she skimmed backwards in the air. Tracks of sand followed in her wake as she zigzagged backwards. Ichigo's inward smile was displayed upon Delphinium's face when the worm follower her move-for-move.
The white and sky-blue FranXX stared into the maw of the Klaxosaur. It resembled a trio of massive metal tunnel bore drills. There was no way she, a FranXX, would last against those grinding teeth; each one of the massive drills were as large as Delphinium herself.
"It's taken the bait, get ready." She ordered.
Skimming backwards, Delphinium continued on, casting glances backwards to see where she was going. There. The rock formation the squad had passed on the way towards the Klaxosaur earlier. The worm didn't seem to care in its single minded quest to hunt the prey before it. The monster was blind to the fact that it was being corralled.
"That's right, keep going…" She whispered to herself, goading the monster to keep following her.
"Now!" Delphinium yelled the moment the rocky walls of chasm opened up to blinding daylight.
At both sides, Genista and Chlorophytum fired their thrusters at full burn, right into the klaxosaur. The worm let loose a biomechanical shriek as its momentum was stalled by the two FranXX on its sides.
The shriek turned into an enraged roar when Argentea leaped onto the worm's body and sank both of her magma claws into it. The monster reared up in an attempt to shake the human machines off. A perfect opening for Delphinium to turn and leap up, stabbing deep with both of her blades.
"Together! One, Two…!" Delphinium counted down.
Muffled thuds exploded from the arm mounted cannons of each FranXX of Squad #13 that punctuated by showers of shell casings and shockwaves. After a moment of violent spasms from the concussion and a pained groan of stressed metal, it fell to the desert sand. It seemed dead, though the parasites knew better.
"Did we get it?" Ikuno asked.
Her partner shook his head inside Chlorophytum's cockpit. "No, the shots didn't penetrate far enough. We probably missed the core."
"We can't kill it until we find the core." Argentea began.
"Stop your frivolity and kill it." Casten's deep voice rumbled through the coms.
Argentea visibly winced from the scolding. Though at the very least he wasn't yelling at them anymore. Besides that, he was right, they were wasting time by stating the obvious. "Alright, let's get-"
She had committed another mistake, she wasn't paying attention to their surroundings. From within the still settling dust cloud kicked up by the worm's fall a four taloned claw reached out and grabbed the pink FranXX. She cried out in alarm as she was lifted from the ground.
The squad looked on in shock. "There was another one!?"
"We have to help them!" Genista yelled as Chlorophytum rushed forwards to free their squadmate.
The worm reared up to expose its underside. A pair of holes on each segment of its body pointed at the FranXX on the ground. Diamond shaped projectiles fired from them, gasping in alarm when the black shapes struck the ground close to them knocking them off-balance. Before they could get up the diamonds snapped open, metal spikes expanding from their mass and pinning the FranXX in place.
The talons of the claws bared down on its struggling prey. Argentea grunted in pain as the teeth slowly dug into her skin, barely managing to stop the claw from crushing her in its grasp, sparks flying as metal clashed against metal.
"Damn!" Delphinium cursed.
The spikes hadn't pinned her as badly as the others, allowing her to shoulder it off and make for Argentea. "Just hold on a little!"
She had barely taken two steps before the earth began to shake and churn beneath her feet, stumbling on the shifting whirlpool of sand. Slowly, she felt herself rise from the ground, the burning pain bloomed all over Ichigo's skin. Delphinium was ground against one of the massive worm's drill teeth when it burst from ground amidst a cascade of granulated earth. Genista and Chlorophytum
Delphinium opened her mouth, and screamed.
+ Plantation #13: Briefing room +
Zero-Two leaned back, folding her arms behind her head. Watching the events unfold, Casten's expression remained unreadable. She knew well enough how he was feeling and knew that he couldn't afford to show any more disrespect to the locals. Irritation scratched at his heart, the urge to walk Ave Rubrum into war; the desire to fight alongside Strelizia. Her darling had his arms crossed, as if to seal his protests into his chest.
She closed an eye, casting a sidelong glance at the woman. "See? We should be getting in there too, don't you think?"
"Out of the question." Nana spat back.
Zero-Two raised her head and placed both her hands at her hips. Casten followed her gaze, locking onto the Pict Recorder that she was staring into. He raised an eyebrow; he hadn't even realized they were being watched, though he should have expected it. He took an experimental step backwards.
Sure enough, the Pict Recorder slowly turned to keep them all within its view.
"You're watching, aren't you doctor?" Zero-Two suddenly said.
The Knight-Scion gave the device a stare. It seemed the doctor wasn't going give them her an answer. Her stare remained impassive even as she raised both her arms in an exaggerated shrug.
"If you're so curious about what that Communion thing does to us. Why don't you watch us while its working?" She closed her eyes before glaring back at the camera. "Let me go with my darling."
Nana's handheld dataslate device beeped twice, though Casten couldn't read the runes on its surface Nana's expression made the message obvious. She turned towards the two, features shifting back to an unreadable neutral.
"Both of you are to start up your machines at the same time for us to record the para-capacity and submit to a full medical test when you get back."
Casten nodded, feeling a wave of displeasure from Zero-Two at those words. Apparently she didn't like what those medical tests entailed. The knight held his helmet under his left and and reached out to take Zero-Two's hand.
She leaned down, staring up at the Knight with an expecting look. "Want to ride with me darling?"
His nod was met with a turned head, hand around her ear and a smug expression gracing her features. She wanted to hear his response in words.
"I-...Yes, I want to ride with you." He mumbled.
"I can't hear you~" Zero-Two sang, her eyes closed and she leaned in closer.
Casten sighed and took a deep breath. Emperor curse his weakness to her! "I want to ride with you!"
+ Plantation #13: Operations Control Center +
"Sarcristan Brigid, is it ready?"Nana asked.
"The data-pack has been sent to you, you should be tracking Casten's neural activity now." Brigid replied.
"Received," one of the APE staff called. "Tracking now."
The doctor had made his way into the OCC, staring at the screens. Various monitors on the large view screens. One from within Strelizia's cockpit, Zero-Two leaned into position, one watching Casten as he leaned back on his Throne Mechanicum and a final one that tracked their para-capacity, radial meters tracking their numbers.
"You youngins are free to connect whenever." Franxx said, tapping on the transmitter, his eyes remained fixed on their projected images.
+Plantation #13: FranXX Garage +
Casten shifted uncomfortably on his throne. He was being watched; that was unsettling. The Emperor was usually the only witness he needed, but… he did agree to this.
"Darling?" Zero-Two's voice filtered in through his helmet.
He grunted, activating his vox. "It's just unsettling being watched while we do this is all."
He heard her chortle on the other end. "Did you want some private time darling?"
The Knight didn't dignify that with a response. Though he couldn't hide his thoughts entirely from Zero-Two. The laughter filling his ears only made him more flustered. Thankfully the control sanctum cut them off. They still had a mission to complete and a Xeno to kill.
"Are you ready Zero-Two?" He voxed.
"Let's go, come in darling…" She sighed, a warm wave spreading through his chest. She was ready for their communion.
Casten closed his eyes when he heard the mechanical whine of his Throne Mechanicum deploying the umbilical into the port behind his head with a final whirring click. A jolt of electricity shot through his spine, spreading through every nerve in his body. A jumble of senses bombarded him, completely unlike the previous times he had bonded his mind to Ave Rubrum.
There was a sweet flavour that drifted onto his taste buds. Despite his eyes being closed, he saw red, then pink and white. Casten felt Zero-Two's smooth skin and smelled the scent of her hair.
A moment later, he was looking once more through Ave Rubrum's lenses. The usual runes and displays across his vision returned. The gangways swivelled out of the way and the garage doors lifted open to the glaring desert sun. The Knight took two steps forwards, into the burning desert heat.
+ Plantation #13: Operations Control Center +
"Are you seeing this!?" One of the APE staff gasped.
Nobody answered directly, though there were hushed whispers throughout the OCC 's circular chamber. The radial meter displayed near-full bars, para-capacity numbers that no new pairs should be able to achieve. Soon the shock wore off as they attended to their duties. Nana, Hachi and doctor Franxx, however, kept their eyes fixed on the large screen.
Nana gasped in shock whilst the two men remained silent, Franxx's bushy moustache and prosthetic chin hiding his expression. Though he did humm in fascination. Hachi's expression remained unchanging, though if one looked closely enough they could detect the near-imperceptible raise of the commander's eyebrows.
"We detect no yellow blood cells in his bloodstream. How is he doing this doctor?" Nana asked, turning to the old man.
"Hm…" Franxx scratched his chin. "I don't know… we'll just have to find out later, won't we?"
+ Outside +
Strelizia was already ahead of him, staring at the battle taking place in the distance. She spun, facing Ave Rubrum's expressionless visor with a smile. The grace of her movement stupefied Casten again and again. These FranXX were completely unlike any Imperial machine he had ever seen. She jumped, landing on Ave-Rubrum's carapace
"Let's fly darling!" She grinned.
Ave Rubrum jerked back slightly. "Wait, fly? What- Merciful Emperor!"
The Imperial super heavy combat walker suddenly rose to the air, Ave Rubrum's three hundred tonnes of adamantine death carried up by the white Franxx that held onto his carapace. Casten trusted her but that did little to help much with the unnatural sensation. Knights were not made for flight! If they were the Omnissiah would have already ordained it so!
"Uh… Strelizia…" Ave Rubrum looked up at Strelizia's grinning face as he heard the distinct whine of her thrusters charging up. "Strelizia, no-!"
"Let's go Darling!" She ignored him and rocketed upwards, like a shooting star going back to the heavens.
The terror lasted for only only a few seconds, though to Casten it was an eternity of watching the world shrink. It felt unnatural for the massive walker to be off the ground at all. Unnatural, but not completely unpleasant. The air was cold at this altitude, his Adamatine skin feeling the cool embrace of the clouds when they broke through the layer.
Ave-Rubrum's head pitched up to look at the FranXX that carried him. "This is… What you can do?"
"We're both doing this darling. Do you feel it?" Strelizia said, red eyes meeting his similarly coloured lenses.
He paused in thought for a moment before answering. His helm was tilted down and the glow of his lenses dimmed in mimicry of closing one's eyes. He was searching within, finding her presence was indeed embedded in the Communion. He had to concentrate to notice it; it wasn't like the first time, when the feeling was a conscious stimuli. Now it felt like second nature. Is this how Titan Princeps feel?
"Yes." Ave Rubrum's booming vox-speaker answered. "I feel our immortal souls somehow… It is rather… pleasant."
"Mmhm… We're a perfect fit huh?" She shut her eyes for a moment. Then opened them and smiled down at the Ave Rubrum's faceplate. "There's more to come darling! Ready?"
"No, but I'll have to be." He nodded to her.
Delphinium pushed back against the jaws that threatened to bisect her. Metal groaned in protest, both her own and the biomechanical beast's. The rest of the squad was likewise pinned in place: Genista and Chlorophytum remained trapped between its crushing coils. Argentea herself was almost crushed, her limbs on the verge of giving way inside the bladed talons.
The jaws slowly closed around her, disgusting undulations of blue muscle-like cables inside the Klaxosaur's mouth dragging the FranXX deeper into its maw. She let loose a long string of curses and tried to drag herself out. Managing to pull half of her torso out before the beast redoubled its efforts and sucked her back to chest-level.
"Pathetic!" She let loose a cry of defiance, pushing the jaws apart once more. "PATHETIC!"
Within the machine, Ichigo's thoughts lay in hopeless panic.. Was this where she was to die? Resisting with all her might for a few more seconds of life before she was inevitably crushed and eaten by a monster? No, this couldn't be the end! Not now! Not while the others were depending on her as their leader!
Suddenly, a streak of white and red dragging a mass of jet grey shot through the clouds just over her. She followed the path of the streak to as it curved over the desert, leaving a wall of sand blasting up in its wake.
"Ave Rubrum!? Strelizia!?" She gasped, straining her neck to face the incoming pair.
"Go darling!" Strelizia yelled, heaving the Imperial Knight forwards and throwing him with every ounce of strength in her frame.
With a deafening roar of "AVE IMPERATOR!" The Knight slammed into the Klaxosaur.
The impact was a thunderous crack as the ionized particles of Ave Rubrum's Ion shield rammed first, followed by its thick Adamantium pauldron. The worm's entire length was whipped back like an unhandled hose, freeing all the FranXX of Squad #13. They tumbled through the air. For Ichigo, time passed in slow motion.
She saw Ave Rubrum's glowing ruby glare and the worm Klaxosaur recoiling back, the dry, cracked earth shattering like so much glass when it crashed back down. Through the dust cloud Strelizia darted in, bringing her lance across the snapping pincers, wedging them open. Sparks showered against her weapon as the monster tried in vain to simply snap its talons shut and break the magma weapon like a twig.
"Strelizia! Step aside!" Delphium yelled.
The red FranXX cast an annoyed glance over her shoulder. "Ask darling," she grumbled.
The Knight's glowing lenses were like red will-o-wisps as he charged through the haze. Swinging at the taloned creature with his revving Reaper chainsword, he managed to tear a deep gauge into the black metal and stain its blades with blue biomechanical blood. He twisted to look at the squad; they seemed unharmed, that was good.
Delphinium stepped forwards. "No! We can't rely on your his time!"
The unchanging red lenses of the Imperial Knight seemed to be orbs of pure hate, made even more unnerving given his deathly silence. "You did well this time given your circumstances, but now isn't the time to prove anything. Let us help you against this foe."
His words of praise, no matter how small, stunned her into silence for a moment. Before she got to reply, the hulking brute of a machine had already charged forward to slash the taloned worm aside with another roaring swing. Strelizia blasted into the air after him; she had no interest in talking to them.
Delphinium bit down on her lip. She loathed to admit it, but he was right, she was letting her desire to prove herself put everyone at risk. They needed the help now whether she liked it or not.
"Understood." She nodded and turned away.
The others turned with their leader, facing the drill-headed worm that now loomed over them. Its three drills spun and the triangular mouth that had almost consumed her earlier opened to display its rows upon rows of serrated teeth. Though it had no facial features, she saw hunger and intent in the monster's every move.
"Squad #13!" She ordered. "Focus on this one!"
The worm reared up when it became obvious that its charges were doing nothing but allowing openings for the FranXX and the Knight to exploit. It fired another storm of diamond-shaped metal spikes at the pair. Strelizia's lance whipped through the air, deflecting each shard with ease and a bored dismissal. For his part, the Knight simply let the flashing charged particles of his Ion shield arrest the momentum of the projectiles and feebly bounce them off his Adamantine armour as if they were drops of rain.
"That's enough out of you Xeno filth." Ave Rubrum rumbled.
A pair of solar flares erupted one after another from each barrel of his raised Thermal Cannon. The worm was pushed back like a wave as each bolt of searing heat melted its body to slag, sealing the holes that fired the metal shards.
Its screams of pain were cut off when Strelizia threw her lance at the creature's snapped its jaws shut on the lance while the red FranXX kept hold on the resilient tube that fed magma-energy into the weapon, stubbornly refusing to let go even as she brought it smashing against the ground with one arm.
Ave Rubrum slammed his Reaper into what he assumed was the creature's neck. He didn't rev the weapon's engine, simply letting the static teeth dig into the biometal and pin it in place. He would let Strelizia have the final blow, her weapon was more suited to destroying its core.
She stomped down on one of the talons, keeping it open as she depressed the trigger of the lance and sending a wave of magma energy from her body into the weapon. It detonated in a cascade of blue blood, showing the Knight in ichor. He could already hear Brigid complaining about the gory aftermath.
"That didn't feel right." Strelizia voxed in.
Ave Rubrum bobbed his head and moved over to the clawed head. "Agreed, the core is not in this portion. Where-Ngh!"
The talon suddenly snapped shut on his frame. It tried to push back, the head detaching from the body with a piston-like motion, connected by blue internal structure. This Klaxosaur had a cowardly habit of playing dead, it was beneath humanity to battle such foes!
Try as it might, the beast only managed to move the Knight's weight a scant few feet before its momentum had stopped. It had made a fatal error - the claws did not pin his arms in place.
Reaper roared, Heavy Stubber chattered and Thermal Cannon blasted out at the exposed sinew of the worm's exposed spinal structure. It exploded in a violent fountain of gore, severing the head from the rest of the body. Yet… it did not die.
The wounded Klaxosaur tried to draw itself back into the ground until Strelizia stabbed into it with her lance. The severed end was still writhing in agony. That could only mean…
"Strelizia!" Ave Ruburm yelled out as he charged forwards and wrapped both handless arms around the still gushing severed end.
With a roar of it's straining servos, the Knight's plasma reactor poured more power into the movement systems. Strelizia joined him, pulling the other side of the spine.
The earth shook suddenly, breaking Delphinium and the rest of squad #13's focus. The ground beneath the worm that they were fighting suddenly broke up. Like a root being pulled from the earth, what seemed like two worm Klaxosaurs turned out to be a single massive two-headed one.
"No way... That was all part of just a single Klaxosaur!?" Zorome gasped, shock gripping his voice.
It was Futoshi who spoke now. "How can we find the core in something of that size!?"
"Doesn't matter, we have to find it somehow!" Mitsuru grunted.
All four machines jumped back, avoiding the fall of the worm's body. All around the them they saw the moving segments undulate and slither, trying to fight or get back into the safety of the earth below.
"We have to stop this thing from moving!" Argentea screamed over the near constant sounds of grinding movement.
"Let's go!" Delphinium shouted back, leaping into the air and extending the magma blades to pin a part of the monster down.
The other members followed with their own weapons at separate points on its body, managing to force it to the ground for the moment.
"Well we pinned it down!" Zorome said behind gritted teeth, arms struggling to keep Argentea steady. "Now what do we do!?"
Chlorophytum used her weapon to wrench the Klaxosaut's triangular mouth open , even with Delphinium's help it was a struggle.
"HIRO!" The leader yelled out. No one responded at first, then a booming voice returned.
Ave Rubrum's rumbling voice filtered into Ichigo's cockpit. "Received, hold! The Emperor protects!"
Ave Rubrum's lenses raised to meet Strelizia's eyes. "Can you do this?"
The FranXX grinned. "Easy!"
Her thrusters fired. Faster than the eye could see she had already grabbed the Knight's carapace and rocketed towards the head of the worm. Ave Rubrum was not idle, firing his Thermal Cannon as fast as it would allow, melting metal skin and letting the molten slag fuse to the ground and further hamper its movements.
She dropped the Imperial Knight on the ground, allowing his shock absorbers to take the impact and smash a crater into the ground below. He would not fit inside the Klaxosaur but he could still act while she somersaulted into position.
"Get clear!" He ordered the two FranXX.
Chlorophytum and Delphinium jumped out of the way, allowing the Knight's pre-aimed Thermal-Cannon to deal two more shots out, melting its mandibles. Its scream of pain was just long enough for the molten metal to cool and leave it wide open.
"Thanks darling!" The red machine dashed forwards, plunging into the maw.
For a split second, Ichigo could see a smirk grace Strelizia's features. Zero-Two was mocking her, mouthing a single word. Weakling.
Through the Communion, Casten felt her revel in the the act. Perhaps enjoying the sensation of tearing the Xenos apart or the feeling of finally being able to properly run it through with her lance. There was a nagging feeling within that told him that it was both yet neither.
Explosions of blue liquid shot from every segment of the creature's body until a white and red missile tore out from where the severed second head was, the Klaxosaur's core impaled on her lance. What remained turned to blue paste amidst an eruption of blue ichor.
The FranXX turned back, raising her lance with the impaled core in triumph. The others cheered some; she didn't care about them. Her darling raised his Reaper chainsword high in the air and revved its engine, the sound travelling to her despite the distance.
That was the only response she needed. That and the warmth that exploded from her heart and mind. Darling was happy for her.
+ Plantation #13 Operations Control Center +
Hachi crossed his arms, staring at the screen. His gaze was as stony and unfeeling as always, hiding his earlier astonishment. Zero-Two had been prepared to get Doctor Franxx's help to let them out. She knew well enough that he couldn't resist a chance to conduct a study like this in full combat conditions.
He looked down at the window holding the radial dials that gauged Zero-Two and Casten's para-capacity numbers. "This changes everything. These numbers are conclusive proof that the Imperial Technology somehow ties into our own."
"No," Doctor Franxx countered. "This changes nothing."
With not another word said the old man turned and left the control room, his cane and metallic feet clicking down the hall.
+ Later +
+ Plantation #13 Barracks +
There was a dull rumble when the Plantation began to move again; the magma fuel transfer, or 'kissing' as the locals curiously called it, was complete. It was strange that Casten had only now felt that the city was moving at all. After a moment's pondering, he swung the towel back over his bare shoulder and stepped into the bath to finish what he started.
He wasn't surprised in the least to find Zero-Two waiting for him there. Though he did blush at her nudity, at least she was actually doing as she was supposed to in a bath. With a sigh, he lowered himself into the water beside her.
The day is done, and another tally in service to the Emperor. A bath is a luxury he will take great joy indulging in. A shift in the water and a bump, the unique pair were shoulder to shoulder; he sees the pinkette at his side look up at the bathroom ceiling, correction, through it, into the skies and into the void beyond their world.
"Hey darling…" the usually robust girl spoke softly through the haze induced by the soothing warm water "...tell me a story."
She spoke little in the physical speech but held volume through the communion they shared. He would gladly tell her a story. Starting with one of his favorites.
"On a desert planet much like this one, there once was a man we called the Great Angel, one of the greatest sons of the Emperor, his name is Sanguinus…"
The rest blurred, as he regaled a tale of heroism, of strife, and a where they dreamed of a brighter age.