Chapter 1: A Second Chance

Death, to Mcgillis Fareed, is surprisingly… peaceful. He wondered why it is so. He had failed, he had not accomplished any of his goals, he was killed before his time, so why does it feel so peaceful? Even the thought of going to hell or facing the wrath of Carta and those he had wrongly killed is not too farfetched.

"Perhaps… it's because it is Gaelio."

Mcgillis mused. To think that out of anyone that could kill him it would be the only man he would call his one and only friend. The one he attempted to kill and one who he had hurt the most. If there is any concept of divine retribution in the world, he certainly believed it now. He oddly felt most at peace at knowing that he died by Gaelio Bauduin's hands, at the hand of his best friend that he wronged.

There's nothing that he could do now. Everything he had done is useless. He had failed and he doesn't feel as disappointed as he thought he would, mostly because how he died and by whom. He fought to the best of his ability. He knew he could've done better but there's no use thinking about it now.

It took Mcgillis a while though to realize that he's not alone. He felt someone staring at his back. He turn around to see a certain black haired child soldier, the very same boy who had inspired him to go so far in the first place, the one who had helped him harden his resolve, the boy known as the Devil of Tekkadan, Mikazuki Augus.

"Chocolate man?"

"So you died as well."

Mcgillis assumed since it's the only logical explanation why Mikazuki is there with him. In the end even the greatest demon could fall. In the end might makes right, he is not wrong. But as with everything else, none of that matters in death. He might as well spend this time talking with the boy he had come to admire. If he were to be honest with himself, he is rather fond of Mikazuki. Even excluding all his plans and machinations, Mikazuki is someone he could come to like personally. Perhaps that's why he is most fascinated by him even among the exceptional children of Tekkadan.

"For what it's worth, I was honest when I say I expected a lot out of you."

"Hnn."

Mcgillis smiled at the boy's curt reply. The boy is unmovable. He possess strength but most of the time he doesn't care about using his strength and even when he did, he never used it for himself. The boy moved only to protect his family in Tekkadan or when pointed by Orga Itsuka. Both of them had harsh childhood but they can't be more different than each other. Mcgillis had wished to be like Mikazuki but he can never fight for anyone other than himself. Mikazuki does not really desire power like he does but he has it yet he never use it for himself.

If Mcgillis had to put it in words, they are two sides of a mirror. Mcgilllis wondered if he would've turned out differently if he had instead be child soldier like those in Tekkadan. That is certainly an interesting thought. Perhaps things would've turned out differently. But it's nothing more than idle thought.

"Mikazuki, are you satisfied with your life?"

Mikazuki tilted his head at the question. He thought for a while. It's amusing to see his simple and childish gestures but it suits the child soldier well. It took Mikazuki a while until he finally answered.

"No."

He simply answered. Mcgillis expect as much.

"Because I'll never get to see my child."

"Wait, child?"

Mcgillis is a little taken aback by what the boy had said. He, a young boy, has a child? Was it with Kudelia Aina Bernstein? Either way, it is a rather shocking revelation even to someone like him. Mcgillis prided himself in maintaining his cool in any situation but even this is beyond his imagination. Then again, he's the one engaged to an eleven years old.

Ahh yes, Almiria, sweet little Almiria. He genuinely likes her despite everything said and done. Another one he wronged in the course of his life. He idly wondered what life would've been if he had survived. Almiria's father certainly won't be handing her to him happily.

"You have… a child?"

Mikazuki nodded. Mcgillis wanted to ask more about it but decided not to. It's probably something he doesn't need to know. But still, a child, Mcgillis had never thought about it in his life what with his mind mostly occupied with his plans and his fiancée being an eleven years old child herself. It certainly brought things into perspective when he thought about a child of his own after he died.

What kind of father would he be? What kind of husband would he be?

"Ohh?"

Suddenly Mcgillis felt a strange sensation. He look down and found that he is disappearing. Is this the end for him? He doesn't know. The same is also happening to Mikazuki but the boy is not bothered by it. Mcgillis Fareed smiled. Whatever happens next, he will accept it. To force his way forward, that is how he does things.

If… If he were to be reborn against all odds, he might even try to consider Gaelio's words. The last conversation he had with his one and only friend.

'Is there such a thing as true and fake happiness?'

Mcgillis then turn back to the Demon of Tekkadan. There must be a reason why they met here together. A reason he had yet to find out. He also has this feeling that this won't be the last time they meet.

"Well then, it looks like our time here has come to an end. Let us meet again somewhere else, Mikazuki Augus."

"I hope not."

Mcgillis chuckled on last time before both he and Mikazuki disappear.

Humanity has once again proved its capacity to wreak havoc and dominate.

Infinite Stratos, it is a machine once intended to be a powered suit for space exploration. But now it has become nothing more than mere weapons used to destroy and oppress.

The world had changed due to the emergence of these weapons of war, especially when the first ever IS showcased its power in the event that is now known as the White Knight incident.

The IS wasn't supposed to be a weapon. It was supposed to be something that leads humanity to a new frontier. But the world had twisted it into an image it wants the technology to be; that of a weapon of mass destruction.

And worst of all it has become an excuse to oppress. Just because the IS can only be used by women, the female population had gotten it into their head that they have become better than men. It is subtle and not easily spotted in general but if one were to look closely there is oppression.

It is not only that but ever since Shinonono Tabane stopped producing IS cores and went into hiding, the core is distributed throughout the world for study and development. But not everyone could fund the development of an IS. The world fell into what is essentially a state similar to a cold war where IS tournament became a sport where each countries would show off their military, a proxy war of some sort.

In the midst of all this, a certain man is plotting behind the scene to change everything. If power had once again be used to dominate society, then he will use an even greater power to change it. Such is the way of the world, one he had become acquainted with quite well.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Mcgillis Fareed, no, he is known as Charles Dunois now, mused as he looked out the window of his office. The currently twenty-years-old blonde young man has been reminiscing about how his life had turned out while taking a short break from work, which he still has plenty of to do.

A knock from his door broke him out of his thought. After telling whoever it is on the other side to come in, the door opened and a blonde girl several years younger entered.

"You asked to see me, big brother?"

She asked as she walked to the front of his desk, slightly fidgeting as she does so. Charles smiles and offered her a seat. She sat down as Charles returned to his own chair.

"I'm sorry for calling you here abruptly, Charlotte. I know you're busy with preparations for your departure to ISA."

Charles apologized. The girl shook her head frantically.

"No! It's fine. I've finished most of my preparations anyway. And there's no way I would refuse any request coming from you."

She told him. Charles smiled. She shouldn't have to feel so obligated to him, but he supposed it can't be helped after everything that happened. He'd try not to request too much out of her if he could. Though having someone who would obey him unconditionally is good, he is trying to be better than his past self. Besides, Charlotte doesn't deserve to be treated like a pawn after everything she went through at the hand of their father and his mother.

"That's good. Anyway, this is just a small request since you're already going to attend ISA but I'd appreciate it if you can help me. Have you heard of the latest big news?"

He asked. Charltte tilted her head, confused, until she realized what he's referring to.

"The one about the first ever male IS pilot being discovered?!"

She exclaimed. Charles nodded with a smile, pleased that Charlotte had kept herself up-to-date with the latest news. Knowledge is power after all, and knowing things is already half the fight.

"Yes. As you know, the Infinite Stratos is only pilotable by females. While the reason for this is still being researched, it has become an established fact. So the appearance of a male being able to pilot an Infinite Stratos is downright baffling. I'm sure many countries would like to meet this male pilot and perform some tests on him."

Charles told her frankly. The blonde girl simply nodded but her expression had turned a bit sour. She might be young but she understood what Charles is implying. She could also guess what her brother wants of her.

"You want me to approach him and have him come to us so we can figure out how he's able to pilot an IS?"

While she posed it as a question, Charlotte is sure that it's what her brother intends for her to do. To get close to the male pilot and have him come to them so they could experiment on him to figure out how he could pilot an IS. Her brother smirked, one that sends chills down her spine. She owed her brother a lot, but she out of all people also knew how ruthless he can be and how he would stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

"You are partially correct."

He replied. Charlotte is now confused. She's sure she got her brother's intention down right.

"I want you to assess him as a person and report back to me. You don't need to be his friend if you don't want to. Whether I decided to approach him or not will be determined later on after I know what he's like."

That is… odd. Everyone should be clamoring to meet the male pilot regardless of how he is as a person but her brother sounds like he could decide to not meet the male pilot if he doesn't like her assessment. It's really difficult for her to understand her brother sometimes.

"I'll… see what I can do."

She answered unsurely.

"No need to make it a priority. Your education is more important, as well as your training. I'm sure I can eventually learn more about him later on but a more first-hand account from a classmate would be better."

Charlotte nodded. She still doesn't understand what her brother is planning but she can at least trust that he's not planning on dissecting the only male pilot in existence (as far as they knew). After all, had that been his intention, he would've told her to befriend, or even seduce the male pilot, and bring him back with her to France using any means necessary. She would do it even if she doesn't like it. She owes her brother that much, and he knew it.

But he didn't tell her that, which is relieving… and also a bit frightening. That means he wants something else, and she doesn't know what.

"Is that everything, brother?"

"Yes. Ohh and do drop by the R&D division. Your personal unit is waiting."

Charlotte nodded and quietly left his office. Once Charlotte is gone, Charles spun his chair to look out the window again. He leans back and then mumbles to himself.

"It could just be a coincidence but… can it possibly be you?"

On his desk, his tablet is showing a news article depicting a black-haired boy wearing a powered exoskeleton while wielding a single sword fighting against a woman in another powered exoskeleton. Those are the Infinite Stratos powered exoskeleton, which should only be usable by females. The article speaks of the shocking discovery of a male IS pilot. But what Charles is more interested in is not the topic of 'a male being able to pilot an IS unit' but the name of said male.

Orimura Mikazuki.

So... I've been wanting to do this for a while. I've been planning a rewrite for a while since I wrote the old version on a whim and didn't really plan things through. That and I totally sidelined Atra despite having her appear in the early chapters. True I wanted to focus on Mika/Kudelia but I did it badly. I only made rough plans for the future and I don't think I can keep up much longer. So I want to restart this story properly... somewhat. Instead of being reincarnated as himself, Mcgillis is reincarnated as Charles Dunois... who is kinda underused in my opinion despite the opportunities Charlotte's male self could bring... though I also think I'm personally overusing Charles too. Anyway, with Mcgillis becoming Charles, he became Charlotte's older brother, which I think would do good for him and his redemption. He's also 20 by the way. And as for their backstory and what I hinted about their relationship, I'll cover them later. Though I'd say this. Charles is the legitimate son and Charlotte is the illegitimate daughter.

Anyway, I'm also going a whole different way with Mikazuki this time, which you guys will see in the next chapter. He is still Ichika, but with new information coming from IS LN, I have some new ideas for him. There's also a reason why he can use his old name.

Regarding Kudelia. She is still going to be the main heroine but I'm not sure whether she should be reincarnated as herself or as one of the IS heroines. Either option will have a different path. As herself, Kudelia would be an ISA graduate and college student like in the old version. Reincarnated as one of the heroines, she would of course be in ISA like Mika. And then there is Atra...

Well, let's just see how this goes.