Book II: Of Friends and Foes
Chapter XV
"Poppi, you were invented by Tora five 'undred years ago, but during Waylon's time, you sacrificed yourself to save me with a form we'd never seen before. We later found out this to be Soosoo's doing. Tora could not fix you in a reasonable amount of time, so he left you with me, just like Waylon had hinted at. This nopon, Rafi, is the one responsible for fixing you," Granny explained while gesturing towards Rafi.
Poppi teared up a bit. "So Poppi really has become just like Aegis, huh?"
Granny looked kinda sad too, Poppi had always been a little scared she'd destroy the world just like the Aegis.
"Cereza!" Poppi exclaimed. "What happen to Cereza?!"
"Cereza died, and became Serena. In other words, she became what you knew she could be," Granny explained.
Poppi cried even more. "Poppi... did make a difference..."
Rafi jumped in. "Why Poppi crying?"
Poppi was startled a bit, but wiped her tears. "Poppi not crying, Poppi just running routine camera lens cleaning protocol."
"Poppi, I know this whole world is going to be new to you and I know this is asking a lot," Granny started. "But can you please go with Silas and Acacia? They're really going to need your help."
Poppi nodded. "Of course! Poppi want to help everyone just like masterpon always did!" "Masterpon" was the nopon word for "master" and it was her word for talking about Tora.
Granny placed her hand in Poppi's head. Poppi shook her head and hugged granny instead, and the two stood there for a minute.
"Tora not alive any more, is he?" Poppi asked.
"No, he died of old age a long time ago," Granny explained.
Poppi didn't want to admit it, but she was really crying this time. Was this how Mythra had felt when she woke up after sinking Torna? Knowing that everyone she once knew was either dead or dying, and that she'd never see him again. Maybe Pyra had been right, maybe it really was better for a blade to be able to just forget everything.
"Can Rafi come and help Poppi?" Rafi questioned in the middle of everything. Nopon often had a terrible understanding of "place and time for everything".
Granny laughed. "I think Rafi wants to try being your new driver!" she said to Poppi.
Poppi giggled a bit. "Poppi don't really need driver and Poppi would rather not replace masterpon."
"Poppi, I don't think it would be quite replacing him, you may need someone to fix you up when you get damaged and make sure you're working properly. He's been very nice this whole time, he might come in handy. It's your choice though."
Poppi thought about this for a bit before finally responding.
"Rafi may come along, but for maintenance purposes only, understand?" Poppi said in a commanding tone that I could tell Granny hadn't really heard before.
"Rafi agree! Beats having to fix Juliani's sink any day!"
"Speaking of which, we're going to have to pass through Argentum again, are you sure you want to do this Rafi? It's gonna be dangerous," I warned Rafi.
"Rafi is quite sure! Rafi done with boring life and want to live exciting life with Silas, Mythra, and Poppi!"
Acacia and KOS-MOS had been watching quietly the entire time, maybe unsure of what to do. I was eyeing them suspiciously, but Mythra seemed content.
"The Mythra I knew would never look so content while an enemy was nearby, what's changed Mythra?" Granny asked her, privately.
"I don't know, but honestly I've seen moments like this before, and I don't currently see any reason to be worried as of right now," she responded.
"Could it have something to do with your AI? Oh never mind, I'm not going to pretend like I understand you Aegises," Granny laughed.
"Alright, guess we gotta get ourselves some more train tickets," I recommended. "I think I can cover you Acacia if need be..."
"I don't need your help. You're still a criminal as far as I'm concerned. You say you're going to Tantal, yes?"
"Well yes, that's what we've been—" but Acacia got me off.
"Then we leave now. KOS-MOS call the Binoceros."
"Citizens are not permitted to enter any BCC-commission vessel without explicit permission from General Adonis," KOS-MOS stated.
"KOS-MOS I gave an order, I know what I'm doing," Acacia challenged.
"Understood, I will ready the Binoceros," and with that, KOS-MOS left.
Soon, a large, black ship flew over Fonsett Village. Blue flames were being ejected out from underneath it and it landed right in front of us. A door dropped down, doubling as stairs that led into the ship.
"This looks like a different version of the Monoceros," Granny mentioned.
Acacia glared at her. "You know of the Monoceros?"
"Sure I do, it's the ship Jin and Malos used five 'undred years back."
Acacia sighed before entering the ship. "Move your asses, we gotta move."
KOS-MOS, Mythra, Poppi, Rafi, and I went up right behind her.
"Silas!" Granny called out.
"What is it?"
She threw me a strange rock. "That belongs to you, use it well!"
Before I could ask anything, the ship went off the ground and the door began to close.
"Be safe...," Granny sighed as she watched it the ship fly away.
"We have a report of an armed robbery of a convenience store. Active shooter on Menkin Avenue and Bennett Boulevard. If you are anywhere near that area, police advise you get away quickly and orderly," the news report kept going on but he wasn't hearing any of it.
"So Kassy? You ready to get that club o' yours a bit dirty?" he asked his blade.
"As long as we're the luckiest pair to have ever graced this land, I'll be with you till the end, Gabriel!" Kassandra said, happily.
They were both standing dramatically near the convenience store where the robbery was taking place.
Gabriel grabbed his blade's weapon and put it over his shoulder and stood in a dramatic pose outside the front door of the convenience store. Kassandra copied this pose as the three men in ski masks came out holding automatic rifles.
"Hello gentlemen, I am the Great Gabriel! Gabe for short, and often addressed as the Prince of Pain and the Consumer of Chaos! You would do well to end your shenanigans right here!" he boasted.
"Yeah! You don't want trouble, especially not when he's paired with me! Kasandra! Also known as..," she blinked for a second. "Kasandra! That's... pretty much my name, yeah?"
"Mow 'em down!" one shouted.
Gabriel jumped backwards and Kasandra threw up an ether shield in front of him, and he watched as all the bullets bounced off of the blade's shield.
"Guess we'll have ourselves a tussle, eh?" Gabriel laughed as the smoke cleared.
https/youtu.be/xByXfWVT9Sg
He pulled the club out and held it at the ready. "Let's go!"
The three immediately split, running in different directions.
"Kassy, block 'em off!"
"On it!"
Gabriel jumped and flipped over one and knocked him out square on his ass in a single hit.
"Oh put up a fight next time!" he laughed as he went to meet up with his blade.
She was right on the tail of the second one, so he passed her the weapon. "Heads up Kas!"
She jumped up, catching the club, spinning in the air, and slamming it on the ground, causing a dark aura to shoot out across the ground and causing the second one to trip.
The man flipped over quickly to watch Kasandra smack him across the face.
She flinched at the sight of this and then giggled a bit as she tossed the weapon back to Gabriel, who quickly caught up to the last guy, who somehow ended up walking down a dead end.
"Ooh looks like last luck just isn't on your side today, eh chum?" Gabe jeered.
"Who are you?" the man asked.
"Did you not listen to my intro? I am the Great Gabriel!" Gabriel said before going for the final hit, but the man pulled out a sword and shield and blocked it.
"Let's go then boy!" Gabriel laughed.
He attacked as the man blocked with the shield repeatedly, taking short, quick stabs.
"Hey you've got this defense thing down! Good job, but you lack one thing!"
"What's that?" he asked as Gabriel hurled the club over the man's head. "Throwing away your weapon?"
"No, a partner," Gabriel answered.
The man turned around as Kasandra hit him across the face, knocking him out.
"If it isn't the man himself, Gabriel?!" a female voice spoke from behind him.
"I know that name!" Gabriel laughed as he turned around. "Juliani! How are you?"
Juliani stood with her two blades, Theory and Praxis, behind her.
"Quite well. I suppose I should thank you for taking down these delinquents for me. You deserve a reward even! Maybe a trip down to my club?" she invited.
"You mean your entourage? I'd be better caught dead in a ditch before ever going in there. No man walking in ever retains their pride by the time they leave," Gabriel replied bluntly.
Juliani was a bit annoyed, but nonetheless she shook it off. "Then I guess I could give you information on the driver and the powerful blade that recently broke out of the BCCHQ?"
"Ah, did you know I was looking for them? If I'm correct they should be in Leftheria now, am I correct?"
"They were, they're currently on their way to Tantal. If you leave quickly you should be able to get their in time."
"And how do I know I can trust what you say is true?"
"I owe you one correct? Consider this my debt repaid."
Gabriel knew not to trust Juliani, but in this scenario he saw no reason not to. Juliani always repaid her debts.
"Very well," Gabriel said, turning to Kasandra. "Come on Kasandra, we're off to Tantal then."
"Good luck Gabriel," Juliani said as he left.
Readability Level: 11th-12th Grade
Time Taken: 4 Hours