The pounding war, a symphony of steel and fire that burns in the hearts and souls of men and machines. Rivers of blood and pieces of metal surrounded Fort Prodigium, thousands of artificial bodies lay on the ground and on them marched, like ants, other soldiers ready to die for a higher cause. The walls of Fort Prodigium were about to fall but the T-Dolls kept firing without ever leaving the position, luckily outside there was Team TRPL-V which was made up of T-Dolls who had collected the experience of different fields of battle and were, therefore, eliminating many enemies at a moderate pace.
Thousands of attackers were killed by the rain of bullets from the T-Dolls in defense of the fortress and little by little the enemy offensive was running out.
In the meantime, the situation inside Fort Prodigium had not improved at all: the commanders had been killed and many officers had had the same fate. Lieutenant Cacciatore was wounded, barricaded himself in his office with two subordinates who were no better off than him. Beyond the door was Alchemist who was still fighting a Makarov whose left arm had been amputated and whose body was full of fairly deep cuts.
Alchemist, with a sadistic smile on her face, asserted:
" You're stubborn, Makarov. I just can't understand why, you know Lieutenant Cacciatore is on the verge of dying, the wound I inflicted on him is pretty serious, so at the end of all this you're on your own and you're fighting to defend a dead body. Sure… obviously you're not that far from ending up like him too. "
" I ... I can't give up ... as long as I live this battle won't be lost. "
" Mmh? Are you really sure, Makarov? Look around you. There are only lifeless bodies ... all "brave" men who died just to defend this ridicule fort. Your life alone has no value. And you know it too. You're just a Griffin & Kryuger tool, nothing more. "
" And what are you? Do you think you're different from me? Ah! Don't make me laugh! We're all, in one way or another, pawns in the game of someone who's above us. No one is truly born free ... you and I are both slaves. The difference is that I'm under no illusion that I'm in control… but you're a poor fool. "
" Huh?! How dare you talk to me like this! " Alchemist kicked Makarov, the girl slammed against the wall and then fell to the ground. " You're just trash! Look at yourself! You can barely stand up! But I'm here, standing, strong and above all free. "
" If you're free then ... rebel against Dreamer ... " Makarov noticed Alchemist's estranged expression and then commented: " Ah ... as I imagined. You can't do that, are you? You can't even conceive of such an act. For you the word "rebellion" is non-existent unless associated with the war you're waging against those you already consider your enemies. You're a poor thing, Alchemist. "
" I'm tired of this idiocy… it's time for you to die. "
9A-91 suddenly appeared behind Alchemist and shot her in the back several times until the woman fell to the ground.
" Makarov, I'm here to help you. " 9A-91 said helping the girl up.
" Perfect timing … "
" Lieutenant Cacciatore? "
" He's safe ... but I don't know if he'll survive, he has a serious wound in his side and the last time I saw him he was losing a lot of blood. We need to get him to another place. "
" Yes ma'am! "
9A-91 helped Makarov sit in a chair and then headed for the lieutenant's office but at that moment she noticed that Alchemist's corpse was missing; alarmed, the girl prepared for the worst but didn't realize that the enemy was behind her. Alchemist delivered a lightning-fast blow that wounded 9A-91's back, the girl turned and fired but Alchemist dodged the bullets and hit 9A-91's head with a kick.
" I've seen you before, yes? Ah! Ah, ah, ah! Of course! Now I remember! You're the one I killed in Warsaw! One of my easiest kills! " Alchemist exclaimed joyfully.
9A-91 fired again but Alchemist was quick enough this time to disarm her and then wounded her in the belly.
" Is that all you can do, brat? " Alchemist hit 9A-91 again and wounded her in the face and then kicked her to the ground. " Tch! You're not funny. Enough… I'm bored of fighting. You all are a waste of time. "
Alchemist targeted 9A-91 but before she could shoot her a bullet passed her shoulder, it was Makarov. Alchemist was furious but in that moment she saw Dreamer in the sky who wasn't doing anything, she was motionless to observe the battlefield.
" What she's doing? " Alchemist was confused. " Why isn't she fighting? We have a war to win! " But then she understood something. Alchemist smiled and turned to Makarov, then said: " It's useless. Soon Dreamer will destroy the Pavilions one by one thus putting an end to this foolish war. Don't you see? Initially we hoped to be able to use this fortress to our advantage but by now it's clear that you're too persistent and so, your only destiny is to disappear along with Fort Prodigium. "
Makarov and 9A-91 were in shock. Alchemist laughed like crazy:
" It's useless! It's useless! It's ... USELESS! "
" No, we have to save Cacciatore! " Makarov exclaimed to 9A-91.
" Oh, no. You're not going anywhere. You'll stay here and die with me. " Alchemist said blocking the way.
Meanwhile Dreamer was in the sky, with her eyes she saw that sad war scenario whose too unpredictable outcome didn't please her, she was tired of fighting and the fact of having been wounded was irritating her. So she aimed the weapon at Pavilion 3.
" It's your fault that we've come to this. "
Dreamer fired a giant laser beam at Pavilion 3, the explosion was powerful enough to shake the other two structures and partially damage them. The T-Dolls that were on the fortress wall shot Dreamer but she was too high, no bullet wounded her. Then the girl targeted Pavilion 1.
" Goodbye, Alchemist. "
Dreamer heard the sound of a helicopter approaching her, it belonged to Griffin & Kryuger, she had guessed that there would be other reinforcements on board but she didn't intend to waste time with them and so she loaded the next shot, the final one, but at that moment something jumped on Dreamer and strangled her. She recognized the jacket, it was AA-12's.
" You! Ugly animal! You're alive! "
" Did you miss me, bitch? " Dreamer tried to take AA-12 off but the latter pulled her hair and tied them around her hand. " It's not okay to have such long hair! "
" Bastard! Wild bitch! Let me go! I order it! "
" Bitch, if you don't want to die, I suggest you keep flying! "
" What?! Aargh! "
AA-12 let herself fall pulling Dreamer's hair, taking her down with her; Dreamer managed to cushion the fall but once she got to the ground she was pulled and AA-12's fist hit her nose once, twice and three times.
" I'm sorry, bitch, I generally don't like doing it like that but I'll make an exception for you because you're such a piece of shit! "
AA-12 put the lollipop in her mouth, took her shotgun but Dreamer didn't agree to die so easily and tried to rise again in the air, however AA-12 tugged her harder and dropped her to the ground, then she put her foot on Dreamer's chest and, pointing the weapon at her head, said:
" Where the fuck did you think you were going, Dreamer? You're mine. "
" It's not over ... you'll pay for this! " Dreamer shouted.
AA-12 didn't answer her and simply shot her in the head causing it to burst. She walked away lifting the middle finger to that lifeless body and then saw PA-15 injured and immediately helped her.
" AA-12! You're alive! " PA-15 exclaimed.
" You're hurt ... maybe it's better if you step aside, I don't want them to kill you. "
" And where is OTs-14? "
" In there. " She replied pointing to the helicopter that had stopped above Pavilion 1.
Alchemist was inside the building and had heard the helicopter approaching. Then she saw entering from a window SCW who ran to Makarov to help her.
" Little Rov! " SCW hugged Makarov. " Thank goodness! I'm glad you're fine! I worried a lot about you, I was afraid you were dead ... "
" What?! L-let's not joke ... there's no need to be so ... kind ... " Makarov said, blushing.
Then SCW turned and noticed 9A-91 standing aside.
" Oh, hi, you too. Everything good? "
" You finally realized that I exist. " 9A-91 murmured.
" So, have you fulfilled your mission, SCW? " Makarov asked. SCW smiled at her.
Alchemist was confused, she looked for Dreamer but she wasn't there and then she understood that she must have been attacked by reinforcements.
" What's this?! Some kind of joke?! I don't accept it! " Alchemist yelled running towards the girls.
At that moment another window broke in front of her and OTs-14 entered to block her way; Alchemist was confused for a moment but then started running again, this time with the aim of eliminating Groza. Alchemist tried to hit OTs-14 four times but the girl was able to dodge the different attacks with excellent agility, then counterattacked with an elbow and later hit Alchemist's belly with a kick.
" Bitch! Do you think you can beat me ?! " Alchemist screamed furiously. OTs-14 was silent. " Say, something! Come on! What's up? Now you're not being braggart anymore? Do yuo think you're stronger than me?! Well you're not! "
Alchemist tried to hit OTs-14 but this time the girl dodged to the side and aimed the rifle directly at Alchemist's temple and said:
" Privet, motherfucker. " She fired. Alchemist crashed into the window and fell out of the building, dead.
Makarov stood motionless for a moment looking at OTs-14, it seemed she was seeing a ghost. She approached her, in tears, and said to her:
" I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Groza ... I didn't want to hurt you ... I just wanted to ... protect you. "
" Makarov, come here. "
OTs-14 embraced Makarov. She had finally been cleansed of her poison, now she could cry for the suffering she had caused to others and to herself. SCW and 9A-91 then joined and embraced Makarov as well, consoling her.
" I'm so sorry, everyone ... I'm so lucky to have friends like you ... really ... I love you all. "
Then AA-12 and PA-15 arrived. OTs-14 took AA-12 by the hands and smilingly said to her:
" Are you ok, my love? "
" Yeah. What about you, Groza? "
" Never felt better. "
The two girls kissed in front of a setting sun and so the battle ended. With the death of Alchemist and Dreamer, Sangvis Ferri's offensive ended. The enemy troops withdrew and Fort Prodigium was recaptured. Lieutenant Enrico Cacciatore organized a ceremony to remember the commanders killed by Alchemist and the various officers who sacrificed themselves to protect the fort, including lieutenants Girovini, Zanni and Remi. Captain Garibaldi left with his team without receiving thanks and without dedicating a moment to the dead.
Team EXPIATIO was later recalled by Berezovich Kryuger who personally congratulated the girls. The defense of Fort Prodigium meant having an advantage over Sangvis Ferri and also meant having a stable military presence in northern Italy. The Dolls left Kryuger to begin the celebrations and AA-12 invited OTs-14 but the latter asked her to go on alone, Groza wanted to talk to Kryuger in private. AA-12 left, a little anxious for her girlfriend, but left the office. OTs-14 was alone with Kryuger. Both were standing facing each other.
" I saw that video. I killed Lucy. "
" How did you see it? " He asked, sighing.
" You have to thank Dreamer for this. But now it doesn't matter, I want to know what happened. I want the truth. Now it's useless to hide what happened. I've spent all this time looking for the truth and now that I know it I cannot accept being kept in the dark. "
" You've matured a lot, OTs-14, you're no longer as naïve as when you first met Lucy. Well, what do you want to know? "
" Everything. "
" Lucy is … she was a very talented commander, one of the best, destined to become like Captain Garibaldi, but she had only one flaw: you. "
" Me? "
" She was obsessed with Dolls and you in particular, you didn't notice it, you couldn't notice it, but she was so obsessed with you that she got into things that were too dangerous and complicated for her. " Kryuger sat behind his desk and lit a cigar. " The Azrael Implant is a de facto way of making a human like a machine, not in appearance but in the way of processing information. At first I was unaware of what Lucy was doing behind Griffin & Kryuger but then I was informed by Helianthus about the mysterious cargoes being delivered to Sangvis Ferri. Lucy's mental state had deteriorated, she was betraying our cause only because she hoped to turn all of humanity into machines like the Dolls. She smuggled the Azrael Implants in order to fulfill this mad mission of her. We wanted to eliminate her but we wanted to do a clean job. And so you volunteered yourself. "
" What? Why would I have done it? " She asked skeptically.
" Because you too, like me, didn't accept that the Lucy you knew was actually a mask that hid a terrible person with serious problems. I was ready to send any Doll to have her killed but you proposed and planned to kill her during that ominous operation. You had a plan in place and you knew Lucy would let her guard down with you. So you killed her. "
" What have you done to me? "
" I'm not following you. What are you talking about? "
" I'm not a fool, Kryuger, and I have a perfect memory. If I don't remember what happened it's because it happened to me the same thing that hit Mosin-Nagant: I lost my memory. But who was it that made me lose it? "
" Do you suspect us, OTs-14? "
" Give me a reason not to. "
" After Lucy's death, Persicaria spotted a bug in your memory… something akin to a removal of trauma. Your program eliminated that event from your memory and thus created a void. " Kryuger noticed OTs-14's incredulous gaze. " Hard to believe, right? An anomaly. A proof that shows that maybe even Dolls can have feelings like humans and maybe they too can have flaws in their mind. "
" Am I an anomaly, then? Is this what you're saying? I'm just an anomaly? "
" Haven't you ever noticed? The whole Team EXPIATIO is anomalous. There's a subtle balance between sanity and madness. Between the machine and the man. A castle made of glass. A few cracks are enough to make it fall apart. You, you're those cracks. Nothing else. The purpose of this team was to repair those cracks and get you back to a normal condition. But I deduce that it's now obvious that normality is just a word, you'll never be normal. "
" So what will happen to our team now? "
" Nothing. I understood my mistake. I've tried to solve your problems, your defects, but I've failed and now I understand why: you are those defects. Those flaws are your identity, they are what make you unique. Where the T-Dolls are all mass produced, identical to each other, you are the only ones to be human. Funny, don't you find it too? This all started with a girl who wanted to make men into machines but ended up making a machine a human being. "
" So you consider me a human? "
" It's not for me to decide what you are. You're the only owner of your identity and therefore of your destiny. I should be asking you: what are you? In this castle of glass, are you a machine or a human? "
OTs-14 looked Kryuger straight in the eyes, in silence. She smiled. She left the office.
" EXPIATIO. " Kryuger said, glancing at the files on those six Dolls. " A fitting name. "
Expiatio is a Latin term. In Ancient Rome it was that mean that served to restore the right relationship between humans and the mysterious powers operating in the world when this relationship had been disturbed. Any unusual or worrying event indicated that the order of things had been disturbed, therefore for the Romans a proportional expiatio was necessary.
The term expiatio is translated into Italian with the word "espiazione" or "atonement".