Guys, what do you all think of Josie so far? I know she looks like an experiment of sorts? Reserve your answers for yourselves as you read through the story! :) Share it via a review or PM me! :) Oh yeah... I'm starting to make a book in Wattpad, but it's about magic used generally in the modern world. Will share details on another chapter here soon!

Anyway... Chapter 7! Here we go! :)

"Dead locked"

Earth 1 (Advanced Warfare Dimension)

2061…

Siberian Commercial Transport System…

1542 hours…

Weather: Cloudy and close to raining

Josie wasn't liking the odds of hiding and running the whole time. Though at least the odds are acceptable, since Irons is no longer in that world. What remained of ATLAS was just pure self-wit and a lost existence without anyone to guide them. Though normal flow of life itself kept the whole network straight as long as they don't get tracked by the armies who hunted them.

She was hiding at an empty building near the main terminal, at the 2nd floor. Rex was with her along with Dr. Nizio Boyd. The same as before, a police presence was confirmed.

"Agh… I knew something like this would happen," commented Rex who just took out his rangefinder so that he'd see what they're dealing with. "Lots of foot mobiles dressed as police officers, but I confirmed they're all ATLAS. Separated, but eyes aren't loose. One or two patrol cars at both sides of the terminal are stationary."

Josie groaned. "This won't be easy."

"Nothing's easy. Look… Josie. You're the celebrity, but make sure you don't shoot civilians here. Last thing we need is a record for shooting innocents."

"That's what I never wanted to do. But… There's always fate."

"Fuck fate."

"Hm. Interesting. We speak the same language."

Nizio Boyd tried to speak but he didn't bother. 'I think I'll just disturb them if I do.'

Josie sighed as she was going to be the target again with what she'll do. "Okay. Same as last time then?"

"Yeah," replied Rex while he brought out his sniper rifle. "Popping heads and it'll be a blast again."

Later…

Josie walked towards the terminal. Police officers looked at her with suspicion and she smirked at them.

"What's wrong? Seen a ghost?" Josie said this before the officers attempted to fire at her in vain. She ran fast with her Speedy Sprint magic ability, getting past the men with ease as they fire at her. Drawing her SMG, she fires back at them where they couldn't see her. She uses one of the men as a human shield and he gets shot to death with their bullets as she runs for her next victim. "Kill me if you can! You all signed up on this for fucking with me!"

Rex aims his scope at one of the distracted police-disguised ATLAS grunts and squeezes the trigger before quickly loading another round into his weapon. He confirmed his first kill was made before moving onto another target and squeezes the trigger again. "Josie, you're a little provocative. You got company. Those patrol cars got Light Machine Guns in them."

As soon as Josie saw the moving patrol cars stop, she looked at them in suspicion. Then a window suddenly lowered itself before a launcher of sorts was being aimed from the interior of the car. She winced before the rocket launcher itself fired a rocket right at her. It was a close call, but she put her hands up front. And an explosion happened around her, and spread right at the entrance of the terminal, killing some civilians who were in range of the explosion…

Earth 2 (Witches' Dimension)

1945…

Southeast Romagna… 1824 hours…

Dana laughed as she lowered her pistol. She was hovering in her striker unit right in front of the Strike Witches, amused by what she just revealed to them. Mio Sakamoto's magic shield was able to stop the bullet only half way. The bullet slowly inched itself past her shield just before the bullet got through, though it fell to the ground since there wasn't any speed left from before.

"Hehe…" Dana chuckled, knowing this would result in mistrust. It's good enough for satisfaction in that moment. "So the Major will actually fight while she's weak? She's even more stupid than I thought."

Mio was about to raise her weapon, but Lida forced it down with one hand. "C-Commander…?"

Lida glared at Mio. "Get to the rear of the formation, Major."

"B-but-!"

"NOW! THAT IS AN ORDER! Barkhorn, replace her position in the formation once we are in proper flight. Major Sakamoto here is unfit for combat." Lida then looked at Dana, being calm in the situation. Behind her, Mio was sadly hovering to the rear of the formation while Barkhorn was seen going to Major Sakamoto's place before, just beside Lida. "I will guess it's obvious you know about Major Sakamoto. That means the intelligence you know was shared to you by those who stole their credentials."

Though it wasn't meant to be known, Dana smiled innocently. "Yes, Commander. In fact, they were very nice to me. They opened my eyes better."

"Traitor!" Patricia Schade tried to hover forward with bad intentions but was being pulled back by Lynette. "Why?! What had Britannia done to you?"

"Patricia… Please don't!" Lynette advised Schade.

"It was not Britannia itself, Schade." Dana softly giggled and continued. "I'm glad you lived after Rome by the way. To make it clear… It's the people who run the country. They think of themselves, and everyone else can be ranked lower than they are, while they make us look like fools following what they want. And the end result? More wars. It made sense to me after a long time. It disturbed me before. If they had let me stay home, I would have saved the ones who I loved." Dana told them this while she recently remembered her mother. Eventually she glared at the witches. "You all follow blindly. And you've all stepped the line by opposing us. So for that… I want to see witches fall in front of me. Kill them."

Lida didn't expect two Warbirds suddenly appearing behind Dana from invisibility of some sort. The Warbirds approached with hostility and launched rockets. "Break and Engage!" On her order, the witches broke formation, and barkhorn shouted orders. The 501st was organized on the assignments of the formation. Soon, the fight starts with them firing back at the Warbirds, now with doors opening and firing machine guns at the witches.

Dana evilly chuckles as she equips an Ameli machine gun, which she used against the witches. Barkhorn challenged her, and Dana accepted to be fired on. She even put up her shield from time to time to shield herself from the ace's rounds.

The witches fought well, as more Warbirds were dispatched against them. Dana kept sending rounds against the witches, but she also sent what seemed to be her main attack magic: Lightning. Repeating lightning strikes were sent at Barkhorn while the ace was using her magical shield.

Perrine flies and intervenes. "TONNERE!" Perrine sends Dana one lightning strike of her own. "Think you're the only one?!" And she only heard Dana chuckle loud. Perrine then was shocked as to why. The lightning strike Perrine sent didn't affect Dana. And worse: She was recognizing the way her lightning was absorbed. "No… Impossible!"

"It's too bad you don't believe it yourself!" Dana answered with a tone of insanity from her mind before she charged a lightning strike onto Perrine, and was doubled from Perrine's Tonnere, shocking the Gallian with twice the power she has. Not being able to shield herself with her magic, Perrine was pushed back and experienced some numbness. As Dana shot out a barrage from Dana's machine gun before Barkhorn got in front of the Gallian with a magic shield to protect them. "T-thank you!"

"Don't thank me yet," Barkhorn advised. "We got company behind us!"

Just as Barkhorn announced, an ATLAS Warbird quickly hovered behind Perrine and Barkhorn. Looking to be surrounded by an MG emplacement on the Warbird and Dana, the two had to think of something quick. It didn't matter as rounds from an MG 42 came as a barrage that killed the emplacement machine gunner on the Warbird. Erica shouted as she put the hammer down, making sure her rounds hit. "DON'T YOU TOUCH TRUDY!"

"Hartmann!" Barkhorn called out Erica's name before seeing the Warbird behind her go down. Her mind had a comment. 'She must have shot the pilot as well. Well done, Frau.'

Sanya fired rockets from her Fligrhammer Launcher that easily took down a Warbird, just before another Warbird went beside her and made a strafing run. Not seeing it, Eila quickly came and used her shield to protect her. Sanya only noticed when it happened.

"Sanya!" Eila called out to her before hovering near her.

"Thank you, Eila!"

"If it's you… Anything!" As Eila said this, Sanya's face blushed a little. They then focused before Eila continued her statement. "They're really giving a fight!"

Sanya nodded before firing one rocket and another before two Warbirds were hit badly before crashing down. "I don't think they'll be able to touch us even if they wanted to."

"Good! Cause I won't allow you to get hurt!"

Lynette was sniping with her Anti Tank rifle from a distance and decided to target Dana. Getting her eyes on the target, she takes a deep breath then aims her sight down before firing. She winced at what happened, seeing Dana use a magic shield and move on. Lynette was thankful Dana didn't pursue her. It would be trouble if she did. She noticed right beside her that Yoshika was panting. She even noticed that the Fusojin's hands were shaking. She couldn't move at this point, knowing her trauma still overwhelmed her.

"Yoshika?" Lynette called while staying alert with the other hostiles. "You've got to fight, Yoshika! If you can't protect everyone… you've got to-!"

"NO!" Yoshika shouted at Lynette in protest. "Don't think what I told you was for nothing!"

Lynette remembered every word Yoshika said. She heard Yoshika say that she couldn't protect everyone. So in order for her to do so, she promised herself in front of the Britannian that she would get stronger no matter what the circumstance. Because of this, Lynette was thinking of how to help Yoshika. And she found two ways. Lowering her rifle, she hovered at Yoshika just before she suddenly closed in and kissed her. Yoshika's mind froze in surprise. The action happened a little distant from the battle continued on for several seconds. And afterwards, Lynette's mouth left Yoshika's before she did something else that's surprising. Lynette raises her hand on Yoshika's cheek. The slap wasn't heard by the rest, but Yoshika felt and heard it too well.

"L-Lynette?" Yoshika felt her cheek while she looked at Lynette who was now glaring at her. "W-what-?"

"I don't want you to feel that unless I don't support you, but I do. You're not the only one who lost loved ones, Yoshika. Others too. I looked hard at what war is. Because no matter if I cry, it won't change the meaning of it." Lynette then started to cry and felt some rage within her as she held Yoshika's shirt tight. "I don't want you to hurt yourself… but it hurts me more if you don't make up your mind. Someone once told me before I left that what defines us is what we choose to do. I chose to fight in spite of what ATLAS had done at Rome, because I don't want others to suffer the fate they'd bring to them… even if it meant… killing the humans they think they are."

Yoshika's eyes widened at what Lynette said. 'Wait, she would… do that…?'

FLASHBACK…

0228 hours…

Lynette was in her quarters, shared with Yoshika. As Yoshika was asleep, probably trying to escape the nighmares brought to her from that day, Lynette couldn't sleep, and just observed Yoshika.

Lynette – I watched you sleep, and you tried to be peaceful in it. And with the things you're telling me about being helpless, you were getting nightmares, and try running away from them.

She was just outside the room when Lynette softly punched the wall. She started to cry and get on her knees.

I couldn't just bear you being alone. I felt I was helpless myself, because I couldn't tell you exactly how I would deal with what you're facing. So I wanted to make it better for you… for both of us. I can't leave you, but I can't bear seeing you cry when I'm gone either. So there's one thing I'd rather do… confess what I feel about you.

She was wiping her tears off her face with her hand and attempted to breathe deeply. She looked up, knowing she can make that call.

I'd do anything for you, Yoshika.

End of Flashback…

"I love you, Yoshika." Lynette said this as she looked at the Fusojin in the eye. "That's the truth. I felt that… the first time you became a reserve unit and after we separated from Dover. I never told you. Because I was afraid."

"Lynette-chan…" Yoshika didn't know what to utter except Lynette's given name. 'You… mean that…?'

"LOOK OUT!" Mio shouted just before she got in front of Lynette and Yoshika as a rocket was close to them. At this time, Mio held Reppumaru, her Samurai sword she held strongly with her hands just before she made a horizontal slash just in time. The rocket splits into two and moves past all three of them before to explosions were felt behind them. "Bishop! Miyafuji! What are you two doing?!"

"M-Major!" Yoshika tried to answer.

"Save it, Miyafuji! There's a battle going on!"

"Not for long," Dana muttered. She smiled at what she heard on her earpiece before she used it again. "All units, fall back. We're done here." As she gave her order, the remaining Warbirds began to retreat. She chuckled at the witches who were just near there. "Enjoy your little victory. Your friends would have been killed by now."

Lida then looked at the distance for what Dana meant. Thick black smoke was seen rising from a forested area just a few miles towards the same heading they're supposed to find the Duchess. She then realized what it meant. Feeling rage, she ordered something that would jeopardize her unit. "All units, hold position. And I meant it. That girl is mine." She then went on ahead from the squadron, but changed her mind on something. "Belay order! Head to the objective! Rescue the duchess and get her to safety. I'll deal with this!"

"COMMANDER!" Major Sakamoto herself didn't expect the leader would desert them, but she'd rather do the objective that stay there. "Alright, we'll keep going! Let's hope she knows what's she doing. Formation change… I'm taking point! Barkhorn, you're my number two."

J.S.U. under Captain Bolton…

Forested Area… Several miles away from Messina…

Near southeast end of forested area…

1829 hours…

Paulsen, the Britannian witch was looking. She used a thick tree trunk as cover while she raised her Thompson SMG. The situation calls for all priorities to be used at this point since they're dealing with a technological faction. But the way they've been quiet for a while now just made Paulsen uneasy.

Eventually, Kathryn calls via the earpiece. "Paulsen, anything?"

"Nothing. It's too quiet. It's been five minutes."

"We're almost at the southeast tip. Once we're in the open, the 501st should see us."

Though as Paulsen was about to smile from Kathryn's statement, she gasped and looked up, hearing a sudden drone of a hovering plane's engine with something attached at the bottom of it. The hovering plane was surprisingly carrying a Walker Neuroi, a Neuroi in which it can travel on land, and looks like a beetle on its appearance. But instead of having red hexagons partially on its strong black shell-hide, its color was blue. Paulsen didn't think it was a regular Neuroi at this case. "Boss… We got a problem!"

The blue Walker Neuroi was then released from the Warbird, dropping down past the trees. It even knocked a lot of branches during its fall just before it hit the ground legs first. It was first half-buried on the ground, but it soon was getting out as it burst some soil towards Paulsen's direction. She used her magic shield to block the fast soil and stones from hitting her. Narrowing her eyes, she can see the 8 foot tall and 7 foot wide Walker Neuroi looking down at her. "Hello, Bug. So… Do you want me?" Paulsen asked before she aimed her SMG right at the Neuroi.

Meanwhile, Kathryn was taking cover at another tree trunk. Her team composed of Maximoff, Kuhn, Yoshikawa, and Leiber who was injured but was being helped by Kuhn. At this point, Yoshikawa was steadily healing Leiber from the inside, but this matter of her injuries needs to be surgically treated, not just with healing magic. Duchess Maria was right behind them, knowing she's the priority.

That time, Yoshikawa was helping to carry Leiber together with the Orussian witch Maximoff. Yoshikawa was also healing Leiber, but can't get past the internal organs that may be hit inside. "Maximoff, are you annoyed with carrying her?" She asked this, since Maximoff never at once physically helped a Karlslander. Yoshikawa knows there is a sense of rivalry between Maximoff and Leiber once. They were both best in demolitions than the other members of the team. Maximoff however was better in determining explosive material than Leiber, but the other seems to be better in damage amplification, both in scientific and magic means.

Maximoff snorted while carrying Leiber to answer Yoshikawa's question. "I am only doing this because she's a teammate. She can get a pretty big head if you don't watch her, Asian."

"Tch. Quit calling me Asian. I think you're rude."

"It's still true, right? You're an Asian. And Lina brags every time she beats one of us in a sparring session. That's two things true." Maximoff replied, and Yoshikawa narrowed her eyes on the Orussian.

'Sometimes, I can just be annoyed myself,' Yoshikawa thought.

"It's okay," Leiber said to Yoshikawa. "I don't blame Maximoff for telling me that. It's… rather something I want to change with myself anyway. Wakumi, just… Focus. If I'll die, I wanna die at the right time."

"Don't talk like that," Yoshikawa advised.

Seconds later, a witch of their own was seen being thrown onto a hard trunk of a tree before crashing down on the ground. Georgia Paulsen then started to get up. It was a good thing some of her magic was able to protect her back from the hit. As Kathryn was about to ask what happened, her answer was given as a blue Neuroi beam grazed just near their sides. It was too close, though the attack of a Neuroi beam was too familiar too them.

"GET BACK!" Kathryn shouted at the incoming Neuroi... a Walker Neuroi with its appearance like a beetle, though without the horns of one. The black shell of the Neuroi was accompanied by the unusual color of blue onto its hexagons instead of red. The Neuroi screeched its roar for its thirst for blood. "Fucking Neuroi. Always getting in our way." Kathryn then puts up her magic shield just before the Blue Neuroi released another strong blue beam at them. Kathryn is able to shield the team with her magic shield being enlarged, but the Neuroi walker fired more beams upwards. The beams bent and homed in to the other members. "What in the…?! EVERYBODY SHIELD UP!"

Maximoff and Kuhn both growled to protect Yoshikawa, Duchess Maria and Leiber from harm of the beams. Then the Blue Neuroi walker jumped like with a sidestep before firing smaller beams at the team. Soon, the J.S.U. had to engage the Blue Neuroi in close quarters. Leiber was seated on a tree trunk while Yoshikawa was healing her. Duchess Maria was with the two.

The Duchess was making sure to feel Leiber's skin if she was ever feeling hot. And she felt the abnormal warmth. "Damn… You're running a temperature."

Yoshikawa quietly groaned as she kept applying her healing magic. "Not good. Her organs are getting affected. I might be slowing things down but-"

"Don't sweat it Wakumi," replied Leiber. "Don't exert so much effort. There's so much you can do than help me."

"I'm not leaving you to die, Lina." Yoshikawa said this with conviction.

Meanwhile, Kuhn jumped and kicked the Walker Neuroi with her magic-infused legs. "COME ON!" Growling, she kicked harder, only chipping little of the Neuroi shell just before she was given a head-butt, pushing her and making her slide for a few meters.

Kathryn and Maximoff worked together. Maximoff used her strong shield to cover Kathryn who was firing her rifle at the Walker Neuroi. It proves to be somewhat more difficult. For some reason, the Neuroi shards that were being chipped off from the Walker Neuroi was giving traces of magic. This, Maximoff noticed.

"Captain! It's harder than usual! Magic's in this one!" Maximoff told Bolton.

"Keep it occupied, Maximoff!" Kathryn Bolton orders this before she attempted to run towards the Walker Neuroi. She dodged a beam, and another before she jumped. Her reflexes worked faster as she gave the Neuroi a barrage on its thick back. As she expected, the Neuroi's shell is harder to pierce with the magic acting as an additional shield. "Shit!" As she was supposed to land on the ground after her jump, a beam was suddenly fired at her from the Walker Neuroi's rear. She put her magic shield in front of her just in the nick of time, only to pushed back in mid-air before making an uncontrolled landing, letting her roll backwards and hits a weak tree trunk. The tree she hit was starting to collapse towards her and she gasped after finding out. "TIMBER!" She ran to dodge the falling tree. It was the same with Kuhn and Maximoff who only saw it. Soon, the tree crashes down onto the Walker Neuroi, damaging its tough shell and partially exposing the core. "There it is! It's vulnerable!"

Maximoff growled, running for the disabled Neuroi. "This one is MINE!"

The Walker Neuroi screeched louder than usual, signaling its rage before some sort of magic blast caught the three witches off guard, and knocked Bolton, Maximoff and Kuhn onto their backs. The Walker Neuroi then got angrily out of the tree debris, and ignored the three. The Walker Neuroi spots a witch resting on a tree, and analyzes its magic levels: This witch sitting by the tree has optimum magic levels. Without hesitation, the Neuroi releases a yellow harmless beam onto the witch.

Leiber was suddenly grabbed by the Walker Neuroi by some sort of yellow ray that wrapped itself around her torso, where she was injured. She screamed in pain for this. Yoshikawa tried to fire at the Neuroi, but the Walker Neuroi suddenly releases a blue beam. She had no choice but to use her magic shield and got in front of the Duchess to protect her from the beam. Using the Neuroi's yellow ray, it pulls Leiber towards it.

Kathryn ran to the Walker Neuroi to see be shocked of what happened next: She saw Leiber, injured from her lower back and torso, attached to the side of the Walker Neuroi with her back against it. Leiber's hands and feet were somehow being restrained as they were partially sucked into the Neuroi's body. "LEIBER!"

"RRRAAAAAAAGH!" Leiber shouted in pain, for both her injury and something else: Her magic was being sucked out of her for some reason. "W-what…?! What is this…?!"

Yoshikawa gasped at what the Neuroi is doing. Magic was being utilized from Leiber, and it was… pulling her magic in. "No! That Neuroi is sucking up her magic! If we let it-!"

"It'll be unstoppable," Kathryn muttered. Then she remembered something in her thoughts before time slowed down. 'Wait a minute… The core is somewhere near the left side of the big bad bug's back. The shell hasn't finished regenerating yet, but if Leiber's able to reach that part from where she is… Yeah. She can reach it.' "LEIBER! Use your tough head! AMPLIFY YOUR DAMAGE ON THAT PIECE OF SHIT!"

Leiber smirked before her body glowed red in magic as best she can. 'She's right! I can bust the Neuroi hide just with this.' She screamed before leaning her head forward, and forcefully pulled her head back towards the Neuroi shell. A small explosion of shards come from the Walker Neuroi. 'I have to keep going!' She pulls her head forward and pulls her head back and hits the same spot again. She did it again, again, again, and again before the core is able to be seen. She screamed in pain, knowing her injuries were about to make her give as she let her tears go from her eyes and blood from her mouth. "Aaaagh… Do… DO IT! DO IT WHILE IT'S RECHARGING ITSELF! NOW!"

Kuhn shouted while in tears as she grabbed the Panzerschreck launcher from a bag that belonged to Lina Leiber. As she aimed it towards the Neuroi, she saw Leiber was still attached. "No! I… can't!"

"YOU DO IT, KUHN! Defeat the Neuroi!" Leiber demanded this of Kuhn.

Kathryn knew that with Leiber's magic being used, the Neuroi's shell can regenerate faster, and the core could be missed if something wasn't done. 'No!'

Her thoughts made her remember something.

FLASHBACK…

Inside a dojo of sorts, Lina Leiber and Kathryn Bolton sparred with their martial arts uniforms on. Both seem to be in par with each others' skills and reflexes tested to be equal. But they both wanted to see who can make it better in a mix of a formal fight and a bar fight.

In the end, it was Leiber who proved she can do both, knocking down Bolton to the ground and smiled. Her elbow was tightly on Bolton's neck.

Leiber chuckled. "Aw… So you can't be called the leader."

Kathryn chuckled after Leiber's statement. "That's where you're wrong. Ya gotta make sure to make up with what ya know, not with what's easy."

"Hmph."

"So… what's next? What are ya doing now?" Kathryn asked, and she winced, seeing Leiber raise her elbow over her head. 'Crap. This is gonna hurt.'

Leiber smirked with her answer. "My duty." And she brought her hard elbow down to put Bolton in an unconscious state…

End of FLASHBACK…

Kathryn's head was lowered the time she remembered her moments with Lina Leiber. And this was no joke. She didn't want to lose someone from her team, but the circumstances can't change. She then looked at Kuhn. "Kuhn… DO IT!"

Kuhn held the launcher and cried before aiming upwards. "I'm so sorry… Leiber!"

Leiber's world slowed down and nodded. 'I know you are, Kuhn. Please… Let me go.'

Then Kuhn looked up and muttered her 'goodbye' and made her move. "Schwerkraft-Rakete!" Kuhn activates her main magic before she launched the Panzerschreck round upwards. Her magic was used just before the round started to be guided towards her target. She glared at the Walker Neuroi, screaming in rage now with its magic fully charged. "Just die, Neuroi scum."

Leiber chuckled softly while looking at Kuhn cursing at the Neuroi that held her. "That's my girl," she muttered to herself, before she closed her eyes and felt a sudden hit of an explosion behind her. Before she knew it, she went out quickly as her body got incinerated by Kuhn's explosive move. The Walker Neuroi explodes in shards along with Kuhn's explosive round.

Yoshikawa, Maximoff, Paulsen and Duchess Maria were shocked to see this, with the Duchess crying and Yoshikawa comforting her. Paulsen looked around vigilant, while Maximoff got on her knees with it hitting the soil while she put her hands on her face, blaming herself for Leiber's death.

Kathryn looked at the flames from Kuhn's magic attack move and didn't look away from it for a while. 'I'm sorry… Leiber.' "Everyone… we have to keep moving! They won't expect anything else but a signal. If we don't want Leiber's sacrifice to be in vain, we'll do that for her."

The others agreed to what the Captain has advised them, and they started to move. Most of them looked back at the spot of the explosion, giving their own prayers for Leiber…