"Reporting in, Director Grem." Julius began the moment that the three stepped into the room. They all bowed their heads when the Chief Supervisor, Dr. Leah, passed them. She gave a small smile, a lingering gaze on Brynn before she left.

It wasn't Brynn's first time in the director's office. The last time was when Romeo dragged her in here to pester the director, they got yelled out and kicked out. Who could blame him though, Romeo asked questions regarding his connection with the idol that he obviously admired.

"Come on, Brynn!" Flailed the blonde male as he followed the vice captain like a lost puppy. The pout on his face not fading away, "It's really important! We have to talk to Director Grem. Please."

She spun around and gave an annoyed look, "Fine. Let's go." Her friend's face lit up the moment that she complied. She sighed and figured that it was something important.

Boy, she was wrong.

"I was informed you wished to speak with my team and I?" She was snapped from her thoughts when Julius spoke up once again. The three of them stood with attention in front of the desk. Brynn couldn't help but grimace at the foul scent that clouded the room. It came from the cigars that the director smoked nonstop.

"Leader, if you keep smoking, it will be the death of you." She said with a disapproving expression. The figure clad in brown simply shrugged his shoulders before answering. A puff of smoke coming from his mouth.

"Better than being Aragami feed." She scoffed before walking away.

Crinkling her nose in displeasure, she earned a discerning look from the Captain who happened to look her way.

She gave a small smile before paying attention. It was the director's turn to speak. Fortuitously, the plump man didn't see the faces that she was making. She wouldn't be surprised if she lost her job sooner or later with her behavior.

"As per Dr. Rachel's request, I want you Blood Unit" he said the name with disgust and in a degrading manner, "to take lead in conducting the upcoming God Arc Soldier exercises." He turned to the skinny scientist standing by the edge of his table, "Kujo, elaborate for me." With that being said, he scrambled and stuttered.

"O-Of course, Director." He gave a slight nod, somewhat putting himself at ease, "I understand that you, Captain Julius and Ms. Alencon, worked under Dr. Leah and Dr. Rachel." He gave a short glance to Brynn before turning back to the two, now she felt useless.

The two were raised together after all, in the same place and by the same people. They may have been promising as children thus earning them such positions and responsibilities at early ages. Now, if only she could remember what her experiences were when she was younger. The frustration and curiosity was getting to her.

"Yes," Julius answered, "That is true. They raised us, in fact. Both Ciel and I served as test pilots in the earlier phases of the God Arc Soldier Project."

See?

Brynn listened intently anyways, taking in all the small details and terms that she would probably forget later on. The scientist perked up at what the young captain just told him.

"Very good!" He chimed in with a smile gracing his face. "Yes, very good indeed."

'That doesn't sound creepy at all.' Brynn thought as she watched the scientist grin in an ominous way. Perhaps she was overthinking things.

"Then I'll be brief. I need you to observe the soldiers in combat and defend them." He hesitated a bit before continuing, "If necessary." Brynn was about to stuff her hands in her pockets, when she realized that she didn't have any so she crossed them over her chest instead. She tried to stop herself from covering her nose as the smoke just kept getting thicker.

'Hope that you get lung cancer.' She side glared at the director who was busy staring at nothing with a smile on his face as he puffed smoke.

"We require 1-on-1 combat data, so your task is to clear the operation area. Please ensure that nearby aragami will not be a threat." Kujo added, Julius hummed in response.

"So we're the opening act?" He pointed out, the emotion in his voice was unreadable.

Another puff of smoke filled the air before the director responded, "Exactly." A sly grin creeped on his lips. "You best not forget it, boy. The God Arc Soldiers are the star of the show." Chastising them while the vice captain tried to hold back her eye roll.

'Not just lung cancer hopefully.' For someone who has never been in the battlefield or had contact with aragami, he sure was putting them down a lot. She dismissed the thought of tossing him out the building, she was irritable today for some reason.

"Do I make myself understood?"

"Yes, sir." A curt response from the captain with a nod. With that being said, they were shooed outside, to be briefed by the male scientist who followed them.

Julius ran over to the desk where Fran was talking on her comm and typing briskly. Her eyebrows were furrowed together which further fueled the captain's concern.

"Is Blood still engaged?" He asked after slamming his hands on the counter. She nodded and muttered a short response while typing away on her keyboard, her eyes fixated on the computer screen. She gasped.

"God Arc Soldier Beta has taken server damage. What are you orders?" Julius immediately recognized Ciel's voice. His breath was hitched in his throat as he tightened his grip on the counter, waiting for a response. Despite the situation the young girl was in, she remained calm.

"Ciel, I'll deactivate God Arc Unit Beta. Defend it and repel aragami until we can mount a rescue." The operator's hands worked on accomplishing what she just said. Green eyes scanning the computer when she was abruptly stopped.

"Delay that!" Julius cut in, the rage in his voice was obvious, "I saw strange clouds on my return. I'm certain that they were red nimbus." He just arrived from a solo mission that had been assigned by Rachel. Something to keep him busy with.

Fran's eyes widened upon what she heard, she whispered lowly, "No… Red Nimbus."

A group of three God Eaters looked over at the distance. Red, thundering masses of clouds came at them at a breakneck pace. They could hardly contain the fear on their faces, they were alone together. Nothing could provide them comfort as the smell of decaying oracle cells, metallic smell of blood, only added fuel to their nerves.

"Gil here." The tallest and oldest among them pressed on his earpiece, "We can confirm the presence of the Red Nimbus." Romeo walked up to him with awe in his face. It had been overshadowed by his fear, however.

"I've heard the rumors, but other than in Friar, I've never seen one in person. This is insane!" His eyes widened when a bolt of lighting had flashed in the sky. Nana remained behind the entire time as the trio discerned the scene in front of them. She gasped when an Aragami dropped from the skies in front of them. A Chi-You that taunted them the moment that it hit the ground.

"Romeo, keep an eye on Unit Omega." Gil slashed the air with his weapon, getting ready to attack. Romeo nodded and switched to his gun, staying near the God Arc Soldier.

She felt useless.

Hopeless.

Idle.

Meaningless.

Incompetent.

Every negative word that she had in her vocabulary, could perfectly describe her. She was alone, assigned to watch one of the soldiers, Unit Gamma in particular. Like Ciel had been assigned to Beta. She froze upon hearing that her friend was in danger.

"Brynn, as vice captain, make sure that they are all safe." The ochre haired male said with a hand firmly placed on the smaller one's shoulder. The usual gentle expression that he had for her, was replaced with a serious one.

"Yes, Captain." She bowed slightly before hustling towards the God Arc storage area where all of them had been waiting.

She heard the orders that Gil was barking out to the rest of the unit after an Aragami appeared. She was supposed to protect them. She gazed at the crimson clouds that threatened them. She had to do something.

Turning her head slightly, her eyes met the metallic figure that she was 'protecting.' An idea crossed her mind. It was crazy, and risky, but it might just work.

"I'm gonna get in trouble." Then an image of her teammates getting hurt flashed. She shivered at the thought of it.

"Fuck it."

Julius hastily activated his own comm, the moment that it picked up signal, he ordered, "Blood Unit, withdraw immediately! There isn't enough time." He was tormented by the thought of his comrades getting hurt.

Although he had ordered Brynn to watch over them, it was still his unit, he was still captain. If anything were to happen to them…

"Captain, it may be too late, red rain has begun to fall here." Ciel's somber voice came through. He clenched his teeth and cursed.

"Damn!" He turned to the operator who had the same panic and fear on her face, "Fran, where's the transport squad?" She checked the screen, typing a few times on the keyboard when her shoulders sagged. That wasn't a good sign, Julius knew it.

"They're surrounded, trying to fight through the Aragami." She paused before sighing sadly, "I don't think that they'll make it on time." She wistfully confessed. Julius cursed once again.

"All Blood members, your new orders are to put on the suits and rescue Ciel!" He continued to bark orders. The silver-haired girl was the only thing on his mind right now and her safety. He assumed that since she was the only one that had been separated.

"Whatever you do, Ciel. Stay out of the rain." Before he could carry on or even listen to a response, a new voice had cut in.

"Stop! You do not have the authority to do that." The newcomer challenged, all eyes turned to where the voice came from.

Julius' teeth gritted at the sight and his hands curled up into fists, he was trying his best to remain calm and respectful towards the superior, "Director Grem." He acknowledged through clenched teeth.

"Tell your minions, that the God Arc Soldiers are their first and only priority." He put emphasis on his words, as if mocking the captain, "Order them to aid to their defense." He added, not considering the lives that were to be put at risk.

"Sir!" Julius exclaimed, an incredulous look on his face, "That's impossible, they cannot fight in the rain." He reasoned out, hands still pulled into a fist. An angered shout came from the older man.

"How dare you question me, Julius?! You will defend the God Arc Soldiers even at the cause of your life!" This caused Julius to boil over, he slammed his hand hard on the counter which had the young operator flinch in surprise.

Poor counter was taking a beating that day.

"Have you gone mad? I won't abandon her! You know damn well how dangerous the rain is!" Before he could even answer back even more, a calm voice from their comms had been heard by all.

It was Ciel, her voice was still composed, Julius knew that there was more to it, "Captain, I will stay by the God Arc Soldier's side." She continued to say how he should stop defending her. "I'm truly honored to have fought by your side." The line went blank.

The director snickered upon hearing what the girl just said, Julius no longer hid his glare. The director dismissed him however and continued to laugh with glee.

"Ciel! Respond, Ciel!" He slammed the counter once again in chagrin. He could no longer hear her voice.

"She deactivated her comm." Fran informed him after checking the state that the unit was in.

"That young lady is well-trained, indeed! She's made the right choice and saved your career with it, captain." Sarcasm was dripping as he mentioned the title. The scowl on Julius' face had vanished, his attention had been taken away once again by a loud curse on the comm.

"Uh, Captain?" Nana's hesitant voice was heard, prompting him to immediately respond.

"What is it, Nana?" He hoped for good news, but the string of curses that erupted from Gil's mouth didn't provide him with much comfort.

"That fucking idiot." He heard, causing him to cock an eyebrow. What the hell was happening?

Nana's voice came through once again, after a loud explosion, "It's the vice Captain," She paused as another explosion and came through, "She kind off… Flew off in a God Arc Soldier. We couldn't stop her cause she was separated from us." Julius' eyes widened.

"What?" He growled. Two of his comrades were in danger, one wasn't on purpose and the other was being plain reckless. He had the urge to run out, but the loud thundering cry of the red nimbus had reminded him that he couldn't.

Fran gasped which earned his attention, "The Aragami signals are going dark, and Gamma is on an intercepted course with Beta!" She voiced out as she examined the screen. So those explosions were coming from the Vice Captain navigating the God Arc Soldier.

Grem sighed in irritation, as much as he wanted to get rid of the entire unit, he couldn't. It would rid them of puppets and tools, he scolded Julius before walking away. He needed a cigar, or maybe Leah. Whichever of the two would do.

The two watched the retreating figure of the plump man, they were now focused on the Blood Unit, when Julius began to erupt in a series of chuckles. Fran could only stare at him with disbelief, wondering what was going on with the captain.

She simply sighed before turning back to the computer screen, a small smile appearing on her face upon what she saw.

"Oh my, I may have timed things incorrectly once again." A whimsical voice echoed in an empty room, as a figure clad in black typed and examined the screen in front of her.

A smile curled on her lips upon seeing the charts that she had closely been examining.

"Fascinating…" She mused as the focused on the erratic changing stats of the God Arc Soldier a certain blonde was currently navigating. She turned her gaze to the other set of stats that belonged to each member. Three names were written in red, previously, only two had been red. There was a new addition to the fray.

"My sweet Brynn… You truly are a blessing from above. I suppose that I can have you play for a bit longer, little one?" Soft giggles resonated in the room, the figure still focused on the large screen in front of her.

Everything was falling into place. Perhaps she could even get what she wanted earlier.