Chapter 31: The reoccurring nightmare
I got a few lose screws inside my head, similar and identical to that of Yuuko sensei, those mad scientists who artificially created espers from test tubes and those people who ever engineered a plan to abandon their rightful birthplace to the BETA.
"We are unexpectedly similar."
At some point, Yuuko sensei said that.
That's sound just like a bad joke, except that Yuuko sensei's face was dead serious.
Me and Yuuko sensei? We are similar? I couldn't see how a genius like Yuuko was similar to me.
But, we are indeed similar, Yuuko sensei and I. It's something that I have only come to understood recently. Some time, somewhere, we have become something that fundamentally different from a normal human being while we were fervently chasing after our ambition. It was our obsession, our desperation and our madness that gave birth to such demon inside us. Yet, we didn't exactly view them as demons, we accept them readily without much thinking into it as our distinction of norm has already been broken. Thus, we are undoubtedly similar, twisted and broken.
11th December 2001, 6.59 pm
"Found it," Yuuko's soft voice was drowned in her own chronic typing sound. The speed that Yuuko hit the keyboard at the moment would even put Takeru into shame if he was to see it.
It was a pitch black room, save for the fainted light emitted from the computer screen that Yuuko was working on. Yet, Yuuko didn't feel completely unpleasant by such minor obstruction. In fact, she casually hit the keyboard with great speed and meticulous accuracy.
"What do we have here?" Like a child, Yuuko marvelled an unregistered installed program inside the computer. It seemed that they were careless, didn't expect Yuuko to see through this. Was it because she always left the software work to Kasumi that they thought she has no knowledge of programming?
"I suppose this is Kagami's doing and Shirogane is the mastermind…But why?" The mad scientist quietly pondered after finished her thorough system scan.
The more she thought about this, the more nonsensical it became. She could not relate how this piece of program could help Shirogane Takeru to foil with her plan. In fact, this piece of unregistered program would only create a bigger mess once put to use. Trying to put herself in Takeru's shoes to sorting all the clues she has gotten so far, Yuuko grimaced.
"What's good of shutting down the core reactor in that situation?"
Yuuko pressed her slim fingers against her temple and entered a world of her own. Even if Shirogane Takeru's action has no meaning at all, Yuuko was determined to beat the meaning out of this absurdity of Takeru's plan with her brain.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
"Where is he? Aren't we supposed to have a meeting now?"
Hayase waltzed into the briefing room, carrying with her an absurd amount of water bottles on both arms. The briefing room was awfully silent without the junior members.
"Don't know. Some random girl came and took him with her," Munakata answered in an unconcerned tone. There wasn't a need to question about the identity of the man in Hayase's question. Among the Valkyries, there was only one he.
…
"Is that so?" Hayase forced a smile after put down her load on the table.
"And I thought it would be more dramatic," Munakata sulkily said, sighing dissatisfiedly.
The room was filled with giggle as to response to Munakata's joke.
"Wh…what are you expecting?" Hayase growled
"You know… Thing like dropping down those water bottles to the floor and act a little more panic," Isumi chuckled with a teasing smile on her face.
"Or screaming like Kya…that thieving cat," Munakata sadistically grinned.
"I dare you to repeat that again,"
Hayase tightly clenched her fist with her fuming red face.
"Mitsuki, you know? You don't have to hide it anymore, we all knew about it" Suzumiya Haruka beamed a blissful look at her best friend, smiling.
"About what?"
"It's him that you were waiting night after night in our hangar, right?" Isumi cooed.
"…" gasping, Hayase's eyes filled with shock and her face was as red as a ripen tomato.
"Ah hah, bullseyes" Munakata giggled, enjoying the shocked expression on Hayase's face "We have a winner"
"…how…?"
Hayase's expression is like that of Macbeth who just saw the Birknam wood move to the Dusinane Hill. Words came out half way only to be stuck in her cat stolen tongue. As a result, it was an entire looping process of open and closing mouth without producing any comprehensible sound.
"It's sadden us if have that surprise look on your face. The whole unit already knew about that. Or you actually didn't find it strange that we didn't question about those night trysts of yours back then?"
Munakata's expression could only describe as wicked. It's not everyday that she could see Hayase has such embarrass expression on her face like this.
"…the whole…unit?"
Steam came out of Hayase's head. It wouldn't be weird anymore if she was to pass out in any moment, short-circuiting.
"And I have expected you would be more assertive and proactive when he finally transferred to our unit. But, it turned out that I was totally off the mark. It was really my loss when I made that bet with Misae"
Isumi feigned regretting something as she continued to speak. Though, a teasing smile curved on her lips telling people that she was enjoying this just as much as Munakata.
"…wh…what on the earth did all of you do behind my back?" Hayase threateningly roared as her face continued to sizzle dangerously.
"But, don't worry Hayase. It's still early. You can start moving now before some random girls take him away," Munakata advised, doesn't seem to be affected by Hayase's killing intent.
"I-DO-NOT-HAVE-ANY-FEELING-FOR-HIM"
Hayase roared, mincing words with a 90% aggravated and 10% embarrassed voice.
"Oh ho? You still claim that you have no feeling for him? You were totally panic stricken when we were talking about his secret lover in the morning."
Isumi grinned evilly. This is payback for all the troubles I had to go through because of you. Her face seemed to say.
"Yes, Mitsuki should use this opportunity to beat me to a boyfriend," Haruka said while patting Hayase's shoulders.
Suddenly facing the betrayal of her best friend, Hayase could only curse the guy who was late for the meeting for the shame she has to bear.
"Even you…Haruka"
"Sorry, I'm late"
The briefing room's door opened and Shirogane Takeru threw himself into the room as though his life depended on it.
"Speak of the devil," Munakata muttered.
"2nd Lieutenant, didn't we make it clear to you that the meeting will be at 19.00 hours sharp? Why are you being late?"
Hayase angrily snarled. She shot Takeru a look that might even kill a bear.
"Ahh… I was running an errand for Yuuko sensei"
Takeru nervously shrunk his body to avoid Hayase's wraith.
"…"
Hayase darted a piercing look at her friends for the earlier tall tale they have written. However, the trio has an equally surprise expression on their face.
"Just to be sure, 2nd Lt. Shirogane… if I am not mistaken, you were together with an onee san at the training ground a while ago right?" Suzumiya Haruka asked in a serious tone.
"…yes"
"Who was she? I have never seen her around our base before"
"…I don't really know her, okay? Yuuko sensei sent her to get me"
Shirogane Takeru started to shrink even smaller as he replied. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead at an incredible rate.
"It's weird… Why did the XO send her to get you instead of 1st Lt. Elena?" Captain Isumi sternly inquired, giving Takeru no room to back down.
"…Ahaha, now you mention about that. It's kind of weird," Takeru was completely drenched in his own sweat as he managed an answer.
…
An extremely suffocated silence descended upon the Valkyries' briefing room. "Ahem, it's your liberty to choose who you are going steady with… But please keep it to yourself and don't pull us down with you," Hayase's voice was completely devoid of emotion. She was a hundred times scarier than her usual self.
"…Sorry, I've only met her yesterday. And she isn't my lover or anything…" in a barely audible voice, Takeru replied.
"Yesterday? So you are saying that she was the explanation as to why you weren't in your own room yesterday?" Haruka asked with half opened eyes.
"Yes… wait, how do you know about that first lieutenant? Don't tell me that you were stalking me all the time?"
"2nd Lt. Shirogane. You shouldn't answer a question with a question. It's really rude to your superiors, you know? And besides, on what basis that you are accusing me of stalking after you… Can you tell me 2nd Lieutenant? Do I really look like someone who would do something like that?" Suzumiya Haruka tilted her head cutely and asked.
Suzumiya Haruka is an extremely shy and courteous girl. She wasn't a type that used strength to threaten people nor would she say something that would imply violence in her action like Hayase. Phrases like "I will kill you", "Wash your neck and wait" or "I will beat you to pulp" would never come through Haruka's mind for even a second. Also, Haruka is not the type of person who would blackmail once got a hold of other's weakness like Munakata. Nor she is someone who would make use of her rank and duty to settle problem that she normally couldn't like Isumi. Suzumiya Haruka is such a perfectly elegant and sweet girl.
But, it wasn't Hayase who boasted greatest combative strength among the unit or Munakata who was the greatest schemer or Isumi who was recognized as the sliest the true final boss among the Valkyries. It was Suzumiya Haruka.
"My sincerest apologies First Lieutenant"
Takeru immediately apologized, kowtowing in a fanatical manner. He was once again reminded that Suzumiya Haruka despite her shyness and politeness and frail personality, she was still the true final boss of the Valkyries. Not even Captain Isumi or Munakata dared to cross Haruka's bad side.
"Back to the topic, so you said that you only met that onee san for the first time yesterday?" Haruka asked
"Yes…"
With both of his knees kneeling on the cold floor, Takeru replied. If someone was to enter the room and see this turn of event, they would undoubtedly mistake that Takeru was proposing to Haruka. Though, the reality was nearly as beautiful as it looked.
"And it was she the reason why you weren't in your room and an explanation as to why you were late as well this morning."
Haruka dangerously inquired while keeping her image fitting of a shy and courteous girl.
"…Yes"
Takeru could not hold a candle against an expert interrogator such as Haruka. He felt incredibly threatened as Haruka continued to press him for an answer. The elder Suzumiya could be even a thousand times more dangerous than Hayase.
"Scum"
Munakata icily spat while shooting a disdain look at Takeru as though he just crawled out from filth.
"The worst," Isumi muttered scornfully.
"What kind of debauchery lifestyle that you are living?" Hayase Mitsuki on the other hand seemed to freeze into stature.
"2nd Lt. Shirogane, while you are free to live to your liking, don't you think you should refrain a little from that unhealthy living style and pay a closer attention to your image as an A01's member? You have already become a celebrity."
Haruka lectured with a displeased pair of eyes as though a mother disappointed of her child's behaviour.
"Why are you all giving me that look? It's not like I did something bad here. I only say a few words with her just now…" Takeru desperately reprimanded, unable to comprehend why he was subjected to all of this terrible treatment.
"2nd Lt. Shirogane"
Haruka's voice was armoured with ferocity and strictness like a prefect.
"Yes" Takeru replied in a fit of panic
"Repent on your wrong doing! How could you spend the night with someone you have no feeling for much less someone you just meet? Or are you saying it was already a regular basis for you? At least take responsibility for your action like a man," Suzumiya Haruka growled dangerously while giving Takeru a look as though he was the filthiest creature in the whole world.
"What…wh…when did I ever spend the night with her? Are you retar… ahem there is no way that I would, First Lieutenant. Wait, do I look like a person who would lead that kind of debauchery life to you all? Where did you get that idea from?" Takeru finally stood up on his two legs, indignantly fighting for his honour.
…
The phrase "being at a loss for word" was probably made to describe situations such as this. Time seemed to freeze on everybody.
"Ahem… so you weren't late this morning because you spent the night in her room" Captain Isumi was the first to regain her time.
"She's not even my lover, I have only know her since yesterday, how could I sleep in her room?" Shirogane Takeru furiously growled, "Besides, she was here on the behalf of the Imperial Ministry of Information and the Imperial Army. Who would be stupid enough to make a move on her. Oh, and by the way, she sent you words of regard, Captain"
"Does she know me? Wait… Ministry of Information… that must be…" Isumi stuttered as her face twitched painfully.
"Your sister" Takeru unhesistatedly confirmed Isumi's suspicion with a puff.
…
Silence returned to the room without any warning. Everyone in the briefing room except Takeru have an extremely awkward look on their face. Nobody has ever expected this weird turn of event.
"See, you were all worried over nothing. I knew he wasn't that kind of guy from the beginning" Munakata nervously cackled.
"…no, you didn't," Takeru blankly looked at his superior.
"Didn't I? Why does my memory so bad these days? Ahaha"
"How on the earth that you arrived at such terrible thought?" Takeru still didn't back down. He was abnormally brave as compare to his normal timidity in front of his superiors.
Isumi, Munakata and Hayase in unison, darted their gaze at the trembled figure of Haruka that about to escape the room unnoticeably with complicated expression.
The meeting unnoticeably considered delayed indefinite. The sour awkward mood continued to haunt the briefing room.
XXXXXXXXXX
Darkness eerily ruled over everything. Noise was completely loss to him except the sound of his beating heart.
Yet, Shirogane Takeru could not understand why he felt a sense of comfortableness within the cold and dark cockpit of his Shiranui than the warm and comfy bed in his living quarter.
But such thought was insignificant as compare to his inner demon.
He was such a fool. He was too easily swept away by the mood. He thought that the BETA and Yuuko were the only things that he has to keep in mind. But, it seemed that his inner demon was actually the scariest things.
The thing inside him has the skill beyond anyone's common sense or someone's wildest dream. Single-handedly squashed a whole elite test flight hailed from Russia in a mere 5 minutes, it wasn't a feat that anyone could pull out. If any Eishi could accomplish such feat, they would undoubtedly exhilarate, taking pride in such achievement. But not Takeru, something like that is but paltry display of its true strength, a simple task. It was but a natural outcome. That's the true of the monster he housed within.
Thanks the lord that the simulation came to an end after Takeru took out the enemy's leader. Otherwise, only god knew what kind of trouble it will stir up.
While he could not feel anything but uneasiness and anxiety over the reawaken of the demon inside him, people praise, admire and envy him.
During the previous strategic meeting regarding the next match, Takeru could clearly saw a great change in the team's formation.
Normally he served as Hayase's sidekick, her chaser and supporter. His job was to stick with Hayase as close as possible, watching her back and supporting her with everything he had to offer. With such kind of arrangement, Hayase could go all out, holding nothing back to reserve while Takeru could gain real combat experience and improve his edge from a relatively safe distance. Capt. Isumi has proposed that formation, taking into account Takeru's skill with the TSF as well as his little combat experience written in his profile. So, it was like shooting two birds with one stone.
However, it all changed now. After that performance, thing has changed. His position shifted up, side by side with Hayase. "There was no reason to hold back your ability like that." Capt. Isumi seemed to say that while suggesting the change in the normal flight formation.
It was that same performance that sealed the deal for Takeru, extracting combat data and upgrades from his own TSF for the Russia Army instead the industrial version of the XM3. Initially, it was the old man Yoroi's job to arrange that for Takeru. However, it seemed that Yuuko has sent him running a different errand at the moment. Thus, the old man sent a substitute which was Isumi Yayoi in his stead.
It was really ironic. The more Takeru grew despair over the demon inside him, the larger the hope and trust people had for him.
Why? It wasn't me.
He wanted to speak those words aloud, telling the truth of his identity and the truth behind his skill. But such thing would only bring chaos to everything that he and Yuuko have laid.
Without bothering turn the auto-adjusting temperature system on, Takeru left his cockpit as cold as it could possibly be. The cold air and darkness around him however meant nothing compare to the darkness that eating him from the inside.
Why does that thing choose to come out of its sheath at this moment?
This time, he was lucky that nothing bad happened. But, he wouldn't be so sure in the future after what it did to Marimo during the training.
…
Takeru couldn't do anything about the despair that hungrily devoured him from inside out. He could do nothing about the demon inside him, that cursed blade of an existence. The only thing he can do was accepting the reality and dealt with it.
While Takeru has improved himself over the time, the demon inside him, too, was getting stronger as time passed.
The way it countered any attack come right at it with minimal movement was the same. But, the speed of manoeuvrability was totally different. Just like how a baby learn to run after it learned how to walk, it has adapted itself to the unique control of a XM3 operated TSF, presetting the control afore the enemy to minimize the control frame and cancelled the control when necessary. Takeru could only admit his defeat if he was to compare himself and the monster inside him at the moment. He used to think that he could somehow fight on the same ground as the monster inside him using his speedy aerobatics control. But not now, he was sure that the existence inside him was unparalleled with a TSF.
But, that strength was unneeded in Takeru's plan, to lose control of himself during the last phase of the plan was equivalent to hit the selfdestruct button. Besides, Takeru has never planned to rely on that uncontrollable monster in the beginning.
Takeru could only hope, praying that his plan will not be foiled by demon within him. He can't afford to lose to himself before his war with Yuuko come to an end first. Tomorrow will be the last day of the trial test of the XM3. Yuuko will definitely act, moving to the last phase of her plan. And Takeru no longer has any ability to stop her from doing that, since his initial plan has already failed miserably in the first day of the trial test.
12 December 2001, 11.48 am
"Anyone see him?"
The Valkyries' intercom filled with static noise as Hayase's voice reverberated like a sonic boom.
"Curse it, where in nine the hell are you, Shirogane?"
"We should have chained him in Hayase's room yesterday after all."
"He and his stupid 'I swear not to be late again.' We should have never trusted it from the beginning."
"Who authorize his graduation from the military training school?"
"Isumi, we only have 12 minutes remain"
"Arg, where is he?"
Isumi inadvertently groaned, tearing at her hair in a fit of rage and desperation. She tearfully stomped her leg to the ground like a spoilt child cried for some impossible toy from her parents.
"Isumi, Munakata and Mitsuki. Head back to the special hangar quick. We have no other choice but sub Kazama in. He won't able to make it at this rate."
"I will absolutely put a tracking device on him the next time I saw him"
"Hurry and head back to the hangar already."
Haruka's tearfully cry was clearly heard over the intercom. This level of stress has long overshot her threshold of endurance. Even with three year of working experience after graduated from the training school, she has yet to experience something like this.
The Valkyries' day was again in turmoil thanks to their newest first pick of a genius. They were glad to secure such a dependable man like that to their team a week ago. Though, the reality was far from what they have ever expected.
Suddenly, the arguing voice over the Valkyries' intercom stopped.
"What was that?"
Isumi was the first to raise that question. Her voice was tensed, completely different to the kind of tense that she was imposed by her newest recruit. There was no way Isumi could miss it, the tremor that shook the whole Yokohama base at this very moment.
Every member of the Valkyries could feel the reason behind such tension in Isumi's voice. Because that tremor was anything but a regular earthquake, their trained instinct told them so…
A siren abruptly wailed, confirmed everyone's suspicion. DEFCON 01 was raised subsequently and code 991 has been activated.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"No way"
Hammer 03 involuntarily muttered as his retinal display flared red with the alarm of code 991. "This is way behind the second line of Defence."
Nobody saw this coming. To reach the Yokohama base, they must break through the first and the second line of defence first. And no notice of BETA's invasion from the front line or anything similar was received. Yet, here they were, came crashing the party unannounced.
"03, calm down. This is Hammer 01 to command post. Requesting for the return of our unit and resupply of firearm. We can not fight with just paint balls."
"Permission granted. Please head to the fifth armoury. We will have the mechanics ready to mount the pack for you"
"Copied"
It took lesser than 5 seconds for the trial participators to reorganise their team and came up with counter measurement against the sudden invasion.
"Fly low lads. NOE flights mode, stick close to the ground. We don't know if those bastards have the laser class with them."
"Copied"
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
The 01 hangar was filled with utter chaos.
Mechanics and engineers ran around in panic, trying to fulfil their given mission with the fear that eaten themselves up from the inside. The wailing sound of DEFCON 01 even made things get worse. The atmosphere was smothered with terror.
Mechanics who normally have no problem with calibrating devices, TSFs alike and made them ready in just seconds now desperately struggled to do that same task with their trembling fingers.
"Shibata, phone those from the 5th armoury to deliver weapon packs to us. We need to mount them on these TSFs quick. You there, Souta, open the gate and clear the runway. Stop standing there like an idiot. We need those TSFs to sort out at any time," The head mechanic furiously ordered as he saw his men panic stricken with fear. "You have been trained for that. Or were those training meant nothing to you?"
"Roger"
One word resounded in the hangar within less than a second. Imbued with fear it was, but it was strong and resolute reply.
Suddenly, darkness engulfed the room without any warning.
"What the?" "Black out?"
"The core reactor stops working?" The head mechanic unknowingly muttered as the emergency lights were automatically turned on within seconds.
"What are you doing? Get back to work."
The middle age man immediately worked to switch to the secondary power source.
What a time to get a blackout. This is the worst.
The head mechanic fervently input emergency codes to switch the hangar's power. In all of those year he served the army, thing has never gotten as bad as it did right now. A surprise invasion of the BETA during training exercise and a blackout? What's the probability for something like that to happen at the same time?
Damn it, before the firearm problem was dealt, another bigger problem arose. Those TSFs that parked inside the hangar won't able to sort out any time soon.
"Master Sergeant, tell everyone to clear the runway. I will blast off from here"
A voice rang through the head mechanic's headset. It was a voice that the head mechanic was quite familiar with. It was a young man who often sneaked in the hangar at night to do his only-God- know project with the Base XO's consent. It was a man who was said to be the base's pride. It was him who was said as the best Eishi that the Yokohama Eishi training school ever produced, Shirogane Takeru.
"Are you out of your mind? At least wait for those weapon packs to arrive. What's good of going out there in that kind of setting? You will die no matter what."
The head mechanic furiously replied without caring that the content of his speech was also leaked to the rest of his men. He turned his head at the parking area of the boy's TSF while his hand was still fervently working. While the first question that he was supposed to ask was 'who give you the authorization to board your TSF?' The head mechanic never bothered asking it. Kouzuki Yuuko gave the boy the privilege to enter his TSF at any time he pleased, as long as he didn't make any trouble to the mechanics and the engineer working in the hangar.
"I have the XM3. I will at least put up a fight and held them back before everyone finished their resupply."
Indifferently to the head mechanic's anger and the fear that eaten everybody in the hangar up, Shirogane Takeru ridiculously replied.
"Reject. I cannot send you out there only to have you killed"
The head mechanic was angry with the boy's nonsensical answer. Stoping the BETA with nothing but an unarmed TSF? That's nothing but suicidal. He turned his head and started working on his job again, ignoring the boy.
"Then I have no choice, Master sergeant…sorry. Everyone please find a place to hide yourself"
Huh? The head mechanic lost in his thought for a second. The boy's ominous last sentence was broadcast through both his loudspeaker and the intercom.
The fear that ruled in everyone's heart was immediately replaced with shock.
The metal rail bar that supported Takeru's Shiranui was forcefully torn apart in everyone's astonishment. It then dropped to the ground, creating a violent tremor and a large crack on the hangar's surface.
"What are you doing?"
The head mechanic shouted, shielding his eyes from the erupted dust upon the impact.
"Everyone, I repeat. Please clear out of the runway. I am taking off."
Shirogane Takeru's indifferent voice once again resounded in the hangar through his TSF's loudspeaker.
The Shiranui Jump unit flared up with a blinding white flame and expelled a violent scorching wind throughout the hangar.
This kid is crazy. He wasn't bluffing.
The head mechanic was once again made to realize that the boy that he dealing with is an epitome of the word unpredictable.
"Wait, the hangar's door hasn't completely opened yet."
Someone reasonably cried out.
"5"
What?
"4"
Shit, he is going to do it for real. The head mechanic immediately stopped what he was doing and looked for a place to hide. "Everybody, hide"
"3"
Damn it. At least let someone unlock those connectors first. If you were to damage them, it was us mechanic who has to deal with the aftermath.
"2"
Unknown and unconcerned to the head mechanic's inner voice, Takeru indifferently continued his count down. His Shiranui was like an arrow on a fully drew bow. Nothing and nobody can possibly stop the Shiranui from taking off.
"1"
"0"
Wind rampaged through out the hangar like a furious dragon that just awake from its long slumber. People cowered upon the violent takeoff of the Shiranui. Their ears and eyes were loss to them the very moment that the count down hit zero. A deafening chain of explosion upon the violent takeoff of the Shiranui was however not missed to every engineers and mechanics.
Just when people could open their eyes, the sight of Shirogane Takeru's Shiranui was no longer can be seen. Only the damaged unplugged connectors that belonged to the boy's Shiranui were left behind.
"Crazy kid… Everybody back to work"
The head mechanic shouted as he started to call the command post, reporting what just happened. Even if he was powerless to stop the boy from his suicidal's plan, the head mechanic could not just look and see the boy died for nothing.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Takeru chan"
Sumika Kagami muttered the name of her childhood friend while clasping her hands together, praying for his safety. Next to her, the silver hair fairy Kasumi nervously gazed at cameras on the 5th runway. Silhouette of Takeru's Shiranui could be seen in those cameras for a brief instant.
"Will he be alright?"
The fairy asked. The anxiety in her tone and the worried expression on her face made her existence became much frailer than usual. Kasumi was like snow flake that could melt at any moment.
"He will"
Sumika replied resolutely with smile as she tenderly caressed Kasumi's head like a mother. "He promised"
12.16 pm
"Shirogane, what are you doing, get back he…"
Suzumiya Haruka's voice was loss to me the instant I cut the connection with command post. I couldn't care less about some military regulation or code of conduct now. They meant nothing to me in the very instant that I took off from the 01 hangar.
I promptly flipped up several switches on my command board. Sumika, my idiotic childhood friend and Kasumi had done everything that they could, helping me so that my plan became achievable. Thus, I could not fail. I will put this trump card she prepared into good use.
The information network sharing among all the TSF hasn't yet to register the amount of attacker. It seemed that the BETA's force set off some sensor inside the Hiragi town and accidentally raised the code 991. As the result, I know neither the number of the invaders nor their specific position.
Training area 3. They come right at me. 5 fort class, 149 Medium classes in total, 267 small Strands and 33 laser class of both sizes.
Information that I should not know mysteriously pooled into my head in but an instant.
"Thank you"
I muttered the word of appreciation, knowing that Sumika would undoubtedly hear it. Other than her psychic ability, I could not come up with any other explanation regarding that mysterious information that pooled into my head.
Without wasting a second, I gripped the control sticks tightly and sent my TSF to a full throttle boost toward training area 3. The surrounding world immediately became blurry as the Shiranui's sped up, leaving a trail of dust behind its track.
My heart beat furiously, entering a race of its own inside my chest. It wouldn't be weird if I was to lose my conscious at any time with such heart beat. Blood pressure and heart beat, too, have long overshot the normal threshold. My own medical reading on the pilot monitoring screen proved that I was in no position to execute this crazy plan.
Damn it. Why?
I have prepared for this ever since the resurrection of Sumika. I thought I was readied for this long ago. Yet, here and now, I was shaken and trembled like a lamb.
I am about to see them again, fighting them once more.
It was almost exactly similar to my first battle with them, BETA- Beings of Extraterrestrial Origin Which is Adversary of Human Race.
Fear seeped into my body, telling me to turn back. A rising surge of bitter liquid ran up my throat, making my stomach churned.
Why? I thought that I was prepared?
Or was I deceiving myself all these time? That I was over with it?
It must be the case… Human could not grow over their trauma just because they wanted to.
I saw myself torn apart at the hands of BETA, unable to protect Sumika like I promised. My limbs were barely hung to my bodies and they were all twisted abnormally. Blood disgustedly bubbled through my mouth and nose as my eyes turned white. I died at their hands, unable to do anything.
I thought I have become strong, much stronger than anyone else, anything else. I thought that I have become strong enough, able to protect people around me. Yet, I shamefully begged for my life inside my TSF's cockpit. I shamefully begged those cold blood monsters for my life. I was totally at their mercy…fate has decided.
In front of my very eyes, the figure of Marimo crumbled apart. A BETA chewed at her and all I could ever do was watching. Then, all of a sudden, I could not recognize her body anymore. My entire world painted red in but an instant. Which pieces belong to Marimo and which pieces belong to the killer? I could not tell. No matter what I tried, I could not reassemble Marimo's body in that crimson world.
I ran away from them, back to where I came from. I threw away my dignity as a human and a soldier, my dream, everything, running away from them, to a world where they do not exist. Even so, they followed me without fail in another form, death. I killed Marimo once again, exactly in the very manner that I killed her in the world before.
Even if I was to kill myself, it wouldn't able to solve anything. Thus, I tried to erase my very existence. I told myself that it would be fine if everybody started forgetting about me. I kept telling myself that it would be the only method to atone for my sin and the only method to protect people around me from harm. Yet, I was unable to do so. The weak heart of mine that kept on refusing kindness and compassion of people around me wasn't able to accomplish it, my wish. It longed for warmth. And Sumika was almost killed as the result.
I steeled myself, resolve to fight with them till the end, until we human will triumph in this war and until I extracted revenge upon them for the death of people who are dear to me.
I was weak. But there were people believed that I was strong. They kept on believing in me no matter how many times that I failed. They still believed in me even after I chose to run away. I have resolved that I will be responsible for their trust until the end. I will become someone who worthy of their trust.
1st LT. Hayase was probably the strongest person that I could have imagined. Whether my close to cheating ability with the TSF or Meiya's genius with the sword or Captain Isumi's experience, they held no candle in front of Hayase. She was exactly that strong. Hayase was the very personification of the word strong itself.
Surprisingly, Hayase wasn't that strong originally, I was told. Knowing that, I wanted to work harder and become just as strong as her… If I was to become someone like that, perhaps I would able to achieve something… And I powerlessly watched she died, protecting me.
I thought my tear had dried after Hayase's death. Surprisingly, they didn't. Those monsters, they toyed with Tama's corpse, asking whether she was really alive or not. They forced me to kill Meiya with my very hand if I didn't want to lose the war.
I was powerless to do anything, protecting them.
All of the sudden, those nightmare like days resurfaced. Cold sweat oozed out and drenched my entire body and the silicon membrane of my exo-suit. My breath ran short, ragged. Every single cell in my body commanded me to run away, as far as possible from those monsters.
"Argggggggggggg"
Suddenly, my vocal cord furiously vibrated as an inhumane sound escaped. I vehemently pounded my fist at my own face, snapping myself from the fear that eating me up.
Stop thinking about that! I should not think about that. I have lost my right to think about that…
That's right. This is not the first time I have fought against them.
"Darn right, I stopped them with nothing but paint balls the last time. What do I have to scare now?"
I tried to distract myself from my trauma with bravado. To me, it was a dark page of my history and a memory that I do not wish to recall. But to some, it was a legend, stopping the entire force of BETA with nothing but paintballs and Styrofoam blades in my first eight minutes of death. No, I made a mockery out of the eight minutes of death or so they believed.
Opening the arm sheaths and deployed the Type 65 PB knives on both hands with the assist of the sub-arms, I held them in reverse grip while charging toward the advancing BETA. Those knives weren't meant for training, they were combat purposed weapons that meant for dealing with the smaller strands of BETA. Since we of the Valkyries used the JIVES system for the trial test, there wasn't a necessity to switch these hidden blades with training blades. Thus, the mechanics have left them alone in their rightful position ever since the coup d'état.
This time, at least I have a mean to fight them.