Salutations, readers, writers, reviewers, and lurkers! I'd like to apologize once again for taking so long to write the latest chapter of this story and I'd also like to respond to a handful of reviews that I've gotten for this story.

Noitaerc: A Toa Team, more specifically one that had one of its members sacrifice himself for the sake of everyone else. (You can probably guess which one I'm referring to.)

Dragonheart51: Unfortunately, the relationship between Trude and Danniel won't be anything like that in future chapters. Besides, I doubt the former knows the universal greeting! XD In all seriousness though, Trude is protective of him but she doesn't see him the same way she sees Miyafuji. (IE: Miyafuji resembles her sister; Chris while Danniel doesn't.)

HyperionGM: The Toa Mata/Nuva aren't going to playing a major role in this story, unfortunately. Sorry!

Anyway, on with the chapter!

Chapter 9: The Coming Storm

They were all here, each member of the 31st Joint Fighter Squadron, also known as "The Storm Witches".

The leader was Captain Katou Keiko from Fuso, nicknamed "Kei" by a few of her comrades she was a twenty-five year old witch with a short mop of brown hair, brown eyes, and the familiar uniform of the Fuso Imperial army as her Leica II camera hanging by its straps on her neck. Though she couldn't really generate a shield anymore, she could still fly as an airborne commander and perform photographic reconnaissance if need be. She also was a war correspondant on the side, so she knew her way around the press and was also the official photographer of the Star Of Africa.

Speaking of the Star of Africa, the blonde-haired Karlsland witch Hanna-Justina Wallia Rosalind Sieglinde Marseille was the Flying Officer of the tight-nit Joint Squadron and she was well known as an ace in Africa with the highest shot-down record during her time in Africa. Although, it is known that she has a bit of a rivalry with Gertrude Barkhorn and a somewhat more friendlier relationship with Erica Hartmann.

One of her wingmates was Raisa Pöttgen, another witch from Karsland that in despite of her childish appearance was quiet, polite and tractable individual which oddly contrasted with some of her boyish mannerisms. She had blonde hair that went midway down her neck, ghostly blue eyes, and she wore a tan Karlsland military uniform that bare desert colors, a similarly-colored officer's cap, yellow socks, and brown desert boots.

Then there was Marseille's subordinate, a native from the Southern part of Africa. She was an odd one due to the fact that she didn't hold a formal rank or affiliation with any military, and when using her magic she didn't connect with a familiar. Despite these anomalies she took care of Marseille's various assets and she was a capable tank witch (Although strangely, she tended to use an Assegai Spear, a Slingshot, and a Shield in battle.). She had dark skin, brown hair, and relaxed red eyes which matched her usually calm demeanor.

Then there was Sergeant Inagaki Mami, a daughter of a noble who is highly educated and intelligent despite her stature. She wore the same type of uniform as Katou Keiko but she had black hair that went down below her neck and dark brown eyes. Her Fuso Cat familiar was on display, mostly because her inherent magical abilities reduced the weight of the striker units she held under each arm.

The last member of the 31st was Sergeant Kitano Furuko, a bespectacled tank witch who had her Type 38 Infantry Rifle Slung of her shoulder. She had brown eyes, brown hair with two messy bangs parting the sides of her face and the rest of it tied off in a braid that went down her back, and she wore a tan variation of the uniform used by Egyptian soldiers, only wearing a skirt that covered her front and rear ends. However, she had put the cap with the shades back with her belongings as she wouldn't be dealing with the desert heat of Northern Africa for a while.

Once they had debarked from the plane, Minna had decided to talk to Katou Keiko.

"So, Galland sent you here?" She asked.

"Hai, she sent us over here because we are the only other squadron to ever have an encounter with the Bohrok."

"Wait, you fought them too?"

"Hai, we were doing a patrol near the Mediterranean when we saw three of those things come in from the coast. They were smaller than the ones in your report, so we managed to take down two of them without that much of a hassle." Keiko said.

"What about the thir-"

"It fled back into the water, we couldn't get a good view of where it was going when it dived under but it looked like it was heading North-West. After we brought back the bodies, we received a report about your encounter with them as well as what little information has been found so far. The smaller ones we encountered are called 'Bohrok Va', they act as scouts and they also provide extra Krana to the ones who lost theirs."

Minna frowned, it was discouraging enough that they were attacking Neuroi and Humans but if they were sending scouts down to Africa and possibly Europe's mainland then that is a sign that they either encompassed more territory than originally thought or that they were scouting out new territory that they could occupy in the future. Either way though, it was more of a reason why the Bohrok had to be eliminated at all costs.

When he was called out of his room by Minna, Danniel instantly perked up and left his room. He looked left and right, once again trying to find out where the call of the Wing Commander came from until he heard her call his name again. After homing in on her voice he found himself in the briefing room where he was introduced to the 501st for the first time.

That is until he winced at the sharp feminine squeal that met his ears, before he saw a flash of white and red, inhaled the scent of fresh-cut flowers, and was assaulted by the sensation of his face being buried in a pair of warm pillows and two arms hugging the living daylights out of him.

A few minutes earlier...

"WOW!" Miyafuji gushed, she was looking at a book that Lynette found in the library...more specifically one about a certain guest who decided to jump out of a transport plane and land on her feet without injury or death. She was probably one of the more impressive Karlslander aces who has faced the Neuroi much like Erica Hartmann herself. While the young witch from Fuso would love to get her autograph, she was disappointed to hear from Shirley that she doesn't sign autographs.

Speaking of Shirley, she was currently having a conversation with Matilda who seemed to be snickering about something she said all the while Lucchini rested on her bosom.

Mio on the other hand was with Kitano Furuko, Inagaki Mami, and Katou Keiko discussing some strategies and/or future plans for fighting the Neuroi and the Bohrok, only those four were speaking in Fusoan rather then in commonspeak.

Perrine was brewing tea for Mio and was just going with the flow for the moment. She wasn't jealous or upset about the new arrivals, nope. Not upset at all.

Eila was playing with her tarot deck only this time, a certain white-haired orussian girl was fast asleep leaning on her shoulders.

Barkhorn and Marseille were outside training, as the rivalry that had sparked between them some time ago had once again brought out their competitive sides...Much to the bemusement of Raisa and Erica who were watching them jog from one end of the runway to another.

Meanwhile, Minna decided to fill Laura Toth in on the young male guest who was living with the 501st at the moment. Minna felt uncomfortable speaking to the witch from Ostmark about Danniel's nightmares and his fear of the Bohrok...especially considering how apathetic she could be especially in regards to her own personal safety. But Laura Toth seemed to have something in her eyes that spoke of...understanding...which was strange yet oddly relieving.

"...and that is everything has happened so far." Minna finished explaining everything she had about the young boy before sighing to herself.

"May I meet him?" Laura asked.

"Oh, of course-" Minna peaked out of the door of the briefing room before calling out to Danniel. "Danniel! Danniel, could you come here please?"

She paused for a moment before trying again. "Danniel, can you come here please?"

This time she got a response in the form of his approach into the room, although it didn't go unnoticed by the members of the 31st (Sans Marseille and Raisa of course.). As soon as Katou Keiko caught a glimpse of a boy, her face lit up with a smile and with a short squeal she ran towards the boy, and then pulled him into hug with his feet dangling in the air as she swung him to and fro like a giant teddy bear.

Present...

Minna was the first to recover from the sight of the blonde-haired boy being hugged by the over-enthusiastic witch from Fuso and she tried to intervene so she didn't accidentally kill the poor boy.

"Er, Commander what are yo-"

"CU-TIE PIIIIEEE!" Katou squealed with a smile on her face and a bright red blush as she nuzzled his hair with her face. Immediately afterwards, Shirley started laughing out loud at the sight, Matilda snickered, Sanya gave a bemused half-lidded glance as her nap was disturbed, Eila bit her lip as she tried to hold herself back from snickering, Mio raised an eyebrow while the two other witches from Fuso were whispering things like 'Shotacon' behind Keiko's back, Miyafuji and Lynette's mouths gaped in bewilderment (Although the former felt a strange pang of jealousy towards the fact that the blonde-haired boy's face was pressed against her bosom, she wisely kept this hidden), Perrine rolled her eyes and went back to serving tea, while Minna was the only one who decided to intervene.

"Commander Keiko?"

No response, she just continued to hug the little boy in her arms as she was trapped in her own little world. That is when Kitano decided to call her out.

"Commander?"

Once again no response, but she noticed that Danniel was trying to fruitlessly worm his way out of the Fusoan's grip, only to end up with a tighter embrace and his face being smashed further into the girl's breasts.

"OI! KEI!"

The Fusoan women suddenly went still, taking a glance at was Marseille who was standing outside the doorway with a raised eyebrow. While Katou went to respond, Danniel took this opportunity to slip out of her weakened grasp and hide behind Minna. Katou cleared her throat, chuckling bashfully.

"Ano...I-I'm sorry...Er, I'll try to control myself next time."

Shaking her head, she approached Minna and saw the blonde-haired boy peak behind her legs.

"Who is he anyway?"

Minna reassured the young boy with a pat on the head.

"He's Danniel Wellcraft...The same one from the brie-"

"Oh, right. Okay!" She then stuck her hand out to the boy as he trembled a little. "Hey there, Danniel-kun. I didn't mean to scare you like that, you were just so cute!"

Reluctantly, he reached out behind Minna and shook her hands, the older commander chuckling at his shyness. Matilda was the next one to approach him, she stuck her hand out and introduced herself to him, he shook her hand with a small smile on his face. Her laid back demeanor allowed him to relax around her and she noticed that the young boy didn't have the same...prejudices she had dealt with many times in the past.

Inagaki Mami and Kitano Furuko gave a quick introduction and a bow, which he tried his best to respond to much to their amusement.

Raisa offered her hand out for a handshake and quickly introduced herself, not that the boy didn't mind of course.

Then when he saw the tall Karlslander with silvery blonde hair, he felt a flutter of something in his chest and a slight burning in his cheeks. Although he tried his best to hide it.

"H-Hello, my name is Danniel Wellcraft...H-How are you?"

Marseille tilted her head in slight bemusement but shrugged it off and responded casually.

"Flying Officer Hanna-Justina Marseille of Karlsland, pleased to meet you."

When he turned back to Minna, that is when he saw...her.

Laura watched the boy's reaction to her presence with an analytical gaze, she saw a few different things flash in his eyes: Curiosity, Interest, a bit of shyness and strangely a pang of familiarity. She hadn't met this boy before until now, she had read the briefings on him and had reviewed everything Minna knew about him since he arrived at Folkestone but other then that she had never had a close encounter with the boy until now. It was possible she resembled someone the boy could have met in the past but she wouldn't know for sure until she spoke with him. Gathering her thoughts, her feelings, and her experience she approached the boy.

Danniel didn't know why but this witch seemed oddly familiar to him. But he hasn't met her before, has he? His thoughts were interrupted when she approached him.

"My name is Laura Toth and I'm a pilot officer of the Island of Wight Detachment."

Her tone of voice was cold, so much so that it sent a few shivers up his spine but he wasn't afraid of her. Oh no, far from it. He felt...safe around her and a gut instinct told him he could trust her with his life regardless of her seemingly emotionally-detached attitude.

"I'm Danniel Wellcraft, its a pleasure to meet you, ma'am." He responded calmly to her and shook her hand. Another shiver up his spine, but the skin of her hand felt soft and warm, unlike her attitude. It was a paradox he wouldn't have expected to find in a women until now of course.

Minna watched with curiosity as the two began to interact with one another, the boy being oddly comfortable around a witch who has had a unnerving history of rushing into battle with little to no regards to her own safety or life. It was odd but it was also relieving to see a witch who has been through so much trauma offer to help someone who like herself has been traumatized.

"I've come here to help you, Danniel."

"Help me? How?"

Laura didn't answer that question immediately, instead she gave the boy a small smile.

"You'll find out soon enough..." She said before briefly taking her leave from the room, leaving it silent for the moment until Keiko broke it.

"So...whose bunking with who?"

As soon as she asked that question the sound of Marseille and Barkhorn shouting at each other got everyone's attention. Apparently, both of them were arguing about whoever was sharing a room with Erica Hartmann, said ace was not amused.

All in all it would be the beginning of what would be one of many occurrences in the 501st JFW and the 31st JFS.

A multi-legged variant of a Neuroi drone fell to the ravaged surface of the hive, its outer hull crushed by the now warped forces of Gravity and its core slowly cracking until it finally shattered. What followed was a small explosion that left a few scars on the ground. Several more of the insectoid Neuroi let loose several beams of light that almost hit its target: The black form of Nuhvok; the Bohrok subspecies of Earth. Only this one was bearing a silver face plate with a strange black sigil, silver saw-blade-like shields for hands, and silver armor on its feet. The beetle-like machine curled into a ball and rolled out of the way, dodging two shots as it barreled into a smaller drone, reducing it to mere white shards in an instant. It then flipped back into its normal form before pointing its weapon at the space between the multiple drones. With just a screech of air, a black hole formed in between them and all of them were instantly sucked into the vortex and smothered into oblivion. The beetle made what sounded like a sigh of frustration before the Black Hole collapsed into nothingness.

It didn't notice another drone behind it, ready to smash its robotic body to pieces until it was blown aside by a deafening boom before tumbling a few times on its cracked limbs. It tried to stand only for another wave of deafening noise impacted its body, creating a round dent that punched through the alien's core from the outside in. The explosion that followed wasn't as loud as the sound that bellowed from its host, a Kohrak; The Bohrok Subspecies of Ice. However, much like the armored Nuhvok, it had a silver faceplate (only with a white sigil), equally silver feet, and its silver tools consisting of a shield with five smaller segmented disks that had ceased vibrating from the attacks.

"So you have awakened, Kohrak-Kal..." The one in black said, with a bit of uncertainty in its voice.

"Yes, Nuhvok-Kal." Kohrak-Kal whispered, being careful not to damage its comrade with its power of sound.

"What of the others?" Kohrak-Kal paused after that question before slouching, its head pointing down.

"They were eliminated, their bodies have been destroyed and their Krana hidden." It rasped.

"So...it seems we are the only two of the Bohrok-Kal alive but no matter, we will soon have the marked one in our grasp."

"And these invaders?" Kohrak-Kal asked curiously, only to be met with a metallic scoff by Nuhvok-Kal.

"If they are in our way, we will destroy them if need be. They may outnumber us but we have weapons and powers that surpass their own."

"So when do we get started?"

Nuhvok-Kal turned to its ally, it would've have smiled evilly if it had the face to do so when it answered.

"Immediately."

Wow, this might be one of my more shorter chapters to be honest. Most of them tend to have between 3,000 and 5,000 words but it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal. Oh, well...I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Cheers,

-VentXekart

PS: I have another poll up on my profile in regards to a possible story idea I have, check it out if you're interested.