Take it or leave it. These thoughts stuck in my head. Licca strained Link Support Device to its limit by allowed me and Shio to receive boosters while prevented it affecting normal Aragami. I shouldn't ask for another miracle.
My fingers trailed on smooth A large Tranquil Temple map that laid bare on marble table before me. Five pairs of eyes watched me, listening to my explanation about black beast we were about to hunt.
"What's the plan?" Yellow capped boy asked.
"According to doc Sakaki, that Aragami should entering Tranquil Temple from... here." I tapped small area near a cliff labeled as D in the map. "Now, I have two idea. First, Shio, Soma, and I will advance as single unit and confront it at point D, near the staircase. Sakuya and Alisa will stay on top of watchtower in point F, providing long-range support." I tapped a white box in the middle of Tranquil Temple. "The rest of you will act as our close range fire support and backup."
"And second plan?" Alisa asked.
"I will use my Aragami form and face it head on. The rest of you will act as my fire support. I will keep that Aragami in here." I tapped point J. "Alisa and Sakuya stay on watchtower while the rest of you stay on nearby rooftop in point N and O."
"A question. What is this Aragami form you mentioned?" Kota raised his hand.
"Oh, I forgot to explain it. To put it simply, I become a large white lizard. Although, I'm not really change into one."
"Whaaat?! You can do that?"
"Yep, it's one of my... ability. Any questions or suggestions?"
"Why don't you use your Aragami form in the first plan?" My sister asked.
"No..." I shook my head. "It's too risky. I can accidentally cut or step on you."
"I have a question. Why I must stay with Sakuya on watchtower? Isn't it better if it's Kota instead of me." Alisa asked.
"No, it's exactly because you're a New-Type. You can both give us fire support and act as vanguard for Sakuya, a role that Kota can't fulfill."
"I see... That certainly make sense."
"Sorry for dumping my job on you again." My sister held my shoulder.
"I don't mind, I know more about it anyway. Okay, there's still two hours left before we head out, I'm going to make some preparations." I left my room and headed to my workshop.
Nobody left in this small cold room, not even Licca. Only occasional humming from Link Support Device that left on stand-by mode and thick oil scent from spilled grease near its leg. Licca probably in production facility right now, continuing her work on Shio's dress.
I began sorting various item my sister gave to me for next mission. There was only limited space for tools I could take since I didn't bring my knapsack with me. Stun Grenade, Restore Pills, O-Ampule, Ration, and many kinds of traps. Which one should I take?
After moments of pondering, I settled with few Stun Grenade, a case of ten Restore Pills and ten O-Ampules, and couple of traps. True, Restore Pills and O-Ampules didn't work on me, but I could still give it to others.
Not long after I finished with my loadout Rina entered my workshop. She held a small glass cube full of green gas, a recovery type Oracle module.
"Sis, look what Licca made for me." She placed the glass cube on table.
"Oracle module for assault gun type God Arc."
"Not just a normal module, it's a modified module." My sister spoke with pride.
"Modified? For what?" I asked.
"For you and Shio!" She yelled. "I know both of you can't take Restore Pills, so I asked Licca to modify normal restoration module. Although..."
"It's also affecting common Aragami, not surprising." I interrupted her.
"How did you know that?"
"Silly, did forget that I'm an engineer? It should be okay so long as you hit your mark."
"I'm not Kanon." My sister pouted.
"Kanon?" My eyebrow curved.
"Oh yeah, you don't know her. Kanon Daiba, medic from Second Unit. Infamous for her extremely high friendly fire incident. She often work alone because other members avoid working with her."
"It can't be that bad."
"No, it is. Believe me when I say she hit team members more often than Aragami." My sister sighed.
"That bad, huh. How's your preparation? There's only an hour left before our mission begin."
"That's other reason I'm visiting you. Here." She dropped a bundle of materials. "I need to upgrade my buckler and short blade. Can you help me?"
"You don't have to ask." I patted her back.
She picked a convenient time for upgrading her God Arc. We need all the power we could get, our opponent is the same beast that almost killed me after all.
Back in production facility I dumped her materials into separate chamber in fabrication machine and placed her old Fiery Knife II in main chamber. Part by part, the short blade in fabrication machine began to change. Its dimly reddish glow brightened, turning into vivid scarlet. I supervised each step and weighted its materials carefully. Anyone could operate God Arc fabrication machine, but only an engineer could tell whether they did it right or not.
The fabrication machine stopped and its main chamber opened. A brand new Fiery Knife N laid on its tray, ready for the next step. I took the new blade and inspected it carefully, looking for any flaw or defect. To my joy, I found none.
The clock in storage facility rung, signaling the end of my free time. Dr. Sakaki called me right after I finished installing her new blade. He told me that my sister had taken the mission and now waited for me in my room. I strolled to my destination, grabbing a can of First Love Juice from nearby vending machine along the way.
"So, which plan we should take? First plan? Second plan? or a new plan perhaps?" I asked to First Unit.
"We agreed to your first plan. It feels wrong to let you take all the burden by yourself. Hunting that beast down is our responsibility." My sister answered.
"Alright, we'll go with first plan then."
That was unexpected. Personally, I would choose my second plan. Less risky for them and more freedom for me. But if it was what they wanted, so be it.
"One more thing." My gaze locked on Sakuya and Alisa. "This is the last chance to back down."
"No, we've made up our mind." Alisa firmly said.
"Yes, we will join you in this mission." Sakuya returned my gaze.
Their eyes full of confidence. Good, there was no place for doubt in this mission, it could cost their lives.
We moved out using two helicopters, Fenrir helicopter and Dr. Sakaki's personal chopper. Soma and Shio accompanied me in Dr. Sakaki's chopper while the rest of First Unit followed my sister. Hangar roof folded, allowing me to see a massive cloud hanged on dark night. The chopper flew through darkness, heading to Tranquil Temple.
Crunchy snow crumbled beneath my boots as I landed in cold snowy forest at the south gate of Tranquil Temple. The cloud that loomed over us reached this place but only half of it. I was worried at first. Unlike me, God Eaters had no night vision. They relied on cumbersome night vision goggles on such occasion. That worry disappeared when I saw Soma walked behind me without goggles.
"I'm here. I sense no Aragami around me, where's this Dyaus Pita?"
[It move toward Tranquil Temple and will arrive in... nine minutes and thirty second at point D as predicted.]
"Got it." I turned around, facing Soma and Shio. "Grumpy, Shio, that black Vajra will arrive soon. Wait for others, I'll go and set traps around that place."
A grumble and a nod later I left them and headed to east side of Tranquil Temple.
My hand clenched at my side as I walked, trembling a bit. I was afraid. Not for my safety, it was for them. What if some of them crippled because of this battle? No, crippled would be mercy compared to death, or infected like Lindow.
I shoved snowy ground and planted my trap right below the cliff. I took a series of deep breath, clearing my clouded mind before arming the trap. One by one, my traps armed in place and I backed away slowly, careful to not set it off myself. One paralysis trap next to a cliff, one on each side of staircases and a poison trap on clear ground near tower.
They were here. By the time I returned the rest of First Unit had arrived at the gate. Not only that, Licca and a handful of field engineer clothed in heavy snowsuit also arrived in another chopper, carrying Link Support Device with them.
"Hey Licca, what're you doing?" I waved at her.
"Oh Rena. I'm teaching these recruit operating Link Support Device." Licca jabbed her thumb on their direction. "And before you ask, Fenrir approved our project."
"Well, that's fast. Typical higher-ups, only care about the result." I shook my head.
[Rena? That Dyaus Pita increasing its pace, it already entered pine forest.]
"Shit... Everyone!" I shouted, gathering their attention at once. "Our target approaching us. To your position! Kota, you stay here, protect this group. Soma, Shio, on me."
The ground vibrated and loud roar echoed. I looked around, ensuring our preparation was complete. Two God Eaters on top of middle tower, two God Eaters at my side, and one God Eater stood behind me. I sensed that, uneasiness followed by heavy footsteps. I switched my headset frequency to First Unit. "This is it, good luck everyone."
Dread. Unexplainable dread washed over me. I gritted my teeth and tensed my fist. A dark blue blade grew on each of my palm. Shio created her white blade and fidgeted in place.
Dark figure slowly came to us. Dyaus Pita stood on the cliff, calmly watching us, mocking us. It roared once more and jumped, right on top of my trap.
"NOW!" I charged at its head.
[Taking a shot.]
[Open Fire!]
A red bullet whizzed past me, exploding on its face. Shrapnel and heat engulfed me as I rushed to its foot. I brought down my twin blade, marking its left foot with two long scars.
"Food!" Shio darted from corner of my eyes right into its hind leg.
"Die!" A buster came from my side, crashing on other paw.
Dyaus Pita roared, unfurling its large razor wings. A red barbed wings that came fast at small child on its left.
Move! I bolted, chasing it. Black and red wing clashed with two dark blue blades. I gritted my teeth, straining my trembling arms against razor wing that crept closer.
"Get away you beast!" Purple bullet exploded on its rear, staggering it.
I dashed with Shio in my arm, away from it. I looked at the source of purple bullet. My sister aimed her God Arc barrel at it, red and smoldering barrel. Purple bullet? It was divine!
"Everyone, Dyaus Pita weak to divine. Use your divine bullet."
I dived into chaos before me, bouncing among electric blast and divine Oracle bullet. Shio and Soma joined the fray, adding more havoc to the chaotic battlefield. I focused my Oracle Field and rained spikes upon spikes into its chest. One of my spike struck its neck, choking it with its own blood. I created another wave of spikes and launched it. Pride bloomed in me. Soon, it would fall.
Suddenly, air around us charged. Subtle static like wave and electric spark jumped on the ground. My instinct screamed at me, telling me to run. And I screamed at my teammates. "RUN AWAY!"
Dyaus Pita roared and let off massive electric surge.
I flew across cliff, hopelessly watching Shio and Soma blasted away like me. Soma crashed to nearby wall and slumped down. Shio landed on top of my trap near staircases, setting it off and paralyzing her.
There was a sensation of falling. Amid my clouded mind, throbbing left arm, and damaged body, part of my mind knew I fell from the cliff and plummeted to snowy forest beneath.
My body crashed into a boulder and crushed it, grinding it into rock and shard. Weakly, I sat up and leaned on tree trunk, assessing my wound. My sleeves destroyed, most of my front shirt burned. My left arm charred and cracked after took the brunt of its blast. Fresh blood seeped from gray gel, which supposed to be my flesh, beneath the gash. Still, the look of my wound wasn't the worst part, it was the smell. My arm smelled like grilled meat and it turned my stomach upside down. Damn that cat and its electric blast.
It obvious my left arm now out of commission, or at least until I finished regenerating it. I reached my headset with my other hand and called my teammates.
"This is Rena, I'm fine but unable to move. What's your situation?"
[Thank goodness you're okay sis. Waaah-] Her voice abruptly cut off by static noise.
"Sis? Come in." Nothing but static answered me. Anxiety settled in me. Did Dyaus Pita got her too? "Come in, please anyone..."
[Alisa here. Captain is fine. She lost her headset after Dyaus Pita nicked her cheek.]
I sighed in relief. "Good. What about Soma and Shio?"
[He is fine but unconscious. Shio still paralyzed]
"Change of plan. Alisa, Sakuya, provide close range support for Rina. Hold that Dyaus Pita until I get there."
[Understood.]
I forced my unsteady legs to stand up and walk, heading to the same cliff where I'd fallen from. Short distance, no more than twenty meters, felt like eternity. Thankfully, despite severity of my wound I didn't feel pain, only bit tingling on my body and throbbing on my left arm. Either I grew accustomed to pain or my senses on pain dulled. I examined my left arm and checked on the rest of my wound.
Fast, that what I thought when I saw my arm. Charred skin and soot that covered it broke apart, revealing healthy arm underneath. Smooth and flawless, albeit grayish arm.
[Link Support Device is ready. Sending energy booster and speed booster...]
Pair of waves passed me, energizing and lightening me. Licca sent that waves at convenient time, I desperately need help with my half numb body. I moved faster and soon reached the cliff. Sound of battle became clearer with each stone I climbed. Gunshot, bestial roar, and yell followed me in my path to the top.
I breathed in relief at battle before me. My sister managed to hold her ground until Soma and Shio recuperate. Three of them fought Dyaus Pita at the center of Tranquil Temple, near village tower. Alisa and Sakuya stayed on tower roof, constantly barraging it with high velocity bullets and bombs.
"Over here stupid cat!" I shouted and launched couple of spikes.
It worked well. Dyaus Pita turned its head at me only to met my spikes instead, adding more wound to its battered face. It angrily snarled at me. A short-lived snarl. Large buster blade swung in vertical arc and slammed at its head, stopping its growl. Certain Aragami girl leaped from behind it and rammed her white blade into its head.
Dyaus Pita wailed and fell on its side. I moved to its head. It tried to stand up as I came closer and fell after a spike jammed into its forehead. Its red eyes closed, and its breath slowed, as if it resigned to its inevitable end. I should be angry, or at least satisfied, for my vengeance was about to fulfilled, yet I felt nothing. This merely a beast that followed its instinct, nothing more.
First Unit gathered around me, watching dying beast before us. Sorrow, hatred, disgust, and hunger surrounded me. Sorrow from Sakuya, hatred from my sister and disgust from Soma.
"I'm done with this. Do what you want to this creature." I turned, facing First Unit.
"You don't want to finish it?" My sister asked.
"No, killing it won't satisfy me. It's nothing more than a beast. I will end the one who is responsible for Lindow's death." I clenched my fist. Image of metal canister I found outside of ruined church flashed in my mind, and it fueling my anger. "Go ahead. Kill and harvest it part, leave the rest to Shio."
Dyaus Pita body ripped apart. They used God Arc predator mode and began harvesting its body while Shio ate unusable part.
I sat and rested my back on tower, watching First Unit worked their way and broke down its body. They all weary and worn out but everyone survived. My sister suffered the worst. She got two large gashes on her cheek and a claw wound on her back. Soma took slightly less injury than my sister. Part of his hand burned and his back bled but nothing serious. Alisa and Sakuya appeared mostly unharmed, apart from minor lesion and bruise on their chest and face. Shio uninjured despite taking a point-blank electric blast. Either she managed to get away in time or she regenerated her wound like me. I lifted my grayish arm and found out it no longer gray, the discoloration faded and left me with perfectly healed arm.
'What're you doing? You should eat that Aragami and replenish your energy instead staring at them.'
'Just sorting my feeling. I thought I would be satisfied, yet it felt hollow.'
'You're thinking about that bait aren't you? You can ponder it later, eat that Aragami first.'
'Fine...'
Shio gave me its Core after I sat beside her. I began eating it while other members dug through Dyaus Pita body, looking for Lindow's Armlet.
"Ah! Huuuugh? What's this?" Shio pulled red Armlet from its chest.
"Oh! Shio found it every-"
"Ow... It's hard..." Shio frowned and held her ached cheek.
"Silly, it's not food." I patted her head and gave the red Armlet to Sakuya.
"This... This is it, isn't it? It's his Armlet. His... His Armlet..." Sakuya held red Armlet and examined it. Her voice trembled from sadness.
"I'm sorry... Lindow." Alisa fell to her knee, covering her face and crying.
"Lindow..." My sister whispered. She clutched my arm tightly. Her tears broke free and she buried her face to my back.
I knew his true fate was worse than peaceful death like this. He wandered out here, alone, in eternal hunger. First, I would end the one who did this. After that, I would try to grant him final rest.
"Um... Why they... they..." Shio stuttered.
"They're crying. It called mourning." I whispered to her.
"It feel... sad."
"It is."
Dr. Sakaki's chopper came to pick us up and we took off to the Den in silence. News about Lindow's Armlet spread out. It brought down entire Den mood. Whispers exchanged and rumors traveled, especially after Fenrir officially declared Lindow status as KIA. Sakuya and Alisa suffered the worst of it. Sakuya broke down in her room and refused to come out for dinner. Alisa, her guilt ate her from inside while dirty look from other God Eaters chewed her from outside. She locked herself in her room like Sakuya. My sister cried herself to sleep on my bed. At least she still willing to ate her dinner, unlike other two.
She left me in the morning to checked on Alisa and Sakuya or something like that. Then, not long after my sister left, Licca came and greeted me. She escorted me and Shio to our workshop and resumed her work. Her hands nimbly crawled on Shio's figure, dragging measuring tape along the way. She slipped flower imitation on Shio's Back, then took it off and placed it on her chest. A frill to her head only to moved it to her shoulder.
After series of dress up Licca finally allowed us to leave. I glanced at clock in Storage Facility. Three hours. Three hours passed in series of dress up games. This better be worth it. We returned to my room and had our share of breakfast, a piece of Borg Camlann leg and a can of First Love Juice for each of us. My sister entered while we still had our breakfast. She sat in front of us, drinking a cup of milk tea.
"So you stopped eating normal food?" My sister asked. There wasn't any repulsion in her tone, which I was grateful.
"Yep, it's not as tasty and filling as Aragami."
"You starting to sound like Shio." She chuckled.
"Heh, perhaps. Anyway, how Alisa and Sakuya doing?"
"They're fine. They stopped crying and already had their breakfast by the time I arrived. Um... say... sis..." My sister suddenly became uneasy. She eyed my room, trying to find something.
"You can tell me. Don't worry, this room isn't bugged." I reassured her.
"Uh... No bug!" Shio copied me.
"Sakuya showed me a disk belonged to Lindow. She said Lindow gave her in secret. It contained a single report, a project file, and one executable program." She took out a can of First Love Juice from her pocket and drank it.
"Eeh? I thought you hate it."
"Yes, I hate this at first. Few more can and I began to appreciate its taste." She emptied her can and threw it away. "It's not really that bad once you get used to it. Okay, back to Lindow's data. First, the report contained Lindow's... investigation on Ark Project."
"Never heard of it. Do you know it?"
"No..." She shook her head. "It came with list of peoples involved in it. Virtually everyone in the Den and their close family. Well... excluding you and Shio since as far as Fenrir know, you aren't exist."
"Interesting... What about the second and third file?"
"Sakuya didn't open the executable file, she afraid it might corrupt the rest. As for the report file..." My sister twiddled her finger and became restless.
"Take a deep breath and calm yourself sis." I took Shio and my empty plate and dumped it in kitchen sink before returned to sofa.
"This is it..." She let her breath out. "Lindow infiltrated Aegis Island."
"What?! Isn't that area are highly restricted? What the hell was he doing in there?"
"Lindow sought proof of what was going on. He wanted to know about Ark Project."
"Damn it..."
Everything came together. My earlier suspicion about Lindow's assassination was correct. Lindow infiltrated Aegis island and caught. Since that was a secret project, they couldn't sue him. So they resorted to assassination instead. That means...
"Sis, don't ever trust director, no matter what happens." I warned him.
"I don't. Why?"
"He might directly or indirectly killed Lindow..."
"No way..." My sister gasped.
I told her everything. About the bait, cigarette scent that stuck on it, about Shio and her attempt in saved him, about his... infection. I showed her piece of his tattered coat and map of Aegis he entrusted to me. She bursted into tears, crying and hugging Shio. In response to her distress Shio hummed and patted her head, like she did to me four days ago. She calmed down after dried her tears.
"So... what should we do?" My sister weakly asked me.
"I'll investigate Aegis Island."
"I'll come with you."
"No." I firmly denied her. "It's too risky. You're a God Eater, they'll kill you if they found you. Me? I'm not even exist in their eyes."
"But... Uh..."
"Just trust me on this, alright?"
"Um... fine... but don't get reckless, you aren't invincible. Say... Uh... is there any chance that Lindow... will end up... like you?" My sister nervously asked.
"Sorry... My case is special." I tried to wear impassive mask, though I doubt I could convince her. Not when my discussion with Rei flashed in my mind.
"No, I shouldn't ask."
"Excuse me, anybody home?" Licca knocked my door.
"Wait a sec." I opened the door and moved aside. "Come in Licca."
"No, I'm in hurry. Here." Licca handed me a cardboard box. "It's Shio's dress. Okay see you later."
"Wait! Aren't you going to watch her in this dress?" I asked.
"Oh trust me, I've examined every details until it stuck in my head. Kay, see ya." Licca waved at me.
"Sis, look!" I showed the cardboard box. "Her dress is finished."
"Great! Put it on her, I'll call everyone." She ran at full speed toward laboratory elevator.
"Let's see..." I took out her dress and examined it.
A beautiful silky white sleeveless dress decorated with green strips and frills. It had green flower ornament on its chest and large green ribbon on its back. Came with matching green armbands too.
"Shio, come here, Time to change your rag."
A fear flashed in her face and she took a step back. "No, no more scratchy thing." Shio shook her head.
"It won't be scratchy this time, promise."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
The silky dress slid on her pale skin. She didn't show any discomfort and that was good news. I tied the matching armbands on each arm and put her short pants on. The elevator on laboratory section rung right after I finished dress her up.
"Come Shio, show them your new dress."
"Yeah!" Shio chirped.
I pushed the metal door and guided Shio out. Every members of First Unit present, including Alisa and Sakuya. They all stood around Shio, watching her in her new bright dress.
"Wooow, it's cute!" My sister stared in daze.
"Oh my god, it's like the cutest thing I have ever seen ever!" Alisa clasped her hand and smiled.
"Heh, I thought so! Just like little girl, huh?" Sakuya said.
"Huh? Do I? Huh. Hehehehe!" Shio rapidly turned her head in excitement.
"That's really something else. Look amazing, right Soma?" Kota looked at certain grumpy.
"Yeah, I guess it's cute..." Soma untypically mumbled.
"I feel like... really so good!" Shio clasped her hands and began singing. It was the same song she heard from Soma's headset.
We watched in awe. Shio sang a beautiful song. She didn't really sing, just repeating 'la la la' but her tone matched the song well. We immersed ourselves in her tone until she stopped singing.
"Hehe! Did you guys ever hear that? It's called a song. It's pretty." Shio smiled.
"Ah..." Soma gasped. It seems he recognized the source of her song.
"Oh my..." Alisa clasped her hands.
"That was incredible, Shio!" Sakuya praised her.
"It was? Was it... a good job?" Shio beamed at us. "Hehehe! I did a good job. Hehe! Now I can't stop smiling..."
"Where did you learn that? It was beautiful." Sakuya praised her again.
I grinned at Soma and he replied my grin with a glare.
"Huh? Soma and I heard it together!"
"You did what?" Kota jumped away, shocked by the news.
"Well then... my. my. my. Soma..." Sakuya slyly teased him.
"Oh, you heard it together, hm? Is that right?" Alisa smirked, causing Soma to squirmed uncomfortably and looked away.
"When did you two find the time to get all buddy-buddy, eh, buddy?" Kota narrowed his eyes.
"Damn... better to be a loner, after all" Soma mumbled quietly. Too quiet for others but not for me.
"You stopped being a loner the moment you knocked on my door." I grinned at him.
"What? You secretly visiting them?" Kota yelled.
"Damn you."