A/N: Welcome to Chapter 3! I had some difficulty writing this chapter, so my apologies for a late upload. Based on Story Mode Chapter 5. After this I'll start to make (somewhat) more original chapters, I promise. This is just to add some more development to the story. And without further ado, I present Chapter 3!
Disclaimer: I do not own Xenoblade Chronicles X or its superior cast of characters.
Chapter 3: Afraid to Fall, Part 1
"You're still here? It's nearly 3 in the morning and you're starting to fall asleep. She made it through the procedure just fine, so why don't you head home now…"
"Not yet, Elma. She's here because of my carelessness. At the very least, I should stay until she's conscious again…"
"H.B., you can't shoulder the blame for this. This would most likely still have happened…"
Cross slowly felt herself return to reality. The air was cold and smelled sterile, with some hints of metal mixed in. Her eyes opened, yet all she saw was darkness. She could hear the slightly muffled, echoing voices of her comrades, but she could not see where they were. Just where am I? She thought to herself.
Suddenly, light flooded into the enclosed space she was in as the door opened, revealing her friends on the other side. They were all standing in a long, empty-looking hallway. She exited the pod that she was in and took in the sight of the three people who were waiting for her. First she saw Lin and Elma, who were both visibly happy by the well-being of their comrade. She then looked straight ahead, and that was when she saw him. He was leaning against the wall, with a slight slouch, probably from exhaustion. His arms were crossed, and those normally intense green eyes that she sought out were different this time. Now they were a mixture of relieved, thrilled even, as he scanned her from top to bottom with a sweet smile on his face. Much better than he looked the last time I saw him, she thought to herself. How did she wind up in this place anyway? It started just 2 days ago, on a perfectly normal morning…
Ever since their first mission together, Cross and H.B. had grown fairly close in their friendship. Every chance they had, they would take on some bounty or gathering missions together, always eager to gain more experience. Despite that, most of their major missions took place with their respective teams. But any time that they were both in NLA, the two rivals loved to meet first thing in the morning and compare notes over coffee.
Cross wasn't sure what exactly it was about Hector Birtwhistle that she liked. Despite his… self-righteous attitude, she found that completing missions with him was actually enjoyable. Perhaps it was the way he eagerly took on all types of missions that she found so intriguing; maybe it was how his battle style so perfectly complemented hers that she found so alluring. Or maybe it was how he continuously challenged her to be the best BLADE operative she could be that attracted her. Still, maybe it was something else that she just was not aware of yet.
Elma, however… still was not too fond of H.B. Ever since his first mission with Team Elma, she just could not get past his personality. Or it may have been the fact that he called her a goat. Needless to say, Elma refused to have H.B. as her fourth team member, despite the fact that her more recent recruits were… not exactly living up to her expectations.
This particular morning, Cross and H.B. found themselves at the Barista Court enjoying a few cups while detailing their latest adventures to each other.
"So then we rounded the corner of the mountain, and we entered into this tiny opening in the rock formation. The cavern inside was beautiful, with huge stalactites hanging from the ceiling, and three Aeviters in the middle! I swear, it's amazing the things we Pathfinders get to see every day, and bringing the images and intel back to the people of NLA is even more rewarding." H.B. could not keep the smug grin off of his face. "Just imagine when I am commander of BLADE. They'll build a Hector Birtwhistle monument, with exhibits through the halls chronicling all of my adventures and achievements!"
"Buuut what if I end up as commander?" Cross teased.
"Well now, there's nothing like friendly competition to make my future successes that much sweeter. But it's okay, when my monument is built, you may get a thank-you plaque, or even a statue by the restroom or… something."
Cross just shook her head. After spending so much time with H.B., she stopped getting offended by how arrogant he could be at times.
"But enough about me. I heard you had a run-in with a Ganglion dominatrix, Cross. I'd love to hear this one." H.B. leaned back in his chair as he took a sip of his espresso, particularly cheerful this morning. After the last week of rain, the bright sun in the sky was especially welcome, and it visibly affected both of their moods.
"She said her name was Goetia. Trashy name, right? Anyway, she had scaly blue skin and tentacles for hair, and she was dressed in tight leather bondage wear, and she had a whip!" Cross became animated as she described their new foe.
"Well, she sounds like someone is desperate for validation! But at least you guys beat her for now. Do you think she'll be back?"
"Unfortunately, yes. But hopefully next time we'll be prepared at least. I'm glad we had Lao to help us, but from what I've heard he's ridiculously unreliable. I wish we could take you on one of our team missions these days…" Cross sighed as she knew the likelihood of that happening was slim.
"Who knows? Maybe I'll have yet to redeem myself in your team leader's eyes. What was her name again? Ellen? Elmer?"
"It's ELMA, you little twit," the Colonel stated firmly as she approached the pair. "And if anybody is to become commander, it's going to be me. After all, I am the most experienced and the most trusted by Commander Vandham…"
"Oh, ELMO, what great timing. Cross and I were discussing the likelihood of me joining your team for a mission one of these days," H.B. said with a smirk, completely ignoring her perfectly logical sentiments.
"Well, Mr. BUTTwhistle, I think it's safe to say that the answer is a firm NO. Seriously, do you have ANY other friends in BLADE besides Cross?" Elma crossed her arms and glared daggers at the Pathfinder.
"Touché!" H.B. laughed, then pondered for a moment. "And actually, now that I think about it… no. And it's not like I haven't tried, either. Yelv is barbaric and thugs around all the time, Frye is too drunk to carry an intelligent conversation with, Alexa only speaks Skell, and Phog is always staring off into the distance whenever I try to get his attention," his voice dropped to a whisper. "and I think he's got a thing for his brother."
Cross blinked slowly. Wow, I didn't realize until now that my friends are a bunch of misfits…
"Again, the answer is a resounding NO. Don't think that I'm going to fall for the old 'he has no friends' bit," Elma bluntly stated as she stomped one foot.
"Oh come on, Elma!" Cross begged. "We really ought to have a fourth person with us! It's not like I'm bringing Frye again. Remember last time when he puked on that plant in Sylvalum and ended up unleashing a horde of Germivores on us?"
"Okay, okay, you have a point," Elma conceded with a slight cringe. "You can come along one of these days, Buttwhistle."
"Hey, it's Birt—nevermind," H.B. shook the correction out of his head. I should just be grateful that I'm joining them, he thought.
BEEP! BEEP!
Elma pulled her comm. device out of her pocket. When she opened the screen, Lin was on the other end of the call.
"Hey, Elma!" Lin was, once again, far too cheerful. "Irina and Gwin are here right now. They said they need to talk to the team about something important. I'm going to go make them some food…"
"STOP! DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. DO NOT ALLOW THEM NEAR THE FOOD. We're on our way!" Elma grabbed Cross's arm in a panic. "Let's go! You too, H.B.! We need to hurry!"
The three BLADEs ran back to the Barracks as fast as their feet would take them. Upon entering, Elma could smell it—FOOD. She ran into the kitchen in a panic, and sure enough, her fears were confirmed by the sight of the bare cupboards and refrigerator. Irina and Gwin had, sure enough, eaten them out of BLADE and Barracks.
"What did you guys want that was so important?! To consume everything in sight? What are you guys anyway?!" Elma shouted as she stomped over to the Interceptors in a rage.
"Oh, Colonel! So glad that you're here! We have some really exciting intel to share with you!" Irina had a big smile plastered to her face and she nervously greeted her superior.
"Don't change the subject! You and Gwin ate all of our food! And who's going to replace it? I don't suppose you would actually do the responsible thing and pay us back for everything you owe us?" Elma was, once again, angrily stomping her foot.
"Well, no worries, Colonel. With the money you get from this mission, you can fill your cupboards, and even have extra!" Gwin waved happily from his seat, his belly protruding slightly from all the food he consumed.
"Okay, just hurry up and get on with it…" Elma sighed. This was one battle she was not going to win, no matter how hard she tried.
The group went up to mission control, where the Interceptors briefed them on the mission at hand.
"So we were out on a mission doing Interceptor-y stuff, when Commander Tanktop decides to give us another mission!" Gwin complained.
Elma rolled her eyes. "Sounds 'rough.' So what do you want us to do? Take the job Vandham gave you? Are you guys that lazy?"
"U-uh-ah. No. It-It's not like that, really. It's just that we can't focus on both at the same time." Irina promptly attempted to defend herself and Gwin, and hopefully save some face with the Colonel, though she was beginning to feel like that was not going to happen anytime soon. "Anyway, here's some footage from a data probe in Oblivia." She pulled up images of a massive xenoform ship getting attacked by Ganglion turrets. "If the Ganglion are attacking these guys, then they obviously aren't working with them. And if we can help them out, we may be able to form an alliance with them."
"So in other words, 'the enemy of our enemy may be our friend', right? It would make sense then for us to help them," Cross observed with a nod.
"Those turrets are located in the Mesa Fortress. I've been by there a handful of times," H.B. remarked. "Although, seeing as the Fortress is heavily armed, most BLADEs haven't even approached it."
"Exactly! Which makes it the perfect chance for you guys to shine like you always do!" Gwin beamed… a little too brightly.
"… right. Well, send us the coordinates and we'll check it out," Elma sounded off exasperatedly. Despite her genuine care for the Interceptors, they were beginning to get on her nerves, especially today. "Everybody else, let's prepare our supplies and gear and head out ASAP."
And just like that, Team Elma, plus H.B., headed north towards Oblivia, ready to take on their next adventure.
A/N: Phew, that was painful to write. Hopefully Chapter 4 will be a bit easier for me to finish.
R&R!