Chapter 1
The Outpost. A bastion to the last sanctuary of mankind against the Raptures – an alien race of machines that came to Earth in order to wipe out the human race. It is here that man's only hope the Nikkes – human females that have give up their humanity in order to become machines themselves to counter the inhuman threat, have been assigned by the Central Government in the Ark's defense while making out a semblance of life for themselves, reminiscent when they were once human, in this now barren and desolate world. Day in and day out, they had to face the incursions of the Raptures that try to test the Outpost's defenses. Doing what they can with their amazing machine bodies and weaponry in facing the recurring menace that threaten what they consider their home. One such group was nearing the conclusion of their encounter with the enemy near the outskirts of their establishment.
"Final target eliminated!" said an enthusiastic young brunette wearing a helmet and bearing a rocket launcher on her shoulder.
"Phew! Glad that's over!" replied a white-haired girl, who seemed younger than her companion and could be considered a child. Except this child was also carrying a rocket launcher. "I gotta go back and check on the toy store. Hope there weren't any customers during my absence."
"I highly doubt it, Belorta. You know that when called in on the defense of the Outpost, establishments are temporarily closed during emergencies like an attack. I'm sure any sensible customer would might have visited would understand the situation."
"Yeah, I know that Mica. It's just that I feel uneasy whenever I leave the store. It's like leaving a part of you. You'll never know if you'll ever get back feeling reunited with that part you left, if you know what I mean."
"How is it, Delta? Are there anymore Raptures in sight?" asked another child-like girl. This one carrying an over sized communication pack on her back.
"None that I can see with my scope so far, Signal. Looks like we eliminated them all." The short-haired woman in short fatigues was aiming a sniper rifle in the distance. She then took notice of something odd within the sight of her scope beside the fallen husks of their enemies.
About a hundred meters off in the distance, something began to materialize out of thin air. Starting out as a shimmering haze it soon took on of more substance. Eventually revealing itself into a massive structure.
"What the hell is that?" Delta breathed.
The thing resembled a stone arc reminiscent of architecture of Earth's ancient past which she seem to remember seeing in the Ark's database. Greco-Roman if she recalls right, was what could be described of the structure. But it seems rather out of place and the fact it suddenly appeared out of nowhere made in more baffling for the sniper Nikke.
"Signal. Get in touch with Central Government Command. They might need to know of this."
"...What luck. Of all the time Belorta had be called out to deal with Rapture incursion. And here I am bringing a very precious relic from the past, hoping she could help me with."
Team Counter, the name of the Nikke unit, had come to visit the Outpost's toy store in behest of its commander. This after a reconnaissance mission in the outlands netted them finding a lost relic which its CO got overjoyed over its discovery.
"Don't worry Commander. I'm sure she would back in a jiffy." said a busty, short-haired brunette. Being cheerful and trying to cheer up her superior.
"Anis could be right, Commander. Or would you rather we come back another time?" This coming from a dark tunic-clad Nikke, with a black beret crowning her long brown tresses.
"I have an idea. Why don't we join where Belorta is and join the fight. I'm sure they would appreciate more firepower from Team Counter. That way, the sooner the battle is over, the sooner she could help the commander out with his hobbies."
"But we just came back from a mission, Neon. Besides supposedly coming here, I just want take a long rest and hopefully get to enjoy this manga I found in the ruins. That is after Belorta finds a way to preserve and restore it." bemoaned the commander at the bespectacled, white-haired girl in white sailor, mini-skirted uniform.
More discussion was forthcoming supposedly from the four when an air raid siren blared in the air, followed by a broadcast announcement.
"Alert! Alert! Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon within the Outpost's airspace! All noncombatants, please proceed to the nearest bomb shelter! This is not a drill..."
"Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon? Not Raptures?" hotly inquired Neon.
"Over there!" Anis pointed high overhead.
What people, and Nikke, on the ground saw soaring above their town was unlike any Rapture they ever seen. To keen observers, both human and Nikke, it appeared to reptilian with large spanning bat-like wings. It lack any metallic or machine components within its form, dispelling any assumptions it was some new Rapture type. But the most astonishing discovery was that it appeared to have a rider mounted on it. And that rider, appeared human.
"A Nikke perhaps?"
"Could it be a Pilgrim?"
"No! It looks male..."
"You mean its human?"
Were the comments being heard from the bystanders who have not yet taken to the shelters. Suddenly, anti-aircraft fire was being heard in the background. Coming from the Outpost's automated defenses. They were shooting at the flying thing and its rider. This cause some panic from the onlookers who decided to seek for cover.
"Please! All who are not Nikke, go to the underground shelters at once! It's took dangerous here right now!" warned the one with the beret. Trying her best to direct the noncombatants.
There was an ominous roaring coming from the dragon-thing as the anti-air fire manages to score several hits to it. It then began making a plummeting descent towards where Team Counter was.
"Commander!"
"Master!"
Both Anis and Neon warned as it was apparent that the falling thing was going to smack right onto their CO. While both may be survive unscathed from the collision its another matter with the commander, being human and all. But before they could rush in to save him, the dark-clad one with the beret was ahead of them.
"I've got this! Take cover you two!" she warned her companions as she snatches the Commander in her arms and dashed as fast as she could away from the impact zone.
"Woah!"
"Aah!"
The two other Nikkes barely manage to dodge when the dragon painfully crash landed near them and in front of the toy store.
"Are you...all right...Commander?" she asked
"Rapi..." he called out her name, seeing her over his right side up prone form on the ground. She had a slight look of concern in her face which he rarely sees from her. He looks around, seeing the fallen creature not far from him as well as his Nikke subordinates. Who were dusting themselves after picking themselves up.
"...Thanks."
"You don't look hurt, thank goodness. Can you get up Commander?"
"I think so."
He began to pick himself up as well. Rapi assisted him.
"Thanks again." he said to her.
"Don't mention." she replied.
"Are you two all right?" He asked both Anis and Neon.
"Yeah. Thanks for asking." said Anis rather sarcastically.
"I'm all right Master! It will take more than that to put down the Maestro of Firepower!" energetically answered Neon.
After ascertaining that they were okay, Team Counter then cautiously checked on the creature and its apparent passenger. The winged monster seems dead, while the rider was barely conscious on the saddle he was on. He definitely looked human, but he was unlike anyone they have ever seen before. Plus the fact it was almost certain no human ever survived the Rapture wars baffled the four over this odd discovery.
"What is he wearing? It's it armor?" Anis wondered.
"Yes it is. It's Roman I believe." the Commander offered her an answer.
"Huh? What's that?" she followed up, still confused.
"I suspect the Commander is referring to an ancient civilization in Earth's past." extrapolated Rapi.
"But if that's case what are humans looking like this be doing here long after the Rapture invasion?" asked Neon.
Before anyone else could respond there was a new broadcast being announced.
"Alert! Alert! All available Nikkes are to proceed to Sector A-1. In defense of the Outpost. Repeat! All available Nikkes are to proceed to Sector A-1. In defense of the Outpost..."
"That's the main entrance to the Outpost. Lets go Commander!" said Anis with urgency.
"But what about him?" The Commander was referring to the badly wounded rider.
"I've already informed the appropriate personnel to handle this. This should be here any second now." Rapi assuredly answered.
"C'mon Commander! We mustn't miss when Firepower starts blazing!" Neon was already pumping her shotgun on the ready.
With a bit of reluctance, the Commander and his Nikke squad set off for the defense of the Outpost against an unknown enemy.