Oh hey guys! It's been a long time... Sorry i've been gone for a very long time. It was due to the fact that i was so busy with life, school, job, etc... but IM BACK! I've started to work on all of my fanfictions so don't worry, i don't abandon my stories, its just that I have lots of ideas. Anyway, i hope you guys will enjoy this chapter! Sorry if the chapter feels different, it's been a long time i've wrote fanfiction. All criticisms are welcome! c:
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"We received a message from the Chevalier earlier today, I shall now read it to all of you."
In the Office of Headmistress Margaret Lindman's, there was a meeting among all the staff, including herself who was giving an announcement.
"The following Pandora named below will have one week, until June 8th, 2065, to report to the E-Pandora research lab in Alaska."
Needless to say, Yumi and others were curious who was going to the lab.
"The Pandora chosen from Japan's West Genetics are... the senior ranked #1, Chiffon Fairchild. Her fellow senior, ranked #2, Elizabeth Mably. In addition, while it may be unusual, the junior ranked #2, Satellizer El Bridget and her fellow junior Lana Linchen will also attend. That is all."
All the staff were surprised and murmured to each other, especially Yumi who was shocked.
"Chiffon and Elizabeth i'd expect but why do they want juniors too? And Satellizer of all people... can it be?"
"The meeting is over, you are dismissed"
After the staffs leave her office, Margaret went back to her seat and sighed.
"Well well... it's finally starting huh?"
Startled by the voice coming out of nowhere, Margaret slightly jumped and looked back at the source where she sees Jiro outside of her window, seemingly upside down from the top of the window.
"Sensei, please don't do that again and go through the normal way!"
As Margaret opened the window and let Jiro in, Jiro looked back at her with a smile.
"Hehehe... i guess old habit never change, i remember i used to scare you a lot for fun."
Remembering her "traumatizing(?)" past of her sensei's many pranks during her young days, her eyes slightly twitched with irritation.
"Yes... yes, you did"
After Jiro went to a Sofa and sat down, they started to discuss the recent incident.
"So they're finally starting the project huh? Those idiots at Chevalier."
"They had no choice Jiro-sensei, we need more Pandoras to fight the increasing attack from the Novas."
While Margaret tried to justify their viewpoint, Jiro slightly scoffed.
"Choices or not, that project will not work. Even Gengo said that it will fail."
"..."
After few seconds of silence, Jiro stood up and put his hands behind his hunched back.
"Anyway... i'm going to Alaska as well to see what's going on, Gengo wanted to send me and monitor at the lab over there. Even though i'm his "older brother", he still calls me a freeloader so i have no choice but to do his job. Eheheh..."
Walking towards to her door, Jiro waved at Margaret and said goodbye to her while smiling.
"Bye-bye, Margaret-Chan~"
After closing the door, Margaret stared at the door for a few seconds and in deep thought. When she remembers the memories of her at a young age and Jiro who was slightly younger walking together and seeing him the first time stopped smiling when both of them saw the casualties of the 5th Nova clash, she looked at the floor with a sad expression.
"That's not the real reason why you're going... right Sensei?"
(Scene change, The E-Pandora Research Facility's Main Auditorium)
"Wow! I'm just wearing my uniform my uniform, but to wear regular clothes to a briefing is just... is it casual? is it formal? I don't know".
In the huge Auditorium, there were many people who were there with many tables with high-class food, talking to each other and eating the food that was provided. While everyone was wearing casual clothes, Kazuya, Satellizer, and Rana came in with a school uniform.
"There's so much food, it's almost like a party!"
As Rana went to get food on the table, both Kazuya and Satellizer stood together was quite a bit curious.
"This is unexpected. We're little out of place, right? Genetics is a military facility too and yet, this mood is a little..."
"It seems this place is much more like a civilian facility than a military one."
When both Kazuya and Satellizer turned to see the source of the voice, they both saw 2 familiar people.
"Chiffon-senpai and Elizabeth-senpai!"
As Chiffon and Elizabeth both came with their limiters in casual clothing, Chiffon continued to finish her sentence.
"It seems this facility just recently became under Chevalier management. It certainly isn't military-ish, but isn't this kind of thing nice too?"
"However, considering this is where West Genetics Pandora from around the world are meeting, this atmosphere is just beyond words." said Elizabeth
"Oh? You say that, but isn't everyone really fired up?"
"I'm the same as usual!"
Before Elizabeth and Chiffon continued, the auditorium lights went dark and the only lights that are on were directed at the center of the stage. Everyone's attention was focused on the figure that was standing at the stage and giving a speech.
"Pandora conferring from across the globe and of course, limiters as well. First, please allow me to extend my gratitude to all of you able to be on the front lines for mankind's future and existence. I am the chief researcher of the E-Pandora project, Scarlet Ohara."
Needless to say, people were surprised that someone that's not Gengo Aoi was leading the project and started murmuring.
"She's in charge of everything?"
"Wasn't Dr. Aoi the Director of the Pandora project?"
As the whisper started to get bigger, both Elizabeth and Chiffon was interesting from this revelation.
"A female director... at last I can understand this plan for this meeting." said Elizabeth while exhaling.
"Oh my, even though you are a woman?" whispered Chiffon
In corner of her eyes, Chiffon turned to a side and noticed someone with a hat with a familiar white pompadour on the other side.
"..."
"What's wrong, Chiffon?"
Chiffon turned back to Elizabeth and went back to her joyful personality.
"Ahahaha, it's nothing! Don't worry about it"
Although Elizabeth was slightly suspicious, she shrugged off and continued to focus back to the speech.
"The official name of this project is "Evolution Pandora Project", literally a project with the aim to evolving Pandora. The current Pandora system only uses women endowed with the aptitude for stigmata at birth. That is, only limited people were able to serve... No, it was something like destiny, where they didn't have the option to not serve."
In the different group, many Genetics schools from different countries, such as US, France, German, China, Unified Korea, and India, were listening to the speech.
"Just Being born as women with bodies compatible with stigmata, they sacrifice their lives for mankind and this planet that cast aside bliss."
"I want to convey my respect for all of you who poured everything into that noble mission from the bottom of my heart, not as a director of this project, but as a part of humanity."
"Nevertheless, in spite of everyone's sacrifice, the threat from the Nova only seems to be growing. Inevitably, in humanity's future the lacking number of Pandora, among other things, is liable to only make our worries of facing the Nova grow worse... That is our present condition."
"However! We, humanity, will end such adversity. We have succeeded in finding a means of escape! That chance bestowed upon us is... none other than all of you!"
"The E-Pandora project takes the destiny you all share and the leftover data conferred on you as the foundation towards creating an artificial body that is compatible with stigmata!"
"If this project is a success, by making a transplant possible for the average person to support mass produced stigmata... We will no longer need to just rely on the small chance of a body having naturally occurring stigmata compatibility!"
"The time when humanity must share the heavy responsibility only you are burdened with has come! It is time for all of humanity to unite and fight against our common enemy, the Nova! The great number of sacrifices you all endured until now, I ask you to please endure them once more!
"For the sake of humanity's future!"
"For the sake of rising above this life or death crisis and moving forward!"
"Can't you all lend me your strength?!"
After a few seconds of silence, everyone was clapping and cheering for the amazing speech that Ohara gave.
"Today's dinner party is not related to the military. As an individual, I put this on as a way to make sure I expressed my gratitude to everyone. Please enjoy tonight to your heart's content and work together with us starting tomorrow."
Finally concluding her speech, Ohara walked to the back of the stage, where her secretary was waiting for her.
"That was a fine performance, Dr. Ohara."
"Really? Thank goodness."
As she replied back to her secretary, she smirked seemingly with an ulterior motive.
"It's simple... knowing how to treat young girls and the like.
After the auditorium lights turn back on normally, everyone else went on their ways to eat the food that was on the table, including Elizabeth and Chiffon with their limiters.
"Wow! Delicious! This party is the best!" said Lana, while eating the food really fast.
"Make sure to chew your food, Lana."
As Kazuya tried to slow Lana down, he overheard a conversation nearby from 2 random girls.
"Still though, why isn't Dr. Aoi the one in charge?"
"I overheard Dr. Aoi talking, he was opposed to this project."
"So, they decided to cut down his opposition and move forward?"
"Yes, the rumor that after that he volunteered to go underwater to work on an opposing project surprisingly may be true."
After hearing the conversation, Kazuya approached them to ask.
"Is what you said about Dr. Aoi being opposed true?"
"and you are?"
While Kazuya was slightly awkward at conversation, Lana came up and helped him.
"This guy is Aoi Kazuya!"
"La-Lana!?"
"Aoi Kazuya? You couldn't be Aoi Gengo's..."
"Yes, Aoi Gengo is my grandfather" replied Kazuya, while being slightly hesitant.
Also overhearing their conversation, a noticeable figure came up to them.
"This is the first time I've heard of this, Aoi Gengo's grandson is a limiter? The entire family working around Nova is just... you can't just say it's an ironic fate."
Chiffon knew who that person was and pointed out.
"Oh, aren't your number 1 of America Genetic's 3rd years, The immortal, Roxxane Elipton and limiter Han Shi-Jing?"
Both Chiffon and Roxanne went up and greeted each other.
"Sorry I didn't write, Chiffon Fairchild."
"Yes, it has been 2 years since the last world assembly."
"More importantly... you are Dr. Aoi's grandson?"
Seeing that a famous person was approached him, Kazuya replied back with nervousness
"Um, yes! I am Aoi Kazuya."
"That's harsh... I wonder if truly everyone in the family is burdened with the fate of a battle. However, it is because you are Aoi family that I respect you. and Aoi Gengo too, and even Aoi Kazuha, who gave her own life for humanity's sake."
Kazuya was, needless to say, was surprised by her action.
"She's one of the world's strongest 3rd year, so I figured she would have a more frightening aura, but... it seems she is a nice, kind person."
After Chiffon introduced everyone to Roxanne and the incident of her touching Satella's boobs simmered down, things went back to a serious topic from Roxanne.
"But honestly, speaking of this project, how come I'm stuck in it? Fame is nice, but turning an ordinary person into a pandora... is it possible? Even if it's a temporary replacement, enhancing people. Is human experimentation legal right now?"
While everyone also became serious and tuned in, Roxanne continued
"Dr. Aoi was opposed to it until the end too. Plus there is the rumor that, that project lacked morals too. Well, before the official announcement, they informally got a sponsor. I've heard that they've considerably improved their facilities. So, now after looking it over, it seems its nothing but some disinformation."
Roxanne turned back and notice some hostile stare from the other side.
"Somehow it seems... they don't like they'd be very welcoming to us. We have been standing here for a while, we are the stars of the party, right...?"
After a few seconds of staring, everyone overheard a voice from other tables.
"Sir, these are for VIPs only, please go back to your workstation."
"Awwww, can't you give this old man some of that wine bottles?"
Hearing the commotions, everyone looked at the direction saw a small hunched old man wearing a janitor uniform with a hat and a male security. Kazuya and rest of them walked towards the commotion
"Sir, please leave or we will call security."
Before he could, both Kazuya and Lana realized who it was and come up to him.
"Jiro-san!"
Hearing his voice, Jiro turned to them and smiled.
"ohohoho... we meet again, young ones."
After explaining and convincing the security guard by Lana using Kazuya's last name as a resort, Jiro managed to get a bottle of wine and drank it while walking along with both Kazuya and Lana to their group.
"I didn't know you worked here Jiro-san."
Hearing Kazuya's curious question, Jiro replied back.
"I'm just a janitor, young man, the company moves me to different places and I happened to work here."
As they were walking, Kazuya realized Jiro's been hitting his back, indicating that he was slightly hurting. Seeing this, Kazuya helped Jiro walk.
"Here, Jiro-san."
When he saw Kazuya helping him walk, Jiro was very grateful. Seeing this scene also made Rana smiled when she saw his kindness.
"Thank you for your kindness for 2nd time young man, I'll never forget it."
Before they could reach to their group, Jiro's phone rang some kind of alarm.
"Ohohohh... i guess it's time for me to get back to work. Thank you again, Kazuya-kun."
After waving goodbye to Kazuya and Lana, Jiro went out of the auditorium entrance with a wine bottle snuck in his janitor equipment. Seeing that he was gone, Kazuya and Lana went back to see his group seeing in mostly surprised expression and became confused.
"My my... who would've thought someone like him would be here?" said Roxanne, while slightly sweating.
"Roxanne-senpai, do you know Jiro-san is?" asked Kazuya, being slightly confused.
"Kazuya-kun, do you really not know who that was?" asked Elizabeth, with a surprised expression.
"No, is he someone important Elizabeth-Senpai?" said Kazuya, curious.
After a few seconds of silence, Elizabeth answered his question with a serious expression.
"That person is a legendary man named Jiro, also known as the "The Freezing Master"! He's the world's first limiter that was partnered with legendary Pandora, Maria Lancelot."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the group was shocked by this information other than Roxanne, Chiffon, and Eugene.
"What?! Is this true senpai?!"
"No way!"
"!"
As the group murmured to themselves, Elizabeth continued.
"I've also heard that he has a very close connection with Dr. Aoi..."
Needless to say, Kazuya was surprised and then looked at the direction where Jiro left.
"The first limiter and connection with my grandfather? Jiro-san was...?!"
(Scene Change, hallway leading to Ohara's office)
In the hallway, there were 2 Pandoras that were guarding in the hallway of a few meters in front of her office. While guarding the hallway, the 2 Pandora saw an unknown man with a janitor uniform with a hat approaching them.
"Halt! State your-"
Before she could finish the sentence, the 2 Pandoras were frozen in place for few seconds before finally getting knocked out and failed to hear the whisper from the man.
"Sleep there for a while, okay?"
After knocking them out with freezing, the hunched back man walked for few seconds before finally reaching to her office and knocking on the door.
Knock Knock
Hearing the knock, Scarlett Ohara answered without even looking at the door.
"Come in"
When she looked at the direction of the door, however, she was shocked when she saw some unknown person managing to come to her office and stood up in fear.
"Who are you?! How did you come here?!"
Upon finally entering the room, the man took off his hat and put it on the coat hanger, revealing his white pompadour hairstyle.
"Now now, you shouldn't be yelling at someone you know. Right, Ohara-chan?"
"How do you-?!"
Before she could finish her sentence, she remembered a certain person with that hairstyle back in 10 years ago at Chevalier Anti-Nova Operations Headquarters who was with Gengo Aoi most of the time and walking around with important figures from Chevalier, except at that time, he was not only muscular but bigger and taller. She knew that there's only one person in the world who had that hairstyle. Finally figuring it out who it was, she yelled at him with fear
"It can't be... WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
There were a few seconds of a silence of both staring at each other. After the silence, Ohara slowly calmed down and tried to figure out his intention.
"Don't tell me he sent you to try to stop me. It's no use! I've already got approval from Chevalier and even himself in front of the media! Do you honestly can stop me?"
While smirking in confidence, Jiro replied in his carefree attitude.
"fufufufu... I didn't came here trying to stop you or cause trouble Ohara-chan. I came here to merely observe this place."
"..."
Jiro then put his finger on his mouth in a gesture of silence.
"Let's keep our little meeting a secret, you don't want your project to go wrong due to me right?"
Before she could think of a plan, Jiro interrupted her trail of thoughts by grabbing his janitor hat and exit the room but before he left, he left her a warning.
"By the way, That's some dangerous experiments you're performing down there. Be careful what you're playing with... little girl."
Seeing his eyes slightly open with frowning face that's emitting a massive amount of power and killing intent, Ohara was startled and lost her strengths in her legs and fell down. While breathing heavily, she was shocked he somehow knew her secret cloning experiment.
"H-he knows?!"
(Scene Change, E-Pandora's hallway)
As he was walking through a hallway with a wine bottle in his hand, he saw the E-Pandora girls were smiling, playing video games, and laughing together in the room where the door was slightly opened. Seeing this, Jiro smiled warmly and walk past them and continued his walk through the hallway, seemingly disappearing from sight.