Author's Note: This was actually written before Orihime's chapter, meaning the unaddressed ambiguities there are explained here. Grober Bruder is German for big brother, Pruefling means subject of the test variety.

December 24th, 1915 (Taisho 4)

Kinderheim 34, Berlin

Life in the Kinderheim was always tedious but was a welcome change from her usual quarters. Reni cared little for it, not much given to philosophical rumination.

Homes were merely places one resided in briefly while awaiting transition to the next one. Kinderheim 34 was especially so, being a temporary residence for her after the previous house was destroyed by a failed experiment.

Ingrid simply had not been strong enough to withstand the training. She had long fair hair, tied back with a red ribbon. Reni rarely spoke to her.

Nevertheless, the Masters were not giving up easily despite most of their subjects going insane, killing their masters and then themselves. The remaining few subjects, Reni included, were shipped out to state-run Kinderheims all over the country while the Grand Master built a new house for his pets.

After a month, Reni had found herself a little shadow. Hilde, a bright orphan who lost her parents and older brother in a train accident, took an instant liking to the 'grober Bruder' who spent all day reading in the bedroom.

"Look, Reni!"

The elder girl closed the book and examined the misshapen box that sat in the outstretched palms. "A gift."

"Ja! You're always so smart." It was followed by peals of laughter. Hilde's blonde braids went flying as she rushed over to the curtains. "I'm kidding. It's for you! I made it myself."

Reni held up the box, turned it over in her hands as she conducted her analysis. "This is the box that Frau Pfitzer received in the mail eight days ago. The fake pearl necklace from the catalogue."

"Fake? Really? Anyway, she gave it to me, said she didn't want it any more." Hilde grinned, showing off the new gap in her teeth. "Go on, open it!"

Mechanically, she lifted the lid and took out the ribbon inside. "Thank you." It was red, like Ingrid's ribbon. Grosgrain, she thought, rubbing it between her fingertips. Little practical value; no tensile strength for garroting a man. A mere decorative object.

"That's all?" The girl pouted. "You missed the best part!"

There was a weight unnatural for a length of cheap ribbon. She opened her hand, revealing the metal brooch glued to the middle of the ribbon.

"Happy birthday and Merry Christmas! Here, there's a clasp at the ends so you can put it on, let me help you..."

Reni let her friend fasten it around her neck. "An ornament?"

"Yep! I found it the other day, in the street outside the yard." Hilde stepped back to admire her work.

The older girl fingered the brooch. "It is aesthetically appealing, despite the lack of refinement and craftsmanship. I thank you, Hilde."

"Don't mention it... I think," she giggled. "You're always so serious, Reni!"

The door to the bedroom swung open, and a stern man neither girl recognized strode in. "Reni Milchstrasse and Hilde Neumann?"

Both rose to their feet. "Yes."

He held out a card. "Adolf Heinkelmann. You are both to come with me."

Ice ran in Reni's veins. "I have been waiting for you, yes, but why her?"

"This matter does not concern you. Come with me immediately."

Hilde looked between the both of them. "Reni, is something wrong? Aren't we being adopted?"

A surge of alien emotion welled up inside the older girl. Darting in between them, she fixed the man with a furious glare. "You will not take her."

Heinkelmann's face darkened. Usually, Wunderkind subjects were docile and obedient – mistakes were quickly eliminated, before they could infect the others. How the belligerent specimen before him could have survived so long was beyond his understanding.

"There will be no arguments, Pruefling 190937. You shall come quietly together with Neumann."

Hilde clung to Reni's leg. "He scares me, Reni. Is everything alright?"

She looked down at the wide blue eyes, her logical mind's answer being, for once, withheld. "Yes, Hilde. I promise."

"How dare you – "

Reni moved fast, going for the man's leg before he could draw his gun. "Run!"

"But – Reni – !"

"Verdamnt!" Heinkelmann freed his leg, only to be knocked over again. "Don't just stand there, schwein, take them!"

Similarly-dressed men stormed in and quickly took them. The struggle was over.

The leader stood up, wiping a bit of blood from his mouth. "I would kill you here for this, if the Master didn't want especially want you." Reni stared back defiantly. It mattered little what happened to her, so long as...

"What will you do to her?"

He snorted. "It matters not to you."

The last she saw of Hilde was her wide, frightened eyes, and her blonde braids, swinging.

December 14th, 1920 (Taisho 9)

Classified Location, Germany

The tall army general eyed his squadron, his petite Asian-looking second-in-command at his side. "I have received new instructions from my superior – we are to have a new member."

The four girls barely reacted.

"Who is she, Commander?" asked the tallest of the four, a blonde girl wearing captain's insignia.

"The latest product of Germany's system – a new program designed to identify and enhance latent spiritual power. Very promising subject, I was informed."

A girl in purple sniffed haughtily. "Another Reni?" she asked, her English heavily accented with Italian.

"Not from the Wunderkind program, no. It was shut down years ago after some – questionable – practices came to light." He walked forward, rested a hand on Reni's shoulder lightly. "My superior assures me of the humanistic principles the new program operates by."

"Her abilities?" asked the final member of the squadron, a Japanese girl.

"Highly competent tactical commander, excellent hand-to-hand combatant, skilled in several martial disciplines, exceptional dexterity and highly intelligent," recited the general.

"Intriguing," she said, her face remaining inscrutable.

"But enough chatter. Remember, your last names are classified, as is hers." A pale blonde girl in a white version of the squadron's battle uniform walked into the room. "European Star Division, this is Hilde, the new member."

Recognition sparked in Reni's eyes. But this girl was different, older. Her blue eyes appeared both sharp and dulled at the same time. She still wore her hair in two braids.

"Hilde?"

She turned those strange blue eyes on her. "... Reni. It has been a while."

The captain stepped forward. "It appears you already know Reni. I am Ratchet, the captain of this squad. Over there are Orihime and Subaru."

Hilde inclined her head. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

The general cut in. "Now that you have met the final member of your squad, I have an important mission for you." He nodded at his deputy. "Fujieda?"

She called up a map on the large screen behind them. "As you know, even though this squadron is based in Germany, we are obliged to take orders from Japan because of the nation's crucial involvement in the technology of the Eisenkleids."

"The recently concluded Demon War has left Japan weakened against external threats. Germany has been assisting with supplies and other forms of aid. Recently, the Russian rebels have been intercepting these supplies for their own use."

"This seems like a relatively simple military operation. Why is our involvement required?" asked Ratchet.

"Because of this." A blurred image of a monstrous thing replaced the map. "They have been attacking the supply lines alongside the Russians."

"An alliance between humans and demons? This is unprecedented," said Subaru.

"Precisely why this is very worrying to us." Kaede turned off the monitor. "Your mission is to eliminate the demons and whoever is controlling them."

Ratchet saluted smartly. "Understood! European Star Division, move out!"

Inside the Eisenkleid, as they traveled to their destination, Hilde heard an incoming radio transmission.

"Hilde? Is that really you?"

"Yes, Reni."

"... I am sorry I did not keep my promise..."

"There is no need for an apology. They would have taken me eventually. The chances of success were very low. Still, I thank you for trying your best to prevent that from happening."

"... What did they do to you? You never used to talk like this. Like me."

"Training, Reni. They awakened the hidden power sleeping inside of me. I am no longer the Hilde you used to know. I am a soldier, and I am on a mission."

Reni stared at the flashing red notification – the radio link had been terminated. "Understood," she said, slipping back into her usual self.

"Your orders are simple," said Ratchet. "Wait for the enemy to attack, then destroy them on my signal."

"Ratchet. It would be more logical to conduct a reconnaissance of the area and ascertain their numbers."

"Negatory. Thousands of units of supplies have already been taken or destroyed. After reviewing the intelligence reports, there can't be more than fifty. We don't need to waste unnecessary effort. By my calculations, this is the most efficient way to use our resources."

Ratchet's Eisenkleid moved forward, and was halted by Subaru's.

"Attacking without knowing the strengths of the enemy is suicide," came the flat voice. "Surely you have been taught better than that, Captain?"

Inside the cockpit, Ratchet frowned. "... Point taken, Subaru."

Hilde spoke up. "I can scout, Captain. Leave it to me."

"Hilde? No. You just joined the team. It's too dangerous for you to go alone." The mechanical eye swiveled. "... Reni. You scout ahead, report back here immediately once you've made a rough estimate of their numbers. Orihime, you provide cover in case she's spotted. Hilde, Subaru, we need to work out a battle strategy."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Are you sure it was wise to do that, Reni?" asked Orihime anxiously as the young German vaulted out of her Eisenkleid's cockpit. "We don't know how many enemies are there, and unarmed..."

"I will be able to move undetected like this," said Reni. "Also, I am not unarmed." A small pistol and knife were slipped into hidden holsters on her uniform. "Remain here. Do not worry, I will return."

The Italian girl watched her vanish into the forest, a pit of unease forming in her stomach.

Reni held her breath and watched. A man of Japanese extraction, surrounded by malformed demons, seemed to be engaged in some ritual – undoubtedly the mastermind. There were more demons around the area, but they were segregated from the humans. She calculated there were about a hundred altogether; nothing the Star Division could not handle.

It was time to return.

"Narushitel!"

Reni's breath caught. She had been discovered. The demons closed in for the kill. Drawing her knife, she slashed open the side of one's throat and fired her pistol simultaneously; the spiritual energy-infused bullet felled another creature.

"Reni!"

A pair of Eisenkleid burst into the fray. Bursts of lasers drove the attackers back, allowing Hilde to move in front of Reni, beheading one of the stragglers with her sword.

"... Hilde... Orihime..."

"Get back to the Eisenkleid! We'll cover you!" A purple blast cleared a path through the demons."There are too many of them! We need reinforcements!"

"If the others have not detected the disturbance by now, I would be greatly surprised."

Subaru calmly lifted her head from the map. "It appears that the others have already engaged the enemy."

"What? But that's – never mind." The captain hopped back into her Eisenkleid. "Move out! Destroy all enemies!"

"Understood."

With Ratchet's and Subaru's arrival, the skirmish turned into an all-out war. Shrieks filled the air as the demons were steadily decimated.

Frustratingly, however, there were always enough left at any given time protecting the leader – and he was making full use of it, summoning more and more demon reinforcements.

The Star Division were good, but endless hordes of enemies were beyond them.

"The situation doesn't look good," grimaced Ratchet. "At this rate, we..."

"Captain. I have an idea." Hilde's Eisenkleid, gruesomely splattered with green, sank its sword into a demon's throat and used the time pulling it out for breathing space. "My Eisenkleid is fitted with a newly-developed explosive incendiary device – "

" – request denied." A throwing knife embedded itself between the eyes of an attacker. "I am not letting you sacrifice yourself."

"I disagree. Hilde is right. That is the most logical decision to preserve the greater good," commented Subaru.

"No! Nobody's dying today!"

Reni stared blankly ahead; a lance thrust gutted a pair of demons that happened to be standing close together. "..."

"Star Division!" shouted Ratchet. "Regroup, and – aaah!"

"Ratchet!"

The white Eisenkleid ran forward and pulled Ratchet's machine from the demons. "We have no other option."

"... Hilde..."

"... Reni." The older girl was sure she was smiling; both mecha stood back to back against the attackers. "I noticed earlier... you were still wearing that trinket..."

There was a strange lump in Reni's throat, which she could not come up with a logical explanation for. "... It has aesthetic appeal..."

"I know... This, it could have been different, in another time and another place." As they talked, their bodies continued to move in sync, holding their own against the tide. "You protected me once, Reni. Allow me to do the same."

"... Understood..."

On a silent cue, the Eisenkleid split; one barreled into the heart of the demons, the other ran from it.

A blinding white explosion filled the sky; the Star Division were saved from major damage by the buffer of other demons closer to the centre.

December 24th, 1920 (Taisho 9)

Classified location, Germany

They assembled again in the underground bunker for the first time since that battle.

"... I see. So Hilde sacrificed herself to save all of you." The general put down the report. "I will mention this to my superiors."

"And how are your injuries, Captain?"

She stood rigidly. "Healing well, sir."

"... The doctor informed me of the – consequences."

"... Yes." Ratchet's gaze went elsewhere. "There is a chance I might lose my spiritual power in the future."

"I see."

He stood up, walked around the table. "The worst of the war is over. And Hilde's sacrifice was not in vain; we just learned that the man was a dangerous enemy and was involved in planning further attacks on Japan. The supply line raids were mere stepping stones to his goals."

"..."

"Well done, Star Division. The German and Japanese governments are grateful. Dismissed."

Reni walked from the conference room, touching the cheap brooch at her throat.