I'm back with the next chapter of "Strike Heroes".

As usual, let's cover the reviews:

fuji92: At this point, the views of the Witches toward Roland will be challenged before long. Especially as Roland's trying to stop the events from occurring in the first place. As for whether he's going to reveal his secret, I can't say.

GAT-X105VividPanzer: The bigger question is who created the prototype that Roland has in the first place as well as who handed it to Weiss, who gave it to Roland back in Chapter 2.

Dragonman75: The questions will be answered, though whether they get answered now or later...I can't reveal that detail.

With that out of the way, let's get going with the conclusion to this arc...

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Chapter 16: What We Want To Protect (Part 2)

I got higher up and could soon see Yoshika and Perrine as they shot at each other. I felt a round graze my Striker unit, and I looked at it to find that there was no paint streak (which would have meant that they were using paint rounds).

My lord, they're using real bullets? I better get in the middle of this now!

"Stop it!" I shouted as loud as I could as I flew between them. Luckily, they were both reloading, so they managed to not shoot me dead.

Whew, I told myself after seeing my predicament. That was a close one...

"Knock it off, you two!" I said as I flew there. "I don't know the reason behind this very well..." Big lie, I guess. "...but I'm ending this right now. We don't have time for duels. Beside, I thought I ordered you two to cool it."

"We have all the time in the world, lieutenant," Perrine told me as we floated there, their guns pointed at each other along with me (seeing as I was in the middle). "What's so different about now?"

"Um...good point, but we're a team here. We stick together, no matter what."

"You don't understand, do you?"

I was slightly confused. "Huh?" I looked at Perrine, who looked saddened.

"You don't understand what it's like to live with the fact that your home is under enemy control."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "But I know what it's like to lose something. You think you're the only one with that problem? I know of at least four people whose lives were negatively affected by the Neuroi, myself included. You think I like fighting? I almost hate it, but it's the only way to protect those I want to protect. Face it, there's something more than loss behind the reason, isn't there?" I noted Perrine's red aura as my senses trained on her. "You're jealous of Yoshika, Perrine. I think you know it, but you've treated Yoshika rather poorly, and I think I know why." I sighed. Better hope I get the reason right. "It's Mio, isn't it?"

I saw Perrine's Bren train more on me now, and I reached for my pistol in case this went south. When I looked, however, I realized that I didn't bring it with me. After seeing this fact, I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I think I'm at the mercy of the Gallian Witch now...oh, and Yoshika... "Shut up. It's Major Sakamoto, got it?"

I lowered my eyebrows. "Really? You're trying to change the subject again?"

Perrine fired at me, and I raised my barrier to protect myself. I then flew to the right to get out of the trajectory of the bullets. I looked and saw that Yoshika had moved to avoid getting shot as well.

"This has nothing to do with you, lieutenant," Perrine told me simply.

"It has nothing to do with me?" I asked. You shot at me...you stupid bitch! Now I'm mad! "Oh, shooting at me does not keep this from becoming my problem as well. In fact, I'd say that you pissed me off."

I flew down quickly as Perrine fired at me again. I was soon flying along the ground, trying to find something I can use to attack with. Soon, I found a fallen tree trunk and decided to use that. I extended my aura to it using my gyrokinesis powers and lifted it up. It wasn't a human being like that guy was, but it was rather heavy. I then flew back up, rather slowly due to having to concentrate on carrying a heavy load. I was straining just to keep from blacking out; like I said, it wasn't like carrying a human being. That, and I never really had too much use for this particular power, seeing as I used my muscles a lot more often than gyrokinesis.

I took some time to take a fast check on the area with my aura powers and noticed that Perrine was not exactly looking at me now. Perfect for my plan.

I exerted a lot more power to send the trunk ahead, and I used the release of the weight to speed up again. However, as I flew toward the Gallian Witch, I realized too late that she had a rapier at her side, which she drew with her right hand quickly once she held the Bren in her left hand. She flew out of the way of the way and then thrust it at me, and only a quick barrel roll kept it from stabbing me in the chest. However, as she swung it to strike at me with a glancing blow, I was too slow to avoid her making a gash in my right upper arm.

"Ugh!" I yelped as I covered my wound with my left hand.

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Mio's POV

I walked onto the balcony as Commander Minna was busy watching something in the distance.

"What is it, Commander Minna?" I asked as she turned around.

"Ah," the commander said as she noted my presence. "You came." She looked surprised.

"Why are you surprised? You asked for my presence."

"I thought you were busy."

"Well, nothing will keep me from getting here when needed. So, what's wrong?"

"Look for yourself." Commander Minna moved over a bit, and I saw that there was a pair of binoculars on the railing.

I walked over to the binoculars and picked them up. When I looked through them, I could see Miyafuji and Perrine in the air, each of them armed with a Bren. I could also see that Perrine had a rapier strapped to her side. "Why are Miyafuji and Perrine armed like they're going to hurt themselves?"

"You know, I'm not sure. Whatever it is, I think we should let them fight this out and then lay the punishment..." The commander gave off a small smirk, something that I found odd.

"Uh, commander, why are you smirking like that?"

"You'll see...if it happens..."

I kept watching as the duel started, with each of the girls using the skills they had to fight. Both had the advantage of using their barrier to defend, seeing as Perrine used that skill to defend Miyafuji and Sage when Barkhorn was injured while Miyafuji used it to shield Eila, Sanya, and Sage during the night patrol they were in. This went on for a while before I suddenly was taken aback: Sage had flown in from below and had evidently decided to interfere with the duel. Both girls had their guns trained on him, but that was probably because they were trying to ensure that the other didn't try to move.

"I have to admit that I wasn't surprised that Roland would disregard the order to stay grounded," the commander admitted as I took the binoculars away from my eyes and glanced at her. "However, even I would have made the choice he made."

"I see..." I said as I continued looking through the binoculars. Sage looked like he was trying to talk them out of continuing the battle, but I don't think Perrine was wanting to listen, for she fired at Sage. He had enough time to put up a barrier and fly out of the flurry of bullets that she had produced. Miyafuji followed his lead and was safe for now. There was a slight break before Perrine fired at Sage once again, the male Witch flying toward the ground to hide from her. With him gone, Perrine focused back on Miyafuji, and the battle continued for a while before Sage came out from the forest with a tree trunk being held with his magic. He launched it ahead and sped up to try catching the Gallian Witch off her guard. However, Perrine readied her rapier in her right hand when she put her Bren in her left hand. She moved out of the way of the flying tree trunk and thrust the rapier at Sage, who barely managed to avoid being impaled. However, Perrine swung and landed a gash on him, and he reacted by grabbing at his injured arm.

"Hey," Commander Minna said as I think she spotted something. "What's that in the distance?"

"Huh?" I asked as I glanced at her after taking the binoculars from my eyes.

She pointed somewhere behind the battle, and I soon spotted it.

"I see it," I said as I looked at it through the binoculars. "What is it?"

After a few seconds, I realized something, and in shock I dropped the binoculars onto the floor.

"What is it, major?" the commander asked before I turned and ran off.

Dammit! I needed to get to the hangar and gear up! And fast!

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Roland's POV

As I floated there, nursing my wound, I watched as Perrine sheathed the rapier and readied the Bren again.

"Any last words, lieutenant?" Perrine asked me. She looked like she was relishing this victory or something.

I looked at her with a glare.

"Shoot me," I told her. "Finish me off."

Perrine must not have been expecting my answer, for she blinked in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"Just kill me." When she didn't do anything, I growled. "Come on, you've got me at gunpoint. Just pull the damn trigger."

Perrine was definitely surprised, if her wide eyes weren't enough. "What are you talking about?"

"Do I have anything else to live for? Since I got here, I've been involved in some way with you girls and your misadventures. That was fine and all, but after learning that I have something hidden in my Striker Unit...I don't think you girls really trust me. Not like before. So go ahead...shoot me."

"You can't be serious, my word..." Perrine frowned. "You want to die so badly?"

"Better than letting the world crumble around me. The secrets I know...I don't want to live on knowing that when I lose them...I don't want to see my world being turned upside down."

"What's so big about your secret that it can do that? You're exaggerating."

"Just fire! Do it now!"

Perrine readied the Bren with a better resolve, and I could see her finger enter the trigger well. All she had to do was pull the trigger...I won't try to save myself...

"Stop!" Yoshika yelled as she flew between me and Perrine.

"Yosh?" I asked as she turned around and gave me a hard slap to the left cheek with the back of her right hand. The Bren she had was strapped on her back.

"What the hell's wrong with you, sir?"

I rubbed the site where she slapped me with my bloody left hand. "You heard me, Yosh. I'm tired of this life."

"Why are you acting like this now? The Roland-kun I know didn't care about his well-being because we trusted him enough to keep all of us safe and still live. He wouldn't just order one of his teammates to shoot him down like he had a death wish."

"Yosh...you don't understand..."

"No, I don't! But it doesn't matter...what you're wishing for is wrong!"

"The world isn't all black and white, sergeant!" I said it with enough force to make her flinch. "I thought it was when I first joined the Army. Kill the Neuroi, protect our homes. I really thought it would have been like that, especially given my past...but the more I witnessed, the more I began to question even that. The fact that you girls had your own issues strengthened the idea that this isn't as simple as all that. When you're my age, you might understand...but I can't expect you to now."

"Black and white?"

I only nodded.

I know it's hard for you to believe because you're good at everything, but I'm not you! Lynette's voice rang in my head.

No matter what, someone always gets left behind... Gertrud's voice resonated from that day.

But if we don't chase after our dreams we'll lose them forever. Charlotte's voice said.

It's not so easy to find people once you lost them. Eila's comment repeated.

Eila, Roland, stop. Get out of here! Sanya's concern was still somehow fresh in my memories.

I already lost one boy in my life, and I am not about to let you become the next one! Minna's answer was there as well.

Maybe I'm the one who can't understand it. Yeah, there are some issues that can't be determined as being either completely right or completely wrong. However, when your view of the world was like Yoshika's or the others' then you still have something worthwhile in store, even if no one else sees it like they do. Yeah, some of them may have adjusted their opinions once Yoshika and-or I got involved, but I can't just tell someone that the way they saw the world was wrong. I don't have that right, especially considering my secret.

I think Perrine was about to say something, but then my aura kicked up. We watched as a red blur flew past us, and when it stopped we could see that it was some weird creature shaped like...I guess Yoshika.

"What the?" Perrine asked as we looked at it before it decided to fly off.

"Wait up!" Yoshika said as she followed it.

I followed her afterward, trying to stop her. If things went sour here...

We followed it for a while before it stopped to look at us. It looked at Yoshika first, then me. Then, I kid you not, it nodded its "head" at me, like it figured something out.

I blinked. Does this thing know me somehow?

"Sergeant Miyafuji! Lieutenant Sage!" we heard Mio shout from somewhere nearby. "Get away from it now!"

"Huh?" I asked myself as I snapped out of it. My reply was this: "What's wrong?"

"That's a Neuroi! Don't get too close to it!"

Soon, my senses fired up quickly as a hidden Neuroi made its presence known. Mio fired at it with a gun, but the Neuroi fired off a simple shot at the major. While the major was able to erect her barrier, there was a flaw in the barrier itself, and the shot got through, shooting Mio down.

"Major Sakamoto!" Yoshika shouted as she and Perrine flew after the fallen major, who was falling toward the water.

I looked at the Neuroi that appeared and instantly used my powers to slip Yoshika's Bren off her back while the little Fuso Witch was flying toward Mio and, once I got a hold of it, bear the gun against it.

"You hurt the major," I growled as my finger entered the trigger well. "Now you pay the price."

Suddenly, the being flew in front of my line of fire, and I hesitated. I wanted to make this Neuroi pay for what it did…but something inside me told me not to fire. It was confusing: why didn't I want to destroy it? Taking my finger out of the trigger well, I sighed and looked at it. Why does it look so familiar to me? I felt like I had seen it before now...but I'm not sure.

"I want you to go," I told it. "Now…before I change my mind."

The being seemed to have nodded at me again as it and the Neuroi that had shot down Mio turned around and flew off.

I was well aware of what I did, but my concern was geared more toward making sure Mio was okay.

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Mio's POV

"How bad is it?" Perrine asked as she, Miyafuji, Commander Minna, a doctor, and Sage raced to the emergency room with me, who was lying on a gurney. I was barely conscious and was in too much pain to say anything.

"It's hard to say, lieutenant," the doctor told her. "It'll take us a while to stabilize her."

"I feel so bad for all this…"

"It's not your fault, Perrine," Commander Minna told her. "None of us knew the Neuroi was coming."

"Still…"

I tried something, but all I could do was groan.

"Save your strength, major!" Sage said in a panicked voice. "We'll fix you right up! I promise!"

Thanks...Roland...

I blacked out.

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Roland's POV

It's my fault, I told myself as Yoshika and I sat at Mio's bedside as the major was busy being unconscious. I was too busy trying to look normal, and I screwed up by not dropping a hint to anyone. I could have changed this outcome somehow. Because of that, it's my fault Mio's here right now.

Yoshika looked at me with concern on her face.

"Roland-kun?" she asked me. "Is the major going to make it?"

"I can't tell you," I said glumly as we sat there. I knew what could be the result, but I didn't want to make Yoshika lose hope in the end.

"I feel sorry for getting you and Major Sakamoto into all this."

"It's alright, Yoshika. I should have realized that Mio was getting weaker..." Dammit! If Minna had Mio in the office, then I should have realized what it was. That barrier wasn't in good shape when I saw it.

A bigger question was: why didn't she leave us to our devices? She could have sent someone else, someone who could have been better able to protect us. Why did she come?

We sat there in a moment of silence before Mio's vital signs started to go erratic.

"Oh no!" Yoshika said as she readied her healing spell.

"Yosh, wait!" I shouted, but it was too late: Yoshika had casted her spell on Mio, and it must have been a harsh spell for her body. She fell to the ground in weakness, and I barely managed to catch her and held her there as she was panting. I heard the door open behind me, and I turned around to see that it was Minna and a doctor.

"Is she alright?" Minna asked.

"She's fine, commander," I told her. "She's just exhausted. Whatever she did saved Mio's life at the cost of most of her energy."

Soon, Yoshika had enough strength to look up at me with weary eyes.

"You alright, Miyafuji?" Minna asked her.

"Yeah," Yoshika told her, "I'm fine, ma'am. Just tired."

"I see. Listen, I want to speak to you and Roland outside. Now."

This got both of us concerned.

Oh boy...this is going to be bad for us, huh?

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Roland: Next time on Strike Heroes...

Yoshika: We don't time for the preview. Aren't we supposed to be going to the Neuroi nest to find some answers?

Roland: We? Commander Minna restricted us to our rooms. I'm only going because I need to know more about what's going on.

Yoshika: If you're going, then I'm coming too.

Roland: Even at the risk of dying?

Yoshika: You're a teammate...and a friend...

Roland: I'm not sure if I can be considered that anymore...

Yoshika: Why?

Roland: Nothing. Next time: We Want You to Believe...

?: Your path is one that only you can take...

Roland: What does that mean?

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Well, there's the next chapter. Hopefully the suspense hasn't killed you off yet. Anyways, get ready because some questions will finally be answered in the chapters leading up to the end. Which ones I won't say, so get ready...

On another note, I hope you liked this arc's ending. For me, it was an interesting way to string together this arc and the next arc.

Anyways, please read and respond. Thanks.