"Welcome to ******. Humanity's last stronghold."

"...ugh"

"you were brought here to test your aptitude to be a member of the ********, the anti-******* punitive force. Please, try to relax a little. You'll get better results that way."

"ergh... Nghh..."

"When you're ready, step forward and place your hand inside the case."

The machine slammed down on his wrist, sealing the person's fate.

"Congratulations. You are now a member of the German branch of **** *******. This concludes the aptitude


"Nghh... ah! hah...hah..."

Thomas opened his eyes and found them looking at a white ceiling. Quickly assessing himself, he was still in his armor- save for the helmet and right gauntlet. However, the gauntlet-less arm was now handcuffed to the bed he was laying on as well as several straps that secured his body and restricted almost all movement. In other words, it was the kind of bed used for psychopathic criminals. Flexing one of his arms, Thomas discovered that the straps were tougher than the usual materials used.

"crap..."

*snap snap!

With wrenching sounds, the straps gave way one by one. The force exerted by the Mark X made short work of the constrains but the handcuffs remained secure due to the armor-less arm- much to his disappointment. As he was about to pick the lock, a door opened and Dr. Oohara walked in. Accompanying her were two researchers and a stern man in a suit.

"Why hello Dr. Oohara. Might I ask why you would cuff me like a prisoner?" Asked Thomas, pocketing the pick just in time.

"Let me answer that for you. Mr. Shubaltz." replied the man in black. " I am Marks Spencer, the chairman of the E-Pandora project. You're there simply becausre of the... stunt you performed two days ago."

"Two days? Don't tell me I was out cold from just that." said Thomas, remembering Jiina and his "absorbtion" of her nova cells.

"To be honest, we sedated you to be sure that you were not Novalized. we could not afford to be careless after the last...accident." replied Spencer.

"Well then sir, it's been two days and I think I haven't become a Nova. Can you let me go?"

"Doctor Oohara?" answered Spencer, gesturing to her.

"Yes, well there haven't been any signs but..." she said, but was cut off

"Very well, let him go" said Spencer much to the protest of Dr. Oohara. One of the researchers took out a key and unlocked the handcuffs. Thomas got up from the bed and flexed his arm.

"your other items are in your dorm. You may go." added Spencer

"Thank you sir." replied Thomas.


After he left the room Scarlet Oohara asked Marks Spencer. "Was it really fine to let him go?"

"No, but we can't raise suspicion doctor." he replied. "How is the second batch of recruits coming along?" he asked

the researcher replied "Sir, they are ending phase 1 of training, expected to enter phase two soon"

"Good, continue to monitor progress." added Spencer.


Thomas walked down the corridor and took the long walk to his room. Ass he entered, he saw it devoid of life. Checking for anything suspicious, he picked up his helmet and scanned the room as he put his gauntlet and other stripped equipment back on. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as he finished so he restored the armor back to it's wristband form.

laying down on his bed, it occurred to him that despite being asleep for two days, albeit sedated for the most part, he was hungry. Checking the clock revealed it to be close to dinnertime. Sitting up, he decided to go down to the cafeteria for his first meal in a while.

As he entered the area...

.

Along one of the tables, surrounded by an 2 arguing women, was Kazuya.

"Get away from him you thieving cat"

"Shut up tibetan girl."

"Ah Stella, Rana please stop."

"So your taking her side huh kazuya? Make up your mind!"

"ehh?"

.

Kazuya stopped midsentence. He was just frozen staring at Thomas. Only when the latter moved did he return to his senses. However, it was Rana who reacted first.

" Thomas! Im glad you're safe." she exclaimed

"heh, it would take more than that to take me out" he replied.

The group chatted for a bit until the arrival of the e-pandoras from their training. Among them was Amelia. Her gaze met with Thomas but she made no notion of acknowledging. However, half an hour later, a boy came over. Thomas recognized him as Andre, Elizabeth's limiter.

"Thomas Shubaltz am I correct? Milady Elizabeth wishes that you follow me." he said in his butler-like demeanor.

Thomas excused himself from Kazuya and the others and followed Andre. To his surprise, they reached the e-pandora dorms, specifically the room of Jiina Purpleton.

*knock Knock

"Milady, I have brought him." said Andre

"Come in" said a voice from the other side.

Andre opened the door and inside was Elizabeth, Jiina and... Amelia.

The two men entered and sat down, Andre beside Elizabeth and Thomas opposite the pair. An awkward silence hung over the group until Elizabeth spoke up.

"now that everyone's here, Jiina, could you start?"

"Yes. Well...firstly, it's about this..." replied Jiina as she materialized her volt weapon with ease. Thomas was taken aback, aside from the fact that a few days ago, she could not perform the action, her silver volt weapon had turned a dark black. And a primordial aura emanated from it. Although the feeling was not revolting, the pressure coming out was unmistakably a freezing field. Jiina deactivated it and the feeling disappeared.

" When I woke up, the staff took a full examination of my body. When I tried to activate my weapon, this happened..." she said dejectedly

"Sorry, that was my handiwork." said Thomas. " I think it's a side effect of me absorbing your nova cells." he added.

Jiina's face showed a sign of relief. "Don't worry. It doesn't hinder me at all." "In fact, thank you. I wouldn't be here if you didn't do what you did." she added, blushing slightly.

Amelia faked a cough, sending Jiina back.

"ah yes. Another reason why I called for everyone to be here was because of the Mark IV." Jiina started. "You might have guessed, but it doesn't work for long." she added.

"Hold on, Dr. Oohara said that the Mark IV would be effective... does that mean she's lying?" surmised Elizabeth

"Perhaps, I felt she was hiding something when I last talked to her about it." said Amelia. "What I don't get though, is why you were able to bring back Jiina." she added, directing it to Thomas; the latter, much to his better judgement, decided that they should know about 'that'.

"How should I put this..." he began, "I have the ability to 'absorb' certain cells. specifically those similar to stigmata."

"So you could do the same to everyone who novalizes?" asked Elizabeth

"Not entirely" he replied. "The correct term for my absorbing is 'devour' I literally eat the cells. Those who aren't compatible would most likely be unable to survive the process." he added

"So if the e-pandoras were to novalize like Jiina, would we?" began Amelia

"In the simplest terms, I doubt any of you would survive. Only certain people can resonate like that. I don't know whether the Mark IV played a part in miss Jiina's case but it would be unlikely that the same results could happen." replied Thomas

" In other words, we can't let such an experiment happen" said Jiina. "I don't want anyone dying."

"Neither do I." replied Elizabeth. "They are definitely up to something. I'll see what I can find out." she turned to Amelia "Is there any way for you to refuse?"

"We all signed a contract, miss Mably." replied Amelia "Therefore we have no right to choose when we will be next to test the Mark IV so I can only hope you can find out what is the truth before the rest of us are dead."

"Perhaps you would need my help?" offered Thomas.

"No, I won't need the help of someone who merely enrolled a month ago." she replied "Amelia, I believe there is nothing else to say? Andre, let's go." she added. The pair standing up and leaving the room.

"Well, I guess I'll be leaving as well. Thanks for having me." said Thomas

"The pleasure is mine. Good night." replied Jiina. Thomas then left the room and headed back to his. Inside, he saw Kazuya asleep on his bed; the boy obviously tired out from settling issues with the two women. Convinced that he wouldn't wake up anytime soon, Thomas sat down at the desk and opened his computer. Elizabeth Mably may have refused his offer but now he felt that investigating the project- Dr. Aoi's request, was the right thing to do. Tapping a key three times, he sent Revealer off to burn it's way into the base's mainframe. With nothing else to do but wait, Thomas dimmed the screen and closed his eyes.


Alright, chapter 12, off the grill and ready to be served. As usual feel free to read and review, All typed forms of criticism is accepted.

have fun and see you in a bit, ciao

TL: DISCLAIMER: I DONT OWN FREEZING OR HALO