StrikerS: Pursuit of Perfection

by redemption2

Her mistake. His rage. Now her pupils are being picked off one by one, all for one purpose. The second half of the StrikerS saga starts now. Author Announcement: A new story has begun! Leyline Expedition Force, based on ViVid and Force!

7. Chapter 7

Nanoha StrikerS: Pursuit of Perfection 7

An explosion rattled all of Section 6 headquarters as smoke billowed from a wall. From that wall dove a teen with dark hair, a struggling girl in his left arm and a shooting staff in the right. "Egh! Let go of me!" The pink-haired dragon princess fought against him. "Soran-san, let go!"

"Shut your trap, ojou-chan!" PVOW. A bullet pierced the ground a foot in front of him. "Tch!"

"Get back here you traitor!" Tea was coming at him full bore on her bike.

Soran jumped off to the side, his visor flipping down as Barrage charged up a large ball of energy. "Nerai wa utz!" The shot hit her back tire hard.

"Agh!" Teana bailed, and a blue scrawl appeared under her, catching her as her momentum slowed. "Thanks Subaru!"

"TOORRYAAAAH!" Subaru roared as she rolled forward. "How dare you do this to us?! Kidnapping Caro and stealing our base plans… you won't get away with it!" She leapt off her Wing Road and prepped her Knuckle for firing.

"Uagh!" Soran roughly switched Caro to the other arm as she blushed.

"Dragon Grip!" He punched his left arm forward, his dragon-headed device lancing into the air, opening its mouth and clamping down on Subaru's waist. "Hengh!" He grunted as he yanked back, tossing her to the ground.

"Why you…!" A shadow covered the both of them.

Caro smiled brightly. "Fried! Erio-kun!"

Erio leapt off of Friedriche's back and pointed his lance down. "Level two." Strada spoke as it changed form.

"Thunder Rage!" He fell upon the boy, electrical bolts paralleling him.

"Heh." Soran grinned as he lifted Caro by the nape of her cape in front of him. "Careful who you might hit with that!"

"Agh!" Erio gasped, stopping his attack, the electric bolts disappearing as well.

"That's better!" He grabbed him with the Dragon Head. "You can dish it, but can you take it? Thunder Rage!"

Bolts of plasma shot from Rainbow Zwei's core and shocked Erio. "GAAAAAHHH!"

"Erio-kun!" Caro gasped as Soran dropped him.

"Don't worry, Princess… he's fine, if he quits right now." He smirked at her.

She blushed and wriggled a little under his stare. "Um… um…."

"Oi, what are you thinking? Don't you get the situation?" He picked her up and started running again. "You're my hostage, understand?!"

"U-unh." She blushed again, realizing how tight he was holding her.

"TEEERRRAAAAH!" White spikes emerged from the ground as a dark gray wolf leapt from a ditch. "You won't escape."

"Heh!" Soran took to the air. "So it's the Guardian Beast of Ultimate Defense. I was wondering when the subcommanders were going to show up. But what can you do from that range, Zaphila?"

"Not much, until I pin you myself! Gigant CRUSHAAAAAAAA!" Graf Eisen came plowing towards the escapee.

"Not this again!" He hugged Caro against him as he crossed his arms. "Round Shield Triple."

"You think that will work this time?!" Vita snarled as the pole got shorter, pulling her closer to her target. Graf Eisen morphed into a jet propelled drill. "Raketen Missile!" The device cocked three cartridges and began to drill through the shield.

Soran raised his left arm and opened the weapon's mouth. "Inferno." Scorching flames poured forth, consuming Graf Eisen's hammer head.

"That won't stop me!" Vita squeezed the handle harder, until she smelled something burning. Then she looked down at her gloves, which were smoldering from the transferred heat down her device. "OW! Ow owowowowow!" She dropped her weapon and began to blow on her hands.

"Then it's up to us." A fused Signum and Akito extended Laevantein in its serpent form, coated in flames behind them. "You're not the only one with fire abilities. Shiden Issen!" They hurled the snakesword at the two of them.

"Cyclone." Rainbow Zwei blinked as a wall of swirling air enveloped them, sending the spiraling flame sword into the air.

Soran whipped around and pointed his shooting device at the aggressor. "Don't underestimate me!"

"Variable Bullet." Soran squeezed the trigger, launching the bullet through his defense screen.

"Signum!" Akito disengaged the unison and flew in front of her, spreading a barrier. The little demongirl fought against the attack with all her might, but the barrier shattered and she was knocked out cold.

"Akito! Guh…!" The next shot hit her in the temple when she wasn't looking and Signum was sent sailing to the ground.

"You're all too weak! You try that again and the girl dies!" He pointed a beam fang at Caro's neck.

"Wow…." Caro whispered as she stared into his eyes, blushing the entire time.

When he turned to look at her, his face faulted. "Don't you still get it?! If they attack, I cut your head off! Get a grip on the situation already!"

"Eh? Oh!" She coughed. "NO! Somebody save me! I don't want to die! Someone, anyone!"

From the roof of the building, a lightning spark occurred with a swirling mass of energy-charged air. "Return… Caro. Return… CARO!" Erio's eyes were enraged as he took aim.

Strada cocked an entire clip. "Speerangriff."

"Caro KAISEI!" Strada ignited its thrusters and launched the boy at a blinding speed.

"Egh?!" Soran gasped as he tried to reinforce the wall of air, as Strada's lance head began to punch through. "I won't let you!" Caro looked at his struggling face in captive awe.

Erio's arm thrust through the barrier. "Caro! Caro give me your hand!" The girl continued to stare at the boy holding her. "Caro, open your eyes!"

"Ehhehe." She let out a quick giggle.

"Hah?!" Erio gasped, and all his energy disappeared. He fell to the ground on his back, knocking the wind out of him.

"Heh… heheh. HA HAHAHA!" Soran laughed wideeyed! "Why'd you have to go and do that?! Now I really have to kill her! You stupid boy, you should have done something that actually…" PVOW! "Worked." Soran blacked from the pain in his forehead.

A whistle blew, and terminal windows popped up everywhere. "Okay, exercise complete!" Nanoha spoke as the setting melted away. "Shamal, please treat those that are unconscious. The rest please wait outside of my office."

All of the forwards including Soran sat in uniform in Nanoha's office. Caro was still fidgeting and blushing, while Soran rolled his eyes. Erio shot an unnoticed glare at the older teen, and Subaru shot one at Caro. Teana seemed to be the only one satisfied in the room, even after Nanoha and Fate entered. "Well now, it's time for your battle evaluations." Nanoha placed a folder on her desk as she sat down.

"Before that, I have a question, Commander." Soran raised his hand. "Who was the one at the end that took me down? I seem to be blanking."

"That was Teana, using her Level 3 Cross Mirage, a long distance snipe shot from the roof, using the hole that Erio punched in your defense wall." Fate answered, bringing up the recording.

"Ow. That stings just to look at it again." Soran joked.

"I was going to aim lower, but I couldn't see my target past Caro's skirt." Teana grinned menacingly.

"Anyway, evaluation time." Nanoha waved off any further questions. "Teana Lanster, A."

"Yes!"

"You have demonstrated that you have completely mastered the shooting capabilities of level three Cross Mirage. I think this may be from Vice-kun's help. You've graduated this level."

"Thank you, commander!" Tea bowed as the others gave small applause.

"Subaru Nakajima, D!"

"EH?!" Subaru gasped. "Wh-why?!"

Amidst whispers from the group Nanoha continued. "What were you thinking jumping into battle like that? Subaru, you know your attacks are not made for missions like these! In a hostage or recovery mission, your punches will only hurt both the criminal and the hostage. That and the fact that you need to be within short range to do so gives the criminal plenty of time to threaten the hostage's life!"

"Unh…." Subaru looked at her knees.

"What you should have done was stay on backup. What you did to save Teana was correct, which is why I didn't give you a failing grade. However Erio, Signum, and Akito could have all used your assistance in the same manner. Do you understand?"

"But Subcommander Vita was trying the same thing!"

"She was specifically trying to call out his guard while Signum got into position at his flank. You had no one assisting you. Now do you understand why you're getting a D?"

"Yes ma'am." She gripped the fringe of her skirt tight.

"Erio Mondial. Your grade is C." Fate addressed him, because of his Star Squad affiliation.

"Uh?" The redhead blinked.

"I see that surprises you. Going back, your surprise attack with Thunder Rage was appropriate."

"But he put Caro in front of him!"

"True, however your skill with that attack would have allowed you to avoid seriously harming her. Though it is always good to consider the hostage's safety, pulling out of your attack left you open to take one. Therefore you got deducted points. The other issue is when you used your Spear Attack. 

Though in normal circumstances it would be considered a correct maneuver, in which you even correctly gauged the strength of Soran's barrier, Caro's life had already been threatened. Because you failed in the attack, Caro would have died. That was a risk that you should not have taken."

"With all due respect, Commander Fate," Teana raised her hand. "The execution of that plan was mine. We had already set it up by the time Soran threatened Caro's life, and I deemed it to be a considerable enough risk not to lose the opportunity. I do not believe Erio's score should be based on that section."

"I understand that, Teana-san, however there is one more thing about it. Erio… you backed out of the attack, didn't you? You gave up. When you realized that Caro wasn't listening, you gave up on rescuing her, and that is an unforgiveable act! If you have a hostage situation as such you will continue to push and push until you reach your goal. There is no backing out! That is why I docked you!"

"Yes ma'am." Erio sighed, gripping his fist tightly.

"Now, for Caro Ru Lushe. I am going to be brutally honest today, Caro-chan." Fate sighed, furrowing her brow, her usually quiet demeanor disappearing. "You fail!" Everyone, including Nanoha was stunned at the change. "Just what were you doing up there?! What were you thinking about?! You failed as a role of a hostage! The hostage must do what is demanded of her, yes, however she must stay ever vigilant for opportunities to escape! I counted at least three times where you could have even just elbowed Soran to be able to get free, and the most certain attempt, when Erio was trying to save you, you didn't even notice!"

"Ma'am, if I may..." Soran raised his hand. "I believe Caro's strategy was to identify with the captor, thus lulling me into a false sense of sec…."

She slapped her hands on the desk and leaned forward "Then let me hear it from her mouth! Was it that, Caro? Remember, Caro, we've been together long enough that I can tell when you're lying, so make sure it's the truth."

Caro paused, flicking a piece of lint off her skirt in frustration. "No ma'am, it wasn't. Soran-kun, thank you for trying, but… I have no excuse for my actions during the exercise."

Fate's look softened as she sat back down, sighing. "I want a 1 Gigabyte report on what you did wrong in the exercise, including embedded recordings with notes, and I want it in four hours. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am."

"All the forwards are dismissed, then." Nanoha tapped her finger on her desk. "Get some lunch." All five stood and saluted before turning to file out the door. "Soran-kun, hold back. We're not done with you yet."

"Oh, right. I'm sorry." He got out of line and sat back down.

When the doors closed, Nanoha spoke again. "You did it again, Soran-kun."

"Kgh." Soran winced.

"Seriously, what can I do to get you to hold back, Soran? You're still far too strong for them. I've told you from the start that the first part of your training is to learn to control your powers at lower levels. If you don't get a hold of it soon, we're going to have a major problem."

"We even had to call in the subcommanders so it would make the odds seem even." Fate sighed. "Soran, why do you keep going at full power? There must be some reason. Did someone teach you to do it that way?"

Soran nodded. "My father."

"Your father? Mustang Belt has no magical statistics to speak of."

"Not Mustang, my biological father." He gripped his knees tightly, the flesh starting to pull.

"Soran-kun…. Is-is this a part of why you hate TSAB so much?"

He trembled, nodding. "We were attacked by a TSAB mage. My father held back in fear that I'd get hurt in the process, and in the end he was destroyed!" He leapt up and punched a hole in Nanoha's desk. "Because of you, I lost everything I knew, everything I held dear, this cybernetic arm reminding me every day of what was taken from me!" He raised his fist, ready to plow into Nanoha's forehead. "That's why I won't hold back, not against you, TSAB, or anyone who gets in my way! I won't give anyone the chance to make me disappear!"

Fate gently put her hand over his raised fist. "I see. Please calm down, Soran-kun. It's not Nanoha's fault, but TSAB's right? Now come on…."

"Hau…" Nanoha hiccupped.

"Uh?" Soran's anger disappeared as he finally realized what was going on, a tear running down Nanoha's cheek. "Why are you…."

"Soran, come on, let's leave." Fate ushered him out the door quickly. After locking the room, she turned to him. "Because of a TSAB communication error, Nanoha was forced to wipe out an entire city of noncombatant mages. They didn't realize before it was too late. Your story reminded her of it. It's something that she's still plagued with."

"I see… so sometimes the victims aren't just the innocent." Soran looked back at the door. All of a sudden he found himself enveloped in a hug.

"I know you're still mad at TSAB, but now that we know what's wrong, we'll find a way to deal with it together. Don't lose all hope in us." Fate hugged him closer, a tear running out of her eye. Soran couldn't really say anything, his emotions locked from the sudden affection.

Soran shoved a forkful of pasta in his mouth, surveying the unusually quiet lunch table. Everyone realized how low Caro was feeling, and it was creating a dark cloud above them all. He struggled to get the wad down his throat and spoke. "Hey, anyone have any interesting talents?"

"Talents?" Tea blinked as she picked up her soda and took a sip.

"Yeah, I don't mean like mage or battle stuff, like your illusion tricks. I was thinking more common stuff. I for one can do a little impression work."

"Impressions?" Subaru perked up. "I didn't know you could do that. That sounds fun, right Erio-kun?" Subaru jabbed him in the rib.

"Uh? Oh… oh yeah! What kind of impressions do you do?'

"Well I don't mean to brag, but… " He leaned forward. "I can do the subcommanders."

"Eeeehh?" The three who were paying attention all had their eyes on him. "Do one! Do one!"

"I want to see your Zaphila!" Subaru raised her hand.

"Okay okay." Soran stood up and stepped back, clearing his throat. "Ouh! I'm Zaphila, The Guardian Beast of Absolute Defense. I'm big and strapping, I can bench press a helicopter, but my thing still disappears inside me when I stand up."

"Pffffff!" Tea's soda left her mouth in a cold, sticky spray. She coughed hard. "A-a bit lewd there, but still funny. Do another one, how about Vita this time?"

"Hai hai." Soran backed up and closed his eyes. He balled his fist and a fang appeared in his mouth when he opened it. "Hey, you dumbasses! What the hell do you think you're doing laughing at that fake-ass impression of me?! I'm nowhere near like that! I am Vita, Knight that Smashes All Defenses! I can turn anything into a pancake in three seconds flat… but I still can't get into R-rated movies…." He put on a pouty face at the end.

"Oh God! Oh God!" Subaru smacked her hand on the table. "That was spot on!"

"Okay okay. I'm on a roll now, so here's Signum." His posture straightened and he put his hand on his hip. His eyes opened only half way. "How shameful, to be entertained by a second rate copy of myself. I should draw my blade and cut your heart out for this, Soran Berkt." Erio was dabbing his eyes with a napkin. "I am Signum, Knight of the Diamond Blade! One strike from my Laevantien and I will remove your head. However I cannot strike lower because I cannot see past my breasts."

"No more… no more, please!" Subaru waved her arms in front of her face.

Soran looked to the pink-haired girl at the table, her face still downcrest, although there was a tiny hint of a smile. He made a large sigh. "Hold on to your spleens guys, I'm going to have to pull out the big guns for this one. Hey…." He knocked on her forehead and she looked up slowly. "Just to let you know, this one's for you Little Princess. Here's Commander Rein." Everyone blinked. He took a very deep breath and smiled brightly. "Desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu Rein will try her best!" He took another deep breath. "Desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu."

In the middle of his act, the little woman entered in search of food. "Mmmgh!" She snarled, pulling out her little book. Backing up to the wall, she kicked off and dove forward at full speed. "DESU!" She smacked him in the back of his head, his face plowing into his spaghetti.

Life paused for a moment as everyone waited for what he would do. Soran raised his head and turned towards Caro. The meatballs popped out of his eye sockets as he blinked. He sniffled. "Rein can't eat all of this, desu…."

It was first a snort, then a chortle, and then a grin, and then full fledged laughter as Caro finally began to enjoy herself again. "H-here." She tried to catch her breath. "Clean yourself off." She raised a napkin to his face. "Thank you, Soran-san. Everyone."

"No problem." Subaru winked.

"It wasn't us who did anything." Erio shrugged.

"We're just glad you're back to normal." Tea gave her a thumbs up.

"Desu!" Rein spoke happily, even though she didn't get what was going on. After a pause, everyone started laughing again. "What?!"

"Soran." Subaru rolled up to him on Mach Caliber. "Ready to head out? Where are we going on our date today?"

"Actually, Su… about that, could I ask you a favor?" He looked towards the center of the lounge, where Caro stared at the field outside. He whispered to her.

"Eh?! Caro?!" She whispered back.

"She's been down ever since the kidnapping scenario. I feel responsible because she was my partner for it. I at least want to help her work things out so she won't fall behind. So could you let me, Su? I think you understand that something needs to be done."

"Unh… I understand. It doesn't mean I have to like it. It's our day after all. Just make sure you don't get any romantic moments in, and I'll deal with it. But if anything happens…." She put her fist between his legs. "I'll borrow Blitz Caliber from Gin-nee and send you out the building through a newly made exit fit especially for you. I'm sure you get that, right?"

Soran swallowed. "R-right." After she removed her fist, he sighed and gave her a peck on the cheek. "I'll be back tonight." He walked over to Caro and looked her in the eye through the reflection in the window. "So where too, Ojou-chan?"

"Eh?" Caro blinked, turning to face him.

"You look like you need some time off base. Name the place, I'll take you."

"But… but… you're going out with Subaru-san! Why are you suddenly asking me out?"

"I'm not asking you out, Ojou-chan. I mean what I said, you look like you need some time off base. I've already asked Su, and she's okay with it, so come on, let's go, as comrades and friends!"

"Comrades… and friends…." She repeated for a second. "Okay, Soran-san, let me change and I'll be right with you."

"Haum!" Caro took a big spoonful of a sundae, grinning from ear to ear. Her bright pink civilian clothes stood out next to the drab of practically everything else, including Soran, whose usual red and blue pattern was inverted with a blue T-shirt and a dark red fleece jacket.

"When I said 'Name the place' I didn't think you'd pick an ice-cream shop." He took a lick of his vanilla cone. "I'm not one for sweets, but this stuff is pretty good."

"That's what Shari-san told me too. I had wanted to come here especially, since Erio and I didn't get the chance to last time we went out together." Her mind flashed back to their encounter with Vivio, the Relic, and the events that followed.

"I read about that in the Section 6 database." Soran took another lick. "What happened to that girl… Lutecia was it?"

"She's in the rehab center with the willing cyborgs. She actually volunteered. I think there are a couple among them she really cares for."

"Well, that's good." He turned towards the outlook to the sea. "Hey, the sun is starting to set. Want to watch?"

"Unh." She picked up her bowl and took it with her. "It's beautiful." She sighed as the sky was painted with bright pastels reflected off the clouds.

"This is what we joined TSAB for. To protect this sky, and all others like it, and the people that live underneath it." Soran smacked himself with the palm of his hand. "God, I sound like a recruitment commercial."

Caro giggled. "Maybe a little."

They continued to watch for a while, until the sun was just barely peeking over the horizon. "Caro, what happened out there today?"

"I… um…."

"Is it my fault? Did I do something wrong that made you screw up?"

"Of course not, Soran-san!" She gasped. "You really think it's your fault? It's not that at all! I just… was distracted." She couldn't look him in the eye.

"Distracted? What could have distracted you? You're usually the one that keeps the most observant so you can cast backup spells."

"Soran-san… The truth is…." The light disappeared and the sunset was over. "I like you, Soran-san." The street lights went on the moment after she said it. "I've got a crush on you, and a big one at that. When you were announced my partner, and you were supposed to kidnap me, I got all excited. I know I was supposed to act scared and try to get away, and you were playing the person who would threaten me, but I couldn't bring myself to think of you like that. You're kind and gentle around your loved ones, and I knew you wouldn't hurt me. To be honest, I didn't want them to rescue me. I felt safe and happy."

"I… I… Caro, I never knew."

"Unh, I understand. I'm normally not one to share this kind of thing. I felt really special when you started calling me Little Princess. I knew it was just a playful nickname, but it means a lot to me." She sighed, gripping the back of the bench tight. "What really bothers me is that I know, even after all of this, you'll be with Subaru-san. Everything I've felt will amount to nothing. I'm not okay with that, even though I knew it from the start."

"So why then? Why are you confessing to me instead of just keeping it to yourself?"

"Because of what happened today. My crush on you got in the way of my duties, and everyone saw it. I didn't think it would be a big deal until today. So… I need to confess and move on, no matter how it hurts!" She stared at him with teary eyes.

"Caro…."

"Don't look at me like that! You always have that caring look on your face!" She broke eye contact.

"Caro, if I say I want Subaru, are you going to hate her?"

"Hate her?! No! Of course not! Subaru-san is one of my best friends! She even scrubs my back in the bath sometimes. Soran-san, if you choose her, I would consider her the luckiest girl in the world!"

"I see." He reached out and patted her on the head. "You really are a good girl, Little Princess. But your choice in men is all wrong. I'm a really evil person on the inside, you know." He winked.

"That's impossible, Soran-san." Caro dried her eyes. "You just don't know yourself like the rest of us do."

The teen downed his cone in ten seconds flat and pitched the napkin. "So, ready to continue?"

"Eh? Continue."

"Just because I rejected your feelings doesn't mean I don't want to spend time with you, Ojou-chan. Let's go somewhere else. We'll make this our first and last date."

"Soran-san!" She sniffled and ran to give him a hug. "I don't care where we go, you decide! As long as I can spend this time with you!"

It was late at night when the two returned. The rest of the forwards, and even Nanoha and Fate were sitting in the lounge waiting for them. Caro was trembling, wide eyed, taking slow, cautious steps as Soran just had his hands behind his head, walking casually.

"Took you long enough to get back." Subaru was tapping her foot. "Just where did you two go, eh, Caro?"

She didn't answer, just looking around wildly. Soran signaled them to wait as he knelt down next to her and put his mouth to her ear. "Boo!"

"HYYEAAAAAGGGHHH!" Caro screeched as she backed up ten steps. She pressed one hand against her heart and whipped the other one out to point at the boy. "I am never going with you anywhere again! What kind of guy takes a girl to a movie that?! I take it back! You really are an evil person!"

"Say, Caro…." Erio put a hand on her shoulder and she jumped away again. "Wow, you're really jumpy. Just what movie did you see?"

"I took her to Freddy vs Jason vs Alien vs Predator." Soran sighed.

"That movie?!" Teana's jaw dropped. "I heard that during the premiere, a 25 year old man had a heart attack and died, it was so scary!"

"Hmmph!" Caro huffed. "And he expected me to enjoy that? What kind of lady likes that kind of flick?"

Tea and Su both raised their hands, and slowly, Fate's hand rose too. Everyone's attention turned to her. "What? It's good to be scared once in a while. That way I can cuddle up close to my loved one at night." She poked Nanoha in the underarm.

"Agh, Fate-chan, stop it! Come on, not there!" She batted the girl's hands away.

"You can keep him then, Subaru-san. You two were made for each other, it seems. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a long dip in the bath!" Caro left quickly, but then she came back. "Um… could one of you come with me? I don't want to go in alone right now. Face huggers incubate in warm, moist places." She began trembling again.