Chapter 19 – No nothing

Six days have passed since that weird incident. The next day we, that is Ursula and I, were called in by von Braun to give some more explanations, but I honestly replied that I have some kind of amnesia. And everything somehow was swept under the rug. During the past five days I've been reading through the book collection that Elisa was safeguarding in the library, much to her enjoyment. As she said "I'm the most avid reader this library has ever saw, heehee…"

Heehee indeed…

Also, Ursula, Helma and Christa helped with some last-minute tweaks to my weaponry. The big cannon got a slight improvement with its recoil, but it still kicked like a rabid mustang. My new Striker also got some tweaks, mostly to the afterburner and the cooling. When Helma landed after testing it, she looked like if she saw the face of God.

Oh, and on the 28th, I tried to reach Mio to give her birthday wishes, but she was unreachable, so I sent a card.

But yesterday, sometime in the afternoon, a knock on my door pulled me out of my reading spree.

"Come in."

The door opened, and surprisingly, Gisele peeked in.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Toshiro, but there's a call for you."

How nice that we went on first-name basis yesterday…

"Okay, coming!"

Toshiro zipped past Gisele and ran down to her desk. He picked up the receiver and said, "Oberst Edelweiss."

"Hi, Toshiro."

"Ah, Adilein!"

"Jesus fucking Christ, don't make a diminutive of a diminutive!"

"Hehehe, don't worry, nobody probably heard that."

"Well, whatever… I have news of great importance, Toshiro."

"I'm all ears, Toshiro."

"Unternehmen Nadelkopf has been greenlit, you are free to act tomorrow at high noon."

"Uh… What?"

"Ah, silly me… That's the codename for the operation you've petitioned for. Your target will be the hive on the north-east of Neue Karlsland, on the border with Amazonia."

"Oh right… I did want to do something with those hives in Amazonia…"

"Just don't get ahead of yourself, Toshiro. If you destroy more than one hive, nobody knows how the Neuroi will react. Even destroying one can have unknown consequences. But… there's a uranium mine in the range of that hive, so the OKW gladly accepted your petition."

For fucks sake… A uranium mine of all things? Damn it… And why do I have the feeling that I wanted to do something about that?"

"Okay, Adi, I'll do what I can."

"You'll have some backup waiting for you in case of your… failure, so you can retreat safely…"

"I strongly advise against it. This is already suicidal for me, I don't want anyone else risking their lives."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes. I take full responsibility for my actions." Toshiro said with a stern face.

"Oh well…" Adolfine sighed.

"But thanks for your concern, I appreciate it."

"Heehee… So, how is it in Rosario? And how's your new stuff? You've been awfully quiet you know…"

"You haven't been the talkative type during the last week either…" Toshiro mumbled.

"Well, nothing much happened… I mean, something happened but… I won't tell you now or I'll jinx it!"

"Okay, okay…"

Ha! I guess Joachim is progressing!

"Well, but anyway, Adi, my new gear is top notch, again. And I had my fun here already. And I've made some new friends."

"Good to hear. Okay, I'm signing out. Remember, noon tomorrow."

"Jawohl. Bye, Adi."

"Bye, T-man."

"I'll kill you…"

"Heehee…"

Toshiro laid down the receiver and saw Gisele behind him.

"How was it?" She asked.

"Not bad. I'll be going out for a mission tomorrow noon."

"Ah, what will it be?"

"I'm going to destroy a Neuroi Hive. Or at least try to."

"Hmmm… Wait, what?" She tilted her head.

"You've heard me, I'll try to destroy a Hive. Alone."

"Isn't that a bit… foolhardy?"

"I have to test my skills and… I have a promotion coming at me, so I might as well speed it up a tad."

"Oh, a promotion… Then you would be… a Generalmajor!"

"Indeed, I would be. The first wizard to obtain such a high rank, and the second magic user in all-time."

And now I'm here, in Amaterasu's realm, lying in the warm waters of a lake, floating like a branch. It's the night of the day of my mission.

"Amaterasu?"

"Yes, Toshiro?" The goddess replied, standing on the water beside him.

"What are my chances?"

"Depends on how serious you take this."

"If I take it super serious?"

"The Neuroi won't even get a lock on you and you'll pulverize the Hive."

"Wow, seriously?"

"Yes, Toshiro, seriously. And you should take the words of your friend seriously."

"Which friend and which words?"

"Adi, who else?"

"Ah, that one about not going too far?"

"Yes. If you destroy that one hive, the Neuroi will only tighten their defenses around the remaining one ten times, and after you'd destroy that one too, the Neuroi could probably send an Alpha Hive."

"That bad?!"

"Yes. The Neuroi are very territorial beings, but what I'm telling you is actually secret."

"As almost everything… But won't the Neuroi retaliate?"

"They shouldn't. But as I said, they'll increase the defenses around the other hive in that region by a tenfold."

"Good that you've told me this, because I thought of eradicating the other hive along the way…"

"You wouldn't have time to react, Toshiro. And you probably would be out of magic anyway, trust me on this one."

"Oh, okay… You're the goddess after all… Say… I have a hole in my memory, maybe you could help me fill it?"

"I'm the one that caused it, Toshiro. I won't help you no matter what." Amaterasu said firmly.

"Really? What did I do?"

"Let's say you've used your knowledge a bit too much…"

"If it was necessary, then okay…"

"Toshirooooo!" Akiko's cheerful shout could be heard from the shore.

"Whaaat mooom…?" He shouted back.

"You think you would look better in a black or a silver tuxedo?"

"Are you planning my wedding already? Shit, mom, calm down! I don't even have Yoshika in my vicinity, not to mention that the war doesn't look like it's over!"

"Let your mother have her fun, Toshiro…" Amaterasu said with a soft voice.

"Ah, whatever… I think I'll go with black, mom."

"The next time you pop in I'll think about the invitations!"

"Sure, mom…" He said and sighed quietly.

Toshiro woke up at 0700 and he went on for a walk. He didn't find anyone at all, so he just made a solo round around the base.

"So today is the day, Toshiro?" Helma asked.

"Indeed it is, Helma."

"I've quadruple checked everything about your Striker, Toshiro." Ursula said. "You don't have to worry about that."

"Thanks, Ursula."

"And I did the same about your weaponry, but I have an uneasy feeling…" Christa said.

"And you're right, Christa. I'm not taking any with me."

The three looked shocked at him.

"W-Why?" Ursula asked.

"I'm taking my magic sword, and that's it. I'm taking off the kiddy gloves for the Neuroi, no more fucking around. I have time-diluting magic, and I have a few sword techniques. And besides, Yoshika destroyed a Hive on her own, how can I be worse, right?"

"Well, she destroyed an abnormally big one…" Helma said.

"Always a fly in the soup…" Toshiro grumbled.

"Proudly throwing them in for the good of the Wehrmacht, heehee…"

"Okay then, I won't be such a riff-raff superhero to destroy an abnormally big Hive but… How many of you have destroyed one, huh? Nobody. And my Yoshika did it, and such a big one as her first!"

"You sure are proud of your fiancé… Well, I don't have a boyfriend yet so I don't know how that feels…" Helma said.

"Hmmm… What do you like, Helma? Besides pounding people into the ground with your moralistic crap."

"Well… I like chocolate parfaits… But you can't get those in Rosario…" She sighed.

"Well, imagine that every time I think about what Yoshika did for me, her friends, all those anonymous sailors and the whole of Venezia and Romagna, I feel the same as if you would feel after eating a chocolate parfait from Paris!"

Helma's eyes widened as she imagined such a scene.

"Weeheee…. That would be nice… B-But as I said, intersexual relations – later!"

"Heheh… In your age, it would be only childish tomfoolery at most…"

"I wouldn't know…"

"Maybe Christa could bring you up in these matters? Or…" Toshiro looked at Ursula with a sly smile.

Ursula responded with a demonic smile of her own.

"Yeees… Ursula will be glad to teach you…" Toshiro rubbed his hands together.

"Oh I will… I will…"

"Oh? Thanks, Ursula! I'll be your most diligent student!" Helma cheered.

"Guhehehehe…" Both Toshiro and Ursula laughed in a creepy fashion.

"You both creep me out…" Christa whispered to Toshiro. "What's the matter?"

"Ursula is probably the biggest theoretician regarding sex in the base." He whispered back.

"Theoretician, huh… I wonder who would be the one with the biggest practical experience…?"

"Me?"

"Oh come on, I doubt it…"

"5 scores, three deflowering's, a foursome and so much intercourse with Yoshika that I already stopped counting."

"Jesus… And I thought that the two guys I did was already being loose… What a Casanova you are…"

"Hey, what are you whispering about?" Ursula joined in to the whispering duo.

"We're talking about your… expertise…"

"Ah… Well, I didn't add anything to my knowledge base but… I think you don't need my help, right, Toshiro?"

"We're always experimenting with Yoshika…"

"Heehee, I always approve of experimenting!"

After breakfast, Toshiro locked himself in his room.

"Yuki, now would be a good time to help me concentrate…"

"Just remember the meditation techniques that Amaterasu taught you, and everything will be okay."

The time passed as if moved by the hands of the Allgod itself. Toshiro opened his eyes, feeling light and fresh.

The time has come to prove my worth…

Toshiro went down the stairs.

"Good luck, Toshiro, I will be praying for your safe comeback!" Gisele cheered from behind her desk.

"Every bit of help I appreciate, thanks!"

Toshiro exited the building and went to Ursula's workshop. A Launch Unit was waiting for him, with his Striker loaded inside. Christa, Helma and Ursula were waiting for him.

"I disapprove that you're not taking any conventional firearms, but I suppose a magical sword will be good enough…" Christa said. "Hey, could you show me it?"

Toshiro raised his hand above his head and summoned Aganaimaru.

"Now, now… Aren't you overcompensating for something?" Christa asked with a sly smile.

"I assure you, everything is in place down there. European size."

"Hahahaha!" Both Christa and Ursula laughed.

"Toshiro, if you fail, I will stamp you clean into this here concrete with my harsh words!" Helma shouted.

"Yeah, yeah… Just after I've made a sore mess out of your cheeks, heheheh…"

"Good luck, Toshiro. Just remember, don't overdo it with the afterburner." Ursula said as she passed him the FFG.

"I won't, I know the limitations." He said as he strapped the device on.

"Oh and… Stretch your hand out…"

Toshiro stretched his hand out and Ursula placed something on it.

"Oh, transponders? I thought I…" Toshiro checked his ears quickly. "Heh, I forgot I haven't had a transponder in my ear since July…" He said and put them inside his ears.

Toshiro jumped inside of his Striker. He flipped the safety on the FFG and started revving the engine, the traditional way. The whiz of the turbojet engines filled his ears. When he saw that the temperature of the engine was sufficient, he turned around to the girls and gave them a thumbs up. They smiled vividly and gave him back the same gesture.

Toshiro leaned forwards and shot out of the Launch Unit.

Now, Yuki… Lead me where I need to be…

After a few minutes of rather calm flight, Toshiro could see the first Neuroi. He calmed himself down, and focused on his goal. Toshiro simply rammed through the Neuroi using his speed and his shield.

One down…

As Toshiro went on north, the Neuroi count steadily increased. He cut them down with precise Rending Gales, two or three enemies at the time. By the time he saw the hive in the distance, his kill count was upped by fifty.

I can see the hive… Yuki, can you pinpoint the core?"

"It's on 1/10th of the height down from the bottom. But… Use the Hebigan, okay?"

Toshiro enabled the Hebigan, and saw that the cloud forming the hive was gray, with the core totally visible.

An opening!

Toshiro enabled the afterburner and rushed forward like wild. Neuroi started sprouting before him in insane numbers, but he started cutting them down in tens using Reppuzans.

When he was in the clear, he saw what he thought he'd see, a humanoid Neuroi.

Oh no… Not this time…

Toshiro slowed down the time. He closed in on the Neuroi and grabbed it where its neck should be and resumed the time flow. He pushed the confused Neuroi forward through the cloud.

"No talking! No negotiating! No nothing!" He roared with a demonic voice. "I have had it with your kind!"

The thick clouds dissipated as Toshiro found himself in a space with the core. He rammed the humanoid Neuroi against the core.

"I won't let you deceive me again…"

Toshiro pierced both the Neuroi's core as well as the one of the Hive.

"REPPUZAN!" He roared and charged forward.

The Neuroi shattered instantly, and only a moment later the Hive's core was destroyed. Toshiro shielded himself from the shards and he looked as how the Hive around him disappeared into nothingness in a storm of white, crystalline shards.

"Hey, Toshiro!" Somebody shouted into his transponder.

"Adolfine? Where are you?"

"Look at your six!"

Toshiro looked behind him. At a high altitude, a small plane was flying. Toshiro flew up to it. The door on its side opened, and Adolfine peered out of it, holding a camera in her hands.

"Holy shit, Toshiro! How much did you bag?!"

"Hundred forty one plus the Hive… But what are you doing here by the way?"

"We had to secure some photos of your mission, right? The press will shitting rainbows! And your kill count just went over four hundred, hahahaha!"

"Oh, it did, hah! Nice!"

"Well, anyhow, I'll be going back home now. A plane will come for you the day after tomorrow at about ten. And take all your stuff, you'll be staying with me for the few next days."

"Okay. Till then I suppose?"

"Till then! Holy shit…" Adolfine shook her head and closed the door of the plane.

Toshiro started leaving for Rosario. As he approached for landing, he saw that there's a bunch of people waiting for him already. When he touched down on the runway, he was swarmed by everyone. They lifted him and started throwing him up, carrying him to the main building.

When they let him go, he received a series of congratulations, even from the most notable heads of research. His friends also congratulated him wildly.

Later that day, the mess hall organized a true feast instead of dinner, and even alcohol was allowed. Today was a day the Rosario Institute was celebrating. In the evening, Toshiro heard the Wehrmachtsbericht.

"20 hours and zero minutes, broadcasting from the OKW, it's time for the Wehrmachtsbericht. Earlier this day, Oberst Toshiro Lucas Edelweiss, in a daring solo mission, has single handedly destroyed a Neuroi Hive on the border of Neue Karlslsland and Amazonia. According to Generalmajor Adolfine Galland, the shot down count of the Oberst in this battle was one hundred forty one, not counting the Hive itself, bringing his total head count to four hundred fifteen, an unprecedented record in military history."

Heehee… It's nice to hear such things… I just hope the press don't want to make some kind of special conference.

After some reading and a nice and long hot bath, Toshiro hit the hay in good spirits.

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