Chapter 12: The Dawn

It has been three days since the speech, and Tanikaze hasn't even spoken to me let alone anything else… perhaps me telling the truth was a bad thing. Nearly ten recruits wanted into the Black Knight squadron, 8 were Cadets while the other two were pilots. I was headed there in the Vanguard it was my Garde in combat and now training the rookies.

"Isn't this a heavy mass round why is it here?"

"For training, the Vanguard model can lift this off the ground unlike your old Gardes."

"A Vanguard can lift that thing!"

"Yes, now whoever finds the key to lifting this without me giving you a tip gets full credit and won't have to participate in the activities for today, now get to it."

The I knew a few of these names, Zoey, Roy, Leo, the rest I didn't know and judging by the records given to me they won't last the day. They tried for three hours trying to find the way to lift it up… perhaps I should have told them how to? After training the recruits for the day we headed inside, I stop and explain a bit more about the Vanguard model and head home as is I was late.

"Master John we are twenty minutes late for your fifth date."

"You know how rookies are, besides… it would be wise to try and focus."

"Master John, Herald would most likely want you to move on."

"I often ask myself after we lose a brother or sister, what happens when we die."

"Master John, I know it is horrible to lose someone that was close, but know that I believe that he is happy and maybe with the rest of the wing."

"If there is a heaven, than Reaper is the devil of hell."

The rest of the walk is silent and unlike the normal empty streets a large group of protesters gather around areas protesting the Black Knights from having a live Gauna, guess they didn't hear the announcement I made.

"Master John perhaps we should check on the status of the extraction."

"Maybe after."

When I got to the house I find that Tsumugi wasn't there and a note on the door.

Hey John, sorry to say but the wing had a medical emergency down in the hanger Tsumugi and I will be down there.

Rex.

After reading the note I make a sprint straight there… what could have happened at the hanger? I find out as I run in to find a large amount of damage and several wounded security personal.

"What the hell happened?"

"That Gauna happened… the V.C.T. went off for a whole four seconds and it lashed out, thank god no one was killed and only minor injuries."

"Well since I am here, how is the patient?"

"Near collapse of brainwave transmissions, the human side of the intelligence is resisting us and the Gauna, while the Gauna as it is seen here is fighting us and her."

"Any way to help the human out quicker?"

"A human links into the V.C.T. along with the Gauna and shows her we are here to help, that or just pull the plug and kill both now."

"How long can we put this off?"

"A day at most."

"Where is Kunato, I had asked him to be here and monitor?"

"He had more important work to do."

"Hmm Yuhata didn't think you would have the guts to just barge in again. What do you want this time?"

"You and your squad are grounded for trial, we are lucky that your men managed to stop the Gauna you brought aboard."

"I brought it to save a life, if you are jealous due to knowing what that person met to Tanikaze just say it instead of drawing power away from B4 and making a trial over it."

"Really trying to pin this on love? John you have some screws loose."

"Xena didn't I order you to stay home for the week?"

"I am a doctor that specializes in Hybrids and Gauna I am here where I am needed."

"Very well, Rex I want status of the hanger."

"Just a scratch nothing some wielding and paint won't fix."

"Ok if that's all where is…"

"Tsumugi had headed back a minute before you came in, said she was headed home since she wasn't needed here."

"Ok, if that's all good day."

Yuhata just stood there too shocked about what I said to move, I guess me just saying it as is was a shock to her. I head past her to the residential area with no more distractions me and Tsumugi can get on with our date. I get home and notice how quiet it was.

"Tsumugi you here?"

No response.

I head upstairs to look and see if she was asleep but soon realize something far worse than an early night is going on; Tsumugi was collapsed on the floor and was shaking.

"Tsumugi!"

She doesn't move or speak a word, I quickly grab my phone and call Xena and Rex.

"Rex, Xena get down here now!"

"What's wrong?"

"It's Tsumugi."

"On our way."

The next day…

After they got her to the medical area in our hanger I sat waiting for the results of the tests that Rex was running, Xena was helping him until Leo's Heigus infection needed her attention. Kouichi came by and asked about her, I simply explained I don't know what's going on. Kunato came by and entered to help Rex, guess his more important work could wait this time. The amount of anxiety I felt was much more than I felt before, I wanted answers and all I got waiting was questions.

"Well John I have good news and bad news."

"What's the bad news?"

"Bad news, she has to stay here for the night, the good news she will make a full recovery."

"From what though?"

"Heigus negation sickness, the hybrid common cold."

"Do you have a theory?"

"I would say she caught it on Theta nine."

"Alright, how is the extraction of Hoshijiro doing?"

"Bad, after that last attempt security won't let us finish."

"Understandable, but why would they draw power away if they knew it was dangerous?"

"Apparently power was drawn from all areas."

"To where?"

"Kunato Developments."

"Ok keep me updated on Tsumugi's condition please."

"I will John, don't worry."

"I am going to upgrade the Vanguard I will be over there working on those blasted guns."

"Ok, I will let you know if her status improves quicker."

I head over to the Gardes and pull down the Kabi guns from the Vanguard the left gun was my main one I used for range, the weapon only uses one Kabi round but fires it at speeds that exceed the normal guns although it has more recoil than theirs. The right Kabi gun was more of a short to medium range shotgun and with a normal shell stuffed with small scraps of Kabi making a scatter effect that to date has taken out twenty Gauna at once… although I hardly use it because of the Gardes and Tsumugi. I guess I will take an over haul of it and maybe make it like a machine gun making a medium function that can shred anything. I start the overhaul by removing the scatter barrel, removing the specialized ammo, modifying the AI system for the gun, putting in the normal rounds, and installing the impact barrel.

"Hey John, you upgrading the Vanguard again?"

"Yup, had plans but with Tsumugi being sick those went out the window."

"Impact barrel, you going for a cannon or a type of Garde handgun?"

"Neither it's a machine gun like on the mark 17s."

"Oh, hey I have an idea."

"Yeah?"

"You know those Gauna that we encountered a few years ago?"

"Yeah what about them?"

"They said it themselves; they don't like Reaper anymore than we do, so why don't we ask them to help us to end him."

"No, in three days we go after the Gauna cluster, I don't want to add fuel to the fire or the other way around."

"Hey, you do know Tanikaze still haven't really made a move to explain how he feels to Tsumugi right?"

"Yup I know, and I think he should, besides I overheard him talking to the Captain that one time."

"Quick question."

"Okay what?"

"The Black Guard metals they don't respond well with heat correct?"

"You have about twenty minutes before the metallic compounds start to heat but in two minutes after no more metal so it's not preferred, why are you asking?"

"Well you see Xena explained that you could see the future and they had…"

"Okay enough, one someone is coming two, I never told Xena that so make up a better lie you knew the whole time."

Aria smirked and walked out, a few minutes later Tanikaze enters the hanger. I continue my work and finish up the upgrade.

"Hey John, the captain wanted me to run something past you."

"Okay may I ask why it matters of my opinion I mean she is the Captain her choice is law."

Tanikaze explained that he wanted to take Tsumugi out for a flight around the ship, I didn't think it was a bad idea so I supported him. The next day although I shouldn't have been surprised I was asked to keep an eye on them… makes sense with the whole Katana thing happening a while ago. I lost them around the tower so I headed to the beach, after all I already know they will show up there, and right on queque they show up, and Tanikaze explains his feelings and Tsumugi makes some of the water evaporate, they kiss too… they spend the whole day there so I leave and head home, I know that hell's front gates are heading down… and fast.

Much later…

I was following Tanikaze into the Lem star after Katana, my Kabi weapons were almost empty but my speed could get Tanikaze out of this mess faster, Tsumugi X was safe at Sidonia, still ill but safe from the fight, Rex was with her and Xena, Andrews died with most of the second assault fleet in the Mark 21, apparently it was not immune to a massive explosion, Reaper was killed by Katana and his Undying died with him. The Crimson Hawk Moth died when a union ship attacked Sidonia.

"Tanikaze! Don't go any closer to Lem's center!"

"I got him don't worry and if you listened to me then he wouldn't have this problem."

I speed up and extend the Kabi blade, never used it but I know it can pierce that metal, Kabi and Black Guard are a very powerful mix. Tanikaze started to mess up and Katana fired the Gravitational beam array and Tanikaze and I dodged it Tanikaze also shot the exposed muzzle and destroyed most of Katana.

"Are you going to kill me? Tanikaze?"

"He is a Knight of Sidonia Ochiai, you are a treasous worm."

I point and pull the trigger killing Ochiai.

"Alright kid lets grab that convertor and get out before we get cooked!"

We grab the convertor and start heading up, my Garde let me know that I had roughly ten minutes before meltdown, good to know, as we head up I hear over the coms that Tanikaze set his Garde on auto.

"Tanikaze stay with me man don't let Tsumugi be alone!"

I hit into high gear, and try to link the Vanguard systems to the Tanikaze's cockpit, the attempt failed and on my screen I see Tsumugi headed into the star.

"Tanikaze stay with me boy!"

Nothing I say made a difference Tsumugi still sacrificed herself to save Tanikaze, and we did win the war. Tsumugi was saved however Yure saved her trough a small white worm survived in the armor and she was brought back in the ena sample from the Crimson Hawk Moth, and they happily reunited.

11 years later…

"Tanikaze, how's Nodoka?"

"She's doing find how about…"

"She's fine too, hey listen, you know that cannon I left on Lem 9?"

"Yeah what about it?"

"I had completely forgotten about it until yesterday when I got a notice from its power running low."

"Wait… are you saying that its been online this whole time?"

"Yup and it could have saved us a trip to the sun… that's what I would call ironic."

"…"

The end…

…Author note...

Thank you for reading Knight of the Freedom please give any input or comments here thank you readers for being patient. And to answer if John and Tsumugi X ever got married and had kids yes, a daughter named Dawn.