Condition

I.S. Academy Year Two: Wings

By Warriorseadra

"Why are you Adriana?" Ichika asks his friend.

"Adriana?" Adrian questions cutely, looking herself over.

After a brief pause, Adriana replies while scratching her head, "The hologram projector must be broken. I can fix it later."

"If you say so..." Ichika replies. "But, those pilots..."

"Yes, looks like the organization finally made its move." she hums.

"But for them to attack during the class league match..."

"It makes fo-"

"Adriana?" Charlotte calls out approaching the two.

The teen pauses and her sweet smile spreads into a grin. In a bubbly voice, the teen continues speaking. "-r a perfect opportunity. Once inside, not only would they have all of the academy's students in one place. Also-"

"Also, they would have plenty of hostages as well." Laura interjects, "Everyone's first priority would be evacuating the arena."

"But, Adriana?" Rin asks announcing herself. "Why are you Adriana, again?"

"The hologram projector is damaged." Adriana responds with a giggle.

"Why are you speaking like that?" Houki asks in annoyance, stepping forward.

"Can't help it." Adriana smiles while waving her hand. "My responses as Adriana have been conditioned to emerge whenever anyone mentions that name."

"You're conditioned... to behave like that?" Cecilia asks in shock.

"That's right." Adriana chirps. "The best way to deceive is with honesty."

"Ho-how long does this 'condition' last, Adriana?" Rin asks.

"About five to ten minutes from when that name is last said." Adriana responds with a smile while swaying from side to side. "Now, if you could, please stop calling me that."

"O-oh, yeah, sorry" Rin responds in embarrassment.

"This is your original I.S.?" Cecilia asks confused. "You said it was confiscated."

"Oh please," Adriana giggles waving her hand back and forth before her face. "I knew exactly where Stratos was. I just needed an opportunity and go and get him."

"You stole it from the instructor." Laura gasps.

"Yeah, pretty much." Adriana responds.

"Do you... do you realize what you've done?" Ichika pales.

"Yeah," Adriana pouts, "But Stratos is my stratos. Without him, all of us would have probably died."

"Adrian," Agent K calls out approaching the group. "Orimura-sensei wants to speak with you. The rest of you, report to the sick bay for examination."

…..

"You called for me, Orimura-sensei?" Adriana's cheerful voice calls out.

"Come with me." Orimura-sensei responds leading the teen to a more secluded location of the Academy.

"What do you know?" Orimura-sensei asks turning.

"We were attacked by the organization." Adriana responds, her composure becoming serious. "Five males, each with a generation three stratos, attacked the academy during the competition. Taking advantage of the academy's open doors, they infiltrated the academy. Then, using the academy's responsibility to protect the students and spectators to their advantage, they attacked. Their target was most likely Ichika."

"Out of the five pilots, one remained outside, three attacked the arena, and the fifth roamed the academy. What was that person looking for?"

"Most likely, that pilot was tasked with preventing anyone from interfering." Adrian lies. "Our encounter was purely coincidental. At most, he must have been trying to retrieve Stratos."

"GX-07, how did you re-acquire it?" asks Orimura-sensei narrowing her eyes.

"It was easy." Adriana responds looking to her ring. "The defenses here are easy to hack, anyone can do it. There was just no reason to take Stratos back until today."

With a sigh, Adriana removes her ring deactivating the hologram projector. Adrian holds out the ring, presenting it to Orimura-sensei.

"Please understand, I took Stratos because of today's circumstances. I would not have done this if I did not have to."

"I see." Orimura-sensei responds taking the ring after a moments silence. "You are dismissed, get yourself treated at a medical bay."

Instinctively, Adrian salutes before excusing himself.

"She was lying." Agent K calls out.

"She?" Yamada-sensei's voice asks.

"She was Adriana at the moment." Agent K slyly responds. "For the records, let's write her in depending on the sex she's displaying."

Orimura-sensei sighs in frustration. "This will only make things more confusing later."

"You said she was lying?" Yamada-sensei questions.

"That encounter wasn't a coincidence. Adriana must have known someone else was inside. But enough speculation, let's start from the top." Agent K states changing her tone.

"Agreed." Orimura-sensei responds, "Yamada-sensei, please report the situation"

"Very well. Today was the interclass league match. Using the confusion of outsiders entering the academy to watch the matches, members of this 'organization' infiltrated the Academy. Then, during Orimura-san's match, they began their attack. There were five in total. The first three occupied the arena. We believe their target was Orimura-san. A fourth pilot infiltrated the academy buildings. We suspect he eliminated the twenty members of the defense squad and injured the Sarashiki sisters. Furthermore, a final fifth member was stationed above the arena and is believed responsible for giant explosion. Now, while the first three are shown to have hacked the Academy's system to lower the arena's defenses, the fifth member did no such thing and penetrated our shields at full power. At the moment, we are uncertain of how Adriana plays into this, but the general assumption is that the fourth member, Quat from what the security systems gathered, was tasked with retrieving GX-07 and silencing Adriana." Yamada-sensei finishes speaking ending her report.

"On whether Quat was charged with eliminating Adriana is irrelevant. This, most likely, is a priority for each of them." Agent K comments. "However, giving Adriana's lack of knowledge regarding the 'organization,' this point may be seen as moot."

"Agreed," Orimura-sensei continues, "however, seeing how four of them were stationed to the arena, Orimura is either a bigger priority than silencing Adrian or a momentary distraction."

"Due to the Alaska treaty and inability to examine I.S. Cores, they most likely are not concerned with GX-07's core." Yamada-sensei continues. "However, GX-07 has generation four, proto-type fold-out armor. Due to Adriana- excuse me, Adrian's supposed betray, the organization should be giving him more priories than Orimura-san. Attacking the arena would give cover for one person to enter the Academy building's unnoticed."

"Over all, they should have four priorities, correct?" Agent K asks.

"Yes," Orimura-sensei confirms. "In the most likely order; first, should be retrieving GX-07; second, is Orimura Ichika; third, Adrian; and fourth, GX-07's core."

"Although," Agent K continues, "If the opportunity arises, they may proceed to silence Adriana first. Having betrayed her 'organization,' she is a liability to them. However, until we can determine the truth of this matter, she is also a liability for us."

"Do we know how they entered the arena?" Orimura-sensei asks.

"Yes," Agent K responds, "I believe I-"

…..

Having excused himself, Adrian proceeds to a medical bay.

"Sarashik-san." He calls out spotting blue hair.

The girl turns and approaches Adrian.

"It's Tatenashi," the girl corrects, jabbing Adrian with her finger. "Ta-te-na-shi. Say it with me."

""Tatenashi.""

"Good. Now, is something wrong?"

"No, I just came to see if you and your sister were alright."

"Well..." Tatenashi sighs, "I'm fine, but Kanzashi got hurt pretty bad. She'll be fine, but still... I couldn't protect her."

After a moments silence, Adrian excuses himself.

'I couldn't stop them.'

Upon finishing his examination, Adrian returns to his room.

…..

"Has anyone seen Adrian?" Ichika asks the girls during lunch.

Rin blinks, "Honestly, I didn't notice he was gone. What about you guys?"

"No, sorry, nope, not really." The other four reply in shame.

"You don't think something happened to him, do you?" Charlotte worries.

"Doubtful," Laura responds, "he's much stronger than he lets on."

"That's true." Houki agrees.

"Still, it's been almost a week since the attack." Cecilia comments. "This is suspicious."

"Yeah, just yesterday I realized he hasn't been coming to class." Ichika continues. "He wasn't in the me-"

"Orimura Ichika-san." a voice interrupts. Agent K steps forward, gives Ichika a package, and walks away.

"What's this?" Ichika wonders aloud. Suddenly, he feels the air around him drop twenty degrees and his spine stiffens. Slowly, the teen turns to see four raging demons and a smiling angel.

"Tell us, Ichika-san." The angel speaks first. "Just who was that charming lady?"

Cold sweat slowly trickles down Ichika's back. 'That smile is going to kill me...'

""""Well?"""" The four demons demand.

…..

"This seems quite risky, wouldn't you agree?" An old gentleman asks.

"Yes Kutsuwagi Juuzou-san, it is. But this may be the best course of action available." Agent K responds.

…..

Ichika walks down a hall with five girls close behind. He holds a ring box in his hand.

'They almost killed me when I first unwrapped it.' Ichika cries to himself. 'If it wasn't because Laura examined the inside... I don't want to think about it.'

"-don't really think his room is down here, do you?" Houki asks.

"Well, what do we know?" Cecilia asks.

"Didn't he once say his room was near the academy's security section?" Charlotte wonders.

"Great, where's that?" Rin asks.

…..

"Don't you think he himself might pose a problem?"

"No, not after everything that's happened. If he wants to do something, then he will. Of that I am certain."

…..

"Odd," Houki begins, "no one from these dorms know anything about Adrian."

"Yeah, their eyes almost popped out outta their heads." Rin giggles.

"But then, Adrian isn't here" Laura narrows her eyes.

"So where is he?"

…..

"What of the danger he'll pose. Not only is he a liability to them, but equipping him will only make him more tempting. Then again, leaving him won't change anything."

"Correct, this way he can provide some benefit for us. Whether it be as a shield or a sword."

…..

"This place is just like a maze!" Cecilia complains.

"Well, this is the Academy's security team's base." Houki responds. "But, do you really think Adrian is in here."

"Well, where else could he be?" Ichika retorts.

The group grows silent as they continue walking. Their footsteps echo in the silent corridor.

…..

"But, there's more, isn't there?"

"Yes, if he makes contact with them, we will know. As you mentioned, sir. Equipping him will only make him more tempting."

"I see."

…..

"Finally!" Cecilia rejoices, "My feet were starting to kill me."

"Yeah," Rin murmurs looking into an open room, "but do you really think Adrian is down here? These holding cells look really depressing..."

…..

"That concludes the report, Mr. President."

"Thank you agent K, you may take your leave." As agent K leaves, Kutsuwagi Juuzou sighs linking his fingers together.

…..

Adrian ignores the footsteps echoing down the hall.

'If they have something to ask, they'll come straight here.'

Sighing, Adrian returns to his previous thoughts.

'I couldn't cut him...' Adrian recalls his match against Quat. 'I can get past energy and the energy shields, I can't cut metal. But, most weapons can, even Yukihira Niigata. I suppose that's where our weapons differ...'

A knock resounds of Adrian's door. Cautiously, he stands and walks to the door carefully examining it. 'They never knock...'

"Yes?" He calls, standing off to the side of the door ready for an attack.

"Adrian?" A familiar voice calls.

Voices cheering "We found him!" and "Finally!" ring out afterwards.

Slowly, Adrian opens the door. "Is something wrong?" he asks.

"No," Ichika cheerfully replies, "We were just asked... to bring... this..." Ichika trails off upon seeing the interior of Adrian's room.

"You live here!?" Cecilia asks in horror. "You can barely call this a room!"

Slowly, the group enters the room and examine it in shock.

"No way this is a bed!" Rin cries out pointing to a plank and small mattress suspended off the wall.

"You should have said something, Adrian." Charlotte says walking up to the teen.

"It's fine, I have my own bathroom." Adrian shrugs. "You said you had something for me?"

"Oh, right." Ichika responds, returning to his senses he holds out the ring box. "I was asked to give this to you."

Slowly, Adrian takes the box and opens it. Inside lays his stratos in standby mode. Gently, he picks up the ring and holds it on the palm of his hand where he carefully examines it.

"I believe this is also for you." Ichika interrupts holding out a new cell phone. "It came with this card."

Opening the card, Adrian mentally reads the message, 'Keep this with you at all times.'

…..

"As I thought, live bait."

A/N: A short chapter, I know, but I'm back. The reason I was off for so long is because I was writing some applications for studying abroad this up coming year. Now that it's finished, I can start writing again. I'm amazed on how a person can be unmotivated to write something. But on with some ramblings about this chapter.

First off, I'm a bit surprised with agent K. Agent K was meant to be just some random character to connect the secret security team to the rest of the story, but somehow she ended up being a major behind the scenes player. I'm not disappointed though. You can expect to see more of her too. This is a short chapter, but I just want to get it out as soon as I can. I am that excited. Just wait until the next release, we'll see what happens to Adrian then. I promise, it won't another four months like this one did.