Chapter 3
"Oh my! I had no idea!" Ticy shouted holding her face with her hands. No sooner had Varen and she walked through the doors into the flight lounge when numerous people jumped out shouting congratulatory words. Chiffon was the first person to run forward and embrace her best friend welcoming her to the group. At Varen's invitation there was even a good number of Chevalier Pandora in attendance as well. They answered to the high command and not Varen so it typically frowned upon to partake in social activities with the student body.
"What they don't know won't kill them right? Live a little ladies." Varen had told the Chevalier Pandora before he had left on the mission. That attitude coupled with Varen's dedicated support of the Pandora was why he earned so much respect not only with West Genetics staff and students, but also the Chevalier Pandora he had met. So, throwing caution to the wind they had decided to be part of the celebration.
"Regardless who we answer to, we're all focused on the same goal. You live here with us so you should be a part of these kinds of things." Varen said to a few Chevalier Pandora off to the side. He left Chiffon and Ticy letting them have time to be with each other and their friends. The Chevalier Pandora while present were mostly keeping to themselves and he felt obligated to make them feel welcome. He felt a bit more comfortable around them than most since they were closer to his age. As active duty Pandora they had already graduated from a genetics facility which meant they were in a range of 19-24 years in age.
"We're used to the strict military regiments associated with Chevalier Justicar. You command very differently." One of the Pandora said. Her name was Alison Born, and had been an active duty Pandora for nearly four years now. She graduated from Lowlands Genetics and as of two months ago assigned to Asakura West Genetics as a staff member of the Nightingales. Something she saw as a honor and privilege to work beside the man known only as the Justicar.
The day the Nova attacked West Genetics, Varen defeated it single handedly. The entirety of the student body as well as a large amount of the faculty began to believe in him as a leader. Someone who could bring them into a brighter future. They swore themselves to him and from then on stories of the Justicar began to reach other genetics facilities and eventually Chevalier itself. With great hesitation they allowed his position to exist and formed the Nightingales under his command. Chevalier knew that Varen threatened their iron grip, but they backlash they would suffer trying to depose him was worse. Instead he became a symbol of Chevalier and so long as he answered to them there was no problem.
"Alison, you and the rest of the Pandora stationed here deserve to feel at home." He said patting her shoulder.
"Yes commander." Alison answered bowing slightly. Varen sighed and shook his head.
"We need to work on breaking you all down to normal humans again. Just call me Varen and lighten up alright?" He said and noticed a few of the Pandora smile slightly.
"Thank you sir we'll try." Alison answered respectfully. Varen nodded and turned walking away from the group. A few West Genetics Pandora passed him and handed the Chevalier Pandora some drinks. He felt pleased that soon enough they would be enjoying themselves as normal girls not just Pandora.
"Welcome home." Varen heard a female voice say. He turned his head seeing Elizabeth leaning against the wall holding a drink. He walked over and leaned against the wall next to her.
"Everything go alright?" He asked as she took a sip from her cup.
"Mhm, no issues aside from the captain's personal issues." She answered with a wink.
"She cause that much trouble?" Varen asked light heartedly.
"No more than usual. She's quite lost without you around though. She kept herself busy most the time." Elizabeth answered.
"That's good then. With Ticy as part of the team I believe she will be more at ease and happier overall." Varen said.
"I agree; this was a good decision." Elizabeth nodded.
"So, what are we up to now?" He asked and Elizabeth looked up thinking for a few moments.
"This brings us to sixteen Nightingales, three flight crew, twenty-eight Chevalier personnel, and eleven West Genetics personnel." She answered.
"Half a year ago there were six of us. Now there's over fifty people working here." Varen said.
"At least we all have our own rooms now." She answered.
"Was it always this crowded here?" Attia asked moving next to the other side of Varen.
"Elementary students shouldn't be up this late." Elizabeth said while drinking from her cup to hide her smile.
"Walking floatation devices shouldn't judge others." Attia snapped back. Varen looked around awkwardly as the two playfully picked on each other. Varen couldn't deny that Attia did look younger than 17 due to her size, nor could he deny that Elizabeth's chest was larger than any other Pandora he'd met. Wisely he kept these thoughts to himself saving himself from their combined wrath.
"Everything go as planned then I take it?" Attia asked abandoning her banter with Elizabeth.
"Yes, she did very well. I assumed you would be watching." Varen answered.
"I was. You both looked good." Attia answered. A few West Genetics students walked by stopping to say hello to the three as they conversed. These past few months had been calming for everyone at West Genetics. After the Novitiate crisis ended things settled into relative peace aside from the constant vigil of Nova incursion. It afforded them the luxury of nights like this when they could simply live like normal people. By now even the Chevalier Pandora were smiling and enjoying conversations not just with themselves, but with West Genetics and Nightingale members as well.
"You created something amazing, you know that right?" Elizabeth said looking over at Varen.
"We all did. After Kaizu I thought a lot about what Kyle Monroe said. How he wanted to tear us apart at the seams. Expose weaknesses and secrets in the hopes we would turn on each other. It was something I never wanted to forget so I decided to focus my efforts on strengthening bonds with one another. No matter how hard we train our bodies we need to rely on one another to succeed." He answered.
"You know; I was always meaning to ask. You linked with Chiffon, Arnette, and I, but not Elizabeth. How come?" Attia asked.
"I have a Limiter and do not want other men inside my head other than him." Elizabeth answered flatly to which Varen simply shrugged.
"Limiting the Ereinbar set to only Chiffon and I is how things should be. Linking with you and Arnette was a special case that should be reserved for emergencies only. Just out of respect to you both I think that is a wiser choice." Varen said and Attia rolled her eyes.
"It's not like I mind…" She said softly.
"Hm?" He asked unable to hear what she said.
"Careful Attia, monsters come in the night to those with indecent thoughts." Elizabeth teased. The joke was not lost on Attia fully aware who Elizabeth was referring to when she used the word monster.
"Yeah yeah, I'm going to go find better company." The white haired Pandora said waving a hand as she walked away.
"Find yourself a boyfriend!" Elizabeth yelled drawing a middle finger from Attia as she kept walking.
"You tease her too much." Varen commented.
"She knows we love her." Elizabeth answered looking into her cup.
"Time for a refill. Have a nice evening Justicar." The blonde Pandora said patting his arm and walking away. Varen nodded and looked back towards the doorways leading out to the tarmac. Ticy and Chiffon were still together laughing with one another amongst a group of students. He was slightly unnerved to find that as he glanced their way her eyes stared back into his. How long she had been looking at him he didn't know.
When they had returned home from Kaizu, Chiffon had made the decision to tell the school about her origins. Inspired by Varen and who he had become she chose to follow in his footsteps and live freely. It was a long day full of questions from students and faculty alike, but no one bore her ill will. If anything it gave them comfort that her power as a Pandora had a logical reason behind it. No one could attain her strength no matter how hard they trained and after she revealed being a natural born Pandora, it all made sense.
From then on and much to Varen's approval she kept her eyes open. To her surprise everyone thought her eyes were amazing. Most girls referred to them as exotic. Some even felt they made her more attractive. Chiffon was more carefree after then. Her responsibilities as the student president forced her to retain some semblance of seriousness and authority, but the rest of her softened. Ticy looked at Chiffon and then followed her gaze to Varen then back to her friends once more. Varen could see Ticy laugh and lean over whispering in Chiffon's ear. Even from his distance he could see Chiffon's cheeks shift to a deep shade of red as she turned and playfully slapped at Ticy yelling at her about something.
"Mr. Askiligar?" Varen never saw the man approach him being lost in thought looking at Chiffon. His uniform alone gave away who he was even if Varen hadn't known him. Medals and ribbons decorated the outfit and it was clearly kept in pristine condition. The Chevalier Pandora in the room visibly stiffened seeing him looking fearfully at him.
"General Renalt, what brings you to West Genetics again?" Varen asked reaching out and shaking the man's hand. Each country was overseen by a high general of Chevalier who commanded the genetics facilities as well as the appointed Chevalier military personnel. The man who stood before Varen was the high general of Asakura where West Genetics was located. It was by his good graces that Varen even had the position he held let alone the very compound he now stood in.
"Good to see our money is being used wisely." Renalt said with a bit of irritation in his voice looking around the room.
"We are welcoming a new member this evening. A fine Pandora and the vice president of the student council, Ticy Phenyl. Don't ruin the celebration and leave them alone." Varen said nodding towards a group of Chevalier Pandora who were visibly shaking.
"Do you forget your place? This is all mine Mr. Askiligar, I will do what I want when I want." He answered back facing Varen once more.
"I know my place and I'm standing in it right between you and them." Varen shot back meeting the general's gaze.
"This is bad…" Attia said to Arnette. They were across the room from Varen and the general, but were intently watching as the two seemed to be getting closer to a physical confrontation.
"Nah, they are just boys and this is how they solve things. Us girls do it maturely whereas they feel the need strut and flex at each other for ten minutes before moving on. It's pretty sad really." Arnette answered taking a drink.
"You don't command Chevalier forces so please explain why they are standing around instead of doing their job." General Renalt challenged.
"Their job is to support the Nightingales operation here at West Genetics. Right now our current operation is welcoming Ticy to the family. They are supporting that quite nicely." Varen smiled making the generals' eye twitch.
"If I were you, I'd be more careful how you speak. Not everyone is as tolerable as I am of your position that I might remind you only exists because of me." Renalt said.
"It's a good thing you're not me then. If your visit was simply to criticize the Pandora, then politely remove yourself from the party. Otherwise are you here for an actual reason?" Varen answered back.
"I am. I have an assignment for you." General Renalt said producing an envelope and handing it to Varen.
"Must be big if you are delivering it in person." Varen said tearing open the top and pulling a paper free.
"Chevalier has approved a new project in Spireach. Your requested to help with verifying the results." He answered and Varen narrowed his eyes reading the paper.
"Evolution Pandora? What is this?" Varen asked looking up from the paper.
"Right now only a small percentage of girls are compatible candidates to become Pandora. Dr. O'Hara has developed a method to give ordinary girls the same abilities as Pandora. If successful, then it would provide an answer to the Pandora shortage."
"Are you insane? This sounds like human experimentation to me." Varen asked incredulously reading over the document.
"Some would say the Pandora project is no different." Renalt answered back sharply.
"The Pandora project follows stringent guidelines with compatibility rates and safety measures. This is flat out experimentation no better than what Kyle Monroe was attempting." Varen answered back.
"The E-Pandora project has promising results, but we need to know exactly what they can do. Every school is sending their top three students to help. West Genetics will do the same by sending Chiffon Fairchild, Ticy Phenyl, and Elizabeth Mably. The Nightingales are to send their top three as well. Since your members overlap with West Genetics students you will bring Pandoras Arnette McMillan and Attia Simmons to comprise the Nightingales three members." The general explained.
"Did you learn nothing from what the Novitiates caused? You're playing with things you don't understand. None of us do." Varen argued, but the general waved a hand.
"These are your orders commander. You leave next week for Spireach. Pack warmly, it is far colder in Spireach than Freystadt. Enjoy your evening." He said spinning on a heel and leaving the flight lounge. Varen stood gripping the piece of paper that served as a formal invitation to partake in testing of the E-Pandora project.
"Hey, everything alright?" Chiffon asked walking up next to him linking her arm with his.
"Looks like our homecoming will be short lived. I'll talk to you about it later, just enjoy yourself tonight." He answered leaning his head on hers. She looked up at him for a moment clearly wanting to press further for answers, but let it drop for now. She returned back to Ticy and the group they were talking with and Varen looked back down at the paper. Something felt wrong about it. Whatever this project was Varen felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Fear.