Chapter 15
"Good morning everyone. For all of you, today's event will be short. After yesterday's matches we have modified the current serum used to give the E-Pandora their powers. This new serum called Mark 3 will bring them far closer to you than previously anticipated." Dr. O'hara said into the microphone as everyone in the auditorium listened.
Elizabeth shifted slightly as she listened to the doctor speak. After yesterday she was beginning to lean more towards how Varen felt about the facility. Her approval and well wishes before coming to the facility were slowly dissolving into mistrust. In concept the idea of giving normal girls a chance to be Pandora was great. What now concerned Elizabeth was the lengths they were willing to go.
"Mark 3?" Attia asked out loud pursing her lips.
"Yeah?" Varen asked looking at the small Pandora.
"Makes you wonder what was wrong with Mark 1 and 2 is all." She said still looking towards the ring.
"Our job is to help with this project Attia. Enough already." Chiffon said sternly. Varen glanced over at her in surprise. It had been some time since Chiffon had exerted her authority over anyone, but her tone and demeanor right now was serious. Right now she wasn't just their friend, she was president Chiffon and Attia noticed it as well. The white haired Pandora bowed her head.
"Sorry Chiffon, I'll keep my opinions to myself." Attia answered and Chiffon nodded.
"We will have a single match today to evaluate the differences that Mark 3 has had on the E-Pandora. Gina Purpleton." Dr. O'hara said as one of the E-Pandora stepped up to the ring. As she stood proudly Varen leaned forward staring at the girl.
"Chif…" He said quietly and Chiffon reached over and touched his arm.
"Yeah, I sense it too." She whispered.
"West Genetics Arnette McMillan." Dr. O'hara said and Arnette's eyes opened wide. She looked over at her friends once before standing reluctantly. She made her way down the walkway and up onto the arena standing to face Gina.
"Same as yesterday. Until one of you cannot continue." Dr. O'Hara said backing away from the arena.
"Scythe Machina!" Arnette called out as her weapon appeared in her hands. Gina reached out and lights raced along her arm forming into a long staff.
"She can summon it." Ticy said excitedly. Arnette rotated her scythe down so the blade rested along the ground behind her. She brought her left foot forward and bent her knees slightly. Her mouth opened and she breathed in deeply holding it for a moment before exhaling it. The sharp sound of a buzzer made her head snap up and push off with her feet.
"Acceleration!" Arnette shouted twisting in midair bringing the blade of the scythe around in a wicked slash towards Gina. The E-Pandora's staff spun once catching the blade locking the two together. Gina pushed sending Arnette back a step before dashing to the side faster than Arnette expected.
"Is that…" Attia trailed off.
"Acceleration." Elizabeth finished watching the two combatants closely. Arnette whirled the scythe around her body rapidly before propelling herself forward. She could barely keep sight of Gina with how fast she was moving. They slammed together again locking weapons before separating once more. Gina flipped the staff sending the end of it towards Arnette's chest. The red haired Pandora spun left pulling her grip higher on the haft of the scythe before slashing it up hard in an uppercut. Gina leaned back letting the blade pass by her face.
"The difference between yesterday and today is incredible." Andre commented.
"She's keeping up with Arnette and holding her own. They've done it." Chiffon said. Varen glanced over towards Elizabeth who also looked back at him their faces showed that their feelings did not agree with Chiffon.
Gina feinted right before swinging the staff around trying to catch Arnette in a blind spot. Arnette dove backwards rolling to her feet just as Gina followed up her attack with a series of well-aimed staff strikes. Arnette worked her scythe quickly parrying the staff with the pole of her scythe. The E-Pandora accelerated to the side running along the edge of the ring.
"Fine, have it your way!" Arnette shouted narrowing her eyes. "Acceleration!" She called running forward to intercept Gina. The E-Pandora could see Arnette closing in and Gina smiled maneuvering around to meet Arnette head on. A second burst of sound echoed through the room as Arnette rocketed ahead faster than before catching Gina off guard. Arnette slipped the blade of the scythe down hooking Gina's leg sending her to the ground. In the same motion she spun on the ball of her foot swinging the scythe down in an arc stopping just as the tip of the blade rested on Gina's throat.
"Non interval double acceleration. She makes it look so good." Attia said smiling.
"I remember hearing about that my first year. She can activate a second burst without the lag time other Pandora have." Varen said as Arnette retracted her weapon and reached down helping Gina to her feet.
"That was amazing, well done." Arnette said patting Gina on the shoulder. Gina's face lit up as the other E-Pandora ran up and wrapper their arms around her. Arnette turned and walked down from the ring letting her weapon dissolve into the air. She returned to her seat beside Attia.
"Nice job Arnette." Varen said and she nodded.
"Thanks. She's strong, much stronger than they looked yesterday. Honestly, she is on par with a first year Pandora if not a second year." Arnette said.
"Whatever they did or changes they made seem to have been exactly what was needed." Ticy said giving Arnette a thumbs up.
"That's how it seems yes. I wasn't going easy on her, she was fast and just as strong." Arnette explained. Chiffon's face was still pointed towards the arena where the E-Pandora were gathered celebrating their friends progress.
"Chif, you can't possibly believe this is normal." Varen leaned close whispering to her.
"Our group has been able to operate with minimal bounds put in place. I don't want us to lose that freedom so we need to keep quiet. That being said, after today I'm sorry, but I was wrong to argue with you, Arnette, and Attia. There is definitely something very wrong here. That Gina girl, her progress isn't normal and I think whatever they did to make her do what she just did goes far human experimentation." Chiffon said leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Do you think your father would know anything? He is in charge of genetics right?" Varen asked.
"Correct, but I don't think this qualifies as genetics at this point. You were right Varen, this place is too remote. They want this program to be a secret and to keep it that way. I doubt he knows anything about what is going on here. He would be here overseeing the project if it was something related to genetics." Chiffon answered.
"We don't have a lot to go on her Chif. Just speculation really." He said and Chiffon sighed.
"Yeah, I guess for now we just wait and see if any other evidence presents itself. If we see or learn anything concrete, we need to let Sister Margaret know or maybe even General Renalt." Chiffon answered.
"I guess we just wait then." Varen said. Chiffon sat up nodding and got to her feet. Everyone was beginning to file out of the room to enjoy the free day they were given.
"We're going to hit the pool. Want to come?" Attia asked.
"No thanks, I'm going to go check on the weather. Curious if it's cleared up at all over these last couple days and if not see if Captain Lane is still around." Varen answered.
"Ticy and I have a few things to take care of then we can meet you all at the pool in a bit." Chiffon said.
"Elizabeth?" Attia asked looking over at the blonde Pandora.
"If it's alright I'll go with Varen. I'd like to walk a bit and stretch my legs." She answered. Attia nodded and turned walking towards their rooms. After everyone had left only Elizabeth and Varen stood in the hallway. Andre had gone with Attia and Arnette in what Varen assumed was Elizabeth's request. She wanted to be alone with him, and that meant Elizabeth had something to say.
"Shall we?" He asked starting to walk towards the vehicle depot. She followed behind him as wound their way through the hallways passing by a number of other Pandora and Limiters from other schools.
"What are they doing here?" She asked at last once a break in the traffic happened and they were alone walking.
"I don't know." Varen answered honestly.
"Look at this place. How much do you think all of this costs? So many resources poured into it. All the best Pandora in the world gathered together and an impossible amount of progress made in one night." She said.
"Starting to sound like me." He answered and Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"I know, please talk to me?" She asked.
"You know I agree with you. I think we are more sensitive to this kind of stuff because we were at the head of the Novitiate problem. We've seen more than most. It's a blessing and a curse really." He answered.
"I'm afraid for those girls. What if they are being mistreated or subjected to experiments that are dangerous?" She asked as they walked around a corner nearing the hangers.
"I know, but we have nothing to go off of. This is a Chevalier facility so we don't have any authority here. We are still technically students of West Genetics, not active duty Chevalier. Even if we were that wouldn't give us some sort of power to intervene here." He answered.
"Varen, I'm afraid of being wrong. I was in support of this whole thing until I saw what that Dr. O'hara did yesterday."
"We'll keep watch for now alright? At least until we see something more concrete." He answered.
"Thanks Varen." She said as they almost walked right into a group of girls just as they turned the final corner before the hangers.
"Elizabeth!" Amelia said in surprise. The other E-Pandora were with her and all smiled happily seeing Elizabeth.
"Amelia, what are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked.
"They are running some tests on Gina to make sure the Mark 3 is still stable so we were going to step outside for a few minutes and see if the weather has cleared." Amelia answered.
"Is she alright?" Varen asked.
"She looked fine when she left with Dr. O'hara, they just want to make sure everything is normal." Amelia answered.
"Forgive me, everyone this is Varen Askiligar." Elizabeth said motioning towards him.
"Commander of the Nightingales right? The Justicar? It's an honor." Amelia said bowing low. The other girls all said hello bowing.
"Um, yeah nice to meet you please don't do that I have no position of authority above you." He said nervously.
"Sorry, it's just we only heard rumors about you and we saw you the other day fighting that Pandora. For a lot of us you are one of the people who inspire us to succeed." Amelia said. Varen stepped back shaking his head.
"Me? I don't understand." He stammered.
"You were a normal person who wanted to fight beside the Pandora. You wanted to do whatever it took to help them. Even as a normal man you were willing to give your life to stand beside them." She answered.
"Well, that's true, but I'm not as normal as you make me out to be." He answered and Amelia nodded.
"That doesn't matter. You volunteered and chose to be a part of their world before you ever knew you could do the things you do. Had your abilities never manifested would you have given up?" Amelia asked.
"No." Varen said without hesitation drawing a smile from her.
"Exactly. We don't plan on giving up either. I hope to stand beside people like you and Ms. Mably and prove that we are willing to do whatever it takes to fight with you." She answered proudly. The other E-Pandora stood a little straighter as Amelia spoke and Varen couldn't help but be impressed.
"Well, then for what it's worth I look forward to that day. No matter what happens here with this project whether successful or not you let me know. If everyone is as dedicated as you then I'll find a place for you with us." He said. Elizabeth's eyes widened a bit in response to hearing his offer.
"Thank you sir! Thank you so much!" They all said bowing once more.
"We'll be off now; Ms. Mably it was nice to see you again." Amelia said as they all filed past them and down the hall. Elizabeth looked at Varen and rested her hand on his shoulder.
"You really are a good man you know that?"
"After hearing your concern for them and that brief exchange with her I now understand how you feel. I was like them once not so long ago. I know how they feel, and I know the pain they must be enduring." He answered.
"You take care of those around you, above you, and below you. You and my father would get along very well. He is just like you in many ways." Elizabeth said.
"Noblesse oblige." Varen said and Elizabeth smiled.
"Precisely. My father instilled those values in me all my life. I see you practicing the same values and as such I follow you willingly. I'm a proud woman Varen. More than I let on to be honest, but I know that you are worth following."
"Thanks." He answered. He knew that before he even came to West Genetics, Elizabeth was a well-known and equally respected Pandora. Her praise was not something she would give lightly.
"I've been meaning to ask you something. Not that I'd ever think you would be dishonest, but please answer truthfully." She said and Varen looked at her questioningly.
"Alright, shoot."
"How far are you willing to go to protect those that you care about?" She asked.
"I'm not sure I understand, that seems like a simple question. One that you would already know the answer to." He replied.
"Let me ask the question differently. Would you start a war for us?" Varen stared at her for a long time.
"For a hypothetical question, that seems a bit strange. How in the world would I start a war with anyone? I'm just one person Elizabeth, I don't think I'm capable of such things, but yeah if it meant protecting you I'd start a war." He laughed shaking his head. He turned away walking into the hangar entrance leaving her trailing behind.
"I never said it was hypothetical…" She said to herself quieter than he could hear.