Chapter 22
"You know, I thought that as the day went on I might question things. I'm not though. Nervous? Yes, but it's a good kind of nervous. I feel like this is the right thing to do fully, and don't even have a shred of regret." Ticy said as her and Chiffon walked to the cafeteria. On their way they had passed a few Chevalier Pandora here and there who all seemed to be watching them closely.
"I'm sorry Ticy, you just joined us and look what I've gotten you into." Chiffon answered sadly.
"I wish more than anything I could have been there with you in Kaizu. I'm happy I get to be here for this. It's the right thing to do and I get to be part of it this time." Her friend answered.
"People are going to get hurt Ticy, maybe worse. Doing the right thing shouldn't mean that others have to suffer." Chiffon said.
"I'm not excited at the prospect of fighting, but it's what we are trained to do. Trained to fight so we can do so in place of those who cannot. Even if that means fighting against the very people who gave us that strength." Ticy answered.
"Don't get all philosophical on me." Chiffon laughed elbowing Ticy in the ribs lightly.
"Well, you know I'm right." Ticy said slapping her arm away.
"As usual yes." Chiffon responded. They arrived in the cafeteria and collected a few things to bring back to the room where everyone was gathered. Once they had gathered enough food for everyone they made their way back towards the student housing section.
"Let me help." A girl said reaching out and taking a few items off Ticy and Chiffon's hands.
"Eh, Cassie?" Chiffon exclaimed in shock.
"Morning girls." The teal haired Pandora answered.
"It's really ok Cassie we can manage." Ticy said.
"I insist. Besides, from the looks of all this food you are clearly eating with everyone back at your rooms. I wonder why you would be doing such a thing." Cassie said using her free hand to tap her chin with a finger.
"Cassie…" Chiffon said with a scolding voice.
"Well, if there's a party in the West Genetics' rooms then I would like to attend as well." Cassie said excitedly.
"Cassie." Chiffon repeated this time with a harsher tone.
"I want to help, no, I'm going to help." Cassie answered. Her voice showed that there was no room for argument.
"Help with what?" Ticy asked feigning ignorance. The teal haired Pandora looked at her and rolled her eyes.
"I've already spoken to Varen, and none of you have to say anything. Most people here are blind to what has been going on, but I'm not. I know what happened the other night with Gina." She said.
"How do you know anything that's going on?" Chiffon asked quietly.
"People talk Chiffon. Plus, I saw Amelia and a few other E-Pandora earlier. They don't look so good at all. Like caged animals." Cassie answered.
"Cassie this is dangerous you can't be involved." Chiffon said, but Cassie merely shrugged.
"I'm already involved. Once this is all done I expect a full acceptance to West Genetics and one of these fancy uniforms." Cassie proclaimed proudly reaching out and tugging on Ticy's shirt.
"You're insane." Chiffon laughed shaking her head.
"Just a little." Cassie answered sticking her tongue out.
"Seriously? Cassie Lockhart?" Arnette said excitedly as the girls returned.
"Seems so." Ticy answered.
"Thank you for having me, I'm ready to help." Cassie responded.
"I hate to ask to obvious question, but can we trust you?" Andre asked.
"Yeah, we can trust her. Where's Kyoichi?" Varen answered.
"He's collecting our things to bring here. I figure after tonight I won't be going back to our room." Cassie answered. Chiffon and Ticy started handing everyone portions of the food they picked up. An awkward silence filled the room as they ate with each other. Varen set his sandwich down after eating only a few bites and walked over to the closet. He pulled out a large bag and unzipped the main compartment. On the bed he began to lay out various pieces of black garments. After a few moments Attia stood first and walked over taking a few of the pieces. She nodded to Varen and moved to the other side of the room.
"What is that?" Cassie asked as Attia pulled her leggings off. She slipped her legs into the black tactical pants that she would wear under the skirt. Arnette also grabbed the clothes and began changing near Attia. One by one everyone got up and got their clothes quietly.
"These are our combat uniforms. Same thing we wore in Kaizu." Chiffon answered unbuttoning her shirt.
"Um, we're all in the same room…" Cassie said embarrassed. Everyone was in various stages of undress and looked around. To her amazement no one seemed to care.
"This might be the last time we are together. I don't think anyone in this room has any indecent thoughts right now. It's strange, but I don't want to be apart from anyone." Attia answered. Andre helped Elizabeth into her uniform as she was clearly still sore from whatever Chevalier had done to her. Before long everyone was in their Nightingale combat suits minus the ballistic vests that they did not bring. Everyone lined up as Varen pulled a few pieces of red cloth out of the bag.
Arnette put her arm out and he wrapped the band around it, tying off the ends tightly. One by one he wrapped the same band around each person's arm until everyone had the same red stripe. He held one more and walked over to Cassie taking a knee next to her.
"We wear this to symbolize those who lost their lives and to signify why we formed this group. To honor those who died so that we may live." He explained holding it out towards her.
"It got real heavy in here all of a sudden…" Cassie said nervously and everyone either laughed or cracked a smile.
"It's up to you Cassie, but as you can see we're a family. At times like this our bonds show more than usual. We've learned to trust one another implicitly." Chiffon said stepping up beside where she sat.
"I'm not getting naked." Cassie answered and Varen shook his head trying not to laugh.
"We are like a family, but we don't typically change together so I think you're safe." He answered and she nodded. She reached her arm out and he tied the red band around it.
"Welcome." Elizabeth said smiling clapping her hands quietly. Arnette grabbed their combat boots out of the closet handing them to everyone.
"Last chance to back out if anyone is unsure. We still have a few hours left and I'll understand if anyone is having second thoughts." Varen said, but again no one made any movements. A small knock at the door made Arnette bound over to the door. She opened it slowly finding Kyoichi standing holding a few bags in his hands.
"Ah, Arnette wasn't it? Cassie is here right?" He asked nervously and she backed up opening the door further to let him in.
"She's here." Arnette answered and he walked inside struggling to hold all the luggage.
"Thanks. Cassie I brought all our…what's going on?" He said noticing everyone clearly dressed for combat. Cassie stood up and helped him with the bags stacking them against the wall out of the way.
"It's just like we thought, they are going to make a move tonight. You don't have to come." Cassie said. Kyoichi took another look at everyone before facing his Pandora again.
"I told you before, wherever you go, I go. I'm in." He answered and looked over to Varen.
"I would never dream of splitting a couple apart." Varen shrugged and the teal haired Pandora blushed.
"You told him?" She cried out clearly embarrassed.
"What's the big deal? He's dating Chiffon there's nothing embarrassing about it!" Kyoichi answered.
"Jeez everyone really is hooking up these days." Attia scowled.
"Looks like it." Ticy agreed. Varen took a seat on the couch and leaned back closing his eyes. Elizabeth also laid back down on the bed while Andre sat beside her keeping an eye on her. The room fell silent again as everyone found somewhere to sit and relax and be alone with their thoughts. It wasn't long before Varen felt his consciousness drift away into sleep.
"Hey!" He opened his eyes hearing a girl's voice call out. Everything around him was pure white. He could not see anything in either direction from where he now stood. A great nothingness and absence of anything surrounded him and yet he felt solid ground beneath his feet.
"Hey!" The voice repeated, but he could not tell which direction. There was a familiarity to this place, like he had been here before.
"Who's there?" He answered and his voice echoed even though there seemed to be nothing that his voice could bounce off of.
"You're so much older now." The voice said from directly behind him and he spun around finding no one there. He blinked his eyes and shook his head trying to wake up from whatever this vision was, but when he opened his eyes he was still there.
"Where are you?" He asked desperately spinning in circles trying to find anything that would orient him.
"I'm so proud of you." He spun again and faced a girl who stood no more than a foot shorter than he was. Brown hair the same color as his own framed her face as she stood facing him. His mouth opened wordlessly, his breath caught in his throat.
"Rin…" He managed to choke out struggling to take a step forward.
"Hi Varen." She answered politely. He felt his eyes tear up hearing her voice again and stumbled forward falling to his knees in front of her. He clutched at her arms and hands as if she would slip through them again.
"Rin!" He cried lowering his head still holding one of her hands in his.
"Hey, come on you have to be strong remember?" His sister said sweetly kneeling down brushing a hand through his hair.
"You're alive." He said in between breaths looking up into her eyes. She smiled, but it was one of sympathy and sadness.
"As long as you live, I'll never truly be gone. Within you I will always exist." She answered.
"But you're here now, everything is alright now." He said anxiously. Panic began to creep into his voice and Rin shook her head.
"Don't look at me like that. I told you all those years ago that it wasn't goodbye. I'm glad you showed up here again. I wish it could be for longer, but it's almost time." His sister said.
"Almost time for what? Please don't go! Not again!" He pleased pulling on her hand. She leaned forward and wrapped her free arm around his neck holding him tightly.
"Varen, someday you will have to make a choice. A choice that only you can make. Just know that in the end everything will be alright." She said and he gripped her back trying to keep her close.
"No no no! Don't go! Not again!" He begged.
"Save your tears big brother, and remember that no matter how dark the night gets the sun will always rise" He jerked forward suddenly on the couch in his room sucking air into his lungs. Nearly everyone was slumped over asleep aside from Arnette who was sitting against the wall directly across from him. Her eyes were locked onto his and he realized her chest was rising and falling just as fast as his was. Chiffon was still asleep next to him on the couch. He looked back at the red haired Pandora across from him who now was holding a hand over her heart trying to calm its rapid beating.
"So that was your sister?" She said quietly and Varen's eyes widened in shock.