Alpha and Omega - Jackal's Story
Chapter 16
In collaboration with Subzero Dragon. Visit their profile to see the other side of this story.
Despite the recent mission, or perhaps in spite of, I had to see Robin. Something about seeing the corpse of another God Eater with a blue Armlet just made me feel anxious as well as nauseated. So many scenarios passed through my head. Almost all of which had the end result of Robin lying in place of the corpse. I would shake my head of these thoughts but I'd never be able to escape them. The other thoughts I would have resolve around the person's identity. Whilst I do not know it, I don't want to find out. This person could have possibly been a friend of mine or Robin's and I don't think we could tolerate hearing about the death of a friend. Maybe I should just keep this a secret from Robin. In her condition, I doubt she'd want to hear that somebody from the facility we were from had died in combat. Yeah, she doesn't need to know.
Walking to the Infirmary, I am just about to reach for the handle when I see another person's hand reach out instead. I step back in slight shock. I must have been in so deep of thought that I hadn't noticed this person. I look up to the person and find the owner of the hand to be a doctor. The woman must have noticed my shock as she looks back at me with an almost critical gaze.
"Oh, sorry. I'm just visiting my friend." I quickly apologise to her but she doesn't move.
"You're visiting Robin, right?" The woman speaks so suddenly and in such a stern voice that I can't help but feel somewhat inferior to her. Maybe it's just the air that she holds but she doesn't seem to be the friendly type. I nod my head a few times to confirm my answer. Something about this woman reminds me of Ms. Amamiya. Maybe they have similar roles. "You do know how badly injured she is, yes?" Once again, I nod my head to confirm. It would be hard to forget how injured she really is. I was the one that brought her back to the Far East. I felt so helpless in that situation; knowing that she is a haemophiliac and could possibly bleed to death. Yet, all I could do was to cover her wounds and apply pressure to them in an attempt to stop as much blood escaping from her, at the time, cold, fragile body. "Even we don't know what effects this could have had on her. With that much blood being lost, I'd be surprised if she hasn't suffered some kind of brain damage." I wasn't prepared to hear that, yet I should have expected it. With less blood, less oxygen reaches the brain which can cause brain damage. Truthfully, I'm beginning to have second thoughts about visiting Robin. She seemed fine the last time I had seen her but we didn't really have a long enough chat to see if she had suffered. I hold a hand to my head as I realise just what this means. If Robin is suffering from brain damage, not only her life, but my life will change as well. Being her friend, I would need to do things such as helping to feed her. I have no problem with that, but it wouldn't be very good. For the both of us. No. I will help her even if she has suffered. Just like she has helped me with my amnesia. I suppose the only way to check if she is suffering will be to check for myself. Now that I've been prepared for the worst, I won't be shocked if it comes to that. "Just make sure that you are careful." She speaks before finally opening the door and stepping through it. I follow after her immediately.
I head straight towards Robin's bed and am surprised to see her eyes wide open and looking in our direction.
"It looks like she's awake." I hear the doctor speak, "Remember what I told you. We still don't know the full extent of her injuries. Don't be shocked if she acts out of character." I notice that she sits near the door, a notepad and pen with her.
"I know but I have to try." I was determined. Nothing would make me not be there for her during her time of need. "She's always been there for me through my amnesia. The least I can do is repay the favour." I turn my attention to the person of my thoughts and sit on a chair at her bedside.
"Hey, Robin. How are you feeling?" I ask her with a soft voice. For all I know, she may have only just woke up a few minutes ago, I doubt a loud voice is something she would want to hear right now.
"Not great. My head really hurts." I didn't need to understand her words to hear how pained she sounded. I could hear a slight groan before and after she spoke. Nevertheless, I offer her a small smile.
"I bet it does. I'm glad you seem a bit better today. Last time I saw you, you could barely talk." I smile as I begin to believe my own words. She may be in pain but it seems like she's healing. I wait for Robin to speak but she just stares at me. Well, I guess I'll let her stare for now. Maybe she's just happy that I am visiting and enjoys my company.
"What happened to me? I don't remember anything past an attack warning… after then it's just blank." That made me worry. She didn't remember?
"Wait, you don't remember anything about the night attack?" I enquire, just to make sure I heard her right.
"No." Her confirmation only proceeds to worry me more. Maybe she had lost a bit too much blood and had suffered from a slight bit of brain damage. Either that, or her brain forced her to forget the event.
"How about the Ouroboros? Do you remember that?" Maybe if I ask her if she remembers the Aragami that we fought, she will remember.
"No..." I was beginning to grow cold. The thought that she didn't remember anything from that day. I had to be sure...
"Then... I guess you don't remember saving my life either, do you?" I speak with a sad tinge in my voice that I can't suppress.
"No..." I was expecting that answer. She said she didn't remember, after all. "I... I'm not even sure who you are."
I felt my heart stop. Her words echo in my head.
"I'm not even sure who you are." With each and every utterance, a shiver colder than the last runs up my spine and I feel my eyes begin to water but I blink back the tears and close my mouth that had become unhinged when she spoke that sentence. All of the memories we have with each other... and she doesn't remember any of them. I dial down the expressions on my face. Surely if Robin had noticed them she would become upset that her words held such power to almost bring me to tears. Although, she doesn't know who I am.
"She said this might happen." My voice, barely above a whisper. I couldn't stop my head as it rolled down, looking towards the floor.
"Who said what might happen? I don't understand." I could hear the panic in Robin's voice as she spoke. I was worrying her. I need to get my act together.
"C'mon, Robin, it's me, Jackal. You know me, right?" I could hear my own nervousness make my voice shake slightly but it may have been quite enough that she might not have heard.
"Jackal! Of course I know you! I'm glad to see you're well." With her words being the trigger, I could feel my heart begin beating pleasantly warm blood around my body again. I release a heavy sigh.
"Don't scare me like that! I was worried you had some kind of amnesia or something."
"Sorry, I just didn't recognise you for some reason." Yeah, this was Robin. The very girl I've spent my post-amnesia life with. I couldn't help the large smile that came over my face.
"The doctor was just telling me it's a miracle you're even alive. Being a little forgetful is just an inconvenience compared to dying. Don't worry about it."
"A miracle? Was I hurt that badly?" So she still didn't remember anything about that day.
"You really don't remember that mission do you?" I ask her, the smile on my face lessening as she doesn't respond. "Don't look so upset, Robin. I said its fine, right? But about that mission… it didn't end well. I'll still tell you if you want." She nodded and I flinch at the pained expression she makes but I comply with her wishes.
"It happened about a week and a half ago. There was an attack on the Anti-Aragami Wall. It ambushed me while I was on night patrol. The Veterans got called out to subdue it. Alisa told me you forced your way onto the roster and joined them." I smile at this, "Pretty gutsy, Robin. We haven't even beaten a sim Ouroboros before you know."
"I know..." It seemed as though she was beginning to piece together the events that occurred that day.
"You, Alisa, Lindow, and Soma came as backup. I already had some help, but Gina, Karel, and Kota aren't melee fighters. We took it out together." I realise a bit too late that my last sentence isn't 100% correct, but before I can correct it, Robin comments on it.
"So, we beat it?" She smiles happily as she speaks but it falls once she realises I don't smile back.
"That's the bizarre part. I took its core out, just like any other Aragami. But then the crazy thing got right back up." I ignore the shocked expression and speech she gives me as I wonder about why that actually happened. I still don't know what actually happened but I should consult one of the God Eaters that stuck around to fight it. I know it was defeated, but how? I tune back into the real world and hear nothing. I assume that Robin expresses some sort of speech about how that happened.
"I know, right? Crazy. It's true though. It tried to kill me from behind. Probably would've done me in if you hadn't jumped in. You tried to protect me, but it got around your shield. You took a few stray blows, but it really hit you hard in the head. It was bad enough that Alisa ordered me to evacuate you immediately. That attack was harsh enough, but you were losing a lot of blood from your head wound…" The feelings I felt at the time seem to overtake me. "It was terrible, Robin. You almost died in transit." After I speak, I realise that I am no longer looking towards her and am instead looking at my lap. I raise my head to speak to her again,
"They nearly ran out of donor blood on route. I turned out to be a match, so I told them to use mine. And I did it again for several days more. I've been told you probably wouldn't have made it if we just waited for new supplies." I was brightening up again. She survived. That is the most important thing. I should be happy for that.
"Jackal… you saved me?" I smile at her as she comes to terms with the situation. Although, I wouldn't say that I had saved her life. After all, it was because of my carelessness that she wound up in need of my blood.
"I'm really glad you pulled through. I don't know what I'd do if you didn't wake up." Quite honestly, if she hadn't woke up, my life would be hell.
"I..." She almost replies but her speechlessness doesn't let her. "Th... Thank you. And I'm sorry. You wouldn't have had to do that if I was more careful." Being thanked didn't feel right.
"You know, that Ouroboros hit me from behind, right? If you didn't protect me, I wouldn't have stood a chance." I smile at her as I speak, "I never did get the chance to thank you for that. Thank you, Robin. You really saved my bacon."
"I'm glad you're safe." She speaks with a smile before it quickly drops into a more apologetic look, "but I made you worry like that…I'm sorry. I owe you."
"Hey, stop that already." I speak noticing that Robin is hanging her head. I take her hand though and her head rises. "Don't look so sad, Robin. I'm just glad you're alive. So, if I owe you for saving me from the Ouroboros, and you owe me for donating blood for you, let's call it even. No worries, okay?" I tell her with a smile which elicits one from her but maybe that isn't comforting enough... I place a hand on her shoulder. Almost instantly, a flash of images crosses my mind. Images which involve, what looks to be, a younger Robin as well as a young boy that looks to be in trouble on a boat. Suddenly, an image of a gold coloured, tank-like Aragami appears to be destroying the island. I could feel the sorrow and could hear the desperate cries of help from the people on the island. But just as suddenly as the images appear, they stop.
"What... was that?" I hear Robin ask and it takes me a second to realise that we're back in the Infirmary.
"I don't know. It was like I was living your memories or something." I couldn't quite grasp what just happened. Whatever those images were, they weren't mine. I look towards Robin. It is only after I do so that I realise that I am looking at her in a new light. I had never known before that she had suffered an Aragami attack when she was younger. I am quickly snapped out of my thoughts though, when I say Robin flop to the bed.
"Robin?" I say her name as I grab her shoulder and shake it slightly. "Robin, what's wrong? Are you okay!?" She doesn't answer me though, she merely smiles towards me.
"Hey, Doctor! She needs help!" I call to the doctor that I had previously forgotten about whilst talking to Robin. I lower her back to the bed whilst the Doctor, patiently and calmly, walks to the bedside.
"I'll run a few tests on her. Make sure to come back tomorrow." I don't have time to question her sudden politeness as she shoots a glare at me and I sprint out of the Infirmary. One thing was for sure though. I will definitely come back tomorrow.
And so, tomorrow comes around. I wasn't able to get much sleep though. The way that Robin suddenly flopped concerned me. Maybe I was looking too much into this. She may just have been too exhausted. Nevertheless, I can visit her when the Infirmary is open for visitors in 30 minutes. Right now, I suppose I'll check my missions for today.
Thus, following the completion of my morning routine, I headed to the main reception area, otherwise known as Hibari's desk. Once there, I consulted with her about the mission I would be taking part in. Apparently, I will be part of a two man squad. My team member hasn't been decided yet. I suppose that gives me time to prepare for the two magmatic Gboro-Gboros we'll be facing. I'll need a freeze type God Arc. With this in mind, I head to the nearest terminal to see what my options are. In the end, I settle for a similar God Arc to the one I already have with the only differences being that this one has a blue variation to represent its Freeze attribute. With a quick check of the time, I notice that the thirty minutes that were required to pass had passed. I log out of the terminal and head for the Infirmary.
Upon entering, I had sat by Robin's bedside and had a small talk with the doctor that was there. The same doctor as yesterday, I should add. I'd asked her if she knew why Robin suddenly blacked out and she told me of her theory. She also said another thing. Something I will remember always. She told me to limit my physical contact with Robin. A groan pulls me back into reality.
"She's back with us," The doctor must have noticed her groan as well, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay." Robin speaks before taking a sharply inhaling. It sounded as though she was still in pain. I see her starting to sit up and begin moving my hands to help her, but the doctor reaches her first and, instead of helping, pushes down on her to make sure she remains in a lying position.
"Don't get up. I still need to run more tests on you." The doctor spoke and I had to force myself not to look at her because I could feel my face contorting into a glare. Had she just been slacking off? She couldn't have done these tests beforehand?
"Why? What's going on?" I can hear the worry and fear in her voice and extend my hand towards hers. However, midway there, I remember the doctor's words and pull back.
"We resonated the other day. You passed out after that. They said you were just exhausted, but..." She deserved an explanation. I didn't really understand it myself, I was just regurgitating the information the doctor gave me. Robin's history was coming back to me, but I shake my head in an attempt to clear them from my head. It is her history. She didn't want me to know about it. Why? I don't know. Maybe I'll ask her about it later. But I suppose that we all have secrets. Even I do, although I have no idea what those secrets are. I look towards Robin and see a strange, mulling look on her face. She quickly realises that I am staring at her though and speaks,
"I'm okay. I just feel tired."
"That's why I need to run some tests. I need to be sure it really was just exhaustion and not an affect of your head injury." The doctor informs her, saving me the pain of explaining that there may be something wrong with her after all.
"Seriously? I'm getting tired of being in this cot." Her groan makes me smile slightly. Maybe I should bring her drawing materials in here for when she is awake. I doubt she'll be let out any time soon so she'll want to pass the time by drawing. But what could she draw in an Infirmary?
"If it's any comfort, you're healing at a phenomenal rate, Robin. Your normal recovery rate would have seen you out of action for months. At this rate, you'll be able to return to duty in a few more days. Barring any further complications, that is." The doctor didn't think about telling me this beforehand? Why wouldn't she tell me this?!
"I'm healing faster? But how?" Robin speaks her thoughts and, I must admit, I was intrigued as well. It is like the doctor says; a few more days and Robin will be out of here and hopefully never here again.
"Well..." The doctor looks to Robin and I a few times before continuing, "When Jackal donated blood to you, Oracle Cells from his blood mixed with yours. Normally, this isn't even of note, because of the Bias Factor's effect on Oracle Cells. But ever since your resonance, something very interesting happened. We suspect his Oracle Cells activated and assisted you somehow. The fact that you've almost fully recovered from a near-fatal head injury within three weeks is unheard of, even for God Eaters. We don't know if other effects have occurred, so I need to run some tests before I can say this if is completely a good thing or not." The doctor's lengthy explanation was more than my brain could take. I need a less complex reason. Nevertheless, I think I got the gist of it.
"So, what's going on? Are you saying that when we resonated, I healed her?" It didn't make sense. I don't know a lot about resonations, but surely they don't heal people...
"Again, we're still testing things. We'll need to run some tests to be sure of anything." The doctor informs us before proceeding with the necessary things for the tests.
The entire time the doctor takes the tests and takes blood samples, Robin and I are silent and occasionally look to each other. It isn't long before the doctor walks out and I find myself wondering how much time I've spent by Robin's bedside but that isn't the only thought to echo in my head.
"Well, that's unsettling. But the good part is you might be out of here in a few days!" I give her a wide smile as I speak. "I bet you can't wait to be out of here."
"Tell me about it. I feel like a prisoner here." She utters before moving herself into an upright position. I instinctively move my arms toward her in an attempt to help but she manages just fine on her own. "I think I prefer fighting Aragami to this. Thanks for keeping me company. It always makes my day to see you." An intensely warm feeling envelops my heart and with a new found vigour, I reply enthusiastically,
"And with luck, we can fight together soon!" But just as quickly as my enthusiasm rises, it quickly deflates. I realise that this is my chance to ask her about her past. "Hey, Robin? About those memories of yours… how come you never told me about your past or anything?" I notice that the smile drops from her face as well. I didn't really expect her to smile while retelling painful memories so I don't really feel concerned about it.
"I have good memories of Ryukyu of course. But when I think of back then, I always wind up thinking about how I lost my family and my boyfriend. All that was only less than a year ago. I didn't want to bring it up because it hurts." My heart was in pain. Robin had to suffer so much. One minute she had a family, the next minute they were gone and this was less than one year ago too. Fresh wounds. During her explanation though, I noticed that my heart seemed to have dropped into my stomach during one part in particular... The part about her boyfriend. Robin had people that she loved taken away from her by the very creatures that threaten all of humanity's existence; but a boyfriend? I wonder if I had somebody that I loved that much... I can't think about that now though. I had to keep her spirits up.
"Hey, don't make that face. At least you have memories. I wish I could remember something about my past, even if it was painful." I didn't realise that I had referenced my own lack of memories until it was too late. So much for not thinking about that right now. There is nothing I can do about it now though. Despite this, I still have a mission to get to and, depending on the person, I doubt that they'd be happy to see me turn up late. I get up from the chair and stretch out, "Well, it's almost time for my mission. Nothing special today, just a pair of magmatic Gboro Gboros. I'll have it in the bag in no time."
"Be careful out there. You don't want to get stuck in here like me, trust me on this." I chuckle at Robin's caring words. I think I've already been in the Infirmary way too many times. It's like my home away from home.
"I'll take your expert word on it. I'll see you later. Take care, Robin." I give her a smile before heading out of the Infirmary but not before hearing a "you too" from her.
"One down, one more to go, right buddy?" The eccentricity of Kota never ceases to amaze me. We had only narrowly avoided a massive fight with our targets at the same time, instead opting to lure one of the Fallen Gboro-Gboros away from the other to destroy them one at a time. But like he says, one down and one to go. I make sure my Arc devours the defeated Aragami's core before we set out to find the next one.
Walking back to where the Aragami had congregated, we notice that it is no longer in that area so we continue our walk to find the beast. A minute or two later, we find the beast heading towards a corner.
"We should set a trap." I inform him and receive no complaint. Thus, I attempt to be deathly silent and and set up a paralysis trap about one metre behind the target. Now what do I do? I could shoot it and wait for it to run towards us and into the trap, or I could get in a few melee attacks before retreating behind the trap. Yeah, the latter sounds like a good idea. It will inflict more damage as well. Therefore, with my plan having been confirmed, I slash at the tail of the beast a few times, ignoring its roar of pain until it has almost turned towards me. I dash backwards and stop a few metres away from the trap. All the while, Kota shoots from a raised platform. Just as expected, the beast triggers the trap and we capitalise on it.
A full two hours later, and a failed attempt to visit Robin after visiting hours, I unexpectedly get called into the Director's office. I know by now that I shouldn't be panicking, but as he speaks I can't help the fear I feel.
"Do you know why I've called you in here, Jackal?" He seems unusually stern. I find myself thinking that this must be a different person than the person who let me sneak into the Infirmary to check on Robin.
"No, sir." I add the formal address due to my nervousness. I get the feeling that if I were to speak more colloquially then I'd be in trouble. The Director places his elbows on the table in front of him, clasping his hands into each other, all that was missing was an amused 'excellent'.
"Do you remember that you found the corpse of a God Eater yesterday?" He asks and it amazed me that I had indeed forgotten about it until he brought it up. But I suppose nervousness will make you forget things.
"I've discovered that that God Eater was only recently brought into the facility that you and Robin were brought up in." He informs me and I think I get what he is trying to say.
"So, we didn't know that person?"
"Most likely." I let out a breath that I didn't realise I was holding. He reclines in his seat and only adds to the silence. "Speaking of that facility," He wasn't finished? "I've become increasingly more intrigued as to the God Eaters that transferred to here from there." I guess that's an indirect way of saying that Robin and I are interesting to him.
"Tell me, Jackal, do all God Eaters that come from the Valley have blue Armlets?" He asks me a simple question. Simple because I thought he already knew the answer to it.
"Yes, sir." His face contorts into a grin.
"But your Armlet is red." He comments.
"Yes. When I woke up, before stumbling upon the Valley, I noticed that I had this red Armlet. Although, at the time, I had no idea what it was." I explain to him everything that I know of my Armlet.
"That means you were a God Eater before becoming a member of that facility. Tell me, did you have a God Arc when you awoke." I try to think back to that time. For the life of me, I cannot envision a God Arc beside me when I did wake up. I shake my head.
"And you weren't assigned a new God Arc?" Every answer I give elicits a new question. All while the Director's smirk either grows or falls.
"No. One morning, I was told that it was found."
"Hmm... Do you want to hear my theory as to your past?" He had a theory? I am definitely interested. I eagerly nod my head. "Well, I believe that when you awoke for what you remember as the first time, your God Arc was not there." He just regurgitated the information I had given him. If it wasn't for the fact that it looks like he hasn't finished explaining, I would tune him out. "And your God Arc was suddenly found?" I nod my head to answer his question. "I think that the Valley is hiding something from you." That intrigued me.
"Like what?"
"I believe that that facility knows of your real identity. How else would they be able to confirm that a God Arc is yours? They must have contacted your original branch or wherever you were before then, and sent over your God Arc from there." I had to admit, there was a possibility that this was true, but I doubt the Valley would do something like that. The Director notices my silence and decides to speak up. "The people from your former facility may know of your identity and decided to keep it from you. Why? I honestly don't know. Maybe you should have a chat with Robin about my theory." I revise his words,
"You think Robin already knows my identity?" No, that can't be right. The first time we met I terrified her. Surely she didn't... Unless, was she scared of me... because of my past? Had I done something to make her so afraid of me? Now that I think about it, even for a very shy person, they wouldn't suddenly panic like she did. A nod from Sakaki is all I need for the question to echo in my head.
"Does she know my identity?" No! I still won't believe it. I shake my head in order to clear it. Robin is my best friend! There's no way she could hide that from me, right?
"Also Jackal, I have more news." I look to the Director again, not knowing whether to be intrigued by more news or fear it.
"I've did a bit of research of my own. Apparently, the only other branch on this side of the world that gives out red Armlets is the Singaporean Branch." My eyes widen at what he is implying. "Maybe you have some sort of a connection with that branch-"
"Can you schedule for me to visit?!" I interrupt him, bowing as I ask.
"Unfortunately, I cannot do that."
"What?! Why?!" His simple answer makes me seethe in rage. I may have a lead as to my past. Why won't he let me investigate it?!
"Like it or not, Jackal, you are still considered to be a rookie compared to the rest of your unit." Being called a rookie doesn't sit right with me at all. "So I cannot guarantee that you will return safely."
"What if I bring Robin with me?"
"She too is considered to be a rookie."
"And what about one of the other members? Alisa? Kota?" I'm pretty much pleasing at this point.
"Alisa is the team captain. She cannot be going on trips to another branch for something like this. Kota had family here. He won't want to leave the Far East Branch, even if it is for a little while." I am about to speak up again but Sakaki won't let me, "Soma wouldn't even consider travelling with you and Lindow and Sakuya are a married couple. They wouldn't go with you either." I was on the verge of tears. The one chance I have at knowing my past, and I am not able to investigate. I crumple to the ground, resting on my legs. The weight of them was becoming too much.
"However, I have already gotten in contact with the Singaporean Branch." This takes my attention but I don't raise my head, I'm pretty sure that I can feel tears rolling down my face. "They have admitted to having a few God Eaters with the status of missing in action. They've agreed to send one member of their branch over to meet with you and see if you really are a God Eater from that branch." With new hope, I wipe my eyes and get up from the floor, standing up straight. "When will this person arrive?"
"In the next few days." Is his answer and he dismisses me after uttering it. I finally have leads on my past. The next thing to do is to follow them. The first lead I will follow is asking Robin if she knows of my identity or not. Visiting hours are closed for today though, so it will have to be tomorrow. I have a feeling that these next few days are going to be very long until I get a chance to meet with this Singaporean God Eater. With my leads given, I retreat to my room.
Or I would have had I not remembered about my earlier thoughts about giving Robin her sketch book. Being in an unstable frame of mind right now, I don't think twice about opening the handle to her room and searching for her notepad and drawing tools.