Chapter 9

Varen looked down at the dirt and took a deep breath. He hadn't returned to the tent that they all used to sleep in since leaving the medical pavilion. There was too much on his mind and he found himself drawn back to the graves of the students who had died so far. An eerie silence surrounded most of West Genetics being that it was well into the AM hours now.

"So, it's true then? I don't know if I feel relieved to confirm it, or even more sadness that I never noticed." He said out loud looking down at the chain he held in his hands. A chain that ended with a large spiked ball at the end that rested on the dirt next to him. Elegant Destroyer was the name of the weapon in his hands, the volt weapon of Attia Simmons. It was her grave that he now stood before needing to confirm what Roxanne and Amelia had said. The only other person in the world besides Arnette he knew trusted in him wholly was Attia.

"All this time I thought I was summoning my own volt weapon, but I was only borrowing it. Rin's sword, Arnette's scythe, and your meteor hammer. They were right about it all. I cannot call forth my own volt weapon, I can only use those entrusted to me." He said crouching down to place the palm of his hand on the dirt. He let the weapon go allowing it to dissolve away into the air.

"I'm so sorry that I failed to protect you. I know I've let you down. Since I can call your weapon does that mean you still trust me? I wish I could talk to you one more time." Varen said closing his eyes. After a few moments he snapped them open and shook his head. He had almost allowed himself to try and attempt a connection with Attia which even if successful would mean Charon could once more find him and finish what she started.

"When this is over I'll find you and apologize properly. Until then just rest and wait for me. Wait just a little longer my friend." He said patting the dirt and standing straight. He turned and walked away from the graves heading towards the tent where he could finally get some rest himself. Behind him a short girl with white hair tied up into corkscrews on either side of her head smirked slightly leaning on the gravestone.

"I was thinking; it might be prudent to begin drilling the Limiters." Andre said. Kyoichi and Varen were walking along the wall overlooking the southern fields with him early the next morning.

"What do you mean by drilling?" Kyoichi asked.

"Combat training. Nightingale Limiters aren't trained like standard Limiters. They practice the same abilities, but there is a larger emphasis on melee combat and firearm usage." Varen answered. Andre nodded along as Varen spoke.

"Precisely. We need every advantage we can get and a Limiter who can hold his own is quite valuable." Andre continued.

"I agree do it." Varen agreed. Andre nodded once and turned heading back towards the stairwell that would lead down off the wall. As Andre left Varen leaned on the railing looking out over the southern fields. Open grassland as far as he could see that would soon become trampled underfoot.

"You really want to meet them head on out there?" Kyoichi asked.

"Pandora function best in open terrain where their mobility and speed can be used to its fullest. If we fight in the ruins of West Genetics we stand little chance of surviving." Varen answered.

"It opens us up to aerial attacks from Interceptors, and we are already outnumbered." Kyoichi added making Varen nod.

"Yes, but if we are to die then it should be fighting for what we believe in, not cowering in a hole slowly suffocating." Varen said.

"Captain Lane might be successful and bring back some Interceptors so maybe you're right. Might not be as bad as it sounds." The young Limiter said cheerily. Varen chuckled nodding his head.

"I've never actually stood up here and looked out over the open fields surrounding West Genetics. I suppose it's something I took for granted." Kyoichi leaned on the railing next to him looking over the land as well.

"It's pretty I'll give you that." Kyoichi agreed.

"I can't see them, but they're coming. I can feel it." Varen said making Kyoichi look over.

"Chevalier?" Varen nodded.

"Maybe it's because of Charon and Claire being Novaborn. Or something else entirely I don't know, but I can sense them both and it won't be long now."

"It's only been a short time since they left. Could they mobilize that fast?"

"I'm sure they were already prepared for this. They won't give us time to breath or rest. Time is not on our side." Varen answered. They both looked over seeing a man approaching along the wall. Kyoichi patted Varen's shoulder and quickly rushed away heading the same direction Andre had. Varen turned his attention back towards the grasslands as the man moved up beside him.

"You know the truth about this place don't you?" Gengo asked.

"Chiffon was my Pandora." Varen answered flatly. Gengo nodded breathing in deeply.

"Then you understood why it was imperative that West Genetics does not fall into Chevalier's hands." He responded.

"With all due respect sir, my decisions are not based on the same reasons you have. Chevalier has shown what they will do and the lengths they are willing to go to snuff out anyone they disapprove of. Who knows how many countless others have died because of them? No, I'm not doing this for you or Maria Lancelot. This is for Chiffon, Attia, and all the others who have fallen. For those who will soon fall." Varen said. Gengo noticed the slight hint of anger in his voice.

"I see. Do you think you can succeed?"

"You knew the reasons behind my ability to wield Arnette's volt weapon didn't you? You knew that my sword wasn't mine to begin with." Varen accused turning to face the man.

"I did."

"Don't you think that information might have been useful to share? Instead of how I have blindly stumbled through my powers so far." Varen continued.

"You're the first male Novaborn there is a degree of uncertainty. There were few things I could say without a doubt. Your ability to control volt weapons was inconsequential to watching your development." Dr. Aoi answered visibly upsetting Varen further.

"So you get to choose what is inconsequential and what isn't? What else haven't you told me that you would consider inconsequential?" Varen demanded.

"Nothing, from this moment forward you know as much about yourself as I do."

"Then we are still in the same predicament that we were in before. Waiting for Chevalier to arrive and finish us off." Varen said sharply looking back out over the terrain.

"Still no luck with my daughter's gift?" Gengo asked. He had remained calm and impassive since the beginning of their exchange and continued as such.

"None. I've tried to focus my energy through her stigmata to possibly trigger something and nothing. I even went so far as to try and summon her weapon. Nothing worked." Gengo smiled bitterly. The previous night before summoning Attia's, Varen had concentrated on Chiffon hoping that he had unraveled the secret of her gift only to find himself empty handed.

"Don't take that to heart. My daughter trusted you completely, but Anti Nova is not hers to give to you." Gengo answered.

"Right, it's Maria's that makes sense. If not a weapon or ability granted through her stigmata, then I am utterly lost."

"It concerned me greatly when you told me about it, but over these last couple days I've thought more on it. Chiffon would not have done something for you and left it unanswered. I'm confident the answer will reveal itself when the time is right." The man encouraged.

"Time…that is something we don't have. I don't suppose you have any more secrets to share that will swing this in our favor do you?" Varen asked.

"No, I don't. This rests on yours and everyone else's shoulders here." Gengo answered looking off to his side. "Good luck son, believe in yourself and we'll make it." Varen turned to look at him in regards to the seemingly abrupt end to their conversation. Behind Gengo he saw Arnette slowly approaching and understood then.

"Sir." Arnette bowed respectfully.

"Ms. McMillan, good morning. Take care of the young man, he needs it." Gengo smiled walking past her.

"How are you feeling?" Arnette asked putting her arm around his back.

"Better since I slept. Thank you, for saving me." He answered.

"I owed you one." She joked.

"You talk to Roxanne and Amelia at all?" Arnette nodded.

"Yeah, they told me about last night. What they discovered about your weapon and mine." She answered.

"Attia too. I tried it last night before bed. I can call hers too." Varen said and Arnette nodded.

"Makes sense. I'm just glad you're alright. What Charon did to you in there…" She trailed off.

"I know. She had to focus on maintaining the connection and she was alone and still being capable of that much power. Together with Claire I don't know what to do anymore."

"We'll find a way. I know we will." She answered drawing a smile from him.

"Optimistic today I see." He mused.

"No, I just began to realize that no matter how tough things have gotten or close to death we've been we always seem to make it out. I'm not ready to die yet Varen, so I've decided I'm going to live no matter what." Arnette said.

"Good, because I don't plan on letting you die anyway." He said putting his arm on her shoulder pulling her close.

"No matter what happens we stay together alright?" She said.

"Yeah, together."

Varen looked over the grasslands twenty-four hours later amidst a morning rain shower drenching his clothes. Arnette once more stood beside him breathing heavily as her hands clenched reflexively. Far across the terrain thousands of soldiers, Pandora, Limiters and vehicles were lined up. Chevalier insignia's and flags dotted the army in various places. Even from this distance he could see the two figures standing at the head of the army. One in black armor the other in silver.