Openings song. Afraid to Shoot Strangers.
Yo guys. It's been some time. This was written when I was just waiting for my new class. I did this once with Stormborn, exactly a week ago when I started this chapter. I have a few more ideas thought out but because the last week of January was spend on the Division, I didn't have much time. Sorry guys but the global event really helped me out.
I finally have done the Clear Signal Incursion and I have done both Warren gate Powerplant and Time Square mission on Legendary difficulty. Got six Exotic caches, it is the highest amount I ever had. Sorry but the Division has been very rewarding to me and I wanted to get those. At this point, I now have some more time.
I also made a new story for those who are interested. At the moment of writing, it was just a small chapter but it is the same thing as this. Or no, not the same thing. This story is called Infinite Stratos vs Masou Gakuen HxH Stories told. Unlike this story, it is set in the Infinite Stratos universe. Or better said, it is not written in the destroyed world of this story. A short premise.
The Infinite Stratos and Heart Hybrid Gear were developed side by side and both Tabane Shinonono as Nayuta Hida tried their best to fuck the world. At one point, it is decided that the ISA and Ataraxia are a meltdown in one school when both Kizuna and Ichika are enrolled.
Mattheus and Joel hop off a plane around that time. Unlike the man you have here, this Mattheus was written like the guy he was three years ago. A guy who got no real fucking clue on what to expect. His signature weapons will be missing. Oh, and Kerlongsj and his hackers will play a big role as well. Check it out, leave a review. It's up to you.
Also like I said in that chapter I am working on, I have encountered something but I decided that it's not worth your time nor mine. So just ignore this. I am allowed to say what's on my mind and I don't give one flying fuck if you say I am not to. Let the numbers speak for themselves and some will have to shut the fuck up.
After the day passed and Kizuna closed the gap with Hayuru, Amaterasu was gathered at the command center. Mattheus wasn't too thrilled going on this recon mission. The Knight and Hunter were both a little nervous because neither Chifuyu or Natasha were around. The two grown women were now busy training the students from the ISA that came with them.
The most students, a little bit under 800 were a plan C. Plan B was the pilots with their own personal units. The Night Witches Joel unceremoniously dubbed them. It earned one ugly glare from the girls and a whack on the head from Mattheus. Natasha had taken it up her to look after Joel when Mattheus was away.
Mattheus had also given her the ring that contained White Death. As long they wouldn't have to reveal the most powerful weapon on the earth, Mattheus would like to keep it that way. Besides, the weapon was useless if Joel wasn't behind the trigger. Speaking of the kid, he'd been looking to make the gun better.
It was to fix Lavathenian in terms of power but that could wait. It was faster to react but in terms of practicality, Lavathenian didn't come close. Or you'd need to have a kid in your back that would there to fire and the canon had one hell of a recoil, especially since Lavathenian was built on speed rather than strength.
Counted with unknown terrain and even more unknown enemies, Mattheus wanted to keep the kid safe. Or keep him as a last resort.
And he had Chasseur as well, rifle and gun. Put in video game terms. In DOOM, your most practical weapon wasn't the BFG, that was the Super Shotgun. Plenty of ammo, easier to handle, no problem if you missed a shot and damage was concentrated on one point instead of losing a lot of your power. You could go on.
For Mattheus, Chasseur was decent enough. If he found a vital point, he had no problem taking down whatever got in his sights. Still, he and Ichika would be a lot more comfortable with Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charlotte, Laura, Kanzashi and Tatenashi instead of those girls here. But alas, they are beggars and therefore, couldn't be choosers. They looked at Reiri.
"Kei, I'll let you explain it." Right, Shikina Kei, the researcher that examined Mattheus unit, the first night that he got here.
{Today, at 02.10 am, we received a message from Guam.} That set off a notch. Given that was one of the first places that came under attack and destroyed by the AU.
They could see a map on the floor with the mega floats and there was a red dot, namely a Megafloat, Japan.
"Guam?" Yurishia asked.
"Indeed. The transmission was delivered from Guam." Reiri answered. "Not that I wanna break things to you but after this long, would there still be someone out there? A little farfetched to me." Ichika spoke up.
Like the others, he learned more after the attack on the ISA. They didn't learn where the origin lied with the Entrances but they could only get there with enough land to cover. Guam fit the size of an island.
"We don't know what we're up against Orimura but you have a point. In any case, someone has sent that transmission. Therefore, you all are going to investigate that island."
"So you want us to go there, not knowing what the fuck we're up against? I think that it's not the best. The things we face are creatures who are mindless and easily destroyed but those things have to be built by something. No matter what that might be, if you want us to go there, tear shit up and go back, things might go very SNAFU."
The girls looked a little bit surprised at his choice of words. "SNAFU?" Hayuru asked. "Situation Normal All Fucked Up," Mattheus answered.
And he was right. Mankind was not in a position to start a war. Even with Aine's unit and her immoral weapon, it did just sink one battleship. Not a lot. "Before we have a decent idea of what we're up against, we have to look this up." Mattheus just began to wonder.
They had fifteen years when those attacks started, some people were born and grew up on those islands. And only now they started to look things up. What kept those things from the AU to come here and destroy humanity? Unless they needed mankind for something.
{You have to find information about our enemy. We also want you to look for survivors. In any case, you are the only ones we can send out.}
Mattheus sighed. This was going to be one major pain. "Kizuna, you will be the leader for this mission." The Eros pilot looked surprised at that. He was already appointed by Reiri but they still haven't gone to any major recon mission.
"You're going to do great kid." Mattheus said with a grin plastered over his face. "Please take care of us, Novice Captain-san." Yurishia said with a smile and a wink on her face.
In practical terms, Mattheus and Ichika were a bit stronger than Kizuna. But he had no fighting ability. His Climax Hybrid made him very much the only thing to keep him going.
Pushed beyond, it could get the partner's immoral weapon out.
"It doesn't change that if we come nearby an enemy, we're not in the best way to fight," Kizuna said.
"If you know yourself but not your enemy for every victory you achieve, you will also suffer a defeat." Mattheus quoted the Art of War. "We know ourselves but not our enemy."
"That changes nothing. Kizuna just goes into cover and I'll take them out with my Pulverizer." Mattheus had said that her weapon was good but she couldn't access it like this. "Well, you need your Climax Hybrid for that."
Yurishia teased her teammate. "And you had your turn, so it is my turn."
Himekawa jumped in. "That's enough." Mattheus and Ichika were only very, very tired from that bickering. Eventually, they set off.
After Amaterasu departed, Reiri and Kei looked outside to see the Infinite Stratos girls training. They were out for the count and Chifuyu looked at them, not even pleased. It would take a long time before they could join the fight. Reiri sighed. Mattheus and Chifuyu held on to their secrets but Reiri didn't find more about them. So she just left it at that.
"Reiri, you want a drink?" Getting a beer brew from Ataraxia, she tasted it. Not that bad. "Reiri, what do you think about that wave?"
"Nine outta ten, it's just a malfunction. But we couldn't ignore it. But by any chance, it could be human."
"Whatever it might be, it was sent data that was a map. Still, most of it is encrypted. It wouldn't change much." Reiri looked into the eyes of Chifuyu. She found herself looking at the Brunhilde. How much Reiri hated it to admit, Chifuyu and she were pretty similar.
Species of the same sort recognized each other easily. "Reiri. What if it was Nayuta?" Reiri stretched her head and looked outside. "It can't be here."
Kei knew that Reiri didn't like to talk much about her mother. "Reiri, how do you see Nayuta?" Reiri looked back to Chifuyu and for some reason, Chifuyu seemed to understand whatever played in her eyes.
"She is someone that I never want to meet again. She is my ultimate enemy."
Meanwhile, Amaterasu ended up at their destination.
They were easily 300 km away from Guam but thanks to their speed, they easily reached the island.
"So far, I can see, this place is deserted," Ichika said. "Is someone still out there?" Kizuna sighed. They were her now and they had their mission. "Yurishia, you and Aine are going to the military base. I and Himekawa will look up the streets. Ichika, you and Mattheus are patrolling."
"Roger." The three girls said. "Aye, aye." The boy gave that a reply. They set off to their position. Equipped with their handguns, (those came from their unit), they gave each other cover before they made their way to the basement. Years of no humans around, nature took Guam back like it belonged to him.
Making their way to the computer table, they entered the room. "Seems like there was a waste," Aine remarked as she cocked the handgun. "Yes but look at that." A radio that was totally wrecked. "Whoever was here did a really good job keeping us out or covering their tracks." If they only could call Kizuna or the IS pilots but radio silence was advice as the best course of action.
After all, they didn't know what they were up against. But whatever it was, nothing good would come from it. Mattheus and Ichika flew around, both of them trying to focus. They just couldn't. Both of the boys couldn't wrap their heads around this all.
Guam was destroyed for years but for both males, the realization that most of their world was as godforsaken as this fucking place. Japan, the USA, Europe. This world abounded. And what was left of mankind was forced on those ships. "A piece of your mind, bro?" Ichika asked Mattheus while looking around for movement.
"I just make the realization that this is the way our world would look if the world we came from would consume the misogynistic policy. I mean, you knows as well as me how bad it could go." Mattheus answered while using his iron sights. Taking a up helmet, his partner collected the pieces.
Both Ichika and Mattheus knew how deep and rotten it all was. Belgium was more or less free but Mattheus had his fair share of abuse. Ichika had it even worse. Chifuyu had always thought him to be respectful for women and elderly. It took him long enough before Ichika blocked Houki's sword and stood up for himself.
It was weird but Ichika took Mattheus' views over. The older guy had a more liberal way of being raised. His dad had a more laisser faire approach and that worked. Mattheus wasn't out of hitting a woman. Equal treatment went both ways. In Japan, he wasn't allowed to fight back but that wasn't the worst. The memories of a more recent event went in and it was something Ichika and Mattheus had promised others to kept their mouths shut about that moment.
Ichika looked to Mattheus. Ichika had a good idea how he must have felt when he stood before the class, now more than a year ago. Living in another globe should be like being forced to live in at the other side of the globe. Throwing away the helmet, Mattheus spoke up.
"I got no visual. You?" Ichika shook his head. Mattheus cursed under his breath. "We got nothing. Let's go looking for Kizuna." Ichika nodded.
Kizuna and Hayuru walked through the city. The conditions and attacks really didn't do any good to this city. "This is horrible." Kizuna like a lot of people survived the first and second meeting knew of the attacks but due to living most of his time in a Megafloat, he wouldn't think about returning to a former city.
The flats were damaged, the streets were cut open and weeds grew between it. Hayuru took a teddy bear that was left behind. For her, that simple thing hurt. 'If there's still someone out there, I will save that person.' Walking further on, they were met by a weird sight.
A green haired, well-endowed woman was sitting at top of scrap metal with a complete set of Victorian furniture. Her clothes were weird but showed some strange sexual themes. Her body was besides well endowed also well trained. Both Kizuna and Hayuru were a little surprised. They weren't prepared to see this. Oh well, they were shocked to see this.
The clothes were a mile from any uniform they ever saw. It certainly was well fitting but it left enough open for the imagination. "Are you a survivor? We come from the Megafloat Ataraxia. You are safe."
Hayuru called out to the stranger. "Oh, my. Seems like I got someone's attention. Why not the ones I hoped but to be able to meet Neros; you will have to do."
Kizuna as Hayuru were shocked. How did she knew Neros? "Are you from the USA?" Kizuna knew better. This woman didn't come from this world. "Zeel."
She said the word and an HHG was materialized in front of them. An armor but still showing off her killer body while several shoulder plates came in place. One thing was clear. This was an enemy. "Who are you?"
Kizuna asked the woman. "Me, I am Aldea. Take care of me." She said while aiming her spear. Before she could fire, a huge bang was heard. Turning her head, her body was thrown away. Kizuna took the liberty to look up and he saw Mattheus who had a smoking rifle aimed at them. "Lesson one. if you are with an unknown person, it's best to treat it as a threat." The older man shouted which was followed by a dry click as he chambered a new round.
Keeping his eyes on the target, the woman came out the ruble. "That hurt. Seems like I got more to play with." Mattheus smiled. "Where in sweet hell of Jesus do you come from? You don't come from this world, do you?" the woman was furious on Mattheus action, she didn't show it.
"I'm from Vatlantis." The silence caught the group. Ichika had joined Kizuna and Hayuru on the ground. If Aldea attacked them, she had three to deal with. If she chose to get after Mattheus, he would have no problem shooting her down.
"Vatlantis? What the hell?"
"You don't know. It's the greatest empire. At least on the other side." Aldea answered Ichika's question. "Well, that confirms she is from the AU. One mystery solved." Mattheus said. He saw the woman coming his way. She speed was high enough to avoid Kizuna and Hayuru's attack. But before she could attack, Ichika had launched himself at her.
She could have easily dealt with the Knight if she wasn't that focused on Mattheus. Ichika attacked her and while she parried the attack, at least, she didn't hurt Mattheus. "Shit, this girl is strong." Ichika grunted. "You two. You do not us Magical Armor."
A tired sigh and a frown escaped Mattheus. "Heart Hybrid Gear, Magical Armor. How much more names for the same damn thing." His handgun shot his rounds and passed Ichika while he had moved the rifle to his shoulders with his right hand. His left hand had fired the rounds. Ichika was happy to have that bitch of his plate. "I get the feeling."
"We ain't putting any dent on her. Make that two of us." The two male IS pilots looked at her. "You two pathetic Lemurians. I am going to kill you."
"BLADE." A good thing Hayuru was around. Her attack weren't enough to harm Aldea but they did stop her. "Is this the famed Neros? What a letdown." Mattheus didn't waste time before he'd put his ideas to words. "Kizuna, we need to get the fuck out of dodge. This is too dangerous to take this woman heads on."
Kizuna wanted to fight that statement but he knew that Mattheus was right. This woman would do too much damage. "Himekawa, retreat." The two took off and Mattheus and Ichika took a different direction. "Aine, Yurishia." Ichika tried to contact them. If the sounds of battle didn't draw them here. "Kizuna, me and Ichika are retreating. Do we meet at Ataraxia or do you want us to stick here in case things go really south?" Kizuna wanted to get out but he knew that in case, they needed help, Ichika and Mattheus would be able to help them out.
But he had a better idea. "Mattheus you and Ichika need to meet up with Yurishia and Aine. When we leave this place, use your rifle to help us out." Two points were added to Kizuna on Mattheus list as he heard that.
Seems like this was a good idea. Kizuna would be great at this one day. "Aye-aye. Good luck." He answered. For the first time, Mattheus was okay with this. Even comfortable. Kizuna had now earned to give him orders and Mattheus would go to hell and back to get those done. He smiled despite the imminent danger around.
He looked to Ichika who carried the same smile. The smile, thirsty for blood, ready for action and prepared to fight. Both males turned around and saw that Aldea didn't follow them but Mattheus saw something good. "Aine, Yurishia." He was happy to see those two.
"Adjzof, Orimura." The Silver-haired woman said. "Where are Kizuna and Hayuru?" Mattheus turned his head and Ichika looked at them.
"We encountered an enemy. We both ran off in different directions. You girls helping us out?" Yurishia smiled. This would be fun.
Hayuru and Kizuna ran like the Devil was on their heels. Their enemy was looking for them and she was closing in on them.
Suddenly, a great shock came over them and the ground was shacking. 'Is this an Earthquake? No.' Kizuna's gut began to go down. This wasn't good.
"This ain't good. Himekawa!" He looked to Hayuru's body who collapsed a few meters in front of him. Not hesitating, he took her up in his arms and he flew away.
"We're getting out of this." The Eros pilot heard a whimper and Kizuna understood why. A tsunami made from the debris came after them. Concrete, steel, fragments of wrecks came at them. There was no way they could survive this.
'Damn it, we can't get out.' Suddenly, a light beam came out and the debris fell away.
"What the?" He looked asides and saw a large caliber particle cannon. Differential frame!
"Yurishia." He could see the blond girl and Aine standing asides.
"Captain, what's going on? We saw things coming our way and we decided to come after you. Aine landed next to Kizuna and looked at Aldea.
"I want to ask more about this and who that person is but if we capture you and make you confess. It's going to solve us the problem." Aine looked at her for not afraid of her adversary at all.
"My, my. Two more. This is saving me the problem of looking up." Aldea ceased her movement as she looked to Aine. "White magic armor. You are the child firing that absurdly destructive canon, right? And you have silver hair and red eyes. There's no mistaking it." Aldea had a strange state and it caused a certain person who was all too happy to pull the trigger to wait.
"What's your name?"
"I don't think I should tell you my name but I will teach you. It's Chidorigafuchi." Aine spoke up.
"Where are you born?"
"It's Tokyo. The place that you stole." Aldea hummed on that and the began to speak.
"The goddess dance. Nothingness and death and emperor. And then to eternity."
Aldea snag that like a song. They all looked at her in shock.
"I don't understand what you just said but let us take you away. We will prepare a party for your sake. A brawling party though." Someone had pulled a little bit too long as Mattheus pulled the trigger and the large bullet flew Aldea's way.
"When you guys are done, maybe we can make nope the fuck out of dodge. This is not looking too bright." Aldea turned to the Hunter who fired a second shot. "Why you little Lemurian, I'll teach you manners."
An Entrance opened and what came out was something Mattheus never guessed it would look like. In terms of his youth, a Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Shit.
And he wasn't the only one. Like the others, they could see that and Himekawa had something flashing in her head which made her go weak to the knees.
Suddenly, a shockwave like an explosion tore through the streets. They looked asides and Ichika as Mattheus were out of the way. As for the HHG pilots, a lot of their Live Saver or Shield Points for Ichika and Mattheus were taken out. The oldest of the group didn't doubt for one second that he would be dead if that thing hit him, Infinite Stratos active or not.
Shit.
The group looked at that thing. It was like a Dragonar but it was bigger than they had ever seen.
The machine had three heads and lacked a rider like the previous one. Yurishia looked at it and send a note to Kizuna.
{Kizuna! That thing looks really dangerous. We have to get out of here}. Unsurprisingly, the boy agreed fully. "Everyone, we're going to treat."
"Sanest thing I heard today," Ichika said to the group. The two boys flew away. "Kizuna, do I have permission to get me and Ichika back to the base on our own? Flying your way is too dangerous for us."
"Noted. You two got permission. Good luck."
"I make my own luck." Mattheus quipped and the two flew away.
But the HHG pilots weren't that fast out. Hayuru looked at the machine. And she flew back to the attack. "Aldea clapped in her hands like a kid.
"That's the spirit. Now, let me kill you."
"Himekawa! Come back!" Kizuna yelled. The blades of the Japanese girl attacked the machine but that didn't do a thing.
'This thing can withstand all attacks from Himekawa.' He had seen Hayuru in a fight and her blades could normally destroy just about everything. And the dragon attacked back as the flame he sent at the girl blew her away. She was blown away.
'Damn it. This thing is just too strong.' He looked at Himekawa and like his teammates, he was shocked to see the normally composed but strong headed woman from the Moral Disciplinary Committee change to a complete lunatic as she wanted to destroy the machine.
"Himekawa. We need to get out" Kizuna shouted.
{What are you doing Hayuru! That's too reckless! Kizuna, take her away quickly and withdraw! If she moves around like that, then I cannot even guarantee any covering fire here!}. Kizuna cursed that he let Mattheus go. His sniper rifle would really appreciate. In fact, it was stupid but Kizuna had given the orders to retreat but Hayuru was the one who made things difficult. Not Mattheus and Ichika.
'If we keep this up, we're all gonna die here.' "Aine. We are going to get her." Before he was done speaking, Aine reached to her and grasped the shoulder of her teammate.
"Hayuru, we are returning."
"Release me! I have to, that thing, that magic weapon, I have to defeat it!"
"Himekawa!"
Kizuna grasped the opposite shoulder.
"We are pulling back. That is an order!"
The girl gritted her teeth and she cursed. "Fine."
"Yurishia! We are withdrawing from Guam from now. Give us covering fire!"
{Roger, leave it to me!}
While Yurishia was opening a full bombardment, the three escaped from the vicinity of the three-headed dragon.
"My? Wait, what are you doing? Leaving already."
Ignoring Aldea's voice, they fully ignited their thrusters and flew to the sky right away.
And then they headed to Ataraxia as fast as they could.
"Looks like they are not pursuing."
Yurishia who readied her particle cannon and stayed alert to their rear was murmuring.
Kizuna also looked back and stared at the shadow of the fading island. Certainly, there was no sign of Aldea or the magic weapon chasing them.
Kizuna breathed deeply in relief. He opened the communication window.
"This is Kizuna. We are returning to Ataraxia now."
Looking at the gently swaying sea that was bathed in moonlight, the previous mortal battle seemed like a lie.
Kizuna didn't know what that was or what was going on. He had no idea what caused Hayuru to be so obsessed with the machine. He had bigger issues. Getting home was a top priority.
Back at Ataraxia, the group was looking to the screen that portraited their assailant. Joel didn't find one clue on that girl. But it was clear that whoever this Aldea wasn't here for the first time. "Whatever the hell's she packing, it's pretty fucking powerful." For the oldest guy in his squad, the stupid realization that he and Ichika really were at the bottom rank of this food chain.
The power they have seen, it was something Mattheus and Ichika had never seen. Mattheus doubted that his gun or Ichika's sword would do anything.
{There's no mistaking. This is a Heart Hybrid Gear.}. Ichika looked to Kizuna who had a look of shock on his face. Ichika grew up with the idea that the Infinite Stratos was the top of their world; he suddenly came to see that only Amaterasu was present. The IS girls and even Chifuyu were missing. Not abnormal, it was the middle of the night.
Given that Chifuyu trained those girls, they would be worked on the ground. Everything considered the amount of crap they put on his plate made things only fair.
"So she can distract space?" Ichika asked. {Indeed, the spear can tear through anything and it protects the wielder.}.
"Great, that extra power cold is missed." Yurishia turned to Aine. "Even Aine-san's corruption Armament is quite something." Reiri looked at the machine. She or Chifuyu's glare. There was no big difference.
"She didn't call it an HHG? What was the name?"
"Yes. She called it something like Magic Armor." Hayuru answered. "So you, Kizuna, Adjzof, Orimura got close to her?" Aine shook her head. "No, I had my encounter with her but I didn't understand a single word from her. Something like AU, Vatlantisian Empire." Reiri now crossed her arms in worry.
"There's no way we can be sure. But all things considered, we don't really know what's behind the Entrances. It is most likely not true." A dry snort escaped from Mattheus.
"And what you call us, huh? Monkeys? If she said that, you can bet on it, she would be from that place whatever the fuck it might be. It wouldn't be the first time she got here, given how she worked her way around the radio. "
"Adjzof is right. We can be sure of it that she came from that AU. It sounds crazy but well." Ichika quipped in. "Us here is insane already and the same insanity came from her." Mattheus halted. "But something still doesn't add up. If they are responsible for those Entrances, why would we be here? The war you guys have is going on for fifteen years and just now, they showed themselves."
His boss, Kerlongsj had a theory for this. Universes were like plates on each other. The closer one universe was to the other, how close it was to that. It was possible to have interactions although they would unlikely. But that was just theory. It did not explain why the ISA with everyone on board got looped in this.
His line of thought was broken by the image of a dragon appearing. It had three heads. Even from a screen, the thing looked terrifying. {This is a new enemy we haven't seen before. The terrifying thing is that it knew to repel all your attacks. Due to the machine being above everything we've encountered before, we labeled it as Tri-Head, rank S." Mattheus gulped at the machine.
Now more then ever, he wished that Kerlongsj was here. His boss would make mincemeat from that Tri-Head. But even so, his boss would also find a way back home and while Kerlongsj exceeded everything in terms of power, Kerlongsj wasn't arrogant or biased. He always held back and preferred to use his powers to look for better solutions. Okay, he was a Deus Ex Machina but Kerlongsj would only go all out when that was needed.
Or when you pissed him off. In that case, he wouldn't know what else that he would his full extent of his power. In the end, the group was dismissed. Mattheus stretched out and went to his room, hoping for a nap so his mind could reset itself. Mattheus had a dream that got really weird. He was some sort of a giant woman. It was clear she was no human. Frankly, her height told him she was inhuman. The dream changed and suddenly, Mattheus wasn't alone.
Next to him were Kizuna, Ichika, Houki, Rin, Yurishia, Cecilia, Hayuru, Charlotte, Laura, Kanzashi, and Tatenashi. He'd feel some sort of weight on his back so he noticed Joel as well. At the other side, Aine was sitting and she wore really weird clothes. And around her, was all woman. Beauties beyond the human sort, dressed in ways Mattheus never guessed clothes could exist.
Either Mattheus had some memories of a weird porno he watched and that were the clothes he saw now.
Then from above the ceiling, he was something that came down really hard. Smoke came from down below and he looked up and saw four figures, they looked human but at the same time, they weren't.
The hand wanted to sweep them away but it was blocked. They all looked to the defender and a giant arm appeared. Made from energy. It was clear what happened. They were chess pieces and whatever attacked them was an enemy {King}. Their own {King} had protected them. That was Kerlongsj and he was joined by Reiri and Chifuyu. In his sleep, Mattheus smiled. It was a good sign. Fuck eggplants and mountains. This was a way better sign.
Ichika found his room empty and crashed in as well. He was tired, nothing better than a hard day of work to sleep. He just hoped that he could figure out what he should do next.
Kizuna, on the other hand, found to his surprise a cooked meal ready. Seems like Silvia made him something. Realizing how hungry he was, he quickly ate everything he could find and went to his bed where he found the young girl. Not wanting to wake her up, he quickly fell asleep while she coiled around him. He grinned and thought back to what Mattheus said about him and Joel. The two boys would often spend a lot of time together and it was nothing abnormal of sharing a bed.
Being a brother of one is a very sacred thing. Kizuna was somewhat jealous of Ichika and Mattheus. While being as different as day and night, the two had reached a fine relationship and Kizuna understood why they often referred to one another as a brother.
Meanwhile at the other side of the universe, in the Infinite Stratos universe.
A bunny eared woman was sitting at a table in a fancy restaurant. She was well endowed with a set of the biggest tits you would ever see. Her maid outfit did little to hide that. It really showed off and her purple hair made the mix just weirder Next to her was a silver-haired woman who had her eyes clothes. She too wore a maid outfit.
The woman with the ears was Tabane Shinonono. A child genius, master techno wiz and professional world fuck up. There were few who had a personal link with her and one man wished he didn't have it. Kerlongsj had met her a few times and none of them were all too pleasant.
Now, he wasn't really happy to see her. But while he had reasons and some of them were personal. If Tabane had asked him out of all people, she must have a good reason and Kerlongsj would be damned if he didn't help her out. And while they differed, they were untouchable.
Tabane was just as untraceable and no one got even close to Kerlongsj. Armies beyond most ready to protect him. Juuzou gave him the location and the good thing was that the youngster army was almost ready to leave. Soldiers, five hundred with exceptional talent, under the age of eighteen. A force to be reckoned with and one Kerlongsj needed to have if he wanted to do his research to this school.
In his opinion, too young but they were beggars, therefore, couldn't be choosers.
He wasn't alone now. Anaton had joined him. While it was dangerous, he needed that boy. Kerlongsj was prepared for the if chance he and Anaton didn't get home.
The restaurant waitress shot one look at Anaton and the Hell Boy sighed. He was used to this cold treatment. Tabane looked up from her food.
"I thought I asked for you?" Her voice was as cold as the arctic ocean and her mood was as foul as the storms that plagued that said sea. Kerlongsj knew this side of her well enough and frankly, couldn't give a fuck. "He's the first. More will come later. You think I'd come here alone?" Kerlongsj sat down after that and Anaton looked around. Missing an extra chair, he chose the lap.
They were both used to this and neither man had stopped giving a flying fuck about the ideas women had. It was a God's gift that Anaton and Kerlongsj looked similar enough to pass for related by blood. They were somewhere. Azalof, Anaton's dad had lines with Kerlongsj own dad. In legal terms, Anaton was Kerlongsj's adopted son. In practical terms, Kerlongsj was his big brother mentor.
For Anaton who would lead the faction one day, this was just a normal learning experience. With his older brother, he never felt fear, no matter how dangerous the situation would become, he would always count on his older brother to save his life. The Flemish Devil learned him about that fact. Certainly, he could protect Anaton but a time will come where he couldn't be there to save the boy.
Anaton was aware of that and he'd do everything to make sure that that time would come very far from now. But he was the future of the Hackers. Not Kerlongsj. Kerlongsj was the present and he had no offspring. If he ever had children, it had to be a boy and it had to reach the age of eighteen before Kerlongsj stood down. And the kid had to be fit to lead and liked by the cause to lead it.
But that was for later concern. Right now, the two had bigger fish to fry. If nothing would happen, there wouldn't be a cause to lead. At least, not the power and presence the Hackers had.
It would be a fighting cause instead of a present one like now. And that wouldn't be the shadow war that was going on for ages, no. World War Three would be at their doorstep. World War Two ceased the lives of a billion people. World War Three would destroy the entire world with casualties that would include easily ninety percent of the entire world.
Sure, the superpowers of Japan, China, Russia and the USA would destroy the Hackers but it would also mean the end of NATO. Or what was left of it. Kerlongsj knew that his boys would make sure that no country would escape unscathed and that a new world would be born from the ashes to begin anew. A man-made apocalypse. No, a woman made apocalypse.
And nobody really wanted that.
At least, mode besides Tabane as she cared little for every sort of life. As long your names weren't Houki Shinonono, Chifuyu Orimura or Ichika Orimura, you could die for all she cared. And one person, in particular, had earned her personal ire.
Why Chifuyu would choose that goddamn male above her great genius and best friend, it was beyond her. Tabane's attempt to make Chifuyu hers drove her away. Ironically enough in the arms of Kerlongsj. And while he didn't mind and actually enjoyed Chifuyu's presence and respected her and her choice, it caused Tabane to hate him and everything he held dear.
For Kerlongsj, it was extremely weird that she asked him to help her out. But she'd better treated him with some form of respect instead of looking at him like he was a piece of dog shit. The Bunny genius looked at him and she glared even more.
"You know, I really didn't like the idea of needing you for this." Anaton opened his mouth to talk, ignoring proper manners.
"If you didn't like to ask, then why did you ask in the first place? You think we got nothing better to do, for fuck sake?" No one and he meant no one would mouth of his older brother? "Watch your mouth in front of a woman, you piece of shitstain brat!"
The waitress told him and it gave her a glare of the boy. "Mind your own damn business." The women present were shocked by such disrespect and looked furious on how a loud boy would have the nerve to leave his position of a slave.
Anaton wanted to leave Kerlongsj's lap. The Devil relented and let him walk off. "Did your mother forget to teach the proper decorum on how you should treat a woman?" And that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Anaton punched the waitress harder than most twelve-year-olds could do and kicked her in the ground. Time to blow this up. The young boy moved his small body, easily avoiding the crap coming his way and destroying the establishment. The women had never seen this in the last ten years. While some of the men looked disappointed (who was the target? The rascal of the woman?) while others looked in awe, some even had a small smile.
Anaton then released some energy and that would be seen as preparation but Kerlongsj looked at him. The Devil shook his head and Anaton ceased to use his Nanites and would use his own strength to fight.
He could be diplomatic and talk. But that'd be a bore right now. So he grinned after having confirmation and cracked his knuckles as some women approached him. He wouldn't kill them but beating them within an inch of their lives.
Kerlongsj let Anaton play but he'd shut down the telephone so the police wouldn't drop by. He also went to the manager and opened his wallets. Dropping a few bills at the man's feet. "This should cover the damage and here's a tip. Sorry for the mess. Oh, teach your staff to respect their clients no matter their gender." The manager, a somewhat older man, nodded and smiled at the money. It would be enough for a long time.
He also saw the two bracelets on his arms and Kerlongsj grin. It was indeed better to leave it like this. Anaton was now done, they weren't dead but they would have a lot of problem with breathing, eating, and pissing.
Some younger guys had even decided to help him. This was a small thing but often that would be enough. By stepping up, it was a way to show off towards others. Kerlongsj sat back in his seat.
"Again, Tabane. Why did you call me? Why not the four powers?" The four powers were a sarcastic name that indicated Japan, the USA, Russia, and China.
After the introduction of the IS, Japan rose as a superpower due to being the birthplace of this power. For Russia, they rose back to their former glory and the cold war started anew but not against their old foes, although the Cold War wasn't forgotten. At least, while it was tense between them and the USA, it was more a showoff.
Of course, those countries would like to rub other off by getting something unique. It made those four powers very unreliable allies. That's why the European Union decided to choose Kerlongsj and his Hackers as common allies. His army mainly existed of those who were deemed obsolete and none of those guys looked for a war but for a job and a fair way to live.
His massive manpower caused to have a chilling effect to make sure no one would push too far. But the Alaska Treaty made matters even more difficult. Matters like the ISA but those were a good thing.
It worked out until Kerlongsj got dealt a wild card, namely a male pilot with a heavy baggage, an intelligent, tough as nails punk and ideologies who didn't align with Kerlongsj at all points but certainly fitted his ideas closer than the other world powers.
For Kerlongsj, the fact that he got Mattheus to work for him and the fact that he, of all people, got the rarest thing on the planet, was one way to rub his nose against the others.
Mattheus was more than a show. He was an investment, a personal matter. And it was turning out that he paid his worth already. But that was in the shadow world where Chifuyu and he came from and where Mattheus went down with Joel on his back.
But this matter, the ISA disappearing was done in the light, not in the dark.
"I asked for you, because Kerlongsj, you're the only person who has an unbiased view on this." Tabane answered and damn it, this woman was a genius, right?
"And how am I unbiased?" The Bunny smirked at the Devil. "After I send out the cores to the world, Belgium was the first country not to actively use them with the exception of Freya Adjzof but that was a chance for the German Army and the French to show off and put Belgium in peace."
It was the man's turn to smirk. "We know how that went but you ain't here to talk about the past. Tabane, we both know that the last event, the world is a powder kick. I can't hide but if you called me here to shit on me, I swear, you're going down with me." His energy came out, having a cold effect. Beneath his easy going, laid back persona, this was the Flemish Devil.
Tabane finished her meal. "Kerlongsj, so far I know there's nothing in this world, including you and yours truly, that could make the ISA disappear or have any sort of benefit to it."
"So what? You're saying that aliens captured them. What, we're gonna have green man landing on this earth? What a joke!" Anaton joined them with blood over his clothes and a grin on his face.
"No, I don't think that whatever did it was aliens but." Kerlongsj had heard of it. Circular universes. You could compare with a set of plates. How closer one plate was to the other, how more similarities there were between them to the point it was minor details. But that was just a theory.
"You're thinking that something from another universe kidnapped the ISA? If so, it must have tremendous power and it should be aware of our world." Kerlongsj grimaced. It was a theory but there was no evidence or ways to check it out.
But right now, the two most different sort of people had to team up
"Unfortunately yes. I have the brains and skills but I lack the manpower or members to cover a larger area like the ISA and despite everything, I lack equipment."
"That's where I come in. I have that manpower and skilled members to use it but there's one thing you forget, Tabane." The woman glared at him.
"I can explain my absence towards my own guys and I have more solution for that. But how will the entire world react that I am going to investigate this? Or are you going to do anything?
Chloe looked up from that, her eyes still closed. "What do you mean? How is your existence of any significance? I still don't see. I still don't get why Tabane-sama called you here." Kerlongsj was taken aback by that. While he lacked the bravado, he was still seen by a lot of people as Chifuyu's adversary. It might sounds vain but this was the Flemish Devil.
The most feared, wanted and dangerous man on the planet.
While Anaton was blatantly disrespectful in some eyes, he or Chifuyu saw him as a man of power. Scorn and hate were things that Kerlongsj grew used to. Blatant disregard like what Chloe just did gave him emotions that he thought he had lost a long time ago.
"Bitch, you've got any fucking clue to who the hell you are talking. If your bunny master called him here, he's damn worth it. I do wonder why the fuck you're actually complaining. I mean, I know a lot about myself but unlike you, I ain't some kind of fucked up project in which people lost interest when it turned out they really blew it up to shit."
Chloe looked to Anaton had spoken his mind and that caused her to gulp. She was furious and shaken by that but Tabane lifted her hand. "Chloe. If I want your opinion, I will ask for it. For now, I want you to hold your ideas to yourself." That was enough to shut the woman up.
"Kerlongsj, you're the only person who I can think of who is not going to use this to take advantage of my intelligence." Kerlongsj understood that message.
For Tabane, only the three persons in her life really mattered. Chifuyu, her unrequited love, Houki, her adorable little sister and Houki's crush and Chifuyu's little brother, Ichika. She would disregard Ichika but because those two found him important, he also landed on her Christmas list.
Kerlongsj still didn't get the full brunt while Tabane called him here. He knew that Tabane hated him but because he wouldn't take advantage of her? That was a rich joke if he ever heard one.
Still, he had to use some way to get in this country to investigate this matter, the fact that if he could help Tabane and that would be their cover-up, that had to do. "Very well, Tabane. You win. I will lend you a hand."
"Happy to hear that." Kerlongsj stood up. "We have to wait until my boys would end up here. When they do, we will begin our investigation. Bye."
And with that, Kerlongsj and Anaton left the restaurant. Tabane had a sigh escaping her. "Now, that's it's done. Chloe. I think it's time for some punishment." She said with an angelic smile while Chloe shivered.
Okay, that's done. I had it lying somewhere and I was busy writing it. Still, I had some things to look up first so I couldn't upload it when I was done on the twentieth of March so, at this point, I'm gonna work on something new. Sorry guys. That's my bad.
Saluut.