Sekirei: The Lost Wolf.
Chapter 7: The Second And Third Feathers.
Disclaimer: this chapter was edited as of 8/11/22.
Hikari slowly got up with her hands raised and began walking towards her sister as the Spartan and his Sekirei gathered they're things and the four of them left the alleyway without further conflict. Once they were gone she picked her sister up bridal style. With a careful juggle to get a good grasp Hikari jumped into the air high as she could to the rooftop of a nearby tall office building.
Hikari knelt and gently placed her sister on the roof, then checked her wounds. For the most part it look like Hibiki was okay - except a bloody nose and a large lump on her head, that was it. Hikari let out a sigh of relief finding no life-threatening injuries on Hibiki and wrapped her arms around her.
"Hibiki are you ok ? Can you hear me?" Hikari concernedly asked trying to wake up her sister. Hikari gently touching her sisters cheek.
Hibiki feeling her sister's touch, her eyes slowly opened. Instead of looking into the lifeless visor of the steeled beast that gave her the savage beating, she was greeted by the worried face of her older sister.
"Hikari?" Hibiki slowly sat up off the ground" What happened? Last thing I remember was getting hit in the head by the metal thing and then I blacked out…?
"I actually thought he killed you, he was standing over you with a gun in his hand... I almost assume the worst... I'm just happy that wasn't the case."
Hibiki paused for a moment. That thing had an opportunity to kill her but it didn't. "It spared us? Also what happened to number 16?"
Hikari developed an unpleasant look mentioning number 16. "Oh that bitch... again she gave me a good thrashing with her stripper pole... here's the more surprising part, the thing that attacked us was actually her Ashikabi!"
Hibiki's eyes widened in shock. "That thing is her Ashikabi!?"
"Yeah. The pole-bitch told me when we were facing off against each other. No wonder she seems so confident before the fight, her Ashikabi... whatever the hell it is... was somehow invisible and attacked us from behind." Hikari concluded, piecing it together aloud.
"Still, the question is, what the hell is he?" Hibiki asked, wiping the blood off of her nose. "Because he gave me quite a thrashing too… Felt like I was fighting a fist type Sekirei from his punch's and kicks."
"I wish I can answer that question myself. He is no Sekirei but Ashikabi… however, he can't be Human either given the display of strength we witnessed. I'm not sure if its even a man inside that armor." Hikari muttered, scratching her head.
"What do you mean you aren't sure?" Hibiki queried. "I heard him speak when he attacked."
"Well, I heard two different voices - one was male and the other was female. A voice changer? Split personality? I don't know, I'm just as confused as you are." Hikari answered with a glance at her twin's face. She took another deep breath before continuing. "However... I think that thing... is our Ashikabi."
"Our Ashikabi!? Are you nuts?"
Hikari took a deep breath and searched for the right words to say. "When it had me pinned down I felt weird. This heat... and feeling really aroused for some reason. Anyway, what did you feel? A reaction?"
Hibiki nodded her head. "Now that you say it... I do feel this weird sensation in my chest after he defeated me so easily."
"Then you're reacting too. Good." Hikari exhaled in relief, then got to her feet and helped her sister do likewise.
The sisters moved to the edge of the rooftop to look down upon the alleyway where Hikari and Toyotama had fought, just in time to witness the Spartan flipping off the sky.
"Why is he doing that? Is he flipping us off?" Hibiki curiously asked.
"I don't believe so, it's not even in our direction." Hikari noticing he had his hand pointed up at the sky.
After a few moments the armored thing was done and turned to face Toyotama. It looked like they were having a conversation. The twins observed, uncertain.
"What do we do about her?"
"I hate it, Hibiki, but... I guess we'll have no choice but to share him with her. However, we will remind her who will be the head-wives." Hikari huffed.
Hibiki nodded in agreement. "Let's hope he's better than our first choice for an Ashikabi."
"Yeah, last thing we want is another broke-ass pervert." Hikari found herself shivering a bit at the memory. "That was nearly a disaster."
After a few minutes Six and Toyotama started to walk away out of the alleyway. The Lightning-Twins kept track of them from the rooftop, and saw the pair run across the street into another alleyway. They followed them by jumping from rooftop to rooftop, keeping a good distance behind them not to be noticed or even hear them. There was one moment where they stopped on and peaked off the side of the roof to observe them, they saw the armored thing look behind him glancing at their direction. They quickly ducked.
"Do you think he saw us?" Hikibi asked.
"I don't believe he did." Hikari answered.
The sisters took another peek over the edge to see Number 16 and her armored Ashikabi continuing down the alleyway. They saw them coming up on another alleyway, but to their confusion they saw the armored one dash down another alleyway while Number 16 maintained her course.
"Why are they splitting up?" Hibiki wondered aloud.
"Who cares?" Hikari shrugged. "It'll give us a chance to be all alone with him, and saves us the trouble having to deal with number 16."
With that statement Hikari was on the move again, heading in the armored man's direction. Not far behind her, Hibiki hoped they weren't falling into a trap or something, finding it strange that The Sekirei-Ashikabi pair were splitting up like that. Her sister probably didn't even think of that possibility, but Hibiki determined to keep her guard up for both their sakes.
The twins followed him until he reached a dead end at the end of the alleyway. Seeing he was now cornered and alone it was a perfect opportunity to show themselves to him. The twins jump down from the rooftop, few yards away in front of him.
Six sighed heavily for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "Last thing I want is more sekireis ."
Since he had learned his lesson from when Toyotama had reacted to him. He recognized the signs the Lightning-Twins were also reacting to him. This was a problem.
"So, what are you going do with them?" Athena asked. "Will you 'wing' them?"
"No. I don't want any more Sekirei. I let my guard down in front of Toyotama since I believed she was merely a victim, but now I know what I've gotten myself into." Six answered. "This is too much trouble."
"If you knew then what you do now, would you have winged Toyotama?"
"I think you already know my answer."
On the opposite side of the Spartan the oldest twin Hikari noticed the Spartan having his hand on his sidearm ready to drawl it.
Hikari putting her hands out in front of her showing that she meant no harm. "Hey! We're not here to fight we just want to-"
"I don't want anymore Sekirei." Six interrupted, straight to the point.
Hikari developed an irritated look on her face after his answer. "Hey! Hear us out before you reject us, you walking trash-can!"
"Trash-can? That's a new one." Athena snickered.
Six scowled a bit at that but brushed his annoyance aside for the moment. "I made up my mind. I don't want any more Sekirei and please don't make me repeat myself."
Hikari started become more annoyed hearing his refusal to wing them. Hibiki seeing that look in her sisters face, she decided to take over the conversation before her sister could say something stupid. "If this is about the fight earlier, we're sorry. We're just trying to take out the competition before the real game starts."
Six narrowed his eyes at the youngest twins statement " Telling me that is meant to make things better? I find you two to be cowards going after those you deem weaker than you." Six said coldly to the twins.
"Watch who your calling cowards you armored asshole!" Hikari snapped back. "It's an effective strategy to eliminate the competition before they become a bigger threat later on!"
"She does make a point." Athena commented on the oldest twin's reasoning.
As much as Six he hated it, he had to agree on that point. Sure, their tactic seemed cold and cowardly, but it was smart. Eliminating any outside forces that could show up at an inopportune moment if they got caught by stronger Sekirei, like perhaps one of the dangerous single digits, decreased the number of risk-variables. Still, in the back of his mind it didn't seem right. Especially since everything in the whole freaking game was set up by a man who should've been committed to a mental asylum years ago - maybe having shock therapy until he acted like a normal human being, or something.
"As much as I appreciate the merits of your strategy, I refuse to willingly to take part in this game. I really find no honor or even purpose in it. I've made my decision already. I will not 'wing' any of you. So, have a good day." The Spartan said as he was about to walk past the twins.
The twins then stepped in front of his path. "Hold it right there! You're not going anywhere until we get what we want!" Hikari insisted angrily, staring at her reflection in the Spartan's visor as he stared back at her.
Hibiki nodded in agreement with her sister. "Either you 'wing' us willingly now, or we're just gonna keep coming after you until we finally get what we want."
Six was getting irritated by these two. He placed a hand each on their shoulders and the twins flinched at the touch of the cold metal. They wondered if he was now going to 'wing' them, and it showed on their faces. The truth is Six was just about to push them away from him. Before he even did another blip showed up on his motion sensor close by.
"Six! Don't do it!"
Six and the Lightning-Twins looked up to the sky and saw Toyotama sailing in to land right next to her Ashikabi.
The twins gave the greentte a very unwelcoming look - Hikari even snarled.
Toyotama greeted them in-kind before giving her attention back to the Spartan. Before she could even get a word out her Ashikabi spoke first.
"When you asked me if I noticed, you were asking me if I saw Hikari reacting?" Six inquired, having finally figured out the nature of the question she had asked then dismissed earlier.
Toyotama shamefully nodded.
"And you didn't want to share this with me why?"
Toyotama collected her thoughts. "I kept it from you because I didn't want to share you with them." Toyotama admitted, giving both twins another pointed glare.
Hikari bristled to that remark. "You selfish little pole-dancer, why I should-"
"Shut up, walking battery, you would've done the same to me if the roles were reversed." Toyotama remarked with a skank-eye glare. "Also, pole dancer? You don't look all that differently dressed compared to me."
Hikari seemed like she was ready to attack the weapon-user as electricity started forming around her hands. "What did you just call me!?"
Toyotama smirked, seeing she hit a nerve. She decided to push the electromancer's buttons a little bit further. "You heard what I said. I called you a walking battery."
Hibiki lifted an eyebrow and turned to the Ashikabi. "Are you going to make her take-back what she said just now? Or did you put her up to this?"
While a red shade colored Toyotama's cheeks, she didn't seem the least bit ashamed of the notion and even directed a hopeful look at Six to garner some support...
"Don't bring me into this spat of yours."
...who shot her down immediately.
"Alright. I won't deny it, we would've done the same to you if we were the first to claim him." Hibiki admitted.
"Yeah, with the only differences is we wouldn't have let you get anywhere near our Ashikabi with out a fight!" Hikari added.
"I would've loved to have seen you try. However, that's an argument for another day." Toyotama said as she let a small laugh escape her. She then returned her attention to Six. "I don't want the competition for your heart. Much to my dismay, I realize we need all the help we get if we are going to survive this tournament. Are you going to 'wing' them?"
Before Six could even say a word, Athena spoke up giving him her thoughts and opinions.
"She is right. If we are going to make it through this mad-man's game we need all the help we can get. And right now we need allies and Toyotama is the only one we have."
Six made sure his speakers were off talk to the AI privately. "I know, Athena. I just don't like the idea of getting myself into symbiotic bonds with more alien women."
"Why? Afraid you might get a harem out of this." Athena teased again at his expense.
"Focus."
"Learn to take a joke sometimes, Spartan. Not everything has to be 100% serious." Athena retorted.
"I am taking this very seriously - we don't fully understand these bonds. Enlighten me here, why should I 'wing' these two?"
"Setting aside the obvious strength in numbers factors, by taking them in we eliminate two external elements that could possibly interfere with us in a critical moment in the future. Not to mention that by 'winging' them - if Minaka's words can be trusted - we can ensure their loyalty and never have to worry about being double-crossed. You may not like it, but you know I'm right, Six."
A strong point in favor. Toyotama had declared her love and loyalty to him. There was little doubt in his mind that the two sisters here would do the same.
In the back of his mind he wondered what any other Spartan would do If they were in his situation, trying to think what Carter, Emile, Jun, Kat, Jorge, and even Keiichi . Even though each of them would've acted differently. After all the training he received from Kurt and Mendez, handling far-too-Human-looking alien women who wanted to marry him was not in their training programs.
"Well? We're waiting?" Hikari huffed, impatient in the long silence.
"I will 'wing' you both." Six grunted under his breath.
"What was that? we didn't hear you." Hibiki said innocently, cupping her chin.
"Yeah, speak up metal-man," Hikari sneered, hands on her waist.
"I will 'wing' you both, I said." The Spartan repeated clearly as his temper flared in its cage of discapline. "Happy now?"
The Lightning-Twins glanced at each other. They quickly turned their gaze back to him and nodded, satisfied with his answer.
"Before we kiss you... you are a man right? Because I heard two different voices coming out of your mouth earlier - one was female." Hikari said sternly. "We aren't lesbians and I'm not comfortable with kissing a woman."
Without even saying the word Six released his grip on their shoulders and took off his helmet to reveal his face. "This answer your question?"
Both sisters blushed heavily staring at the Spartans handsome face. "Yes it does." Hikari said with a hint of lust in her voice .
Admiring his good looks, the youngest twin snapped out of her lustful trance to notice the scars that littered his face. "What happened to your face?" Hibiki asked out of concern.
At the mention of his scars Hikari found her composure. They saw scars on his cheek, one across his nose, and one above his right eye starting from the brow and going up to the middle of his forehead.
Hikari was at a loss of words since she didn't expect her Ashikabi's face to be cut up like that. He had bested them easily in combat, so what had done that to him? "What the hell happened?"
Toyotama watched the interrogation, curious. When she first saw his face she wondered the exact same thing and shared their concerns too when it comes to his well-being. Hopefully he would reveal all the stories behind those scars. The twins approached the Spartan, and reached out to touch a pair of his scars. Before they could even touch his face the Spartan stretched taller and tilted his head back, which with their hesitance in effect denied them the opportunity. "It's best you don't know how I got these."
Both the twins became upset at his refusal, Hikari especially. She opened her mouth to shout something but Hibiki's hand on her shoulder stopped her. Hibiki just shook her head sadly. Hikari bit her lip with a frown. "Fine. But don't think I'm just going to let this go. You'll have to tell us all one day."
"Maybe." Six offered dully, non-committal.
"If nothing else... after you wing us, could we at least learn who you are?" Hibiki broke in. "That shouldn't be too far a stretch."
"I think it's reasonable," Athena whispered to Six. "And if their loyalty is ensured, what's the harm in telling them?"
Six stayed silent, but gave a nod all the same. Now came the question he'd been dreading. "So which one of you goes first?"
"Me." both said in unison before shooting a look at each other.
The twins glared at one another for a moment before Hikari smirked. "Excuse me baby sister, but as the eldest, I believe I should go first."
Hibiki snorted, "Right. Shouldn't it be the one who reacted to him first? Didn't you try to kill him because of a misunderstanding?"
Hikari flushed but managed to bite back. "I thought he killed you!"
"Exactly. You always act instead of thinking, 'Kari. I really do worry about that tendency of yours sometimes."
"Well...you might have a-"
-which is why," Hibiki cut off with a sly smirk, "that the one with brains should go first."
Hikari started to nod, "Yeah, you're probably - wait, hey! Don't change the subject!"
As the two squabbled, Six just found himself staring at a loss. Oddly enough, their spats echoed with the faint memories of his own family, particularly his two sisters who seemed to fight over who he would play with. However, he quickly shut that thought out because of what eventually happened. The sight of their home scorched, their bodies burnt, and the screams...
"Enough!" he snapped, silencing the twins instantly. "I don't have all day to stand around listening to you fight like children. Make up your minds or get lost."
"I vote the latter." Toyotama chimed in.
"You stay out of this!" the twins responded heatedly before turning back to each other with growls.
"I have a suggestion." Athena cut in suddenly via the helmet speakers. "Why not both?"
"Both?" Six parroted, paling a bit. Surely they wouldn't... But to his horror, Hikari and Hibiki seemed thoughtful for a moment and looked at one another with resolve in their eyes.
"Both?"
"Both."
"Both is good."
Six could feel a migraine coming on as Athena stifled a giggle, but at least the two had come to an agreement. "Fine. Let's get it over with."
"Oh come on, lighten up! Who knows, maybe you'll enjoy it~" Athena teased.
Six groaned 'Well…. It could be worse. I could've been killed on Reach, my body and armor turn to glass ….or get eaten by brutes .' Six internal said thinking of a worst-case scenarios.
"Ready to pucker up big boy." Hikari lustfully said as she lean forward a little bit and puckered up her lips.
"Don't keep us waiting." Hibiki added and did likewise.
Taking one deep breath and accepting the inevitable - though cynically thinking to himself 'I wish I still was on Reach' - the Spartan leaned forward to kiss the sisters.
At the exact same time all three of their lips met. Hikari and Hibiki tongues invaded his mouth, after a couple of moments Six saw their wings. Theirs were formed of crackling and forking electricity, yet not as harsh as natural lightning and enveloped in a purple glow. The twins broke the kiss and moaned at feeling the surge of power bursting through their bodies as the Sekirei symbols formed on the back of their necks. Once their wings finally dissipated the twins smiled and made their declaration in perfect synchronization.
"We're the pledged thunderclap! No disaster will hit our Ashikabi!"
Six couldn't help but feel like he had lost, somehow. 'And now I have three aliens bonded to me,' he sighed within the privacy of his mind. 'Hopefully it's just them and no more.'
Toyotama was a little relieved at the scene. 'Well at least he didn't point a gun at them after bonding… that's a plus, but it doesn't look like he's too happy about winging them.' The greenette acknowledged as she noticed the look on his face. That wasn't to say she didn't share that sentiment since she had merely a different kind of competition on her hands. Toyotama wasn't the only one to take notice of the look on his face, of course.
"Hey! What's with that look!? At least look happy that you winged us!" Hikari grumbled.
"Yeah, Six. You could put on a smile in front of your new wives." Athena teased.
Six clicked his tongue. "They arent wives-"
"That voice again." Hikari scowled. "Who is that?"
Six sighed in resignation, then grabbed Athena's chip from the back of his helmet and held it in front of him to show the twins.
"What's that?" Hibiki asked looking at the chip in this hand.
"Brace yourselves for what you are about to see." Toyotama warned.
The twins shot her a curious look "What is-"
"You'll see." Spoke a voice from the chip, interrupting Hikari.
What happened next a small ghostly image of a woman appeared before them. As before, Athena was wearing what looked to be ancient Roman or Greek armor with a white dress underneath it, green eyes and red hair in a ponytail. Both twins jumped back in surprise and shock at the sudden projection before them in the palm of their Ashikabi's hand.
"What the hell is this thing!?" Hikari having no clue what the hell she was looking at staring at this ghostly tiny woman.
"Are you blind? It's a ghost!" Hibiki shouted in fright, latching onto her sister.
Toyotama was laughing her ass off seeing them meeting the AI. True, that was the same reaction she's kinda had meeting Athena, but it was a funny sight.
Athena laughed too at their reaction. "No, I'm not a ghost, I assure you. Let me introduce myself - my name is Athena, a smart-AI residing in your Ashikabi's armor systems."
"A... a what? Hibiki stammered, her former shocking surprise dissipating and her curiosity kicking in.
"AI is the acronym for artificial-intelligence." Six defined.
"Wait a second..." Hikari gasped. "This thing is not a ghost, but a computer?"
Athena seemed to pout at the uncertain statement. "I'm not a thing. I'm a smart AI - technically software - not a computer. I can do things way beyond what normal computer programs can do today."
"Like what exactly?" Hibiki asked, her curiosity piqued.
Athena smiled mischievously. "Like taking control of MBI's entire satellite surveillance network. Right now, I can see what they see including us. Oh, Hibiki, looks like you've got a bald spot developing."
"W-WHAT?!" Hibiki pawed around on her head, with Hikari inspecting her just to be safe.
Athena busted out laughing at their antics before saying, "I'm just kidding."
"That wasn't funny!" Hibiki not amused by Athena's joke.
"You actually had me thinking my sister was going to have a shiny head!" Hikari double checking her sisters hair.
"I thought it was hilarious." Toyotama commented.
The sisters gave the weapon-user a highly annoyed look in parallel. "Shut up!" Both snapped.
Athena had her laugh and continued. "It's because of that I actually watched you two through their surveillance network chasing after your newly-bonded husband here."
Six groaned internally. 'I wonder if she teased Keiichi like this?'
The twins and especially Toyotama couldn't help be amazed of the power of this AI, since a brain type couldn't take over the satellites that easily.
"So you knew we were following?" Hibiki asked. "Is that the reasons why you split up?"
"Yes. My plan was to see which one of us you would go after and whoever you didn't go after would ambush you from behind - again. However I didn't realize my partner here was keeping a secret from me."
Six shot a look towards Toyotama who just simply shrugged as if it was nothing.
"I however would like to congratulate the both of you on your marriage with the caveman here." Athena chirped happily.
Six rolled his eyes at the nickname. "It's not a wedding-"
"Caveman." Toyotama chuckled hearing what Athena called him.
"Don't you dare start calling me that." Six grunted.
"What? I thought it was a cute funny nickname to call you." Toyotama teased.
"Even she likes the nickname." Athena joked at his expense again.
Six didn't say a word and just clenched his jaw in silence.
"So, Umm… Thank you for congratulating me and my sister on getting wings." Hibiki replied to the AI as she scratched the back of her head not expecting to have a conversation with something so extraordinary today.
"Anyway, who are you and what's the story behind this- ahem - Athena?" Hikari asked.
Hibiki nodded with her sister and folded her arms expectantly. "I'd like to know the answers to those questions myself."
Six realizing he had to answer them eventually. Collecting his thoughts he began the attempt. " I'll tell you what I told Toyotama earlier today... I don't expect you to believe me."
Both sisters raised eyebrow and looked at a each for a moment and then back to him "Try us. I mean, Sekirei like us are a strange sight to see for normal Humans who witness our powers." Hibiki reasoned.
"And I don't think a 7 foot tall armored man with superhuman strength and an AI is all that normal, I think" Hikari now scratching her head unsure of her own sentence.
"Trust me on this, what he's about to tell you even I have a rough time believing it at times." Toyotama getting the twins attention.
Hikari huffed. "How so?"
"I'll just let him tell you." Toyotama shrugged.
The three Sekirei fixed their attention on the Spartan, and Athena's expression showed she would be little help - by choice.
"For who I am I have abandoned my real name years ago, now I go by Spartan B312 or Noble Six." Six introducing himself.
"Spartan B312…Noble Six?" Hibiki repeated, clearly confused by the designations.
"Yeah, what the hell kind of name is that!? And what do you mean by you 'abandoned' your real name?" Hikari asked.
"My real name has no real meaning or value to me anymore. Spartan B312 or Noble six is who I go by now." Six answered.
The twins look at each other dumbfounded since neither of them could find the right response to what he just said.
Toyotama watching in the back of her own mind wondered why her Ashikabi abandoned his own name, though there was an intriguing veil of mystery around him. 'Hopefully one day you will tell us your real name.' Toyotama said to herself.
Hikari then took a deep breath and seemed to find her resolve to accept that much. "Well, if you can't tell us your real name can you at least tell us what you are then?"
Hibiki added "Could you lease give us that? When I was fighting you it was like I was up against a fist type… however you're not one of us since you're an Ashikabi."
"Want me to take over the explanation, big guy? You suck at it." Athena asked smirking at her partner.
"Be my guest."
Athena nodded in return and turn back to face to twin who curiously stared at Athena curious to hear what she has to say.
"To answer your question. Me and this big lug of a man you call your Ashikabi are part of an organization called the UNSC. United Nations Space Command. This organization is the military, scientific, and exploratory arm of the UEG, the United Earth Government." Athena explained.
Both twins where confused at that. "Space command?" Both sisters echoed in perfect unison. They knew about the United Nations since they were taught that by the scientists raising them but they never heard of any United Nations Space Command.
"I'm sorry I'm lost here, my sister and I know about the United Nations but we never heard of space command last I checked?" Hibiki frowned.
Hikari nodded and added " same with this United earth whatever…"
"Well the reasons you haven't heard of these two organizations yet is because they won't exist for another few hundred years - if at all." Athena replied.
The sisters were silent after the AI statement. Did they hear that right?
"I'm sorry. What?"
Athena continued." Neither of those organizations will exist for another few hundred years from now... well in this world we can't be too sure."
Both twins look at the AI as if she grew a secondhead or something to come up with something so nonsensical. "What. What. If I'm understanding correctly, you guys are like what dimensional time travelers from three-hundred years from somewhere else?" Hibiki rambled, trying to understand what she just heard.
"Well we're actually from five-hundred years into the future in our world." Athena corrected.
The twins were silent again hearing that however they did something that was somewhat expected and unexpected, they started laughing.
"Hahahahahaha! That has to be the most bullshit thing I've ever heard!" Hikari exclaimed.
"You really expect us to believe that?" Hibiki inquired, laughter faltering at the blank expression of the AI.
"I'm being completely serious."
The twins laughter died in their throats. Then they look to their Ashikabi and his face was 100% serious with no hint of him pulling anyones legs. Both gave their attention to Toyotama as if to verify their sanity.
"Don't look at me. I told you they would be hard to believe."
"So you two are not joking about being from the future in some other dimension?" Hibiki concluded, still evidently struggling with the fact.
"I wish we were joking, but we're not." Athena stated.
Hikari felt like she was developing a headache just thinking about what was just revealed about them. "Wow. that's just a lot to take in. Do you have any proof that you're from the future in some other dimension? And you didn't answer yet! What are you if not an Ashikabi?" Hikari taking her attention back to Six as she remembered the trigger-question.
Six nodded and said word for word what he told Toyotama at the apartment" I am a Spartan-III. A bio-engineered super-soldier, faster, stronger, more agile and more durable than an ordinary Human. The armor that I wear is Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor, which not only protects but it also increases my strength, speed, reflexes, and agility well beyond what I can do without it. It also has the facilities and interfaces for AI operation and assistance like what Athena is doing now." He rattled off in lieu of a proper explaination.
'A super soldier? really?' Both twins were thinking to themselves. As the two sisters considered, it almost did make sense. The way he was able to take them down had no other explanation - at least to their minds, thus the questions. This meant their destined one was super-Human?
"Ok, so our Ashikabi is a dimension-travelling-time-traveling super-soldier from the future of another Earth… am I dreaming this?" Hikari with complete disbelief in her own voice at how stupid this sounded.
"No, sweetheart, you're awake and this is real." Athena reassured.
"One thing I don't understand is what makes you keep saying you're from another reality ?" Hibiki curiously asked.
Athena then said. "To answer your question Hibiki, I have the entirety of Earth's history stored in my data banks, from earliest human history to 2552. Nowhere in history where we're from was the company MBI ever mentioned. I looked at satellite maps and photos of Tokyo during this time period and there was no giant clock tower in the middle of the city."
"If you want proof I'll show you Tokyo in year 2020 Anno Domini." Athena disappearing from her chip and bringing up a 3-D image. Athena focus more on the middle of the city the twins and even Toyotama didn't see the huge clock tower in the center of the city that they were so used to seeing, the date on this image looked right it said the year 2020 A.D.
It felt strange to think about for the three Sekirei, a world where MBI doesn't exist... Did that mean they're still trapped under the ocean in that world? Do Sekirei even exist in that reality? So many questions sparked through their minds.
The youngest sister Hibiki started beginning to believe in their story she wasn't sure if she believes in all of it yet with what Six and Athena gave them as there is nothing on Earth that can replicate Six or Athena. Not even MBI can do this, she thought.
However her sister was not in agreement. "How do we know you didn't mess with this image? For all we know you could've edited the tower out of here."
"I think they are telling the truth." Hibiki spoke getting Hikari's attention.
"What!? Don't tell me you actually believe this nonsense! " Hikari replied, surprised her sister would believe their story .
"I wouldn't say I believe all of it. However I do see truth in their arguments. I mean, I don't think MBI could actually makes something like Athena here or that armor our Ashikabi wears…. And if it is true they are trapped here from another time and place, then they're no different than us." Hibiki explain to her sister hoping she would see the logic and reasoning .
Hikari thought about for a moment or two. Her sister did make some points as much as she still didn't really believe it. However in some aspects she guessed they shared the same predicament.
"Fine." Hikari agreeing with her sister.
Hikari took a deep breath. "As much as I don't want to believe your story… The more I think about it the more it seems to make some sense."
Hibiki smiled happy to see her sister see things her way. "Even though you told us you're from another time and dimension as well as being a soldier… we still know nothing about you personally."
"Anything about me personally is not important and or classified." Six plainly replied.
Hikari got annoyed at his comment and was about to say something until Hibiki put her arms on her sister shoulders again "Sis. Let's just respect his privacy."
"But Hibiki…." Hikari didn't finish her sentence when she felt another hand touch her other shoulder, she saw Toyotama next to her.
" I agree with your sister. I'm sure after some time has past he'll tell us when he's ready." Toyotama said with a smile looking Hikari in the eyes.
Hikari stared at Toyotama for a moment and then looking back at her sister. Hibiki simply smiled and nodded agreeing with Toyotama.
Hikari calmed down. "OK you guys win, I'll drop it... for now."
"Now if we are done with questions, let's get out of here." Six said putting Athena's chip back in his helmet and placing it back on his head.
"Well I do have one thing on my mind." Hikari said
"And that is?" Six replied.
Hikari glanced at Toyotama which made her raise an eyebrow. "We don't like to share our Ashikabi with another Sekirei -"
"You're gonna start shit with me already!?"
"Hey, let me finish. I still wanna get back at you for beating me up twice!" Hikari snarled for a moment. "I realize this is not the time or place for it, but at one point I do want a rematch. We are both winged now, after all." she finished with a devilish like grin.
Toyotama smirked back at her. "Well then, I look forward to it."
"And since were bonded to the same Ashikabi, may the better wife win." Hikari holding out her hand to Toyotama.
"May the better wife win." Toyotama taking Hikari's hand.
The two women held each other's hands in a tight grip as they shook-on-it. However the both of them gave out this unfriendly aura both Six and Hibiki could feel.
'I have a bad feeling about this.' Hibiki internally said nervously.
'Maybe I should keep those two separated.' Six wondered to himself.
"Well, Six, looks like you have two lovely ladies here who are going to be fighting for your heart." Athena commenting on Hikari's and Toyotama's rivalry.
Six ignored Athena comment. "Are you two done? I want to get out here and eat."
Snapped out of their trance the two let go of each other hands and Six began leading the way out the alley, his three Sekirei right behind.
As they were walking Athena spoke to Six on a private comm. "While you were talking to the twins I was able to find you a new FOB."
"Good, where?" Six asked.
"I was able to find an abandoned auto-motive factory further east, in the North from here right next to the border of eastern Tokyo." Athena informed, bringing up a map and preferable routes to take to get there.
"The story behind it is the company filed for bankruptcy and closed the factory before opening-shop somewhere else in Japan. Lucky for us a lot of the equipment is still there. May be able to re-tool it to remove your armor, and maybe even perform some repairs." Athena informed.
"Excellent work, Athena." Six praised, satisfied with her search and selection. An abandoned factory was definitely an ideal place for him. A large complex he can fortify with Traps.
"Not just that either, I got those blueprints for MBI tower like you asked for too." Athena added.
The Spartan smirked. "Once we make it to our new FOB we'll review the blueprints as well as continuing our discussion about the discipline squad."
Athena's thumbnail nodded and vanished from his HUD.
Six looked back at Toyotama. "Good news - Athena found us a new place to live."
Toyotama's eyes lit up." She did? So we don't have to go back to that rat infested mess after all!"
"Rat infested mess? Where have you guys been staying." Hibiki asked curiously hoping her and Hikari were not going to this place .
"Last night we spent the night in a rundown apartment that was destroyed by fire, the place was decrepit and filled with the little fiends." Toyotama said. "Re-locating was discussed in the end."
The Lightning-Twins couldn't help but look disgusted. "We're not heading back there are we?" Hikari asked
"No, we're not. We have nothing back there to retrieve so you don't have to worry about it." Six answered.
The sisters had signs of relief glad they were not heading to this place.
"Where are we heading to now? Is it in better condition than the last place?" Toyotama asked.
"You'll see when we get there." Six answered.
Toyotama nodded and seeing they were starting to come up to the end of the other alleyway. "Before I forget, can you guys wait here moment I left the groceries on top the building above." Toyotama said as she jumped on the rooftop above to retrieve the groceries as the others waited below.
A few moments later she jump back onto the ground. "I'm back. Ready?"
Six nodded and he led the way to their new FOB. With Toyotama and his two new Sekirei following right behind him.
To be continued.
That was chapter 7. I hope you all enjoy this one. I'll be honest this one was kind of a bitch to write trying to figure out the reactions of the twins, Toyotama, Six and Athena.
Anyway, leave me your thoughts and comments of what you thought of this chapter. As always I don't known either Sekirei or Halo they belong to the respective owners. The only thing I own is Athena and that's it.
Big thanks to SoTaWoB for proofreading and editing for me.
