Chapter 22: Revelation
The next morning Meta stood next to Mercury as they waited for Kurabe to arrive. Meta was excited, not only would he not have to worry about her, but she would also be a big help with figuring out the mystery going on aboard the ship. Though while he was internally excited, he was outwardly calm and still. Most people would assume he wasn't excited at all just based on how still he was. Though of course, Mercury noticed right away.
"You're getting better at hiding your excitement, Meta. I remember when you were younger, and you couldn't help but tap your feet when you were excited." She commented with a smile.
"Thank you, Mercury. Hey, that's sensei's jet coming towards us, right? Doesn't it look a bit shaky to you? Do you think there's something wrong with it?" He asked, concerned that something may be wrong with Kurabe.
As if noticing, Mercury frowned. "...contact the medical bay. Now."
Meta nodded and left, albeit reluctantly. After a few moments passed, he returned with Erhard and his assistants right behind him.
"Mercury, what's the matter?" Erhard asked.
"I get the feeling that Kurabe will need treatment." She uttered simply.
They all waited with bated breath, watching Kurabe's jet sloppily, but still rather safely dock. Slowly, the cockpit opened, and the warrior practically crawled out before falling onto the floor of the hanger, panting heavily.
"Get me a stretcher now!" Erhard commanded; his usual soft-spoken tone replaced with one full of urgency.
Almost immediately, his assistants nodded and pulled out the stretcher before beginning to rush the warrior out of the room. Meta tried to run after her, but he was held back by Mercury.
"Mercury, why are you stopping me!"
"Calm down, Meta, she'll be fine. You know how skilled Erhard is, she's in good hands. Besides, you have a job to do."
"But I can't do it unless I know that sensei is safe!"
"Meta, you know that there's someone that's trying to sabotage the ship. What if that person is planning on killing Kurabe?" She asked, making him stop. "You need to keep searching for this saboteur and stop them before they do something worse than framing Tam."
"I know, but wouldn't sensei help with that?!"
"No, she needs her rest. Meta, I know you don't like talking about it, but you don't like feeling like you are in Kurabe's shadow, right? Then you need to take charge. Kurabe cannot help right now, this is something you have to do. Understood?"
"Even so, I just want to see that she's ok!"
"Meta, that's an order. You can always visit her later, but right now you can't. Besides, you know you can't visit a patient without Erhard's approval." Mercury sighed and looked at him sympathetically. "Look, I get it. I've been there many times, but we're soldiers. We don't always have the luxury to drop our orders to check on a wounded comrade, regardless of how we feel about it. Meta, what if the culprit successfully sets off a bomb while you are busy looking at Kurabe? We'll all die. You need to stop the worst-case scenario from happening. I can't trust anyone other than you and Tam. Do you understand?"
The youth was silent.
"I'm not going to repeat myself, Meta. Do you understand?"
"...I understand." He replied, though a little begrudgingly.
"Good, now get to work. I'll go keep an eye on Kurabe, to make sure she doesn't do something stupid."
After she put him down, he began to walk off. Then he looked back and saw that she was still watching him before continuing to walk off. Mercury sighed and walked to where Kurabe was being taken care of.
She walked into the captain's cabin and looked at Erhard, silently asking him if she could be there. The doctor nodded and allowed Mercury to get close.
"Hey, sis." Mercury said softly.
Kurabe shifted a bit with a grunt as she opened her eyes. "Mercury? What's going on?"
"I believe that's something I should be asking. What happened on that mission, Kurabe? Those monsters should not have been there."
"Trust me, I wish I knew. It was an easy crime cartel busting mission. Those monsters came out of nowhere." Kurabe said, rubbing her head.
"Well, at least you're safe and home."
The warrior smiled in reply. "Yeah, that's what gave me the motivation to continue on." She then looked around. "Where's Meta? I thought he would want to see me once I came back."
Mercury frowned and sat down. "Of course you'd ask that immediately. He's busy with a mission."
"...what mission?"
"Nothing you need to worry about, you need to rest now."
"Mercury, you're hiding something from me, and I don't like it."
After a brief moment of silence and staring, the vice captain sighed. "Fine."
She then explained the entire business with Meta finding one of Tam's bombs and the very real threat of a potential traitor. When Mercury finished, Kurabe tried to stand up, but found herself quickly restrained by both the vice captain and one of Erhard's assistants.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to go find the traitor! I have ESP and can easily figure it out!"
"In your condition? You can barely stand, let alone walk. Focus on resting and trust in Meta. He can do it; I know he can."
"Even so, I want to help! Do you really think I can just sit around while something like that's happening?!"
"Not willingly, no. Sorry, sis, but you lost a lot of blood. It'll be dangerous to let you move around like that. You need to rest, that's not up to debate. Erhard, put her to sleep please."
"DON'T YOU DARE DO IT, ERHARD!" She then started coughing violently, blood coming out of her mouth.
"That settles it. Kurabe, until you're back on your feet, I'm the one in charge. Erhard, do it."
"No, I can handle it! Don't put me to sleep!"
"Sorry, but I agree with Mercury. As your doctor, I cannot allow you to leave this room." Erhard said, spraying a chemical gas in her face, designed to put her to a comfortable sleep.
"Then I'll force myself to stay awake!" She uttered, biting her arm.
"That's not how that works. Once the chemicals get in your body, there's no stopping it. No matter what you try."
"Unfortunately for you, I'm stubborn! It won't work on me!" She bit her arm again, this time drawing blood.
"Stubborn people need sleep as well. If the sandman calls for you, you have to answer it eventually."
True to his words, Kurabe started to feel drowsy, and her vision became blurry. "I don't need sleep! I need to help Meta!" She uttered, rolling off of the table and attempting to crawl to the door.
"How can you help Meta if you can't even take care of yourself?" Mercury asked, making Kurabe stop for the first time. "You know I'm right."
"I don't care." She uttered, crawling towards the door.
Mercury sighed and walked over, putting her foot on Kurabe's body. "Look at yourself. You can't even overpower my foot, what makes you think you'll be of any help? I hate being this tough on you, but somebody has to. You are staying here, that's final."
The two stared at each other, until finally Kurabe gave up and stopped trying to struggle.
"Good, glad you see it my way." The acting captain said, putting Kurabe back in bed.
"Who said I was trying to-?!"
Before she could finish that sentence, the warrior fell asleep, causing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the gas had finally kicked in.
"I swear, that woman doesn't know the meaning of the word easy. Always has to be pushing herself, even when she doesn't need to. But that's what makes her my best friend. Erhard, I can trust you to look after her, right?"
"As long as the gas is working on her, yes."
"And treating her wounds?"
"I'd do that regardless."
"Good. I'll stay here, just in case. Don't mind me."
The doctor nodded and got to work.
Meanwhile, Meta was searching around the ship, trying to find anything or anyone that looked suspicious. He was also trying his best to keep his mentor's condition off his mind, to varying degrees of success.
"There isn't anything suspicious here... if anything, the fact that I'm so diligently looking around this area might make people think I'm the suspicious one!" He thought. "No, I can't think like that. You need to stay calm, Meta. You need to stay calm."
He let out a deep exhale and continued forward with his investigation. His investigation brought him to the bottom of the ship, hoping that he would finally find something.
"...normally only the Bukisets and sensei should be the only ones down here. But I didn't see anything suspicious anywhere else, so they must be here."
That was if there even was anything suspicious to find. As he walked around, he heard a peculiar sound coming from the engine room. Curious, he walked over, only to find three unconscious Bukisets sprawled out of the floor. Meta rushed into the engine room, only to see an all too familiar figure setting up bombs.
"What are you doing here?!" He shouted.
The figure turned around, revealing that it was Tam. "Well, Meta, looks like you know the truth now." She said with a cruel smirk.
"Quit playing games, I know you're not Tam, she's on the other side of the ship. And I can sense her emotions even from here. So, tell me who you really are!"
"...Curse that stupid ability of yours. It really makes being a spy a real pain." The fake Tam said, transforming into none other than Crate. "You just had to show up right as I was about to set up the last bomb, didn't you?"
"...what are you doing?"
"I think it should be obvious what I'm doing. Or are you confused by my little ability?"
"Crate, why are you doing this? No, who are you really? Is your name really Crate, or is that also just another lie?"
"Well, you're right and wrong. I'm Crate, but not Crate. Let me show you." She said, transforming into a creature similar to that Shinkiro he met a few days ago. "My actual name is Rinne, and I'm a Chaogean. I'm sure you remember what those are and what they can do."
"...of course..." He uttered.
"Right, well, my conviction, "I'll change everything about me to succeed", lets me take the form of whatever I wish. But it's not simple shapeshifting, I truly become the person, even taking on aspects of their personality. So, while I wasn't Crate, I was Crate at the same time. Do you understand?"
"...why...?"
"Why what? I can't answer questions if you keep being so vague."
"Why would you do this?!" He shouted.
"Why? Because it's my mission. I was tasked with killing the strongest woman in the universe. Obviously, I could never kill her in a fight. So why waste time and energy fighting, when I can kill her and the rest of this division in one, simple move?"
"Why would you want to kill her though!? Sensei... my sensei has done nothing but helped people! So why would you want to kill her!?"
"HA! I won't deny the good she's done for the universe. But, she's our enemy. The entire Organization is our enemy. And what better way to cripple our enemy than by removing the Organization's greatest assets? It's nothing personal, just doing my duty as a proud member of the Void."
"Why?! They're trying to protect the galaxy!?"
"And how exactly have they done that? By allowing innocent men to be imprisoned for decades?" She said, clearly referencing Erhard.
"But... that's just one thing! And because of the organization he was freed!"
"Maybe, but it doesn't really matter. Besides, why are you loyal to them? Not Kurabe, but the Organization as a whole?"
Meta fell silent. There was... honestly no real reason that he could counter with. Outside of Kurabe, Mercury, the general, his friends, everyone he cared about... if they weren't part of the Organization, would he really be as loyal as he is right now?
"No answer? So why waste your talents with people you aren't loyal too?" She taunted.
Meta glared at her. "...I can't speak to the Organization as a whole, but I'm loyal to my division. I'm loyal to my sensei! You can try to make me doubt her, but you'll never succeed. You might have some good points, but the instant you decided to attack my sensei, I no longer have any interest in hearing you out."
The woman seemed to glare at him.
"Not only that, but I have other people I'm loyal to as well."
"Are you sure about that? What makes you think that Kurabe is deserving of your loyalty?"
"What makes you think she isn't? You don't know her like I do. You don't know anything about her."
The Chaogean glared. "And how much do you know about her? Her likes and dislikes? Her dreams? Her past? What she does behind closed doors? What makes you think the Kurabe you see and the Kurabe that you don't see are the same? What makes you think she isn't just using you because you're strong?"
Meta only glared back at her. "I think I know my own mother better than some assassin."
"Your mother? Don't make me laugh! How do you know she's not merely trying to groom you into being the Organization's lapdog?! Everyone knows that the Unkillable is a killing machine! She has no room in her body for something like a motherly instinct!"
"Again, you go spouting nonsense. She's always given me a choice. A choice to be whatever I wanted. Unkillable does not mean heartless, and no one has more heart than she does."
"And what if it was all an act? An illusion of choice? What if she was simply pretending to care about you?"
"Then I'll cross that road when I get there. Until that day comes, I'll stay by her side."
"You're a fool."
"I'd rather be a fool than a corpse." Meta declared, pointing his sword at her. "This is your only chance. Surrender peacefully and you will get to live."
"You will be a corpse yourself if you continue on your path."
"Yes, I will be. One day I will die, but when I do it'll be as a person, I can be proud of being. I'm a warrior and a warrior's life always comes to an end at some point. I'll keep living my life to its fullest until that day comes to pass."
"Even if it means you die with your "mother's" sword in your back?" She sneered.
"You know nothing about her if you think that'll ever happen."
"Again. How are you so aware that's how she really is? Do you know how she's like when you're not around?"
"Of course I do. There's not a doubt in my mind."
"Is there really though?"
"I'm done talking. Surrender or die, this is your only chance."
"Are you really going to live out the rest of your life as the Organization's attack dog?"
"Aren't you any different? You're attacking us because you were told to."
"I am different. I am the underdog trying to help those who have been wronged by this filthy group. You're just supporting them."
"And you killing people who dedicate their lives to protecting others in helping? Don't make me laugh. One of the people you're trying to kill is the very same doctor you claimed was a victim."
"When he supports the very same people that locked him up in the first place? He was brainwashed."
"I've had enough. I'm only going to say this one more time. Surrender."
"What's wrong? Are you getting angry that I don't agree with you?"
"This isn't about that. You intend to kill people who've done nothing against you. Surrender, this is your last warning."
"Oh really?' She said, transforming into a different shape. "Are you sure you're willing to attack your own mother?" She taunted, now assuming the form of Kurabe.
Admittedly, it made Meta hesitate, because this was not only an accurate form, but an accurate voice and speaking pattern as well.
"I would never attack my mother." He quietly said, making Rinne smirk, only for her to suddenly find Meta's sword going through her stomach. "But you aren't my mother." He declared in a dark tone.
Rinne looked on in terror as the life slowly fades from her entire being. Without another word, the youth pushed his sword deeper into her body. In a last-ditch effort, she transformed back into Crate.
"M-Me-Meta, please stop. We're friends, aren't we?" She pleaded.
"...You stopped being my friend the moment you decided to kill everything I hold dear." He uttered, his eyes devoid of mercy.
The moment he did, the last of her life gave out and Rinne transformed back into her original form, falling on the floor dead. Meta stared at the corpse of the Chaogean, slowly processing what just happened. He had killed before, but this was different. He felt...dirty.
"AAAAGHHH!" He screamed, letting out all of his emotions at once.
Shortly after the events that transpired, Meta heard the door to the engine room slam open and someone run in. It was Mercury.
"Meta, what happened!?" She shouted out in concern, stopping when she saw the dead body lying in front of him. "...I take it that's the spy. Or was, rather." She said with a quiet tone.
The youth didn't respond for a moment, but then gave a weak nod.
"...You clearly aren't ready to tell me what happened. Go get some rest for now."
He nodded and left.
"Oh, and Meta..." She called out, making him stop and turn back towards him. "Kurabe's alright now. Erhard treated all of her wounds; you can go visit her now."
The puffs eyes widened, and he instantly ran off, leaving Mercury in the engine room.
"Now, as for you. A Chaogean, no wonder you avoided us for so long. Good thing Meta left your body mostly intact. I'll have to ask Erhard to search the body, might have a tracking device or something that can give us some answers."
Of course, there was no response from the dead body.
"Well, at least we don't have to worry about-" She started to say until being suddenly cut off by her phone. "...I had to say something didn't I?" She grumbled, answering the phone.
"Hello?"
"Mer, it's me." She heard the voice of her brother say on the other line in an unusually serious tone.
"Reed? What's going on?"
"Spies have infiltrated every division. I've called to warn you about any potential assassins."
"...You're a bit late to that, Reed."
The moment she uttered that, she could already feel an aura of alarm from her brother. "Mer!? What happened?" The man's voice sounded panicked.
"The only thing that happened was Meta finding and killing the spy."
There was a brief moment of silence, as if he needed time to process that.
"...I see. Is he doing ok?
"...He's ...he'll be fine. He's with Kurabe now."
"...Mer, you're hiding something from me. Please tell me."
"No, I'm not. He found the spy and killed them. I don't have any other details to offer other than he's with Kurabe."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am. Are you doing ok, too? Were you infiltrated by spies?"
"We were. It seems that every division had one, if what Fettuccine got out of the spy in our division I'd correct."
Mercury's eyes widened in shock upon hearing that. "How could this have happened? No one should be able to trick you or the stealth division for so long."
"We're not entirely sure how it happened. All I know is that the spies were under orders to assassinate the leaders of each division, with the Combat Division's spy being given highest priority. I don't think I need to explain why."
"That would explain why Kurabe was ambushed. Are you safe, Reedy?"
"Thankfully, yes."
"Thank goodness. I'm guessing the general is going to make an official announcement?"
"Yes. He's also calling the other members of the Big Four for a meeting at his home, so Kurabe will be hearing from him soon."
"I expected as much." Mercury uttered with a sigh.
"Yes. Well, I must be going then. I have to start making my way to his home for the meeting. I'm not sure if Kurabe has heard about it yet, but feel free to inform her as well."
"Will do. Thank you, Reed."
"It's not a problem. Just stay safe, ok, Mer?"
"I will."
"Good. I'll talk to you later. Goodbye."
After he hung up, Mercury sighed as she looked at the dead body. "I hope Meta's doing ok."
Meanwhile, Meta practically barreled through the door to his mentor's room.
"What's wrong, Meta?" He heard her voice utter in concern.
Meta didn't verbally respond. Instead, he ran over and hugged her tightly. After recovering from the sudden action, his mentor returned it.
"I was worried about you, as well..." she whispered. After a moment of silence, Kurabe decided to speak again. "Meta, Mercury told me there was some kind of traitor aboard the ship. Did you come across them?"
"...I did." He uttered quietly.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Meta looked up at her and she was admittedly a bit started by the somewhat dead look in his eyes.
"...it was Crate. Crate was one of those... Chao... whatever things and she used her ability to get into the division. She wanted to kill you and planned on blowing up this ship to guarantee it! And she said all these awful things about you to try and convince me to join her, like how the Organization is corrupt and how you're pretending to care about me just to make sure I'm loyal!"
Kurabe fell silent, processing what she heard. As a military commander, she needed to ask about what happened to Crate. But as a person, she had something more important on her mind.
"What do you think, Meta? About me and the Organization as a whole? Please, be completely honest with me. I want to know how you really feel about all of this."
The youth became quiet for a moment before speaking.
"...while I don't agree with some of the things the Organization has done, they've done a lot of good things. Hell, I probably wouldn't have met you if it wasn't for them. I would have still been on that death trap."
His mentor gave a gentle smile. "That's a very levelheaded approach, Meta. Honestly, I have similar feelings towards the Organization myself. For every good, there is a bad. That's a fact, but it's something I wish to change when I become the general. But enough about that, how do you feel? Tell me everything, Meta. I'm here for you, always."
"I... I don't know how I feel... I'm just... why... why would she do something like that...? Why would she want to kill you...?" The youth uttered, sounding more and more like he was going to cry, causing Kurabe to hug him once more.
"It's okay, Meta. It's never wrong to cry. It doesn't make you weak. Let it out. Don't worry about talking, just focus on you and me. I'm not going anywhere." She said, hugging him even tighter while ignoring how sore her body felt.
"But... I want to know... why..." He only trailed off as he obliged his mentor's request, hugging her tightly as he sobbed.
As if waiting for him to calm down, Kurabe waited a moment before she spoke once more. "Logically, it's because I'm a threat. I am the strongest woman in the galaxy, it's only logical that I'd be targeted. But right now, none of that matters. What matters is that you saved my life. And not just my life, but the lives of everybody aboard. I'm so proud of you, Meta. I'm so proud."
The puff didn't reply. He only continued to cry as she stroked his head.
"Death is never pleasant, no matter what. Meta, if you wish, you have my blessing to retire from being a soldier. I don't want you to push yourself if you rather not. I'm not speaking as your sensei, I'm speaking as your guardian. What is it that you want?"
Her student looked up at her. "But... no, I can't retire, sensei. If I retire, then who will protect everyone?! What if something like this happens again and I can't do anything!? What if... what if one day you never come back because of something I could've stopped...?"
"I figured you would respond like that, but I still wanted to give you the choice. You are your own man, Meta. It's up to you to decide how you live your life. I can't control you nor do I want to. But if you wish to stay by my side, I'll happily keep you safe and you'll keep me safe. We'll protect each other."
"...thank you, sensei..." He whispered, his throat sounding a bit hoarse from crying so much.
"Shhhh... rest now, Meta. Rest, my brave knight." She said, patting his head. As if acknowledging her request, he laid his head on her, almost instantly falling asleep. Kurabe sighed, glad that she managed to calm him down. "A war is coming; I can already feel it. Meta, please stay safe, no matter what happens."
While he didn't say anything, he clenched onto her tightly, which said all she needed to know.
"Is this a bad time, or can I come in?" Kurabe heard Mercury say from outside the room.
"It's fine to come in. He's asleep now."
After a moment, the vice captain walked in. "I'm guessing you have news, Mercury?"
"I do. I talked to Reedy, and he said that spies had infiltrated every division. Thankfully, they were all captured, but the general is going to call for a meeting at the mother base."
Kurabe nodded. "Anything else?"
"Yeah, but you won't like it. Erhard told me that you need time to heal, which means no fighting for a few weeks."
Kurabe stared at her friend and closed her eyes in thought. "I don't like it, but fine. A war is brewing, and I can't afford to be stubborn, not when I have so much to protect." She said, looking at the sleeping Meta.
"Yeah. So don't complain when I tell you that you can't go out and fight."
"Oh no, I'll still complain. I'll just do it in a dignified manner." She joked. "But for now, chart a course for the home base, please."
Mercury chuckled while shaking her head. "Right away, captain." She then left the room, leaving Kurabe by herself with only her sleeping student for company.
"Not being able to fight pisses me off, but what pisses me off the most was allowing a spy to get on this ship in the first place." She sighed as she once more stroked Meta's head. "We...no, I was careless. But no more, whoever is after us will pay. I just hope father has a plan in mind."
Soon, the GranEssex arrived at the home base and the Big Four were summoned to the home of General Z for a meeting about the situation. Kurabe, begrudgingly, walked out of the ship with a walking cane, being supported by Mercury and Meta.
"Come on, that means you have to attend the meeting, too."
"I know already, Mercury." She grumbled.
Without another word, they were guided to the dining room, where the general and other division commanders waited.
"Sensei, should I be here?" Meta asked.
"You dealt with the spy, so yes, Meta."
"I see..." He uttered, taking a seat at the table beside his mentor.
Suddenly everyone could hear the sound of a cane hitting the floor. If was everyone's sign that the general had just arrived.
"First of all, I must thank you all for coming here on such short notice." The moment he said that, all attention fell on him. "I'm quite sure I don't need to explain what this meeting is about, but I will anyway. It has come to my attention that spies have infiltrated and attempted to assassinate the heads of each of the Organization's four divisions."
Everyone nodded.
"Reedy, if you would tell us what your division has discovered about our new enemy?"
"As you wish." The man pulled out a series of documents. "All of this information was extracted from our own spy. Thankfully, our lead interrogator was able to get everything out of him. They're part of a group called the Void and are listed as a terrorist organization on multiple allied planets. They infiltrated us with the idea of usurping us from within or... at the very least demoralizing us to make it harder for us to fight back. In other words, their primary target was the Lady of Shadows, due to both her strength and being the chosen successor and daughter of the general. Eliminating her would've caused the biggest drop in morale among the Organization."
Z nodded, seemingly angered about something. Most likely the idea of someone targeting his daughter. "Kurabe, you were ambushed by a large amount of S class monsters. Do you think this was a part of Void's plan?"
"I believe that was their plan. If I were to guess correctly, they planned the ambush in case their spy couldn't get close and assassinate me."
"Speaking of. Meta, I believe you were the one that dealt with the spy. Did they tell you anything that we don't already know?"
After a moment of silence, Meta spoke up. "Most is that the spy on our ship attempted to blow up the engine room to kill my sensei and take out the whole combat division."
"And you killed them, yes?"
"...I did..."
"Good. Make no mistake, killing is never the preferable course of action. But your actions saved many. Be proud of that achievement."
"I am, thank you, sir." He replied.
"Now then. I have Raiden and his ninja pinpointing every base this Void has and then, we'll crush them. My soldiers, we are going to war. We must stop them before they cause any more damage."
"Yes, sir." The entire group responded.
It was then that Reedy spoke up. "I will have my men relay this information throughout the Organization posthaste."
"Excellent. Now, I am ordering all division leaders to stay here for the time being."
"At the main base? I do not see a problem with that." The man replied.
"Why, may I ask?" Momo asked, knowing a certain someone would ask the same in a less polite manner.
"To ensure that you are all in the same place and better protect all of you." He then turned to Kurabe. "And you, Kurabe, will be staying at my home."
"For how long?"
"At least until the war is over."
Everyone became tense as they noticed the area around Kurabe began to freeze. "No."
In contrast, the area around Z appeared to become warmer as he slightly opened one of his eyes. "Excuse me, young lady?"
"You heard me. I'm a soldier, the strongest we have. And you think it'd be a good idea to keep me out of the fight?"
Reedy adjusted his glasses. "General, I must admit she's right. Keeping her here while she's still recovering is one thing. But to keep her here when she's healed? I fail to see how that'll benefit us."
"I understand. She will be staying here until she heals."
Kurabe relaxed, happy to see that Reedy had her back this time. "Father, I understand why. You don't want me to die. So, I'm fine with staying here, but as soon as I can move without wincing in pain with each step, I'm heading out."
The general let out a sigh. "Thank you, my daughter, for putting up with your old man's worries."
"It's fine, dad. You don't need to apologize for caring."
"Very well, then." He then cleared his throat. "Now, would you be a dear and remove the ice you made?"
"Fiiineeee." She uttered as she began to collect it.
"The two strongest beings in the universe everybody." Reedy deadpanned.
"I've seen how you are with your wife and kids. You're about as bad as they are." Mercury uttered towards him.
"Master Raiden, do people become strange when they become strong?" One of Raiden's ninjas asked.
"Perhaps, or maybe it's the strange that become the strongest."
"Perhaps it is because they are strange that they are strong." Momo nodded in agreement.
Meta looked around at everyone and frowned. "We're going to war and yet everyone is so... unbothered. I don't get it."
"No, Meta, that's where you're wrong." Mercury told him. "No one likes the idea of war. But tell me, if the leaders freak out, what will the soldiers do?"
"...They would freak out even more. I understand. Sorry, I'm just...nervous about this war."
"I understand, and I'm nervous about this war, too. But we have to be strong."
"I know."
"Good." Mercury nodded as she turned to the rest of the group.
"Now then, this meeting is adjourned. You may rest as much as you want, for we will need to be at peak performance in order to win this war." Z commanded.
"Yes, sir." The group replied as many of them began to walk out of the room.
"Wait, Meta where would like to stay the night?" Kurabe asked, ready accept whatever he wanted. Mercury turned to the youth, as if waiting for an answer.
Then, the general spoke. "Young Meta, would you like to stay here for the night?"
Meta stared at everyone, trying to figure out what he wanted. "...I'd like some time alone."
"But Meta..."
"Mercury, he'll be fine." Kurabe cut her off before turning to him. "Very well. I hope to see you soon, Meta."
The general nodded. "And remember that you will always be welcome here if you change your mind."
Meta slowly nodded and took off, only stopping for a moment to look at Kurabe, resuming his walk afterwards. As for the warrior, she hesitated to go after him for a moment, only to become silent once more upon remembering her words about accepting whatever he chose.
"Are you sure about this?" Mercury asked.
"I said I would accept whatever he decided, but that doesn't mean you don't have to." Kurabe uttered.
"Right, I'll see you later, Kurabe." She said, taking off after Meta.
After she left, the warrior clenched her hands together. "...I hope he'll be alright..."
"He will be, you raised him after all." Z comforted his daughter.
She smiled at him. "Thank you, father."
"Now come along, you must take all the time you can to rest."
"Alright. You better have kept my room clean for me."
"You know I have, missy."
"Of course." She giggled as she pulled herself to her feet, wincing a bit in pain.
"Do you want assistance?"
She wanted to glare at him and say no, but there was no doubt he would see right through her. "...yes, please..."
Z grabbed ahold of her arm and the two walked off together.
Meanwhile with Meta, he was walking to the ship alone.
"Hey, Meta, wait up." He heard Mercury yell.
"I thought I said I wanted to be alone."
"Yes, you did. Towards Kurabe. I'm not Kurabe, so I don't need to listen to you."
"When I said that, I meant to everyone."
"My name isn't everyone."
"Why won't you leave me alone?"
"You should know why. Now come on, talk to me."
The youth didn't reply.
"Meta, keeping what you're feeling to yourself is a horrible idea. I would know, I did the same thing after the hivemind almost killed me. And guess what? I almost completely lost the will to live, and I would have if Kurabe didn't come for me. Now come on, let's talk."
"I rather not."
"Sometimes to process your thoughts you need to do something you don't like. Besides, I'm not letting you be alone until you talk, so you may as well just talk."
"Then I guess you'll just be stuck following me around." He uttered as he began to walk away again.
"Then you'll be stuck with me hounding you, so you may as well talk."
"I don't care." He continued to walk away.
Mercury sighed and summoned a sword and lunged at Meta, who could only barely block it.
"Mercury, what are you!?" He attempted to ask, only to get kicked down to the ground.
Mercury placed her foot on him, keeping trapped and swatted his sword away.
"How can protect anyone if you can't even protect yourself? Keep this up and you'll die on the battlefield. Your thoughts will blind you and hurt those around you. If you were your normal self, I would be the one being pinned onto the ground. If you can't stop me, someone who wasn't serious about killing you, then you can't stop an actual enemy. Now, are you ready to talk?"
"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO!" He shouted and struggled to escape.
"Don't bother, Meta, I'm using my body to drain you of your energy, so no electricity, no teleportation and no way out. Now, are you done being stubborn yet? I can do this all day if I need to."
"Even so, you won't make me talk."
"No, the only one that can make you talk is yourself. Well, I could find Fettuccine, but I don't want her to see you like this. I'm sure you wouldn't want that either."
"Of course not. I'm not going to talk."
"Why not? What are you so afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid of anything! I just don't want to talk about it!"
"Because you're afraid."
"I'm not!"
"Then prove it."
"How?!"
"By talking. If you have nothing to be afraid of, you should be able to talk. Now talk."
"And if I simply don't want to talk?"
"I've already shown you what will happen. You keep it to yourself, you'll just be a liability on the battlefield. And more importantly, you'll break Kurabe's heart."
"...Why do you care?"
"Because we're family, what other reason do I need?"
"...if sensei was that worried, she could've just talked to me herself."
"Don't do that, Meta. You know she promised to respect your boundaries, regardless of how much it hurts her to do so. I on the other hand, made no such promise. Or are you saying that you don't care about how she feels?"
"Of course I do! I love her!"
"Then you should be able to notice just how much pain she's in seeing you be like this, right? Meta talk to me, what are you so afraid of? Please, I'm not going to mock you for it."
"...the war."
"What about it?"
"Everything."
The moment he said that, Mercury's grip loosened, and her eyes softened. "Oh Meta, that's a perfectly reasonable fear to have. You don't need to be ashamed of being afraid. Everyone is afraid, even Kurabe."
"She is? But she doesn't look like it..."
"Because she's a leader, leaders can't show weakness, not even for a second. Meta, she's sending not just you, but everyone she's responsible for into war. Of course she's scared, she's absolutely terrified about losing you."
"Even though she almost lost her own life?"
"Meta, you've lived with her for a while. You know she puts everyone ahead of herself. Especially you."
"I know..."
"That woman would sooner sacrifice herself than let anyone die for her. And yet as a leader, she has no choice but to watch her own students do just that, and it absolutely destroys her. No one with a soul likes war Meta, it's ok to be afraid. That fear is what pushes us to survive."
"Then what should I do?"
"You can start by fighting. If you want to protect Kurabe, fight. You want to prove Crate wrong, fight. Bravery is not the absence of fear, it's the ability to fight even though your terrified. And you, Meta, are brave."
There was a moment of silence, as if the puff was taking in everything she had said.
"...thank you."
"You're welcome. Now come on, you need your rest. You can't protect anything if you're tired."
The youth nodded and tried to get up. "...I think you might have drained me too much."
"And that's what happens when you get too stubborn." She sighed, picking him up.
"...thank you." He replied, sounding embarrassed.
"Hey, that's what family is for."
He quietly nodded in reply as she carried him back to the ship. "...Hey Mercury. I asked sensei her opinion, but what do you think about the Organization?"
"I share most of the same thoughts as Kurabe, if I'm being honest. Most is that I wish they could do more about the prejudice against Limets, but you can't force people to change their minds."
Meta smiled. "It'll happen someday, I'm sure it will."
"Oh, I don't doubt that at all. I just hope I can live to see the day."
"You will, I will make sure of it."
Mercury gave a smile. "Thanks, Meta."
"Yeah, I'll make sure everyone lives through this."
"And Kurabe and I will help you with that. Now, feel free to fall asleep if you need to. You're probably exhausted from today." She looked at him, only to see he was already asleep. She let out a giggle. "Well, I guess that answers that for me. I think I might as well keep you company for tonight. I'm sure you need it." She whispered, giving him a tight, yet comforting hug.
Meta remained silent but internally vowed that nothing would hurt his family ever again.
I'm sorry that it took a while to get this or any writing out. I needed a longer break and I didn't want to burn myself out.
But anyway, I kept my promise and got this chapter out before the end of February, so I'm glad about that.
I hope you all enjoy it.