Darling in the Franxx: Alternate Core

Chapter 4: Some flaps and flops.

Well, chapter 4 people! Let's see the aftermath of the mine operation on both sides! Here we go!

Disclaimer: DitF, Ace Combat, Armored Core and MGRR, their stuff and references are not mine except for my OC's.

At the infirmary in Plantation 13...

Mitsuru had just woken up from one of his recent nightmares where, again, he is faced against a demonic version of Zero Two. He involuntarily leaned towards his right arm before recoiling back into the bed from the pain. Fortunately his arm was still functional but the shadow pain was worse than when it happened to Hiro to his wrist. Speaking of him, he had recently dropped by and told him some necessary information that in some way, had calmed him down a little...

Mitsuru: - So our attacker was with them?! -

Hiro: - Yeah, apparently the pilots knew about those who piloted Flamenco. It was about to finish you off when White Glint rammed itself against it and detained them followed by Arthur giving them a harsh lecture before flying away. -

Mitsuru: - And why didn't you followed them?! -

Hiro: - You both were hurt! Flamenco had cut clean Strelizia's right arm and you were unconscious! We had to bring you to safety first. -

Mitsuru: - I can take care of myself! I don't need your pity! -

Then they were both joined by the rest of their squad and their discussion ended there. Even so, Mitsuru knew that deep down he was just being prideful. The fight had revealed him two things: one, the pilots they were trying to contact were DEFINITELY more powerful than his squadmates and even more to the famous Stamen killer; and two, he is never going to pilot with her ever again. If Hiro wants to make himself useful by dying by her hand, so be it. However, there was one thing that really worried him... what would happen when they met up again with the mysterious pilots? He sighed before trying to sleep again.

He wasn't the only one with this thinking though, as in that same moment the whole squad, including Zero Two to the surprise of everyone, was discussing about the new development they just witnessed alongside their experience in the mines...

Zorome: - I'm telling you! Those guys are amazing! They easily cut their way through the klaxosaurs just to rescue us! And then the Gunner Devil turned his mech around firing backwards when we were escaping, how sick is that?! -

For once, Miku wasn't berating her partner for being over-enthusiastic with his tales. Sincerely, she was also amazed at how the two pilots fought. The White Knight had the characteristics of a good leader and his partner was more than glad to stay in the back and cover everyone's backs. Everyone, specially Ichigo, knew that those actions by themselves spoke of experience and coordination that their squad sincerely lacked. All of their admiration for them was stopped when Zero Two shared her experience...

Zero Two: - I can officialy say that I was defeated two times now. Although this 'Flamenco' seemed more keen to kill me because I destroyed a stupid device... -

Ikuno: - It could be that he thought you were a danger to the other two. After all, everyone went chasing after them and communications were impossible with that device active giving the impression that we were hunting them, which also worries me. -

Ichigo: - Why? -

Ikuno: - I managed to overheard a conversation between the adults, saying that the elevator was hijacked by our saviors. For them, people capable of that are as dangerous as the klaxosaurs, maybe even more. -

Kokoro: - But that managed to save us, didn't it? How bad can it be if its used to rescue parasites like us? -

Goro: - I think it depends on their judgement. They can easily get their hands into something they shouldn't have. -

Hiro: - There's also another thing I want to ask you Zero Two... -

Zero Two: - Oh, what is it darling? -

Hiro: - That mech, 'Flamenco' you said that it was named after a dance style, right? What is exactly that? -

Zero Two was about to respond when they were interrupted by Nana.

Nana: - Sorry to interrupt but there's an urgent meeting at the briefing room. It has to do with recent developments. -

This grabbed the attention of everyone present and followed the caretaker. Once they arrived, they saw that the doctor, Hachi and Mitsuru where already there so the meeting started soon. Mitsuru did his best to stay away from Zero Two which she noticed and sent a wink towards him. Eventually the doctor spoke...

Dr. Franxx: - As you all know, recently Strelizia was attacked by another mech designated as 'Flamenco'. And we all saw the results of that battle... *shows in the screen the scene when Flamenco slashes Strelizia arm off. Both Zero Two and Mitsuru flinched as a shadow pain hits them as a reminder.* And it would have ended much worse if it wasn't for the timely intervetion of White Glint. Unfortunately, all 3 mechs flew away after the event and haven't been seen nor spotted since. -

Ichigo: - With all respect doctor, what is the plan for those mechs and their pilots? And what about the faction they're supposed to be in? -

Dr. Franxx: - There has been more than usual spottings of these pilots around the local area. That includes the Franxx squadrons that are now on their side... *shows images and clips of SMC squadrons appearing, patrolling, and rescuing APE parasites. Some of the images show heavily modified Franxx's from APE carrying the symbols of the mysterious faction* Papa has decided that from this point on its imperative to establish contact with the mysterious forces. Unfortunately, most of the attempts had ended in failure, and considering the power we have seen from our mysterious acquaintances, we fear that using force will end up badly for our side. However, the few attempts have given us an insight of what to do. *Plays audio clips of the few interactions done successfully, all varied but finishing with the same phrase: "Ask the Aces"* -

Hiro: "Aces? *Suddenly, he had a glimpse of a vision, seeing a white metal pad with a symbol on it: an ace card of spades followed by some blue lights and red horns* What? *He blinks and returns to the present* What was that?"

Dr. Franxx: - At first, it was thought to be simply gibberish until I took a closer look at the footage and soon realize what they meant... *shows images of Arthur, White Glint and Flamenco and makes a close-up on their shoulder pads: right there it showed the symbol of an Ace of Spades surrounded by a symbol of two crossed metal arms (search 'SMC alpha knight')* Turns out that our acquaintances are the people we need to contact and I got a solution for that. *Shows a hologram of a device* Using some of scraps of the jammer device and the power stored of the residue cannister, I managed to design and produce a prototype communicator that will create a channel between command and our aces once we make contact with them again. This prototype is already being installed in your franxx so next time you make contact with any of the following 3 aces, use it. -

Ikuno: *Raises her hand* - A question doctor, what are we supposed to do if we encounter Flamenco before the other two? -

Dr. Franxx: - I'm very sure that our knight pilot said that he would have words with the culprits of the attack. What they will do to them, I don't know but is very probable the next encounter will be more pacifist. -

Hiro: "Let's hope so... I still have a lot of questions..."

He thought as he looked at White Glint's picture, unaware that Zero Two was also looking at him...

Meanwhile, back at the bunker facilities, training gym area...

A ginger girl with green eyes was seen struggling with keeping her arms steady (google Super Mecha Champions Zoe) as she held two plastic buckets filled with water while balancing over the shoulders of her partner, a dark-brown haired man with brown eyes and light brown skin (Samuel Rodrigues because why not!) whom was also carrying a pair of plastic water-filled buckets. Both were wearing white sport shirts and red sport shorts.

Girl: - Are we almost done?! -

Sally: - Just 1 more minute Zoe. -

Boy: - Come on Zoe, it ain't that bad... -

Raven: - You still have 2 more sets to go Samuel. -

Samuel: - As if that would stop me... -

Raven: - But it will stop Zoe... -

Only silence followed his response before Samuel said: - Hmph, fine. -

Sally: - 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Done! -

The girl soon dropped from Sam's shoulders and let go of the buckets so fast she spilled them over and then laid down on the floor exhausted. Her partner simply dropped his and went to get a bottle of water for her and some towels.

Zoe: - Owie... -

Sally: - There, there... *pats her* at least this was your last session of your discipline routine. -

Zoe: - *Weakly* Yayyyy... -

Samuel soon returned with the items and set Zoe's bottle to her side along with a towel as he cleaned himself up: - There you go my little duelist. -

Zoe: - Thanks my spanish samurai... -

Naomi: - Is that usual between the two? -

Raven: - Yep, another advantage of piloting NEXT and Franxx is that you usually find your partners for life during the career which means interactions like these are very common. -

Naomi: - Doesn't that interfere with performance? I remember being thought that this is... -

Raven: - Prohibited. On the contrary, we had tests about this situation and the results had shown that pilots like this, although more volatile have also greater paracapacity performance. That's another problem with APE's methods. -

Naomi: - You're really making me reconsider if I should try to make a run for it... most of the stuff you talk about is... -

Samuel: - Strange, queer, unknown, weird? -

Naomi stood in silence and looked awkwardly at the spanish man before he chuckled and said: - Don't feel tense girl. Is something that is common when people from your side discover our side. But trust me, with time you will get accustomed to this señora. -

Naomi: - Señora? -

Zoe: - It means, 'lady' in a different language. -

Naomi: - Yep, you all are weird... -

Sally: - Better than being what APE considers as 'normal'. -

Naomi: - You know, you all speak of APE with the same tone of disdain the adults had after I failed. What is it that you have against them? What have we done to be received like that? -

Her tone indicated that she was, for once, actually getting angry and this surprised everyone.

Sam: - Ha! I can see now why you held her dear in your memories Raven! She has a spine, I can give her that! -

Raven: *Blushes* - Is not only that Sam... but yeah, at the Garden Naomi was, well still is, the most patient child you would have met, but when she reaches her breaking point she unleashes such an aura of authority. -

Naomi: - Sorry... -

Sam: - Don't be, this is something we encourage on the new auxiliaries. It helps them develop the personality they need to regain their nature. -

Naomi smiled a little before Zoe said: - As for our dislike to APE, well it all happened when... -

She was interrupted when Orion opened the doors of the gym and said outloud: - Sally, prepare for sortie, the mission continues right now. -

Sally: - Orion, what's going on? -

Orion: - I just received word from the 'Oletros' command, I will explain it on the way. -

Sally: - Sorry Naomi, it will have to wait. Pray for answers. -

Both pilots soon left while leaving the ex-Parasite confused...

Raven: - Well, like she said you will have to wait for now. Say what about we go and check the equipment that 'Flamenco' delivered? -

Samuel: - I swear that if I knew about the punishment... -

Raven: - Do you want us to make it harsher for you for insurbodination? -

Samuel: - Concha tu madre... -

Naomi tries to ask but Zoe interrupted her: - Don't. Some expressions are better left unspoken. -

A few hours later, on their way to plantation 13...

Sally: - So what happened Orion? -

Orion: - They detected high movement from the klaxosaur pack 'Calixto'. For security reasons, they're moving forward the date of the colonization operation. Our mission of 2 weeks just got shortened to 2 days. -

Sally: - That short?! But we barely have any info of Strelizia's new stamen! He just rode once! -

Orion: - That's what I told them... but you know how it works. They told me that if needed, we should simulate an attack on them to... -

Sally: - Simulate an attack?! On them after saving them the last time!? Orion, this is not gonna go well! This may actually cause them to declare us hostiles and blacklist us! -

Orion: - I know... but we're running out of time and if a miracle doesn't happen soon... -

Sally: - Look, I know its hard, considering that our actions will dictate soon the fate of the world... but that doesn't mean we have to level ourselves down to what APE is... have faith and hope. -

Orion: - Thanks Sally. Let's hope so... -

And they were rewarded with that hope as they soon saw the squad face off against a Mohorovick worm klaxosaur, specially once they saw Strelizia arrive and finish it off.

Orion: - This brings me a smile to my face! We just confirmed a 2nd ride! -

Sally: - Awesome, but let's not get our hopes up yet, he still has one more to prove if he is different to the rest... -

Suddenly the alarms started to sound in the cockpit...

AI: - Alert! Klaxosaur signature coming at 12, low! -

Sally: - Those things sure like to interrupt in the most inconvenient times. -

Orion: - *Sighs* You know what? *touches some of the controls until the AI speaks* -

AI: - Augmented Core activated, starting protocol 'Centurion Augusta' -

Orion: - Let's settle the debt with them. -

Meanwhile, with squad 13...

Hiro was really happy for once! He had managed to ride with Zero Two for a second time! His dream of flight had come true one more time even if they destroyed him for this. He must have been grinning as Zero Two looked at him and responded with a grin of her own. That was until the alarms sounded again and commander Hachi soon announced...

Hachi: /A klaxosaur is appearing right in front of you!/

Just as he finished saying that, the ground trembled and another blue worm appeared, a little bigger than the one they just defeated.

Delphinium: - Permission to engage commander! -

Hachi: /Granted! You have to defeat it or otherwise it will go towards the plantation!/

The squad prepared themselves to engage, only to realize that the worm wasn't looking at them, but on the opposite direction...

Genista: - Huh? Why is it backwards? -

Argentea: - What is it even... AH! Guys, guys! The White Knight! -

Everyone soon sled towards her position and soon saw him standing in front of the klaxosaur as the latter roared at him. Rather than being intimated by it, he looked towards the squad as a pair of red eyes appeared on his visor, then made a hand gesture telling them to wait as he pulled out his sword from his back. This time the sword glowed orange, similar to that of their magma blades. He then stood in a posture with his blade facing towards the klaxosaur and to everyone's surprise, he rushed with incredible speed towards it. What happened next was a blur for everyone but they clearly saw the knight suddenly slash downwards at the klaxosaur, followed by a sonic boom before they all leapt backwards as the knight suddenly appeared right in front of them! Then, to their amazement, they saw the klaxosaur behind him being SPLIT in half in an instant before exploding! Just then, Arthur changed his posture and held his sword in his right before extending his left to the side. And to add the cherry on the top, the core landed INTACT on his left! (Look the '[Return]SS-level Skin of Arthur "Centurion Augusta"' video for an idea of the attack)

Argentea: - WOAH! THAT... WAS... AWESOME! -

Arthur then looked at the core, and surprised everyone again as his visor suddenly glowed into the core and started dematerializing! Soon enough, it was gone. This just added more questions into the fray for both the Parasite and the APE staff supervising the footage. They were all left flabbergasted that it took them a while to realize Arthur had put his sword in the ground and used it as a support before talking.

Arthur: - Soooo... who's the leader here? -

Dr. Franxx: /What are you waiting for?! Use the devices and contact him!/

Delphinium: - Roger! -

Tapping some controls, Goro activated the device while the rest soon followed before Ichigo finally answered...

Arthur: - Helloooooooo~ Anybody home? -

Ichigo: - Sorry for the delay, I'm the leader here. -

Orion: - Ah! Finally! I was starting to wonder if I was gonna need sign language to communicate with you. -

Ichigo was about to continue when she was interrupted by Zorome...

Zorome: - That was super AWESOME mister Knight! How do you do that?! -

Futoshi: - What did you do with the core? Is it your secret to your power? -

Zorome: - Can you teach me that?! I wanna be as cool as you! -

Futoshi: - Are you an adult?! -

Arthur: - SILENCE! -

Everyone shut up as it was clear his tone had authority on it.

Arthur: - I asked for the leader so I will talk with her first. Wait your turn. -

Ichigo had to give credit to Orion for silencing those two morons...

Arthur: - Anyways, I'm very sure that you have questions that only I can answer, so make it quick. -

Ichigo: - Alright, first, who are you? -

Arthur: - My name is Orion, Orion Razgriz, and my partner, also wife, is Sally Razgriz. Callsign 'Origin 1' and 'Origin 2' respectively. -

Zero Two: "Married partners? Interesting..."

Hiro: "A wife? What does that mean?"

Ichigo: - Callsign? Is that what you use for a code? -

Orion: - Technically, yes. But we like names better to numbers, what's yours? -

Ichigo: - Name is Ichigo, code 015. My partner is Goro, code 056. -

Orion: - Glad to know... also nice franxx, first time we see different models on a long time. -

Ichigo: - What do you mean? Don't you have similar ones on your faction? -

Orion: - You will discover later why. And yes we have but we also have personalized NEXT's for high-ranking pilots like us. -

Ichigo: - NEXT? -

Orion: - Right, our mechs are NOT Franxx, they're called NEXT. They act like Franxx but better and can be solo-piloted by either male or female pilots. -

Dr. Franxx: "Mechs capable of solo-piloting? How can that be? The strain would be too much for either the pistil or the stamen to handle alone!"

Ichigo: - That's... hard to believe. -

Orion: - I don't blame you... -

Ichigo: - Speaking of pilots, what about...? -

Orion: - You're going to ask about Naomi, right? She is fine, with a cast on her right arm but on the road to full recovery. -

Everyone released their breath once hearing their friend was still alive and safe.

Ichigo: - That's good to know. But once she heals, will you allow her to return? -

Orion: - Why do you ask? -

Ichigo decided that it was time to be direct: - Our commander has been researching about you and your mysterious forces after the first time we made contact with you at the Graduation ceremony and apparently rescuing Parasites is something you always do to boost your numbers. I don't know what you do with them to make them stay with you, but the fact that they appear to be more loyal to you than to APE is disconcerting... -

Orion: - You fear that we perform some sort of brainwashing on them considering they don't return with you? I can see why you would think of that. - "You poor naive girl. If only you knew the truth of APE."

Arthur then pulled out the sword and then sheated it on his back before sitting down.

Orion: - Listen, all you must know is that those ex-Parasites that serve with us now were given the option of returning to APE after their injuries were healed. Some of them choose to return but most of them decide to stick with us, we don't force them, they choose to. Why? I can't give you a good answer until you all learn to see with your eyes unclouded. -

Ichigo: - That doesn't make any sense! What exactly does your organization has that makes Parasites stay with you? -

Orion: - That's an answer for another time, for ours is up for today. -

Arthur stood up and was preparing itself to leave before being interrupted by Hiro...

Hiro: - Wait! -

Orion: - Hmm? -

Zero Two looked at him as he breathed in and then asked: - Why did you helped us? -

Orion: - To pay off a debt with you. After all, last time we met 2 of your squadmates got attacked by one of ours in a misunderstanding... -

Mitsuru and Zero Two flinched at the reminder...

Orion: - And we also saw how hard you had it with the blue worm, so we decided to pay it off by taking care of the second one. -

Hiro: - And we appreciate that, but when you did the same with Naomi and then with my friends at the mines... I still can't understand why? -

Orion: - It's the knight code, kid. I help not seeking favors, but because it's the right thing to do. That's what I strive for... -

Hiro reflected a little on the words before adding: - But that still leaves a lot of questions without answer! -

Orion sighed and then pulled something from Arthur's compartments before throwing it to Delphinium: - Here, catch! -

Delphinium extended her hands and soon saw that it was some sort of metal medallion that had the RF insignia.

Arthur: - That's a beacon. Right now is locked and won't be active until 24 hours later. When you feel you're ready for a meeting, press it and leave on the ground, we will be there as soon as we can. And pray for answer. -

With that said, Arthur turned around and activated his thruster, soon leaving everyone behind and vanishing into the desert. The squad stood there watching him leave before they returned to their plantation.

And that's a wrap! Thank you all for reading this installment of Darling in the Franxx: Alternate core! Happy New Year 2023 everyone!

Edit 03/01/2023: decided to stick with samurai Samuel...