Darling in the Franxx: Alternate Core

Chapter 5: Thorns, badges, codes and a beacon.

Chapter 5, huh? Well get ready people because the kissing operation is gonna receive heavier action than in canon! And one of the most iconic meme moments of the year will make an appearance there! But first, let's see how's everyone coping with the new information they got from the white knight and what that means on their plans. Let's go!

At plantation Cerasus, 36 hours before the kissing operation...

Hiro was for once focused on one goal apart from his usual desire of riding a Franxx and that was to make sense of what the white knight talked to him about...

"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: "What exactly is the 'knight code'?"

He had been searching for its significance for quite a long time and finally came up with an answer on the good ol' database...

Hiro: "Let's see, 'knight code' *Types the words and gets the results* None? Wait, 'did you meant chivalry code'? Is it the same? *Types the suggestion and soon shows a definition* 'Chivalry: informal and varying code of conduct popular during the Middle Ages'... what? what is even that? What does that have to do with what he said? *Scrolls through the page until he sees an interesting article* '[...]The Ten Commandments of Chivalry by Léon Gautier':

Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches and thou shalt observe all its directions.

Thou shalt defend the Church.

Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.

Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born.

Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.

Thou shalt make war against the infidel without cessation and without mercy.

Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.

Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.

Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.

Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.[...]'

Some of them don't make sense, but others do... *remembers about what has Arthur so far done to him and his friends, as he then gets lost into remembering the mysterious white mech followed by a glimpse of a girl with red horns before he was interrupted by a sudden headache...*

Hiro: - Grrrrumpph... damn this headache... Urrrgh... -

He was then hit by a sudden pain in his chest which fortunately left soon after.

Hiro: "I hope I don't have trouble with this in the kissing operation, my friends are already tense as it is..."

Ikuno: - Are you alright? -

Hiro scarejumped after being surprised by the violet-haired pistil before recovering: - Ikuno! How long have you been there?! You scared me! -

Ikuno: - Sorry, I just arrived here and saw you looking at the data tablet... you seemed to falter by some reason. -

Hiro: - Sorry, its just... ever since that last talk with the white knight I have been searching for answers. -

Ikuno: - Hmm... for answers you say... -

Hiro: - What's wrong? -

Ikuno: - I think the pilot... his name was Orion, right? -

Hiro: - Yeah. -

Ikuno: - I think he said something about it right as he left... he said 'pray for answer'. -

After she said that phrase, a book suddenly fell down from one of the shelves and Ikuno went to pick it up. As she did so, she read the title outloud: - 'Knights of the past, their codes and their styles.' Talk about convenience. -

Hiro: - Oh, well that's great. Can I have it please? -

Ikuno: - Sure, just do me a favour. *passes the book to him* Get yourself a check-up please, specially for what you may have in your chest. -

Hiro was a little shocked when she said that, however when he saw she was silent about it, he smiled gently and soon said: - Thank you Ikuno. -

He then soon left to discover the answers he seeked...

Meanwhile, at the bunker...

Naomi had been going through a new physical routine as today was the first day she could go without the cast. Sally, surprised at how quick her arm recovered, still suggested her to avoid unnecessary movements until she was sure it was healed enough to move it. Ever since she arrived at the place, she had always ended up going towards the hangar to look at the NEXTs, specially White Glint. She couldn't help but think about what she would do once she completely healed... her mind told her that she should return to APE, considering Orion told her that her friends at Squad 13 were still looking out for her. But even if her return would calm everyone's hearts in the squad and bring joy to seeing her safe and sound, it would later become a logistical mess. She WAS supposed to pilot with Hiro, but both of them had failed and as such, the option seemed unlikely, specially after Orion told her that Hiro already had another one called Zero Two. Honestly, she was a little conflicted, why did Hiro got the second chance but she didn't? As justified as it felt to be mad at him, she couldn't gather it. She actually felt relieved to know Hiro was living his dream of piloting and becoming useful for once. Heck, he even apologized to her back at the ceremony, just as she was about to board her transport. If she returned to APE, she would be reunited with all of her friends... before she is quickly sent back to the orphanage because there wasn't another stamen to pilot with her.

Naomi sighed and continued to stare at White Glint, as if praying for an answer. So deep in her thoughts she was that she didn't see Raven coming with one of the engineering drones.

Raven: - Naomi? -

Releasing a little 'eep!' of surprise, she stood up and turned towards him: - Raven! What are you doing here? -

Raven: - Giving some maintenance to my NEXT. Just because we have and use drones doesn't mean we pilots can relax about it. Sometimes we have to take matters into our own hands. -

Naomi: - Ah, I see... -

She sighed as she stared back at the NEXT. Raven noted that...

Raven: - What's wrong? -

Naomi: - It's just... I had a lot to learn ever since the day you rescued me. It's been hard to cope with the fact that there's more people out there fighting for our planet without needing the help of APE and also learning about the many, many topics about what you call 'old humanity'. -

Raven: - Ah that... yeah I was on the same train as yours too, you know? It took me a few years to understand most of it and even now I still don't understand some things. -

Naomi: - And that doesn't bother you? -

Raven: - Nah, a little but my mentor once said that we can live and learn about those details we miss as long as we have one reason to fight so that it keeps us anchored to life. -

Naomi: - And how hard was it for you to find your reason? -

Raven: - A little much, but it was worth it. After all, you are part of it. -

Naomi: - What? -

Raven: - My reason to fight is to honor my mentor's teachings and memories, alongside those I had with you and our friends from the Garden. And also to see if one day, I would be able to share with you the life I have at the RF districts. -

He smiled and Naomi reciprocated before feeling down again: - Glad to know you have found a new purpose after you left Raven... -

Raven: - Ah, so that's what is bugging you? Finding your own? -

Naomi simply stayed silent, clearly not on the mood to discuss about it. Raven sighed and got worried for her when he looked at his NEXT and suddenly had an idea...

Raven: - Hey, what if you help me perform the maintenance? It can help you get your mind off it... -

Naomi, genuinely curious about it, looked at him before nodding. Raven then held out his hand to her and after she accepted it, led her towards the access elevator. Once in there, he activated it using a device on his right wrist and soon enough, both were in front of the access hatch. With some touches on his wrist device, White Glint's cockpit opened up, and a platform soon connected it to the elevator.

Once they entered it, Naomi was surprised to see how different it was to those of a Franxx. First, there wasn't a paracapacity seat, only a set of pedals and mechanical arms with wires all connected to a main arm (something like the Assassin's Creed movie simulation machine but smaller and less bulkier). The cockpit was also rounder and bigger than those she used in the tests except on the back part which seemed to be an extension of sorts. She also saw that every inner surface had some sort of sensors except on the ceiling which had railings and a hatch.

Naomi: - Wow, it's very different to that of a Franxx... -

Raven: - Yep, I was also amazed by the design. See how every inner surface has sensors except for the ceiling? That's a safety measure because our cockpits can be ejected from the robot with both Stamen and Pistil and it goes upwards. The whole cabin you see here is actually kept in suspension via maglev technology. It basically means that the cockpit and us are right now floating. -

Naomi: - Wow, that's impressive... but what's on the roof that connects the arm? -

Raven: - It's the only area that connects the cockpit and the pilots directly with the rest of the circuits that allow the mech to move. It's called the 'pendulum' and it basically works like one, with the main arm being the rod and the cockpit being the bob. Because of its importance, it is the safest, most armored and complex piece of all the mech and requires constant and delicate care. -

He then opened the hatch and climbed up followed by the drone. Naomi stayed down and observed as Raven went to work while sometimes giving some glimpses to the controls. Eventually she asked: - Hey, why is there only one set of controls here? Didn't NEXT have two pilots? -

Raven: - Stored and folded in the back. They can be folded when solo-piloting so it gives more space and focus to the pilot. -

Naomi: - Oh, and did you ever tried to ride with someone else? -

Raven: - Nope, ever since my mentor passed away, I have been a lone wolf with White Glint. -

Naomi: - And what about him? Did he had a partner? -

Raven almost dropped one of the wrenches he had before recomposing himself and answering: - He had. A girl called Yukino. She and him go way back before I even met him. If both had been on service by the time he rescued me, I'm pretty sure I would piloting a different NEXT. -

Naomi: - What happened to her? -

Raven sighed before answering solemny: - In the final test drive before she and my mentor were givent he all clear to ride, something went wrong and she ended up in a coma. They did their best to revive her but eventually she had to be unplugged. Zorran was still grieving her when he rescued me. He said that my rescue was a signal from her to continue fighting even after his loss. -

Naomi: - Seems like Yukino was a great girl. -

Raven: - She was. Zorran told me everything about her. How her dream was to see many places of the past being green again, visit old marvels of the old world that survived the war and how she planned to settle down with him and form a family with him. -

Naomi: - Family? -

Raven: - A group of people that you would be close to even if they aren't of your blood, with whom you would go through hell and back just for the sake of having them safe, alive and happy. -

"Go through hell and back..." Those were the words that made an impact in Naomi and ignited a resolve on her. She looked at the hidden set of controls stowed in the back and was about to ask for something to Raven but he then said: - All done here! Now let's test it! -

He soon climbed down into the cabin and closed the hatch before he passed his toolbox to the drone and said: - I will have to ask you to step out Naomi. Because of the solo configurations, it will get cramped and dangerous if you stay inside with me as I perform the test. -

Naomi: - Wait! Is there a way for me to see? -

Raven: - Hmmm? -

Naomi: - You never told me how exactly NEXT are piloted and I really want to know via the practical method. Is there a way to see how it happens from the outside? -

Raven mpphhhhd for a little before commanding the drone to come close to him. He then opened a holographic screen on it and typed some things in it. Eventually, the drone projected a screen at the end and soon Raven said: - There, the drone is now remotely connected to the frontal camara of the cabin. This should give you a look of what happens. Now please get out. -

Naomi did so, following the drone closely and once they were in the outside platform, the cabin closed behind her. The platform was then raised towards one of the control points and Naomi watched from there as Raven started the procedure.

He stood in an A pose as he said loudly: - I invoke thee White Glint! - Just then the same device on his wrist shined and soon enveloped him on some lights as these lights transformed his casual clothing into the pilot uniform via nanobots. Once he was clothed completely, the NEXT became alive as an AI voice soon announced loudly: "White Glint on standby." That was when the cabin came to life as the lights turned on and soon covered the whole surface with a complete screen of the surroundings. Raven then took his position on the sets of pedals and arms and Naomi waited to see the connection. Eventually the sets started moving and she saw wires appearing from little compartments that suddenly injected themselves into Raven's legs and arms. Then the main arm descended and literally connected to his back. Naomi winced at all the process as she could see Raven get a little uncomfortable while at it. Then, part of the main arm connected to the back raised and made a pair of lens that soon covered Raven's eyes (think of them like Raiden's from MGRR). After that, the NEXT announced: "Pilot connection complete. Maintenance test protocol initiated..."

Naomi then sat there as he saw Raven do movement and synchronization exercises that took quite a while. Long enough that everyone else soon arrived and decided to accompany her.

Orion: - Impressive, isn't it? -

Naomi: - Yeah, I knew I was expecting something different but this still surprises me... -

Orion: - As expected, many of the other Parasites we rescued showed similar reactions to yours. -

Naomi nodded as she continued to stare until she asked: - Why haven't you shared this with everyone? -

Orion: - Huh? -

Naomi: - The objective of the RF is similar to that of APE, right? Both want to take back Earth from the klaxosaurs and restore humanity's cities to their former glory. So it makes sense to share your technologies with us to make the fight easier, right? -

Orion: - Yes but... -

Naomi: - But what? You have all of this arsenal to stop the war with the klaxosaurs and yet you're keeping it for yourselves! Isn't that too egoistic for someone who claims to rescue Parasites and Plantations from death?! -

*CLANK!* The sword suddenly appearing in front of Naomi made her fall from her seat in shock as she then looked at Sam glaring at her...

Samuel: - Listen well girl. I will forgive you of this rant because you are in ignorance and ignorance is the bliss of the fools. But never think of us as egoistic ever again... we tried ONCE to share it with your people... and they gained themselves their worst enemy in the world after that. -

Zoe: - Remember the Alamo... -

Everyone else, except Naomi: - Remember the Alamo. -

After that rant, Sam walked away along with Zoe. Once he was out of sight, Orion sighed and lend her a hand.

Orion: - Sorry about that with Sam. As he said, we tried to once make formal contact with APE. What happened that day however changed all of that. -

Naomi: - What happened? -

Orion: - That's something you will have to earn on your own merit. Pray for answer. -

After saying that, both he and Sally left as Naomi stood there, wondering what it all meant... and igniting another resolve inside her as she turned to look at White Glint whom was powering down.

Naomi: "Wait for me guys... I will bring as much answers as I can and together we will seek the answers we want about all of this."

Some time later, back at the Cerasus, briefing room...

Hiro just barely managed to make sure that code 090 stayed calm after promising him he would make sure to keep Zero Two in check when the bomb was dropped and by Ikuno no less. She had raised her hand to speak about it: - Can I ask a question commander Hachi? -

Hachi: - What is it code 196? -

Ikuno: - What about the SMC pilots? They gave us a beacon in case we wanna meet them, so wouldn't it be wise to call them for help for the kissing operation? -

Code 090: - Wait, what are you talking about? -

Zorome: - That's right! We saw them own klaxosaurs like they were nothing! They can probably make quick work of this too! -

Hachi: - Silence please... -

Code 090: - Commander, what are they talking about? -

Hachi: - They're referring to the mysterious faction that has recently appeared in APE's operations. -

Code 090: - You mean the same ones that took away code 999 and code 616?! Those brainwashing predators that keep friends of ours in their lines?! -

For some reason, THIS actually bothered Hiro out of everything. 'Brainwashing predators'! The book of chivalry stated that such attitude was a big no for a knight and he had seen how Orion had acted with them for the last 3 times. Yes, the first time he had cut off Strelizia's hand but that was for self-defense. The second time, Arthur could have easily killed his friends on the mines and let Flamenco finish off Strelizia but instead he chose to help them all. The third time, rather than letting them battle the second worm klaxosaur after the first one, he decided to lend them a hand and easily finished it off. And he also choose to stay behind for a little while to answer some of the most pressuring questions. But what if its all an act and he lied about Naomi? No, no that's ridiculous! If they really brainwashed her, he wouldn't have bothered to learn her name, but he did! Not to say he also told them that she had an injury but was soon recovering. If he were to really brainwash people like that then he wouldn't have bothered himself with the interview they gave him!

Hiro: - They're not that! -

Code 090: - What? -

Hiro: - They aren't like that! We have encountered them 3 times! And every time they had the opportunity to just do that! Instead they helped us and talked to us about many things we didn't know before! -

Code 090: - Pretty sure they said lies to you. Why haven't we encountered them yet?! Why haven't they returned our friends then?! They're lying to you! -

Hiro: - They're not! It's against their knight code! -

Hachi: - That's enough! Code 016 stop this discussion right now! And you code 090, you can't talk of potential allies like that! It has been confirmed that we had 3 encounters with what could possibly be the leaders of the local forces of such organization. Both of you stand down! -

Both grumbled a little before eventually code 090 returned to his position while Hiro went back to Zero Two. That's when he took a good look at his friends to see that all of them were surprised at his outburst. The furor he previously had soon dissipated and was replaced by tiredness as he again, had the vision of the white mech, this time managing to see its blue eyes before returning back to reality. Unknown to him, Zero Two's interest on him had grown: "Could it be...?"

Hachi: - As for your question code 196, is very unlikely as the beacon is currently in possession of the doctor. -

Ikuno: - Oh. -

Hachi: - Any more questions? No? Then everyone's dismissed. -

Speaking of said doctor, he was at his laboratory trying his best to reverse engineer the damn piece of machinery only to be unsuccessful. He tried opening it only to realize it was sealed shut in every way possible; he tried to hijack it, only to find it had an airtight firewall; he even tried smashing it only to find out the thing could as well endure a klaxosaur without breaking.

Dr. Franxx: - Fine! Keep your secrets to yourself, I have one experiment that requires my surveillance to see it prosper. -

He left with a hard slam on the door, unaware that the cannister he had previously used was balancing on the edge of a shelf. The slam made it drop and it fell down into the beacon and pressed it. Beeps eventually started being heard as this beacon now marked the location of the plantation and a meeting with fate.

And that's a wrap for this chapter! Did you liked it? By the way, in Armored Core lore, NEXT use the Allegorical Manipulation System or AMS which states that it is basically literally wiring the nerves of the pilot to the mech every time they ride. This allows them to effectively pilot it in a 1:1 manipulation which basically means that they literally become the robot everytime. This has its pros and cons which will be explained later. Thanks for reading this chapter! Please leave a review and see ya in the next one!

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Pray... for answer.