The Meeting

Tatsumi stands on an expansive grassy field. He feels that he is dead but at the same time alive. "Hello!" He announces. He wanders around the field for a moment, only seeing more and more grass fields that reached ankle length. But before he continued he spots a group of people standing in front of him. "Hey!" He calls out to them. He walks closer and was able to get a better look at their features. "Sayo, Ieyasu!m Hey it's me!" Tatsumi runs out to the two. He hugs the two in the middle. "It's been a while! Where... where are we?" Tatsumi asks.

"Nowhere," The two responded in unison.

"What?" In bewilderment, Tatsumi asks. "What are you saying?" He asks. He blinks and both Sayo and Ieyasu both disappear in front of him in a flash, he collapses forward to his knees in despair. "S-Sayo? Ieyasu?" Tatsumi looks up, calling out to his two childhood friends. "Where, where are you?" Tatsumi gets up and begins to run in the fields. He doesn't know how long time has passed. "Hello? Anybody?!" Tatsumi slows down as he spots a group of people in front of him. He spots them as he walks closer to get a better perspective. "Sheele, Bulat, Chelsea, Lubbock, Mine!" He calls out. "It's me!" He runs, smiling to see them alive once more. But before he could embrace them once more he is blocked by an invisible wall. "Huh, hey! Guys! It's me! Can't you see me? Hey!" He calls out from the other side of the wall.

"Tatsumi, don't worry. We will all be reunited soon enough. All you have to do is wake up." Sheele responded, she turns around and disappears into the mist.

"Wait, Sheele don't go!" Tatsumi cries out.

"You know Tatsumi. You'll come to recognize us once more Tatsumi. Remember to train daily and to wake up." Bulat gives off a reassuring smile and turns to leave Tatsumi and the others.

"Bro, not you too," Tatsumi said with despair. Chelsea and Lubbock walked up to Tatsumi but couldn't interact with him.

"You know we'll be waiting for you. In another place that is different from here. Just hang in there." Chelsea tells Tatsumi.

"She's right you know, Tatsumi. We can meet once more after you wake up." Lubbock tells Tatsumi. The two turn to join Sheele and Bulat in the mist. All that is left is Mine and Tatsumi.

"Wait, why are you guys telling me to wake up?!" Tatsumi asks. "I'm clearly awake. Don't leave me!" Tatsumi cries out. "Mine... and you?" Tatsumi looks longingly at Mine, hoping that she wouldn't leave him like the others had. Mine walks up and places her hand on the wall. She smiled warmly to give reassurance to Tatsumi. Tatsumi looks up at Mine's face.

"Do not despair, we'll reunite once more, Tatsumi. Don't forget any of us Tatsumi, alright. We'll be coming for you, understand?" Mine tells Tatsumi. She brings her hand down. "I'm sure that by the end of everything we'll be able to enjoy our lives." Mint turns to join the others.

"Mine, wait!" Tatsumi cries out. But Mine doesn't listen. All of his friends that he'd witnessed had died in front of him, or heard of their deaths, leaving him once more. He becomes despairful and alone in the vast empty grass fields. "Why must you all leave me again? I know that I have to become stronger to prevent those that I love as a family. But how can I defend them if I'm not there or strong enough to protect them?" Tatsumi sulks for a moment. He questions his motives, wondering why so much death, pain, and sadness had befallen him. But he comes to the realization, so much happened to protect Akame from crying again. Yet despite failing in that regard he knows that all he did to protect his comrades of Night Raid was worth the risk of becoming an assassin. "In spite of my death. I don't regret it." Tatsumi smiles.

"In spite of all of that you've been through, not once have you ever been keen enough to surpass your conscience and morality to become stronger." Esdeath's voice booms through the sky. Tatsumi looks up and spots Esdeath in front of him wearing her SS-Gruppenführerin uniform. Several medals adorn her breast coat. Esdeath stands tall with her arms crossed beneath her breast. She kicks Tatsumi in the chest as he is forced onto his back. Esdeath's bloodied boot is placed onto Tatsumi's chest with great force that he coughs out blood. "You haven't been able to become stronger because you keep holding yourself back. You let the inflictions of others become your reason to become stronger," Esdeath begins to press more firmly onto Tatsumi's chest. "When in reality, bearing the inflictions of others is what holds us back," Esdeath leans forward and grabs Tatsumi by the collar of his shirt. "The will of power, Tatsumi, is life; our desire is to dominate and reshape the world. Forming it into whatever we desire. Asserting our strength to the greatest degree in order to control all." Esdeath then raises her boot from Tatsumi's chest and walks over to his head. "Now, sleep tight. As a new order will arise from the ashes of the old!" Esdeath kicks Tatsumi in a violent manner that he is knocked out once more. The last thing he hears is the sadistic laughter of Esdeath.
Tatsumi floats, adrift in the void as a castaway.

"What can I do?" Tatsumi asks. For three months he was placed in solitary confinement and regularly placed in sensory deprivation, deprived of feeling anything. Coupled with the effects of LSD and physical and psychological harm he was broken. "How can I defeat such a powerful enemy and an army to boot?" "Could I've been weak just like she said?"

"Awaken" A calm voice echoes through the void. "Awaken for this is not you." "Awaken and fulfill your mission upon the new world." The Voice calms Tatsumi's distress as he drifts back into consciousness

Tatsumi jolts up awake, breathing heavily. "What was all that?" He mutters to himself. . He then places his hand on his chest to control his breathing. "What am I wearing?" Tatsumi asks himself as he observes the prisoner's uniform he's wearing: blue jeans, white socks, leather shoes, and a blue and white verticle line-down shirt. The cell he's in is no larger than a king-size bed: fitted with a sink, toilet, and a one-person bed, with the walls reaching eight feet high and painted a quarter of the way in green and the rest of the way in white. His only source of light comes from a slit that is no wider than a foot and is three and a half feet long, only raised to be two feet below the ceiling. The cell is reminiscent of the one Esdeath sent him to in order to fix him but it's better to be in this cell than the one by Esdeath, for it didn't have Esdeath.
"Where am I?" Tatsumi asks himself. He feels the back of his neck and the base of his skull and can feel some scarring on his neck. "Probably that explains the pain in the neck. "But really though, where am I? And did we lose?" Tatsumi asks himself.

Tatsumi begins to recount the events that happened during the invasion of New York. His memories then were fuzzy as all he could remember was being on a rampage until a Blue Figure stepped in. Seeing the Blue Figure brought a sense of familiarity, as well as two other factors he saw but cannot recount or even describe. He struggles to stand but can feel that his muscles were tended to-to retain their strength but he can feel a sort of tiredness coming from him. He sees the metal door that is his only way in or out. "Hello, can anyone hear me?" Tatsumi asks. He banged on the door a couple of times and called out once more. "Can anyone hear me? Hello?" Giving up he returns to his bed sitting in compelation and lost in thought. "What do I do now? I don't have the strength nor Incursio to break free from this cell," Tatsumi feels a grumbling in his stomach. "And it seems I haven't eaten in a while either."

Two days passed as Tatsumi awaited in his cell. Boredom almost entirely took over as he had nothing else to do inside the solitary cell. In lieu of the IV bags and feeding tubes that kept him alive for a month, the guards gave him the same meals in small portions but at increased intervals: a soup mixed with rice, potatoes, carrot strips, soft turnip pieces, and a piece of chicken. Being given the soup mixture through the small slit on the door that was wide enough to give him his meal and opens from the other side. "I'm so bored. Two days passed and nothing much has happened. Isn't that right Sayu? Ieyasu?" Tatsumi talks to the wall."Right. I'm starting to think that I'm slipping into insanity." Tatsumi confirms, laying on the bed. "At this rate, I'm going to rot in here without anything," Tatsumi then begins to reminisce about his past."Sayo, Ieyasu, I'm sorry we didn't stay together. The two of you would've been great assassins. Sheele, Bulat, Chelsea, Susnoo, Lubbock, Mine, I'm sorry for not being strong enough to be there for you all. If I was stronger then I would've saved you from your deaths." Tatsumi then closes his eyes. "Akame. I'm sorry for breaking your promise. If you can hear me, then I'm sorry for making you cry again. Whatever you throw at me, I'll accept. Tatsumi huddles up on his bed. Just as his new life in the cell was starting, the door opens to reveal a military figure blocking the doorway.

"Prisoner NR-108. Step forward and out of your cell immediately." The MP Captain commanded. commanded. Tatsumi does as commanded but noticed right away the man was speaking English and not German, it fills some hope in him but he assumes the worse. Tatsumi steps out and is momentarily dizzied by the bright light. As he regains focus he spots in front of him a row of six MPs all wearing the same uniform: light tan from the short sleeve button-down shirt to the pants with black laced boots, they all wear the same black belt with a holster for their M1911, a Sam Browne belt that ran diagonally from the right shoulder, a white peaked cap, and black armband that covers the left shoulder with white lettering stating MP. He noticed immediately that two of the MPs were black, a skin color he'd never seen in his life. But Tatsumi knows to not let curiosity get the better of him, if they're all in uniform and standing with weapons at the ready then he knows that it's a serious matter when he's unarmed. The door to Tatsumi's cell is then closed behind him by another MP. "Prisoner NR-108, you are to turn around 180 degrees and raise your arms parallel to your head." Tatsumi does as told.

"Is there any reason for this?" Tatsumi asks as he turns around.

"Silence. You are to remain silent unless given permission to speak." The MP Captain then gestures to his men to apprehend Tatsumi. They bring Tatsumi's arms to his back and put handcuffs on them and a black bag on his head. "Let's go." The MP Captain commanded. They strongarm Tatsumi as they escort Tatsumi in a double-column formation. The walk was only a few minutes long as he is escorted, all he could hear was the loud footsteps from the MP's boots. Tatsumi is then escorted into a room in which he is forcefully sat on a metal chair. His shackles were then connected to the table and the bag was removed from his head. The bright light in the beige room momentarily blinds and disorientates Tatsumi but his eyes adjust to the light.

"Hello?" Tatsumi asks out loud. "Can anyone explain to me what is happening?" Tatsumi asks once more. He looks around despondently as the humming from the light slowly becomes deafening. He doesn't want to go mad by the sound as it's the same sound he heard during his stay in the Reich's laboratory. But just as he was about to recollect the negative memories, before his breaking point, the door behind him opens up, and in steps another figure wearing a black suit and tie. The man looks similar to a person Tatsumi remembered in the Empire but can't remember if he was in the Imperial or Revolutionary army. He's older in age but no older than forty. The man sits on a chair across from Tatsumi at the same table. In front of him is a manilla case folder that's labeled in red stating Classified.

"You must be Tatsumi, is that right?" The man in black ask, staring directly at Tatsumi.

"I am, but how did you know my name?" Tatsumi asked concerningly.

"So you do speak English, even without a German accent." The man in black responded, mildly surprised. "I apologize, let me start from the beginning. I'm US Army Special Forces Colonel, Johnathan Reeds. You may refer to me as Col. Reeds or preferably sir. Is that understood, Tatsumi?" The man in black reveals his name.

"Right, but how did you know my name? Sir?" Tatsumi asked.

"I've been keeping track of you over the past year, but your existence was hard to track. Unlike your handler, SS-Gruppenführerin Esdeath Partas," The name triggers Tatsumi's attention. "But when my sources and I begin to confirm your existence, we've come to know you as a threat." Col. Reeds opens the classified file. "First name: Tatsum, Last name: unknown," Reeds looks at Tatsumi. "But I assume it would be Partas." He then continues to list off what the file says. "Date of birth is non-existent. Until recently you're only but a ghost. Only appearing recently due to a minor uprising within the French State by communists that was crushed by a joint force of German SS and French State troops. But this, this is the only record we have of you here." He continues.

"Just what do you want from me?" Tatsumi asks.

"To put it bluntly, we want you," Reeds answers directly, confusing Tatsumi with his answer. "You and the SS-Gruppenführerin have been causing problems in Western Europe and the United States. Recently with the Reich invasion of the US, you and SS-Gruppenführerin have killed hundreds if not thousands of Americans and Canadians, not including the countless lost by the SS-Gruppenführerin herself before you came along," Reeds closes the file. "Some might say that blood has even been spilled into your hands too."

"What exactly is it that you want with me?" Tatsumi asks.

"We want two things: You and whatever information you have on SS-Gruppenführerin Esdeath Partas, Hitler, and if possible any information you have on the SS State of Burgundy," Reeds responded. Tatsumi couldn't find any objections due to the state he was in. He knows any argument for his defense couldn't hold up. "Think about it. We have already compiled enough evidence against you. Video, audio, biological, eyewitness testimony, etc." Reeds begins to speak once more. He then points a finger at Tatsumi. "We have enough evidence to put you away in prison for a lifetime or even the death penalty."

"If you have enough evidence against me then why don't you just kill me already," Tatsumi responded. "I've been forced to be on Esdeath's side for over two years and I've been treated like her plaything," Tatsumi looks at the colonel, Reeds puts his hand down. "Will any information that I give you will help me in my defense?" Tatsumi responded, feeling overwhelmed by the fate he was being presented with.

"In a way you helping us could more or less guarantee your freedom," Reeds responded.

"Bullshit!" Tatsumi responded angrily, standing from his chair. "I don't buy into your idea of freedom just from me giving you some information on Esdeath! I know that you want something from me!" Tatsumi becomes critical. "And I know it's not just some stupid information that you may already have! So spit it out!"

"Firstly, calm yourself and sit," Reeds orders Tatsumi. Tatsumi swallows his anger and sits back down, ready to listen to what the colonel has to say. "Secondly, to return to what I've said about wanting two things from you. The second thing we want is you as a human. An agent, if you will," Reeds tells Tatsumi, catching his attention and perhaps even his ire. "Don't take this the wrong way. A person of your talents and abilities would have the whole world fighting over you. The US, the Nazis, and the Soviets would want to have their own unit of quote-on-quote Imperial Arms users, especially ever since the SS-Gruppenführerin's arrival onto this world twenty years ago."

"How did you know I'm an Imperial Arms user?" Tatsumi asks. Mildly shocked to learn that the colonel knows about other users outside of Esdeath.

"Sources and inferencing," Reeds responded. "But think about it Tatsumi. I'm offering you a choice. An opportunity of a lifetime. Once everything's over, you will be a free man once more. A pardon would be in place to absolve you of your past crimes that have been logged, but most likely a new identity would be in order. And for the cherry on top, you will be granted US citizenship with at least five-twenty acres of land just for you. But we don't know if the last one is to be guaranteed but it's a possibility. But also I neglect to mention that you could be able to keep that transforming weapon of yours." Tatsumi looks at the colonel after hearing his proposal and the benefits that could come if he turned coat.

"And if I refused?" Tatsumi asks.

"Well, if you did. Then you would be stuck in that solitary cell for the rest of your life. You will be tried in a military and civilian court for your crimes against the state. The best-case scenario is multiple lifetimes in prison. Worst case you'd be executed. Now which is better? Joining us or placing your luck for a very thin sliver of hope that you'd be acquittal. But let's be honest, that is an impossibility." Reeds concludes his offer.

"So if I were to turn coat and serve the US, then I could see potential freedom from Esdeath? And if not then my luck would be through the ground," Tatsumi begins to think over. "Then again, this colonel doesn't appear to be trustworthy. If anything, he perhaps is part of the SS equivalent organization in the US. But do I have any other choice?" Tatsumi thinks further but he'd already made his choice. "I'll accept your offer. I'll tell you what I know about Esdeath and the Reich." Tatsumi accepts his offer. Reeds' face could show that he is content but has it suppressed.

"I see. Well, you made the right decision then. You would be returning to your cell in the meanwhile to get the paperwork in order. Details would be given in a later period," Reeds stands up from his chair. "I can guarantee you that by the time this war is over you will be living a quiet and peaceful life away from it all." Reeds reaches his hand out to Tatsumi. "Let's make it official, shall we?" Tatsumi reaches out with his hand and both shake hands, officially cementing a verbal contract. Reeds retracts his hand and walks to the door. He walks to the door and knocks on it.

"Wait," Tatsumi calls out, having one last question. "What if I have refused?" Tatsumi asks. The door then opens for the colonel to leave. Reeds turn to Tatsumi before leaving.

"Well, I assume you fear Esdeath more over the devil himself, even death doesn't seem to faze you," Reeds answers Tatsumi's question. "Also, we would've defaulted back to the second aspect of the deal if you'd refused." "Anyways, once I submit your application on your behalf I will be seeing you outside of that prisoner's uniform. Now, you take care of yourself." Reedss leaves and the door behind him closes. "Did you get his answer in recording?" Reeds asks the Agent adjacent to him. The two begin to walk side by side.

"Of course, sir. He could be the key to the Gruppenführerin's downfall," The Agent responded. "That's if our first in line fails." He continued. "Well, I certainly can't wait to meet him in person and officially introduce him to the group. They are antsy to see him after all." He commented.

"Antsy? Never heard that word before." Reeds responded to the Agent's words.

"It's a new word I overheard some of the younger recruits saying. But still, my point stands." The Agent continued. The two continue to walk to submit Tatsumi to their project group with the CIA.

Tatsumi lies on his bed inside his solitary cell, being forced back into his cell after speaking with the colonel, confused about what his plan of action is to be next.
"So that happened," He comments, turning over to his side and looking at the moonlight beam seeping into his room. "I don't know what else to do. Perhaps eventually, they may do some good," Tatsumi continues to think. "But what would this mean? Working as an agent. Would I be working alone or as a group?" Tatsumi continues. He has flashbacks of those he'd seen in New York. "If it's with a group, then hopefully it's not a weird group." Tatsumi then goes back to sleep, awaiting his fate.

"28th of April, 1963." Esdeath opens up, writing in her diary. It has been over five days since she and a number of her troops had evacuated. "It has been five days since our departure from Canada. The invasion of the US is a total failure at best and a hot mess of incoordination at worst. I see no reason to continue helping the heaping mess that is the Wehrmacht." Esdeath continues to write. "But I digress. Despite their shortcomings, they did provide themselves good bait for me and whatever is left of my invasion force of the SS to escape as they themselves get captured." She continues to write. "Well, I was able to use my Imperial Arms to sink several American ships that got close. A good stress relief in my opinion. And yet, and yet!" Esdeath repeats. "Tatsumi is nowhere to be found and the Kapitän zur See that I was with had taken his own life. That's what I've heard at least. Pray tell that my Tatsumi has been able to get out of there. If he didn't, and the rumors are not true of the Kapitän, then that excuse of an officer would have literal hell to pay. And it won't be pretty either." Esdeath continues to write. She then looks up at the light of the only officer quarter offered to her. "Perhaps Tatsumi is already in Europe right now. But the last person I want to get a hold of him is the sick man himself. But I hope for the best." Esdeath closes her diary. "Or perhaps he's in the SS State already. Let's see who gets to him first." Esdeath smirks. "Well, I should perhaps pay him a long-awaited visit." Esdeath lies down to her bed, ready to dream about torturing her enemies, the ship rocks violently. "What the hell?" She exclaims. She readies her uniform and leaves for the top deck.

Esdeath reaches the top deck and sees the Kriegsmarine sailors manning their stations. An American battleship division of four battleships and three cruisers was spotted and have begun to open fire upon Esdeath's transport ship and four other Kriegsmarine: two transports, a destroyer, and one battleship. "This is certainly getting to be very annoying". Esdeath steps forward to the portside where she spots two cruisers and a battleship. "Let's see, eight kilometers for the two cruisers and fifteen for the battleship." Esdeath begins to calculate the trajectory of her Imperial Arms' range. She jumps overboard the port side of the ship.

"Lookout!" A Kriegsmarine sailor called out, seeing the battleship firing a volley on the transport ships. A large ice cylinder springs out beneath the portside of the transport ship, pushing it just before the shells could land, creating a large water splash. The cylinder raises to five hundred meters in the air. Esdeath stands on the very top of it.

"Now, let's see those cruisers first," Esdeath aims with her hands stretched out. "Grauhorn," Esdeath announces and two giant horns of ice are fired directly at the two cruisers, striking them. The Grauhorn is then retracted as the two cruisers begin to sink, disappearing within seconds. Esdeath takes aim at the battleship which opens fire at her position, hitting her ice structure but she remains unfazed. "I see how it is. Don't worry, I got one for you and your friends!" Esdeath launches another Grauhorn onto the battleship, skewering it and keeping it in place. "Now you'll make good target practice. She then turns starboard and spots three remaining battleships and a single cruiser. Turning their attention onto her and the Kriegsmarine ships. The Kriegsmarine battleship has taken damage and is expected to sink if it takes another volley more. "Huh, might as well as I take care of this problem." Esdeath snaps her fingers, "Hagelsprung!" Esdeath creates two large ice hails, roughly 250 meters in diameter, and drops them in between the American naval vessels. A wave of 80 meters raises above the remaining American ships and The American battleship fires one last volley on Esdeath's position, knocking down her tower of ice. Esdeath jumps up in the sky and begins to free fall. She observes her work. "Why'd you look at that, those four ships have capsized, well done me." Esdeath then unleashes a barrage of icicles onto the four capsized American ships, ensuring they'll sink fast and no American sailor is left alive. Esdeath then creates her ice wings and boots to ensure her descent back onto the transport ship. She is met with cheering and applause by her men and the sailors of the Kriegsmarine. She knows that her achievements had saved the lives of many and have ensured victory for the Reich in this battle.