CHAPTER 26
FRICTION
"Hold still will you." Maggie said as she tried to wrap a strip of gauze around Scarlett's badly bruised forearm.
"Will you be more gentle!" Scarlett winced from Maggie's usual bedside manner, grimacing at the stench of alcohol on Maggie's breath. "You've been drinking again, haven't you?"
"Hey…it was only one bottle of whiskey." Maggie smirked. "You should consider yourself lucky you all have big sister Maggie to fix you all up. There that should do it. You're lucky you didn't end up with a fracture."
"It'll take more than a Corvette to do me in." Despite her bravado, Scarlett remembered what had caused her sudden distraction during the Category 3 attack that afternoon. Just as she was about to strike the killing blow when a flash of blonde and purple caught her off guard. In those split seconds, Zola had appeared before her and allowed the Corvette to score a direct strike with its tail. As if knowing what she was thinking, Maggie pulled a bottle of tranquilizers from her desk.
"Here, take two of these each night. It will help you sleep." Scarlett accepted them reluctantly and was greeted by her concerned squad mates as she stepped outside the infirmary.
"Are you okay Captain." Vice-Captain Betty worried.
"I'm all right girls." Scarlett assured them, trying to keep a stoic face. "You all did great work out there today. Tomorrow we'll train at a higher level in the simulators."
"Are you sure?" Sadie asked.
"I'm fine." Scarlett repeated, her voice strained with annoyance as she walked off.
"Poor Captain," Betty whispered once she was out of ear range. "She's trying to keep a brave face."
"Just leave her be," Sadie advised. "For now, I'd say we've put it off long enough."
"What do you mean?"
"Let's do something about the burn princess," Sadie snarled through gritted teeth. "If the Commander won't punish her, then it's up to us. I'm gonna break her head wide open."
'Damn insects.' Ange thought bitterly as she washed off the blotches of molasses on her face and arms. Another one of Chris and Rosalie's pranks had backfired once again. This time they had set up a bucket full of molasses atop the locker room door but released their trap too early, resulting in Salia taking the full brunt while Ange and everyone else had gotten splashed.
Washing off what she could, Ange heard the bathroom door slam open with such force that she jerked around. Behind her, Sadie and three other Norma she recognized from Second Squad stood between her and the door. "Can I help you?" Ange asked, their savage expressions they gave her raised her alarms.
"We've got a bone to pick with you." Said Vice-Captain Betty as she stepped forward.
"Get in line," Ange said, her hand lowering down to the knife hanging from her belt.
"You don't get it do you." Sadie growled. "You think you don't have to pay after what you did!"
"Our Captain is a mess," another said. "She almost died today!"
"All because you got big sister Zola killed you whore!"
"Back off!" Ange growled as she pulled her blade. "If you think I won't kill you just try it!"
"Good idea." Sadie smirked before she suddenly threw out her arm and a cloud of white powder obscured Ange's vision. In the midst of the distraction, someone grabbed her arms and banged her hand against the sink to make her release her knife.
"Get off me!" Ange coughed before someone slugged her hard in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. Ange's legs buckled as someone grabbed her hair and yanked her up. Through her blurred vision, the scarred visage of Sadie grinned sadistically down at her.
"Aw, got something in your eyes?" she mocked. "Let's wash it out." Ange felt herself dragged across the floor and into a nearby stall where her face was shoved into the toilet bowl. Water swirled around her as she gagged and sputtered before they finally pulled her out.
"Hold her," she heard Sadie order. As Ange tried to catch her breath, she looked behind her just in time to see Sadie return with a mop in her hands. "Pull them down. I want to see just how far up this can go."
"Sadie wait," Bettie pleaded. "This is going too far. Our Captain wouldn't want this."
"I don't care, now strip her!" Ange began to thrash harder, the memories of the night she had been violated by the Commander flooding her mind. "If you won't then get out of the way I'll do it myself!" Shoving Bettie aside, Sadie grabbed a hold of the hem of her skirt and Ange screamed when a slam like a gunshot echoed through the entire bathroom.
"Let go of her, NOW!" Ange's eyes widened in stunned relief as she recognized the voice to be the Male Norma. The two holding her down released her and Ange looked up just in time to see Cal snatch the mop out of Sadie's hand hard enough to knock her against the wall.
"What the hell are you doing?" she demanded. "Are you seriously defending this bitch?" Cal grabbed on to the collar of Sadie's tunic and yanked her forward, her feet almost dangling over the floor as Cal's eyes blazed with fury.
"If I catch any of you trying to harm her or anyone from my squad ever again, forget Scarlett. I'll kick your ass myself!" Cal's threat quickly made the mob disperse, especially Sadie who realized the man standing before her was no longer the naïve boy she had tried to have her way with months ago. Once they were alone, Cal extended his hand to Ange. "You okay?" he asked, only to have his hand slapped away.
"I'm fine, just leave me alone." Ange croaked as she wiped her plastered hair out her eyes before shoving past him.
"Hold on a second." Cal argued as he chased after her. "You just got attacked. You need to go see Maggie and…"
"I don't need your help so just stay away from me!" Ange snapped as she ran off. 'Damn it I've had enough of this shit!' He cursed as he rubbed his throbbing head. Why did Commander Jill have to put him in this impossible position? 'What else can I do, how am I supposed to be a knight to someone who doesn't even want my help?'
The molasses bucket had been the final straw. After their prank had failed once again, Salia pulled Rosalie and Chris into the squad's conference room, the two kneeling on the floor like a pair of disobedient school kids. Ersha, Vivian, and Miranda sat in nearby chairs while Hilda and Cal hadn't shown up yet.
"Okay this has gone far enough!" Salia fumed her hair still reeking of the sticky black goo despite washing It at least three times. "I gave you a pass because you were upset but now it's gotten out of hand. Next time you could seriously hurt someone."
"Look we're sorry for Cal accidently taking the brunt but doesn't this bother you guys at all!?" Rosalie shouted. "She got our Captain and Coco killed. And she doesn't even care!"
"I know," Ersha sighed. "But Ange did purchase their graves and she's working hard in training and battle. Plus, she gave us most of her reward money. I'd say she's already atoned for her actions."
"So that's really enough for you?" Rosalie countered.
"No it's not." Miranda cut in. Salia looked at the young pilot sympathetically, reminded of how she was the same age when she lost her close friend Ann. "I hate Ange too. And returning to battle isn't good enough and it doesn't make it right." Miranda sniffed fighting back her tears. "She needs to be punished for deserting us. It's her fault Coco died."
"She has a point." The squad looked up to see Hilda standing in the doorway. "Maybe that's enough for an honour student like you, but the rest of us are still pissed off."
"Look Hilda, I'm not saying you all need to like Ange or forgive her, but we all need to work together to get this squad back in order." Salia said impatiently.
"Honestly, I think the Commander has lost her mind." Hilda sneered as she strolled in. "You'd think the burn princess deserved a worse punishment than piloting that hunk of junk." Hilda looked to Salia and smirked. "Or…maybe she's planning on sleeping with her. How naughty." Salia began to tense. "When looking at it that way I can see why she prefers her over you Captain. It takes a lot to get on her good side. Maybe she's better in bed than you are. You better step up your game or her royal highness will steal Cal away too."
"Respect your Captain!" Salia yelled, drawing her knife at Hilda.
"Make me!" Hilda responded by drawing her gun, everyone else stared in shock from how bad the situation was getting.
"Guys stop!" Miranda pleaded. "This isn't helping, we can't start turning on each other…"
"Quiet newbie!" Hilda snapped. "The grownups are talking."
"Then start acting like grownups both of you!" Before either of them could move, Cal darted between them and grabbing both girls by their wrists and forcing them to drop their weapons. "What the hell's going on in here!?"
"Mind your own business." Hilda fired back.
"This is my business! We're a squad and you two are fighting like children!" Cal scolded as he looked at Rosalie and Chris. "What has happened to you three? Ever since Ange arrived you've all turned into a bunch of jerks and I'm the one paying for it. Not only have I been caught in the crossfire but now I've just had to save her from being attacked by second squad."
"Oh my, is she okay?" Ersha worried.
"Are you kidding me?" Hilda seethed. "That girl keeps treating us like shit and you of all people are on her side?"
"Of course, I'm not!" Cal shouted. "But this isn't about Ange. It's about all of us. We can't start turning on one another and I'll be damned if anyone else in this room is killed because of it!" Taking a deep breath, Cal let go of their wrists. "Look even I'm at my limit with Ange but I don't want what happened to Naomi, Zola, or Coco to happen to any of you. I won't allow anyone else to die. I've seen too much of it. Even before I arrived here."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hilda pressed him. "Does it have anything to do with what you told Coco? What else have you been keeping from us?"
"I told you before to just drop it." Cal said as he tried to walk off, only for Hilda to cut him off
"Hilda, if Cal doesn't want…" Ersha tried to say.
"No, I…we want to know about what you said that night." She said sharply. "So cut the bullshit and stop keeping secrets from us." Cal sighed, knowing it was pointless arguing with Hilda.
"Okay I'll tell you all everything."
"Cal.." Salia tried to say as he gestured with his fingers to hold back.
"It's true what I told Coco." He began. "When I was born the humans planned to euthanize me once they realized a male Norma existed." Everyone except Salia gasped in horror. "My mother, she didn't know who my father was, but she did have a friend she could rely on. My Gramps."
"And he was the one who saved you?" Chris asked.
"Yes, he promised my mother he'd keep me safe, and I lived with him all my life until…" Cal paused as he fought back tears. "Until he died saving me from the humans who tried to kill me again."
"My god." Rosalie gaped too shocked to speak.
"So that's why you were so beat up when you first arrived." Vivian said quietly.
"But how did you find Arzenal?" Hilda questioned. "We all heard you came here on one of Arzenal's transports."
"By mistake." Cal said plainly. "I tried calling for help through an old radio my Gramps scavenged and that's when they found me."
"How do you know all this?" Ersha asked compassionately. "Did your Gramps…"
"Yes, when my Gramps died, he gave me a letter that explained everything. When I first got here, I just couldn't bring myself to read it. When I finally did, I guess I let it get to me."
"That's awful." Miranda whispered.
"And that's why you were in such a mood the week before that big red monster showed up." Rosalie realised.
"Cal I'm so sorry." Chris sniffed as Ersha got up from her seat and brought him into a tight hug.
"Why would you keep something like that to yourself?" She asked.
"Because when I arrived the humans did everything to cover their tracks and my existence by giving a false report about me and how I arrived here. Who knows what they would do if the Inspector found out and began to ask around?" He looked to them all and they saw by his expression that this wasn't something to be taken lightly. "I told the Commander and she promised she'd keep my secret. I guess in the end I was just one of the lucky ones. Who knows if there were other Male Norma that weren't able to escape before or after me?"
"Sick bastards." Rosalie growled.
"Humans have always hated us." Chris frowned as Hilda cast a suspicious gaze at Salia.
"Did you know anything about this?" She demanded.
"Yes," she admitted. "But the Commander ordered me to remain silent." Like Cal, she wouldn't exactly be lying if she only told the bare minimum.
"And that's it," Cal finished. "Just promise me that you won't say anything to anyone. Including the Inspector. The less people who know about it the better it'll be for everyone."
"We promise." Miranda swore first before everyone else nodded in agreement. "And don't let Ange get to you next time because I don't want to have to witness anyone else die."
"They won't," Salia promised as she glared harshly at Hilda. "Consider this an official order. Mess with Ange any further and I'll step in personally." Hilda scoffed as she picked up her firearm and re-holstered it.
"Whatever, we're out of here." As Hilda left with Rosalie and Chris following after, Cal picked up Salia's knife and handed it to her.
"I'm sorry for butting in like that," he told her. "I guess the thing with Ange earlier put me on edge."
"It's fine, I shouldn't have let Hilda get to me like that." Salia sighed, feeling disappointed with herself. Hilda knew how to get under people's skin when she was in a mood, but Salia understood why she was angry. 'How am I going to fix this?' She thought feeling completely stuck.
As they followed Hilda down the empty hallway, Rosalie and Chris were still in shock not just by Hilda's fight with Salia but what Cal had revealed to them. "That's horrible why would humans want to kill a baby?" Chris said in disgust.
"It doesn't surprise me." Rosalie grumbled. "But it makes sense that the humans would want to keep Cal and any other male Norma a secret." After all, if male and female Norma got together, they might be able to eventually breed to the point that the humans wouldn't be able to keep them contained anymore.
"And the burn Princess had the audacity to call Cal an abomination." Chris growled. "I should have broken her neck back then."
"Next time we'll really put her in her place." Rosalie vowed.
"Haven't you two already had enough?" Hilda lectured with a backward glance. "You should know better than to start a fight you can't win."
"Yeah, well you could have helped instead of watching from the side-lines." Rosalie pointed out.
"Let's just say I had bigger fish to fry." Hilda smirked, holding up a set of keys.
"Aren't those…" Chris murmured. Moments later they found themselves back in the luxurious quarters of their former Captain.
"Wow it's been a while." Rosalie commented. "I miss this bedroom." Despite their former Captain's womanizing ways and rough bed habits, she had always looked out for them. Wandering over to the pin board, tears welled up in Chris' eyes as she looked over images of Zola arm in arm with the three of them, the day Cal had gotten his pilot suit as Naomi and Zola both had their arms around his waist, and another of Zola and Scarlett that had been taken right after they had gotten back together.
"Captain we're sorry." Chris sniffed. "We tried to get revenge, but we screwed up."
"Quit crying Chris." Hilda ordered irritably. "Just leave everything to me from now on."
"Huh?"
"I purchased it all, everything in this room." Hilda announced, Rosalie and Chris stared at each other in surprise as Hilda approached Rosalie, stroking her cheek before pulling her into a deep kiss. The orange haired girl's eyed widened until she finally gave in and leaned in.
"Hilda!" Chris gasped.
"Everything that Zola owned now belongs to me." Hilda stepped towards Chris cupping her chin. "That includes you two as well. Got it?"
"Oh…okay." Chris blushed smiling timidly.
On the other side of Arzenal, in a more normal looking room except for the right side which in addition to the makeshift hammock had walls plastered with posters of robots and Perolina while junk and litter scattered the floor, Salia was busy studying while Vivian looked over the wish list she sketched down in her pink journal. "Super-high velocity armour-piercing shells, high-output variable gear, composite armour, and a bag of chips!" Vivian drooled excitedly over her list, kicking her legs up and down. "My wish list is always full huh Salia. But if it wasn't, don't you think it would be depressing?" Salia didn't answer. As usual she was being a total study freak. "Here's a pop quiz, what kind of book is Salia reading?"
"It was a Valentine's gift from Cal." Salia answered adjusting her glasses. "It's a coaching book, he thought it would help me run the perfect squad since I'm in charge now." Though the title 'Leadership operations and tactics' was quite patronizing, she had to admit it was rather helpful in some areas.
"Is it difficult?" Vivian asked curiously.
"I wouldn't be studying if it wasn't difficult." Salia replied.
"Boring." Vivian groaned as she laid back down and pretended to snore. Salia rolled her eyes at the bubbly younger Norma. Seeing her plushie of Cal, Vivian picked her tiny big bro and held it above her. "Why would someone want to kill big bro? He didn't do anything wrong."
"Because the humans see us nothing more than monsters, and Cal is the first Male Norma we've ever seen or heard of." Salia told her. "It's only natural they'd see him as a threat."
"That really sucks." Vivian noted, feeling rather guilty as she hugged her plushie big bro. She thought back to the time she asked him who his family was all those months ago when they painted the playroom. 'It's because their dead, my Gramps is gone, and things didn't turn out well.' Now it all made sense to her.
Salia meanwhile had her own troubles on her mind. 'Jill, you promised me that I could have Villkiss when I was ready.' Her dream of being the pilot of Villkiss with Cal as her knight was torn away like a piece of tissue paper.
'You can't do what you can't do.' Jill's voice rang through her head. 'What did she mean by that,' Salia thought bitterly. 'It's been almost 4 years, and I've improved so much since that day. Ange has just arrived, and you give it to her like it was nothing.' With her mind distracted, Salia didn't even notice Vivian had snuck up behind her until she snatched her reading glasses away.
"Why you making those scary faces again?" Vivian teased with a cheeky grin.
"Hey cut it out." Salia protested.
"I'm confused you always look happy when you read that other book." Vivian pressed on.
"What book!" Salia gulped.
"That new one in your second draw, I didn't get a good look at it, but I think it was called 'Kama Sutra,' whatever that is." Salia gasped as she felt herself blush. "I also found a drawing of you lying down. I could tell big bro done it but why did he draw you with no clothes on…YEEEK!" Vivian ducked as Salia threw her knife, the blade embedding in the wall inches from Vivian's head, her face contorted with anger and embarrassment.
"You go through my stuff again and I'll strangle you in your sleep." She threatened.
"I'm sorry." Vivian whimpered until she heard her stomach rumble. "Oh chow time. Come on Salia it's Ersha's curry with Cal's secret sauce today." Salia rolled her eyes by how wrong that sounded.
"I'm fine, I'm not that hungry." Salia said. "You go on ahead, I'll study a while."
"Roger that, Captain." Vivian saluted with a wink, tripping over her litter as she left. Salia shook her head but stifled a smirk at the younger Norma's energy. 'She really needs to clean up after herself.' Salia noted. She glanced to her second draw, trying to resist the temptation but eventually stopped studying and pulled out the book containing dozens of pictures of men and women in various positions.
"Trying to run the perfect squad, that's too much even for me." Vivian concluded, lazily putting her hands behind her head. Still, seeing Salia so stressed made her wonder how she could help her with Ange and Hilda not following her orders. "I got it!" She lit up.
"I don't know what they were thinking." Ersha said in an angry tone. "If Scarlett finds out…"
"Don't worry they won't lay a finger on Ange, I made sure of that." Cal reassured as he stirred the curry pot. While helping Ersha, Cal had told her about Ange's incident with the second squad earlier that day. "I just don't know what to do Ersha."
"She seems very lonely and sad." Ersha said. "I know she's a lot to deal with, but she might come around to thank you eventually."
"I doubt it." Cal sighed solemnly. "I've had enough of her attitude. She doesn't exactly help herself with being an ungrateful bitch when someone tries to help her."
"That's not fair Cal." Ersha told him firmly as she handed him a tray of puddings. "Look why don't you take this to the cooler so they'll set for tomorrow."
"Okay." Cal said taking the tray with him, inside the walk-in cooler the cold hit instantly, making his Goosebumps rise. But as soon as Cal placed the desserts into a shelf, the door slammed shut, making Cal jump as his surroundings went dark and the temperature began to drop even further. The steam from his breath moved in slow motion as that feeling like he was light as a feather once more shivered over him. 'No not again, why is this happening again.' Cal began to panic. 'It's just in my head, it's not real!'
"Don't deny what is real Cal." It was that voice again, that soothing, calm but chilling voice that echoed inside his head.
"Who's there?!" Cal called out.
"You try ever so hard, but no one recognizes your struggles."
"Get away." Cal raged through gritted teeth holding his hands tightly to his ears. It was so cold he felt as if he was trapped inside a poison icicle.
"You shouldn't have to bear the responsibilities of being the pilot of Siegfried, to have the weight of the world on your shoulders." The voice said. "Alektra had no right to force you into that position."
"No," Cal argued. "I chose to take it up. And if it means I can set the people I care about free from this life then I can bear it. I made a promise not just to Jill but to my Gramps."
"Why keep fighting for those who lied to you? For the one that saw you as a replacement and the person who sees you as no more than a tool." The voice mocked.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Cal's voice howled. The world felt like a tidal wave as Cal felt his legs give way as a sharp hot pain ran up his left wrist. A flash of light temporarily blinded him, and Cal looked up to see a blur of pink rush to him.
"Cal! Speak to me!" Ersha cried as she put her hands to his face.
"I…I…" Cal stammered.
"What happened I heard you shout?"
"I don't know, I must have tripped." He explained rubbing his aching wrist. Ersha helped Cal up his feet and checked to see if he wasn't hurt.
"Are you sure?" Ersha asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine don't worry." He hoped he sounded convincing. Telling Ersha that he was hearing a voice from out of nowhere would only worry her more. "I was thinking about what you said and you're right about Ange. I'll try talking to her tonight." Ersha smiled at his persistence.
"That's the spirit." She beamed before leaning up to smooch him on the cheek. "You'll thank me later tonight." She whispered in his ear making Cal's cheeks turn the same colour as her hair. "Now be a good boy and get some extra ingredients from the mall for me. I bet the kids will be happy when we bring them a tray of fresh cookies." The thought of fresh cookies brightened Cal's mood considerably. Especially since Ersha knew he would try to sneak a taste of the raw cookie dough.
Still shaken up by the sudden attack in the bathroom, Ange dried herself off and fought up the courage to get something to eat, despite how dreadful the food was. Taking an empty table Ange took a bite of today's meal which surprisingly wasn't too bad.
"Do you like it?" Ange looked up to see one of the younger Norma from her squad, Vivian if she remembered correctly, sat down across from her. "Ersha's in the kitchen today and her cooking kicks ass. We're so lucky to have her." Vivian waved to Ersha who waved back from behind the kitchen counter.
"Her curry with big bro's secret sauce will blow your mind, dig in." Vivian encouraged, chewing down mouthfuls at a time like a hungry horse. "So good!" Ange didn't reply, her ruby red eyes betraying her annoyance at the bubbly younger girl. 'What is wrong with you?' Ange thought irritably. 'How can you be so carefree?'
"Oh right, here this is for you."
"Huh?" Ange replied. Dangling from Vivian's outstretched hand was a keychain, the ornament of which was something that looked like a teddy bear that had been stitched together from bits of other stuffed animals. Its tongue stuck out from its mouth and both of its eyes were bulging.
"Here's a pop quiz for you, what's so special about this little guy?" She asked which Ange simply groaned. "Wrong!" Vivian sang. "The answer is it matches with mine, Hilda's and Big bro's."
"What?" Ange grumbled.
"When me you and Hilda team up in front assault with Big bro watching our backs, I bet we'll make an even greater team than we do now." Vivian beamed before Ange's impatience finally boiled over, slapping the keychain out of Vivian's hand, right into her curry.
"My goodness." Ersha gasped
"Ange…" Vivian whimpered.
"For the last time, I don't need any of you! So just stay away from me!" Before Ange could sit somewhere else, she was yanked aggressively by the collar of her jacket and found herself staring into the Male Norma's furious eyes.
"What is your problem?!" Cal yelled. "Apologise. Now!"
"For what?" Ange asked. Her indifference to his anger and Vivian's hurt feelings only stoked the fires even more. In an instant, Cal's body burned white hot as through he would explode. Just like when the voice spoke to him, the entire world faded away save for the desire to wrap his hands around Ange's neck and strangle her.
"You should just die!" a faraway voice echoed. "It would be easy to just snap her in half."
"Cal! Cal stop!" Ersha's voice cut through his rage and Cal regained his senses.
"Big bro?" Vivian meekly asked as she pulled on the sleeve of his jacket. As his body began to shake, Cal released Ange.
"Hey, you need to sit down." Ersha gestured as Cal looked like he was about to faint. "Ange, just go." Ange didn't hesitate. In that fracture of a second, she saw something that made her spine chill. Cal's eyes had rolled up into his head for just a split second as if his own mind had shut down. 'What was that?' She thought. 'Is he sick or something? Urgh! What do I care?' As Ange walked down the hallways, she passed many residents that gave her cold stares and contemptuous whispers as she passed.
Turning a corner, Ange found herself face to face with Miranda who looked at Ange with empty eyes before hurrying past her. For a moment Ange wanted to turn around and speak to her but couldn't bring herself to do so. When she first arrived, she and Coco had been the only ones who liked her. And she had ruined it all.
"I can't say I blame her, Cal or any of your squad mates not wanting to associate with you." Ange jumped recognizing the voice of Scarlett. "What's wrong I don't bite." Ange swallowed the lump in her throat as she turned around to face her former Captain's lover and CO of the same squad that had assaulted her earlier.
"So what do I care?" Ange scoffed. "I don't have to rely on them. All I have to do is kill the DRAGONs right?"
"You can cut the act Princess," Scarlett told Ange as she stepped up to her. "You're not nearly as heartless as you want people to believe. But let me give you some advice. Do what you have to do to survive, but don't forget to live. You don't have to get along or please everyone, especially after what you did. And I can tell you right now I'm not about to forgive you. The only reason I'm telling you this is because it's what Zola would want. So you'd better appreciate those who CAN get along with you. Otherwise, what's the point of coming back alive?" Certain she had made her point, Scarlett walked off as Ange leaned against the wall.
'What's the point?' she thought. 'I can't take back anything I did. And it won't change anything either.' Wiping away her tears, Ange wandered aimlessly through the base until she found herself in front of a door that read NURSERY. And inside was something that sounded like babies cooing.
Every eye in the cafeteria was on him as Ersha and Vivian escorted Cal into an empty room and sat him down. "Cal what's the matter with you?" Ersha worried, seeing his face had gone very white. "You can't just threaten Ange like that."
"I…I don't know…I'm sorry…I don't know." Cal croaked his hands were shaking. 'What was that… that wasn't me but…' He questioned himself his head spinning. He felt in that moment he was being possessed, and…that voice! A voice to chill the bone. A voice of breath-taking ice-cold venom. '…that was my voice!'
"Big bro please…" Vivian begged. "Please don't be angry." Hearing the worry in Vivian's voice forced Cal to calm himself down.
"It's okay Vivian I'm not angry."
"Are you sure you're okay Cal?" Ersha checked.
"I'm fine…" Cal huffed with a weak smile.
"You can sleep in my room tonight. It's not healthy having you and Ange stay in the same room arguing all the time." She offered. "Now why don't we put this horrible day behind us and put the kids to bed with some cookies and a glass of milk."
"Oh, you guys having a slumber party?" Vivian beamed. "Can I join?" Ersha shook her head at Vivian's innocence but had an idea.
"Of course, you can, you can use your big bro as a hug pillow Instead of your plushie." She laughed seeing Cal's face going blue. A few hours later Cal, Ersha and Vivian arrived at the playroom. The school children burst with joy at the sight of the tray of cookies and made Cal forget his outburst with Ange as he and Ersha busied themselves in getting the kids ready for bed. Before Ersha could see them to brush their teeth she remembered she needed to check on the infants as some of the older caretakers needed assistance. "Will you keep an eye on the children I'll be back soon." Upon arrival at the Nursery however, Ersha heard something she never would have expected.
"Who would have thought we'd meet again. And in a place like this." Peeking around the door's edge, Ersha's eyes widened at the sight of Ange who was cradling little Serra in her arms. "I wonder if your mom was watching my baptism. She probably got a real kick out of it." Serra simply yawned and snuggled against Ange's bosom. "I'm so sorry. You didn't do anything to deserve this. Not like me. I just hope that when your time comes you don't screw up like I did." As Ange placed Serra back into her crib and finally turned around to see Ersha smiling at her. "Can I help you with something?" she asked, trying her best to sound cold.
"You're really quite nice despite how you act," Ersha told her. Ange however grunted with disdain and simply pushed past her. 'She reminds me of someone,' Ersha thought. A certain red-haired girl who first arrived a very long time ago. Once Ersha returned from her errand, she and Cal tucked the kids into bed as Cal read them a bedtime story. Once the kids were finally asleep, they packed up the remaining cookies and Cal stuffed them in his mouth while Vivian went to go change into her Perolina overalls in her bedroom.
"Well, you look much better." Ersha smiled seeing the colour back in Cal's face. "Just promise you'll figure things out with Ange tomorrow."
"I'm not promising anything, that'll be up to Ange." Cal said taking off his tunic. "Far as I'm concerned, she's on her own."
"Cal please." Ersha begged.
"Look can we not talk about her anymore I'm really tired."
"Well maybe Vivian might help you ease into sleep." Ersha joked. "She's always wanted a slumber party with you."
"I wouldn't count on that since I've heard the way she snores." Cal rolled his eyes. "I was hoping it would just be us two alone tonight."
"Aw all she wants is to hug her Big bro."
"Let's just go for it. She won't know what we're doing. She'll think we're just wrestling naked."
"Not on your life." Ersha said as she pinched his cheek hard. Moments later Vivian came bursting in wearing her Perolina pajamas. She opted to push the empty bed that once belonged to Naomi against Ersha's for more room, but the Pinkette saw the hesitance in Cal's eyes.
"That's okay Vivian there's enough room for the three of us." She said buttoning up her orange pajamas. Cal was dressed in his sweatpants and a black tank top as he set himself in the middle with Ersha on his left and Vivian on his right who hugged him tightly. A twin-size bed was rather cramped for three. He had shared a bed with Zola, Rosalie and Chris all at once a few times before, but Zola's king size mattress had room to spare. Before long Ersha and Vivian fell fast asleep, with the younger Norma's arms wrapped tightly around Cal pinning him in place. 'Better this than Ange I guess,' he thought with a yawn.
As the full moon lit up the room, it did little to brighten Hilda's mood. Though she had hoped being the dominant one for once would give her some satisfaction or warmth, nothing had changed. She still felt that same emptiness she had with Zola. In contrast, Rosalie and Chris lay next to her and were sleeping peacefully in each other's arms.
'I wonder if that's how Naomi and Cal felt.' She wondered. 'Having someone to pour your heart and feelings out to. Is it the same now with Ersha and Salia?' It drove her crazy, knowing they didn't have to sleep with him for loyalty, protection, or favours. She remembered the time she had offered herself to him as a way of paying him back for saving her life. 'Would it feel different if it was with him?' she wondered. 'Would he feel the same way with me as he does with Salia, Ersha or even Naomi?' No, she was being ridiculous.
Climbing out of bed Hilda went to the barred window and looked out over the moonlit water, the cold air raising Goosebumps all over her naked body. In her hand she held out Zola's prosthetic eye and gripped it tightly. "There was a time when I think I really loved you, Zola." As much as she hated the things she had to endure, it wasn't all bad. Especially in those final weeks where Zola had softened up. And she knew all too well it had something to do with Cal. In some weird way he made her life feel lively and happier. But what about the story he had told them about his past? Hilda couldn't put her finger on it but something about his story didn't feel right. It was if he was hiding behind a mask. And she knew what it was like to hide behind one all these years.
Finally, she threw the prosthetic eye out the window and it disappeared into the water below. 'What am I going to do.' Hilda sighed, Zola would have known how to deal with Cal and especially with Ange, but now Zola was gone. All thanks to that selfish bitch. No way was she going to let this go. It was time to get revenge.
Checking her watch, Mei rubbed her shoulders as another day came to an end. "Listen up everyone, we're done for today. Dismissed."
"Yes Ma'am."
Once everyone left Mei looked back to Villkiss, then to Siegfried, and finally the Ice Bullet launcher holstered under its wing; her sister's masterpiece. "Don't worry Big Sis. I'll do your share." She vowed. Turning off the lights, Mei disappeared around the corner, unaware of a figure with twin tails that was watching out of sight. Once the coast was clear, Hilda smirked as she approached Villkiss, a black bag in her hand. 'Let's see you get yourself out of this one Burn Princess.'
"Haha catch me, Miranda." Coco laughed as she ran around the maze-like hallways. Miranda ran after her friend who dashed ahead just out of her reach. But when she rounded the corner, Coco was nowhere to be seen.
"Coco where are you." Miranda called out. "Coco please this isn't funny." She began to panic until a small hand held onto hers.
"Don't worry." Coco whispered. "I'm here." She pulled Miranda into their room and smiled at her best friend warmly.
"Promise me you won't leave me Coco."
"I'll never let you go." Coco promised pulling Miranda into an embracing hug. "Just like you'll never let me go." There was a loud gushing sound as Miranda opened her eyes to see red upon red that dripped onto her hands and flowed all over her body.
"Please don't leave me Miranda." Coco said, her face covered in blood…
Miranda woke with a scream, her body covered in icy cold sweat. Adjusting her eyes to the darkness, she saw to her left the empty bed and underneath was a lilac and indigo pilot suit. "Coco you fool, you lied, you promised you wouldn't leave me." She sobbed as she hugged the suit tightly. "But you abandoned me to go with Ange." She curled into a ball on her bed, tears streaking down her face when the sudden scream of the alarm made Miranda jump out of bed as her entire room blinked red. "Attention First squad to flight hanger immediately, this is not a drill!" The commander's voice announced.
Despite her less than restless sleep, Ange leaped out of bed in an instant. "This is a first encounter alert." Pamela announced. "First squad prepare to launch. Estimated time to singular opening, 20 minutes."
"Get these units on desk ASAP!" Mei ordered as the armourers rushed to prep and equip the first squad's para-mails. Once all units were in place, they rose onto the launch deck where the first squad was already waiting.
"All units mount up!" Salia ordered. As everyone plugged in their cords, Ange mounted up and felt a sharp prick in her rear.
"Ow!" She cried pulling out a thumbtack from her left buttock. "Idiots."
"Ange! Make sure to do your pre-departure final check!" Mei waved as the other armourists departed the launch pad. "PMA exterior checks out. How does the interior look, all clear!?"
"Yeah, yeah everything looks fine." Ange said impatiently.
"Cal, ease up on the boost. The engines are at max capacity." Mei reminded him
"Thanks Mei." Cal said with a thumbs up.
"First squad move out!" Salia announced before launching into the sky. Once they were all clear from Arzenal, the squad moved into formation. Vivian took centre behind Salia with Ange and Hilda on both her flanks. Heavy and light artillery formed in the back for long range cover alongside Miranda while Cal flew overhead to keep an eye on everyone, Ange especially.
"12 klicks until singular." Pamela announced
"All unit's safeties off, the singular is about to open!" Salia shouted. Just above them, red lightning crackled around the white clouds until finally the sky burst open and out came the DRAGONs.
"Category 2 confirmed. One Brig class and fifteen schooners." Hikaru informed over the radio.
"Open fire!" Salia ordered. Artillery units blasted into the Schooners in the lead, forcing the hoard to separate so frontal assault could shoot them down. However, Ange ignored her Captain's orders and broke off formation, rushing headlong into the incoming swarm.
"Ange! Don't charge them before you're told. There's too many of them." Salia barked.
"Damn her!" Cal cursed. "Cover me I'll go after her."
"Watch out here comes the Brig!" Rosalie warned as the large purple DRAGON dove straight towards them, its projectile scales already closing in on them.
"All Units break off!" Salia ordered. Cal and the rest of the squad spread apart, dodging the incoming barrage. Ange however had already closed the distance, managing to kill a few Schooners until she saw one zooming down on her. She shifted Villkiss into destroyer mode but there was a horrible jolt and a grinding screech as thick black smoke poured out from Villkiss' vents.
"What the hell!" Ange panicked, too late to move out of the way before the Schooner crashed into her, sending Villkiss hurling towards the sea.
"Look Ange is falling!" Vivian called out.
"What happened, get Villkiss under control." Salia instructed. Cal turned to go after her, but the Brig blocked his path, knocking Siegfried aside with its long tail. Its neck bent back towards him and Cal was barely able to avoid getting Siegfried snapped up by the huge teeth.
"I don't have time for this." He growled pulling out the ice bullet launcher. Meanwhile, Ange wrestled with the controls as Villkiss continued to smoke and plunge faster towards the sea.
"Need a hand your highness?" Ange turned her head to see Hilda's red Glaive fly beside her, the red-haired girl smirking at her difficulty.
"Screw off!" Ange snapped.
"Have it your way then." Hilda obliged veering off towards the Brig Cal was fighting. Giving the handles a fierce jerk, Ange managed to convert into Destroyer mode as another Schooner slammed right into her and sent them both crashing into the surf.
"Villkiss!" Salia frantically yelled, veering off towards where it helplessly flailed to stay above water.
"Where are you going, we need you Captain." Ersha told her.
"Salia on your left flank!" Cal roared. Salia spun around just as more of the Brig's scales barely missed her. As much as she hated it, Ange and Villkiss would have to hold on.
"Unit Miranda fall back. Unit Ange needs assistance."
"Yes Ma'am." Miranda replied cutting down a lone schooner.
"All units reform and charge in on the Brig!" Salia ordered. With the sheer weight of both the Para-mail and Schooner thrashing around on top of her, water began to flood inside Ange's cockpit.
'Dammit I won't die like this.' From the corner of her eye Ange saw a dark blue and white Glaive hover just above and taking aim right at the Schooner. Miranda steadied her aim ready to kill the DRAGON until a surreal voice like an echo from far away distracted her.
"I just think you're so incredible Miss Ange." Coco's energetic voice rang out in her head. "You're smart and strong and very pretty. And you even used to be a real Princess which I thought only existed in fairy tales." As if in a dream, Miranda froze as she watched Ange's unit start to sink.
"So there is a magical land out there."
No there wasn't. It was all a stupid fantasy.
"I don't care if Ange said those harsh words. I have to see that magical land for myself."
It was all her fault that Coco got killed.
"Our world is nothing but piece, a world without war." Ange's harsh words echoed. "It is the nature of humans to live with peace and compassion. Unlike you Norma who reject the light of Mana to live on your own strength. Because you are violent cold-blooded creatures."
'It's all your fault Captain Zola and Coco died," she whispered. "You get what you deserve you cold hearted bitch!'
The water was now up to her chest and Ange could only watch as Miranda's glaive turned away from her and flew off. 'No wait!' She cried as the Schooner pounced down upon her, sinking the two of them underneath the surface. 'Shit.' Water filled over Ange's head turning everything pitch black as she felt herself fade away.
Barrel rolling around another barrage, Cal fired an Ice Bullet square in the Brig's face which exploded into a cloud of ice and snow. "Salia, Hilda it's front is exposed I'll distract it so you can get a clear shot!" With the Brig still blinded by Cal's attack, Cal took advantage to swoop around its head like an annoying fly, peppering it with fire from his assault rifle. Between the constant harassment and the stinging ice covering its face, the Brig blindly lashed out and snapped at him as Salia and Hilda hurtled forward and planted their freeze bullets into the side of its sternum and neck, killing it instantly.
"Phew, that lizard put up a fight." Vivian huffed as it fell into sea. Now that the fight was over, Salia spun around to where Ange and the Schooner were, but they had disappeared.
"Unit Miranda what's the status on Unit Ange?" Salia asked.
"I couldn't find Unit Ange or the Schooner." Miranda told her. "I'm sorry Captain there was nothing I could do." 'No!' Salia fretted. She frantically checked her scanners but Villkiss had completely vanished of the radar.
With the battle now over, the command staff wrote off the damages. "Target down. Mission complete." Olivia observed. "Unit Rosalie took minor damage to the right thruster, Unit Ersha was hit to the right shoulder but are good to fly. Unit Ange is lost." 'Shit how did this happen?' Jill cursed as she picked up the intercom.
"Good work everyone, return to base."
"Commander, Villkiss…Ange wasn't destroyed." She heard Salia reply. "We should perform a search and recover it."
"Is that a joke?" Hilda cut in. "We're all exhausted and running on fumes. You honestly expect us to search for the princess and her bucket of bolts?" Though Jill didn't like it leaving the two crucial tools of Libertus out to dry, she had to keep things looking normal so the Inspector wouldn't catch on.
"Hilda's right Captain, I'll send out a search team. All units return to base." She ordered. Rubbing the bridge of her nose Jill leaned back into her chair and lit a cigarette.
"Commander at least open a window when you do that." Emma coughed. "How did a single Schooner manage to take down an experienced Pilot?"
"That was no accident Inspector." Jill suspected puffing out her smoke. "Olivia, pull up Unit Miranda's battle surveillance." When the footage played for all to see, Jill eyes narrowed as it became very clear what had happened to Ange and Villkiss.
"That is unacceptable." Inspector Emma said in surprise. "I've never seen Norma leave each other for dead." Jill grunted as she pulled her desk intercom.
"Security personnel, have Unit Miranda detained and arrested for deserting of one of her comrades."
When they all arrived back at base, before First Squad could gather their thoughts and process what had happened, a security team had snatched Miranda by her arms and dragged her away.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing, let go of her!" Cal demanded.
"What is the meaning of this?" Salia barked.
"Commander's orders. She is to be detained and kept in solitary for further punishment." One of the girls told them, not bothering to look at him as they kept their pace.
"Cal what's happening?" Miranda whimpered in fright and confusion as Cal cut them off.
"Move along, that's an order!"
"I said let her go. Now!" he repeated as one guard drew her baton.
"Disobeying orders is insubordination!" When Cal didn't budge, she struck at him only for Cal to catch her wrist, snatching the baton from her and struck her hard in the face, sending her crashing to the floor, blood poured from her mouth.
"Cal what did you just do?" Chris gawked.
"Cal don't do this." Ersha pleaded.
"Anyone else?" He dared. The other six security pulled out their stun batons all pulsing with electricity as Cal reached for his knife.
"Cal stand down!" Salia shouted.
"Last chance!" Another warned.
"Bring it on," he told them.
"Enough!" A harsh voice roared. Cal turned to see Jill standing near the elevator, her eyes shooting daggers at him. "Take Miranda to solitary. Take her to the infirmary. As for you. My office. NOW!" Jill's tone was enough to cow even a DRAGON so Cal did as he was told, hoping to get some explanation.
"What the hell was that about?" Rosalie whispered, then saw Hilda's hand was still locked over her gun as if ready to shoot. "Hilda are you okay?"
"What…yeah." Hilda said quickly as she relaxed.
"Care to explain yourself." Jill snapped as she perched in her chair.
"You tell me!" Cal countered. "Why is she being punished? Miranda didn't do anything wrong!"
"That's where you're wrong." Jill told him. "I reviewed the footage. Miranda deserted Ange leaving her for dead. Not that it's any of your business." The shock of the revelation left Cal speechless right up until Salia and the rest of Libertus' inner circle came barging in.
"Commander, what is the meaning off…" Salia spoke up.
"Hold your tongue!" Jill snapped making Salia flinch then freeze where she stood.
"Well it IS my business. She's my comrade!" Cal shouted. Even though he knew it was wrong he couldn't exactly blame Miranda. "She just lost her best friend because of Ange. You can at least understand that."
"Once again you act before thinking and that's what will get you killed when Libertus begins." Jill said bitterly. "It's about time you get your priorities right. You may want to save everyone but Villkiss is the main priority in making Libertus a success. If you aren't ready to make the hard decisions then you don't have a place here."
"Jill that's enough." Maggie interrupted.
"So Villkiss was lost in battle." Jasmine sighed. "Just when I finally though we found the right pilot."
"But why it was in tip top shape." Mei growled.
"Let's get it back first." Salia said. "We'll figure the rest out once we find Villkiss."
"Good idea, I'll go and put together a search party." Mei suggested.
"Bring her back too." Jill added. "If she's dead, show me her corpse." She then looked to Cal. "Go with them. Take Siegfried and see if it can pick up Villkiss's signal."
"No." Cal blurted out. Everyone's eyes widened by what he had just said. Even Jill seemed taken aback.
"Explain yourself."
"I said no." Cal repeated.
"I'm not asking I'm telling!" Jill snapped.
"Or what, you're gonna put me in solitary with Miranda? Well go ahead. We don't need Ange and she can drown for all I care. So what if she can pilot Villkiss? We'll find another Norma who can."
"Cal stop it." Jasmine said firmly.
"Fine have your little tantrum, it won't change anything." Jill snapped, now at the end of her rope. "Now leave. You have half rations until the end of the week for putting your hands on security. But test my patience again and I'll have you busted down to sewage detail. Now get out of my sight!" Cal glared at Jill in disgust as he gave a half-hearted salute and left, slamming the doors behind him.
"You could be less harsh." Maggie noted.
"Jill the girl is only 12, she lost someone who was like a sister to her." Jasmine pointed out. "You of all people know what it's like to lose a sister figure." Jill's eyes shot open in anger as the vivid picture of Vanessa flashed before her eyes.
"She's a Norma and a soldier now." Jill growled. "She'll be treated no different regardless of age or circumstances." 'You treat Ange differently.' Salia thought bitterly. "If you want to help, then make him see sense. Dismissed!"
Once Mei had everything in order, she along with Salia and a mix of medical and armorer personnel were ready to search for Ange and Villkiss in one of Arzenal's Warhammer aircrafts. "Mei hold up!" someone called over the roar of the propellers. Salia and Mei turned around just as Vivian and Ersha came running up behind her. "Are you leaving now? Let us come too." She panted.
"But you just got back from a mission." Mei said.
"But if we don't hurry she'll die." Vivian said eagerly. "Ange is alive trust me."
"And she's probably really hungry since she hasn't had breakfast." Ersha smiled holding up a picnic basket. "So we better hurry up and locate her quickly."
"Let's get it in gear!" Vivian squealed as she and Ersha headed inside the aircraft.
"I take it Cal isn't coming." Mei asked. "It would be a lot easier with his help."
"No, just leave him be he's stressed enough as it is." Salia told her. "We'll find Villkiss on our own."
"Live on Angelise, no matter what."
The last words her mother ever spoke out to her echoed from out of the darkness and Ange groggily opened her eyes. 'What happened,' she wondered. The last thing she remembered was cold rushing all across her body. As her vision cleared, she looked up to see a roof made of thick green leaves held in place by bamboo rafters. 'Where am I?' She wasn't dead or back at the Arzenal infirmary so where was she?
Ange tried to move but her hands felt restrained. Shifting her view, she saw that they were tied to what looked like a bed frame. Something like a soft breeze tickled her ear and Ange tuned over and gasped at the sight of a boy. Beneath the forelocks of his shaggy brown hair, purple eyes opened up to meet her gaze.
"What…who…who are…" Ange stammered in bewilderment until she felt course sheets rubbing against her bare breasts. She looked down and to her horror realised she was naked. And so was the strange boy lying next to her.
"WHAAAHHH!"
TO BE CONTINUED…
