CHAPTER 30
LOYAL MAID
It was an unusual couple of days at Arzenal for Inspector Bronson. Though she had taken pains to present herself as a mature and capable officer, including hiding her secret collection of Perolina posters and plushies, living with a man did lead to some inevitable situations. That very morning, 30 minutes before they were assigned wake up, an unexpected sortie was detected. On reflex, Emma rushed out of her living quarters in only a thin nightgown right in front of Corporal Lawrence who was in a tight white tank top and grey boxers. Out of sheer embarrassment Emma didn't talk to her bodyguard all day, though he tried many occasions to apologize to her.
Later the next evening, another Sortie was detected right before an expected resupply. Thankfully at least it was on the opposite side of the Arzenal quarantine zone from where the flight crews usually arrived from. Once first squad headed out to deal with the attack, Inspector Bronson with help from Corporal Lawrence and Jasmine hurried to get the shipment offloaded and cleared so the pilots could safely land.
"Food quantity: 12. Clothing: 4. Medical Supplies: 4. Maintenance Materials: 4." Emma read through the shipping order via Mana screen.
"The box with the brassieres is mine!" Jasmine called patting one crate jovially. "Please move it downstairs right away." From the corner of her eye, Jasmine smirked seeing even the Corporal was helping move a few crates. Forgoing the use of his Mana, the burly man instead opted to heft one of the crates over his shoulder, leading some of the Norma to give him a mixture of disgruntled and flirtatious looks.
"Show off."
"He thinks he's so tough, but Cal's still better looking."
"Yeah but check out how big those arms are."
"I'd love to sit on those shoulders."
"Corporal please you don't need to do that." Emma told him. "At least use your Mana."
"It's fine Ma'am I need the exercise." Corporal Lawrence assured, dropping his load on Jasmine's pallet jack. Amidst the hustle, Vulcan sat patiently beside Jasmine when his ears suddenly cocked.
"Confirming full receipt." said Emma finally checking off the list of supplies. "Thanks very much."
"All right. We'll be back in two weeks." The pilot saluted over video and just in time too. Commander Jill had just announced the sortie was over and Emma could already see the running lights of First Squad getting closer from the west. Once the check over had ended and the Mana transport flew off, Vulcan nudged Jasmine's hand with his nose.
"Alright, alright I'm coming," Jasmine said. "You're such a baby sometimes."
"Hold it. What was that?" Corporal Lawrence interrupted. Jasmine heard it too and recognized the sound of footsteps running away.
"If anyone is back there stealing, I'll give you such a thrashing!" Jasmine warned, brandishing the death stick as she and Corporal Lawrence went to investigate.
"Who's there?!" He called firmly.
"Hey wait for me." Emma cried as she hurried after them.
With the First squad's Para-mail back on deck, Mei and her team got the 9 Para-mail prepped for refuel and repairs. "All hands, get to work!" Mei ordered. "Get moving, or you won't be done in time for supper!" As they headed for the showers, Cal let out a drawn-out yawn from the Category 3 that they had just returned from. Though there were no casualties lately from either of the three squads, the DRAGON attacks were becoming more frequent lately and it made him feel uneasy. But at least with Ange back they were making money again. Or at least Cal, Ersha, Vivian and Salia were. The latter of whom required some gentle prodding from Cal to convince her. Ange still stole most of the kills, but since she shared her reward with them it wasn't all bad. Though Hilda and the others still refused to so much as touch it.
"Thanks for the helping hand out there Ange." Cal praised as he playfully patted her on the back. "If you hadn't blasted that Corvette off my ass then I might have been in big trouble." Though Ange had once again disobeyed Salia's orders and went off on her own, Cal did notice the past 2 weeks that she took a step back to assist those who were in danger.
"Yeah, well you were in my way anyway." Ange told him. "Figures I might as well pay you back for finding me. So next time try to keep yourself alive. I don't have time to keep pulling your ass out of the fire."
"You're all heart you know that?" Cal snarked.
"Now Cal don't be like that," Ersha smiled giving a mischievous wink at Ange who laughed. "Maybe she's just embarrassed about her true feelings for you."
"Don't make me puke," Ange told her.
"Hey Ange!" Vivian skipped over. "You kicked some serious butt today. You gotta teach me your moves." But not everyone shared Vivian's opinion. At the rear of the group, Hilda and her three henchmen were seething.
"Damn bitch!" Rosalie spat clenching her fist. "She keeps hogging all the kills for herself." It wasn't just about the money. The scoreboard in the flight simulators was showing her rank going higher and higher while theirs kept going down.
"She's got some nerve, thinking she's better than us." Chris huffed.
"Why did she even come back?" Miranda coldly grumbled. "No one wants her here."
"Because she's a real cockroach." Hilda sneered. "No matter how many times you try to flush them down the toilet they always find a way to climb out of the drain."
"Why don't we put a dent in her head for good measures then?" Rosalie dared, pulling a metal screw out from between her cleavage.
"Don't the commander will get mad." Chris said nervously.
"Not if she doesn't find out." Hilda pointed out making both Chris and Miranda's faces glee maliciously. "Care to do the honors Newbie?" Rosalie offered the screw to Miranda who sincerely wanted to take it but with Cal walking beside Ange she hesitated.
"Maybe next time," she said.
"Suit yourself," Rosalie shrugged as she wound up for the pitch. "Eat this you dumb…." but the sudden blare of the alarm made them halt in their tracks. "It was a joke!" Rosalie panicked. "I didn't mean it! I swear! We kid around all the time with…"
"Attention, all hands!" Pamela's voice broadcast over the intercom. "We have detected a trespasser inside Arzenal! The suspect is currently located on the upper deck! Anyone in the nearby area must assist in capture!"
"Oh my, an intruder?" Ersha gasped.
"Who the hell would want to sneak in here?" Hilda wondered aloud. Cal could think of one person.
"Hey," Ange whispered. "You don't think…"
"I hope not," he answered. The conversation he had with Commander Jill the day he found Ange was still fresh in his mind. Would Tusk really be desperate enough to see her that he'd try to sneak into Arzenal?
(12 days ago)
The moment he and the search party arrived back on Arzenal, Cal immediately rushed off to give his full report to Jill. He had to admit, the look on her face was kind of scary as it was exceedingly rare to see her pleased. That expression turned to shock and disbelief as if someone had slapped her when he told her of his encounter with Tusk. "So, he really is alive. I knew it. You should be proud of yourself for finishing a promise Gaz kept to me."
"What do you mean?"
"Did your Gramps ever go off on 'emergency runs'?" Jill asked him. "Ever since that day he saved my life, he would search the islands around Arzenal for Tusk. When he heard he survived and had left the original Libertus he wanted to keep him with you two until the time was right."
"I never would have guessed any of the Ancient Folk were still alive after what you said happened." Cal agreed. "And we're even luckier that it was the son of the first pilot of Siegfried who found Ange."
"Speaking of which, Ange hasn't talked about this boy or mentioned him?"
"No. We both agreed it would be best if we kept his existence a secret," Cal told her. "We didn't want him to risk the Inspector or Corp Lawrence finding out about him." 'And I can only guess how the other residents would react if there was a friendly male within flying distance of here,' he thought to himself.
"Well Tusk had the right idea getting away from that place," Jill concluded as she lit a cigarette. "No doubt the humans are going to start digging up what happened."
"What I want to know is why humans were transporting a frozen DRAGON carcass?" Cal wondered. "What possible use could they have for it?"
"That doesn't matter. "Jill told him. "For now we keep our heads down and keep this our little secret."
"But shouldn't Jasmine, Salia and…"
"Not until the time is right." Jill ordered. "Hopefully, your and Ange's encounter with him will get Tusk to contact us before Libertus begins. In the meantime, keep working on how to unlock Siegfried's abilities. Something tells me that machine has a lot more to show."
"Yes Commander." Cal saluted as Jill dismissed him.
'I knew I made the right choice making Cal the pilot of Siegfried and the knight of Villkiss.' Jill thought as she watched him go. 'I'm proud of you Cal, for doing what is necessary despite your feelings towards Ange. I need that from you if you're going to serve your purpose.'
(Present day)
"Everyone back to the hanger now!" Salia ordered. In what seemed no time at all, first squad were back on the launch deck, their Para-mails still parked in place. From the other side they heard a commotion of shouts and Vulcan's barking.
"She went that way!" One of the security personnel called out.
"Surround her!"
"Don't let her get away!"
Cal and everyone else rushed over to the left side to see Security sprinting down a corridor that led into the storage area, Corporal Eric Lawrence in hot pursuit as they heard a girl's voice yell. "Light of Mana!"
"There she is!"
"Get her!"
"Got you!" There was a loud clang and the sound of glass shattering and Corporal Lawrence along with security came back with someone being carried across the Corporal's broad shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Let me go!" The intruder struggled as she kicked helplessly. Once he dropped the intruder, everyone gathered around, and Cal saw that it was a girl. She had collar length dark purple hair, honey orange eyes, a mole under her left one. And although cute looking she was dressed like a maid cosplayer with a short sleeved white blouse, short purple skirt, white stockings, a large blue ribbon over her collar, and a ruffled bonnet. It also looked like she had lived in her costume for a week as it was dirty, rumpled and her stockings had more than a few holes.
"Please don't hurt me!" She pleaded as a green light formed around her hands which she held up to defend herself. In response, everyone's guns were drawn but Cal felt that something was very off. Whoever this girl was she didn't look anywhere near threatening or dangerous.
"Who are you?!" Corporal Lawrence ordered as he towered over the girl that looked like a frightened child compared to him. "How did you get here?"
"Please stop!" The girl squeaked in fright. "I…I only came to see Lady Angelise!"
"That voice," Cal heard Ange gasp as she shoved to the front of the crowd. "Momoka!" Upon hearing her name, the strange girl turned to the voice and her eyes widened in shock.
"L…Lady…LADY ANGELISE!" she leapt to her feet and rushed at Ange, throwing her arms around her as she continued to bawl. "It's you! I can't believe it! It's really you! I've missed you so much.
"Who in the…who is she?" Chris asked.
"She knows Ange?" Vivian gasped excitedly.
"Everyone put your weapons away." Corporal Lawrence ordered.
"I'm beyond lost." Cal admitted.
Over the next hour Commander Jill, Inspector Bronson and Corporal Lawrence interrogated Momoka in the holding cells. Once Inspector Bronson did some digging on the girl and realized, she wasn't a spy or threat they allowed Momoka to leave under Ange's supervision, much to the latter's annoyance. Emma meanwhile made an emergency call to the NMB committee to inform them of the situation.
"Her name is Momoka Oginome." Emma explained. "Apparently she was the personal maid to the former Princess Angelise." Beside her Jill laid back in her chair as she listened in on the conversation. "Yes…What?! Yes, I see." Jill looked to Emma once the call had ended, her face chalk white and a haunted look in her eyes.
"What did the Committee say?" Jill asked though she could already guess by the Inspector's expression. "They want her executed right?"
"I take it they were very straightforward about it." Corporal Lawrence said heavily.
"Is there nothing that can be done?" Emma looked from the Commander to her Bodyguard worriedly. "That poor girl, all she did was come here to see her former Princess."
"I guess if we let the girl leave, top secret information might get out about the Norma fighting the DRAGONs." Corporal Lawrence reminded her. "I imagine they would also want to keep the Male Norma's existence under tight wraps."
"That's true." Jill snuffed out her cigarette.
"Commander," Emma suggested hopefully, "isn't there anything we can do? They said they'll send a private airship to pick her up in 2 days."
"Of course, you would sympathize." Jill replied in an icy tone. "But a Norma like me doesn't have the power to challenge the rules you humans made." Emma sighed hopelessly in her chair. "For now, the very least we can do is let them spend whatever little time they have together." Jill looked up to see Corporal Lawrence was thinking hard. "You have a solution?"
"It's not something that will save the girl, but it might prolong her stay here which might satisfy the committee." He told them.
"What are you suggesting?" Emma asked hopefully.
Ange waited an exceptionally long time until Momoka was finally free to go. Already in a bad mood since she missed dinner, now the Commander put the responsibility to look after Momoka on her. Throughout the entire time they walked together, Ange did not speak or acknowledge her former head maid until Momoka finally built up the courage to speak.
"So…I…" Momoka said tensely struggling to find words. "I noticed you've cut your royal hair short Princess." She noted. Ange simply ignored her. "Well, I think it looks lovely, it makes you look very mature. As though you've grown up a bit." Ange didn't reply as she glanced sideways at Momoka in irritation. "So, these are the rehabilitation facilities for Norma? It smells rather dusty." Momoka commented. The overall environment was nothing compared to the Imperial Misurugi palace.
"Get in." Ange said coldly as she opened a door.
"Yes…excuse me." Momoka obliged but once Ange turned on the light the appearance of the room shocked Momoka to the core. "Don't tell me, these are your living quarters milady? It's such a small room." The left side had a mere twin bed with thin sheets while the right bed was a small double with midnight blue covers printed with stars. 'That's odd, I thought Lady Angelise's favorite colour was royal blue not dark blue.' On the wall was a variety of detailed drawings, two of which especially stood out to Momoka. One of a wooden cabin and the other of a girl with her radiant pink hair tied in two bunches like cat ears. "I see you've taken up quite the hobby Milady. I must say they're really amazing and well detailed. Is this girl a friend of yours?"
"Those aren't mine." replied Ange who opened her wardrobe to remove her gloves.
"What!" At that moment the door opened and Cal entered, his arms full of snacks. "Hey there, I hope I'm not interrupting anything here. I brought some stuff from the mall in case you were hungry since you missed supper."
"Thanks, just leave them on the nightstand." Ange nodded.
"Excuse me!" Momoka exclaimed suddenly in a way that made Cal flinch. "Who are you? You're not allowed in here!"
"Oh, hey there." Cal waved lightly a little stunned by Momoka's reaction. "I know you're new here, but I sleep here. This is my room."
"Preposterous!" Momoka argued. "A boy is not permitted to share a room with a Princess! Lady Angelise, who is this boy?"
"A little help Ange." Cal urged.
"Listen up." Ange directed not bothering to look at or address Momoka by her name. "This is Cal and don't freak out but he's a Norma."
"What!" Momoka gasped. "But…but I thought all Norma were girls, Male Norma's don't exist."
"Well, I'm a special case." Cal chuckled rubbing the back of his head. Still in shock, Momoka turned back to Ange for an explanation as her mistress began to remove her jacket.
"Please, allow me to assist…" she offered, only for Ange to slap her hand away as she threw her jacket on the bed. "Here let me fold that. Come light of Mana." Her hand engulfed in a green light as Ange's jacket encased in the green light floated in the air and began to fold by itself.
"Is that all you use it for, chores?" Ange said in a way that was almost disdainful.
"LADY ANGELISE!" Momoka cried at Ange who had continued stripping and was now clad only in her underwear in front of a man. Momoka jerked her head to see the Male Norma was simply watching her fold Ange's clothes that now dropped to the ground. "Close your eyes you pervert!" Momoka jumped up to cover Cal's eyes with her hand but accidently ended up poking him in both eyes.
"Yaoww!" Cal yelped rubbing his eyes. "What was that for?"
"Will you just stop already!" Ange said furiously as she changed into a short black tank top.
"But Lady Angelise, a princess shouldn't undress in front of a man." Ange plopped herself on her small single bed helping herself to the snacks Cal had brought her.
"I've changed and showered with him many times. It's nothing he hasn't seen before." Ange told her plainly as if this was normal. Momoka was outraged. Her face went from paper white to crimson red seeing out the corner of her eye the Male Norma's clothes being thrown to the floor next to her.
"Lady Angelise he's taking off his clothes!" Momoka whimpered on the verge of fainting.
"Turn around if it embarrasses you." Cal told her. Momoka squeaked and covered her eyes keeping them tight shut as she heard him stripping.
"How can this place be so barbaric?!" She wailed. Once Cal changed into a pair of sweatpants Momoka opened her eyes and gulped seeing the many scars across his athletic frame.
"Goodnight, Ange." Cal yawned as he collapsed face first on his bed with a thump completely exhausted.
"If you were a gentleman, you would give your bed to a Royal Princess!" Momoka reproved.
"Enough." Ange said in a short-tempered tone. "I've been told to take care of you until the day after tomorrow. So just keep quiet."
"Take care of me?!" Momoka objected. "It is me who must take care of you Lady Angelise!"
"Who's that?" Ange bitterly mocked as she folded her jacket. "I'm not a Princess. I'm just a Norma named Ange."
"Don't say that!" Momoka pleaded snatching Ange's jacket and hugging it to her chest. "You are Lady Angelise! I know you are! And I'm not going home! I'm staying! All I ever wanted to do was serve you forever!"
"You can't go home anyway." Ange replied sorrowfully. "My mother died and the Misurugi Nation was brought to ruins because I'm a Norma. Now you don't have anywhere to go back to, either." She looked to Momoka and the maid was taken aback by the contempt in her eyes. "You knew that I was a Norma right from the start, didn't you? My father hired you to take care of me so I wouldn't find out I couldn't use Mana. You did a superb job of deceiving me. Not that it matters now." The dismissive way her mistress was treating her cut Momoka right down to her center as she felt tears begin to well up in her eyes.
"My place has only ever been by your side." She sobbed as she fell to her knees. "I searched and searched, and now finally, I found you. Please…allow me to stay by your side."
"This is no place for a human." Ange said, finding Momoka's pleas pitiful. "I'm going to bed now." And then she realized another problem.
Throughout the entire time Cal was listening he didn't dare intrude on Ange and her friend's conversation. Though he would have liked to talk with the newly arrived guest he was much too tired. Feeling a light tap on his exposed shoulder he lazily flipped his head and saw it was Ange. "What?" Cal said groggily.
"Get out. You're going to have to sleep on the floor." Ange demanded.
"Excuse me!?" Cal almost yelled. "This is my bed."
"Then go bunk with Salia or Ersha or anyone else you've seduced. I don't care which. Momoka has to sleep in my bed so I'm taking yours."
"Ange I'm tired. It's late. Just go to sleep." Cal yawned. He expected a smack or an argument but instead he felt a weight on his bed beside him.
"Scootch over." Ange beckoned as she climbed into Cal's larger bed, making sure to keep her back turned to his. "Use that bed over there." He heard her tell Momoka as she turned off the lamp. Cal didn't argue or complain. He just hoped Salia or anyone else wouldn't walk in on them like this.
"Good night Lady Angelise," Momoka said though Ange didn't respond. 'Ange are you sure you want to do this?' he wondered. Cal knew of the role Momoka had played in keeping Ange's status as a Norma under wraps so he could understand suddenly seeing her again may bring up a lot of mixed feelings. He could actually relate from how he reacted after learning of Gramps' past. But no matter what her reasons for doing so, she had obviously risked her life to come here. Why do that if she no longer had to keep up the charade?
'She doesn't seem to hate Norma.' He thought. 'But maybe it's only Ange she cares about. She probably doesn't feel anything else for me or any others.' The last thing he felt before falling asleep was Ange turning over and her arm draping over his stomach. Her grip tightened and it almost felt like she was clinging to him for comfort and safety.
To her displeasure, Momoka was confided to Ange and Cal's living quarters all morning as she was forbidden to intervene with the squad's training. She became bored very quickly and took it upon herself to tidy the entire room. 'Lady Angelise doesn't have that many belongings.' She noticed. Most of everything seemed to belong to the Male Norma. Drawings, manga books, a fly catching plant, a rose gold bracelet he left this morning and a large sketch book. Feeling a little curious, Momoka flicked through the pages. 'I must say these are really well done.' Most of them were places around Arzenal, animals, forests, and waterfalls. Then she came to something that made her heart stop still; a detailed portrait of a rather voluptuous woman laid down across a bed with her arms relaxed over her head like a model magazine. The name 'Zola' was written in the bottom right and she was nude.
"Wh…what is this!?" She squealed, her face feeling like it was on fire. Flipping the pages over she found even more nude girls, some of which she recognized from the previous night. 'Ersha' laying on her stomach posing sideways. 'Salia' lying back with her arms covering her breasts. 'Rosalie' and 'Chris' sitting back-to-back. Betty, Sadie, Hannah, Irma, Eleanor, Hikaru, Rachel, Courtney. Suddenly, the door handle rattled, and Momoka snapped the sketch book shut and threw it back in the drawer just before Ange and Cal returned.
"I'll see you later, Jasmine's expecting me at the mall." Cal said as he grabbed a few things from his wardrobe. "Hey what the hell, who folded my clothes." He looked at Momoka suspiciously who was looking at back at him mortified. "What?"
"You…you stay away from Lady Angelise you…sex fiend!" Momoka yelled getting between Ange.
"Don't give me that shit! I get enough from the Inspector and her pig of a bodyguard." Cal frowned leaving without a backward glance.
"Don't call Cal names." Ange ordered.
"But Lady Angelise you can't stay in this room with him! He's a pervert!" Momoka pleaded.
"I know he is." Ange told her. "But he knows better that to try anything." 'At least he doesn't shove his face in between my crouch.' She thought with a mixture of annoyance and nostalgia.
Still mortified by what she had seen, Momoka followed Ange to the cafeteria wanting to get some distance from the Male Norma. But further horrors awaited in the crowded cafeteria. "Such an unhygienic environment! Such meager food! I can't believe they expect you to live this way! I can't believe you've been living in these conditions! Eating this food!"
"Will you shut up?" Someone snapped. "People are eating here!"
"So annoying."
"Ange do something about your maid's manners." Urged Tanya as she dumped a load of rice onto Ange's tray.
"Ange really does come from another world." Ersha noted from where she sat with Salia, Vivian and a few members from third squad. "Having you own personal maid does seem rather nice."
"What's a maid anyways?" Vivian asked through a mouthful.
"It's someone who serves on you hand and foot." Answered Salia.
"Wow that's so cool." Vivian awed as Ersha wiped the ketchup from the side of her face.
"Vivian please try to eat a little neater."
"Hey if that's how it works then that makes you two my maids right?"
"Not at all!" Ersha and Salia snapped. Meanwhile, a new disturbance had risen with Ange's maid having some sort of scuffle at a table where Hilda, Rosalie and Chris were sitting.
"What do you think you're doing. Someone give up your seat for Princess Angelise." Momoka demanded.
"Mind your own business." Ange told her in embarrassment as everyone began to stare.
"Ha! You want us to give up our seats for you." Hilda laughed mockingly. "Someone has a high opinion of herself don't you, Trash Princess."
"You think your hot shit don't you." Rosalie growled.
"Maybe she is since I can smell her from here." Chris jabbed making the entire table giggle.
"This…this is unacceptable!" Momoka shouted. "How dare you speak that way to Princess Angelise! Even for a Norma that was totally uncalled…"
"She's a Norma too." Hilda reminded as she pointed at Ange.
"N…no…she isn't!" Momoka stuttered and Ange noticed her entire body was quivering. "Princess Angelise will always be Princess Angelise!" Hilda, Rosalie, and Chris howled with laughter.
"She sounds just like you when you first came here." Hilda said through her laughter. "A little miss maid for little miss Trash Princess!"
"I guess you won't be lonely at night anymore huh?" Rosalie added. "You must be desperate knowing Cal won't touch trash. But now you have someone to polish your knobs."
"Oh, classy as usual." Ange countered in a deadly voice, fighting the urge to slam her tray across their faces.
"Well as your maid said we are Norma." Hilda threatened as she and the others stood up. Momoka got in between them, her arms outstretched to protect her Princess.
"I'm warning you. If you don't stop disrespecting Lady Angelise I'll…I'll…" Momoka's voice faltered and she teetered on her feet before she collapsed to the ground, her eyes glassed over.
"Are you kidding me?" Ange groaned. "Come on." Pulling the maid to her feet, Angelise helped walk her out of the cafeteria. 'Arrogant bitch!' Hilda thought. 'You have someone who came all this way to find you and you don't even care!' She had no idea how much some of them here would give for that. 'Does she still remember me?' Hilda thought, picturing that small house surrounded by hundreds of apple trees. 'If the maid could come here, why hasn't she?'
The Mall was buzzing with excited chatter and laughter. Jasmine had ordered some new arcade games which meant good business. Not that she had much in the way of competition of course. "Are you sure you don't need a hand with those?" Cal offered Miranda who tried to match up with him by carrying 4 boxes at a time.
"No…I got it…" She heaved as she wobbled, her arms feeling they could break off any second.
"If you say so." On que, Miranda stumbled and Cal caught her with an outreached arm. "You've been pushing yourself harder than ever recently. Is something bothering you?"
"It's nothing." Miranda insisted but her face said otherwise.
"Is it Ange?" Miranda tensed and Cal knew he had hit the mark.
"Why did you save her?" She angrily whispered. "Someone like her doesn't deserve to be saved after all she did. Because of her I'm losing more money than earning it during combat."
"Miranda come on. It's water under the bridge now." Cal said tentatively. "Besides Ange shares her reward so it's not like you HAVE to be broke."
"I don't care!" Miranda yelled. "She still hasn't been punished for what happened to Coco. I can't just forget what happened to my best friend."
"I understand how you feel. I felt the same way for a while. And it still hurts thinking about them. But you can't let it consume you. Ange does care about us and is trying to make it up to us…"
"So, our Captain and Coco?" she interrupted. "Their lives don't matter or mean much to you as well!"
"Miranda!" Cal barked. "Do not speak to me that way. Where is this coming from? This sounds nothing like you."
"Just leave me alone!" She yelled as she rushed off in tears. 'Come on Miranda you're better than that.' He knew that Miranda was spending a lot of time with Hilda, Rosalie and Chris lately and it seemed as if they were having a bad influence on her. And his mood turned even worse when he saw the Inspector and Corporal Lawrence wandering around the mall. Keeping an eye on them, he waited until the Inspector wondered off with Jasmine to check over storage supplies for the next delivery, leaving her bodyguard lingering back to look at the book section. Ducking behind a shelf, Cal peeped over to see the Corporal looking back and forth to make sure no one was watching before picking out a gym fitness magazine. One of Scarlett's favorites with the men with muscular brick like bodies.
"Hmm, this vegetable, fish and red meat diet looks promising," he said softly. "I do need to lose some weight."
"Any good articles?" The corporal wheeled around with a start dropping the magazine. "You little punk! How much did you see?"
"Hey don't worry." Cal said his face aching from the urge to smirk. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Scarlett likes ogling the pictures too."
"Why you…" Corporal Lawrence's face went purple, a vain throbbing in his temple. "Just forget what you saw." The Corporal's tone dropped as people began to stare. "Or you'll be sorry you were born." He stormed off and Cal was pleased to hear a definite note of panic in his voice.
'Hmm I'm going to have a lot of fun with this little secret of yours.' Cal grinned evilly. He turned around and who should he see come through the entrance but Ange supporting Momoka who looked on the verge of collapsing.
Finally, the mall's microwave dinged, steam rising from the two burgers and Momoka eagerly dug into hers. "This is great!" she half sobbed with joy.
"You could have told me you haven't had anything to eat for 3 days." Ange said testily.
"P-Please excuse me milady." Momoka said dreamily. "I was so excited about meeting you that I forgot." Ange scowled as she pulled a stack of cash from her pouch and threw it onto the table tennis table they were leaning against.
"Use that, you can buy whatever you want with this from now on." Ange told her. "That's how things work around here."
"So, this is what they call cash?" Momoka asked, looking very intrigued by the green slips of paper. "I was always taught that a monetary economy was a flawed system but, in a way, it seems rather fun." Suddenly, a blood curdling scream cut through the air. Before them, Maggie, the nurse staff and Scarlett rushed by pushing a wheeled gurney. A girl was strapped down, her free arm flaying out and clawing in a frenzy.
"Cal go help them out." Jasmine worried and Cal rushed over to assist.
"Charlotte please just calm down it's going to be okay!" Scarlett pleaded, her plug suit covered in blood, holding down her wounded squad mate.
"It hurts…Captain please! AAAHHH!" Charlotte screamed at the top of her lungs her arm grabbing and clawing at Cal who tried to hold her arm and not put her in more pain than she was already in.
"Settle down." Maggie advised tightening the straps around her patient. "If we can't get your arm back on, you'll have no one to blame but yourself. Wait a minute where is your arm."
"It's right here." One of the nurses said, holding up Charlotte's forearm that had fell to the floor. Momoka gasped in horror and almost gagged at the ketchup covered meat she had taken a bite out of.
"What happened to her? What kind of place is this?" Ange crumpled her wrapper and threw it into a nearby waste bin.
"It's the 'hunt.'" She said scornfully. "I might end up like that too, one day." Without another word, she walked off and Momoka felt the same sense of despair and confusion from last night settling in.
"Poor Lady Angelise, what has this place done to you?" Everything she had grown to know about her Princess was twisted and broken. "She's not the girl I once knew. You've been hurt and are suffering." She clenched her fist and knew what she had to do. "I must save her. Leave everything to your head maid."
Morning turned to midday and Ange managed to find Cal and Scarlett by the gym. Cal had three claw marks on the side of his cheek from Charlotte's nails. Scarlett looked in an even worse fix, her face completely drained of color. Ange didn't dare ask Scarlett how Charlotte was doing. Even their gym session didn't seem to have the same dedication and passion and it became abundantly clear that her squamate's dismemberment was playing on Scarlett's mind.
"How is Charlotte?" Ange finally asked Cal once they were in the showers. Salia was there to as she had been busy studying that afternoon and looked rather stressed, so Cal offered to wash her hair.
"She's due for some heavy recovery but Maggie said she'll live." Cal told her.
"Charlotte must have gotten reckless." Salia guessed. "I've never seen such a bad injury during a Category 1 before. Plus, Scarlett's formation and tactics are flawless."
"About that." Cal remembered. "Has that book I got you been any help?"
"Erm…sort of." Salia said slowly. "But it doesn't help that I've got half my squad not listening and going off on their own." She shot a nasty look at Ange in particular.
"Hey, I'm not the only one. Why don't you get up Hilda, Rosalie, Chris and Miranda's asses about it." Ange snapped as she turned off her shower and grabbed her towel.
"I don't know what to do Cal." Salia said gloomily. "The whole lot of them are starting to stress me out."
"Don't over exert yourself." Cal said as he massaged her shoulders before proceeding to wrap his arms around her. "If you're feeling stressed, we could go rent a room or maybe the sauna for a stress relief session." He whispered in Salia's ear, making her blush as Cal's hands began to travel up her stomach.
"Not when Ange is in here!" Salia gasped but couldn't help letting out a soft moan.
"What is this?!" Ange suddenly yelled. Wrapping themselves in their towels, Cal and Salia rushed out and gaped at the sight of Momoka standing before a luxuriously carved wooden wardrobe where over half the lockers had once stood.
"Welcome Lady Angelise." She smiled merrily. "I took it upon myself to buy you some of your favorite fashions from the Misurugi Empire." Momoka opened the two large wooden doors by their shimmering golden handles, revealing several glamorous dresses. "What would you like to wear this afternoon?"
"What the hell?" Cal gaped, Momoka blushing as she saw the wet naked man before her. "How did you even get that thing in here!?"
"Put them back!" Ange snapped. "Put everything back the way it was. Now!" Momoka blinked in confusion as Ange headed back into the showers to cool off and slammed the door behind her.
"But Lady Angelise…" Momoka said before pumping her fist. She wasn't about to give up that easily. "That was only the first step."
"No that was our lockers." Salia pouted and Cal noticed a hint of jealously in her face from all the fancy dresses.
"I could buy you a nice dress like that if you wanted. I liked the one you wore on Valentine's Day." He teased, making Salia go crimson in the cheeks.
"Do you think I would look nice in a dress like that?" Salia twiddled her thumbs awkwardly as her heart thumped louder.
"Yes, so I could tear it off you at night."
"Not in front of the maid!" Salia hissed, pinching his cheek. "Pervert."
All Ange wanted was a peaceful and quiet lunch. But when she saw the scene occurring out on the cafeteria balcony, she knew it wasn't going to happen. Momoka was trying to hold Cal back from a table set beneath a blue dining tent on which a white tablecloth and a bouquet of pink flowers had been set.
"Come on, can I just have a nibble." Cal begged like a little kid in a candy store, almost drooling on Momoka.
"NO!" Momoka barked holding him back. "This meal is suitable for a Royal Princess not for you!"
"What is going on?!" Ange demanded.
"Oh Lady Angelise!" Momoka straightened herself out but was ready to clobber Cal if he tried anything. "Today I've prepared your favorite." Momoka lifted the cloche that she had guarded tooth and nail from the perverted male Norma. "Grilled Partridge with summer vegetables in a light sauce."
"Come on just one bite." Cal begged.
"Go away you greedy Norma!" Momoka howled brandishing a frying pan.
"Just a taste?"
"NO!"
"Enough already." Ange yelled as he yanked a hold of the tablecloth and dumped the whole thing on the floor.
"You just wasted good food!" Vivian moaned from across the cafeteria.
"Just leave me alone!" Ange shouted at Momoka, a burning look in her eyes before she stormed off.
"But lady Angelise…" Momoka said sadly looking very hurt but not as hurt as Cal who looked like he witnessed a murder scene with the delicious food splattered across the ground. From where she sat, Hilda stood up and watched Ange storm off. 'That's it,' she decided. 'Time for a reality check.'
With the sun shining accompanied by a light cold breeze, Ersha decided it was an especially nice day to take the children out for some exercise. Especially since it was extremely hard to get free time outside during February. All the kids were overjoyed since Cal and Vivian were invited and Vivian had bought a new pink soccer ball with Perolina's face printed on the front. "Alright everyone we're going to divide into teams of 8 and Miss Mary will be the referee." Ersha announced. With Cal and Ersha being the biggest they were the first two chosen, but Vivian was the wild card as she pulled off some spectacular moves.
"Head's up Vivian." Cal goaded as he kicked the ball high into the air and Vivian responded by leaping up into the air and backflipping into a heel kick. The kids squealed and laughed in excitement but then turned into terrified gasps as the ball soared out of bounds hit none other than Corporal Lawrence right in the side of the head who had been walking along the Inspector from the villa.
"Corporal!" Emma squeaked in alarm as she rounded on the Norma. Vivian crouched behind Ersha. "Who kicked that ball!" she angrily demanded.
"I'm so sorry." Ersha apologised who seemed as frightened as Vivian. "It was an accident."
"That's beside the point Ersha!" Emma scolded.
"Who did this? I want the Norma to come forward now!" The Corporal barked. The kids huddled together as the Corporal loomed over them. His sunglasses askew and his face twitching with vexation as he squeezed the ball to the point that it looked ready to pop. "If no one comes forward then no leisure for any of you for a week!" he threatened. Cal felt a furious pounding in his chest by the Corporal's harshness towards the kids. It was only an accident after all. Vivian meanwhile was trembling and was about to raise her hand to confess until Cal stepped forward.
"Don't punish the kids Corporal, it was me." Cal apologized. "I should have been watching what I was doing."
"I should have known." Emma said. "You've done it this time young man!"
"Right just for that you can start by cleaning Arzenal's sewer line." Corporal Lawrence ordered. "And to make sure you learn your lesson you'll be doing it for the next month." But Cal looked very amused instead of outraged. "What's so funny boy?"
"Well, it's very hard to forget what I saw yesterday in the mall." Said Cal looking calmly up into the Corporal's broad face. "What if I accidently let something slip?"
"Are you threatening me boy!?" the Corporal roared, advancing on Cal with his fists clenched. The kids huddled around Ersha in fright as Cal stood his ground.
"You'd have to hit me pretty hard to make me forget that." Cal said plainly. "I'll accept my punishment since it was my fault but just limit it to today and I promise it stays between us." Corporal Lawrence glared at him but finally relaxed his face as he adjusted his glasses.
"You're clever boy," he said in a strangely calm manner. "I'll let this slide since it was an accident but next time you slip up, your ass is mine." With a flick of his wrist, the Corporal tossed the ball back to Ersha and walked off with the Inspector.
"What was the little pervert talking about?" Emma questioned.
"Nothing." Corporal Lawrence said quickly. Once things had calmed down the kids got back to their game but Cal noticed that Abigail looked somewhat withdrawn.
"Abigail honey, what's wrong?" Ersha soothed as she knelt down to the young girl's eye level. Abigail moaned uncomfortably as she bit her thumb nail.
"Does the Corporal scare you." Cal asked tentatively. "Does he remind you of the men that took you away and sent you here?" Abigail nodded and started to cry.
"Yes, he looks like the ones that took me away from Mama and Aunty." Abigail said timidly. "I hate him. He's such a meanie."
"I know he is but don't let him hear that." Cal said putting a finger to his lips and winked at her. Abigail's smile returned and she joined in again with her friends.
"Cal you want to be careful around the Corporal." Ersha advised. "You'll end up in a lot of trouble if you're not careful. And I don't want the children to get the wrong idea that he's someone to be taken lightly."
"Don't worry Ersha." Cal promised. "I can handle that guy. I just don't like him scaring the kids like that. They've had enough pain to deal with as it is." Ersha's eyes sparkled as her heart swelled and pecked Cal on the lips.
"You're really sweet." She hugged him tightly. "The kids are lucky to have a big brother like you."
"Well they're even luckier having a Mama Bear like you keeping them in check as well as Vivian. If the kids saw your darker side they would run in the opposite direction."
"Jerk." Ersha giggled as she held onto him a little while longer.
"Thanks for having my back big bro." Vivian said gratefully as she and Cal walked through Arzenal's hallways. "That guy can be super scary sometimes."
"Anything for you Vivian." Cal ruffled her hair.
"Why does he have to be such a grumpy old troll." Vivian said. "He's such a meanie especially to you. Someone has to teach him a lesson."
"Tell me about it. Getting angry over a soccer ball. And I thought Ange's maid was one to overreact." Cal commented.
"She seems really nice doing all those things for Ange. I wish I had a maid." Vivian hoped. "But in a way Ersha and Salia are my maids. And you're my favorite butler."
"Watch it." Cal warned as he flicked her in the middle of the forehead when an idea came to him. "Hey Vivian, do you have any spare potato chips in your room?"
"Yes plenty, do you want salty or cheese flavor?" Cal grinned evilly and whispered his plan into Vivian's ear and her face lite with excitement. Upon arrival at her and Salia's room, Cal handed Vivian some money. "Make sure to get the hottest spices you can find. If this works it will look less suspicious if you buy them."
"This is going to be so fun." Vivian giggled finding it hard to contain herself. 15 minutes later she returned, and Cal got to work on his plan.
Hours passed by until the moon rose over the cliffs and Cal was finally finished. As requested, Vivian kept his secret weapon against the Corporal in her room to keep it safe. Though Vivian wanted Cal to stay he was very eager to just sleep in his own bed on his own. He was still steamed about the incident with the soccer ball and was eager to teach that fat ogre a lesson.
"There you are, I've been looking for you." Ange called as they came face to face around the corner.
"Hey Ange, sorry I've been busy." Cal explained.
"So I've heard, they say you got a mouthful from that big oaf." Ange smirked. "What's wrong did he scare you into hiding?"
"Oh haha very funny." Cal said as with a roll of his eyes. "By the way where's your maid. Normally she's attached to your hip." They reached their quarters and Cal opened the door.
"That's why I was looking for you. Have you seen Momoka? She hasn't been seen since…" Ange didn't finish her sentence. Words had failed her as she and Cal stopped dead in their tracks at the sight before them. "Momoka!" Ange yelled. "What have you done?"
"I took it upon myself to redesign your living quarters to suit your old preferences." Momoka presented. The entire room had been transformed into a miniature royal bedroom. Everything from the lights, window, and curtains had been replaced with things Cal recognized as being top price from the mall. A small table sat in the middle with a pot of purple flowers with an expensive patterned rug laid underneath while the molding had been replaced with royal smooth oak. Ange's twin bed was now a king size with maroon silk curtains and royal blue sheets and pillow while her wardrobe had been replaced with an ornate mahogany desk. Cal's side of the room meanwhile was as if it never existed. His wardrobe now replaced by the same one Momoka had constructed in the locker room and his bed was replaced with a royal blue and bronze couch.
"What the hell have you done to my room!?" Shouted Cal as he opened the wardrobe throwing dresses and high heel shoes out. "Where's my stuff!?" In a panic he searched under the bed and rummaged through the draws. "Where's the bracelet I left it on my nightstand!?" He then realized his wall shelf was gone where it held the one thing most dear to him.
"Excuse me you have no right to look through the princess's things." Momoka scolded. Without warning, Cal lunged across the room and grabbed hold of Momoka's collar, slamming her against the wall and nearly lifting her off her feet.
"Where is the bracelet and the photo!?" Cal roared, his voice echoing through the room.
"What photo…I didn't see…a photo." Momoka's voice shook.
"Cal Let her go!" Ange demanded as she grabbed his arm.
"Naomi's Bracelet and my Gramps photo?! WHERE ARE THEY?!" Cal punched the wall inches from Momoka's face, his grip tightening to the point Momoka cried out in pain.
SLAP!
Ange's palm collided with Cal's face, causing him to let go of Momoka, his breathing erratic and wild.
"That's enough!" Ange shouted. "Don't you ever put your hands on her like that or you'll be sorry!" Ange drew her knife as Momoka got behind her.
"I'm not going anywhere until this stupid bitch tells me where my Gramps' photo and Naomi's bracelet is!"
"I…I put them into boxes…I swear I didn't throw them away." Momoka trembled with fear at the Male Norma who looked like he was about to take her head off.
"Screw the both of you." Cal seethed, his teeth bared as he stared at Momoka, a furious ringing in his ears. "You're just the same as the rest of your kind!" Cal stormed off, slamming the door behind him as Momoka's knees felt like jelly.
"Thank you, Lady Angelise. I thought he was going to hurt me."
"Don't say a word." Ange angrily whispered. "How dare you! Why would you throw away all of Cal's things? Well answer me!" Momoka began to cry.
"I'm sorry Milady, I just wanted to make you happy. I thought having the things that reminded of you of home would…"
"And not even considering Cal's feelings by throwing away his stuff like it's nothing?" Ange interrupted and it dawned on Momoka what she had done and felt a great sense of shame. "Now where are Cal's things?"
"I put them into boxes and put them in his locker. I'm sorry lady Angelise." Momoka sobbed holding her face into her hands.
"I'm not the one who needs apologizing to. And stop calling me that. I'm not her!" Ange snapped. "Get it through your head. Just leave me alone and put this room back the way it was!" Ange left to chase after Cal, leaving Momoka on her own.
Feeling exhausted from tending to the infants, Ersha made her way to her room but spotted Cal, his face looking like a bomb about to explode. "Cal what's the matter? Has something happened?" Cal didn't answer and Ersha became even more worried. "Shh it's okay tell me what happened." She urged as she held his face.
Trapped in a mist of ice Cal felt himself falling as a cold shiver ran down his spine. "Kill the princess and her maid. Rip them apart. Tear." A poisonous voice echoed out to him. Cal ran, running through the mist and into a nearby bathroom and emptied his insides into the sink. He gasped for breath as his hands shook violently. "What's happening to me?"
"My darling Cal…" The voice echoed out to him "…don't be afraid." Looking up to the mirror, Cal saw the reflection of a figure standing behind him, those glowing icy blue eyes fixed on him like a predator. "Why keep yourself down like a frightened child my dear Cal. Us subjects aren't supposed to fear, DEATH!"
In that instant the cold turned to warmth and Cal leapt around. But standing behind him wasn't the figure but Ersha holding his face in concern trying to bring him back around. "Cal speak to me! What's the matter?"
"Wh…I don't…" Cal's body was drenched in cold sweat. "I'm…I'm okay."
"No you're not okay!" Ersha insisted. "I'm taking you to see Maggie?" Ersha urged him forward, letting him lean on her, as they walked out the bathroom and down the hallway. Cal didn't remember much after that. The next thing he noticed he was sleeping in Ersha's room. Both were naked and when he sat up groggily, he noticed the bottle of Ashwagandha pills on Ersha's nightstand. Wiping the sleep from his eyes Cal got up quietly without waking Ersha and stared out the window at the moon. 'What the hell just happened. That voice, it told me to kill the maid and Ange.' It was hard to comprehend but, in his heart, he knew these impulses weren't his own. "What's wrong with me?"
The next morning, the squads were training at the shooting range with the new model heavy combat rifles that had been brought in and approved by the NMB through the Corporal's recommendations. Try as she could, Ersha couldn't hit a bullseye. Her mind was too focused on Cal and how he behaved last night. When he almost broke down his eyes had a dead look in them and something was very wrong. After taking him to see Maggie, Ersha had walked him back to her room so they could have some time alone. And while he was usually gentle with her, last night he had been so rough. Beside her, Salia as usual took to the new rifles naturally and hit her targets perfectly.
"Nicely done." Ersha praised. "No matter how hard I try I can never shoot as good as you Salia. I wonder what I'm doing wrong?"
"Gee I wonder." Salia said looking jealously at Ersha's ample bosoms that almost popped through her orange plug suit. "I meant to ask is Cal okay? He doesn't seem himself."
"Well last night he was acting quite erratic." Ersha explained. "He kept mumbling about Ange's maid, but he wasn't talking sense." Her face saddened. "I'm worried about him Salia. I just don't know what to do to make him feel better or get him to open up. It's as if he's afraid of something."
"I know." Salia said feeling the same. "He says he's okay but I get the sense he's struggling with something he's not telling us. But I do think it's got something to do with the maid. Apparently, she caused some kind of a scene in their room last night."
"What do you think will happen to that girl?" Ersha wondered. "After all she can't really stay here."
"We all know the humans can't know about the DRAGONs so…"
"You mean they'll…they can't." Ersha gasped. "That's so cruel."
"I know but we don't set the rules." Salia told her.
From the other side of the target area Ange focused all her energy into getting over a 90% accuracy but she couldn't drown out Hilda, Rosalie, Chris and Miranda's conversation.
"Wait seriously!" Rosalie said aloud.
"Keep your voice down Rosalie." Hilda hissed, though she herself didn't seem to be speaking in a whisper either. It was almost as if she WANTED Ange to overhear them.
"They're seriously going to kill the maid?"
"Why would they do that? Chris asked.
"Arzenal and the DRAGONs are super classified information." Hilda reminded them. "Only a small group of people know about it."
"That makes sense," said Chris. "So that means…"
"They can't just let her return home?" Rosalie said nervously.
"That's right." Hilda corrected.
"Typical." Miranda said coldly looking at Ange in detest. "Everyone who gets involved with her dies. Coco and now her maid. Everyone who follows her gets killed."
"Well, all the more reason not to be friends with her." Hilda smirked. "She's nothing but a cold-hearted bitch. I really do feel sorry for the poor maid. All she wanted to do was see the burn princess and she doesn't even care about what happens to her."
Ange found it hard to argue back, as the four girls' words cut into her like a knife. With her mind unfocused she couldn't even hit a clean target anymore. 'You fool why did you have to come here?'
As Miranda, Rosalie, and Chris went back to their target practice, Hilda cast a reproachful look at Ange. 'I hope you heard that,' she thought. 'Now get off your ass and do something.'
As requested, Momoka took down everything she had put up and replaced everything the way it was that morning while the squad was off training. It only took two trips to the locker room to gather all of Cal's belongings once she returned everything she purchased back to Jasmine's mall. Humming dreamily to herself, Momoka felt she was in her element as she made Cal's bed, folded his clothes, and tidied up his things in a neatly fashion. Putting the last few things away, Momoka examined the rose gold bracelet more closely to see a name etched in the metal.
"Naomi." She read aloud. Come to think of it she had never heard or seen a girl named 'Naomi' in lady Angelise's squad. Then she remembered that horribly injured girl in the mall and put two and two together. She felt a horrible tinge of guilt thinking of how desperate and sad the Male Norma looked when he was looking for his things especially this bracelet and a photo. Momoka could only dread what he would have done if she had lost it when removing Cal's things out the room yesterday. She didn't recall ever seeing a photo however. Putting the last of Cal's manga books on his shelf, she just glimpsed a glossy piece of paper sticking out between some of the pages.
Examining it cautiously, Momoka saw it was a photo of what looked like a family. A dark blonde-haired woman dressed in a Norma's white uniform similar to the Commander's. Beside her was a large man with his arm around her waist while cradling in the woman's arms was a baby, it's black spikey hair identical to the Male Norma's. The sympathetic tears came before she could stop them as they splashed onto the glossy paper.
"I'm so sorry." Momoka sobbed suddenly dawning on her that Cal too must have had a family which was taken away from him just like her Princess. "Just like Lady Angelise, you're suffering too. You've lost so much."
Cal sat inside Siegfried's cockpit feeling utterly depressed. He kept reliving his burst of rage at Momoka and his night with Ersha, feeling ashamed of himself. 'Why do I keep having these terrible urges.' Cal wondered. 'That voice I keep hearing. It keeps telling me to kill.' Did he have some split personality he didn't know about? Either way enough was enough. He had to talk to Maggie. Whatever was going on in his head wasn't normal nor healthy.
Across the hanger, Inspector Bronson came up to Siegfried. "Cal listen up." She ordered. "I want you to pour me and the Corporal's tea at lunch. I think you owe him an apology for your behavior yesterday."
"Yes Inspector." Cal said half-heartedly before she walked off. 'God, can I feel any worse?"
"Big Bro!" Vivian jumped up beside the cockpit, almost making Cal have a heart attack. "The Corporal is sitting in the cafeteria now's our chance to…" Cal quickly clamped his hand around Vivian's mouth.
"Vivian you're gonna let the whole base know!" He hissed.
"Sorry big bro. I thought we were planning to use our secret weapon." Vivian spoke quietly.
"I'm not in the mood today Vivian." He said in a dull voice.
"Aw but why not?" she pouted.
"Maybe another time, I've just got a lot on my mind." But his gloomy manner broke seeing Vivian's yellow puppy eyes. "Okay fine." Now was as good a time as any and he didn't want to upset Vivian. "Let's do this but don't act suspiciously."
"Yes sir." Vivian saluted. Once they received their secret weapon Cal and Vivian peeked across the corner, the cafeteria was near full, and the Inspector and the Corporal were sitting at the officers table on their own. "Here you go big bro." Vivian handed him their secret weapon. "You ready?"
"Wish me luck."
"Where is that little creep at?" Corporal Lawrence wondered as he looked around for the male Norma.
"He should be here any moment." Inspector Emma Bronson said, her ear going red as she found it hard to take her eyes off the size of her bodyguard's arms. But then she noticed his defeated look. "What did the Committee say about the girl?"
"They said they were satisfied in keeping her here until the next supply drop off arrives." Corporal Lawrence said in a defeated tone. "13 days. All I've done is delay the inevitable."
"At least she has more time on this earth." Emma sighed, then she finally asked her bodyguard what was on her mind. "Corporal I must ask about yesterday. It seemed as if Cal was trying to blackmail you." Her bodyguard's expression confirmed her suspicions. "But if it's personal I don't mean to pry." She said quickly.
"It's nothing Ma'am just trivial matters." He replied awkwardly. Emma felt herself blush as she felt butterflies in her stomach. She wanted to know him on a deeper level. They were colleagues after all.
"You can tell me. I'm no Norma so you know I can handle it with sensitivity. If something is bothering you then it's best to clear it out."
"Well…" Her bodyguard rubbed the back of his neck as if he was embarrassed. "I'm kind of on a diet due to putting on a few pounds the last 2 years. Being a bodyguard for a Royal Family means a lot of standing around and not enough active service." It suddenly made sense to Emma why he was so eager to engage in physical activity.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of." She smiled. "I know a thing or two about being self-conscious. When I was in high school, I was often picked on because of my weight and glasses."
"Thank you, Ma'am I appreciate that." The corporal smiled back, making Emma blush. She could feel her hand creeping towards his, wanting to hold it.
"Hey Inspector, I brought your tea." Cal said as he appeared with a suspicious grin on his face.
"Wipe off that silly smirk boy." Corporal Lawrence glared at him. Cal did as he was told and once their meal arrived Emma noticed the Corporal's portion though still larger than everyone else's was much smaller with a lot more vegetables.
"Say Corporal!" Cal boomed as he brandished a bag. "I got some super spicy chips form the Mall. You want to maybe kick up that meal of yours?"
"Watch it you." The Corporal warned.
"Cal stop bothering the Corporal and behave." Emma said sharply.
"My apologies." Cal poured their tea without complaint and Emma and her bodyguard were in a deep chat until a loud pop made them both flinch and Emma yelped. Cal had opened his back but had accidentally tore it too open and spilled several of them across the tabel. "Sorry! I'll clean this up!" Cal panicked as he began to franticly clean the table of his mess.
"Will you be more careful!" Emma snapped, the Norma began to whisper and snicker.
"You're an accident waiting to happen." The Corporal frowned.
"It was an accident keep your panties on."
"Cal!" Snapped Emma through gritted teeth. "If you put another toe out of line, you'll be in big trouble. Now get out my sight before I lose my patience." Emma ordered as Cal walked away with his head down. "That male Norma is a nightmare to deal with." She sighed. " Norma seem to get worse every year."
"Just ignore him Ma'am." Corporal Lawrence told her. "Some are just harder cases than others." Emma and Corporal Lawrence finished their meal and Emma caught the Corporal looking at a single potato chip in the middle of the table.
"I'll never know what goes on in his head." Emma rubbed her throbbing head. But the Corporal seemed more interested in the single potato chip Cal had left.
"I guess one won't hurt." Corporal Lawrence shrugged as he quickly ate it, Emma stifled a laugh. "Woah that's a little too hot for my taste." He cringed in disgust as he gulped down a glass of water. They both headed back to the Villa and throughout their walk Emma could sense the Corporal was becoming more uncomfortable by the second. His face turned from red to purple then to an ugly puce as his stomach began to gurgle.
"Corporal are you okay?!" Emma worried seeing his face streaming with sweat, his eyes bulged through his sunglasses.
"I'm sorry Ma'am!" Corporal Lawrence grunted making a beeline towards the Villa clutching his stomach.
"Corporal! My goodness!"
Cal and Vivian roared with triumph, almost crying from laughing so hard as they high fived each other. "I can't believe that worked!" Cal wiped a tear from his eye.
"I can't believe he actually ate it!" Vivian howled, ignoring the questionable stares from the other Norma, but they were far too happy to care.
"Well, you two seem happy." Scarlett noted as she sat down at their table. "What's got you two so joyful?"
"Me and Big Bro got payback on the Corporal." Vivian whispered.
"What?"
"Well, that big fat pig is on a diet. And he's just eaten one of our home-made potato chips." Cal grinned evilly.
"What did you do?" Scarlett asked curiously.
"I crushed laxatives into powder and added extra hot chili spices into the packet. He'll have the shits for days." Scarlett put a hand to her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
"Cal, he'll murder you when he realises…"
"What can they prove? It's his own fault for eating it." Cal reassured. Once the laughter died down Cal noticed the color in Scarlett's face had returned from yesterday's attack. "How's Charlotte?"
"She's going to be okay." Scarlett sighed. "The bad news is she'll be out of commission for months and it's a good possibility she'll be reassigned to maintenance. I doubt she'll fight in a Para-mail ever again."
"Well, it's better than losing her life." Cal pointed out. Scarlett nodded but it did little to alleviate her guilt. Meanwhile, Vice-Captain Betty and a few members of Second squad members were going around and had everyone sign a 'get well' card for Charlotte.
"Charlotte will definitely feel a lot better if you sign it with a few love hearts." Scarlett teased Cal.
"Oh, shut up." Cal said in embarrassment as he signed the card with a few X's.
"So romantic." Betty blushed furiously.
"He's such a charmer.
"Why don't you show me how charming you can be. I've heard a lot from a few girls." Before he knew it the girls began to swarm him with kisses and hugs, almost crushing him while Scarlett enjoyed the show.
"Girls please I can't breathe!"
"You leave my big bro alone." Vivian yelled about to deck all of them. Suddenly, the sound of loud stomping from the left exit hallway made them turn their heads to see Inspector Emma Bronson storming over to their table, she was looking angrier than Scarlett had ever seen her.
"That wasn't funny Cal!" She shouted. "What on earth did you give the Corporal?"
"I didn't give him anything." Cal said with another evil grin. "I just spilt my packet of chips. It was his fault he went and ate one. I never told him to..."
"You dropped them on purpose!" yelled Inspector Bronson. "You knew he'd eat it! You knew he was on a diet!"
"How red did his face get?" Vivian asked eagerly.
"The poor Corporal is in the bathroom being sick!" Emma shouted as she opened her Mana screen. "Corporal Lawrence are you okay?" There was no reply other than the sound of farting and agonizing moans. Cal, Scarlett, Vivian and all the Norma roared with laughter. "It isn't funny! That sort of behavior clearly demonstrates why Humans and Norma can't coexist together. I've spent over a year trying to build a good relationship with you Norma and set a positive example and the sooner a new human comes you try to kill him!"
"We didn't give it to him because he's a human," said Cal indignantly, "We gave it to him because he's a great fat bullying pig. Isn't he girls?"
"He does have a point." said Scarlett earnestly, the rest of her squad nodding in agreement.
"No he doesn't!" raged Inspector Bronson. "You wait until I tell the Commander!"
Ange smirked as she heard the Inspector's ranting at Cal and Vivian. "Well, she seems rather infuriated." Momoka winced as she sat beside Ange, her tray piled high with food.
"Are you sure you can eat all of that?" Ange asked.
"Well this is my last meal here. So I wanted to fully partake." Momoka reminded her, sadly knowing she'd be picked up tomorrow. She eagerly took a bite and her face paled at the taste. "Mm…th…this is really…good." Momoka lied. A hopeless feeling coursed through Ange as she couldn't do anything to help her former maid. Miranda and Hilda's words still stung her like that snakebite.
"Everyone who gets involved with her dies. Coco and now her maid. Everyone who follows her gets killed."
"Well, all the more reason not to be friends with her. She's nothing but a cold-hearted bitch. I really do feel sorry for the poor maid. All she wanted to do was she the burn princess and she doesn't even care about what happens to her"
Ange finished with her tray and stood up. "Where are you going?" Momoka asked.
"I'm going to take a bath."
"Well, I could wash your back for you." Momoka offered and Ange nodded.
"If you want."
"Okay!" Momoka beamed. They walked to the locker room and after stripping, sat at one of the outdoor wash areas next to the onsen. "It's been a while since I was able to wash your back like this." Momoka said as she gently scrubbed at Ange's back. As she did Ange glimpsed something across the maid's forearm
"That scar."
"Ah this?" Momoka held out her arm for Ange to see. "They said if I used my Mana I could remove it." She said softly. "But it holds a dear memory to me." And then Ange remembered how Momoka had gotten it.
(8 years ago)
Hearing a cry of pain Princess Angelise hurried to her bedroom to see her head maid Momoka tensely hugging one of her porcelain dolls. "What happened?" Angelise worried.
"I'm so sorry Lady Angelise. I broke your precious doll and I can't fix it." Momoka whimpered. It was then Angelise spotted her maid's sleeve was stained red from a cut that almost ran the length of her forearm.
"You're injured!" She gasped.
"It…it's nothing," Momka sniffled.
"No it's not!" Angelise yelled. Grabbing the hem of her skirt, Ange tore off strip of fabric.
"Princess your dress!" Momoka cried as Ange grabbed her forearm and began to wrap the strip around the wound.
"You Dummy!" Angelise scolded her. "I can have all the dresses and dolls as I please. But there's only one of you Momoka."
"Lady Angelise…" Momoka marveled. Was this really a Norma? Was she really more concerned about her injury then a priceless doll and dress?
"That should do it." Angelise said. "Now I'm going to change into something else. Take the doll, wrap it in the dress, and bury the whole thing under that big tree out in the back gardens. It'll be our little secret. Okay." The Princess put a finger to her lips and winked and Momoka finally smiled.
"Yes lady Angelise."
"I forgot all about that day." Ange said Momoka held out her arm and ran her thumb across the thin scar.
"I never forgot, and I never will. You've made me who I am today." Momoka stroked her fingers gently across Ange's back and rested her head on her shoulder. "From the day we met, until the day I die, you're everything to me, Lady Angelise." Ange's heart sank. All the bitterness she held towards her former maid for not telling her the truth seemed so trivial and petty. Momoka was only here because of her and she didn't want her to die.
"Get out." She whispered.
"Huh?" Momoka raised her head off Ange's back.
"You have to leave. Please you have to get out of here."
"Yes. I'm leaving tomorrow morning, so for now…"
"No you have to leave now!" Ange spun around and grabbed Momoka's shoulders. "You can use the light of Mana to cross the ocean right?! Get out now Momoka."
"You finally called me by my name." Momoka half sobbed, her eyes welling up with happy tears. "But please let me say at your side for as long as possible."
"But why?" Ange said almost tearing up herself.
"Because I'm your head maid, Momoka Oginome."
"You idiot." Ange wanted to hug her tightly and never let go but the sudden blare of the alarm didn't give her a choice.
"Attention First Squad," Pamela's voice announced. "Singular detected. Report to the hanger for immediate deployment."
"I have to go," she said.
"Please be safe Lady Angelise." Momoka prayed.
By the time Ange had changed and arrived at the hanger, the rest of First squad had already lined up and readied to fly out.
"You'd better earn some good money today. You'll be needing it for your maid's grave." Miranda snarked.
"Damn that was harsh." Rosalie snickered. "Good one newbie." She immediately shut up however upon seeing Cal's icy glare.
"Ange." The Commander suddenly said as she walked over to Villkiss. "Just before you go, I have some news about your maid. The committee has decided to delay in picking her up. The transport ship will be arriving in 13 days at dawn. So it looks like she'll be staying a little while longer." Ange's heart leapt at this news as she felt a mix of relief and dread knowing it wasn't going to make a difference. "Good luck out there."
From the forward position, Salia shot a bitter and jealous look at Ange. 'Why is it always her? Why are you wishing her luck?' But Salia was snapped back to reality as the barriers raised into place and everyone cleared the launch deck before the squad took off one by one and were off into the night sky.
As they closed in on the enemy Ange couldn't get Momoka out of her head. 'Why? Why stay because of me? Do I really mean that much to you?' Ange wondered. "You lied to me all those years, but…" She didn't want her to die, there had to be something to stop her from been taken back to be executed. Then she remembered a word of advice from Jasmine.
'Being able to buy what you want is the only real freedom the Norma have. Still even money has its limits. In the end, we Norma only have each other to rely on so friends shouldn't be taken lightly.'
'I won't let you die Momoka.' Ange decided as she boosted into high gear, breaking formation, and rushing ahead of everyone else.
"Ange come back!" Cal shouted as she charged head on towards the opening singular.
"Ange come back here. You'll be killed!" Salia bellowed. 'Has she got a death wish?'
Smirking to herself Jill, watched the footage of the battle that was taking place. Ange had charged ahead of her squad killing almost 90% of the DRAGONs. Once she gave the command to return to base, she retired to her office to finish some paperwork. No sooner had she sat down however, something began to buzz inside her desk.
On edge Jill opened her draw and saw a blinking blue light beneath one of her files. It was an old wireless modem similar to the one she used when talking to Gaz so no one would hack their communications. But this one hadn't been used in almost ten years. Quickly connecting it to her desktop she typed in the familiar passwords and codes she hadn't used in years.
'So you're finally back in the fight Tusk.' Jill smiled eager to finally meet him face to face again. 'You've no doubt grown since the last time I saw you.' The screen turned from black to fuzzy static and when the picture came into frame, it wasn't a youth she was looking at but an older man. Half of his face was burned and scarred, and he was blind in one eye.
"Hello Alektra it's been a while."
"Who are you, identify yourself." Jill demanded.
"I don't blame you for forgetting," the man mused. "I guess neither of us are the same as we were ten years ago." Then the vivid memories of that day came flooding back to her and Jill remembered the same man. He was younger than and his once handsome face was freshly scarred as he dragged a screaming Tusk away to safety.
"So, you decide to finally show your face again after all this time." Jill said bitterly. "You'd better have a damn good explanation for where you've been, Jacob."
TO BE CONTINUED…
