CHAPTER 43
TO SAVE ANGE
As Dutch had predicted, the entire city of Misurugi was in a festive mood. Every citizen was either celebrating or drinking a toast to the execution of former Princess Angelise scheduled for tonight. And with everyone in such high spirits, it gave Dutch and his team the opportunity to establish a patrol around the entire perimeter of the Dawn Pillar without alerting Holy Emperor Julio, the NMB, and especially Master Embryo.
"Commander, we have the entire western line barricaded with a dozen soldiers patrolling the area." Jadis reported on his Mana screen. "I'll check in with Sargent Brawl and Corporal Jeffry on their status next. I've also ordered my team back at the Galia labor camp to repair the Mana sensors, it might help us track any unwarranted Mana activity coming into the area."
"Good work Jadis." Dutch praised, pleased that despite her grief and their mishap in losing their intended prey, Jadis was finally trying to turn things around for the better. He had also appointed Jeffry as Corporal to cover for the four soldiers he had discharged last night. After a quick check to make sure his men were occupied with setting up the barriers, Dutch put in another call to his assistant. "Ms Yung-si, status report. Have you uncovered anything that confirms the data I sent you last night?"
"Yes, I was able to restore most of the damage regarding the file on Norma #66. She was indeed the twin sister of the queen of Rosenblum which makes Subject Alpha first cousin to Princesses Fiona and Misty. It looks as though the Rosenblum family with Trager's help covered it up after she was born."
"What about the file on Subject Beta." Dutch asked.
"That one was a bit more heavily soiled so I'm afraid only 40% of the file has been recovered." She answered. "Sir, if I may speak freely?"
"You may."
"I don't understand what Trager was working on or what he hoped to accomplish. Any files the NMB has on Project Subject Alpha regards it as an attempt to permanently solve the Norma problem through selective breeding. If that wasn't the case then what was the point? And this Subject Beta raises even further questions."
"Clearly that old geezer hoodwinked not just me but his entire staff, the world leaders and even my superiors for his own personal agenda." Dutch said in a low voice. But before he could elaborate further, he received a sudden call he had been both anticipating and dreading. He immediately cut Ms Yung-si off and was greeted by Master Embryo who did not look too pleased. "Master Embryo." Dutch saluted.
"Mr Villson." Embryo said with a cold yet discernably angry tone. "Will you explain to me why you aren't searching for the escaped Norma as I ordered? Instead, I discover you and your team are here in Misurugi even though I specifically ordered you to keep out of Julio's affairs." Dutch had expected this. He knew he had to give Master Embryo a reasonable answer and to make sure the mass breakout from the Galia Labor camp and Subject Alpha's presence outside of Arzenal remained a secret until he was captured.
"My team and I have investigated the entire Endurant forest after those police officers were killed. The Norma in question was definitely picked up by the terrorists yet we have failed to locate their base thus far."
"Then why are you here instead of searching for their other hideouts?" Embryo demanded.
"It occurred to me that these renegade humans and Ancient folk won't sit around and watch the pilot of Villkiss die on their watch." Dutch explained. "No doubt they'll try to save her. I'll make sure to keep my team a distance as not to attract attention from Julio and his royal guard. Once the terrorists appear, which I know they will, we'll ambush them and take a few prisoners for interrogation. It's the best chance we have in finding where they've taken the escaped Norma as well as discovering their other hidden communities." Embryo considered for a moment then nodded approvingly.
"Not a bad plan at all Mr. Villson. Though I don't agree with your methods of torture, do what must be done. If these degenerate humans and barbaric apes are still out there when we go ahead with the final preparations, they're sure to cause problems when we're ready to start over. Time is of the essence Mr. Villson. If you want to be a part of my new world, then get this done and when the time comes, you'll deliver Subject Alpha to me once Arzenal and the DRAGONs are taken care of for good."
"As you wish, my master." Dutch bowed his head as the call was ended and as Dutch raised his head the morning light of dawn was now shining behind the Pillar. As the shadow of the massive tower fell over him, Dutch couldn't help thinking back to the night he avenged his younger brother Donnie. "I gave my word not just to Donnie but myself, that no matter how long it takes or how much pain I must endure, I will run my own nation when the new world begins. I will show Master Embryo he only needs me, his most loyal servant at his side. And I'll make sure Trager, Blackadder and especially Subject Alpha are all out of the picture."
The past few hours had been one massive headache for Major Malta who had gotten very little sleep from the shock and astonishment that Norma prisoners from one of the most secure facilities after Arzenal had escaped and arrived right on the Endurant Harbor's doorstep. Among them Hina, a Norma scout from Apex who went missing and presume dead for over a month; and Sargent Janos, one of their fallen community leaders of the Galia falls. Somehow, they had both wound up at the Galian labor camp and through they had been tortured consistently to give up the other hideout locations, neither of them had broken. But even that paled in comparison to when she reported the situation to Captain Jacob, Hosea and Colonel Daisuke. Captain Jacob had revealed everything from his private conversation with the male Norma. Cal's supposed bloodline and Trager's murder, but especially the identity of the very man who had laid waste to their people, had sent shockwaves through everyone. Not only that but this Dutch Vilson had personally ordered the torture of Hina and Janos and had seemingly taken an unusual interest in why Cal was the only successful birth.
The next day, after signing off to have the medical samples taken from the male Norma shipped off to the Sanctuary for testing, Malta and Dolton went to go visit Janos in the medical wing at first light and his appearance shocked them both. He was more than 60 pounds lighter compared to the stocky leader they had known for years. He was gaunt in the face with huge bags under his bloodshot eyes, several of his fingernails had been removed, and other injuries that were so severe their human nurses had to resort to using the Light of Mana to treat them.
"It's good to have you back Sarge." Dolton greeted his old friend who was covered in gauze with fluid and anesthetic tubes connected all over his body.
"It's good to see you too Dolton." Janos slurred, the aesthetic leaving him unable to even reach out to take Dolton's hand. "With you here helping I know the Harbor's in good hands." Beneath his bandages, Janos turned his eyes towards the Major. "Have you told Captain Jacob?
"Yes." Malta nodded. "He knows everything. Where they took you and Hina and why they kept you both alive."
"The Male Norma has to know…" Janos wheezed. "…HE…he's coming…for…"
"Who's after him, you mean Dutch?" Dolton tried to ask but Janos head collapsed unconscious onto his pillow.
"I'm sorry but you should leave." One of the Nurses urged. "You're not going to get anything out of him until he's had a chance to regain his strength."
"Yes of course." Major Malta nodded, though she suspected Janos was referring to someone else.
"Who would have thought Cal was actually from royal blood." Dolton said amazed.
"Or so he says." Major Malta added doubtfully. "That still doesn't explain why his birth was a success while the others had miscarriage."
"Did Captain Jacob mention anything?"
"No, only that the Male Norma forced the very words from Trager's mouth before killing him." Major Malta said with a glint of satisfaction. "I just wish I could have been there to see it."
"It definitely makes sense why this Dutch is after Cal and why he's trying to dig up information considering his and Gaz's history. Are you sure it's a good idea for Cal to leave this place with that guy hunting him?"
"Trust me. He's better off back at Arzenal than meddling in our affairs. Besides, there's no time to change the plan now. In the meantime, don't repeat a word what I've told you about Dutch, especially to Lucas and Lucia. The Captain wants to tell them himself. Just keep a close eye on the male Norma while you're out there and make sure he doesn't run off on his own again. Now, get everything ready and prepped. Our focus needs to be on rescuing the pilot of Villkiss."
"Yes Ma'am." Dolton saluted before he hurried off to the conference room. Once she was alone, Malta took a moment to ready herself before heading into the next room to speak with her old friend Hina.
Through the misty and icy fog, a poisonous chill clouded the very air to the point Cal felt as if he was nearly suffocating. And then he saw it again. He had been expecting it, but nevertheless it terrified him beyond belief as he spotted those two familiar glowing blue eyes that seemed to pierce into his very soul.
"Stop fighting it Cal." The chilling voice hissed out to him. "Let go of your struggles and take my hand." Through the haze, a blackened disheveled hand reached out to him. "Let go of all your suffering. Aren't you tired of always being used and lied to?" The fog began to clear as the two glowing eyes came into sharper focus, jet black sclera and slits for pupils like a viper. "Join me Cal! Why keep fighting? Together, we can make them pay for all the suffering we've both endured." The voice was right. Cal was tired. Tired of fighting, tired of being lied to, tired of everything. Slowly, he reached out his hand when someone called out to him.
"Cal! Cal! CAL!" Cal suddenly felt as if something warm was blanketing him, driving away the chill and snapping him back to his senses.
"No." he said. "Keep away! STAY AWAY FROM ME!"…..
…The haze vanished in a flare of light and Cal felt as if someone was lying on top of him. His vision cleared and he looked up to see a familiar head of red hair and violet eyes staring down at him with a worried look. "Hilda?" Once she saw he was awake, Hilda collapsed in relief on top of him.
"Jeez don't scare me like that." She groaned. "You were tossing and moaning so much I thought you were having a seizure."
"Sorry," he told her. "I just had a bad dream." Cal leaned back and exhaled as he put his arms around her. He couldn't remember what it was but he felt as if Hilda hadn't woken him up he would have made a serious mistake. "Thank you. You chased it away." Hilda blushed somewhat and pressed her face against his chest.
"Well it's not like could sleep with you throwing a fit next to me. Honestly, between that and your libido I don't know how Salia and Ersha are able to get any sleep."
"Hey they're the ones who keep me up most of the time." Cal countered indignantly. "I'm just glad to actually get some sleep myself for once."
"It was kind of nice." Hilda admitted. "I can't even remember the last time I shared a bed with someone without having to…you know, perform." The top of her head tickled Cal's chin as he picked up that familiar scent of cinnamon and gooseberries as she raised herself up to get a good view of Cal's bruised and grazed body. "Maybe if you're lucky once you heal up I might even let you try something. I still owe you for saving me after all."
"And for clocking me in the hanger." He reminded her. "So what, you no longer hate men?" Hilda smiled as she shifted position to straddle him. Her black robe parted a bit from the motion, exposing a good amount of cleavage as she lowered towards him. Her own bruises from the police assault had started to fade and her eye's swelling had almost gone down to normal. And she sported a hungry look, the same Zola often gave him when she was in 'the mood.'
"Well," she admitted. "Maybe some men aren't so bad. And maybe I'm feeling a little…curious." Cal gulped as she lowered her face toward his, her long red hair falling over him like a blanket until someone banged on the door to their room.
"Cal, Hilda!" Lucia's voice called. "Up and at 'em. Urgent meeting in 15 minutes!" With the mood ruined, Cal and Hilda climbed out of bed and, after a shared shower to save time, quickly dressed into some fresh clothes and stepped out together.
"Sorry if I interrupted anything," Lucia told them, "but time is short so let's get going. "
"Hold on, am I coming along to save Ange or not?" Hilda demanded.
"You'll find out soon enough." Lucia answered.
"What do you think they've got planned." Hilda whispered to Cal as they followed after. "Should we even trust these people, especially after what they hid from you about those Norma from the labs and the kids?"
"Yes." Cal nodded. "They did after all manage to find and help us when we were in trouble, so they know what they're doing." Coming to an elevator, they waited for it to arrive when a clique of teenage girls passed them by. Their leader looked Cal up and down and whispered something to her friends, making all three of them turn scarlet.
"Save it for the locker room!" Lucia snapped, causing all three to run off in alarm. As they rode down, Cal wondered just how many floors this place had. 'We must be hundreds of feet underground.' He guessed as the elevator door opened and Lucia guided them down an empty corridor and into a large room where a group of 11 individuals stood around a large circular podium. Most of them were humans, Finn and Frenzy amongst them and kept separated, along with three Norma who were flirting with Tusk. Once he saw them arrive, Tusk excused himself, much to the three girl's disappointment.
"Glad you're here." Tusk greeted them. "Looks like you made the cut."
"Yeah well they weren't going to get rid of me that easily." Hilda boasted.
"You don't wanna mess with her." Cal joked. "We call her the Crimson Tasmanian Devil for a reason back at Arzenal." And Cal yelped as Hilda stamped on his foot. As everyone waited for Lucas and Dolton, Cal overheard a conversation Finn was having with another human.
"I don't see why we can't just bust the Princess and her maid out of their cell and be done with it. If we wait until the execution then we're going to have to fight our way through police, the Imperial Guards, and who knows how many pissed off civilians."
"We're going to be rescuing Ange out in the open?" Cal gasped in shock. "But who ordered…"
"It's on Jill's orders." Tusk told him immediately. "Though I don't agree with it, she has her reasons."
"Wait!" Hilda interrupted. "The Commander is involved in this to?!"
'What is Jill playing at." Cal wondered, unsure what her motives could be. What reason would she have to allow Ange to be subjected to all that torture and humiliation?' But he held those thoughts as Dolton finally arrived along with Lucas, much to Cal's irritation.
"Alright everyone, gather around!" Lucas ordered, causing the chatter to die almost immediately as he stood behind the circular podium with Dolton and Lucia alongside him. "As you've all been informed, the former Princess of Misurugi and the new pilot of Villkiss, Ange, has been captured by her brother, Holy Emperor Julio and set to be executed tonight. You've all been selected to help extract and return her safely back to Arzenal." Following his introduction, Lucas stepped aside so his sister could take the floor.
"According to the Emperor's announcement, he's hosting a public execution of his sister in front of the Dawn Pillar. Intel has confirmed the execution is set to start at 10 o'clock tonight." There was a collective mutter of disgust from the group and Cal felt his respect for the group rise at their concern for Ange's wellbeing.
"Dolton bring up the plans." Lucas ordered. Dolton typed away at his Mana screen and several larger screens opened around the room, one of which displayed a heavily forested mountain area. "As we've recently discovered, the NMB have managed to monitor our movements in wide open areas and have made it difficult for us to travel by Para-mail or skyhook over long distances. But with the dense cover, they are unable to track us in this area." A yellow line traveled along the map, through the mountains and forests until it stopped upon a green X near a red border.
"We'll travel by skyhooks through the cave tunnels until we reach ground level at exit 7C," Lucia continued. "15 miles from the Misurugi boarder where Mana transports will be waiting for us. From there, Tusk will take the skyhooks and travel alone. The auto nav will allow them to follow you to Misurugi where our spies will collect them and replace them with new vehicles to throw the NMB off our scent." Up on the map, the yellow line changed to emerald green and traveled through highways and open roads until it reached the center of several small towns shrouded with forest in between them. "Once the rest of us reach Juniper woods we'll have to travel on foot. The trek through Juniper woods should take 5 hours but we should reach the dawn pillar by nightfall where Tusk will be waiting for us." Cal glanced at Hilda who looked somewhat overwhelmed by all of this as she shyly raised her hand.
"How are you planning on getting out of there once we recover Ange?" she asked. "And how are we going to fight through a crowd of humans or even worse the NMB if they show up?" In response Dolton pulled up a map detailing the grounds surrounding the Misurugi Imperial palace and the Dawn Pillar.
"We'll split into four teams stationed at each point of entry where the execution will be taking place." Lucas announced. "Team 1: Finn, Trevor, Gared and Patricia will be posted around the promenade to the west to halt any additional security coming from the palace. Team 2: Martin, Kiren, Frenzy and Shawn; you'll take position to the south behind the crowd to take out any additional guards and provide additional support for team 1. If things go horribly wrong, your job will be to cause a massive distraction which is why you'll be given Mana hover boards and other necessities stored away in one of the safe houses near the palace. Team 3: Dolton, Futaba, Bella and Rex; you'll stay behind at the foot of the trees behind team 2 and hack into the main police server and keep them from reinforcing the Pillar's security."
"We'll only be able to provide you 90 seconds." Dolton added. "So, we'll have to make it quick before the NMB will be on our asses."
"What about us?" Cal interjected.
"Team 4: Me, Lucia, You and Hilda, we'll take position in the trees to the north and provide cover fire for Tusk while he grabs the girls." Lucas explained. Finally, Cal could see the plan coming together and had to give these people credit. He may not trust most of them completely, but they were defiantly a big asset to Libertus, something he'd make a point of to Jill once he returned. "Tusk and team 4 will take the route over sea, back towards Arzenal. Team 1 will pull back to team 2 and back to team 3 where you'll use the skyhooks to get away." Lucas continued. "Once we're sure the NMB are off our tail then we'll meet at the appointed extraction point." The map shifted west and centered on an archipelago." Once we've had a chance to catch our breath and assess our situation; me, Lucia and Tusk will return all three Norma and the maid back to Arzenal while the rest of you split up and take separate routes back to the Harbor."
"Everything clear on what your roles are and what's at stake?" Lucia asked. The whole room nodded. "Good. If we play our roles right and keep to the shadows, we'll all come out of this unscathed. We've lost so much already and we can't afford to lose anyone else. Especially Ange."
"Libertus is almost upon us and without the pilot of Villkiss, we have no chance when the fighting begins." Lucas interrupted. "Though some of you have little experience in this…" and Lucas paused as his dark eyes roved over everyone's faces, lingering for a fraction of a second longer on Cal's, "…I expect all of you realize what is at stake. Not just the life of one Norma, but to us all. Don't ever forget that." His words inspired to them all what was at stake when it came to Libertus and Cal finally understood why Lucas was chosen as leader for this mission. Though the guy could be cold and unpleasant in Cal's opinion, he had to admit Lucas was a capable soldier who cared about the lives of his people and comrades. "Now let's get the pilot of Villkiss back from those vultures!" he roared, raising cheers of agreement throughout the room. With the meeting over and the mission set in motion, everyone made for the exit except for Cal and Hilda who were halted by Lucia.
"Hold on, you two are off for a detour." Lucia smirked.
"What do you mean?" Cal asked, not liking the smug look on Lucas' face as he looked back at him from the front of the group.
It wasn't until Cal and Hilda were taken to an unoccupied room with nothing but a bunch of Chester drawers and a single chair, that they knew what was about to happen to them. "You'll need a bit of a makeover before we leave. Major's orders" Lucia explained as she rummaged through the Chester drawers, pulling out a pair of scissors, combs, hairbrushes, spray bottles and different sorts of hair dye gels and sprays. "We don't want the NMB recognizing you both since you're their number one bounty."
"Hold on!" Hilda cried as she reflexively grabbed her pigtails.
"No buts!" Lucia ordered. "It's only temporary, I promise I won't cut too much." Without further argument Cal offered to go first, feeling slightly nervous as the only person he allowed to cut his hair after Gramps once he arrived on Arzenal was Ersha. Especially after Jasmine tried to charge him a ridiculous price that first month at Arzenal.
"You know what you're doing right?" Cal asked nervously.
"I do this all the time with most newcomers." Lucia scoffed. "Well, mostly." With no mirrors Cal dreaded what he would look like as Lucia began to cut away. Once she was done, she took a load of makeup from the drawers and applied it to Cal's face to cover up all the cuts and bruises. She then popped a pair of contacts over his eyes. The feeling was extremely uncomfortable, and it didn't help the fact that Hilda was sniggering in the background. "Does it look dumb?" Cal gulped.
"No you look rather handsome." Lucia said placidly, handing him the makeup mirror to show Cal his reflection. His eyes were now chartreuse, and he had to admit his hair didn't look too bad. His stubborn spikey black hair had been flattened and dyed auburn from gel and given a comb over, with the back and sides trimmed into fade.
"You look like a complete dork." Hilda snorted with laughter.
"I hope she shaves your head." Cal jabbed back as he left the room where Tusk was waiting for him outside.
"I must say the NMB will have trouble recognizing you with that look." Tusk admitted with a grin. "Here I'll show you the way to the changing room. We've only got 45 minutes before we leave." Once they passed a gym and storage facilities, they came to the men's locker room where a few of the chosen group were already changing, including Dolton and Frenzy, wearing identical black and dark grey jumpsuits. "I'll see you below deck." Tusk waved as he walked off. All in all, the room was very similar to the First Squad's locker room but had a weird musky smell. The lockers were also much larger and inside the one appointed to him, Cal found his own jump suit complete with satchel, sidearm and blade holster, utility belt and other assorted equipment for the mission.
"Nice look." Dolton winked at Cal admiring his new haircut. "I bet this is a little odd for you compared to Arzenal."
"I guess I've gotten so comfortable showering and dressing with the girls at Arzenal that being around other guys is a little weird for me." Cal confessed. Dolton chuckled, but this remark was unfortunately heard by the other guys who shot him jealous glares.
"Is it true from what the guys say that the girls at Arzenal let you wash their backs almost every day?" Frenzy asked with an obnoxiously perverted expression. "C'mon share, who's got the biggest…"
"That's none of your business!" Cal snapped.
"Lucky bastard." One of the other guys grumbled
"I wish I was a Male Norma, around all those girls."
"Just you wait 'till the girls at Arzenal join us. Bet they're bored sick of that guy by now."
"They'll definitely want fresh, tougher meat." Cal rolled his eyes though Dolton found it amusing.
"Just ignore them. Half of these guys here can't even charm a cow let alone a girl." This made Cal laugh slightly, imaging Scarlett being the cream of the crop for most of these guys, but would send most of them packing with black eyes and broken bones if they tried anything. As they talked, Cal noticed a small thin scar across the back of Dolton's neck. The same identical scar Gramps once had.
"Where did you get that scar?" Cal asked.
"Oh, this is off where our Mana defector chips have been inserted." Dolton said casually as if this was the most obvious answer. Cal shot him a bemused look so Dolton explained. "All humans who join us are fitted with one so we can still use Mana and the network. It blocks out all transmissions that're connected to our central nervous system so we remain undetected or hacked by the NMB or anyone else. It was your caretaker Gaz who came up with the original concept since he knew the insides and out of the NMB. We renegade humans only upgraded on his invention."
"Really?" Cal said in amazement, noticing the other guys in the room had the same scar on their necks, including Frenzy.
"Oh yeah. It's one of the reasons he remained undetected for so long since he was a part of the first Libertus with the Ancient Folk and Norma at the island of Xeon. Captain Jacob and Hosea always spoke very highly of Gaz. Seems like a hell of a guy from the stories I've heard."
"Yeah, he was." Cal replied in a hollow voice. "He was the best human I've ever known." Once Cal dressed into his jump suit, he followed Dolton and Frenzy out of the changing room where they caught up with the rest of the group who were waiting by a larger spiral stairwell with Lucas up front. Shortly afterwards Lucia and the three Norma arrived dressed in the same outfits as everyone else. But where was Hilda? Then something caught Cal's eye, a mane of violet purple hair as Hilda stepped forward. In addition to her dye job, her usual twin tails had been tied lower, making them hang longer. "No mocking the hair." Hilda warned, her now contact colored crimson eyes making her more intimidating.
"Purple really doesn't suit you." Cal said truthfully.
"Oh shut up!" Hilda grumbled as she flicked her pigtails in his face.
"Are you kidding?" Frenzy wolf whistled. "I know the basic rules on how to compliment a girl's new hairstyle." He flashed her a wide sparkling grin. "Your hair looks fabulous. And those eyes really match you. And that outfit really shows off your curves."
"Why you…" Hilda growled, looking as though she were about to deck Frenzy, but sighed in defeat as Cal suppressed a snort of laughter. "I'll take the compliment." Cal high fived Frenzy and spotted something shiny sticking out the top of Frenzy's jumpsuit pocket.
"What's that?" He asked before realizing it was a silver locket. "So you did steal that guy's locket yesterday." Cal scolded folding his arms. Hilda too had noticed and looked less than impressed.
"What, I only wanted to see why a big guy like Finn would be doing with a girly like locket." Frenzy said guiltily. "Look I'm sorry, I was going to slip it back into Finn's pocket when he wasn't looking."
"You'll give it back face to face." Cal told him.
"Are you crazy, he'll kill me if I hand it over now." But before he could react Cal yanked it from him and walked over to Finn. As the big brute saw him approach, Finn eyed him with contempt though his expression softened for a split second before he snatched the locket from Cal's open palm.
"Well, aren't you two looking thick as thieves? Having a good laugh over stealing my stuff?" Finn said ungratefully.
"Stop being such a jerk, I'm not the one who stole from you." Cal retorted not liking Finn's tone.
"Yes, but you defended the little shit who did. When someone nicks something of mine, it'll be my fist that rips their jaw off." Finn pulled the locket over his thick neck and for a split-second Cal caught sight a picture of a girl with straw blonde hair inside the locket, the same color as Finn's, but it quickly vanished as he zipped up his jumpsuit collar over it. "People like you two will always be liabilities to this place."
"You got that right Finn." Lucas remarked.
"Look it's over alright, just drop it." Cal said sternly, standing his ground.
"Alright that's enough, both of you!" Lucia snapped getting between Cal and Finn.
"Finn leave him alone." said Frenzy stepping forward. "It wasn't Cal's fault. If you're going to blame someone, blame me."
"With pleasure." Finn spat as he bounded his way to the front with Lucas.
"Don't let them get to you." said Dolton "Finn's not nearly as bad as he seems. He just tends to act without thinking most of the time." Cal had his doubts about that. Still, it was nice to have someone like Dolton on his side whom he would trust when Libertus began. Frenzy on the other hand had much to learn in Cal's opinion. Just then, a young girl came running up to Lucas and whispered a message to him before Lucas walked towards Cal.
"Major wants you to meet her in her office so she'll give you back Siegfried's bracelet." He said with a hint of bitterness. "Once you make your way back here, go to the bottom level and follow the arrows that say HANGER, we'll be waiting you." As the group descended the spiral staircase, Hilda spared him one last look of concern as her face disappeared.
"This way please." The girl said. "The Major has specific instructions on what you're to do."
The infirmary staff had their work cut out for them for the next couple of days, having to deal with over 30 new patients. But even with their heavy workload, Major Malta had enough space to allow them for a few minute breaks so she could visit Hina who was still in a state of semi-shock. "It's okay Hina." Major Malta said in a surprisingly gentle tone. "You and the baby are safe now." Miraculously her unborn child inside her was still healthy despite the humans starving and torturing her for over almost 2 months.
"Donte…he's gone." Hina sobbed. "That monster killed him." Malta felt awful. It was hard raising a child alone, especially in this cruel world.
"Donte would be proud of you for staying strong." Malta placed her hand gently on Hina's hand. "You just rest now, you've been through a lot." Major Malta attempted to let go but Hina clutched her hand with a death grip.
"Yuri please listen!" Hina fearfully begged. "The male Norma is in terrible danger, that monster is coming for him!"
"Hina calm down!"
"NO! He's going to deliver the boy to…HIM! TO HIM YURI!" The nurses rushed back in the room and knocked her out with a sedative, though Major Malta knew who Hina was referring to. 'What does Embryo want with the male Norma?' She wondered. 'Does he even know what his loyal dog is up to behind the scenes?' Embryo and his servant Dutch were a vile pair but Malta knew their enemy wouldn't do something unless it served some agenda of his. 'If the Male Norma is from royal blood then what does his mother's royal linage have to do with his successful birth?' She got the impression Jacob had not told her the entire truth about his conversation with the Male Norma when he ordered her to deliver his blood sample to the Sanctuary. 'It doesn't matter.' She decided. 'Soon he'll be gone and I'll be able to focus on more important matters.'
As she returned to her office, Malta expected the Male Norma to be waiting outside her door like she had instructed her squire Julie to tell him. But when she rounded the corner that led to her office door, he was nowhere in sight and her office door stood slightly ajar. She sped up her pace and peering through the gap saw someone with auburn hair leaning over her desk. And once she realized what this person was looking at, her heart stopped dead still.
Though the girl had told him to wait outside the Major's office, after waiting over 10 minutes Cal's impatience finally got the best of him. He tried the doorknob, expecting the office to be locked, but to his luck it opened. 'Where would Major keep a highly import piece of equipment for Libertus?' Cal guessed as he began searching all over the office for Siegfried's bracelet. The most obvious place was the desk though most of the drawers and cabinets contained nothing more than paperwork, disk drives, and random junk. Cal was just about to give up when he saw a glint of metal sticking out from beneath the data console keyboard. It was a small gold tubular key attached to a USB that matched the lock at the bottom drawer of her desk. Cal turned the key and inside found a tan colored file on top of a wooden case the size of a shoe box. He threw the file lazily upon the desk as he opened the wooden case, where to his relief he finally found the ruby gemmed bracelet.
"There you go." He said aloud as he snapped it back onto his left wrist, feeling as though he had been reunited with an old comrade. He just hoped Lucas would keep his mouth shut about it when he met up with them. Putting the box back inside the drawer he grabbed for the file and did a double take as his eyes bulged. There upon the front cover the title read NORMA #42, just like those he discovered in Trager's house. Cal flipped through the pages, coming to a few photos of a group of defeated looking Norma that were busy doing some kind of laundry shift, dressed in ragged grey uniforms that looked oddly familiar.
"What the hell." Cal muttered, turning over more pages feeling as though something was very wrong. In one picture in particular, he noticed one Norma amongst the others with familiar lank jet-black hair and sky-blue eyes. "Mom!" Cal whispered in complete shock. 'What is Major Malta doing with this? How did she come by this file? And who was the Norma it belongs to?' Cal hurriedly flicked through more pages and came across the Norma's mug shot and her background details.
PATIENT NORMA #42
REAL NAME: Yuri Park
TEST SUBJECT STATUS #12: FAILED
REPORT BY: Dr Richard Trager
NORMA #42 HAS UNFORTUNATELY, LOST ANOTHER CHILD. THIS IS ITS 8TH ONE ON HER RECORD AND HASN'T MADE IT PAST 2 MONTHS WITHOUT SUFFERING A MISCARRIAGE.
This Norma Yuri had a pale docile face with boyishly short bubblegum blue hair. She was also in the same picture as his mother during their laundry shift. Did that mean she was in the same lab as her? was she a friend of his mother's? Was Yuri even alive? Jill and Jasmine had mentioned Gramps let loose half the Norma within the lab free before the fire broke out. Maybe they had escaped and were alive and living within one of the three hidden communities.
Cal peered back at Yuri's mugshot, studying her features and at her pink narrow eyes and finally put two and two together. Cal realized with a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach whom this file belonged to when a hand suddenly closed tight over his upper arm with a vice-like grip. Wincing Cal looked round and saw with a thrill of horror, an older, battle-scarred Yuri in the flesh, her face white with rage.
"How dare you!" Malta seethed, gripping Cal's arm so tightly it was starting to feel numb. "Having fun poking around my office?"
"No!" said Cal trying to free his arm.
"Interesting experiments they put me and my friends through, wasn't it?!" She asked as she began to shake Cal violently. "Bet you feel lucky your drawing breath because your mother was of royal blood while we lost so many of our unborn children?!"
"No…I didn't…" Before he had a chance to finish, Major Malta threw Cal aside her with all her might upon the office floor.
"You will not tell anybody what you saw!" Major Malta warned.
"No!" Cal promised as she scrambled to his feet. "I swear I…"
"GET OUT! Get out! I don't want to see your face in this office, in this vicinity or in my presence ever again!" And as Cal hurtled towards the door, a glass jar exploded against the wall inches from his head as he wrenched the door open and tore across the corridor. He raced past the curious onlookers and down the spiral staircase, stopping only when he had put several floors between himself and Major Malta. There he sat on the step his legs shaking, panting and rubbing his bruised arm. He had no desire to return to this place ever again let alone see or meet Major Malta for the rest of his life.
But what was making him so horror stricken wasn't the Major's frightening outburst. It was that Cal knew why she looked at him the way she did, as though he was contaminated. It was because he was a living reminder of the trauma she went through in Trager's first lab and losing God knew how many of her unborn children. It all became too much for Cal who managed to reach the bottom of the stairwell and wretch.
Hilda followed behind at the back of the group next to Dolton and Frenzy as they descended the spiral staircase that seemed to never end. As they continued Hilda thought they must have gone down 14 levels at most, until finally they reached the bottom of a large dark cave barely lit by the rows of lights along the wall.
"I hope Cal will be okay on his own." Hilda worried.
"He'll be fine, the Major might be hard but she's not all bad." Dolton assured her, which Hilda somewhat agreed with. The Major had shown some understanding of what Hilda had been through with her mother. "Besides Cal won't be long, she'll just be giving him back his bracelet to activate Siegfried."
"Yeah about that?" Hilda wondered. "What is that bracelet anyway? How is that it's able to activate Cal's machine?" Cal had told her and the first squad it was a gift from Naomi, but her questions remained unanswered as they all arrived at a massive landing platform which was laid out before a dark tunnel that seemed to go on for miles. In the center of the platform, Tusk was already waiting for them wearing a dark poncho and mounted upon one of the nine skyhook vehicles identical to the one Cal had ridden out to find her.
"I've checked everything over with maintenance staff." Tusk reported to Lucas. "We're gassed up and ready to go. Scanners have been autotuned to zero in on any NMB Mana spy drones so we'll see them before they see us." As there were 17 of them in total, they'd have to double up with one passenger riding behind the pilot while Tusk had one all to himself, which Hilda noted was slightly more scuffed and older than the rest.
"How do you work these things?" She asked.
"It works just the same as a Para-mail." Lucia told Hilda, who noticed the handles, console and gears indeed looked very similar to her Glaive. "They're about the same speed, but they weigh less so don't use too much force when changing direction."
"Alright everyone get ready." Lucas ordered through their earpieces as Lucia climbed on behind him. "Once we get the confirmation from the Command Centre staff be ready to launch on my signal!"
'This is easier than I thought.' Hilda admitted as she got the skyhook ready to move off, it was just like riding a miniature Para-mail in flight mode. 'How long is that idiot going to be?" She wondered as Cal had been gone for almost 20 minutes now. As if on que, Cal came rushing down the dimly lit tunnel and sat behind Hilda, his face pasty white. "Are you okay? You look sick?"
"I'm fine." Cal said dismissively, not looking at her. "I just want to get far away from here."
"What happened?" Hilda asked, knowing something was off.
"Alright everyone is here!" Lucia announced as everyone put on their flight goggles. "Get ready everyone!"
"This is Team G.H.O.S.T ready to launch." Lucas called over his earpiece as the engines began to hum.
"Roger Team G.H.O.S.T. Opening hatch doors 7B." The Command staff responded as blue energy began flushing from all the skyhooks four winged engines.
"Alright let's move out." Lucas ordered as one by one, the 9 skyhooks lifted up and zoomed forwards through the tunnel, leaving behind a trail of dust and exhaust in their wake. With the speed of the wind whooshing in her face, Hilda kept a sharp eye on the two people in front of her, following their every movement as they all turned and rounded through many smaller tunnels. "We should reach exit 7C in 15 minutes." She heard Lucia announce. "Tusk we'll leave you to it to get these skyhooks to Misurugi while we use the Mana vehicle to get to Juniper Forest."
"You got it." Tusk responded. A short while later, Hilda spotted a bright light at the end of the tunnel and the next moment, they shot out into clear morning blue sky. The smell of fresh air after being underground for nearly a day was unbelievably refreshing, but to her concern throughout the entire ride Cal remained completely silent. He kept a tight hold of Hilda's waist pressing his cheek against the side of her head as though he was hugging her for support. Just what was the matter with him to make him so hurt and upset?
Looking out of his office window across the city of Misurugi, Dutch anxiously paced around his office, his nerves even more on edge than usual. He had returned to his office that morning to uncover more about Subject Beta out the way of prying eyes but so far nothing had turned up. Mentally exhausted, Dutch slumped in his chair and poured himself an amber colored whiskey while starring at the half mud soiled file once again. Most of the notes and documents were soaked and caked in mud, leaving only complicated formulas, DNA diagrams and locked file codes. And he was no scientist so what he could gather from them was so ineligible it might as well have been useless scribbling.
After a few minutes he finally received the call, he had been awaiting. "Ms Yung-si, I presume you've found something on Subject Beta?" He spoke to his assistant.
"Not everything yet." She answered and began transferring encrypted documents to Dutch's Mana screen. "It took a while, but I managed to hack through the file locks, and I discovered this. Though I must warn Commander, you won't like what you see." Dutch dismissed her concern and began reading the documents she had uncovered.
'CONSULTATION DATED: 2156.05.20.
'The same day Gaz torched the lab.' Dutch realized.
DONNIE VILLSON
THE SHOCK OF YESTERDAY HAD GIVEN ME NIGHTMARES, EVREYTHING WE PREDICTED WAS WRONG OR MAYBE THIS IS AN ACT OF NATURE, BUT NO THE IMPOSSIBLE HAS CAME TRUE. WE HAVE CREATED THE FIRST MALE NORMA AND THE SUBJECT ALPHA PROGRAM HAS BEEN A COMPLETE FALIURE, BUT OUR FALIURE WILL NOT BE IN VAIN.'
'AFTER HUNDREDS OF YEARS THE KEY TO MATCHING THE SINGLE SEED SAMPLE USED ON ALL THE NORMA PATIENTS TO PRODUCE A HEALTHY CHILD ALL STEMS FROM A NORMA WITH ROYAL BLOOD. WITH THE NEW TECHNOLIGY AND EQUIPMENT I'VE JUST RECIEVED FROM TRAGER'S SUPERIOR, I'M POSSITVLY SURE WITH ENOUGH TIME AND RESEARCH WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE THE PERFECT CLONE OF SUBJECT ALPHA, THE PERFECT BEING. SUBJECT ALPHA'S BODY THOUGH PART NORMA WILL BE THE PERFECT VESSAL FOR OUR NEW CREATION WITHOUT HAVING TO USE NORMA #66 OR ANOTHER NORMA OF ROYAL BLOOD.
SUBJECT BETA.
"This abomination is a clone?!" Dutch shuddered hoarsely. He stared at the photo of the black scaly baby fiend inside its green incubator, its slit sky-blue eyes as though it was piercing into Dutch's mind. Even Subject Alpha was less of an abomination than this.
"Yes Subject Beta's creation stemmed from your brother's research and theories on why Subject Alpha was born as the only Male Norma." said Ms Yung-si.
"But what does this all mean, using Subject Alpha's body as a template? We all concluded Subject Alpha perished in the fire so how was this thing created when they didn't have a host?"
"It appears they took a blood sample before the lab was destroyed." Ms Yung-si responded warily. "That is what Trager used to create the clone. But the Subject almost died as they didn't have a complete vessel to complete the Subject like Donnie's research concluded."
Dutch read through more notes that were now written by Trager and came across the same subject. But it now looked completely healthy and human looking, its black scales gone as if they were never there.
'SUBJECT HAS ACHIEVED PURIFICATION STAGE THANKS TO THE AURA PROGRAM. SUBJECT HAS SHOWN A HUGE SPIKE IN GENETIC INCREASE AND GROWTH. IT'S EVEN A MIRACLE THE SUBJECT SURVIVED BUT WE'VE HAD SUCCESS WITH THE THEORIES DEVELOPED BY DONNIE VILSON BEFORE HIS PASSING. WITHOUT HIS RESEARCH ON SUBJECT ALPHA AND THE BLOOD SAMPLES TAKEN FROM BEFORE ITS DEMISE, I FEARED WE HAD ANOTHER FAILURE ON OUR HANDS. BUT NOW WITH A FEW ADDED ADJUSTMENTS, THE SUBJECT WILL BE AN EVEN GREATER SUCCESS THAN SUBJECT ALPHA.'
Dutch felt the rage boil to the surface but kept a calm composure in front of his personal assistant. "Well done Ms Yung-si. Keep digging for information. Get back to me immediately if you find anything else."
"Once I decrypt the other codes to access the locked files I should be able to find out where the Subject was created and what this Aura program was." She promised. The call ended and now that he was alone, with one swing of his arm Dutch swiped everything off his desk to clatter onto the floor. Once he had vented some of the anger, he reached into his desk and pulled out a photo of him and Donnie when they were kids, Donnie was playing with his new chemistry set while Dutch sat behind him, observing.
"Trager." Dutch growled, "I swear once the pilot of Villkiss is hanged and I've captured the terrorists and Subject Alpha, I'll make sure you wished you had never of lied to me. Once I've captured Subject Alpha I'll find out what Donnie had discovered and put you out of the picture, for good."
Over the horizon 12 miles away, he could see the Dawn pillar in all its majesty. 'Did you have anything to do with the creation of Subject Beta Master?' Dutch thought, feeling a sense of dread that maybe he had been used this whole time. 'No! Master Embryo would never lie to me. After all he was the one who showed me the truth of this world and about Gaz. Master has always given me the respect and decency that my Family never gave.' But one thing didn't make sense to him. Why was the same seed sample used on all the Norma and whom did it belong to?
In the meantime, he had other matters to attend to. After carefully placing Norma #66 and Subject Beta's files within a large book on his bookshelf and hiding it in the bottom of his largest desk drawer, he left to regroup with his team. It was time to deal with Subject Alpha once and for all. Unknown to him a thin figure was observing him as he climbed into his car, it's gleaming sky blue eyes with slits for pupils watching Dutch drive past.
"It's about time you were out of the picture Mr Villson, you've troubled me long enough." A cold emotionless voice hissed as a left hand covered in black scales typed away at a Mana screen.
"Hello this is emergency services."
"Hello, I'd like to report a disturbance at Terrace Street. It came from Dr Trager's Manor."
