A/N
For anyone getting this chapter alert again I reposted the chapter 'cause FFN is being... weird about the update, so I was seeing if it'd work. Dunno if anyone else is having this issue or what, hope it works.
Chapter 19: Dead Ahead
As the countryside whizzed by, Hilda's thoughts were more than a little jumbled. First there was confusion to why she'd snapped out of her depression after hearing the situation Ange had gotten into. It was certainly true she didn't want to let the humans get away with it. But neither could she say she had any real affection for Ange. 'I'm just paying back a debt.' She decided. 'Ange could have let me fall back at Arzenal, but she didn't.'
Second had to do with her companion.
For as many times as she'd seen Alain in the shower and onsen, she'd never at all bothered noticing him as she'd found him so irritating. But now that she was in this situation, there wasn't really a way for her to avoid taking stock of him. His surprisingly broad shoulders for his limber frame, the solid feel of his torso as her arms wrapped around it, and her face burned a bit as she remembered being carried by him the other night. 'A girl's chest is softer but… there's something comforting about a boy.'
"You doing okay back there?" Alain called out over the engine.
"Just fine!" Hilda snapped, hiding her face in his shoulder.
"If you say so." Alain looked down at Wyvern's terminal set into the console. "There's a rest area coming up. I'm gonna pull in and get something to eat."
"Huh?! Why? We don't have time for that!"
"We aren't going to do Ange any good if we fall over from hunger." He argued as a sudden growl emerged from Hilda's stomach. "See what I mean?"
"Fine." Hilda grumbled. As they pulled into the stop, Hilda took stock of their surroundings. Mostly an empty parking lot, a small building with public restrooms rose out of the center with rows of vending machines lining it's front. "At least it's quiet."
"Luckily for us people aren't fond of traveling around that often." Alain said as they dismounted the runner.
"You have any money for those things?" Hilda asked.
"Humans don't need money, remember. Not with the Light of Mana."
"Then how are we going to get anything from the machines?" Alain smirked and pulled on a pair of fingerless gloves. A cord ran out their back and Hilda raised a brow as she watched him slide it up the cuff of his jacket and further into the sleeve.
"Watch this." With a wave of his hand, a green light shined and one of the machines hummed to life.
"What the… how did you?"
"A little present from my friends." He told her. "These gloves are able to absorb a little bit of the Light of Mana. Not much, but enough for people like me and you to blend in and function when we're out and about."
"So, wait." Hilda said. "Are you saying the only reason Humans can use Mana is because of some technology they won't share with the Norma?"
"Not at all." Alain answered. "I don't know how the Light of Mana works. Something about it being absorbed by the nervous system. The humans who work with us have to limit themselves though."
"How?" Alain reached behind his head and pulled aside his ponytail.
"They implant themselves with a chip right about here." He said while tapping a finger at the base of his skull. "It keeps them from being hacked or located. On the downside, it limits the amount of Mana they can draw on, so they have to watch how much they use it to prevent it from being depleted."
"Hacked? By what?"
"I… can't tell you that."
"You know…" Hilda grumbled. "it's pretty hard for me to trust you if you don't do the same for me."
"It has nothing to do with trust." Alain countered. "There's just some things I can't tell you because it would be too dangerous for you to know right now. Just be patient and trust that there's going to be a time when I'll tell you."
"Whatever." Hilda sighed as the machine dinged and the heater door opened. Getting a couple bottles of water from another machine, the two of them sat down on one of the benches. "So, tell me, these humans who like Norma, what's their deal?" Alain hummed as he chewed a mouthful and swallowed.
"The thing is, not all Humans fall into the status quo. Some of them had Norma friends or relatives and didn't want them getting targeted. Others took a good hard look at the world and realized something was wrong with it despite all the assurances to the contrary. Then you've got the likes of CROSS, who just want a place of their own."
"Why would anyone even want to live in a world like this huh?" Hilda grumbled, shoveling her mouth full out of annoyance.
"Well it's not really like we have a choice now do we?" Alain sighed. As he was eating, a sudden movement caught his eye and he looked up to see a small black cat padding towards him. It's fur was dirty and scraggly, most likely a stray but it didn't seem afraid of him. Alain tore off a chunk of hamburger from his patty and held it out. After a quick sniff, the cat took it in one gulp before leaping up to nuzzle in his lap. "That's a good girl." He whispered as he scratched the stray's head.
"How do you know it's a girl?" Hilda asked.
"Because she likes me of course."
"Please." Hilda groaned. "It's only acting friendly so it'll get more of your burger."
"Well then why don't you give it a try?" Hilda raised a brow, then tore of a chunk of her own burger.
"Here." The cat looked up at her, then flattened it's ears before jumping off and trotting away.
"See what I mean?" he chuckled as Hilda tched in annoyance. "You know, I get you're still in a bad mood after everything that's happened, but you ever think you'd be a lot happier if you dropped the attitude?" Hilda's reply was a sharp jab into his ribs with her elbow. "Ow! What was that for?!"
"For being annoying."
"I'd almost think you were jealous." He joked.
"Of you?"
"Of the cat." For his troubles, Alain felt her heel dig into his shin and he yelped.
"Do you want me to cut it off? Don't mess with me, got it?"
"Alright alright, sheesh!" Alain sighed. After finishing their meal, they remounted the Runner and pulled back onto the road. Hilda kept her eyes on the horizon rolling ahead of them as eyes shifted up to the scattered clouds and then to Alain.
"Hey, mind if I ask something?"
"What?"
"What were your parents like?" Hilda yelped and grabbed Alain tighter when he suddenly swerved. "Will you watch it?!"
"S-Sorry." He apologized. "I just… that's a bit out of nowhere isn't it?"
"Excuse me for wondering." Hilda scoffed. "Besides, I'm bored and it seemed like a good way to pass the time.
"Well okay." He mutered. "I don't remember a lot from back then, I was eight after all. But, my Dad was Wyvern's former pilot and the former Mobius 1."
"Was he like you?"
"Actually, he and I were complete opposites. He looked at everything with a level head and a calm eye and acted in a way people said a Knight should."
"You're definitely the furthest thing from that." Hilda snarked.
"Anyway," Alain continued. "he was someone a lot of people looked up to. Back then…" Alain paused. Jill, or rather, Alektra and Villkiss's real purpose fit into the category of things that were too dangerous for her to know about yet. "Well, I'll just say what he did was important. As for my mom, she was Garm's Captain way back before Zola."
"No kidding?"
"Yeap. Zola, back when she wasn't… y'know Zola… she really looked up to Mom. Kinda like how Salia does to Jill. To be honest I've been told I take after her more than my dad."
"Oh so you being a perv isn't just from being the only thing around with a dick huh?"
"Funny. What I mean is she cared about her wing mates more than anything." A wistful smile came to Alain's face as he spoke. "If there was anyone who'd get utterly pissed at a squad mate being hurt, it was her. Order number one was always "Come back alive" for mom. Nobody was allowed to die as long as she was flying, and she made sure of it."
"What was her call sign?"
"Keeper." Hilda's eyes widened. She'd heard Zola mention someone with that name before. 'I never imagined it could have been this guy's mom. Zola always did talk about her like she was a legend.' "Their real names were Marcus and Monica. They both have graves back at Arzenal. Everybody who died ten years ago does, even the men."
"If there are then why have I never seen them?"
"They're outside of the main graveyard." Alain replied. "The Inspector we had before Emma let us get away with things because she was sympathetic towards us. But after what happened ten years ago she got pulled from Arzenal. We never found out what happened to her, but I hope she just got expelled from the army and didn't get jailed… or worse. The Inspectors rotated around from there until Emma showed up and made things easy to keep on the low again." Alain's hands tightened on his controls for a moment before relaxing. "I'll say it again: I know our situations are different… but like I said before I understand how you feel. I'd give anything for the chance to talk to them again. And I'd at least want them to know that they didn't die for nothing. And that there's a chance again."
"A chance, huh?" Hilda murmured. "Before things… happened, I thought the same thing. I thought I had the best parents in the world. Papa was at work a lot, but he adored both me and Mama, and she always treated me like the greatest thing she'd ever been given. It's why I wanted to go back, why I thought I had a chance… we are different, but… at least you and the others got to have parents who loved you even if you were Norma." Hilda buried her face in Alain's shoulder to hide the tears that were once more welling in her eyes.
"That's why I want to change things." Alain said. "There's one of the kids, Kira, she's a lot like how you were. She was sent to Arzenal a few weeks before Ange arrived. Ersha and I have been trying to get through to her. And while she's started lightening up, she still misses her parents. It's always the same story. And I've seen it happen more than I wish I had. Mothers who have their daughters ripped out of their arms all because they're a Norma. It's disgusting."
"Then I guess helping Ange is a starting place." Hilda said. "I'll ask again, these friends of yours are actually trustworthy?"
"Yes. Odd as hell but trustworthy." Alain assured. "Come to think of it… I'd better call them up so that we're not popping in unannounced. Wyvern?"
"I will patch a line through once we're near Misurugi."
"Killer."
Tusk figured there was a chance of Alain coming to Misurugi. For one he'd had an effective head start on his objective, and he knew his fellow well enough that he doubted Alain would pass up the chance to raise some hell in the Mana world. He'd just wish it hadn't been so sudden and out of the blue.
'Then again I suppose he's always been this way.' Tusk sighed as he looked back out over the edge of the suburban district. The rest of Garuda, besides Shamrock of course, were still in the main city doing recon for the upcoming operation. Tusk had been at the hideout with Shamrock when Alain had contacted them, and the sudden news had nearly triggered a stroke in the usually unflappable Shamrock. Especially since now it meant they had to factor in more variables to their plan at literally the last moment. The rest of the team was already on their way back to the hideout, and Tusk could tell it was going to be a mess. 'And he just had to bring the girl with him, didn't he? Well… I guess I'm fine with it if it's someone Alain trusts. Not sure about the others though.' Tusk panned his gaze back across to the main road when a glint caught his eye. Adjusting his focus, the glint began to sparkle in a binary pattern. A morse code signal meaning "Keep the door open."
Tusk ducked down and used the rooftop port to get back inside of the garage, Shamrock shifting to look at him as he slid down the ladder.
"Is the troublemaker here?"
"Yeah." Tusk nodded. Almost as soon as the garage door was opened, Alain's Runner smoothly slid in and came to a stop, and Tusk just as quickly closed the door. The chances of being seen may have been small, but a chance was a chance.
"So, mind if I say something?" Shamrock said as Alain and the Norma with him dismounted the Runner. "What the actual hell are you thinking?"
"That I'd add a couple of extra pairs of hands to the job." Alain said, totally unfazed by Shamrock's aggravation.
"If Chopper punches you, I won't be surprised." Shamrock huffed as he turned back to his computer, giving a yelp when a window popped onto it. "And tell your damn AI to stay out of my systems!"
"I do apologize." Wyvern countered. "But as we are limited on time, I believe it would be expedient for me to access what information you have already gathered."
"How does it even do that?" Shamrock mumbled, scratching his head. "Can't you stop the thing?"
"If I could, I would." Alain said as the side door opened, Chopper entering first with High Roller and Huxian behind him. "Hey, Chopper! Long time no-GOUF!" No sooner had Alain started to greet him that Chopper's first went sailing into his gut. Alain let out a pained groan as he hit the ground while clutching the impact zone, Chopper huffing as he folded his arms.
"Hey! The hell do you think you're doing?!" Hilda shouted, attempting to draw the handgun she had taken from the cabin when Huxian raised his first. "Sons of…"
"Don't get the wrong idea girl." Huxian warned. "The idiot knew he had this one coming."
"I kind of did." Alain wheezed.
"Honestly." Chopper sighed as Alain picked himself up off the floor. "Do you ever do anything but plan off the seat of your ass Trigger?"
"More or less no." Alain said with a cheeky grin. "Nice to see you too by the way."
"I just wish the circumstances were better." Chopper said. "Huxian, put the gun down so the girl knows we're friendly, will you?"
"She went for it first." Huxian said despite complying. Alain waved his hand, and Hilda relaxed in turn.
"Good. Now let's go and be civilized about things." Chopper turned to Hilda. "Allow me to introduce ourselves. We're Garuda Team, part of CROSS. I'm the leader, Chopper. The fox-faced one is Huxian, our pal at the computer is Shamrock and… where's High Roller?"
"Hel-lo there!" Right behind Hilda is where he'd gotten to, the red head flinching as she registered his presence. "When we got word Alain was bringing a Norma with him I didn't quite think-GOOPH!" High Roller's leering over Hilda was quickly met by the Norma slugging him in turn, Alain catching the sneaky young man as he stumbled back. "Yowch! Feisty! I like it!"
"Piss off." Hilda spat. "I deal with him enough as it is. I know how men can be."
"I am a bad example to make a standard from." Alain quipped.
"He's right." Everyone but High Roller said in unison.
"… could've at least been a bit less blunt." Alain mumbled, Hilda smirking at his wounded expression.
"Anyway!" Chopper clapped his hands and turned to Tusk. "Wanna introduce yourself?"
"Ah, right." Tusk cleared his throat. "I'm Tusk. I'm not really part of Garuda, though I do have ties to Arzenal. I… actually helped Ange out when she got stranded a few weeks ago."
"Huh?" Hilda's gasp said a lot to Tusk and Alain, the girl quickly regaining her composure. "Hilda. That's what you can call me."
"We… kind of knew that." Chopper admitted, ignoring Hilda's glare. "Anyway, since we are short on time, let's talk strategy. Shamrock?"
"If the AI would give me my systems back." Shamrock nodded when the screen returned to normal. Oulling out a device of his own, Shamrock projected a 3D map of the area around the Dawn Pillar, zooming in on the plaza at the front of the structure. "Because the Emperor is an idiot, he's holding the execution publicly in the most open place in the city. We're expecting there to be security at the main entrances into the plaza once the event starts. The forests around the Dawn Pillar's grounds make for good cover so the aim is for us to set up at our posts a few hours ahead of time."
"When exactly are you planning to go in and get Ange?" Hilda asked.
"Well…" Tusk said. "Jill's recommendation was waiting until the last minute, but…"
"Buuuut!" High Roller chimed in. "We don't work that way here. Our plan is to act as soon as we can. Pretty much as soon as they bring the girl out… and the maid too I guess. Shamrock'll knock out all their cameras so we can keep the op away from as many eyes as we can."
"I can assist with that." Wyvern said, Shamrock glaring as the AI's image appeared on the monitor. "If I layer my own system key over Shamrock's, I can ensure you will have the time you need to act while the central area is cut off from outside communications as well."
"I guess we can say that's one thing to appreciate about this." Huxian said. "As for how the plan is, it's like this…" he nodded to Shamrock, the hacker adjusting the map to show multiple blips. "Chopper, High Roller, and Tusk will be the ones directly retrieving the targets. Their Runners are already stashed in the woods to ensure a fast getaway. I'll be around here…" the map moved to a spot on the outer portion of the Dawn Pillar. "Once they bring the two out, I'll use flash rounds to give a cover."
"Which is when the three of us move in on our Runners to grab them during the scramble." Chopper continued. "Tusk grabs Ange while High Roller and I go for the other girl. And while the guards are all busy scrambling all over the place, we get out through the woods before being noticed."
"The only possible issue is we're not clear how big the crowd is going to be at the site." Tusk said. "It's expected to be massive though. And we're trying to avoid civilian casualties."
"Considering we're talking about the public execution of the girl who's basically public enemy number one, I'm sure the on-site forces won't be something light either." Alain added, Hilda raising a brow at the serious expression he had. "You guys know what their plan even is? I'm sure His Holy Majesty wants to make a show of it."
"He does." Shamrock said. "Chopper played the part of the eyeing tourist and got the gist of things while they were throwing their fancy execution platform together."
"Aside from broadcasting it, it's two things." Chopper cleared his throat, the group of boys groaning at seeing what was coming. "I do quote the guard: In the name of public punishment, the accused shall be flogged publicly by her Highness First Princess Sylvia Ikaruga Misurugi, and upon conclusion of the punishment, she will then be hanged for the crime of… yeah okay I can't keep the voice going, it's stupid. Basically, she's being executed solely for being a Norma and NOT dying at Arzenal."
"Thank GOD you stopped." Huxian grumbled.
"… what?" Hilda said.
"This is just a thing he does when trying to lighten the mood." Alain groaned. "Anyway, Tusk, you said Jill wanted you to wait. Why?"
"I'm not sure, but… if I had to guess…"
"She wants Ange to see exactly how the people think." Alain concluded, Tusk nodding. "Dammit Jill… there's better ways to go about things than that."
"So, wait a second…" Hilda said. "The Commander told this other guy…"
"Tusk."
"Whatever, that he should wait until she's about to be killed just so she can see how these people act?" Hilda looked around as the room went quiet. "What the hell kind of idea is that?! It's already obvious enough! They throw us into Arzenal for crying out loud!"
"Hilda, remember how I said there's things I can't tell you about right now?" Alain said. "This is related to that. Jill's past is… complicated. And when it comes to her orders…"
"Come on!" Hilda snapped. "What is it about these things around Ange that makes you roll over and listen to the Commander like some puppy huh?!"
"I never said I was going to say we should." Alain objected. "I'm with Tusk and Garuda on this. Screw Jill's orders, getting Ange out as soon as we can is for the best."
"Good." Hilda said. "So where do me and Alain fit into your scheme huh?"
"Assuming neither of you are keen to cause a mess…" Chopper looked at Alain, who gave a miserable attempt at whistling like he was innocent. "You can join us on the actual retrieval part of it. Trigger's right on the idea there might be some heavier defense at the grounds than we may be expecting. Hey, Wyvern, outside of their comms is there any way for you to get into say… an armored vehicle or the like? Everything they use runs on Mana, and you can tap into any of those systems, right?"
"I can." Wyvern confirmed. "However, for a closed system like a vehicle I would need to be close to it. I would not be able to disable any vehicles until Alain gets my terminal close to them."
"So hit them while I have them blinded." Huxian said. "The more of their equipment we can keep locked the better."
"I still wonder how the heck he does it." High Roller said.
"I have explained the concept behind the quantum computer my functions are founded in before." Wyvern said. "And Mana at its core is an information technology. Thus, it is something I can interact with. It is not much more complex than that."
"But you said quantum computer." High Roller replied. "I think that makes it complicated by default."
"Anyway, me and Hilda are on the direct retrieval, got it." Alain confirmed, Chopper giving him a nod. "So then…"
"Hold it!" Hilda cut in. "I want to confirm something real quick: How many of you are humans and how many are the other people who can't use Mana?"
"Is that really important?" Shamrock muttered.
"It is to me." Hilda snapped Shamrock rolling his eyes. "I'm going to be up front and say the only one I trust here is Alain. I don't know any of you, so I don't have any reason to trust you. If you want me to believe we're not going to be stabbed in the back, the least you can do is that much right?"
"Fair point." Chopper nodded. "Well… most of us aren't by the Mana-using definition of it." Chopper turned and showed the base of his skull, the rest of the group following suit. "The only one that is…"
"Would be me." Shamrock lowered his hood and moved his hair aside to show the chip implant on his neck. "Don't ask about my case. I don't feel like talking about inane things like the past a few hours before an op."
"Wasn't going to ask anyway."
"Good enough for you?" Alain hummed.
"Yeah." Hilda nodded. "As long as nobody tries anything smart."
"Relax relax." Chopper said. "We may be an odd bunch, but trust me, we take out jobs seriously."
"So Alain says." Hilda murmured.
By the time the sun was finally dipping below the horizon, the rescue team had been waiting at their posts in the woods for hours. Alain, Hilda, and Tusk were in Group A, in part because Chopper wanted Tusk to make extra sure Alain wouldn't do anything reckless. With the skies growing darker, Alain and Tusk had their eyes glued to Wyvern's terminal, currently tapped into the news feed around the Dawn Pillar.
"That crowd is huge." Tusk observed. It was a veritable sea of people, enough to fill the plaza right up to the execution platform. "It's going to be difficult to pull this off without collateral damage."
"It's kinda creepy just how many people are showing up for this." Alain said, Tusk giving an agreeing hum.
"Why would you even care?" Hilda grumbled, leaning back against Alain's Runner. "They're all here to watch Ange be executed, so what if a few of them get hurt?"
"It's not that simple." Tusk countered. "Even if I hate what they're doing, I can't just go and drag people who have nothing to do with any of this into it."
"You'd be surprised how many people in CROSS were brought in because of things like this." Alain added. "Most of them can brush it off because they're spoon fed propaganda all their lives. But then there are others who see things like this up front and it suddenly hits them how messed up it all is."
"I can at least agree with that." Hilda sighed. "She's what, barely even 16? Who the hell would think it's alright to condemn a girl that old to death? Then again, most of us were thrown into Arzenal as babies. I probably would have been better off if I had."
"We're not that much older." Alain pointed out. "I'm 18, and you're 17. So is Tusk. We're all basically kids here."
"Like we ever had the chance to be kids." Hilda scoffed.
"Why do you think Ersha and I try so hard?" Alain said. "Even if they're stuck in Arzenal the least we can do for those girls is give them something resembling a proper childhood until they hit the big 12."
"I'm surprised you don't have any kids of your own considering how you get around." Hilda sighed, Alain's brow cricking. "So, you… Tusk. What's your deal? If you aren't with those CROSS guys then how the heck are you connected to Arzenal and the Commander?"
"That's… complex." Tusk said. 'I'm getting tired of hearing these guys say that.' she thought. "But to put it simply, it's because of my family ties. My father was called the Knight of Villkiss, and it was his mission to assist the Villkiss Rider. Like Alain with Wyvern, that duty was passed on to me after he died. Except I stayed out for a few years because I didn't really know what to do. And then… well, like some twist of fate or something, Villkiss came crashing back into my life. Along with Ange."
"If you're about to tell me some sappy story about spending a few days in some romantic dream, don't." Hilda ordered.
"Well it wasn't exactly romantic." Tusk mused. "I got beat up a few times and even shot at."
"Sounds like something Ange would do." Alain and Hilda both agreed, Tusk slouching over.
"It is time!" All three turned when the newscast suddenly blared. "The Royal Family is first to arrive. His Holy Emperor Julio the First and Princess Sylvia take the stage to greet the people present to witness this event!" The three all stared at the terminal as the cameras focused on Julio and Sylvia's entrance. The Emperor waved to the people with a calm smile, looking not in the least bit disturbed by the fact he was there to oversee the execution of his own sister. Alain's gaze focused on the woman who was alongside them. He wasn't sure why, but something about the way she gazed coldly at the crowd seemed somewhat off to him. 'That isn't the look of someone being aloof… that's pure disgust.'
"That's Ange's brother?" Hilda said. "Can one person look like more of an asshole with just a grin?"
"Maybe one other." Tusk murmured. Hilda could tell there was something behind it but didn't pay it mind.
"T-There she is!" The news caster's shout made the three snap to attention. The cameras panned across the ground, a pair of guards coming from within the Dawn Pillar, an unresponsive Ange held between them. Behind, a struggling Momoka was dragged along by another set of guards. "The Norma who hid among the Royal Family for sixteen years, the false Princess Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi!"
"Amazing how quickly they can turn on someone not two months ago they adored so much isn't it?" Alain grumbled. "Let's get ready, Huxian's going to fire off the first flash round any second now."
Huxian had spent his time waiting considering just how much it would be worth it to kill the Emperor during the ensuing chaos. Chopper may have wanted the operation to be as clean as possible, but if they were in a situation where they were making a mess anyway, the team weapons expert had half a mind to just take out someone who more than had it coming. 'But then Big Boss would probably just chew me out again… I still remember the beating the old bastard gave me when I joined up.' Huxian felt a wry smirk creep across his face.
He pressed his eye back to the scope of his rifle, scanning across the crowd as the royal procession appeared. 'The size of the crowd is definitely an issue though. As much as I want to take a shot, doing something like that in front of such a massive crowd is asking for trouble. I prefer quiet take downs anyway. Next time then.' Setting the rifle aside and lowering a dimmed visor, Huxian picked up a single round grenade launcher, already loaded with the first flash round. His eyes stayed locked on the procession as he lowered the sounds of the broadcast in his earpiece. Once Shamrock cut the feed, he would fire, and his job would be done until they made their escape.
"3… 2…" The vulpine man's smirk came back as the broadcast finally cut. "1!" With a satisfying shoop, the round flew from the launcher, a blinding ball of light burst overhead. Even from his perch, Huxian could hear the people shriek and holler as a sudden panic took over. "Now get to work you assholes."
The moment the flash round went off, all four Runners shot off. Right over the panicked crowd and sweeping towards the execution platform. As Alain and Hilda's Runner got close, the armored vehicles that they had expected sparked for a second before falling silent.
"Heads up!" High Roller yelled as he, Chopper, and Tusk leapt from their Runners. As they fell, High Roller spun in the air, tossing a pair of smoke grenades from his belt at the few guards not distracted by the flash overhead. Chopper and Tusk both came down on the guards restraining Ange and Momoka, taking the disoriented men down with swift blows.
"Tusk?!" Ange cried, her dim eyes flickering to life. "What's going on?!"
"I'll have more time to explain later." Tusk said as he cut her restraints. "Chopper, High Roller!"
"We're good here!" Chopper called, Momoka shaking her arms now that she was free of the Mana restraints. "You alright little miss?"
"Perfectly, thank you. But… who are all of you?" The maid asked.
"We can explain that later!" Alain called out, Ange looking up towards his descending Runner, her eyes widening when she spotted Hilda.
"Hey there!" Hilda called. "You look like hell!"
"You're not looking much better!" Ange snarked, but there was a pleased smile on her face.
"Hey I know ya'll wanna have a happy reunion, but can we do it later!" High Roller yelled, already running off the platform and back to his waiting Runner.
"High Roller's right, let's go! Ms. Maid, you're riding with me." As Chopper mounted his own Runner, Momoka spared a doubting look to Ange, who nodded in consent.
"You're telling me everything once we're out of here." Ange said, poking Tusk in the chest as they jumped onto the remaining Runner.
"Ngh… Angelise, don't think you'll get away!" a familiar voice screamed over the chaos. She spared a look back, and her brother Julio was standing at the forefront of the gallows that would now go to waste. "Do you think I'll let you get away easily?! I'll hunt you to the ends of the earth wand when I find you…!" a crack echoed through the air as Julio fell shrieking to the ground. Blood gushed from the freshly made hole in his cheek and splashed onto the shocked Sylvia, the young girl's own shriek piercing the air.
"Talk about a sore loser." Hilda scoffed as she holstered her gun. She glared at Alain when she saw the stilted look on his face. "What?!"
"Nothing. Let's go!" Alain said as he led the charge along their escape route.
"Wait." Ange tugged Tusk's sleeve as they started to pull away. "I have some last words."
"Is now the time?"
"Yes." Tusk tilted his head in defeat. "Brother, Sylvia… I did honestly love both of you. But, if me being a Norma is enough to ruin our lives as siblings… I suppose that's fine by me."
"Don't act like we were ever really siblings!" Sylvia shrieked. "I hate you! I hate you I hate you! If you had never been born we would never have come to this!"
"My face! My face! The damn Norma shot my face!" Julio's pitiful screaming brought Ange to look at her siblings with a saddened expression. 'This is the kind of world I used to believe in huh? Garbage… it's nothing but garbage. They're all terrible people no matter how they act.' She thought.
"Thanks… for letting me see how humans really are. Tusk, let's go." Tusk nodded and pulled the Runner around, cutting through the remaining smoke. Ange spared one last look back at the Dawn Pillar as the Runners gathered up and descended into the woods. 'If I ever return to this place again…' she vowed, "I'm destroying it.'
A/N
I have not made an AN on this fic in a long while and boy does it feel a bit overdue. First off, HUGE thanks to Erich Michael Kline for beta reading all of this for me, I'm sure you put up with a lot from me so know I'm always grateful. And I'm planning that after the next chapter, basically the end of this particular arc, to make an extra chapter with some particular notes I'd have put into ANs if I'd bothered to do them before. Things like Mecha details, perhaps VA choices (Japanese and English), and maybe a note of the various references I use. Because there's a lot, as I am aware some of you have noticed.