There's some changes in the previous chapters, I'll summarize. Instead of two crystals, there's only one. A bit of a warning though, I didn't get too far into the story after the events of evacuating Marian so there might be a few things inaccurate to the story going on forward. I'll try to follow if I can but with how busy I am, it might be tough for me to do so.
Modernia or better known as Marian to a few had just done eliminating a few Raptures in the designated area on the north. Although at first she was hesitant, after knowing what they do to humans, what they'll do to...her beloved Commander, she pushes herself to do it. Understanding the repercussions gave her the strength needed to protect the people she holds dear.
And that understanding is required more than ever now.
During her incursions on the surface, she received a transmission from Snow White and was given the gist of what had transpired. An unknown creature descended from the stars, capable of destruction even the Raptures could not compare. It was terrifying to hear it from Snow White, more so how shaken up her voice was during the transmission. The Snow White, their stoic Nikke comrade known to have a thing for delicacies, scared.
It never happened for as long as she had joined them.
Nearing her destination, she saw it. The craters, the remains of Raptures, the...utter destruction left in the wake of this supposed individual.
She needs to make haste.
Lest her determination falter once more.
To the Stars They Pray 2
Snow White was in deep thought.
Their suspicion or doubts were all cleared up by the half-human and half-Saiyan named Trunks Brief. A man belonged to a different planet all together, there was no doubt about it. If he had existed on this planet prior to his arrival, they would've seen a completely different world by now. There's no other explanation left to describe the situation they were in. He has to be an alien of some kind but...half-human? What is the story behind that?
After his lightshow of transforming into a form he calls "Super Saiyan", they decided to let him have more rest. Many thoughts run rampant in her mind, he was altruistic in nature but hardened when it comes to the necessary. As someone who had fought for mankind for a very long time, Snow White can see that. The man shares the same looks as she was, a hardened veteran in the battlefield.
His visage and his form tells more story than what was intended. His awakening too, he was in distraught and in search of someone named Mai. Someone looking that distressed...those are the ones facing threats of some kind.
But what could possibly drive such a person to desire for more power? 50 times the multiplier of his base form which, even in its absolute worst state, was able to dispatch armies of Raptures easily without much effort. His power is...unfathomable yet what kind of world has he been living on to require such a level of power?
Questions after questions, she could not answer.
She needs answers.
Snow White...needed answers.
A day passed and Trunks can be seen swinging his broken sword. She assumed he had gotten his sword back from the craters. Despite the damage, when they tried to lift the blade, they couldn't. It was too heavy and the way it left a small crater below tells it. Nikkes are no strangers to heavy equipment but that amount of weight is impossible for anything to lift.
As he swings his broken sword, she tries to follow his movements but it gradually becomes faster to the point she cannot follow it anymore.
Inhaling, she approached Trunks. "Trunks."
"Oh, Snow White." He blinks before smiling and placing his sword back into its sheath. "Is there something you need?"
"..." Snow White was quiet for a brief moment before staring him in his eyes. "Yes, I have some questions if you don't mind."
"Not at all." Trunks shook his head.
"Then let's have a seat." They both sat on the chair as Snow White brewed tea using the herbs acquired from Scarlet's farm. "Trunks, you're...half-human, right?"
"Yes, I am." He confirms yet again.
"Then how exactly did you come to be? Did...did some of humanity's remnants leave this planet a long time ago...?"
It was a genuinely good question, most of humanity's history was destroyed after the invasion so no one knows what happened to each other. The possibility of some nation escaping the planet is quite high more so with the appearance of Trunks. It would also explain how he was a half-human, Saiyans must be some creatures out there in the many celestial bodies this universe consists of.
"Um...not exactly." Trunks replied, Snow White blinks in confusion. "To put it bluntly...I'm not exactly from this world. This universe."
"What...?"
"You see, I belong from a different world. I lived on Earth–my Earth–for as long as I could remember." Trunks began to reminisce about his time, those 50 years spent on fighting and preventing disasters. "The Earth I was in back then was mostly destroyed by...androids."
Her eyes began to wide. "Androids...? You mean Nikkes?"
"No, not Nikkes." Trunks shook his head. "Unlike you guys...they were built to eradicate humanity and most importantly, a man named Son Goku. He was a legend, a strong fighter who tragically died of heart disease." There was still some bitterness left regarding that memory, Snow White could see that. "They were ruthless, they nearly drove humanity into the brink of extinction before I killed them."
"I...see." It was even more complicated now, Trunks was not of this world. "But how did you come to this world? Did something happen...?"
Almost immediately, he gritted his teeth and clenched his fist at the thought of their newest threat. "Zamasu."
"Zamasu...ZAMASU!"
Snow White remembered when they first found him, the level of hatred he bore for this individual. It was beyond anything she had ever seen.
"After the androids and some others, Zamasu came to our world seeking to perish mortals." Trunks said, he bit his lips that Snow White would be sure he'd bleed.
"Zamasu...mortals?" Snow White blinks. "What do you mean?"
"Zamasu...he's a god, or a Kai from a different universe." For the Nth time, Snow White was once again shocked and confused. "He had a strong hatred for mortals...us, in general. He made a wish after his newfound hatred for the body of the strongest mortal; Son Goku. And with that body, he killed innocents from one universe to another until he arrived in my world."
"Trunks, hold on a second." Snow White stopped him. "Gods? Kai? You're saying that your world...has gods?"
Trunks nodded solemnly. "Yes. From where I came from, there are divine beings watching over and managing the afterlife or the Otherworld as we call it."
Now it's afterlife? Just what kind of world did he live in?
"I see..." Snow White was in turmoil, everything was just too much to take in. "This is...hard for me to take in."
"I can understand." Trunks smiled as all of his expressions softened. "I will explain more to you once all the others are here. It'll be better that way."
"Yes..." Snow White agreed, he might need to explain from the beginning and give them the basic understanding of how his world works. "I will inform others."
"Yeah, thanks Snow White."
Snow White smiled in return, "Don't mention it."
Marian nears her destination.
She could see Scarlet's one of the many farms on the surface as well as a dilapidated building that serves as their base of operation. She huffs out a cold puff of smoke, Marian hoped nothing bad had happened-
Her eyes widened.
An unknown figure clearly belongs to a male human can be seen. The fact that he was a normal human was already sending alarms to her being. The surface was desolate of any human life, for the brief moment she was up here, it was only crawling with nothing but Raptures. So seeing this, she can't help but be alarmed. But her readings were what gave off her most feared outcome.
His energy levels were off the charts.
She had never once scanned an energy level that goes beyond the numbers that was placed into her circuitry but he managed to break the limits of the scanners.
Marian came to an immediate conclusion.
This was the creature Snow White warned about.
She kicked off the ground, channeling energy beams on all of her prosthetic tentacles attached to her body. Without wasting time, she shot.
The Commander looks over the horizon as he continues to walk towards the intended destination followed by his most trusted squad of Nikkes; the Counters. Following them from behind are the Perilous Siege squad which consisted of D and K. The Commander seeing them participating in this secret mission tells him that the decision was not only for Andersen to make but also the Ark.
He came into the conclusion that Enikk was involved.
Her decision to eliminate those that pose a threat to humanity has always been drastic.
Dare he say it, downright inhumane.
He still remembers the reason behind Marian's supposed death back then when he was assigned to his first mission. Both Rapi and Anis too remembers it clearly, they were there too when he executed Marian when she was corrupted. Those memories still clear in his mind even after years. And all of it comes to them being merely sacrificial lambs for the Raptures to ensure the Ark's survival.
It was sickening.
The Commander huffs out, staring at the direction of their destination. The briefing gave him an insight that unlike the previous two D-Wave incident, this one will be bigger than he thought it would.
Rapi was scouting ahead, guns armed and binocular overseeing any threat further from their position. Anis and Neon as per usual being the dynamic duo they are, bicker one another about some admittedly bland topics like which brand of soda is superior and whatnot. Meanwhile, D and K were pretty quiet the whole journey. Whatever was briefed to them, it managed to put them in a very tense spot.
Because they were holding their weapons, ready for any threat with the safety off.
Nearly everything was off, all the more reason to believe that Enikk is involved in the decisions for this mission.
"Commander." Rapi called, her face frowning. "You should see this."
She handed him her binoculars and saw what Rapi saw. "This...is not good."
Anis and Neon blinks before the Commander handed Anis the binocular. "It can't be that bad right?" She said before gasping once she saw what lies behind the lens. "Not good is an understatement."
"What is it!?" Neon butts in as she took one eye cup, squishing her face against Anis. "Let me see it too!" Her mouth immediately hang open. "That is a firepower I thought not possible..."
Curiosity got the better of D and K as they took a step upwards the hill and it didn't even take a binocular to see what the Commander and Counters saw. Their eyes immediately widened upon seeing the craters that scorched the lands, seemingly covering everything their eyes can see going over the horizon.
"D..." K called, for the first time her cocky attitude disappeared and was replaced with utmost concern and anxiety. "The reports aren't overexaggerating."
"Yes." D's eyes narrowed. "We need to prepare."
Trunks knew that he was in a different reality. However, it was one that is not so far removed from his own.
The culture and the technology was one thing, they were clearly behind in terms of technological advancement. But the thing that gives out the most is the energy the planet was surrounded by, familiar natural Ki akin to the Earth he knows yet so different. Except that much like his after Zamasu's attack, the world was nearly barren of life. But unlike Zamasu, the creatures known as Raptures did not just destroy intelligent life which are the humans but also most of the nature they're surrounded by.
Seeing cities in ruins over the distance, the desolate state of the world he was in, he knew they needed help.
But he did not know how desperate they were.
Two beams of light shot towards him all in opposing directions. Sheathing his broken blade calmly, he casually but skillfully redirected the beams with his fingers away from both him and the humble abode of the androids–Nikkes, who had saved him.
"Who goes there." Trunks demanded, his tone cold and his expression serious.
It didn't take long for the perpetrator to reveal herself.
Presumably a Nikke equipped with two mounted weapons which were the ones that shot him those beams of light earlier, she stood before him wearing an outfit best described as a makeshift dress that only covers the necessary parts of her body and oddly enough, a bandage loosely wrapped around her head.
Her hair gray as forged steel and eyes red as blood. She did not look like the friendly Nikkes he had come to meet.
He raised his palm towards her, outputting enough energy to decimate her in the form of a condensed orb of Ki. "Answer me or you won't survive."
Trunks had guessed that just like the androids, there are Nikkes who can be described as evil. The only thing he's not sure of is if they can be liberated like how 18 was in the present timeline who had married Krillin and even has a daughter.
But with how desperate this world was?
He doubted any evil Nikkes here can turn to a new leaf.
Trunks frowned, "Seems like you won't budge."
And he was not Goku.
"What did you do to my friends!?" The Nikke asked and before he could show his confusion and assess the situation properly with the newfound information, she pulled out her guns and began sending him barrages of assault.
Trunks being a warrior all his life, casually dodged each projectile with little effort before the Ki orb on his palm condensed more but with perfect Ki Control, minimized the energy output. He repurposed the Ki orb and with two fingers acting like a handgun, he shot each projectile, matching its power to cancel it.
He quickly shot the ones he evaded earlier as to not get Snow White and the others harmed.
Matching her rate of fire, he picked up the pace and began eliminating each one of the projectiles faster than she could shoot before sending a wind pressure to her way which caught her by surprise and knocked the wind in her body and sent her tumbling.
Before she can stand up, Trunks teleported before her with an open palm threatening her. "Stand down."
"You monster! If you hurt my friends-" She was cut off before she could finish her sentence.
"Are your friends by any chance Snow White and the others?" Trunks asked.
The Nikke blinked in confusion, startled that he knew their name. "W-What? How did you-"
"Trunks!" Snow White called from behind as she ran towards him. "I heard gunshots, what-" Snow White's eyes widened upon seeing Marian at the mercy of Trunks. "Marian? What happened?"
Trunks retracted his palm and smiled. "She was concerned, thought I had done something to you guys. I guess her suspicion was justified though a little overboard for my taste." He replied, before turning towards Marian with a smile she only saw one man made before. "But I guess I understand considering the situation, I apologize beforehand if I made you angry."
Marian taken aback by his demeanor could only blink. "...who are you?"
"Trunks Briefs, pleasure to make your acquaintance." He introduced as he offered a hand.
Marian took it and he got her up, she continuously blinked in confusion. "I'm Marian...so you're not an enemy?"
"If that's not clear enough, no. I'm not." Trunks motioned towards Snow White who was amused at their interaction. "Snow White here can attest to that."
She sighed, "Yes, Trunks here is not our enemy. I forgot, I should've contacted and briefed you on the situation. That was my mistake." She grabbed her temple. "A lot of things have occupied my mind after his arrival. Still, that shouldn't have detracted me from doing my duty, I apologize, you two."
"No, not at all! It's okay, Snow White. You're my friend!" Marian shook her head and in a 180 degree turn, her expression softened up considerably as Trunks raised his eyebrows at her admittedly adorable behavior.
She seems akin to a...pet, for the lack of a better term.
Snow White sighed again. "Well, now that the misunderstanding is all cleared up, let's head inside. Trunks here have some explaining to do."
"Right." Trunks remembered, nodding.
Oh boy, it was going to be a long night.
Laziness got the better of me so yeah, it took me a while to continue this. That or my subpar writing skills have been disabling me to continue this but I do intend on ending this fanfic.
Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 Remake looks interesting, some controversy here and there regarding the clunky bits of the gameplay and Angela's designs. Personally, I have no opinion on this subject considering I haven't played the original. I'm only interested in it because it's a remake and it's in third person much like Resident Evil.
And I love Resident Evil.
That aside, thanks for the reviews. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it. This chapter serves to be somewhat of an intermission, kind of like the calm before the storm thing. Enikk, as far as I've read, is a very AI-like Nikke. She does benefit mankind in the most drastic way and the lack of empathy in her methods are concerning. So I made it a point in this chapter since D and K are the ones accompanying the Commander and Counters.
To those who don't know, D and K are Nikkes whom had their limiters removed meaning they can kill humans should they be ordered to or if the situation demands it.
Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and the brief battle scene with Marian and Trunks. There's going to be a lot of fighting in the future so hold on to your seats for that.
That's all from me and see you in the next chapter.