CHAPTER 42
NEW ALLIES AND RIVALS
'Get it together.' Hilda told herself as she followed Lucia to Major Malta's office. 'You've fought DRAGONs so a simple meeting should be nothing. And besides, there's no way the Major could be scarier than the Commander.' But then again, when fighting a DRAGON Hilda usually had the others backing her up. And if the Major didn't like her answers, she'd be shipped back to Arzenal without Cal.
"Don't worry yourself." said Lucia, who seemed to pick up on Hilda's tension. "Just keep a level head if you really want to help your royal friend."
"She's not my friend." Hilda grumbled.
"Whatever you say." Lucia said with an amused smirk. "Listen; just be truthful, direct and to the point. All the Major wants is a firsthand account of what happened in the forest with the NMB and…that guy."
"You mean the guy in the Roma coat who was leading the others?" Hilda realized. "Back in the forest, I noticed you and your brother were really upset when he escaped." Lucia's expression noticeably darkened, and her mouth clenched as if tasting something sour.
"We've crossed paths with him. He's been hunting our people for a long time, but we have no real idea who he is." She stopped and turned to look directly at Hilda "I'd like to know something. Did he say anything about why he was after you and Cal?" Hilda knew the most logical thing to do was to tell them exactly what transpired, but she still didn't fully trust any of these people here. Nor did she like the thought of airing out Cal's past without his consent.
"No." she answered. "All he wanted to know was where we were heading." Lucia raised an eyebrow and Hilda decided to change the subject. "Why don't you use Mana like everyone else? Are you a Norma too?"
"Not exactly." said Lucia as they continued on their way.
"Then why can't…" Hilda stopped as they had finally arrived at a dead end and a metal door that read 'Major General Malta.'
"Good luck." Lucia patted Hilda lightly on the back as she opened the door and beckoned her inside where Major General Malta was seated behind a desk. Between the sterility of the office's metal interior and the Major's own appearance, Hilda shuddered in a way that only the Commander when pissed had only been able to inspire.
"Take a seat." Malta gestured as Hilda sat at the opposite side, not a single trace of emotion in the Major's small icy pink eyes. "I have a few questions for you. Let's start with why you decided to escape from Arzenal?"
"Huh?"
"Everyone does something for a reason. Was it cowardice? Couldn't handle fighting anymore so you decided to run and leave your comrades behind?"
"I'm no coward!" Hilda yelled, catching herself in time to realize the Major was deliberately trying to agitate her. "I just…wanted to help Ange and…take a little vacation." Major Malta's eyes narrowed before she reached into her desk draw and pulled out a clipboard with a thick stack of files locked in place.
"Your birth name is Hildegard Schlievogt. AKA Norma #0810-66. Born in the Enderant Union. Raised by your single mother until you were taken and detained at Arzenal at the age of six by the Norma Management Board. Seven years later your mother bore another daughter with the same name." She slammed the papers on her desk. "You escaped because you wanted to see your mother again." Hilda's eyes bulged. "I know everything about you, and I despise those who lie to my face."
"You don't know a thing about me." Hilda said with a sudden rush of anger.
"Maybe." Major Malta smirked as she leaned back. "But I'd suggest you keep your nose clean in my presence. Now tell me everything that happened once you arrived at the mainland. And don't lie to me because I'll be asking the Male Norma next." And so, Hilda told Major Malta everything; her rejection by Mama, being saved by Cal, and finally the fight with the NMB. Even mentioning her mother and her replacement daughter was enough to make Hilda feel as if her heart had been ripped out again. "Before we could escape on Cal's machine, those bastards ambushed us." Hilda finished, her heart aching. "One of them was a woman named Jadis. She was the inspector of Arzenal back when I was little." Through her story, Malta's expression never changed.
"Can you recall anything they mentioned, anything that could lead them here?" She finally asked.
"They were going to use Cal's vehicle to track this place's location, but…"
"Then that's a problem. We must be absolutely sure they are not tracking us. Especially their leader.
"You don't have to worry. You all arrived before they could torture the information of us. Jadis and their leader didn't say much else, just that they planned on taking us away to be tortured or killed." Major Malta looked skeptical but seemed to be satisfied with Hilda's version of events.
"That matches up with Lucia and Lucas's report." She said. "Now, the other matter we need to deal with is you. You said you wanted to help us in rescuing the Princess. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't express ship your ass back to Arzenal. You may want to help this Ange because she's your friend, but you have no idea how important she is and how one mishap could jeopardize everything going for us and Arzenal."
"She's not my friend." Hilda said irritably.
"From the way you acted earlier, you seemed very insistent in helping us to rescue her." The Major noted. "Only a friend and a comrade would…"
"I hate that skank!" Hilda yelled as she lurched out of her chair, finding her voice. "Ever since the first day I met her, she's been nothing but an insufferable, spoiled, arrogant brat who thinks the whole world revolves around her. She steals every kill during sorties, never thinks of anyone but herself. And it was because of her that my Captain died. Zola was her name and Ange never even apologized for causing her death." Malta raised an eyebrow, looking slightly amused by Hilda's outburst.
"Is that right? In that case why are you so desperate to help her?" Hilda gritted her teeth as she finally reached a boiling point.
"Because we're Norma!" she snapped. "The humans took everything from me. My home, my mother, everything! They threw me into Arzenal where I had to fight every day just to survive! And when I finally got the chance to escape…it was because of Ange. And now she's going to die and not even her own family cares! Just because she's a Norma…you wouldn't understand." With her pulse thundering in her ears, Hilda slumped back into her chair and took a deep breath to steady herself. And when she looked up, she was surprised to see Malta actually surprised.
"I do understand." She said in a surprisingly gentle tone. "Being a Norma myself I know what it feels like to be degraded and treated worse than dirt. It's one of the reasons I became Major General of this place, to make sure no other Norma would have to suffer like I…like all the others in this world."
"Then let me help." Hilda urged. "Even if it wasn't Ange, I can't just stay back and know another Norma's going to be killed. Cal's been constantly pushing through his limits to help every Norma and give them a better life. And I want to help him achieve that." Malta's face resumed its usual stony expression, but she nodded.
"I'll consider it," she agreed, making Hilda feel slightly relived. "I can't promise anything but know that I respect your determination to aid us despite your relationship with this Ange."
"There's also another thing I wanted to ask." said Hilda. "What's Libertus?" The Major flinched and Hilda knew she had struck a nerve. "Why can't Lucia and her brother not use Mana despite not being Norma? And what did you mean by Ange being important to everything?" Malta grunted as she stood up and adjusted her tunic.
"You'll eventually find out when THAT day comes. But if you really want to know, Libertus is…" But before she could even start her office door burst open. "Dolton!?" Hilda turned in her chair to see Dolton, panting and sweating as if he had run a marathon.
"Major," He wheezed, "we've got a big problem. Cal just picked a fight with Finn!"
In a cold damp stone cell with the moonlight being the only source of light, Ange sat on the hard wooden bunk awaiting her fate. Beside her Momoka was redressing the cut on Ange's left arm with another tore strip of cloth from her uniform to replace the old dirty one that was caked with dry blood. Both were extremely tired and hungry, not receiving any food since their imprisonment over 24 hours ago.
"There you are Milady." Momoka said frailly. "I wish I could be of more use to you."
"Don't worry about me, you need to tend to yourself." Ange gently lifted Momoka's chin to examine the massive bruise over her eye. Though Ange had told her that the locks in the palace dungeon could only be opened by the Commander of the Guard or the Imperial family, Momoka had insisted on trying to use her Mana to pick their cell only to be caught and struck through the bars by the butt of the guard's gun.
"You needn't worry about me Lady Angelise, it dosen't hurt much." Ange gave her maid an empty smile and clutched her arm where Sylvia had cut her. How could she have been so stupid not to of seen it all. 'Sylvia why?' Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from down the hall and Ange already knew who it was. The two guards posted outside the cell snapped to attention and saluted as Ange looked up and glared at the figure of her brother Julio.
"I see these accommodations suit you quite well dear sister. Very suitable for a Norma." Julio smirked, tossing a strand of his gold blonde hair over his shoulder.
"What do you want Julio?"
"That's Holy Emperor Julio!" he snapped. "But never mind that. I've come to inform you of your sentence." Ange felt a lump form in her throat. "Sister Angelise, you have been found guilty of being a Norma, returning to your country despite your status, but above all else, for not dying in battle and riding the world of your existence. You are hereby sentenced to death via hanging."
"No!" Momoka wailed, running to the bars. "Please Lord Julio don't do this! She's your sister! I beg..."
"Hey!" One guard yelled as he banged his fist against the bars. "You better step back or I'll give you worse than I already have!" Ange hugged Momoka protectively as they backed away from the bars.
"Just let her go Julio! Mokoka has nothing to do with this!"
"And why would I do that?" Julio scoffed. "Your little maid willingly associates with Norma at Arzenal. Therefore, she is a degenerate that must also be purged from society. But don't worry dear sister, she'll be executed right after you so you two won't be apart for long. The execution will take place tomorrow night at the foot of the Dawn Pillar. A fitting end for a burn princess." He gave Ange one final derisive smirk, drinking in her defeated expression before he turned and left. "Oh I almost forgot." He sneered. "Your final meal." Julio beckoned to the second guard who reached over and pulled two wooden bowls full of a mixture of something that looked like it had been puked up.
"Appropriate for Norma scum." The guard sneered as he shoved one bowl of sour watery porridge to Momoka. "I hate wasting food but even the pigs deserve better slop than this." As Julio left and the reality of their situation came crashing down around her, Ange threw her bowl against the cell door, tears burning her eyes as she fell to her knees.
"Lady Angelise?"
"Momoka," she choked, "I'm so sorry. I should have never left Arzenal. Everything is my fault because I'm nothing but a selfish, disgusting Norma. I never should have dragged you into this Momoka!" Ange felt a pair of hands grasp her shoulders and looked up to see Momoka kneeling beside her. And it looked as if she was barely holding back tears as well.
"Don't say such things, Lady Angelise. I'm happy I was able to serve you. And if doing so means I must die by your side, then I will gladly do so even after I draw my last breath." Ange grit her teeth as the tears finally spilled over and threw her arms around her maid.
"Momoka," she sniffed. "I'm so grateful to have you." Momoka wrapped her arms around her mistress as well and the two girls sat alone in the darkened cell. As she looked up at the moon shining through the barred window Ange couldn't help but think about Hilda. 'I hope wherever you are, I hope you found your mother.' She also thought about the only person in her time at Arzenal who only ever tried to help her. 'Cal, I've caused nothing but hardship and pain for you ever since I arrived at Arzenal. I hope you'll live a good and happy life with everyone else. Even if it's without me.'
Returning to the cafeteria to clear his head, Cal thought over what he had had discovered. 'Why on earth did they not tell us about the Norma here or that they had given birth to healthy human children after escaping those labs?! Maybe Jill was right in not trusting these people. Why should I put my faith in those who've kept us in the dark?'
But discovering this new and sudden revelation only made what he found back in Trager's house a hundred times more complicated. His mother's file suggested his successful birth was due to her royal blood. But that did not explain all the miscarriages of the other Norma or why the ones here could have healthy babies. 'It has to be the seed sample.' He realized. 'For some reason, whoever they used to impregnate the Norma was only compatible with royal blood.' But that just raised even further questions.
"About time you came back." Cal looked up and saw with no small irritation Lucia's brother Lucas standing over him, his eyes narrowed in contempt. "I'm surprised your Commander trusts you to be the pilot of Siegfried when you can't even follow the most basic order."
"How is that any of your business?" Cal demanded. He had only met Lucas for a few hours ago and already Cal did not like him. For whatever reason, it seemed as if he bore some kind of personal grudge against Cal. "And why should I even follow orders from people who kept quiet about how they were still experimenting on Norma like my mother?"
"And there it is." Lucas said coldly. "Did you ever stop to think that we don't know any more than you? Yeah, we knew they were experimenting on Norma and that's all we know. We still don't know why or what for. This isn't some anime kid and the world does not revolve around you. Or have your forgotten that the whole reason your cover was blown and you and that girl were almost captured was because you deviated from your mission and compromised your identity to a crowd of people? Yeah don't think we don't know about that. You don't deserve to pilot Siegfried and you never will!"
"Screw you!" Cal growled as he leaped up from his seat, wincing as the effects of the medicine were wearing off. "You, your leaders and the Major can suck…" But a sudden loud commotion caught Cal's attention.
"Give it here you little thief!"
"I don't know what you're talking about." It was Frenzy and he was dashing around the tables with someone in pursuit, a large blonde man twice Cal's size and built like an ox.
"Finn don't." One human tried to calm him.
"I said give it back or I'll tear your legs off!" Finn growled, finally cornering Frenzy and shoving him hard against the wall
"I don't have it I swear." Frenzy insisted in a panicked voice.
"Hey cool it!" Cal said. He didn't know what was going on or if Frenzy really had done something to piss Finn off, but that was going too far, and he really did not like bullies. Especially those who reminded Cal of Corporal Lawrence.
"Piss off!" Finn sneered. He pulled back his fist to land a blow but Cal grabbed his arm.
"I said knock it…" But before Cal could reason with Finn, the big man tore free and elbowed Cal hard enough to knock him against a nearby table. Cal let out an involuntary gasp of pain and in that split second, all the pent-up rage finally exploded from him.
"And I said mind your own damn…" But Finn was cut off with interest from Cal who swung at him so hard the brute stumbled back holding his eye. "Ow, you little punk!" Finn charged like an angry bull but Cal was quicker, side shuffling out of the way and countering by spinning around to round house kick Finn in the back who quickly recovered and charged again. This time though Cal wasn't quick enough and wound up tackled to the floor.
"Hey look a fight!"
"Yeah, get him!"
"There he goes again."
People around the cafeteria noticing the nasty brawl taking place and began to swarm around Cal and Finn chanting, "Fight, fight, fight, fight!" Lucas simply looked on unimpressed but not bothering to intervene. Finn meanwhile rained down hard blows upon Cal who held his arms up to protect his face. When Finn broke his assault to bring up both arms into a double fisted blow, Cal desperately reached out with one free hand and whacked a fallen lunch tray across Finn's head, the resulting clang echoed through the cafeteria as Finn was knocked off. Before he could recover, Cal scrambled to his feet and drove his knee across Finn's temple. Now it was Cal's turn and he grabbed the big man's collar and began striking him across the jaw until Finn reached up and shoved Cal away hard enough to nearly lift him off his feet.
"Hey, hey, hey, Break it up!" Dolton and two others rushed over and with no small difficulty, grabbed onto Finn and held him back from attacking Cal further as Lucia did the same to Cal.
"What is going on here?!" Major Malta barked as she and Hilda shoved their way through the crowd, her scarred face absolutely livid.
"Why are you fighting you idiot?!" Hilda demanded. "Are you trying to make your injuries worse?"
"This little shit stole my locket!" Finn answered, wiping blood from his brow as he pointed a thick finger at Frenzy.
"No I didn't!" Frenzy said at once holding up his hands.
"And the Male Norma defended him!" One onlooker added.
"The last thief I caught no longer has 8 of his fingers." Major threatened, approaching Frenzy and panted him down for any search of Finn's supposedly stolen locket.
"I don't have it I swear." Frenzy said earnestly.
"Lucas!" Lucia scolded her brother who leaned against a nearby wall. "Why didn't you stop them?"
"Not my problem that two morons started beating the crap out of each other." He shrugged. Major Malta meanwhile, once satisfied that Frenzy hadn't taken Finn's property stormed up to the blonde oaf, her temple pulsing in barely contained rage.
"If I didn't have more pressing matters to attend to, I'd lock you in the stockade for a month! We'll deal with your punishment after the mission."
"But Major It wasn't…" a loud crack and Finn fell silent, holding his cheek from where Malta had backhanded him, his eyes widened in shock by how someone so small and slender had that amount of strength.
"You'll speak when I tell you." She warned then turned to face Cal. "And you, I expected better from the so-called Knight of Villkiss."
"But Major General I…"
"Not another word!" She snapped. "Come with me. NOW!" With his eyes watering and head still throbbing from the blow Cal decided to pipe down before he got into any more trouble. He glanced back to see Hilda, Dolton and Lucia still looking at him worriedly. His last sight before the cafeteria doors closed was of Lucas still lingering in the background, his eyes still giving Cal that same look of disdain.
It was a tense couple of minutes as Cal followed the Major around the metal hallways. Rounding a final corner, they finally reached Malta's office and who should be waiting for them but Tusk leaning against the door. "Is there something I can help you with?" Malta sardonically asked.
"Yeah there is." Tusk told them. "Major. I just got a PM from Captain Jacob. He wants to talk to Cal himself. Alone." Malta's eyes widened in surprise but then narrowed in annoyance.
"Damn you Jacob." Malta cursed under her breath. "You wait out here." She told Cal as she went inside.
"I heard about what happened in the medical wing." Tusk said. "I figured you'd want an explanation so I went over the Major's head."
"Did you know about the Norma and the children here?" Cal asked.
"I knew that Sanctuary had rescued some Norma from other facilities, but Cal I swear, I had no idea the humans were still running experiments like that. If I did, I would have told you straight away, regardless of my orders." Cal thought it over and decided to believe him. Tusk had been isolated on that island for who knew how long so it was likely he didn't know. Meanwhile, it sounded as if the Major was arguing with someone inside her office. Finally, the door opened and she beckoned Cal inside.
"Make it quick." She said, giving him the same look of disdain Lucas had shown him.
"Don't worry." Tusk assured him. "Captain Jacob is a lot easier to talk to than the Major."
"And while you're doing that," Malta interrupted, "I'd like to have word with Tusk regarding the chain of command here." Tusk cringed and Cal shot him a sympathetic look.
"Good luck and nice knowing you." Cal joked before he went in. The door closed behind him but as Cal looked around but didn't see anyone else. So who was the Major talking to?
"Take a seat." Someone invited.
"Who's there?" Cal said as he whirled around in alarm.
"Down here. On the desk." Cal looked down and saw an open data pad lying face up on the Major's desk. He picked it up and on the screen was the image of man. His long dark brown hair and short groomed beard were streaked with grey. And while his right eye was dark black, the left side of his face was covered in deep burn scars, leaving his other eye white and blind. Other than that, he was ruggedly handsome and the way he carried himself reminded Cal of a picture of an old battle-scarred lion he had once seen in a book. "Greetings, pilot of Siegfried and Knight of Villkiss. It's an honor to speak to you face to face. I'm Captain Jacob, leader of the Sanctuary."
"I've heard about you from Commander Jill." Cal said. "You're one of the surviving Ancient folk from the island of Xeon during the first Libertus."
"That's right." Jacob nodded, his face giving a slightly forlorn look. "It's thanks to Gaz that me and what remains of my people are still alive. I was sorry to hear of his passing. Gaz was a was a valuable ally and a good man. If he hadn't warned us the day Xeon fell, I fear all my people would have perished. Even Alektra." Jacob's good eye moved as though he was checking behind Cal to see he was alone. "Time is a commodity we have very little of so I'll get right to the point. Tusk informed me you've discovered the Norma at the Enderant harbor and where they came from."
"That's right." Cal nodded, feeling the anger start to simmer once more inside of him. "I also know about the kids too and what the humans did to their mothers."
"Then you also know that the male children conceived by Norma and humans can still use Mana, despite the…unfortunate miscarriages back at the labs before and after your creation."
"Why didn't you tell me?! Or Jill and Jasmine?! Cal demanded. "Did you seriously think I…WE didn't have a right to know?!"
"I understand why you're angry Cal," Jacob said calmly, "but you need to listen…"
"And why should I!?" Cal bit. "Ever since I got here I've gotten crap from both Malta AND that Lucas guy saying I don't deserve to pilot Siegfried! I'm not fighting because I want to! I do it for the sake of everyone back at Arzenal and all the other Norma who get thrown away just for how they were born! How dare you keep something like this from me?!" Cal's outburst made the soreness around his bruised body creep back in with a vengeance and he barely held in a hiss of pain. On the screen, Captain Jacob's demeanor changed and now he looked like an exhausted old man.
"I know the responsibility you bare." He said in a surprisingly gentle tone. "And I can only imagine the burden of suffering you've endured at your age. But you must understand, we never said anything because we know very little ourselves as to why those Norma and the ones before them couldn't give birth to a healthy human child. To this day we still don't know the real truth behind the SUBJECT ALPHA program and why it was allowed to continue after Gaz had destroyed the original lab."
"What do you mean?" Cal asked. Did they really not know about his mother's royal heritage or that the same seed sample was used in all the test subjects?
"Gaz told us everything about Trager's lab and the purpose behind the program, to give birth to a healthy human child." Jacob explained. "But we knew something didn't add up when the lead scientist Trager announced the plan's goal to the staff working on the program. And we can only guess he kept the truth from everyone on orders from the ONE in charge of the whole operation, someone even above the seven world leaders." Now Cal was really confused. Could one person really be responsible for everything? "It's why we started researching this whole mystery on our own. Not just for your sake but for all those Norma who suffered the same fate as your mother."
"Did you find out why I was born?" Cal hoped.
"No unfortunately." Jacob said heavily. "One of our communities, Apex, which held most of the research was lost recently. They were attacked by the NMB and most of the research and intel we accumulated was most likely destroyed." Cal hung his head in disappointment. It was like losing those files from Trager's house all over again. "I'm sorry Cal, truly I am. But understand that we didn't tell you this sooner because we didn't have any answers to give you." Though they had just met, Cal could tell Jacob was an honest and respectable leader who oddly gave off the same air as Gramps. Whatever Jacob's intentions were, he wasn't trying to hurt or manipulate Cal. And though he still didn't fully trust the people here, maybe, just maybe, he could put his trust in this one man.
"There's something you need to know. Something that could help you with whatever questions you still have regarding the program behind my creation." Cal offered. "I just found out that my mother was of royal blood. She was the twin sister to the current queen of Rosenblum."
"What…what did you just say?!" Jacob gasped as he straightened up. "How do you know this?"
"Because I deviated from my mission," Cal confessed, "while searching for Hilda I came across Trager's house."
"What did you do?" Jacob whispered.
"I killed him with my bare hands and once I got out of there, It's why I was compromised by a crowd of humans and how the NMB were on my tracks." Cal was shaking from head to toe. "It's all my fault, all of Gramps sacrifices in keeping me secret our now undone because of me."
"Say no more." Jacob said as he leaned back in his chair. "That dosen't seem to be the case, none of our listening posts has picked up no such report of any of this. By the looks of things, it seems like the authorities are covering up the truth of those humans who discovered what you are. I can't say I approve of your recklessness, but I do understand why. To be honest, that man had it coming for a long time. I take it what you learned about your mother's heritage was from?"
"Yes, from his own lips." Cal admitted. "So if the authorities covered up my tracks does that mean…?"
"It does." Jacob answered. "Your secret is still safe, but I highly recommend you learn not to be so impulsive in the future. No doubt when Trager's body is found his death will be front page news and covered up as an accident or health condition. In any case, I appreciate you telling me this. It at least gives us a new lead to follow. But I must ask you what happened in the forest with the NMB? Did they reveal anything that could jeopardize us?"
"I don't think so. But I did learn a lot about the one who's been after me. He was the same guy who killed Gramps."
"Let's hear it then." And so Cal told him everything, from the point he and Hilda were caught and their escape into the forest and how he came face to face with Dutch Villson. When he heard the name, Jacob looked as though he had been punched in the gut, his face losing what little color it had. "This…it can't be." Jacob whispered. "Gaz told us he perished in the fire. It's been him all this time, hunting us down?!"
"I swear it's the truth." Cal promised, feeling a huge weight off his shoulders. "I was just as shocked as you are."
"Then you've had a really lucky escape." Jacob said in astonishment. "This is the same man who led the charge when Xeon was attacked 10 years ago, laying waste to my people and hunting them down like rats for over a decade. He even killed our former Captain. His name was Zoltan and he was Lucas and Lucia's father. Not only that, but he was responsible for the attacks on our two other bases, Galia falls and Apex, wiping out almost half of the army we have built up since the fall of Xeon."
"Shit." Cal whispered, realizing how dangerous Dutch really was, how lucky he had been to even survive their encounter just hours ago. "One man is capable of all this bloodshed? But for what?" Of course, Cal knew the answer. "It's me he's after isn't it? But I swear, I won't let him get away with it. And I certainly won't let him harm anyone back at Arzenal. I now know who's responsible for killing Gramps and I swear I'm gonna make him pay." Jacob for a moment looked quite concerned but decided to change the subject.
"Thanks for letting me know this but we have greater concerns. I've just received word that the pilot of Villkiss, Ange, is to be executed tomorrow. And while Malta has concerns about your capabilities, I've decided to approve your joining of the rescue team. We need all the help we can get but remember, don't be reckless. You AND Ange are both needed for Libertus so your survival and return to Arzenal is a top priority."
"I understand and thank you." said Cal. "But what about Hilda? Are you going to let her join as well?"
"That is another matter entirely." Jacob admitted. "Especially considering some of her actions towards the pilot of Villkiss. During their time spent together, Ange described to Tusk in great detail the harassment that Hilda and her clique put Ange through. While I understand their feelings were influenced by the death of their Captain, are you really sure you can trust her?"
"With my life," Cal promised. "Hilda may have had bad blood with Ange, but I know she regrets it and wants to make it right. After all, the two of them did work together to escape Arzenal. Plus, she's one of our best pilots and can more than hold her own in hand to hand combat. I know that from experience." Cal winced a bit as he remembered all the times Hilda had kicked him in the balls during their sparring sessions.
I'll think about it." Jacob said and he sounded as if he meant it. "Her combat records look promising so she may provide some assistance. But before we part, I must ask one thing of you. Do not repeat a single word of our conversation to anyone. Especially to Lucia and Lucas. Let me be the one to tell them of their father's murderer."
"You got it." He promised. "Oh, I almost forgot. I did learn one other thing from Trager. Apparently, they used the same seed sample to impregnate all the Norma in his lab. But I have no idea who it came from or how they were able to obtain enough to last them over two centuries." Captain Jacob raised an eyebrow and leaned forward.
"Are you certain of that?"
"I heard it from the man himself." Rather he read it in the file but it was truthful enough.
"I see. Cal, keep that between us. Don't tell anyone. Not even Akektra."
"Why?" Cal asked. "You know something don't you. You know who my father was." Jacob leaned back and rubbed his temple.
"I…have an idea." He admitted. "Cal, please understand. I'm not withholding this information for my own benefit. If I'm right, and I pray to God that I'm not, then telling you will put you in more danger than you realize. Let me discuss this with my research staff and once I have definite proof, then I'll tell you." Cal frowned but Jacob had been nothing less than truthful to him so he decided to take his advice.
"Alright." Cal promised. "I won't tell but you have to promise that once you know the full truth you tell me everything." Jacob smiled and gave a salute.
"It's a deal. Good luck to you, Pilot of Siegfried." The screen cut to black and Cal sat back feeling numb and exhausted. He was in the thick of it now. Once they rescued Ange, Libertus would finally go ahead and that meant the true fighting would begin. Behind him the door reopened, and Major Malta came in looking in an even worse temper than usual.
"You and Hilda's accommodations are ready. Now get out, I've got business to attend to." With great pleasure, Cal left without argument and found Hilda and Lucia waiting for him out in the hall alongside Tusk, who leaned against the wall with his hand on his chest.
"You okay?" he asked. Tusk looked at him and Cal was taken aback by the dead look in his eyes.
"You'd better appreciate what I did for you."
"Don't mind him. He just found out why some of us here call the Major La Diabla." Lucia laughed. "So how'd it go with Captain Jacob?"
"Pretty well, I suppose." said Cal. "We reached an understanding at least."
"I'm glad to see you kept your head on straight." Hilda smirked. "After that stunt in the mess hall I almost expected you to wind up in chains."
"The Captain's a pretty reasonable guy so long as you act reasonable yourself." Lucia commented. "Now how about I show you two to your room. You've have had a long day and tomorrow's not going to be any easier." As they followed after Lucia, it suddenly dawned on Cal that during his talk with Jacob, he had failed to mention the mysterious SUBJECT BETA. Upon reflection however, Cal decided it could wait until later. He had only read a handful of what was in that file and for all he knew the creature could have died or had been disposed of. No sense worrying about something until it actually became a problem. Besides, he really would prefer to have the image of that THING erased and forgotten from his memory. Gradually though Cal began to groan and wince at every step he took. "Sounds like the medicine's wearing off." Lucia noticed. We'll get you another dose from the infirmary." Lucia noticed and Cal stuck out his tongue in disgust, not looking forward to taking that peppery blackcurrant substance again. "In the meantime, you two can wash up." Turning around Lucia, gave a mischievous grin to them both. "But I hope you don't mind sharing a bed."
"Wait, what!" Hilda gasped.
"I'm afraid rooms are in short supply due to the refugees from Apex. But at least they have their own shower. And we were able to find a King sized mattress so there'll be plenty of room." Hilda moaned and Cal smirked as he leaned in towards her.
"I'm trusting you to behave yourself." He teased, only to cry out in pain as Hilda's heel connected with his shin.
"Keep it up and you'll wish that guy had captured you back in the woods!"
From within the Velda mountains the never-ending snowstorms seemed to ease slightly as if the weather had suddenly turned along with the current circumstances. With a cigar in his mouth, Captain Jacob watched the smoke drift up to be sucked set into the vent set in the stone wall. It was a lot to take in regarding what Cal had told him about his supposedly Royal heritage and especially Dutch Villson.
"Who would have though he was the one behind all this destruction to our people." Hosea grimaced. "He's probably working directly for Embryo. You did right keeping this from Lucas and Lucia."
"Lucas has enough on his plate as it is." Jacob mused. "I'm worried his fixation on Siegfried might cause friction between him and Cal or even between us and Arzenal. I know he was squire to Istvan and was close to him, but I need to be sure he has his priorities straight before we decide who should pilot that machine."
"By right it should go to Tusk." said Hosea. "But he hasn't been the same since we lost Istvan and Vanessa. So we'll have to put our faith in Cal at this moment in time."
"And that's what worries me." Jacob confessed. "The way he spoke about Dutch, I worry his anger might cause his to prioritize revenge over Libertus. It wouldn't surprise me if Alektra's been using that as his motivation. From what I've seen since reestablishing contact, her command style favors the stick over the carrot. If we're not careful we might end up turning him into the very thing Gaz feared he'd become. I don't want to fail him the way I failed Lucas."
"How could you even say that?" Hosea asked. "After Zoltan died you took the twins under your wing and turned them into fine soldiers."
"A soldier is one thing." Jacob sighed. "But Zoltan wanted his children and all of our people not just to be strong in battle but in life as well. It's not just revenge we're fighting for but a chance to live freely and with dignity. And I'm not sure if I was able to impart that value to Luca as well as I should have."
"Well," Hosea supposed, "at least we have Lucia there to keep an eye on him and rein her brother in if he needs it. And let me say this. For the last ten years, you've led our people and our allies with honor and courage. We wouldn't even be alive today if it weren't for you. You may have been just another soldier, but when the time came you stepped up and took command. And I would prefer no other man as Captain." Jacob felt his smile return 'What would I do without this old geezer,' he thought jovially.
"I appreciate it Hosea." Now, to deal with the issue currently plaguing both their minds. "What Cal said, do you think it's true."
"If he really did learn it from Trager than there's a good chance it is." Hosea nodded, only to frown soberly. "To think that royal blood was the answer."
"But what really concerns me is what Cal told me about the seed sample." Both men fell silent. "You don't really think Cal actually could be HIS son do you?"
"We won't know for sure until we examine his blood but I hope not. If word of it got it out there's no telling how people might react. Or worse drive him right into Embryo's clutches."
"We'll keep it between us for now." Joseph decided. "They should have taken some blood from Cal during his initial examination. I'll have Endurant Harbor ship it here so we can test it discreetly."
Washing herself inside a single private shower was a very different experience for Hilda. The small white tile room was clean and there were many soaps and body gels to choose from. After years of group showering at Arzenal, she could easily get used to this. After washing and drying herself off, Hilda wrapped her hair in a towel before tying a black bathrobe around herself. As she retuned to the bedroom, Cal was lying on the sole King sized bed that had been provided for them, his head resting on his upraised arms and clad only in his black boxers. She had let him use the shower first and his body was still badly bruised and covered in scrapes and cuts from the fight in the forest. On the nightstand, an empty cup stood with a thin line of the purplish black medicine Lucia had brought him coating the bottom. Though he had whined and complained about taking more, Hilda had threatened to shove the medicine, cup and all, right down his throat if he didn't take it by the time she got out.
"You feeling better?" she asked.
"Yeah." He admitted. "I can breathe without feeling like a DRAGON is chomping on me."
"You know this place isn't so bad." Hilda admitted as she sat on the bed's opposite side, tugging free her makeshift turban to let her hair fall loose and free. "It's nice having a private shower." When Cal didn't answer, she looked over and saw how despondent he looked. "You're thinking about Ange, aren't you?"
"I can't stop thinking about what they're doing to her and Momoka." Cal admitted. "I just hope they can hang on until we can get there. Then a though occurred to Hilda that made her go slightly pink. Usually when she, Rosalie and Chris were feeling like this Zola had always managed bring them out of it by…and Hilda gulped as her face felt like it was on fire.
"What's the matter with you." Cal noticed as Hilda's heart felt it was about to explode. "Look you don't have to worry. You know I won't lay a hand on a girl if she doesn't want it. And even if I did I don't think I'm in any condition to do so. I just want to get some sleep."
"It's not that!" Hilda half cried. "It's just…I'm not used to sharing a bed with a man. Even if he isn't going to do anything." It was the quickest and lamest excuse she could come up with. Remembering months ago she had tried to seduce him on Zola's suggestion, as a way of making amends for getting him hurt during a bad sortie and putting him out of combat for a few weeks. Back then it was just a chore but now, for some reason just the thought of being near him made her feel like her heart was going to burst out of her chest.
"I get it." Cal assured her. "You only like other girls. I can understand that."
"I…never said that was it either." She murmured. 'What am I doing?' she asked herself. She was acting like some nervous virgin. "Could you do me a favor?"
"I guess so."
Hilda took in a deep breath for courage. "Could you put your arms around me? Like in the cave?" Cal was silent but she felt the bed creak as he sat up.
"Sure." He told her. With her heart racing, Hilda shifted and inched over until her shoulder bumped against his. She felt his arms go around her and then slowly lower them both back on the bed as Hilda found her face wedged into the nook of his throat. "How's that?"
"It's different. But nice." She admitted. As her nervousness faded, Hilda was taken aback by just how different Cal's body felt from that of a woman. It was harder, broader, and rougher. His arms were a lot stronger and the way he smelled, warm and musky, it made her feel strangely hot. And despite the difference in his strength, he cradled her gently in a way that she had never felt even during her best moments with Zola. 'It doesn't feel so bad to be held by a man.' She thought and wrapped her own arms around him. Was this how Salia, Ersha, and especially Naomi felt when they laid beside him? Safe and warm as if nothing would hurt them so long as Cal was there? 'Could I ever have what they have?' she wondered. 'I doubt it.' Salia was strong and capable, Ersha was one of the nicest people Hilda had ever known, and Naomi…she was practically Hilda's opposite. It was no secret among the squad that Cal still loved and mourned for Naomi. There was no way Hilda could take her place.
"Cal." She whispered. "In the cave…we almost…do you think maybe we could…" and Hilda was cut off by a loud snore. She looked up and to her chagrin saw Cal had fallen asleep. "Are you kidding me?!" she fumed but her irritation faded as she realized Cal had good reason to be tired after all he had done the last few days. With a smile, Hilda reached over and turned off the lamp before pulling the covers over them both. 'Good night Cal.' She promised as she snuggled against him. 'This time, I'll be the one protecting you.'
Midnight was closing in and despite his exhaustion, Tusk had one last task to accomplish before he could turn in. He checked his watch and saw it would be less than 24 hours until Ange's execution. He, Lucas, Lucia, and Dolton were waiting inside Endurant Harbor's conference room for the Major to finish her meeting with Jill, Jacob, Hosea and Colonel Daisuke, founder and leader of the Tripartite Pack. Across from Tusk, Dolton sat with his attention on multiple Mana screens; scanning details of the Misurugi palace, encrypting hacks to bypass the Mana locks that were only accessible to the higher ranked guards, and drawing up a detailed map of every room, hallway and secret passage inside the palace. When the rescue was launched, they'd need that info in order to get Ange and Momoka out as quickly as possible. Finally, the doors opened and Malta walked in.
"I'm making good progress Major." Dolton reported. "Just give me one more hour and I'll have the layout for the extraction good and ready to go. I've already drafted…"
"There's been a change in the plan." The Major interrupted. "The commander of Arzenal has complicated matters."
"She what?" Dolton cried, dismayed at how all his hard work turned out to be for nothing.
"What's going on?" Tusk asked.
"Instead of rescuing Ange from her cell, the Commander apparently wants us to wait until the last moment, right after the princess is paraded from the castle for her public shaming. She indicated that she wants both of our 'special pilots' to understand how cruel the humans are." To say that Tusk was shocked and disturbed at Jill's decision would be an understatement. In fact, he even felt a little outraged. He didn't even want to know what sort of things Ange's brother Julio had planned for her or what the crowd would do in return. 'Jill, I know you want Ange to toughen up for Libertus .' He thought. 'But is this the way to do it? Even Cal has been through enough with what happened yesterday.'
"And you agreed to this?" Lucia cried.
"I know it's cruel but she did have a point." Major Malta said impassively. "From what she told me, this Ange is spoiled and green as grass. But the good news is that since subtlety is no longer an issue I can spare more soldiers for the operation."
"Another three humans and one Norma will do." Lucas agreed. It was common for one Norma operative to accompany a team to help counter enemy Mana users "A team of 16 will be hard to move unnoticed, but if we keep split up after crossing the border, then rendezvous in the capital, we should be alright. There's multiple depots in Misurugi with stored skyhooks we can use to escape afterward. We'll have to burn them afterward but if things go as planned, we may not need them anymore anyway."
"I agree." Malta nodded, impressed by how adaptable Lucas was. "Now who do you think would be best for the job."
"Finn would be some much-needed muscle for this mission." Lucia put forward. "But most of the Norma here don't have the same combat experience Hilda has. And we already know she and Cal can work together."
"Do you seriously think she'll be appropriate?" Lucas doubted. "She may be a good fighter but I don't like her attitude. Especially in regards to her prior conduct with Ange? And that goes for HIM too. I've been appointed leader of this extraction mission and frankly I don't trust the Male Norma."
"Well I do." said Tusk fervently. "I took a risk having Cal go after Hilda and it worked. Meanwhile I couldn't even save Ange. I knew Alektra wouldn't have been happy with me bringing in outside help in rescuing Ange but we all need to work together. Because like it or not I trust him and I know he's the right person to pilot my father's unit. And if he trusts Hilda then so do I."
"She does have promise." Major Malta agreed. "Having a fourth Norma on this mission who has combat experience might prove beneficial."
"Then it's settled." Lucia said. "Besides I like her too. She's got a real fighter's spirit." Lucas groaned and rubbed his temple.
"Fine," he relented. "But they'll be appointed with me and Lucia so we can keep an eye on them. Besides, If we get trapped by a Mana barrier then they'll be there to have our backs."
"Dolton, check the area around the Misurugi palace courtyard." Malta ordered. "We'll need every intel on escape routes for when you collect Ange."
"Yes Major." Dolton sighed as he deleted his work and got to work on drafting a new plan.
"I don't know what the commander of Arzenal is playing at." Lucia said worriedly. "It seems excessive to subject this poor girl to the humans' cruelty just to motivate her to fight harder."
"It's no worse than what we experienced." Lucas shrugged which made Lucia shoot him a disappointed look. Tusk remained silent but agreed with Lucia. Whatever Jill was planning he did not like it. He could still remember when he had first met Jill, back when she was Alektra and his father Istvan had been chosen to be the Knight of Villkiss with his unit Siegfried. They were an unstoppable force and a close two-person team. She was a lot like Ange back then, or at least when Ange was being nice. But in the years since the failure of the first Libertus, Jill had changed, as if a vital piece of herself had been ripped apart and the rest was slowly decaying into something ugly. Suddenly, the datapad on Dolton's hip began to vibrate and when he checked, his eyes bulged in shock behind his glasses.
"Major, you might want to take a look at this." The entire room gathered around Dolton and saw on the datapad's screen footage from the main doorway above ground. As much as twenty or even thirty women were huddled together by the secret reinforced steel bunker doors built into the hillside. "Security are awaiting your orders." Dolton reported as he listened to his earpiece. "They're saying they're Norma!"
"Wait isn't that Hina? One of the Norma who went missing along with her partner Donte over sea?" Lucia pointed out one of the women in the crowd.
"What!" Major Malta gasped. Dolton leaned in close and rubbed his eyes as though he couldn't belove what he was seeing. Tusk leaned in and saw at the head of the group was a gaunt man who looked as though he hadn't eaten in days "It's Sargent Janos!" Dolton gasped and Major Malta snatched up her office phone to call security.
"Get those doors open now!"
A slither of sunlight was now crawling up the mountain side as the sky turned from dark blue to blotches of purple and red as morning crept up on Dutch and his team. It had been over eighteen hours since Subject Alpha and the second Norma had escaped and although they had worked tirelessly through the night in trying to track them, the trail was growing colder and colder by the minute. If he didn't find them soon then everything he had fought for, everything he had earned, achieved and endured for almost nineteen years would slip through Dutch's hands like water. His entire team of staff back at HQ hadn't managed to detect a trail or signal within a sixty-mile radius of Endurant's forests and mountains which meant their base had to be underground. And if that was the case, it would take weeks to find and he had very little time to recover his quarry without arousing suspicion from the NMB council, the world leaders and especially master Embryo.
Not only that but there were still questions he needed answering regarding the Norma-Human half breeds. His talk with Trager had offered up some potential answers which his assistant Ms Young-si still hadn't been able to confirm within the royal bloodline anything regarding Norma #66. Even worse, A grieving Jadis was performing less than optimal since her mutt was killed and Dutch had no time or patience for incompetence.
"This is no use Dutch, by this rate they'll be well out of our reach." Jadis sighed with a glint of lingering grief in her voice. "My men back at the Galia Labour camp haven't managed to locate the escapees. They must have found some way to disable or even remove the tagging chips we implanted in them."
"I want result's Jadis not excuses!" He shouted. "Either find me a lead or I'll find someone who will." Just then two more faces appeared beside Jadis on his screen, Sargent Brawl and Private Jeffry.
"Commander, we've searched through the entire area southeast of the forest and still no sign of a hidden door or cave entrance within the hills." Sargent Brawl reported with an exhausted tone.
'This is a nightmare.' Dutch thought as he rubbed the bridge of his rose and felt a headache coming on. 'If Embryo, the world leaders and the NMB council find out about this catastrophe it's all our necks on the line.'
"Maybe they're hidden somewhere else." Jeffry suggested. "What do you want us to do?" Then it occurred to Dutch that if they weren't able to locate them, maybe they could ambush them at the one place where they planned to strike next.
"We'll return to Misurugi for now." Dutch announced as everyone else looked on in surprise. "We'll set up a perimeter around the palace fields grounds."
"But isn't that where the former princess…" Jadis tried to say.
"Yes, that brat Julio is hosting a live execution for his Norma sister. No doubt the terrorists and the last of the Ancient Folk will try to save her as well. We'll ambush them just like they did to us. And I bet my life Subject Alpha will be with them. Think about it. Why else would he be out of Arzenal? I bet the Commander sent him herself to bring back the pilot of Villkiss and make contact with the terrorists."
"It's risky and dangerous, and no doubt we will rouse suspicion from the other nations and the NMB council." Jadis smirked. "But that won't matter once we bring in our prisoners."
"Exactly my point Lieutenant." Dutch grinned. "And when I find Subject Alpha, he'll wish he'd never been born." Dutch promptly cut the line and hurried off to inform his team what their new objective was. But as he called them together, a low conversation nearby suddenly caught his attention.
"The commander has lost it."
"He's obsessed with the Male Norma. He should have just killed it when he had the chance."
"Father said was the best when he served him, but he's totally insane."
"I don't know about you but when get back I'm putting in for a transfer."
"Oh is that so?" Dutch as he stepped out among them and made the four soldiers leaped in alarm.
"Commander!"
"No by all means!" Dutch dared. "Tell me exactly what's on your mind!"
"I'm sorry Commander." One said. "But this is going too far. All the losses we've endured…"
"Oh I see." Dutch sardonically chuckled. "You think I'm incompetent. That I can't catch one measly freak of nature. Is that it?"
"Commander it's not it at all." One soldier argued. "We just think that we should regroup. Take things from a fresh…" suddenly, all four soldiers began to struggle and gag, struggling for air as a cluster of vines encased in the Light of Mana slithered down from the trees and coiled around their necks.
"Have you forgotten who you're speaking to?" He snarled as the vines tightened. "Who the hell do you think I am? I'm Dutch Villson, leader of the NMB. I crawled my way up from the very bottom and now I'm one of the most powerful humans in the world. I will not be questioned by a bunch of spoiled, overly pampered punks like you! Nor will I allow incompetent trash to ruin everything I've worked for!" The four soldiers were now purple in the face, wheezing and choking as the vines were lifting them inches off their feet.
"Commander…please…" One begged, reaching his hand out in plea. With a sneer of contempt, Dutch cancelled his Mana and all four crashed to the ground, heaving and panting for air.
"Now get out of my sight. You're dismissed from my service and the NMB." Slowly, painfully, the four soldiers climbed to their feet and stumbled back to camp. Thankfully, the rest of his squad after hearing of the incident were quick to fall in line and pack up their gear. They had just finished packing up when one soldier came up to Dutch.
"Commander, we've just finished a final sweep of the area near the slope you and the Male Norma fell from, and we found these." He handed Dutch two dirty blue files that were soaked from inside and out from the rain while the casing was caked with dry mud.
"I'll take those Corporal, now let's move out." As the Mana transports lifted off and flew back towards Misurugi, Dutch busied himself with deciphering what little he could from the near ruined papers. 'What the hell are these?' Dutch wondered as he brushed off some of the dried mud. 'Did Subject Alpha have these on him?' Dutch flipped through the pages and while most of the text was blurry and smudged from the rain, Dutch was able to make out some of the writing and pictures, one of which was a mugshot of a woman whose eyes had not escaped his memory. Their very color and shape identical to Subject Alpha.
"Norma #66!" Dutch murmured through constricted breaths, his hands tightening in disgust and anger until the papers crinkled in his grasp. 'But wasn't all the research and files inside the lab destroyed in the fire?' How did Subject Alpha get his hands on these? Dutch continued to flip through the pages until he came across a photo of a mother holding twin baby girls, along with a barely legible scrawl that read ASHLEIGH LOUISE ROSENBLUM.
Rosemblum. Norma #66 was part of the Rosenblum Royal Family. And not just any member, but the twin sister of the reigning Queen! Immediately, Dutch put in a call to his assistant.
"Ms Young-si, has your current research found any gaps within the royal family trees?"
"Nothing Commander, everything seems to be normal." She answered.
"Well I've just found a new lead. Double check all file records of the current queen of Rosemblum's birth, there may be something that was covered up." Now what about the other file? Clearly it had to be important or else Subject Alpha wouldn't have taken it. Setting the file on Norma #66 aside, he picked up the second folder. Though when he opened it, he immediately recoiled in horror and disgust. Staring back at him was a picture of some creature that looked like a baby or a fetus but Dutch had never seen any human baby look like that. Its body was covered in black scales and its slit reptilian eyes looked as though they were staring into his very soul. And their color was the same sky blue as that of Norma #66 and Subject Alpha. Dutch immediately began to wipe off the mud upon the front cover until the title was clearly visible.
SUBJECT BETA
"My god…" he whispered, his blood cold as ice. "There was another…"
TO BE CONTINUED…