Memories always taint Asuna's view of the world. Precious memories. Random memories. Painful memories. Memories of a friend she would like to meet again, yet hate for it to happen all the same.
Memories, she'd rather forget them… if only her mind wasn't a memory sponge.
Her school had once taken her class on a trip southward to the Rusted Archipelago just off the coast of Elektra. It was a place eternally plunged in summer, the exact opposite season currently blessing the Eighty-Sixth sector. She'd shared her hotel room with Misumi, and they'd stuck together for every tick of the clock. Excursions rarely had meaningful free time. When they did, they went out to see the sunset with ice cream in their hands and bare feet against the sand.
It was a stupid memory to reminisce on as she was standing on a sheet of ice, she supposed. The similarities were few and far between. Asuna did think of one, at least. Both places were swarming with insects and arachnids… It was just that the Eighty-Sixth sector's were more metallic in make.
"Oh, I think I caught somethin'..." Tomo said.
"Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on thee," Kirigaya responded. "Why the hell am I here anyway? You already have your whole platoon here! You don't need—"
"Hush you, you're scarin' the fish away. Also, I'm savin' you from another day of woodcuttin'."
"I'd prefer that. Right, Asuna?"
"Huh?" She didn't expect him to call her with such familiarity.
"Choose your words wisely," Tomo stared.
"... I'm sorry. I agree with Ki—Kazuto."
"Told you no one likes this chore."
"Shut up. I will not tolerate this slander!"
Shivata and Liten—B-1 and B-2 respectively, looked upon the two name bearers with different expressions. Shivata's was a pained expression, while Liten had a grin on her face.
"Hey, Asuna," Liten whispered, "When do you think they'll start going out?"
"Ehh?"
"You see the vision, right? Shiva over here thinks it's a lost cause, but just between us, I think it's only a matter of time."
"Darling, the war will be over before Kazuto picks up on her advances. The Rat's so obvious she might as well draw a heart on his chest and he still wouldn't get it."
Asuna watched Argo and Nightblade bicker, giving Liten's question an honest thought. The two were friends with history, separated for a while before reuniting. Although Asuna hadn't asked Kazuto the same question she had asked Tomo, she had a feeling his answer wouldn't exactly match the Rat's.
"If I had to make a wager," Asuna said, "I think it's not likely."
"Aww, I thought you'd be on my side."
Asuna chuckled, "Hehe, sorry Ms. Liten. It's just that… I have a feeling we're similar, Kazuto and I. And if we are… romance isn't our priority right now."
"So the Argo won't sail far, is what you're saying?"
"Poetically put, Mr. Shivata."
"Oi, new kid," someone hollered to Asuna from the other end of the corridor. It was that gruff man who looked eternally miffed. About what? Asuna couldn't hope to imagine. His brown spiky hair certainly complemented his personality.
"Can I help you with something, Mr. Kiba?"
"I'll keep it nice and clear for ya. Stay away from the Imps. Don't talk to 'em. Don't be chummy with 'em. If they ask ya for anything, don't comply."
Asuna could guess what he meant by Imps. Prejudice wasn't exclusive to the Republic's Alba, and neither were creative slurs.
"Diavel won't say it out loud, but it's clear who's draggin' down the squadron. Before ya came here, we had a support sortie up north. Black got himself stuck chasin' E-Platoon, while Red ditched his spot to open a path for him. Left us to fend for ourselves. We lost a few coz of 'em. Useless Imps only care for their own kind."
Insults aside, Asuna saw the reasoning behind it. There might have been a better call for the pair to make at that moment. E-Platoon had been unlikely to be saved. If they had stayed, Kazuto and Klein might have continued protecting the newer Processors as usual. No one else would have died…
No, hypotheticals are useless. The pace of battle is unforgivably fast; a split-second decision can never be weighed properly until after everything is said and done. From everything she knew, would she consider it a mistake? Yes. However, it is unfair to assume their mistake as selfishness or malice. In the first place, she couldn't imagine Kazuto and Klein acting in anything but good faith.
Mr. Kiba had no right to talk about them like that.
"... Then, would you like to take on their roles yourself?"
"Hah?"
"No, never mind," Asuna backed down. It wasn't worth it. The man wasn't interested in debating the tactical implications of replacing Kazuto and Klein. Neither was Asuna interested in humouring his prejudice. Considering how he and Mr. Lind so easily forced him back to work almost immediately after he returned, Asuna wouldn't be surprised if there had been bad blood between them before.
"Thank you for the word of advice, Mr. Kiba. I'll be going now. I have somewhere to be."
"Can I follow you?" Asuna asked.
Kazuto and Klein stopped in their tracks just outside the barrack's doors. She'd asked Tomo regarding the vanguard pair's activities after dinner, but the Rat couldn't specify anything other than training. Asuna had to admit that she was a tad curious.
The boy she was more familiar with simply shrugged as if it wasn't his decision to make. "How about it, Klein? Wanna see if you'll lose to her?"
Asuna didn't even have the time to put her hand up and protest.
"Hah? Why do you think I'll be the one to lose?" Klein asked.
"I've seen her devour an entire Legion company for dinner. Solo. I'll bet my next meal that she beats you on the range."
"Bring it on then."
Asuna sighed, "I appreciate the vote of confidence, but all I wanted to do was watch."
"Nuh uh, Princess," Klein wagged his finger, "Kirito over here already wagered his breakfast. We're doing this!"
It turned out their nightly training involved a ridiculously winding and turning trail that served as a race track. No, an obstacle course would be more fitting.
"I don't think betting on me was a good idea," she said from inside her Juggernaut, "There's no way I'll win against someone familiar with the path."
"Don't sweat it, Klein will give you a free test run. Won't you?"
"Of course, that's the gentlemanly thing to do."
And so despite the forceful nature of the competition, she took the opportunity quite earnestly.
With the controls ready in her palms, she pushed forward. Her goal for the run was simple, worry less about the velocity of her rig and more about the speed of her analysis.
Straight from the start line, about fifty metres or so. Distance too short, no, accelerate anyway. Sharp left then straight, better to leap than turn. Cleared, but going too fast. Obstruction in the way, fallen tree. Another behind it. Leapable, jump right then left to readjust.
"Well… crap," someone said in her RAID. She didn't bother discerning who.
Incoming large curves in the trail, intended to act as a wire slinging section? Accept the challenge. Full acceleration, aim wire at the tree, hit. Turn, let the momentum carry me. Disengage wire. Plant feet in, make sure not to crash into trees. Success, repeat in the opposite direction. Success. Full acceleration forward.
"Guess she won't be needing another try," Kazuto mumbled.
Before Asuna knew it, she had crossed the markings of the finish line, her breathing still steady despite the rush. She hadn't been lost behind the control sticks in quite some time. That hyper-focused state of hers wasn't something she could savour in the midst of combat.
"Did you record the time?"
"One minute and forty six seconds." Klein clapped. "You're insane."
Firearms training was a skill kept under wraps in the Eighty-Sixth sector. For any of the inhuman drones to even possess a handgun was an offence to the self-proclaimed God's gift to the world which was the Republic of San Magnolia. Never mind that the state itself discouraged religion, they were still God's chosen.
And yet despite their divine nature, they could never impose their rules on the truly strong and capable. That's why they held all the power in the internment camps and none in the combat wards. Even then, their chokehold over the camps wasn't absolute. Asuna's skill in the rifle proved that true.
Asuna removed her finger from the trigger and released her aim, basking in her job well done. Yes, she had the poor deer's head blown to bits, but the squadron would finally be eating something other than fish and Republic-issued slop tonight.
"Well, I'll be darned, Asuna. You're a pretty good shot for a first-timer," Argo whistled. "Name bearers usually carry a sidearm, at the very least. Thought I'd teach you the ropes before you turned a year old. Guess that ain't needed."
"Don't count her crows before they hatch, Tomo," Kazuto chided.
"Wasn't it don't count chickens?" Tomo asked.
"Crows are cooler."
"Tomo is right. Aesop used chickens in his original fable, as farmers would sometimes find their eggs had failed to hatch. Also, why would anyone be counting crows?"
"I dunno, and uh… Aesop? I thought it was just a common saying."
"Kii-boy wasn't exactly the most studious, eh?"
"Haha… By the way, it's not my first time handling a gun," Asuna mentioned, "I had someone train me before."
"Oooh? Now how did that happen?" Argo asked.
"He was a priest working in the camps, ex-military, and didn't like how the Republic turned out. He gave the younger children the education they missed, and the older ones he trained for combat."
"Ehhh… So there are still some with honour left to spare, huh."
"Yes. I hope he's doing well."
The trio finished hauling the deer onto a storage car. While Scavengers normally used them, they could just as easily be hooked onto a Juggernaut. There weren't many combat applications for such a feature, but it was useful nonetheless.
"Asuna… You decided on a Personal Name yet?"
"And what was that about countin' crows, Kii-boy?"
"This is different, people usually think of something way before they become a bearer."
"It's the same, moron!"
Asuna huffed, "You can't say it's unexpected, Kazuto has always been a hypocrite, no?"
"What is it now, pick on Kazuto day? By the way, I'm driving."
"Oh nah you ain't," Tomo tapped on her Para-RAID, "I got dibs. You're stayin' in there with the deer. Asuna can ride with me."
"No, don't worry about me. I can handle a little blood. I wouldn't want to make the cockpit even more cramped."
"If you say so. No funny business, Kii-boy!"
"C'mon, I'm not Klein."
Asuna considered Kazuto's question as they made their way back to base. It would be a lie if she said she had never thought about it… No, to be exact, she did have one set aside. It was just… something she had parted ways with.
"To answer your question… I had thought of Redhood before, but I don't think that's what I'll choose."
"Like… Little Red Riding Hood?"
She shook her head, "... I had one, a shawl my parents used to hide my hair at the start. It was useless in the end, but I kept on wearing it… It's torn to shreds now."
"Damn… Glad you're not choosin' it, though. It ain't exactly inspiring when you think about the tale."
Kazuto hummed, "Then… how about… ergh, how do you translate this into a name..."
"Translate?"
"Senkō. It means—"
"A flash of light, correct?" Asuna asked, "Far Eastern tongue, specifically the Asca reading."
"Hah? You know Asca?"
"I… had a friend who spoke it. It was also an elective language at my school," Asuna replied, wincing at the fact everything seemed to remind her of… her.
"Smarty pants," Kazuto quipped. "But yeah, it doesn't work as a name when translated. Flash is kinda generic… Lightning Flash? Too long. Maybe the Centoria reading? Sha… Shangguang? I think?... Nah, still too clunky if you're not Orienta."
"I have to ask, why Senkō?"
Kazuto shrugged, "Just the first word that popped into my head. It's the way you piloted back when we first met. I mean, you also proved that a few nights ago."
"Oh really? I gotta watch the next trainin' sesh then."
"Man, you should see her speed! It's a shame we've been keeping Asuna in the rear, so she doesn't really get a chance to shine."
"Going real hard on those light puns, eh, Kii-boy?"
"Uhh, sure."
"What about your Personal Names? Any significance to them?" Asuna asked.
"My parents told me that my name was a play on the Argo. Still got no idea how. I liked it enough, so it stuck. The Rat is a nickname I got online, but it ain't exactly Personal Name material."
"Mine isn't anything special either. It's based on the name of my sparring sword back home. Me and my friends each had one, so we kinda had matching Personal Names."
"What were they?"
Kazuto smiled nostalgically, "Night Sky, Blue Rose, and Fragrant Olive… They don't sound like they belong together, don't they?"
"Asuna?" Kazuto looked surprised, finding her tucked away in the corner of the hangar repurposed for storage, behind containers and crates filled with assorted junk. She had just started to flip her way through a book she'd found while scavenging. "There's gotta be a better place to read than this."
"Sure there are," Asuna mumbled, "But I just can't seem to have any alone time anywhere else. It's always drills or chores whenever I look like I'm idle."
"Haha… I get that, Diavel always pushes us to be productive… But just so you know, this is my spot."
"I can tell. Since you haven't been called out for it yet, it must be good."
"... Fine, I guess I can share."
For the first time, Asuna took her attention off the page and met his eyes. She couldn't help but match his wry smile, "I appreciate it."
Despite the large size of the hangar, neither Kazuto nor Asuna moved to a different corner. Not that she disliked it. She could read her novel peacefully while Kazuto scratched away at a notebook with his pen. She took a peek at it once or twice. To her surprise, the boy wasn't doodling but solving a mathematics quiz sheet. It was in terrible condition, but most of the questions were readable.
"Do you like math?"
"Just about the only subject I was good at," he replied. "Algebra is fun, kinda like finding missing pieces to a puzzle. Geometry is alright, but too much memorisation for my liking. Calculus… I don't get it at all."
"... Cumon?" Asuna asked.
"Cumon."
Asuna chuckled, "I didn't expect you to be the type."
"I was forced to, alright! I used to hate those afternoons. Now… I think cram school wasn't so bad," he rubbed his eyes and sighed, "Gosh, what happened to me?"
"... I think that's a question we ask ourselves too often."
"No, not enough."
"Perhaps…. Do you think there'll be an end to all of this? Do you think we'll ever have our justice? Or do you think generations will pass and forget we even existed?"
"... Honestly, I don't care. The Alba could turn into zombies the next day and it wouldn't matter. It isn't justice if it can never be equal; if it can't bring anyone back."
"So, you're in the camp that thinks retribution isn't justice."
"What are you, a pollster?... So, how about you? Do you still think this war isn't ending?"
Do you still want to die?
"I… don't want to make any premature conclusions. So, I will wait. I may not hope, but I will wait."
Interlude: Devil's Squire (Kazuto and Diavel)
Kazuto could say very few things with absolute certainty. One of them was that no one wanted to be jump scared by Kibaou's face, something that happened to him as he opened the door to Diavel's room. He didn't know why Diavel invited him in the first place, let alone that Kibaou of all people would be present.
The grump couldn't even look at Kazuto. Not surprising considering he could never speak to Klein and himself without a glare, grunt, and swear word, usually in that order.
"The fuck are you here for?"
"Oh, sorry. I wasn't aware you were having private time with the captain. I'll see myself out."
"Kazuto," Diavel said, "I called him here so you could sort out your differences."
Kazuto couldn't even say he appreciated the effort. He couldn't care less about Kibaou and fixing a relationship that was never good to begin with. "And Klein? He doesn't get to listen to his bullshit too?"
Kazuto found himself shoved into the wall, making way for Kibaou's exit. He didn't want any part of whatever Diavel had planned either. Good. At least Kazuto wouldn't be forced to be in a radius of less than three metres from him.
"I don't know why you tried, Captain." Kazuto sighed, "Please, keep him on a leash. I don't want to be shot in the back."
"Kazuto, I will not take this disrespect from you. He might not be the friendliest, but he's still your comrade. This feud of yours will only be detrimental to us."
"Yeah, well, he's not exactly showing that he wants to be friends… Besides, what do you want me to say? Sorry? It's my fault Joe and Tetsu died? Yeah, sure, it is. It's all my fault. It's my fault that E-Platoon was trapped. It's my fault I abandoned the left flank to try and save them. Say you'll try to be stricter on me so that I don't go off and do something stupid. Go on. Say it to him. Make me the villain, Diavel. I don't mind. Anything to keep the blame off you."
"What are you even saying?"
Kazuto turned his back to leave, "It's easier to blame others. If he can point all of that blame to me, at least he won't be slowed down by guilt."
If all the blame could be put on me, then no one else would have to feel the pain that we did.
1
On the bloody battlefronts of San Magnolia, the flames discriminated just as well as the people did. The so-called unmanned drones were easier to light ablaze than their Legion counterparts. Such was the marvel of Republic engineering. Many of her fellow Eighty-Six lay in their burning coffins which dotted the abandoned city.
For the first time since Asuna joined the squadron, Ironclad headed southward to reinforce the Fifty-Sixth Ward's Second Defensive Squadron. As with most support sorties, the request is called well after entering dire straits. If a request is made in the first place.
This was no different. On all accounts, they were too late for their mission to be considered a success. Saving the remainders was the most they could achieve.
"Culverin squadron, abandon your line and head toward Ironclad."
An orchestra of sixteen echoing guns accompanied Handler One's transmission, garnering an audience of angered machines. Asuna didn't like the show of force. It was useless, like a chimp pounding its chest before battling a lion. Ironclad simply wasn't in position yet.
The squadron had quickly abandoned their woodland protocols, switching to tactics set on a per-platoon basis. The vanguard platoons were already scrambling to link with Culverin. It was too early for her liking, as the fire support platoons hadn't begun setting up perches and choke points like they should have.
They had too much space to clear, yet not enough eyes on the lookout… was Asuna's assessment of the situation, excluding the capabilities of Handler One.
"Diavel. Don't push it. Any further and you'd be easily surrounded, hold your position. Nightblade. many enemies ahead blocking Culverin's route. They can't break through."
"Furinkazan to Nightblade. Sorry, D-1's still climbing, I'm ready for ground support, though," Klein interjected.
"Argo speakin'. B-Platoon ain't set up either, you gotta buy time."
"Nightblade to Handler One. Send us the locations. C-Platoon will handle it."
"Nightblade. You'll be spotted once I do."
"Don't tell me things I already know," Kazuto reprimanded. "C-Platoon. Stick with me, once we are spotted, scatter and hide. I'll set up nice shots for you."
"Alright." "You got it," his platoon replied.
"Furinkazan. You want in?"
"Of course, man."
"Handler One. Send it."
"Nightblade. Sending the enemy positions now."
Asuna needed to stop underestimating the impact of a competent handler.
As nothing more needed to be communicated, Kazuto began to act. Sixteen blips appeared on Asuna's detection systems, although not for long. One blip immediately faded with a single roar of Nightblade's cannon. The normally daring leader of C–Platoon decided one kill was enough, retreating the moment the enemy moved toward him. The chase was on.
"Handler One. How many on my trail?"
"Nightblade. Seven, the other three are on C-1. Five are still holding, most likely watching for Culverin."
"Change of plans. C-2, follow and find clear shots. C-1, keep kiting until C-2 cleans them up. If you get tired, link up with me."
"Alright." "Got it."
"Furinkazan. Heading to you now."
Asuna pushed her stick forward, "I'll head over and help. Better to finish them quickly."
"No, B-3, stay," Diavel ordered.
"Let her," Kazuto overruled, "We need more firepower, here."
"Diavel. Don't worry," Deadeye said, "F-Platoon will give more focus to the left."
"Deadeye. Not the point, she's not used to—"
"Diavel. They need the help," Handler One asserted, "They're sending more to keep Culverin isolated. Don't let them reinforce the gap."
"Argo to Handler One. Should I head over too?"
"No, we should keep it like this, two name bearers on both fronts. Argo, Diavel, focus on maintaining your ground, take shots whenever possible. Don't lose that position. Deadeye, I need your focus on the right for the moment."
"Deadeye to Handler One. Understood."
"Kirito. Turn left, I got this."
"Furinkazan. Copy. Turning left."
Kazuto sunk Nightblade's wires into the ground, using the momentum to swing his rig around and tuck himself into the left turn of the intersection. With his guns now turned toward the Legion, he let his legs speed backwards through the road.
Spotting the signature chrome of the Legion appearing from his previous position, he fired a single shot. Hit confirmed. While Nightblade claimed the destruction of another Ameise, more units crawled into the boulevard, hungry for his blood. He couldn't stay in the open.
"Furinkazan. Tell me you got this."
"I already said… I got this!"
Furinkazan's high explosive anti-tank shells easily found their mark on the advancing drones, causing a chain ignition on the many Grauwolf's ammunition, detonating them in a thunderous crescendo. Only three enemy units remained in the aftermath. Most likely, they were the type sturdy enough not to fall to the Juggernaut's meagre munitions.
"Kirito. Falling back. Don't think they saw me."
"I'll continue kiting."
"My platoon finished setting up, head over to them."
"Roger."
A third voice suddenly communicated, "S-shit! N-nightblade, sorry, I couldn't get them."
"C-2. Calm down. C-1, status?"
No response. No blip. All three Legion units chasing him were still registered on Asuna's system.
"B-3 to C-2. I'm near," she said, "What type were they? Which way were they facing?"
"Umm. B-3. One Ameise and two Löwe, all were facing north."
"Nightblade to C-2. Get to high ground and shoot from there. Let Asuna take the ground battles."
"U-understood."
His expectations of her skills were highly exaggerated, but it was nice to know Kazuto had full faith in her taking down two Löwe almost entirely on her own.
Asuna circled to their blind spot, breathing manually as she lined up her shot. Immediately as the Ameise began to search in her direction, she fired, leaving the lions stranded with no support. Her direction was now known to the Legion, yet her exact position had yet to be compromised. That was Asuna's goal, to begin with.
She retreated slightly, hugging the wall of a building perpendicular to the path of the two tank types, making sure not even a nail's length of her barrel poked out. Once again, she was going to take advantage of the Legion's human-like features. This time, it was their capacity for object permanence.
Set the reticle a bit higher. Wait until I can see the turret. Awkward hand-control positioning… No, ignore the discomfort. No movements. No sound. Hold. Hold. Hold. Fire.
The first of the lions walked right into her trap. Immediately, the octopode drone's legs buckled under its fifty-tonne weight. At point-blank range, even the Juggernaut's antiquated 57 mm anti-tank rounds could penetrate the Löwe's armour. It was only a matter of knowing where to shoot. And as logic dictated, the central processing unit was always somewhere near the centre of mass.
She shifted gears, reversing her rig to a safer position, the next left turn she could take. Lingering there wasn't an option. The second Löwe had enough space to go around its fallen comrade. If she was caught against the wall, it would be the end of her.
"B-3 to C-2. First Löwe down. Are you in position yet?" she asked.
"I climbed up, b-but I'm too far to deal damage…"
Asuna sighed. She supposed that was the issue with Ironclad's protocols. Diavel's over-reliance on comfortable strategies meant the fresh recruits had no opportunities to develop their combat sense. For them to survive these months without an inkling of initiative was cause for concern.
"It doesn't matter. Shoot."
"But my position! I'll give myself aw—"
"Please. You'll be safe. Tank-types can't change their shooting angle."
"...Okay."
Even through the other sounds of battle, she heard the boom of the C-2's cannon loud and clear. As expected, the blip representing the Löwe still showed on her detection system. Unfortunately, that confirmed nothing about the direction it was facing. Asuna needed the drone to look away.
"B-3 to C-2, is it facing you now?"
"N-no, it's still searching… probably?"
"Is it turning and turning in a loop?"
"Not turning exactly, but yes."
"Shoot it again."
Another boom echoed. "It's facing me now!"
Asuna drove her Juggernaut back into the fray, most likely pushing the acceleration faster than necessary. She didn't think about it. Her sole focus was on destroying the Löwe. Using her wires to pivot and planting in her four legs, she brought herself to a stop right at the lion's behind, and shot.
"B-3 reporting, designated targets eliminated."
Unfortunately, the battle was far from over. There was to be no rest for Asuna. Not until the final guns were fired, or until she was put into the ground.
"What the… Deadeye to all units, please speed up Culverin's extraction. We need to retreat ASAP. There's a full tank company on the way… and—"
The gravity of Kai's panicked announcement was lost on most of Ironclad's members, Asuna included. Only two other Processors truly understood the sniper's next words. Such was the rarity of the threat in question.
"We have a Heavy on our hands."
"Oh you gotta be fucking with me, Kai!" Klein shouted. Alas, Nightblade and Furinkazan were on the opposite section of the battlefield.
The right section headed by Nightblade was still in chaos; a continuous onslaught of Legion reinforcements prevented them from rescuing Culverin as planned. The poor remnants of said squadron were trapped, hiding in rubble, hoping the situation would die down and allow their escape.
"Handler One to Ironclad. The mission is aborted. Retreat."
"Fuck no," Klein said, "We ain't giving up on them now!"
Kazuto agreed, "What Furinkazan said, Handler One. Please support the left until we can rotate."
"With all due respect, you'll all end up dead at this rate. Culverin is a lost cause, just go! Fall back!"
"Sorry, we cannot do that," Diavel asserted, "Handler One. The Knights of the Round Carpet have their pride to uphold."
Desolate roads abandoned by the Republic crumbled under the might of the Legio Rex. The apex of the old Imperial military was able to coordinate seamlessly with its underlings and trample all in its path. Rather ironically, only an unfeeling and unbiased drone could perfectly harmonise the strengths of the red and black Giadian nobilities.
Owing to its rarity on the battlefield, none of the Processors knew of its true name. A name Handler One hoped to never encounter. Designation: Dinosauria. The Ideal Giadian Warmachine.
"Diavel to Deadeye, you're familiar with this Heavy. I'll leave the tactics to you.""
"This is Deadeye, taking over command. Diavel, are you ready to die?"
"... No."
"I appreciate the honesty. I'll build the strategy around Nightblade and Furinkazan, if that's alright?"
"No," Diavel said again, "I never said I won't face it."
"Doesn't matter. Those two have lived through an encounter with a Heavy. So have I, but I'm not a front liner."
"I won't repeat myself, Deadeye."
"... Yes, sir. Deadeye to Handler One. What can you tell us about the Heavy? Any weaknesses?"
"For one, its name is Dinosauria. It's got a 155 mm main gun and another smaller coaxial cannon. If it wasn't obvious, shots from both are fatal. It also has two standard anti-armour machine guns. As for weaknesses… It's basically a Löwe. Can't shoot too high, weak sensors, and relatively slow."
"So we keep our high ground?" Argo asked.
"Unwise," Deadeye replied, "They can still collapse the buildings we're on."
"Don't make this too complicated. You only need to delay," Nightblade chimed in, "Get rid of the add-ons first. Their numbers advantage is far scarier. Use their targeting priorities against them. Scatter and confuse them until only the Dino is left. Try not to fight it until we're done."
Deadeye hummed, "Alright. A and B-Platoons are to get rid of the light classes as usual. F-Platoon will stay perched and focus on the Grauwolf. Diavel, Argo, and I will be on Löwe duty."
"You sure?" Argo asked, "You said it yourself, you ain't a front liner."
Deadeye chuckled, "Who said anything about front lining?"
While Ironclad's left wing braced themselves for the fight of their lives, the right still struggled to press forward. They were close, only a kilometre away from their extraction target. Initially, the plan was for Culverin to rendezvous with Ironclad. That was no longer possible. Between the two squadrons were numerous slithering patrols of Ameise and Grauwolf. As the larger force between the two Juggernaut squadrons, Ironclad needed to break through.
Despite their unsophisticated tactics, the Legion were swift, adept at taking space, and controlling it. Any ground lost to them needed to be retaken with sweat and blood. That was the eternal frustration of facing the Legion. Incremental losses were meaningless to them. Meanwhile, humanity can only struggle for every inch, every second, and every dent of damage they can get.
Kazuto was getting impatient, yet he knew brute force was an obvious way of getting killed. His signature weave and bait didn't work either. There were too many of them… He steeled himself. With nothing else he could think of, he would simply make it work.
As we did before. Isolate and exterminate.
"Nightblade to Handler One. Connect me to Culverin's RAID."
"Done."
"Nightblade to Culverin Squadron, do you copy?"
"Dice Master to Nightblade. Loud and clear," a deep and manly voice responded on the other end. "Sorry about this."
"You can apologise once we're out of this mess. Are you ready to move?"
"Better now than never."
"What's your ammo looking like?"
"We only have a couple HEATs left."
"That's more than nothing, at least. Running out of time, so we're gonna take a little gamble. On my mark, sprint towards us. Use your rounds if you need, just get here alive. We'll have our D-Platoon come and meet you."
"Copy that."
"In the meantime, Klein, Asuna, we're gonna make a head-on distraction."
"Sounds like a plan." "Alright."
"Handler One, can you draw up a strike plan? Make sure each target group has less than five units. We need to make them look our way."
"Your position will be compro… well, you already know. By your command, Nightblade."
It didn't take long to have everyone in place. Culverin prepared all six members to make a beeline straight for D-Platoon's position. All they had to do was follow a straight road. Meanwhile, Kazuto had his team ready to make a distraction.
"Asuna, sorry I called you here without asking. You can sit this out if you want."
"Are you serious?"
"He's just saying that to rile you up," Klein said, "Show us what that lightning speed of yours can really do."
"Hmph, if Mister Kazuto asks nicely, maybe I will."
"C'mon Asuna, I was just giving you a choice… Oh, whatever, let's get moving. Handler One, now!"
"Locations sent. Good luck."
The game was on. And as the statistics usually proved, the initiative was an advantage.
Three Juggernauts sprung forth like hunting dogs unleashed in a triangle formation. Kazuto led the way, trusting in the strike path overlayed on his systems. Handler One marked their potential targets, as well as the streets wide enough for a platoon of Juggernauts to operate and manoeuvre in. They needed to move quickly, lest they be the ones pounced upon.
As he focused on piloting, Asuna made first contact with the enemy. Even as she barreled forward, her explosive warheads landed right in the middle of a small pack of light-class Legion. Before the smoke could clear, Kazuto and Klein showered the enemy with machine gun fire, making sure of their destruction.
"First group eliminated." "Jeez, that was fast."
"Nice work," Kazuto said, "Handler One, how's it looking?"
"From what I see, most patrols are generally moving in your direction. I see two still potentially blocking Culverin's path."
"A few more then, to be safe. Let's continue."
Kai breathed a sigh as she moved to descend from her perch. A good sniper knew when to wait patiently for another shot, and when to seek another angle. She couldn't count how many times she'd moved. Nor how many Löwe she had buried under steel and concrete.
From the looks of it, her fellow name bearers were also pulling their weight. True to his chosen name, Diavel, now unburdened by leadership, was a devil on the battlefield. Gone was the reserved, disciplined mask he used as an example to his squadmates. When he let loose, he was a total glory hog.
It was a miracle he still recognized that he had to run away from the Heavy instead of towards it. That monster was now too close for comfort.
"D-1 reporting, we got Culverin with us!"
"Hell yeah!" "Fuckin' finally." "Let's get our asses outta here!" Cheers of elation and relief erupted through the Para-RAID. The announcement of their mission's end raised their spirits for the time being. Culverin's base would be abandoned, and so would this section of the combat ward, but that was the least of anyone's worries.
Exhaustion was mounting. What's more, Ironclad had lost another member. The red glowing sky projected through their Juggernauts' retinas was enough of a signal. It was time to go home.
If only that Dinosauria weren't present.
"HEY!" Kai broke the reverie of her squadron, "This isn't over yet! All units, head to the assembly point. Diavel, Argo, fall back for the moment."
""Roger."'
"We'll start rotating over to help," Nightblade said.
Furinkazan sighed tiredly, "Ahh crap, we don't gotta kill it, do we?"
"Handler One, is there any way we can retreat safely?" Diavel asked.
"It's difficult, but you can try blocking the exits to the city."
"And how exactly do we do that?" Argo asked.
"I don't know! Try obstructing the roads with rubble. It'll be enough to delay… Maybe."
"Way to instil confidence…"
The name bearers of Ironclad continued to weigh their options as they neared the edge of the city's boundaries. It was preferable to not fight at all, but running away wasn't so simple.
Within the city, the fog of war was inherently thicker than on the open plains. Skorpion artillery fire could be limited, plenty of blindspots to be exploited, and engagements easily isolated. Ironclad would lose all of those advantages in open terrain. That meant their only option to fight head-on, and in that situation, the bigger guns won.
Disregarding the quickly dimming daylight, the red blips representing the Legion continued to push forward despite their losses. Kai placed her bets on their recent reinforcements, especially that Heavy. It must have tipped the calculations on their withdrawal protocols.
Whatever decision they made, neither was preferable. To fight here and potentially lose, or to attempt flight and potentially be gunned down by artillery…
Kai laughed, half in relief, the other in despair. Everything would come down to finding a middle ground between the two options, it was the job of the veterans to find it.
Out of all the Processors on the battlefield, the makeshift crack team consisting of Asuna, Klein, and himself were the ones most out of position. Their earlier distraction practically left them scurrying around in enemy-controlled territory. All they had done was trade themselves for Culverin. Luckily, only Asuna's smoothbore gun had run out of ammo. Accounting for the scavenger they could rendezvous with, they still had plenty of firepower.
"Enemy spotted, three Ameise, 10 o'clock, advancing toward the assembly point," Asuna called out.
"Let's just leave it," he replied.
"No, deal with them," Diavel said, "Nightblade, cause some trouble for the Dinosauria and kill any Ameise you find. Shoot at it, grab its attention, but don't fight."
"... So you don't want us to regroup yet? Alright, I'll trust you on this," Kazuto went ahead on his own, silently stalking his prey until all were in sight. His machine guns quickly cleaned them up.
"Rest of you, listen up! Here's the plan: Group Alpha will consist of A, B and F-Platoons. We'll trim down their force as much as possible until the Dinosauria tries to engage us. Deadeye will set up a perch to watch their positions. D-Platoon, Culverin, give me an ETA."
"Dice Master speaking. Not long, five minutes until we reach the assembly point."
"Have you all reloaded and recharged?"
"Negative."
"We'll have our scavs ready for you, then. D-Platoon and Culverin will be Group Omega. I want you to head out of the city and check if it's safe. Don't stray too far. At first sign of bombardment, sprint back in. Furinkazan. I want you to lead them."
"No can do. I'm way far from my guys right now."
"Oh, right, sorry. I forgot you were with Nightblade," Diavel apologised, unable to hide his tiredness. "Dice Master, it'll be you, then."
"All we gotta do is run around, right? Leave it to me."
From what Asuna could put together over their scattered communications, nothing was going to plan. Group Omega hadn't reached far before drawing out the Skorpion's bombardment, having a few land too close for comfort. It meant that there were Ameise hidden somewhere, ready to relay information to the artillery types. Diavel didn't want to risk it.
The Legion's uncharacteristic determination to kill all of them aside, Asuna didn't like how half-hearted the squadron's decisions were. The name bearers took everything upon themselves, barely trusting the rookies to pull their weight. It all culminated in an insane call to fight and potentially die for a guaranteed safe retreat rather than simply scattering and hoping no one was hit.
There was no growth in a suffocating cradle, but perhaps that was the burden of a name bearer. So tired and broken, the only way for them to keep believing in a meaningful existence is to protect the ones who couldn't protect themselves. And so they staked their lives and strived for perfection, even if it could lead to their deaths.
Deaths that were counting down with each step of the Dinosauria's eight legs. Kazuto and Klein fired their final shots, unable to fully capture its attention, nor eliminate all of its escorts.
"Sorry we couldn't stall for long. Need to reload."
"It's alright. This is winnable. I'll take it from here."
Diavel began to bark out orders, coordinating the squadron to fire. There were fifteen available cannons scattered around the heavens and earth, excluding Team Nightblade and F-Platoon who were watching their flanks. An assortment of explosive rounds flew in the first volley, intended to test the waters. Other than the escorting units caught in the crossfire, no damage could be seen.
Before the Dinosauria could return fire, Argo's platoon pounded its broadside with multiple high-explosive anti-tank shells, hoping the resulting shrapnel could deal damage to its internal components in some way. As expected, all they had managed to do was make it turn their way.
"Scatter!"
For the first time, the 155 mm gun mounted on the heavy-tank showed its true prowess. A plume of dust and smoke burgeoned from the impact, shaking the ground beneath the unfortunate processors caught in its radius. It didn't take anyone to the grave, but the Juggernaut's uncomfortable engineering didn't help with the sudden force.
"Ahh shit…" Tomo whined, "I banged my head…"
"D-Platoon, fire! B-Platoon, if you're dazed, hide and rest."
"Dice Master speaking. I saw vents on the back of that thing."
"On the front too," Kai reported. "Neither are easy targets."
"For sure. Too many escorts on the flank."
"We're done reloading," Kazuto announced, "Let's try a pinch, front and back. You and me, Diavel."
"A-Platoon will take the back side."
"How generous of you."
"At least you don't have to deal with the brunt of the adds."
"And you don't have to deal with the big fuck-off gun!"
As the others continued showering the Legion tank company with ammunition, A-Platoon and Team Kazuto rotated into position. With the Dinosauria's cannon now turned toward the firing Culverin Squadron, it was time for them to execute their attack.
"I'll take point, Asuna second. Klein, I want you to dump HEATs on the turret, disable those machine guns."
""Roger.""
"Diavel, we're ready!"
"Charge!"
Three Juggernauts on each side revealed themselves from behind the corners of rundown buildings and began sprinting for their very lives. Pseudo-aerial support now rained down from F-Platoon's perches, while D-Platoon and Culverin continued their bombardment in turns.
Klein did as he was told, focusing all his firepower on destroying the two anti-material machine guns mounted on the Dinosauria. Kazuto and Asuna pushed forward at breakneck pace, even without her support, putting pedal to the metal and quickly dispatching any light-class units in their way.
Their multidirectional attack seemed to work wonders in confusing the Dinosauria, not that Asuna truly knew the behind the scenes. As she imagined it, many of its escorts were pleading for help in the rear, while the Dinosauria itself was dealing with a frontal assault.
But no matter how confused the Legion's processor was, it could never be stuck in an infinite loop. Eventually, it would calculate a decision, no matter how optimal, and execute it.
And it decided that A-Platoon would be its target.
"Shit! Scatter!" "How the fuck can it turn that far!?" "OH HELL NAH!"
The swing of the turret gave them time, but it was hard to change course so deep into their charge, let alone find cover. Nothing could change what came next. Not even Kazuto or herself, rapidly approaching and throwing everything they had at the monstrous drone. Without a single care for its supporting units, the Dinosauria fired into the crowd.
""Diavel!""
Lind and Kiba were spread far enough to clear the shot relatively unscathed, but they could not say the same for their leader. It wasn't a direct hit, but with a calibre so large, that wasn't the Dinosauria's intent. Even the explosion and subsequent shrapnel were enough to disable his Juggernaut's movement systems.
"DON'T STOP!" Diavel's cry was still carried clearly over the Para-RAID. At least he was unharmed.
"Drag him out of there!" Kai shouted.
Before anything else could happen, the two A-Platoon members latched their wires onto Diavel's frame, while Kai's snipers released their ammunition onto the remaining escorts to put a stop to the Dinosauria's information relay.
"Asuna! Now! Shoot!"
Now in range, her armour-penetrating round was loosed first, tearing a hole through the plate covering the front vents, already battered and bruised. With the opening made, Kazuto's explosive warhead crashed into the Dinosauria with a bang. Again. And again. And again. Both of them, tired and frustrated, kept pulling the trigger until nothing was left.
Only then did the Dinosauria fall.
0
The Legion scuttled away in full as the sun had set, finally having their retreat protocol activated. Kai stayed perched in case anything went awry, leaving the rest of the Processors to finally leave their death traps and stretch their weary legs. Sighs of relief echoed throughout the ruined city, welcoming the cold open air.
"Need help?" Kazuto asked Asuna with a grin, no doubt thinking of their first encounter. She frowned, but nevertheless took his hand having learnt her lesson, and carefully exited her cockpit. Face planting into grass and snow was one thing, and Asuna didn't have a particular itch to try asphalt. Her legs turned to mush once more as she hit the ground, although she was able to tough it out with support.
"I felt like… Hngghhh," Asuna stretched, then swung around her arms and legs to loosen them, "I was being thrown about in the seat a lot more than usual."
"Hmm, that doesn't sound good. You should get the mechanics to take a look, see if anything's loose."
"If I remember to tell them," she covered her mouth as she yawned. "Is there a way you can tow me back to base?"
Kazuto chuckled, "I feel you. Honestly, I might just tap out on the spot."
"Uhuh," she nodded, grabbing hold of his wrist, "But before either of us passes out, let's check up on the rest. I'm worried Tomo might have gotten a concussion."
Thankfully, Asuna's concern was unfounded. The Rat herself looked like everyone else, tired, but otherwise fine. She was fine enough to be socialising with a member of Culverin squadron, a towering man with the features of the southern continent natives, head completely shaved.
"Ahh, there you are. Was wonderin' if you two went off somewhere," Tomo pointed her thumb to the giant, "He's been lookin' for ya."
"You must be Nightblade! I'm Dice Master," the man extended his hand with a smile, "Name's Andrew Gilbert Mills."
"Kazuto Kirigaya," he shook his hand.
"And you, young lady?"
"Asuna Yuuki."
"Kazuto and Asuna. And wasn't there a third member with you?"
Asuna looked around, unable to find the redhead with that obnoxiously iconic bandana of his. "He's… probably checking in with his platoon."
"Or he could be out cold in his rig," Kazuto added.
"Haha. Well, I don't blame him. In any case, we owe you a great deal. Thank you. Without you all, it would have been the end of the line for us."
"We're glad we could help, Mr. Andrew," Asuna replied. "By the way, what are Mr. Lind and Mr. Kiba doing?"
"They've been tryin' to bust open Diavel's rig. The canopy ain't workin' like normal 'cause of the damage."
"That doesn't sound good," Kazuto commented.
"Sure doesn't," Argo agreed, "But Diavel out of all people seems totally chill with bein' stuck in there."
After walking over and taking a look, the issue was immediately apparent. The outer frame of the Juggernaut had been warped so badly that it dug into the canopy, locking it in place. If anything, it was a miracle the Juggernaut's body was still intact when the legs looked like they'd been through the grinder.
"Fuck this!" Kiba surrendered, throwing his knife to the ground.
"...We need a bigger lever," Lind said, hand on his chin.
"One of my guys has a crowbar," Andrew said. "I can go get it."
"Why the hell didn't you tell us earlier?" Kiba shouted.
"Just ignore him. If you can get us that crowbar, that'd be great."
"Yo, Diavel, still good in there?" Argo's inquiry was met with a handful of silence. "Diavel? Hello…"
His Para-RAID activated, automatically entering the general channel, "... I'm alright, Argo. Just taking a nap…"
Asuna was mildly impressed by how calm he seemed. Heck, taking a nap on the hard and uncomfortable seat of a Juggernaut was an achievement in and of itself, no matter how tired someone was.
"Step aside, everyone," crowbar in hand, Andrew began to climb over the top of the Juggernaut to find an angle of attack. Once confirming his stable footing, he slipped in the edge of his tool and began to pry open the canopy's aluminium alloy. To call the metal structure 'armour' was an insult to all warriors, past and present.
Andrew managed to lift the canopy a few centimetres before coming across another problem. The design of the canopy required the top-mounted gun to be raised when opening, something unable to be done when the Juggernaut was sprawled on the floor with no clearance.
"Can one of you detach the magazine? I can't open the canopy when it's hitting the ground."
With only the help of a push on the frame from Kazuto's left hand, the boy managed to leap to the top and hug the back of the gun. The magazine disengaged with the press of a large button, normally meant for Scavengers. The large metal box dropped with a thump, still blocking the gun's way. The Processors who had slowly gathered one by one finally made themselves useful by pushing the magazine out of the way, allowing Andrew to lift the canopy without issue.
"What the hell…" he said as he laid eyes on Diavel.
Tomo clicked her tongue, "I knew it."
It was shrapnel. Fragments of his coffin had torn through his stomach, leaving him lying back in a pool of his own blood. His hands were in the position of applying pressure, but it seemed he was far too weak to do so. It was a miracle he survived for this long.
"I… told….you guys…" Diavel's physical voice overlapped with the Para-RAID. "Just… napping." He smiled with not even the strength to laugh, "Kaz… comp… lord… now…"
Till his last breath, he had played the role of the knight leading his doomed squires.
"Kai to all units, what the hell just happened down there? Don't tell me—"
"SHUT YER FUCKING PIE HOLE KAI!"
Asuna attempted to close her ears on reflex, which proved convenient in turning off her RAID device. The Processors previously in shock were now on edge as a certain member blew his fuse. Mr. Kiba was fuming red and eyes bloodshot, gaze turned to the person Diavel named the squadron's new leader.
"Ya were slacking off werencha ya fucker!?" Kiba grabbed hold of Kazuto's collar, causing the smaller boy to retaliate with a strike to the elbow pit. Even as he escaped his grasp, Kiba didn't let up.
"Slacking? What are you—"
"YER A FUCKING CHILD OF THE BLACK MONSTERS ARENCHA? YOU COULDA GONE FASTER!"
"What, is that all you can say?"
"YOU COULDA FUCKING AIMED BETTER. YOU COULDA SHOT BEFORE DIAVEL GOT HIT… You could've… you could… tsk. Fucking Imp."
Kiba had said his piece, leaving everyone dazed as if blinded by a stun grenade. A glance at Lind told Asuna that he wasn't going to speak, not to reprimand nor support his platoon member. Klein, the person who would no doubt jump to his aid immediately was nowhere to be found. Tomo was also burning to throw out a rebuttal, while Kazuto himself only stood in silence. Not in disinterest, but in thought.
"Mr. Kiba was right…" another dissenting voice murmured, "You only care about your kind." To Asuna's surprise, it was the other remaining member of C-Platoon. C-2, or Kei, if she remembered correctly. Asuna didn't have much interaction with him, thinking of him as almost a recluse. If she had to guess, he was Klein's age.
He continued, "Y-you went and chased Raz to the end of the earth, yet you couldn't give a damn when Icha (C-1) died. Who the hell wants you as their leader."
Asuna had enough, and so did the Rat.
Tomo started, "Alright, listen here—"
"No," Kazuto waved his hand and straightened his posture, lowering his bangs enough to cover his eyes. "Is that what you've been telling people, Kibaou? Pfttthahahahaa… I'll tell you something Diavel the Knight would never tell you. He never trusted you. Not you, not Lind, not the rest of you. Why? Because he was a goddamned saint. He coddled you all like it was his mission in life, never putting you in any real danger if he could have it. That was the type of leader he was."
"ENOUGH!" This time, it was Lind who burst.
Still, Kazuto ignored him, "But that's the difference between me and him. I trust people with their own lives. Kei? The reason I sent you and Icha against those Legion was because I trusted you. You weren't ambushed. You weren't separated. You didn't need saving… But I guess that was my mistake, and Diavel's approach was right."
Kazuto walked past everyone to return to his Juggernaut, "Diavel was an angel to you all. Sorry I can't be that person. Someone else can take charge. We don't have long together anyway."
"I heard you're the reason everyone's so awkward. Jeez man."
"I don't wanna hear it from the guy who slept through all of it in his rig."
"... Are you okay, dude?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"'Cause you're pretending not to care."
"I don't care though."
"And I don't believe you."
"Then don't."
"... You don't have to make yourself an asshole just to make Kibaou feel better about himself."
"I can't exactly take everything I said back."
"Fair point… By the way, we got the new rosters. Half are staying, half are going."
"Which are we?"
Klein shook his head and sighed, "We're getting split too."
"... Then, this is the real end of the Rulid Gang."
Interlude: Da Capo I
23 months ago.
Winter in the camps was harsh. The healthy were lucky, as they only had to suffer the cold. Disease roamed freely as none of the Eighty-Six were given any attention by their overlords. Not even the abuse they were used to in the warmer months. Klein had to thank the holy spirit. That or mother nature's cold embrace. It was thanks to them that racism was on break during the holidays.
The useless Alba soldiers stationed to keep watch were just as undesirable as the Eighty-Six were to the Republic of San Magnolia. Although, the Eighty-Six were under no delusions of being wanted. That was the difference between them and the poor excuse for human beings who called themselves their wardens. The Eighty-Six were legally the dregs of society, the Republic Armed Forces were actually the dregs of society.
Four children could be seen huddling together in the corner of what was once a decent home. The windows had been shattered intentionally, with stains of blood and vomit dotting the place, inside and out. Old stains. Most places where the Eighty-Six were held were like that. Klein pitied them from afar, leaving them well enough alone. They deserved their peace and quiet.
He knew the kids. The girls were Alice and Selka, daughters of his town's mayor before the war started. May he rest in peace. The flaxen-haired boy was Eugeo, who came from a family of lumberjacks and carpenters. He had brothers, all of them older and sent to the combat wards before him.
The final one he admittedly didn't know much about, despite being the one he talked to most often. 'Kirito' was the nickname they called him by, a combination of his first and last names.
Klein couldn't even guess where he came from. He'd come and go from Sector 74 during summer break, apparently visiting just for Alice and Eugeo. Unfortunately, he was stuck in Sector 74 when the Special Wartime Shitty Solution Act or whatever it was called was implemented. Poor kid couldn't even be displaced with his family.
At least he has the others, Klein puffed his breath into the cold air, pretending that the stick in his fingers had somehow magically become a cigarette. Probably not the most hygienic thing to do, he reckoned.
"You looking for a smoke, kid?"
"Hah?"
An Alba officer came to him with a pack of cigs and a sick grin. Claus the Twat was what Klein called him. Didn't know his real name and didn't care to learn. A shitty ripoff of the red saint was all he was.
"Here, I'll give one if you shoot one of those kids straight in the head. From here. You get one shot. And don't even try to point this at me."
Klein swatted the sidearm away, lightly, so as to not be seen as a threat, "I know your games. Even if I get the cig, you won't let me light it. Besides, I ain't shooting someone innocent. I ain't you."
"Bwahahahahaha."
Clause the Twat's outburst of laughter turned into a punch against Klein, telegraphed and weak. Nevertheless, Klein pretended to be struck hard. Better to have him satisfied.
"Look at the pig trying to mimic human morals. Disgusting."
Point the mirror at yourself, you bastard.
"You'll be the first we conscript next, we've kept you here for long enough. Rejoice, boy. You'll get your shot at redemption and return to humanity."
Even Klein knew no such thing would happen. Once you were in the combat wards, the only destination you had was the release of death.
20 months ago.
Kazuto found Klein with a solemn expression, a piece of paper in hand. The Rubis teen was only a few years older than him, yet Kirito could tell Klein was far wiser than he looked. To everyone else, he was a bumbling doofus who picked fights with the Alba officers. Some of them, he won. In most cases, he got his ass handed to him. It was all an act, of course. He was only taking the target off of everyone else. His punchable smile let them have some semblance of peace.
"Are you getting shipped off?"
Klein kept his gaze on the document, crumpling it at the sides with how he was gripping it, "Ain't just me. You, Eugeo, Alice."
"... And Selka?"
"She's staying."
Kazuto and Klein both knew the implications.
"... Fuck."