The aftermath of the cave-in left only a few Federacy personnel injured, mainly as the result of objects shaking and collapsing from their position. No substantial losses were reported, with Shinei confirming that most of the voices heard had ceased to exist. After regrouping and fixing all the damage, caused by some falling rocks, they were ready to move forward the next morning. The three Processors described the gruesome sight to the commanders, causing the oddest speculations to emerge in the higher-ups' meeting tent.
"I'm telling you, without any doubt, Doctor Julienne is right. I know how improbable that sounds, but this person was alive until a few hours ago. There are no marks of decomposition either, considering the wounds on her back, she should have been dead long ago. However, the tissue around the foreign object seems to have healed long after their insertion, somehow merging with this...thing." Michel, the freshly graduated army doctor, was secretly asked to examine bodies brought from the cave. More precisely, he was tasked to give a second, independent opinion, as the findings of the main medical Officer sounded too ludicrous to take at face value.
"You're telling me a person, stuck in a jar for God knows how long, would still be alive months after the Republic had fallen?" Bernholdt had lived through many unthinkable events and inventions, but he had a hard time Legion would keep a human alive even if they wanted to.
"From the autopsy, all of their internal organs are disfigured, but functioning. The cyan fluid was found in every cavity of their body, probably it had something to do with nutrition and cleansing, with such an open wound in the cave the infection would spread in no time. The term 'alive' might be misleading, all of their limbs hadn't been used for a long time, and the muscle tissue had faded away. Nonetheless, their internal organs were forced to operate, probably to keep the nervous system going. It is hard to determine without proper equipment, I can only describe what I see." Doctor Julienne underlined that the field reality prevented them from in-depth examination.
"We'll keep the man's body in a separate container, as cool as we can. Maybe in the Republic, there will be some functioning old laboratory or hospital apparatus, allowing you to continue before further decay. Thank you for everything, please send the full report and pictures to the headquarters, but remember, for now, it's a top military secret." Vladilena Milizé already had begun to prepare a mental list of suitable places, with her main worry being the mindless looters searching for anything to use. The valuable equipment was useful in the qualified hand only, but when she had left, people had been using anything they could find to warm themselves or find things to trade. It was funny, how the money lost all the meaning in one moment, providing only temporary relief while being used as fuel. The functioning electronics became a luxurious commodity. Many high-class former nobles were desperate to find a remaining piece of the normality, for a brief moment of delusion that nothing was out of the ordinary. Sadly the most booming economy was the black market, with their goods such as drugs, weapons, and newly added food, being sold for absurd prices. She had done all she could to leave her people in a semi-stable environment, but the truth was, the Republic was on the verge of breaking. Lena had no idea if they were heading into a civil war zone, or if the new temporary government retained any control over the population.
"I still don't get why they did that. Captain Nouzen said they hadn't been moving, and the human flesh isn't exactly an excellent war machine. Why bother keeping them alive?" Rito pondered at the answer, but no reasonable explanation came to mind.
"At this moment, all we can do is guess. Maybe it's a new technology or a failed experiment. There is no way to know now, so we must prevent the news from spreading at all costs among the soldiers. It'll cause panic, and we are already not in the most fortunate position. Until more tests are conducted, we have to restrain ourselves from jumping to conclusions." Colonel Milizé stated calmly, as expected of an expedition leader. The discovery took them by storm, but the made-up conspiracies were far-fetched from the truth. This was one of the first explores into the Legion's base camp, so there was no telling how abnormal their findings were.
"And to think I had hoped the journey this way won't be out of the ordinary…" The Commander of the Nordlicht Squadron sighed deeply and went back to his unit.
Soon Lena wrapped up the documentation and headed to the high brown tent, at the end of their final encampment. The peculiar orange scavenger was fiercely guiding its entrance, but when he saw Lena, he jumped in excitement and started to blip.
"Hi Fido, can I go in?" The girl smiled at the machine, which seemed to wag its nonexistent tail like a puppy. It had reminded her of TP, her lovely cat currently residing in Annette's bedroom. Their way of showing affection was a little different, but the love was the same.
"Pi pi!" Fido answered enthusiastically, moving away to show the way in. At the same time, it alerted the tenants about the guest that was about to visit them. When Lena wanted to go in, Shin was shoved outside instead, with what looked like Raiden and Anju's hands. The noise that followed was a mix of curses and cries, done by Kurena and Frederica in unison. Only Theo's presence was nowhere to be seen.
"Hello, Colonel. I mean, Lena. I was still in the mission mode, sorry." The teenager awkwardly mumbled, clearly not prepared for this situation.
"No worries, Shin. Are you guys busy right now? I don't want to interrupt if you still feel tired after everything." She asked with concerned eyes, assessing his current state. His dark brown hair was a little disheveled, as he had woken up from a nap not long ago, but there were no visible injuries or signs of exhaustion.
"You can stay, I had a nap so I'm feeling refreshed right now, Theo had already gone back to repairing the old radio. Only the sight was… unexpected. No strenuous fighting had actually occurred. I'm grateful we got a few hours to patch up, but we're ready if you need it." Shin, with his usual serious face, told Lena while looking at her. She had felt her heart skipping a beat, while his piercing red eyes studied her face.
"It's nothing important, just wanted to use the little free time we have left. I've felt a little overwhelmed with the past few days, so this moment to catch a breath is much needed. I've always relaxed during our calls." She said in a brief moment of courage, not knowing if this would make things more awkward between them. Lena intended to spend time with the whole Spearhead Squadron, but the chance to share it with Shin alone made her go with the flow.
"I feel the same. Even back in the Eighty-Six Sector, they always mocked me for how much time we were spending talking outside the fights. Weirdly enough, I had found comfort in them, despite your utter cluelessness." Shin cracked a joke, reminding Lena of her shameful past. She had talked to them with pure intentions, but her worldview was oblivious to their situation, to say the least. She had cursed herself for not digging deeper into the military data, to prevent presenting her as a fool with her naive, idealistic ideas and promises.
"You must have mocked me so many times… Rightly so. An Alba officer speaking of being friends while not getting this is a death row…" Her face got red as a tomato, and Lena was feeling shame for her past self in every bone of her body.
"I won't lie, it was entertaining. But you have long proven yourself to be more than the Handler One we had met at the beginning. Speaking of which, do you mind if I ask a quite personal question?" He didn't know how to cleverly bring up the subject, pestering him since the mission, so the decision was made to outright ask.
"Sure, go on." Curious gaze emerged from the embarrassment, not knowing what to expect.
"During the mission, Shiden mentioned… how do I say it… are you seeing someone in the Republic?" The way he phrased it made it even weirder, making him instantly regret bringing it up. He couldn't help it, that the few words heard in the caves were eating his insides out. When he mustered to look at his companion, Lena looked like she was choking. If she was drinking anything at that moment, there is no doubt in mind the drink would be instantly spitted out in shock.
"W-w-wait what? Shiden said… oh no… she told you about Nicolas?" Vladilena Milizé couldn't handle the sudden blow, becoming like a broken record. It was the one thing she wanted to hide from him at all costs, carefully avoiding anything that would raise a hint of suspicion. She underestimated however Shiden's lack of tact and disregard for the touchy subject.
"So his name is Nicolas… You don't have to tell me anything more, Colonel, I understand you are entitled to having a personal life." Shin's words said one thing, but his tone seemed miserable. He tried to sound indifferent, but there was a note of disappointment hidden within. The brave leader had a hard time grasping why he felt in a such way, and why now the future looked so bleak. A hard squeeze in his stomach made him want to run away from this conversation, not wanting to hear a word more of Lena's love affairs waiting for her one day away.
"I-it's not like that! I swear! It's a very long, c-complicated thing, but all he is now is my EX-fiance! This was purely a transactional r-relationship, no feelings were ever there! I hate his guts and wish him e-everything the worst!" Lena tried to explain herself in a frantic panic, not wanting the misunderstanding to deepen any further. She knew the idea of transactional betrothal would be weird for the Eighty-Six, and she sure as hell hated telling him about the relationship with a man twice her age. In the end, however, the fear of him getting everything wrong and distancing himself was far worse than the shame of this whole ordeal.
"Oh. OH. I'm sorry, I went too far on my assumptions. I recall the Republic's marriage system being a lot less based on feelings, but I had no idea you took part in it." He wanted to slap himself for digging his own grave further. Only after saying that he realized how judgmental it sounds, with Lena's hurt expression confirming he screwed up. "I apologize again, it came out wrong. There is nothing wrong with it, this engagement must have been hard on you if you ended up hating him."
"Y-yeah…" Shin's attempted fix of his blunder only made Lena's spirit dwindle, with tears starting to form in her eyes. He had no idea how to aid her and atone for his screw-up, as his whole body stiffened in helplessness.
"Chocolate. I've brought some. Do you want a bite?" Unbeknownst to him, he subconsciously acted exactly like his brother years ago. Seeing that, Lena burst out laughing, with tears left from earlier falling freely on her face.
"You and Rei really are brothers flesh and blood, huh?" She couldn't stop her reaction, with a wide smile making her cheeks ache. Shin froze, mesmerized by the sight. When Lena finally calmed down a little, he silently unwrapped the milk chocolate and handed it to her. She broke off one cube and put it in her mouth, waiting for it to melt slowly. The wave of sweetness flooded her insides, making her feel ticklish from the delight. The moment felt like a pleasant eternity, with the rest of the world fading away in their minds.
"Are you feeling better?" The boy wasn't sure if breaking this heavenly scene was right, but he wanted to verify if she had recovered.
"A lot better. Thank you, Shin. I apologize for this outburst, I had hoped you wouldn't know about this fiance fiasco. Nicolas Pivot was an evil man twice my age with access to the weapons factory, needed for the defense against the Legion. He threw me under the bus after all, metaphorically, but maybe I had it coming for all the scheming. I wish I would never see him again, he makes my skin crawl to this day." Lena confessed in a dejected tone, full of resentment after the hell the man had pushed her into. She felt a weight being taken off her chest, like a sin being absolved just by admission.
"You don't have to apologize for anything, I was prying into some sensitive stuff. Thank you for telling me, but you don't need to feel shame or remorse for your bravery. You did so much to save your country, and we all had no idea what you went through. If you ever need to talk to someone, I'll lend you my ear." Shin smiled for the first time in this talk, with compassion and admiration mixing in his eyes. The rest of the night had passed peacefully, but the relief inside both of them was there even in the morning.
July 4th Republic Year 368 (Stellar Year 2149)
52 days until the Legion's Large-Scale Offensive
The summer heat mercilessly punished anyone who had dared to go out in the sun at the burning midday. It created a unique opportunity for the two women to visit the destitute corner of San Magnolia without arousing suspicion of the passerby. After hearing the revolting opening statement at the court the stakes went through the roof. It was no longer only a matter of the Legion attack preparations, but the life of their dear friend was in direct grave danger.
"A-are you sure we have the right address?" Charlotte started to doubt the informant, as they circled the same area for the third time.
"He's been highly reliable so far, after all, he took most of my savings from this year's salaries. If he tries to screw us over, the empty space in my office will be seized by his manhood in a jar." As the stress levels were increasing, Annette discovered her violent side. Sometimes threats gave results better than pleading, and now it was time to use every possible means.
"I d-don't see the door he had described. Maybe we should ask s-someone?" The person they were given the address of was supposedly a former secretary of sorts, who had the insider's knowledge of how Nicolas Pivot did all his dirty business. They were desperate to get any documents proving the crime was his doing, or that the conspiracy to incriminate Lena was set up by him. The clock was ticking, as the judge postponed the trial by two weeks, giving them a tiny window of time.
"Remember, we want to avoid any attention. I have no actual information about our potential savior, and they have no idea we're coming. Supposedly they have been hiding out of sight for the past two years, so luring them out won't be easy." On the card they were handed, there was a hand-drawn map of the Seventy-Seventh Sector, with a single dot accompanied by a few words. 'Green door on the back, say the Innkeeper sends you.'
"I need a m-moment of rest, the heatwave is killing me. Please, let's f-find shade to sit for a bit and d-discuss what to do next…" Charlotte was on the verge of evaporating, ready to kill for a sip of water. Their bottles were long empty, and the store was nowhere to be seen. This summer weather took everyone by surprise, with the record-breaking temperatures striking the capital without any warning. Lombardy prayed with all her might the Legion wouldn't use this opportunity, as the cloudless sky offered endless solar energy to those murderous machines. The girls agreed to sit down in the shadow of a small birch tree, waiting to regain a bit of strength.
"Wait a second. Look there! Those black doors across the street seem suspiciously fresh. Their frame is secured by the painting tape stained by the dark smudges. If there is nothing to go off, let's try there." Glasses worn by the woman made her able to see in the distance as if she had the eyes of an eagle. In reality, for the past few years, she was half-blind without them, but Annette had grown fond of her accessory.
"You're a genius! H-how did you spot that?" Charlotte buzzed with excitement, seeing the first ray of hope in hours.
"You bet I am. I was trying to scan the neighborhood for the green door, but when it failed, I tried to focus on anything abnormal. This was clearly done in a rush, look how crappy the paintwork is…" The girl remarked after getting closer. Standing right before them, it was obvious this was done by an amateur. The brush strokes were uneven, with many stains forming from the excessive paint. Anyone could've smelled the burning dye odor, exacerbated by the heat. Annette confidently pressed the doorbell, and the sound of the chains and locks moving was followed by the timid opening of the door.
"How can I help you?" The woman standing before them was close to them in age, but the haggard appeal gave away the harshness of her life. Her eyes were vigilant, depleted of any joy at the sight of visitors.
"Hello, my name is Henrietta van Penrose, this is Charlotte Lombardy. We were sent by the Innkeeper, with urgent business regarding Nicolas Pivot, can we come in?" She tried her best to make a good impression, knowing that any lies might instantly burn any chance they may have.
"You are in the wrong place. Goodbye." The woman responded nervously, trying to close the door. Unfortunately for her, Charlotte's military reflexes were quicker, and her foot went into the doorstep, preventing the closure.
"Ma'am, I know this must be difficult, but please, hear us out. This man is ruining lives, he decided to frame our friend for many of his evil deeds, threatening her with death or total submission. We've searched everywhere, but his empire is an impenetrable fortress. Finding you is our last resort, we got the information you were once his secretary." The headstrong woman begged with everything she had gotten.
"We have nothing to talk about, Nicolas and I are a thing of the past. I no longer have access to the data you ask me for, nor have I any incentive to help you. If that's all, please, leave." She persisted, not willing to budge even slightly. Her demeanor changed when a new voice joined in.
"Mommy, hungry…" The toddler emerged from the house to the horror of his mother. All the emotions drained from her face, as she realized there was no way to make the visitors unsee it.
"Mom will be there right away, Honey. I'll give you your favorite jam crackers if you promise to wait a bit in the living room." She put on a fake smile, and the boy happily went back inside. "Pretend you haven't seen him, dammit. Did he send you to test me?"
"No ma'am, we are fighting against him. If we manage to prove Vladilena Milizé is being set up, the ruling families will be in uproar that the Pivot family dared to turn against them. Until we have solid proof, they won't lift a finger, and he'll get everything he wants. Please, you are our only chance. I promise as the heiress to the Penrose family we will protect you from all harm, and guarantee a secure place to stay. Is that his son?" Annette asked with genuine compassion, putting the pieces together. Former secretary hiding in this shabby house, with a son conceived around the time she had left. It was no wonder she had been so paranoid.
"He gave me the money to get rid of the problem and get out of his sight, but I couldn't do it. My sister is a doctor and she told me this was probably my only chance to have a baby, as a result of some medical stuff. I couldn't give up on him, so I had to disappear. We have lived in poverty ever since, with my family sending us some money to survive, but I'm doing everything I can to avoid getting on his radar. He is a violent man when things don't go as he pleases…" The person saying that was more than a victim of Pivot, she was a survivor. Throwing away everything she had to protect her child made the girls feel shameless for cornering her to get a favor. "My name is Sophia, I prefer not to get my family into this mess. All I can do is to tell you where he used to hide his dirt, but nothing more than that. If you are willing to protect me and Nathan for this information, we can have a deal.
"I-it's enough for us Sophia. We can handle the r-rest if you tell us where to look. My family has a summer villa in the Fifty-Second Sector, that is secluded enough to be a hiding spot. If you allow us, we will take both of you there, in exchange for detailed information facilitating winning the case." Charlotte put a hand on her shoulder, giving her reassurance that they were on the same side. She then started to rummage through her purse, finally finding the handful of chocolate bars. "They have melted a bit in this weather, but your son will probably love them nonetheless. Take them, they are the biggest hit of the summer, for kids and adults alike."
"I will probably regret it later, but here it comes. The man named Milo has a house in the Fourteenth Sector, located at the end of Willow Avenue. It's flashy and hard to miss, he organizes parties every once in a while. This way the spot is hidden in plain sight, Nicolas giving him the transaction details in the supposed strippers' room. The appointed girl is a liaison under the guise of a tryst. If you follow her, she will take you to place he currently uses as his vault, but I don't have a clue where is it now. He moves it from time to time, to avoid detection. That is your best shot." Sophia explained meticulously how to get in and what are his common passwords, stipulating that some of those may be outdated.
"T-thank you so much. It's more than enough, now leave the espionage to the pros!" The girl shook the woman's hands energetically, filled with hope once again.
"I'll arrange it so the chauffeur will pick you up tonight, be sure to pack until then. If there is anything you need, there will be a housekeeper in the villa, you can reach us by her. Don't worry, we will finish him once and for all." Annette promised, fully knowing the life of Lena, and all the Republic as a result, lies now on their shoulders. It was a time for an undercover mission, just like the one that started this whole mess.