Welcome back to "A Past Life of Noah and Mio: Extras!" Let's continue with a flashback to Mio's life at Colonies Phi and Rho, building off what she'd shared with Noah in chapter 8 of the main story.
Extra Chapter 2 "Flashback: Mio"
The screen buzzed to life at the edge of the plaza, lighting up with the results from the latest physical fitness tests of Rae-Bel Tableland's Colony Phi. Soldiers of all terms flocked to see how they'd fared after a grueling morning of running, wall-scaling, and several other exercises. The most popular one to check was the 100 Metri, and this time a new name topped the standings.
"Mio?! Seriously?!" Someone up front exclaimed for all to hear.
"Yeah, and she's only a fifth-termer, too!" a second excited voice added to the clamor.
"Seven and a half seconds… is that a new record?" another one near the front noticed the impressive statistic.
"Well, I guess they've saved you the trouble of shoving your way to read it for yourself," Mio's younger but taller associate remarked while they kept their distance. "Congratulations, by the way."
"Thanks, Taion," the tip of her boot dug shyly into the ground. "Next time, I hope to reach seven seconds flat."
"There's no need to overdo it," his laudatory words became cautionary. "These competitions do nothing more than keep everybody in peak condition for the war."
"You don't find them motivational?" Mio crossed her arms, observing the others bandy about their scores.
"I won't deny that they can do wonders for the uninitiated," Taion looked down his nose to them as well. "Just remember, we're here to fight our enemies, not win races."
"Right…" she focused on him next with hardened brows, "because we're totally gonna make a difference."
"We can and we will," he continued to tip the conversation towards his own motivator, "starting with a victory over Colony 18."
"There you go again, ramblin' about Colony 18," Mio groused at the boy who'd congratulated her a mere minute prior. "Just present your plans to the commander, why don't you?"
"That grouch won't listen to me," the taller Agnian gave it no chance in his mind. "I'm even younger than you are."
"Only by a term," she reminded him, though it made no difference.
"He's got two months to go. Maybe his replacement will be more competent so our talents won't go to waste." Content to end it on a sour note, Taion exited the plaza without even the simplest of goodbyes.
"Go to waste, huh?" By now, the sea of people had parted between her and the results screen, but Mio hadn't any interest in seeing her name on it. Knowing that she'd beaten her personal record was satisfying enough.
For as long as she'd been alive, Mio's primary focus wasn't on fighting the so-called enemy but on improving her own physical prowess. Despite having collected innumerable Kevesi embers, her ability to dodge attacks of all sorts had given her renown as Colony Phi's zephyr.
Perhaps, then, it was unsurprising that she was among those selected for a joint-mission with Colony Rho when they sought assistance in their efforts along the Urayan Trail. The decision had come without hesitation from her superior officers, herself having no say in the sudden matter. Although the two colonies had shared personnel before, this would be her first time participating now that she was viewed as an asset.
The autopiloted, transport Levnis took the longer route through the Valley of Anguish to stay out of Colony 18's crosshairs. However, the trip to the Pentelas region was brisk, nonetheless. As much as Mio hated being a pawn in the senseless war, she looked forward to exploring fresh, new turf.
The moment she exited of the vessel, the cooler air tickled the tips of her catlike ears. The ground felt damp too, like she'd just missed a decent fall of rain. Colony Rho itself was about as cozy as any military base could be, though its members looked less than thrilled to share it.
Mio could hardly tell who had the unfriendliest face while introductions were made by Selin, the lavender-skinned lieutenant. Once every name had been read, the visitors were shown to their quarters for the duration of their stay. However, they would barely have six hours to catch some shuteye before deployment.
"Morning, guests!" the lieutenant popped his head in for their wakeup call at the crack of dawn. "Please assemble in the plaza in five minutes!"
"Ugh…" Mio pried her heavy eyes open, the barracks still painted in darkness. The chill from outside invaded her bedspace the moment her senses reignited from disrupted slumber. For a moment, the dispatched Agnian had almost forgotten where she was. Ignoring the onset of a headache from the rude awakening, she suited up and followed the others out the door.
"Good, you're all here, so we can jump right into the mission briefing," Lieutenant Selin declared after taking a headcount. With everybody's Irises synchronized, he shared with them a comprehensive map of the Urayan Trail. "For the past month, we've been in a stalemate with Colony 5 at the bottom of the hill. Now that you're here, we can push them back into Loska's Cavern where they keep showing their ugly mugs. I shall accompany you to the frontlines where we'll relieve the leading team." After addressing a few concerns, the lieutenant led Mio's team to the trail while others looked on warily. The hike was a rather short one, though the visiting crew needed every second of it to adjust to the early morning fog.
"It's so misty out here," one soldier complained. "I can't even see the fighting."
"That's because there isn't any happening at the moment," the lavender-skinned officer halted them within signaling distance of the leading team. "We'll make the first strike of the day, as soon as our overnight troops have evacuated."
A minute later, the way was cleared for Mio's team to commence combat with their ace sharpshooter making the opening shot. Despite having never fought together back home, they knew to keep each other covered while the Kevesis retaliated. Not far behind, the local Agnians and their Levnises provided backup, though they occasionally found themselves without any enemies to fight. It soon became apparent that their guests were just what they needed to tip the scales in their favor.
Realizing that she could use the limited visibility to her advantage, Mio ran low to the ground to take the next enemy unit by surprise. A few lateral slices of her dual Blade sent red motes of the unsuspecting Kevesis flying in her wake. These were far from her first kills, but they weren't any easier for the agile Agnian to take as she watched her victims' bodies harden into husks.
Noticeable progress had been made after two hours of fighting, stagnating only when Mio and her team were given a moment to rest. Much to her dismay, she was the one racking up most of the hits for the Agnian side. In another hour, Colony 5 decided to cut their losses and retreat into the mountain.
"Victory is ours!" the lieutenant exclaimed with his Blade raised. Only the local Agnians followed suit with their cacophony of cheers, while Mio dragged her aching feet back to her equally exhausted group. "You there, Mio!"
"Huh?" the sudden callout surprised her.
"You were especially brilliant," he praised her performance. "I'd say you spearheaded our success."
"Oh, thanks…" she rolled with it, unsure how proud to feel about herself.
By now, the setting sun had pulled back the curtain of fog enough to reveal how close they were to High Maktha Wildwood. With a moment to breathe, Mio took in the sights around her, particularly the odd, massive ruins which were lightly dressed in vines. It was undoubtedly a much more pleasant sight to behold than the husk-littered land before her. After taking note of their own losses, the Agnians began their short, triumphant march back up the hill to base.
"Congratulations," a refined yet filtered voice offered additional approval as the soldiers approached the entrance. "The enemy will forever rue this day."
"Madam Consul," Lieutenant Selin saluted with a hand to his chest, a gesture soon repeated by everybody behind him. "You observed the battle, I presume?"
"With great pleasure, lieutenant," the red-armored woman tilted her head back, smiling behind her mask. "The Flame Clock received its greatest influx of life in recent memory."
"Flame Clock…?" Mio quietly mouthed while she compared the Flame Clock in her Iris to the one displayed on Colony Rho's Ferronis.
"The Urayan Trail is once again ours," the lavender-skinned officer proudly reported. "The commander is reassigning our patrollers as we speak."
"I'm quite aware," the consul proceeded to pace back-and-forth with her hands behind her back. "You can rejoice now, but soon you must prepare for the next challenge."
"Yes, Madam Consul," the lieutenant responded for the others. "We'll be ready for anything."
"Excellent," the caped hierarch nodded, "you are dismissed." The intimidation she incited in the ranks was palpable as they walked rigidly past her. Mio could've sworn that the consul paid particular attention to her, holding her breath until she'd safely made it into the barracks for the night.
Next morning, a transport Levnis awaited the visitors upon their reemergence onto the colony grounds which were dusted with a fresh layer of mist. The consul and the lieutenant were present as well, this time accompanied by the commander who'd thus far remained in the background.
"My sincerest thanks for all you've done for us," Lieutenant Selin began what they hoped would be the last discourse of their trip.
"My thanks as well," the commander spoke next, her first time interacting with them at all. "As someone who had to stay atop our Ferronis, I regret having been unable to fight alongside you."
"Yes, yes…" the red-armored boss took her turn, "it has already been well-documented how helpful you've been, particularly you, Mio." The star soldier in question stiffened at the spotlight being put on her. "Therefore, my subordinates and I agree that it would benefit Colony Rho to keep you within our ranks. I have the utmost confidence that you can teach them a thing or two."
"P-pardon me…?" the cat-eared Agnian could barely respond.
"This is a great honor, an entire colony forever in your debt." Although the consul expressed her favorable sentiments in the most genial of tones, Mio couldn't shake the mounting discomfort from the rapidly changing situation in which she found herself. "Please, approach me so we can complete the transfer of your post."
"Y-yes ma'am…" Mio complied reluctantly with nearly everybody in the colony watching at rapt attention.
"Thank you for your cooperation," the caped woman's left eye glowed an ominous red, activating the timorous soldier's Iris automatically. Mio helplessly observed her Flame Clock adjusting to match the one on the nearby Ferronis. "That is all. You are now officially a member of Colony Rho."
"W-what about Colony Phi?" the uprooted soldier attempted to swallow her panic while her new superior officers applauded.
"Your old contacts approved the change after you'd retired for the night," the consul informed her, matter-of-factly. "I do apologize for the short notice, but we cannot wait to see what you can do for us next."
It was all happening so fast for the agile Agnian. Within minutes, the transport Levnis closed its door behind her departing, now-former teammates and levitated back up the Urayan Trail. A sickening sensation began rumbling in her stomach, her world as she'd known it spinning out of what little control she'd had. The varying stares of the other soldiers weren't helping, either. Lowering her head, she retreated into the barracks in hopes of collecting her scrambled thoughts.
Back on the bed which was now hers, Mio attempted to communicate via her Iris to anybody from Colony Phi who'd previously given her the time of day. Unfortunately, nobody answered, not even Taion. For the first time in her more than four full terms, she felt completely abandoned.
"H-hello?" The light from outside was partially blocked by someone filling the doorway.
"Huh?" the transplant sat up, watching the shadow shift in her direction.
"Are you okay?" It was the commander, a tall girl with short, dirty blonde hair and blue fins behind her ears. "Dumb question, I know… otherwise, why run in here, right?"
"How would you feel if strangers decided your life?" Mio snapped at her, hands balled into fists in her lap.
"I'd feel pretty crappy, too," the sympathizing officer crossed her arms. "I confess I had a hand in your transference, so you're allowed to be cross with me."
"You?" the new recruit wobbled momentarily. "It was your idea?"
"No, it was the consul's," the commander corrected her, "but after watching you fight out there, I thought about asking you to stay, myself. Your moves were so fast yet still graceful."
"Graceful?" the agile Agnian raised a brow.
"Of course!" the taller girl smiled warmly. "Your body was one with the air. Those poor Kevesis were doomed."
"Hmph… fighting's not something I enjoy," Mio started to divulge, kicking her boots off. "Right now, it feels like my own skill cursed me."
"It is the reason why you were sent here in the first place," the blue-finned officer tapped her lower lip. "Er… I'm not helping, am I?"
"At first, I was excited to check out a new place," the relocatee scooted back on the bed to prop up her legs, "but I didn't expect to move here permanently."
"Yeah," the commander brought her hands together, "you didn't get a chance to say goodbye to your friends, huh?"
"I wasn't… too friendly with them, though," Mio's ears flattened out as she opened up further. "I've always sort of done things on my own."
"Aw… well, Colony Rho has plenty of people you can get to know," the older girl tried to put a more positive spin on it. "After a few missions, they'll think you're the coolest one alive."
"Yeah right," the grumpy Agnian rolled her eyes.
"Look, I'm not gonna force you to cheer up, but just know that you can talk to me, anytime," the patient officer put another smile on, albeit a smaller one this time. "I am your new commander, after all. Commander Masona, ninth term, going on tenth."
"Oh, thanks," her subordinate fixed her posture, finally recognizing to whom she'd been venting. "I'm Mio, fifth term."
"Fifth, eh?" the commander turned to leave.
"Hmm?" the younger girl started to get up, but her company had already returned outside. With the barracks all to herself again, Mio realized that she'd confided in this new acquaintance more than she ever had to anyone at Colony Phi. After attempting and failing a second time to reach her old contacts, she reequipped her gear and rejoined the rest of Colony Rho.
It wouldn't be more than a few days until the next battle against the local Kevesis unfolded at the base of the mountain. As the star soldier, Mio was sent to the frontlines again to push them back into their unseen base. It became evident to everybody that the other previous guests from Colony Phi were never the reason for their victory upon witnessing another fine performance by their new recruit. Unfortunately, situations like this did nothing to endear her to them as an aura of jealousy began to waft around the cliffside colony.
By the end of the month, Mio had become well acquainted with Colony Rho's gallery of grimaces. Whether it was a timely rescue of a teammate or a clutch kill of an enemy, her actions only served to solidify their growing contempt. As much as the agile Agnian appreciated the scenery, she couldn't say the same for the people who continued to shun her. The table in the rear of the canteen had become Mio's preferred spot during mealtime, much like the furthest away showerhead in the bathhouse during a post-mission cleansing. The steam kept her hidden most of the time which suited her fine, at least until one evening when someone decided that a bit of hazing was in order.
"Nice ears you've got there," the voice bounced off the slick walls. The fifth-termer could neither tell nor care who it was. "Oi! What's the matter? Got too much water in 'em to hear me?"
"Nah, I can hear anything, anytime," she peered over her sudsy shoulder to find a brown-haired, ether-lined boy. "Nice veins, man."
"Wearing a helmet must be a bitch, eh?" he ignored her minimal comeback.
"I don't need…" Mio started to explain before changing her mind. "Wait, why are my ears suddenly so interesting to you?"
"You're the only one here with 'em," the pesky brunet mimicked their shape with his fingers over his head.
"You can shove off if you're gonna be a prick," she growled at him.
"What's this? Our star's got an attitude?" Another soldier entered the contentious conversation, this time a girl with nothing distinctive for Mio to use against her.
"Ugh… why don't you leave me alone?" the harried Agnian shut off the shower before scurrying away, nearly slipping on the wet floor. With soap still clinging to her legs, she opted to finish in the communal bath where a couple of female soldiers were relaxing quietly. However, the moment she lowered herself, they rose to leave with audible sighs of disgust. "What? You think I dirty the water, do you?"
"What's wrong with the water?" Yet another voice sounded behind her, though this one was familiar, innocuous.
"C-commander?" Mio swiveled around to find her superior towering over her.
"No need to stand for me," the friendly officer stepped in, immediately noticing the bubbles. "You know you're supposed to rinse off first."
"Sorry…" her subordinate slumped in place.
"It's fine," Commander Masona giggled at her vexation. "Looks like we've got the whole place to ourselves, now."
"That's because everyone else hates me," the dejected Agnian groused with her arms crossed.
"Hates you?" the blue-finned girl eyed her curiously. "They don't think you're cool?"
"Seriously?" Mio shot her a rankled look in return. "You couldn't have been more wrong about them!"
"They'll come around," the commander seemed unbothered, "just like they did with me."
"You were once hated?" the fifth-termer's expression softened.
"The ones who came before me thought I was a weird little thing," the short-haired blonde reminisced, "but they eventually got used to me."
"You sure it wasn't because you were promoted?" her subordinate wondered before resuming her griping. "How the spark am I gonna survive here? I've never felt so… unwelcome."
"Well, I've welcomed you," Commander Masona warmly reminded her.
"Thanks," Mio plunged her hands, blushing slightly, "but why are you being so nice to me?"
"Perhaps, I see a little bit of myself in you," the older girl confessed, her own cheeks turning equally rosy.
"Oh yeah?" the cat-eared Agnian faced her directly. "And what do you see? Someone who doesn't belong anywhere?"
"Anywhere?" her superior hung on the word. "Didn't you miss your old colony?"
"I thought I did, but they never answer my calls," the transplant pointed to her Iris. "What's the point in caring? I don't know what to think. My mind's a flickering mess."
"Have you ever considered writing your thoughts down?" Commander Masona suggested, determined to help her out. "It's always easier to sort them on paper."
"Have you done it?" the younger girl unwittingly leaned closer.
"Yes, I started once I realized how short life would be," the blue-finned girl rubbed Mio's submerged knee before rising to exit the bath. "When you're ready, come to my office."
"O-okay…" Mio watched the commander leave, noticing the mark on her lower back which displayed much less red than her own. Five minutes later, both Agnians now dried and dressed were in the officers' tent where they continued their exchange.
"Here you go," the short-haired blonde dug into her desk for a tidy booklet.
"This is a… first-termer's journal," her subordinate deciphered with dismay.
"We hardly get rookies from the castle," the commander explained plainly, "so you can take one for every term until your homecoming."
"Homecoming…" the star soldier shyly accepted the journal. "Is it… the same here as in Colony Phi?"
"Same? You mean the procedure?" The blue-finned officer immediately regretted bringing up something so morbid. "Please… d-don't worry about that now. You've got way more time than I have."
"Does it scare you too?" Mio's ears wilted while images from prior viewings swam in her head.
"It… used to," her superior deliberated before giving in and answering, "but I've learned to accept my fate."
"So, you won't run when it's your turn?" the new recruit's questions wouldn't let up.
"Run? Is that what soldiers at Colony Phi do?" Another pang of regret washed over Commander Masona who gently placed her hands on either side of her favorite soldier's head. "Spark… Mio, the last thing I want is to make you feel worse."
"C-can we not get away with it, here?" The younger girl stepped forward to tentatively wrap her arms around the older one, a response which surprised them both.
"Well… with your speed, m-maybe you can," the blue-finned officer conjectured, in spite of her own doubt. Mio let go the instant she heard footsteps outside, though it wouldn't be the last hug that they shared.
Their newfound friendship only grew across the ensuing year. Jealousy within the colony over Mio's skills eventually transposed to her being the commander's pet, however, it bothered her less now that she had someone with whom to talk. Despite running low on time, the empathizing officer had taken her subordinate on several private excursions within their territory. It was perhaps fitting that they found themselves on the commander's favorite bluff on the eve of her homecoming.
"Tomorrow morning, will you watch?" the older girl posed a simple yet heavy question.
"Don't I have to?" Mio leaned against her, both Agnians gazing at the normally shrouded starlight. "The consul makes everybody attend."
"I mean when her sword comes down on my neck," Commander Masona specified, wincing.
"Oh… I don't know…" the now sixth-termer fidgeted beside her. "I've seen so many, but they don't get easier."
"I suppose seeing me in such a state would be a terrible last impression," her mentor emitted a nervous chuckle.
"You're seriously gonna let it happen?" the star soldier asked incredulously, frowning against the breeze.
"I told you, I've accepted my fate," the commander remained temperate, though not without concern. "And you wish… to challenge yours?"
"I hope to change it, at least," her subordinate eyed their Ferronis in the distance. "The consul will never let me transfer away, so maybe…"
"Mio, you're not thinking of throwing yourself to the Kevesis, are you?" the short-haired blonde guessed preemptively, her mouth now agape.
"No," the agile Agnian stood as the idea took shape in her mind, "but if I find someone whom I can't beat in combat, then maybe I can go out with my dignity intact."
"Oh? Perhaps, I shouldn't be surprised that you'd think so, given your skill." The blue-finned girl was only mildly relieved to hear this. "Whatever you choose to do, please be careful, okay?"
"I-I will," Mio reeled herself back in upon seeing her friend fret.
"Thank you," Commander Masona climbed to her feet as well. "I don't want to leave Aionios worrying about you."
These were the final words exchanged between them before the retiring Agnian's homecoming the following morning. In the end, Mio had missed no second of the execution, the gruesome spectacle of which had only bolstered her growing desire to defy this fate for herself.
"This… can't be how it ends," anger swirled with the sadness in her heart. "I swear, I'll be different."