"Wow, your blood pressure still hasn't gone back to normal." Annette was almost done plugging Lena in to every possible apparatus in the clinic. It was late, the building was half-empty, no one minded two girls occupying the room for a while.
"It's your fault and you know it. Don't you dare tell anyone about your gift, or I will list all your prospective fiancees with their ages, for everyone to see." Lena threatened the girl, but her pulse betrayed the bluff. She was sulking on a couch, unable to move with the cables hooked to her body.
"Sure you will. Don't worry darling, your secret is safe with me. Telling it to others would spoil the element of surprise. The only thing I ask for in return is to ping me shortly after my gift is used. Not like I wouldn't sense it anyway." She winked, and the monitor started beeping alarmingly. Lena's heart rate was skyrocketing, but her friend casually continued the preparations.
Annette sat down, adjusted her chair to make herself more comfortable, and tasked the system with running the multiple tests. Back in the Republic, it was their weekly ritual, although never on such a scale. Legion's attack disrupted their schedule, and time-consuming preparations for the rescue operation further delayed the check-up.
The computer was gathering the data from different machines, compiling it on Annette's screen. Lena didn't move an inch while waiting for the beeps and clicking to subside, since she had no idea what could contaminate the results. Annette watched with a smile as the girl frowned, trying to stop herself from scratching her itching nose.
The urge was getting unbearable, her left nose wing begged to be rubbed at least a little, but Lena's willfulness was stronger. She bravely endured the torture until the room was filled with silence and she was sure the exams are over. Her best friend burst out laughing, not able to contain it any longer. Lena ignored the snickering, and with the relief written all over her face, she managed to scratch her nose.
"That's the spot… It was tormenting me the whole time. Hey, stop cackling! I did it for you. Imagine spending the night re-running the test, just because I moved or sneezed." She crossed her arms, frustrated by the girl's ingratitude. The comment made Annette laugh even harder, and she ended up rolling on the floor.
"I can't with you… Never change, Lena." She had to wipe the tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Lena looked at her grumpily, pouting at the blatant disrespect.
"Now I kinda wish you had to stay overnight." Lena grumbled, staring daggers at her friend.
"Come on, Princess, don't be like that. You valiantly opposed the wicked itch, so let's wrap it up and get a solid supper. My stomach is killing me." Annette got on her chair again, and Lena relaxed on the couch, waiting for the results.
Inputs were coming left and right, providing the scientist with material to analyze. Annette unconcernedly started to scroll through the data, but the longer she looked at it, the less sense it made. Blood parameters were scattered all over, and the brain scan showed multiple abnormalities, but the wide range of screening tests came back unanimously negative.
The program detected no disease fitting the symptoms. The girl tried excluding some of the data, to broaden the algorithm's scope, but to no avail. It gave the opposite outcome, where the nonspecific manifestations could easily fit to any disease.
Annette was puzzled, it was like pure chaos trapped in one woman's head. The scientist knew she had heard about those abnormalities somewhere before, but the desperately needed memory refused to reemerge. It pained her immensely, but she had to admit this case was beyond her capabilities. Another specialist's opinion was needed, if not a whole team of them.
"Looks like your wish came true, I have no clue what is going on. After a few more tests and samples you can go back home, but I'll stay here for the night. Damn, I should've let you scratch the nose. Maybe the results would make more sense then."
The following morning, with a few hours left until the banquet, Ernst Zimmerman received a knock on his office door. It was a daily occurrence, he didn't remember days when he could work in peace. He called the visitor in, who turned out to be no other than Vladilena Milizé.
"Good morning, Mr President. I've come because of the invitation. May I take a bit of your time?" Lena was overly polite, trying to present herself in a positive light. Annette hadn't called yet, so the girl decided she should hurry with the interview. The error delayed the diagnosis, but it played into her hands. A health issue on her medical record could make them hesitant to employ her.
"Hello, Lena. Please, feel comfortable. This is a formality, I've seen your skills during the joint operation. Calling you here was more to get to know you, not do an interrogation. Sorry if I hadn't made myself clear." Ernst gave her a warm smile and pointed to the yellow sofa. He preferred speaking face-to-face in a more relaxing manner, than leaving the guest standing uncomfortably.
"The pleasure is mine, but don't you have some questions for me? As a former Republic officer, I might be of help with decoding their inside structures." She was a bit confused by his declaration since she was fully prepared for an in-depth questioning. Revealing internal information could be of great use to the Federacy, but the man was more interested in the girl herself.
"Miss Lombardy was kind enough to work with me in this field, so there is no need to waste our time on that. Shin begged me to not bother you with this issue, and I happily complied. You deserved a break after commanding a mission this size. Let's stop talking about such dull topics, I want to get to know you better. Before I'll forget, do you take your coffee black or with cream?" He was cheerful, in contrast to the man she saw during the mission deliberations. His positive attitude made her feel better, and the pent-up stress went away.
"With cream and two spoons of sugar, please. I don't know what to say, I was convinced we would be talking about work. For the longest time, it has been my prime activity. If I may be honest, I was so preoccupied with war, that now I feel uneasy without doing something. I apologize for not living up to your standards." Lena was embarrassed with the dull answer, but she couldn't bring herself to lie. The past two years were focused on survival, temporarily leaving hobbies and fun things behind.
She recalled what her mom used to say about her marriage prospects. Margareta Milizé insisted Lena should engage in other activities, not solely work, because personality should be more than what you do professionally. In that moment she deeply regretted not listening to motherly advice, since it would come in handy when presenting herself to Shin's adopted father now.
The man got perplexed, but he quickly pulled himself together, not wanting to make his guest more uncomfortable. Curiosity about the girl who took Shin out of his shell was immense, but Ernst didn't want to pressure her. Lena was already visibly pale, with slightly sunken cheeks and eye bags hinting she wasn't in the best shape.
Seeing her up close after the mission made him understand why his adopted son was so worried about her. Everyone who was picked up from the Republic was malnourished and in bad condition to some degree, but Lena instead of getting better, worsened since coming to the Federacy.
He felt a rush of anger for allowing the fatigued teen to lead the mission, but the Republic of San Magnolia left him with no choice. Their military was in such disarray, that without Colonel Milizé conducting the mission safely would be in jeopardy. When he finished preparing their coffees, its taste grounded him again.
"I didn't mean it this way, I'm aware of your circumstances. There was a time when I also was drowning in work, thinking it was the only way to go forward. I just hope you'll consider using some of your free time to find leisure in Sankt Jeder. I will grant you full citizenship, along with your friends, on the same conditions as the Eighty-Six. Your achievements warrant proper recognition, and if the Republic is unwilling to give you that, we will." Now she was speaking with the President, who spoke like he was taking full responsibility for her welfare. A wave of comfort spread in her body, like a fatherly acknowledgment she had so dearly missed. She was glad her beloved Squadron was taken care of by this man.
"Thank you, it means a lot. I'll try my best to find some work-life balance, but I can't promise miracles! Speaking of work, if you allow me to access that information, has the deciphering team handled the card's data? It was on the back of my mind the whole night, but you're free to decline." For a moment she got a little too comfortable and blurted out what was eating her sleep away. The mysterious object fueled her curiosity, and Ernst decided to take pity on her.
"Shin may scold me later, but in my opinion, you deserve to know. The documents go into detail about Legion's original base, and how to get there. This isn't the best part yet. Now, what I tell you cannot leave this room under any circumstances. I'll personally brief people who will be involved in the project and organize a meeting later, but right now assume to trust nobody. Can you promise me that?" His gaze was filled with anticipation.
"I won't let you down, Mr President! It's an honor to be invited to such a significant initiative. No matter what will be said, I'll guard it with my life." Lena saluted reflexively, and Ernst was moved by her fervor.
"I was planning to involve you anyway, your strategic thinking is a great asset. The card revealed there is a way of shutting the Legion down completely. There is a catch, it has to be done on-site, with genetic material exclusive to the royal family or the Legion's founder. It's a secret from the public, but there is an individual fitting the criteria. Their identity will remain a secret until the mission, to ensure their safety. The issue is, how to transport a person in the middle of Legion's territory, without getting killed instantly. That will be our agenda for the next few months." Zimmerman explained, and Lena's eyes got wide from shock.
"Sir, are you telling the truth? There really is a way to end this war for good?" Hope she had not dared to invite into her life barged in unexpectedly, turning everything upside down. If the mission succeeded, the end of the world could actually stop. The bleak future of never-ending fighting for the first time in her life had an end in sight.
"Yes, I mean it. The key to ending this unfair war is no longer a mere fantasy."
August 2nd Republic Year 357 (Stellar Year 2138)
30 days until the Start of the Legion War
Ernst Zimmerman, the supposed contender for the title of the sweetest man on Earth, was currently preparing for another cabinet battle. He was in no gleeful mood since the council deliberations for the past couple of months were more akin to a shouting match than a civil discussion.
It was an open secret that the country was run by the nobles' council, and the Imperial Family was nothing more than a set of puppets. Zimmerman felt pity for the young princess, whose political engagement was already in discussion, despite the girl being barely half a year old. His stomach turned when they treated her like an object to be sold, and he couldn't imagine how it would feel to be so powerless, being unable to protect his daughter. Council members dictated the Emperor's every move, and the man was nothing more than a fool in the crown.
"Sir, please review this proposition. Duke Leiner will push for the tax cuts citing the harvest season, but the changes will hurt the farmers in the process. Viscount Poehler declared he'd oppose along with Baroness Keller, but they are in the minority. Unless you intervene, sir, this bill will pass without any changes." Dorothea Wenzel put a pile of documents on the desk, pointing out the most important ones. The middle-aged woman was Ernst's trusted secretary, deeply engaged in political matters.
She had joined him four years ago, ignoring her in-laws' opposition, getting a job for the first time in her life. Her children were already teenagers, and she felt dissatisfied by being a stay-at-home mom, constantly bored out of her mind. Zimmerman was a friend of her husband, and by sheer luck, Dorothea ended up working in his office.
"Thanks, Dorothy. I don't know what I would do without you. Those old geezers are bothersomely proactive when a perspective of filling their pockets appears. Aside from that, are you planning to come to the party with Heinrich?" Ernst sighed, overwhelmed by the political bickering. Organizing Mathilda's party was the only thing keeping him afloat.
"We are, but Grethe and Hans probably won't come. Teenage rebellion, you'll get to know it someday. Can we help with something? I want to take some burden off Mathilda and you, since you'll soon forget what sleep is." She replied more casually, separating work and private life. Dorothea was older than the couple, and she was open to sharing her experience as a veteran mother.
"I can't wait. Everything will be better than dealing with those geriatric misers. I opted for paternity leave, but the council declined yesterday. Funny how they hate when I speak in the meetings, but they won't let me leave either…" Many times in his life Ernst Zimmerman questioned the rules of the Giadian Empire, but since getting a seat in the inner circle, his disillusionment never had been worse. It was a place full of selfish liars, not caring about people living under their thumbs.
Documents and issues to resolve kept coming until the sun was no longer in the sky. Dorothea had to return around seven, so Ernst was alone in the office. He cursed overtime since Mathilda was probably hoping to fall asleep next to him, but the urgency of the issue didn't allow any rest.
Bitter coffee was losing its strength, becoming nothing more than a meal substitute. Ernst sometimes wondered, why he was putting so much effort when most of his work would be discarded without giving it a glance. The cup tasted almost sweet in comparison to his everyday struggles.
The steady work pace was interrupted by a knock on the door, unbecoming at this hour. Zimmerman had thought the building was empty since the workday officially ended around six pm. Security guard slept in the main edifice, and the small annex needed to be managed by his staff alone.
"Come in, it's open." His tired mind ignored the possible danger and decided on an upfront confrontation. No matter who was bothering him at this hour, it better be important.
"Sorry for the interruption, but it's tough to catch you alone, sir. May I have a moment of your time?" The strikingly meek voice belonged to the young woman, who couldn't be older than twenty. Her blonde hair slightly resembled his wife's, but the girl's was brighter, almost bordering on silver, while Mathilda's reminded him of the purest gold. He had no recollection of seeing the intruder ever in his life, and his mind raced to figure out her identity.
"Depends on the reason. Do I know you?" No clues were coming up, so he focused on analyzing her clothing. The beige jacket was worn out, and her gray pants had some patched-up holes. Everything pointed out to the woman not being a noble, but someone from a commoner household. That would explain why he couldn't link her to anyone he knew but left more questions about why she had come here.
"You do not, sir. It's our first meeting. I was sent as a messenger, to inquire about certain views of yours. I'm Irma Becker, you can investigate me if you wish, but I can assure you, that nothing substantial will show up. I am nothing more than a proxy." Irma bowed politely, but her hands trembled slightly. His instincts were telling him the girl wasn't here to harm him, she genuinely wanted to talk about something.
"Please, Irma, sit down. I can already see it's going to be a long night. Do you take your coffee black or with cream?" He pointed to the yellow couch, offering her a place to sit.
"It won't be necessary. I don't want to waste your precious time, therefore I won't be beating around the bush. Mr Zimmerman, do you truly believe the Imperial Family, or more realistically, the nobles' Council, has this country's best interest in mind?" Her words rendered him speechless, he wasn't prepared for such openness. Ernst opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself, before thoroughly analyzing the situation.
"Do you realize it's treason? I could have you arrested and executed for those words alone. Are they genuinely worth dying for?" Zimmerman couldn't decide if Miss Becker was dauntless or just reckless.
"I do, but there is no time for word plays. Commoners are fed up, many lesser nobles have similar views. Partisans are growing left and right, but there is no one to lead them. It's dangerous, some are radicals, seeing no alternative but to purge the bourgeoisie. Unless someone unites them and shows a clear path forward, soon the country will descend into chaos." Irma's stone face cracked, showing the desperation she tried to hide. The sentiment went too far to suppress it, and the only way to avoid a bloody conflict was to give this wrathful body a wise head.
"The Council is aware, what do you expect of me to do? To block them with my body?" He got exasperated, but more on himself than the guest. Crackdown on protests always resulted in a new pile of bodies, weighing on his conscience when falling asleep. Ernst was powerless against the ruling majority, but he felt being there made him an accomplice.
"No, Mr Zimmerman. I'm asking you to lead the revolution."