Nathan pov.
To think I would go from squire to knight so quickly…was surviving nothing's there really that impressive? I went to the armory to get my new gear. I handed the paperwork to the guy running it.
"Ah nathan richardson. The kid who survived an encounter with nothing there. That thing has made a mountain of bodies. Including those with more experience and better gear so the fact that your still alive shows that potential that erza and jon see in you. In any case. My name is zack kurayami. The armorer and weapon engineer of the garden. Normally you would be getting a new melee weapon. An E.G.O. but considering you have justitia. An aleph level weapon. You're probably not getting a new melee weapon…after all. The aleph is the top of the abnormality and EGO food chain. Meaning you have an already powerful weapon as your personal weapon kiddo…now it's time for some better armor and better guns than that law pistol you've been using." zack said. And soon he provided me my new gear. An EGO suit from the l corp days that was modified to provide more protection against the damage it was against. Mine was magic bullet from der freischutz. I got the standard issue for those who reach these ranks. Including the m32 duster. An assault rifle that fires uranium shards. And the hydra grenade launcher. A weapon for those who reach knight rank and one that's used fairly often even when higher rank weapons are available. Mainly due to its versatility in many combat scenarios. And it ain't hard to see why. The thing has six different grenade types ready to go at a moment's notice. Those six being explosive, acid, flame, freeze, shock, and riot. The last one in case a non lethal approach is needed.
"How am i supposed to carry all this?" I asked. zack tossed me some side pack thingy.
"That's more than an accessory kid. That's a Synthetical-Atomic-Compressor or S.A.C for short Something, we made from tech we stole from w corp. It warps weapons armors and items such as food or medical stuff into a digital space. And when you need it. It will re-materialize it." zack explained.
"Cool! Can i use it to carry my school supplies too?" i asked. Zack laughed.
"Go right ahead. No ones stopping you! Hell some of the others have used it for some really stupid shit…like porn. Wouldn't recommend that though. These devices are on a network where we can see everything. Again it's not against the rules. But you will be laughed at." zack explained. I figured i'd ask something that's been bothering me for a while…jon is a reasonable guy who cares about everyone who lives in the garden? So why does he have so many enemies? Zack did say that this S.A.C device was from stolen tech of w corp? Is that why they hated jon so much.
"It's one of the reasons kid…but not the main one. Jon exposed their most guarded secret to all of the city. Tell me. Have you ever taken a warp train when you lived in the city?" zack asked. I shook my head. "Good…10 seconds anywhere…that's the advertisement and that's what it seemed on the outside. But those inside the train? They found themselves stuck for eons in some pocket dimension in time not being hungry or thirsty. As expected. All that time trapped on a train causes people to go nuts. Self harming just to feel something and attacking other passengers. And on the other side. A w-corp cleanup crew awaits to go in and mop up the human chowder that was the passengers. And piece them back together with no memory of the century long purgatory they were stuck in…those who paid for the VIP tickets got to be in stasis. Asleep through the madness. Jon exposed this to the city. And because nobody wanted to take a warp train anymore. Their stocks took a massive hit. And when jon made his own warp train. One where the tickets are much cheaper. And actually does what's advertised without the century of being trapped. W corp soon went bankrupt. The employees are losing their jobs. And the wing soon fell. W-corp had a lot of clean up crews kiddo. All of them still having their gear and are pissed at jon for costing them their jobs." zack explained.
"Sounds like they're not happy they got what they deserved…what about L-corp? Why are they so pissed at jon?" i asked.
"I wouldn't say pissed…more like desperate. L-corp is on its last legs. As you can imagine. It takes a lot of energy to keep the lights on throughout the whole damn city. And there isn't enough abnos to keep up with the demand. Nor enough desperate suckers willing to don the suit and pick up a baton to put their lives on the line to work with them. Abnos that can reason and think like a human would want to live outside a cage and be free donned a human disguise and lived among humans in the garden. (author: see what i did there?) and many of the knights were former l corp agents. Hell jon and the sephirah. The ones who created this place also were on l corps payroll. Albeit many agreed that working under jon was the most desirable. Considering when shit got real. He didn't just stay locked up in the office. No he went out and handled things himself when it got that bad. The casualties at x-394 was zero for the whole time he was there…and that is a fucking achievement. Ask anyone who worked for l corp. They'll give you a ton of horror stories of watching friends and colleagues die horribly. They did managed to keep the quota for a good long while thanks to the pieces of the first ever armageddon level abnormality. But that didn't last too long. it was pieces of something dead. Which meant decomposition. The pieces rotted away meaning that golden goose of enkephalin was now gone. It's why their so desperate to take back the abnos living in peace for the garden. So that l corp doesn't go down." zack said.
"That's not fair…if they mean no harm. Then why shouldn't they be free?" i asked. Zack laughed.
"The same thoughts that jon had kiddo. I'd mistake you for his kid with one of his other two wives if not for howard. But what's fair doesn't matter to the corps of the city kiddo…all that matters is the bottom line to them. No matter if those who work for them suffer and die. The bottom line is all that matters. It's why those who do live in the wings are still likely to be willing to sign the invite and willing to come live in the garden. You may not remember considering you were six when your dad got the invite to the garden…but the city is a really shitty place no matter where you are. Backstreets or wings. It sucks either way. It's why jon made this place…to give the rare decent folks of the city a place to live a normal life away from the constant danger of the backstreets. Or the soul sucking life of a wing under the boot of a parasitic corps. This is the closest thing to a paradise in this hellish world, kid. Which is why we gotta be the angels to take up arms to protect it. Speaking of which…head on down to the mech bay. As a knight you're now eligible for power armor training. Speak with mech master lulu. She'll train you how to use those suits of armor." zack said. I soon left but i turned around and saw that some girl with long brown hair was giving zack the pervy eyebrow. Causing him to blush. Guess those two are a couple. So i went down to the mech bay and i heard an argument.
"For the last time mars! Stop stealing my cake!" the girl with long dirty blonde hair was yelling at some guy with grey hair.
"Then stop letting it get near the expiration date…anyway. The new knight is here. So act professional mech master." the grey haired guy said. The dirty blonde haired girl looked at me with a sigh.
"This isn't over mars.." the girl said as she walked up to me. "So your the new kid who's been all the talk? Climbing up the ranks fast huh? Name's lulu the mech master. Queen of all things power armor!" lulu yelled. Mars rolled his eyes as he walked away.
"Was really surviving nothing's there really an accomplishment that warrants two promotions?" i asked.
"I wouldn't know…i'm not one of the old guard that was with the white messiah all the way during his time as an l corp manager. I'm one of the fixers that he recruited during that whole situation with the library." lulu said.
"The library?" i asked.
"Oh right…we call it the tower now. Much like anything else in the city kid. Light was created through blood. And the library was no exception, to rebuild the light that was taken by the armageddon abno. They invited people to the library in search for the books of it…for what reason? Riches? A mission? Info that you want buried? There was plenty of reasons to pursue the books of the library…though none returned. A lot of people were killed to make that big beam of light. But thanks to how that weird place worked. Several of us who were killed there were recruited to fight along the librarians." lulu said…that baffled me.
"You decided…to fight alongside the people who killed you? Why?" i asked.
"Let's just say the white messiah knows how to make an really enticing offer…mainly more money in one job than our office would see in our whole lives." lulu said.
"Not to mention all the cake you can eat…i remember seeing on the floor clenching your stomach lulu." mars said with a laugh.
"Shut up mars!...oh i'm going to break his hips later." lulu said that last part quietly. But i did hear it. I'll pretend i didn't. "Anyway. With the library getting banished to far far far into the outskirts. We had no choice but to follow with jon's plan of turning this part out of the outskirts into his garden…I don't regret it! The garden is a hell of a lot better than the city. The air is clean. The food is fresh. And it's a lot prettier to look at than those colorless streets. And i'll admit. The consistent paycheck of being part of the white messiah's law enforcement and training people to use these bad boys is definitely better than having to cross my fingers praying someone hires streetlight office. also i love piloting these things! Step into anyone. And you become a freaking freight train. So which one strikes your fancy? The riot guard? The mark X? Or the predator?" lulu asked. I've seen these mechs plenty of times around the city. It's no wonder nobody ever robs stores around here. Who would be stupid enough to do that with a riot guard on standby? Though the predator power armor is one I haven't seen very often. I'll admit it looks pretty damn vicious. With it's long sharp claws. The armor looks light and durable. I'm guessing it's built for speed running in and slicing and dicing the enemy before they even have time to react. Still my choice was made when i saw those mark X suits for the first time. They were the coolest in my opinion. Was it a dumb childish reason. Yep. but i'm going with it anyway.
"The mark X huh? Good choice. It doesn't have built in weapons like the other two. But it's fists are deadly enough as it is. Though there are plenty of weapons made for it. Weapons that are two big and heavy for a normal person to use. Trying to do either without the suit will most likely end in a broken spine. But you can imagine the damage they can cause to those unlucky enough to be on the receiving end. Now then. What i'm teaching not only applies to the mark X. but to the others as well. So if you find a working riot guard or predator armor out there. Feel free to use them if the mission calls for it." lulu said…and so began another training session for me.
Sarah pov.
"Something wrong kiddo?" dad asked as we were having dinner. Guess he noticed the look on my face.
"Guess i was too nervous to tell you this…but i have a boyfriend now." i said. Both my parents almost choked on the steak we were having.
"i see…" mom said after getting her piece of steak down and clearing her throat. "So who is it sweetie?" mom asked.
"Nathan…nathan richardson." i said.
"That young kid who survived against nothing's there? From what i heard because of his act of courage and survival. He's already reached the rank of knight…poor kid's probably being put through the ringer by lulu…it'll be worth it after all. Those things of power armor pack a punch." dad said.
"Is surviving against that abnormality really that impressive?" i asked.
"You have no idea kiddo/sweetie." mom and dad said at the same time.
"Is it alright if i stay over at his house next week?" i asked.
"Fine…but no funny stuff okay?" mom asked. Dad snickered.
"Like you're one to talk." dad said. with a grin. Mom slapped him on the arm giving him a pout. I giggled at this display. And after dinner i headed up to bed.
One week later/nathan pov.
My body was sore from the training…yet i still had to go to school. It'll be worth it once I take to the field with the mark X! That's gonna be fun. A lot more fun than class is…
"OH YEAH POU-" i heard. I turned around and saw someone else looking back and forth nervously. Ms kate took his phone. And blushed with what she saw.
"PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE! NOW!" ms kate yelled as the student left with his face red. Erza shook her head and sighed.
"Idiot…watch that in the bathroom if you have the horn." erza said before going back to her paper. Well that was a highlight of my day…and soon it came to an end. I soon felt a finger poke my shoulder. I turn around to see sarah.
"Hi…sarah." i said. Even if she's my girlfriend now…i'm still nervous. It seems she was too by her blushing cheeks and her rubbing her arm.
"I got permission from my parents today…so can i come over to your house today?" she asked.
"S-sure." i said scratching my cheek…i'm blushing aren't i?...oh dad's going to have a field day with this…and he did. When i got home and introduced her to dad. He did have a feel day with this. As he picked us both up into a hug.
"congratulations on finally getting a girl ethan!" dad yelled with enthusiasm.
"Dad you're embarrassing me." i said. He let me and her down. "We'll be going to my room now." i said.
Sitting on my bed me and sarah just looked at each other for a while.
"Did you really mean what you said that day?" sarah asked.
"Yeah, every word. I truly love you sarah. I-" i said. Only for sarah to put her hand on my cheek.
"well i love you to,you know when you saved me from that abnormality it reminded me of all those stories were a knight saves his princess." sarah said.
"Guess you can view like that." i said rubbing the back of my head. However i was taken by surprise when sarah leaped on top of me right on the bed. "Um sarah?" i asked.
"Shh…let's enjoy ourselves." sarah whispered into my ear. I gulped.
"Hey nathan, we got so-" erza said as she barged into the room. Though she then stood there like a deer in headlights.
"Do you mind erza?" sarah asked, annoyed.
"...well. Now is a good time as any to get that sandwich…see ya two later!" erza yells with her face red as she runs downstairs and out the house.
"Now where were we?" sarah asked with a lustful smirk…yeah my sore body is going to be even more sore after this…it's worth it!
The tower/jon pov.
"Pardon me jon…but we received a report from limbus company." angela said as she handed me the report. This company came to power after scavenging through the ruins of destroyed l corp facilities. It's an non unified corp everyone in it has those own goals. But there willing to work with me due to their main goal being is to define itself as a company specializing in the handling and research of Distortions, and who better to get that juicy info from than someone who specialized in hunting them down. I help them with their distortion research. They keep me in touch with what's going down in the city and prepare the knights in case someone is plotting against the garden. "Unfortunately. They don't bring good news this time." angela said. I look at the report. And found out that a being capable of wiping entire districts is now running amok…i sighed and leaned back in my chair when i found out that this threat was a rat who ate the rotting remains of my hatred. I look at the photo on my desk. A photo that was taken back where it all began. The old lab where the first seed of light project began and failed…i look at ayin and carmen's whose faces i X'ed out with a marker.
"I can't keep holding onto this grudge…it's brought me nothing but trouble. That giant beast that stole the light…nikushimi and now this…if holding onto this grudge is going to keep causing monsters like this to rise…then it would be best for everyone…the knights who fight for me and the people i'm protecting to just….let it go."
"How mature…but i will never forgive ayin for what did to me." angela said.
"I'm not expecting you too angela. It's not your responsibility. You're my assistant. But i'm the leader of the garden. And i can't let my personal grudge cause damage and get these people hurt or even killed…if it means keeping it all safe…then i need to let it go." i said. I felt angela's warm hand around mine.
"Jon…you were already a leader. Back in lob back. Back on my library. You always did everything to watch for those under you. More could be said for ayin. You even shedded tears for some of our guests. Never let go of that humanity. It's what makes you a great leader. A man someone all of us are willing to follow…and the man i fell in love with." angela said. I looked at her and kissed her on the lips.
"You want to take a break tonight and go have a date night?" i asked.
"We should be preparing for this "neil" to show up…but screw it. We can be irresponsible for one night." angela said. I soon called both catt and gebura and told them that tonight was a date night.
And that night. God all three of them looked gorgeous…I'm one lucky son of a bitch.
A tough fight is coming my way…but for now. I just want to enjoy myself with three beautiful ladies i'm proud to call my own…something tells me that new up and comer kid nathan is doing the same thing.