I dedicate this chapter to Caristy_rain2, my most dedicated reader, whose comments make me overjoyed each time.
It took longer than they had assumed, but in the late afternoon, they managed to get to the laboratory. The building looked modern, with three glass towers connected by multiple bridges. It was taller than the headquarters but slender in comparison. The architect must have envisioned it as a sign of a future since the play of lights on the glass made it look almost surreal.
During wartime, such a structure was impractical. Glass shattered easily on impact, and its height made it an easy target. After Legion's Large-Scale Offensive, massive funds went to repair those broken walls. People, however, saw in it something more than just a building. It was a symbol of hope, and in uncertain times, hope was priceless.
"Don't be too in awe, workers here can be somewhat prickly. When they heard about our labs' temporary merger, their emails suddenly stopped coming so swiftly. The supposedly biggest technological facility hit such a backlog, that asking for anything to be done borders on a miracle. They still haven't sent me the autopsy results of the bodies recovered from the legion's cave, but I know perfectly well, that they've been ready for several days!" Annette now was a polar opposite of her morning self. She wanted to forget the shameful discussion, eagerly engaging in mundane conversations to compensate. Almost everyone contributed to the breakfast blunder, but only Theo tried to match her efforts.
"So impressive! I've read about it in a bulletin, but the description didn't do justice to its grandness. When we stood before the entrance, I felt like an ant. The ants here are probably tremendously intelligent, don't you think?" He told the lame joke, but the girl snickered with amusement. Theo felt untypically satisfied by Annette's approval, not understanding why he cared about the Republic citizen's opinion. Something about her sharp sense of humor and smug attitude made his eyes follow her.
"All the workers here are practically the Formicidae. You must be hard-working, efficient, and persistent, to not crack under the pressure of academia. Their equipment is absurdly advanced, comparable to my old lab. No, scratch that, it might be even better. Deep down I wish they would scout me after the whole military ordeal is done…" She admitted it was the jealousy that fueled her resentment since transferring here officially would mean continuing her dad's legacy in the most prestigious way possible.
The past was stained irreparably, but lately, Annette rediscovered hopefulness about the future, which she had long lost. The woman hadn't talked to Shin about their past yet, but she decided that reopening this wound had to wait. It weighed on her conscience, however, it was not the time to be selfish. The legendary Undertaker had a lot on his plate as it was, with the war and her helpless best friend. Apologizing now would be done for her sake and not his, which Annette considered unacceptable.
"I'm sure everyone will be fighting to get you on their team. Give them the time to discover your brilliance, and you will be swarmed with offers in no time." Theo complimented her sincerely, and she found herself too stunned to respond. Since she had many fiancees in the past, the girl was no stranger to flattering, but the bizarre sensation in her abdomen was a novelty. Maybe she should have a medical check-up along with Lena?
The elevator opened with a ping, and the group entered the glass hall. On the fortieth floor the view was certainly breathtaking, perfectly grasping the Sankt Jeder's skyline. The city looked microscopic from this height, but the warm brick-red buildings and their dusky roofs created a picturesque atmosphere. Lena had trouble focusing on its beauty since she was overly alert to the boy standing just meters away.
The morning incident was not their fault, but it inevitably made their conversations stiff and awkward. She couldn't stop thinking about them being seen as a pair, and she felt joyous despite it being only a fantasy. Even the slightest of his friendly gestures set her heart aflame, and Lena's rosy cheeks were giving her away.
Holding doors for her to pass through, clicking a button she couldn't reach, or making sure she wasn't pressed against the wall in an elevator. Simple actions, some made subconsciously, some deliberately, had made Lena wonder, what was between them.
She couldn't deny her body was reacting ecstatically to Shin's touch, with her mind going blank, leaving only the sweet bliss of his presence. Deep down she knew, it wasn't new. In the old days just the sound of his voice in the evening made her warm and fuzzy, but they were living worlds apart, with no romance to be spoken of.
Could she dare to ask for a future with him?
Her insides twisted when the reality hit yet another time. They weren't guaranteed any future. The war was merciless, and Shin was the sword shining on the front line. She would be lucky enough if they were bestowed a fleeting moment, an ardent memory to cherish in this cruel life.
The girl was anxious, there was no easy solution in sight. Her getting greedy could end up being a distraction for him, endangering his life on the battlefield. Lena promised herself she would strangle her feelings, bury them deep inside if their getting out meant losing Shin forever.
"Welcome! We were expecting you. Professor Neumann is the one who did most of the work, she will explain it best. I'm Alwin Rudel, her PhD student. I must say, the device you've sent to us is exceptional! I wish I could meet the creator, this thing is a technological masterpiece." A young man in a white lab coat approached them with a smile, but the dark bags under his eyes suggested he was talking on autopilot. Disheveled brown hair in desperate need of a shower gave the vibe of a mad scientist, who abandoned mundane matters, to fully focus on research. Lena was so stunned by the guy, she forgot about the previous worries.
"Hi, I'm Henrietta Penrose, we've talked earlier. This is my… team. They were the ones who found the device. I know it's a lot of people, but could we all listen to the Professor?" She asked politely, and Rudel reluctantly agreed.
He led them to the colossal computer with five monitors hanging on the wall, operated by a woman in her fifties. She looked stern, emanating an aura of superiority, but Annette was no stranger to those kinds of powerplays. The girl stayed calm and waited for the professor to speak first.
"Tsk, you brought a whole army to my office. Stupid boy, you have to learn how to say no to the visitors. Forget it, since they are already here. At least I won't have to repeat myself. Sit down." Neumann commanded, but nobody knew what she meant.
There were no chairs or any other surfaces available. They looked at each other with confusion until Rudel sat down on the bare floor like it was nothing. It looked absurd. A grown adult behaved like a kindergartner, waiting for the teacher's fairy tale.
The rest wasn't sure if they should follow. It felt surreal, but the professor wasn't laughing. She stared at them expectantly, with a gaze that didn't tolerate any objection. Lena was the first to crack, joining the assistant, and one by one they all got on the floor.
"What you're looking at is an advanced microprocessor. I doubt any of you can understand the technical jargon, so I'll focus on the results. It contains detailed blueprints of a factory combined with a research facility and over two hundred pages of documents. Everything is classified military information, but there were handwritten notes added on top of that. I'll leave the analysis to your side, it's not my field of expertise. The device needs specialized equipment to be opened, so we'll give you a copy of the files. I recommend guarding it thoroughly, since according to the data, it can work as some sort of key. Now if you excuse me, I have other work to do. Submit your questions to Rudel, and I'll answer at in appropriate time." She gestured for them to back off, annoyed by the fact they didn't disappear instantly.
Rudel apologetically bowed and rushed to get their guests to the exit. Raiden and Shin were annoyed, Anju chuckled with Charlotte, and Kurena was left confused. A desperate assistant dragged them to the elevator with mysterious force, but Annette stopped Lena midway.
"You guys can go back, I'll drag our sweetheart to some tests. Deliver the files to Ernst and the headquarters, I'm sure they will hand out the orders soon." Annette waived at the surprised faces of people in the elevator with a wide smile. They didn't have the time to say goodbye, but nobody questioned her decision.
"Annette, you could've warned me! Or ask if I even want it…" Lena scolded her friend, who didn't care about her mild outrage. They had to move to the other tower and descend a few floors, but the girls managed to get to Annette's tiny office.
"The room isn't too big, but remember, it's temporary. My gadgets are waiting at home, but the institute's equipment is around the corner. But before we go, I've got you something. Listen, I'm awfully sorry about what transpired this morning, but it got me thinking. You're an adult, and stuff might happen anytime. So when I stopped at the pharmacy earlier for hangover relief meds, I bought you something. And don't try to wiggle yourself out of this, just accept it. It's not radioactive." She gave her a small bluish box, putting it right into Lena's hands.
The girl had no idea what Annette meant, but when she noticed the suggestive drawing on the cover, her face turned violently red. She wanted to toss it away immediately, but her friend's firm grip had stopped her.
"A-a-annette! T-take it away! Please, I d-don't want anyone to s-see me with it!" Lena panicked, like a teenager caught with a naughty magazine for the first time, but Annette remained calm.
"You're a grown-ass woman. A pack of condoms isn't something to be ashamed of. Besides, I'm not forcing you to use them right away. Just toss it in the deepest drawer and forget about it if it pains you so much. I know you're a prude, but believe me. The good girls are the wildest when they go off their leash." She put her hand on Lena's arm and said in a grave tone. It was no laughing matter. Margareta Milizé had passed away, so someone had to take care of this innocent girl's education. This morning made her aware, she might have less time to act than she thought.
"B-b-but… I-I w-won't…" The red reached its peak shade, and her head looked like it was about to explode.
"Sure, sure. You will remain a saint until your tragic passing, and we will tearfully praise your noble virginity. I don't care, Lena, do what you want. I just want you to have a choice. What it will be is up to you. But I'm far too young to become a Godmother." Annette patted with care, and took the box out of Lena's hand, putting it in the girl's bag. She was unable to protest, silently accepting defeat. Vladilena Milizé was no formidable opponent for the magnificent Henrietta van Penrose.
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 nine, 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 lately he was the one closing it way past midnight. 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 grey 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, and she genuinely wanted to talk about something.
"Please, sit down, Irma. I can already see it's going to be a long night. Do you take your coffee black or with cream?"