'Compactors are speculated to be nocturnal creatures. Compactors have three stages. They activate these stages in a few different ways, but they all come down to one thing: the core. The core is a metallic sphere in the Compactor's gut. Makina described it as a battery charged by blood. If the core is fully charged, the Compactor can transform without any hassle. However, in certain circumstances, if it feels pressured to, it can transform without the core being fully charged- this puts an extreme strain on it, though, and it can only maintain its form for a limited amount of time. The disadvantage of transforming is that once it moves on to Stage Two and further, it's able to die. In Stage One, the core uses all of its energy to protect itself, thus sacrificing brute strength for protection. But once it is switched to two and three, the energy is used for combat.
Their physiology changes according to what stage they're on. On Stage One, it takes a more humanoid form so it can blend in. The Compactor is typically seen in a gray sweatshirt and a skirt. It's face is known to be drained of all color with droopy, infectious eyes and massive canine teeth. It has four elastic black tentacles that can come in and out of its back at will. On Stage Two, the Compactor stands at about ten feet tall, even with the hunchback that has formed. The clothes are ripped off by its sheer size at this point, exposing a mutant body. Its spine pokes out from its back and it's stomach tissue is ripped open to reveal a row of teeth. It's amount of tentacles have also doubled, making it now eight. Stage Three is unknown. No one has ever seen a Compactor survive past Stage Two.
Also, Omegas do the same thing, they can transform as well. Omegas haven't been known to survive past Stage Two either. In that stage, their skin cracks open to expose the blood running through their veins and their muscles burst with lust for the battle field. That's how Makina put it anyway.'
Akino headed down the alleyway. The sun above reflected in his eyes, only to be sheltered from his blindness by the occasional cloud. The streets bustled, car horns screamed, and people chatted as routine went on. As Akino travelled through the crowds, he recalled the events of the night prior. Memories flooded through his brain before he tuned into the news broadcasting in the sky above him.
'They didn't pick up the story from a few days ago… The dead bodies found hanging from the clothing line, they aren't saying anything about it…,' Akino thought.
Akino shook his head, ridding himself of the complexity of his own thoughts. He approached the school gates and examined his surroundings. Matoi had already gotten her identification scanned by the security officer and was standing underneath the school's overhang. Once his card got scanned, he jogged towards the school to accompany Matoi.
"Hey, Matoi," Akino said as he approached.
The schoolgirl looked up and was temporarily blinded by the harsh shine of the glowing pavement reflecting off the sun. "Ah, hey there."
The boy's face became stern. "Did you see the news last night?"
The wind picked up slightly, pushing Matoi's hair in front of her face as she talked. "I'm not sure, I watch news on channel six. All they talked about was the influx of refugees coming in."
"So, …they didn't broadcast the murder?" Akino asked, concerned.
Matoi snarled, puzzled. "No? Murders happen every day, why are you so concerned?"
He looked off towards the city. "Never mind, you're right. I was just startled 'cause it happened in my area." He turned back towards her. "Anyway, influx of refugees?"
She nodded and started toward the front doors, ushering him to follow her. They talked past the initial clusters of people and walked down the hallway towards the scenic stairwell. "Yeah," she proceeded, "the people who survived the terrorist attacks in the East Districts are all swarming to the capital since they have no where else to go."
He followed her, turning every corner she did and mimicking her walking pace. "Why are they coming to the capital? This place is packed enough as it is."
Matoi wrapped her hand onto the shiny metal railing and climbed up the stairs. "It's 'cause we have the best security. The other districts aren't as well protected as we are."
Akino sighed. "Did you hear how many more would be coming?"
"Yeah," she said, "I think they said somewhere in the thousands; either one or two, I'm not sure. No matter the number, though," Matoi looked out the window and towards the city that peaked out from the power lines, "I don't think we can hold anymore. It'll be too crowded."
"I'm more worried about the statistics of this," Akino admitted.
Matoi stopped before taking another step and looked over her shoulder at him.
"Well," he said, " the capital already has about one million people in it. That's already too much considering how small this place actually is. If more and more people keep coming, that won't only mean trouble for the stock market and other things, but it makes us an ideal target for terrorists. If we have upwards of one and a half million people living in one area, including the Royal Ambassador, don't you think were just setting ourselves up for another attack?"
"Yeah," she agreed. "But you need to be more positive." Matoi turned her whole body around, twirling her skirt. "Think about it this way. If the terrorists are heading towards the capital, that means we have a good probability of defeating them since we have the most security and soldiers. We might even catch Makina in the act."
Akino shook his head and chuckled then continued up the stairs with Matoi leading him. 'Makina? She thinks Makina is a terrorist? I can't blame her, but she knew more than me. I wonder if she knows that the terrorists are the Compactors. I've figured it out, why hasn't she? She seems to have a history with Makina, or at least know something. Why isn't she scared? Is she really that clueless?'
He looked at her intently, soaking in all of her features while he concentrated. 'No, she isn't. She thinks I'm the clueless one. She knows what Makina is, most definitely. She knows what the Compactors are. But how much is she keeping from me…?'
Makina sat in the red, cushioned chairs given to the Omegas in the Grand Hall. Her narrow eyes observed her surroundings. To her left were eleven other Omegas. Each one of them wore their metallic uniforms except Makina- who thought that the attire was too conspicuous and uncomfortable. She moved her gaze out towards the window where she laid her eyes on a fleet of sleek, white busses parking in front of the building. Makina happened to catch a glance of Hideyo stepping outside to greet them from the corner of the window.
She slouched back, hanging her head over the curvature of the chair. With an upside down view, she was able to recognize a feeble old woman standing behind her. Makina turned in her seat and glanced at the woman- Hetsu Koboshi. She snickered at the woman's strong stature.
"What is it?" Makina asked callously.
"The new recruits have arrived, I want you to be a role model. So sit up straight," Hetsu demanded.
Makina rolled her eyes and planted her bottom into the cushion and straightened her back out. "There, is that good enough?"
An Omega sitting a few seats to the left of her leaned forward, peeking out from her comrades, and gave Makina a dirty look. "Excuse me, you shouldn't talk to the Royal Ambassador like that. She is your superior, treat her with respect."
Makina whipped her head back to face the girl. With a deadly stare, she replied, "I wasn't talking to you, don't get your panties in a bunch."
Hetsu shoved her forefingers firmly into Makina's shoulder, bringing her attention back to her. "Makina. You're eighteen, you're a soldier, you're a role model- start acting like one." The young Omega didn't reply, instead staring out into the window to watch the recruits line up. "Look," Hetsu whispered, "I know being the Commander for your own squad isn't in your best interest, but it's necessary. You're number one in every stat that we have, it'd be a waste if you were to die and we couldn't pass on your abilities to someone else."
Makina's eyes were filled with hatred as she watched the Omegas walk into the building from outside. "You think I'm that easily replaceable? I can't die unless I activate Stage Two and I don't plan on doing that, I don't have a need to; I'm powerful enough as it is. I don't need the help of some robot heart to kill Compactors."
Hetsu sighed. "You sure are hard-headed. Maybe that's why you're the best. Just don't forget what your captain told you, Makina."
Makina clenched her fist in anger. "Don't bring him up. I don't have to listen to you."
The large, decorative room was swallowed in silence. The other soon-to-be commanders watched as Hetsu backed away, staring at the back of Makina's head. Makina unclenched her fist and brought her hand up to her necklace: the necklace with her weapon on it.
A knock from the doors behind them echoed through the room abruptly. Hideyo opened the door and whispered, "Master, they're ready."
Hetsu nodded quickly, prompting Hideyo to step back and push the doors further outwards. Hideyo backed herself against the door frame as Omegas pass by her. There appeared to be about fifty of them from what Makina could tell. Each of them was dressed in their customized uniforms provided and enhanced by the capital itself. Makina snickered, realizing that she was the only Omega in the room who dressed in regular apparel.
A little girl caught Makina's attention as the Omegas proceeded into the room. It wasn't long before Makina realized that she was an Omega as well- as hinted by the green and yellow skin tight uniform and sharp spear. Makina straightened herself in her seat and watched her intently. The young girl gripped the armored hand of the Omega in front of her, shyly.
The fifty-or-so Omegas all stood in a clustered mess behind Makina and the others who were standing in an orderly line by now. The elderly woman strolled up to the front of the room and examined the crowd in front of her. With a slight nod, the Omegas bowed and the room erupted in the clinging of their gear smashing against each other's.
"Its to my displeasure that I am forced to take you all from your designated districts. I'm sure that none of you are too pleased with my decision either. However, as a result of the recent attacks upon the East Districts, I have gathered all Omegas who previously resided in those districts here, the Capital," Hetsu elucidated. "Compactors have torn your districts down to the bare minimum and made your homes uninhabitable. Fewer that a thousand people have survived the attacks combined. That's over seventy percent of the eastern population killed. Not only have I brought you here as refugees, but I've brought you here also as heroes."
Makina listened with deafened ears. Swaying from side to side marginally, she stared down the Omegas in the room. Beside the aforementioned young girl with the green and yellow uniform was a significantly taller, much older, Omega. She had long red hair with a matching red suit. Long blades protruded from her sleeves and over her hand.
"You will be assigned a squad. Your leader will be one of these thirteen stellar women before you. Your task from this day forward will be to protect the capital and surrounding districts from any attack even remotely resembling the one that you had faced just a few days ago. I do not want a repeat of that!"
After Hideyo assigned each Omega their squad and leader, the crowd dispersed around the Grand Hall and elsewhere. Makina stood next to the vending machine in a small hallway as she sipped from her soda can. Noticing some people heading towards her direction, she chugged the remains of the drink and crushed the can into a twisted mess. Tossing it on the ground beside her, Makina raised her head to the two girls that stood in front of her.
"It's an honor to be on your team, Makina!" The young Omega dressed in green and yellow exclaimed. "I'm Kiku!"
The taller, older, redheaded Omega followed up with her introduction. "I'm Asuka, her older sister. I'm sorry to disturb you like this, Kiku insisted on introducing herself."
Makina leaned against the wall and focused her weight on the heel of her foot. "Aren't you too young to be an Omega?"
Kiku shook her head emphatically. "Nope, I'm thirteen!"
"Yeah," Asuka elaborated," that's what I said when Hideyo came to my doorstep askin' if my little sister could go through the operation. Apparently, females twelve through twenty five are accepted." Asuka looked down at the energetic girl next to her. "A part of me wishes I didn't cave in and say yes. Kiku has seen to much for a young'n like her."
"Everyone has to be exposed at some point," Makina stated. "How old are you? I can see some bags under those eyes."
Asuka chuckled vexatiously. "Well, I've been an Omega for quite some time now. Also, my health has been near to non existent in the past year or so. So, I might look older than I actually am, which is twenty-three."
"Oh," Makina scoffed, "you're older than me."
Kiku looked up at Asuka and pulled at her hand. "Hear that? You're her superior!"
Makina leered at her with her infamous red eyes but to no avail- Kiku hadn't noticed. Asuka shook her head nervously, denying the younger one's claim. "N-no, Kiku. Makina is our squad leader, she's still in charge."
The blonde tilted her head, puzzled. "But you're older, why aren't you the leader?"
Makina pushed herself off the wall and and kneeled down to Kiku's level. "The reason I'm in charge and she isn't is because I'm better than her," she boasted. "I have spent longer training, I have no health issues, my body is in better shape, I have more battle experience, and I have a better weapon. As a result, I'm the better Omega."
Kiku rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but you're not even wearing an Omega uniform, so you can't possibly be better than Asuka!"
Asuka grabbed Kiku by the waist and pulled her by her side then covered her mouth. "Sorry abo-"
Makina stood up to display her incredible height that casted an intimidating shadow over the two girls. "It's hard to go undercover when you're wearing an exotic, skintight uniform that glows in the dark. My own clothes are good enough for me."
Kiku pulled Asuka's hand off her mouth. "You still have red eyes! You still stand out!"
"I have a friend with yellow eyes, what's your point?!"
Asuka, irritated and embarrassed, elbowed Kiku in the side. As she groaned in pain, Asuka continued, "I'm sorry about her. She's very defensive about her older sister."
Makina turned around and pressed her identification card against the vending machine scanner, causing a soda to drop into the barrel. "Well, make sure to teach her when to bite her tongue. Having a big mouth like hers will get her nowhere."
"Yeah," Asuka agreed. "It's just- as a young girl who was exposed to so much myself, I can't help but sympathize with her. Since us Omegas don't have parents, she relies on me a lot. It's weird seeing a young girl being exposed to so much tragedy and carnage. I'm lucky that she didn't develop some mental issue over the past few days. Honestly, I'm surprised the both of us survived."
Makina snickered. "It isn't your job as an Omega to worry about your own life. Your job is to sacrifice everything you have, body and soul, to protecting your homeland. It's a shame that the Omegas in the East were too weak to defend themselves."
"We were swamped!" Kiku roared. "Hundreds of them came out of nowhere and attacked us! We didn't have any time to come up with a plan or anything!"
"Who's fault was that? Yours. You weren't prepared. Here, you will be, and you won't have a choice, especially since you're in my squad. Compactors will not lay a single finger on our city anymore. None of our fellow comrades will perish as a result of their unpreparedness," she hissed.
"But-!"
"Kiku," Asuka whispered. "As mean as it is, Makina has a point. This world is cruel and we underestimated it, so we paid for it significantly. Don't be mad at her."
Kiku looked down and off to the side, avoiding eye contact with either Asuka or Makina. "I guess so. It was still a little mean…"
"That's the way it is," Asuka explained. "The reason Makina is so harsh with her words is because she's experienced stuff like that first hand… and multiple times. She knows more than both of us combined. That's why she's our leader, more so than any other reason. Alright, is that clear?"
"Kiku," Makina called.
"Yeah?"
"…and just so you know, my eyes used to be blue."