"Hmm?" Misuna opened an eye. "What? Where am I?"
"Hey," She heard a voice. "You're finally awake."
Misuna looked to see a cockpit full of screens and buttons. She saw the large front windows that revealed the cloudy sky.
"I'm in a dropship?" Misuna turned to the driver's seat to know who was driving the aircraft.
"Yep," She saw someone smile at her from the driver's seat. "You okay?"
"Wait," Misuna recognized her. "You're that Ming girl."
"You know, I do have a name. It's Calice."
"I don't understand. Why am I here? Where's Kumiciel?"
"Your boyfriend knocked you out."
"Huh? No, he didn't."
"He tried to put you into one of those simulators that turn people into killers."
Misuna crossed her arms, recalling her argument with Kumiciel.
"How did I get here?" She asked.
"I helped you escape."
"What?" Misuna gasped.
"Yeah, I know. I'm still not sure if I forgive you for separating me from my parents, but seeing your boyfriend mistreat you is something no girl deserves. Even someone like you."
"No," Misuna looked around frantically. "No! I shouldn't be out here! I belong back there!"
"What are you talking about?" Calice questioned. "Why would you-"
Misuna jumped onto Calice, serving the steering wheel.
"Whoa! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Misuna made the dropship do a sudden u-turn in the clouds.
"You're crazy!" Calice pushed her. "Get off me!"
"No! No!" Misuna pushed back. "I can't leave! I will be nothing!"
Calice and Misuna brawled over control of the steering wheel, causing the dropship to fly in circles.
"Stop it, Misuna!" Calice demanded as she fell off the seat.
Misuna ignored her, forcing a lever back to make the dropship flip towards the opposite direction. However, the girls felt the dropship slam into something hard. The two tumbled about, feeling the entire cockpit spin in different directions as the dropship plummeted onto the hard ground.
"Ugh!" Calice kicked the seat of her. "Misuna! What the hell?"
"I need to go back!" Misuna pressed buttons, hoping the dropship could still fly. "The Federation is everything to me!"
"Great! We can't escape now!"
Misuna dashed out of the aircraft.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Calice chased after her.
She ran out onto the cracked street of the ruined city. Calice saw piles of rubble and fire scattered across the dusty sidewalks full of damaged cars and fallen street signs. She then looked up to see the sky exploding with a dogfight between US aircraft and Federation drones. Calice flinched at the sight of a gunship shaped like a hammerhead shark chomp on a fighter jet as if it was a real shark catching a fish.
Why the heck does she want to go back to those people that don't support her? Calice thought as she jumped over the rocks to get Misuna. And why is the Federation everything to her?
"Hello? Does anyone read me?" Misuna turned on his wrist gear. "This is Corporal Misuna Jiyang. Requesting support immediately."
"What the?" Calice grabbed Misuna's arm. "Are you nuts? You want the droids to kill us?"
"Get off me!" Misuna kicked Calice. "I'm going back to where I belong!"
"You belong? You don't belong back there!"
"I repeat. Does anyone read-"
Calice shot lighting at the wrist gear.
"Leave me alone!" Misuna shouted as she activated her other wrist's saw launcher.
A spinning, bladed projectile was fired at Calice, who used her speed to dodge it.
"You're crazy!" Calice shouted back. "I helped you escape from the Federation, and now you want to go back to them?"
Misuna didn't say anything but ran. Calice darted in front of her with incredible speed.
"I'm not letting you," Calice insisted. "Just listen to me! Hernamidos and Kumiciel back there are not good people to be with! They forced you into that simulation thing when you said no. The Federation doesn't support your wellbeing."
Misuna dropped four red crystals, which turned into bacteriophage droids. Their crystal heads opened, facing their guns at Calice.
"Don't make me hurt you!" Misuna took out a baton that transformed into a bayoneted rifle.
Calice shook her head in confusion. She couldn't understand why Misuna wasn't thankful for her help as she thought. Her hair burst with turquoise lightning. She was tempted to electrify her with her rage, but she decided to take a deep breath instead. After all, Calice is a social worker.
"Okay. Let's take this slowly," Calice's electricity cooled off. "Could you at least tell me why the Federation means so much to you?"
Misuna ran in the other direction.
"Hey! Why won't you talk to me?" Calice ran.
"Stop following me! You won't understand!" Misuna shook her head violently, refusing to tell Calice about her past with the Waxing Sickle.
Misuna signaled the bacteriophages to attack Calice. The four small robots fired their guns at Calice. She sped across the ruined street, dodging the lasers. She bounced on two of them, electrifying the droids. The other two jumped and spun their bladed legs as fast as helicopters. They flew towards Calice, blasting their head turrets at her. Calice jolted around the flying droids to catch Misuna. She blocked Calice with her cape, making her bounce off.
Misuna and the bacteriophages surrounded Calice in a triangle, firing at her. Calice recalled her abilities, swinging her arms to make electric shields that absorbed the lasers. She took cover behind the shields, firing balls of lightning in all directions. After shooting down the two remaining droids, she darted at Misuna, who hid behind her cape. Calice stopped in front of her, punching her cape without using her powers. The Reaper Squad corporal winced, dropping her rifle.
"I don't want to fight you!" Calice tried to reason with her again. "I just want to talk. It doesn't help if you keep everything to yourself."
The two girls heard a cybernetic ringing. Two drones flew away from the dogfight towards Misuna.
"Thank goodness!" Misuna ran after the robots, taking her rifle back in its baton form.
My parents told me about those things, Calice looked at the winged machines. Istiophoroid enforcers. They are talking scouts that fly 24/7 day and night, hunting for enemies of the Federation.
The gray drones hovered above the cracked street in front of Misuna while Calice quickly hid behind a collapsed hospital. The drones' red oval eyes looked at Misuna as their cylindrical thrusters glowed with energy.
"Identifying," One of the drones scanned Misuna with white light. "Misuna Jiyang identified."
"Yes," Misuna cleared her throat. "I am requesting assistance to return to the Ironclad Eagle."
The istiophoroids hesitated for a moment.
"Misuna Jiyang," The other drone aimed it's wing guns and heat laser turret at her. "You have been deemed hostile to the Global Federation of World Justice."
"Wait, what?" Misuna saw the other enforcer drone pointed its weapons at her as well. "That can't be! Override code, XJ7W!"
The drones made beeping sounds as they analyzed Misuna's code.
"Override code ineffective," One of the istiophoroids said. "Misuna Jiyang no longer possesses the authority to command the droid army of the Global Federation of World Justice."
"No! Stop!" Misuna begged. "Please take me back!"
"Negative," The drones said as their heat laser guns glowed with red energy. "You are to be terminated immediately."
The flying droids blasted their heat lasers at Misuna. Calice sped towards her, grabbing her away from the electrifying bolts. The enforcer drones looked about, unable to find Misuna.
"You're insane!" Calice hid Misuna behind the rock pile.
The girls heard sniper rifles blasting at the droids. Men dressed in green rolled out, firing at the istiophoroids.
Who are they? Calice watched the men fighting the drones. They look like US soldiers, but they have bird symbols on their uniforms. I wonder what that means.
The drones released their heat lasers about the ruins. The soldiers that were hit were vaporized into red dust. Soon, the snipers provided cover fire for the remaining soldiers to retreat into a ravaged deli shop. While Calice watched the drones fly about to find the snipers, Misuna ran off.
"Ugh! Misuna!" Calice chased her once again.
The two ran through a destroyed hotel. After dashing across the ruined lobby full of suitcases and carts, they encountered another street to see a four-legged walker blasting a tank off the street. As the tank flew into a restaurant, the other soldiers ran through a tattered grocery store to escape.
"Brachyura!" Misuna ran after the tall robot. "Corporal Misuna Jiyang. Requesting for assistance to return to the Ironclad Eagle."
The droid's four armored feet stomped towards her. It had its neck curled back like a snake. The brachyura twitched it's antenna ears as it's armored head bent down to scan Misuna.
"Misuna Jiyang," The brachyura terrortank pointed its chin gun and arm cannons at her. "You are to be terminated immediately for continual insubordination against the Global Federation of World Justice."
"Override code, XJ7W!"
"Override code ineffective," The droid walker replied as its red eyes glowed.
"Wait!" Misuna yelled in desperation. "This is an emergency C766!"
"Negative. Misuna Jiyang has no clearance to declare an emergency executive protocol."
"Misuna!" Calice jolted her away from being vaporized by the red lights.
Calice accidentally bumped into a wall, dropping Misuna.
"Aiya!" Calice groaned.
The brachyura turned it's arm cannons at the girls and fired. Calice made a shield to protect her and Misuna. The purple fireballs made a catastrophic explosion with the shield, sending Calice and Misuna flying back. The tank stomped its way to them, firing at them with its chest guns and rotating bottom turret. Calice swiped across the air to deflect the laser fire.
"Jeez, Misuna!" Calice said. "That went exactly like last time! Are you happy yet? Cause I'm not in a mood to save you again!"
"I don't understand," Misuna whimpered to herself. "The Federation is my home. Why did this happen?"
Calice fired a thunderbolt at the terrortank. The walker skillfully crossed its two front legs in the air to block the attack. It continued walking to Calice with its back legs. Calice and the droid charged at each other, exchanging projectiles and shielding themselves simultaneously. She jolted around the large machine, firing lighting at the droid's head. The machine shook his head, dropping its two front feet down. The brachyura swiveled its central body, blasting its arm cannons at Calice.
***
Meanwhile, Misuna threw a circular device on the ground that emitted blue light.
"Kumiciel?" She shouted as Calice fought the brachyura.
Kumiciel's hologram appeared with Dowler Alpha standing beside him.
"Kumiciel!" Misuna shouted.
He didn't answer.
"Hey! Kumiciel!"
Kumiciel looked away. A hologram of General Hernamidos appeared next to Kumiciel. The General's helmet was shiny gray as if it was cleaned recently.
"Corporal Liyan is not permitted to talk to you," Hernamidos snapped a cigarette onto his mouth.
"General!" Misuna said. "I need help. I need to go back to the Ironclad Eagle, but the droids want to kill me!"
"Misuna Jiyang. I am sorry, but you failed me for the last time."
"What?"
"You have become a danger to the Federation. You don't belong in the playground anymore. Heh, it's for the better that you are killed."
"But I am still part of the Reaper Squad! I can still do my job!"
"Not anymore. You have already been relieved of duty."
"No, that can't be!" Misuna begged. "General, the Reaper Squad is my family! You saved me from the Waxing Sickle. Are you just abandoning me?"
"Yes. We took care of you, but defying my orders is how you thank me. I thought you would be useful, but not anymore."
"General," Kumiciel spoke. "We have found Misuna's location."
"Heh, excellent," Hernamidos said.
"Kumiciel!" Misuna cried. "Tell the General that I can still be of use! Please help me!"
Kumiciel focused his eyes on the floor.
"Please! You were the one who helped me defend myself from the fox freaks. You promised that you wouldn't let anything happen to me. Can you help me now?"
Kumiciel's eyes closed as he turned away.
"Kumiciel?" Misuna cried as his hologram vanished.
"Thank you for giving off your location," Hernamidos coldly said. "I never wanted this to happen, but you disappointed me."
"No! General!"
His hologram faded. Misuna was on her knees, crying.
***
Calice backflipped away from the explosive firepower of the droid walker. Out of the smoke, the terrortank scampered its large armored legs at her. Calice sped about to avoid getting stomped on. The machine's body rotated about, trying to blast Calice away with its many guns. Calice did her best to use her electrifying speed to evade the terrortank's attacks. She found an opportunity to speed towards the bottom turret. Calice clapped her hands on the ball-shaped turret, shocking it with all her might. The droid walker groaned as the turret exploded.
I gotta take it down little by little, Calice jolted away.
However, the brachyura swiped it's right front leg at her, knocking her back. She rolled on the ground, feeling the rocky road pierce her face.
"Calice!" Misuna ran to her without thinking.
She didn't answer. Calice was knocked out cold.
As the brachyura stomped its way towards them a large shadow loomed over the girls. Misuna looked up to see what looked like a big horse made of cello parts. There was an elderly white-haired Vulpi riding on it. He had white hair and Vulpi ears and tail that matched with his white robe. He charged at the brachyura with his horse, slashing away the laser fire with two cello bows as if they were swords.
When he was close enough, the Vulpi jumped off the horse, which turned into a large cello that darted at the walker's neck. The instrument pierced the terrortank's neck with its endpin, making the walker's head crack back in pain. Misuna saw the Vulpi run on top of the droid's legs, slicing them off before making a flurry of slashes to destroy the brachyura. After the terrortank exploded, the Vulpi placed his bows on his back holsters before catching his cello triumphantly.
"It's good to know that I am still young!" The elderly Vulpi said before bending to his aching back. "Ouch! Oh, ah, hello, ladies! Are you two alright? Just give me one second."
Misuna didn't know what to say as the old Vulpi groaned in adjusting his own back.
It's a Vulpi, Misuna prepared her hands onto her belt for her arsenic needles. I won't let myself get kidnapped by fox devils again.
"Master Fermato?" The transceiver from Fermato's belt sounded. "Are you there? Do you read me?"
"Yes! Yes, Sergeant Misshia! Loud and clear," Fermato held his transceiver as he placed his cello on his back. "Were you and the SHRIKE able to find the Cazeium family?"
"Master," The voice hesitated. "The distress call. It wasn't the Cazeiums…"
Misuna threw an arsenic needle at the Vultau master. Without looking away from his transceiver, Fermato flipped a cello bow up with his other hand to deflect the projectile.
How did he do that? Misuna shuddered. How could he block it without even looking at me?
"Huh? What do you mean?" Fermato continued his conversation with Sergeant Misshia like normal.
"It was Zentroid," Sergeant Misshia replied.
"Excuse me?" Fermato coughed. "Zentroid?"
"Yes, and we fell for the trap head-on."
"What about your squad?"
"Only two others besides me were able to escape."
There was a brief silence. Misuna growled, throwing a barrage of needles at the elderly Vulpi. As Fermato pondered about Sergeant Misshia's news, he spun his cello bow across his hand with finesse to block Misuna's attacks.
"Oh for the sake of Makiyu, would you just stop attacking me?" Fermato turned to Misuna. "I'm having an emotional conversation with my friend here! Yeesh, teenagers these days."
Misuna breathed heavily. She didn't have the strength to keep on attacking.
"I am sorry to hear about your squad," Fermato turned his attention back to his transceiver. "But you're sure, it was Zentroid?"
"I am very positive," The sergeant said.
"I thought Master Oreic and the others destroyed him about 20 years ago," Fermato sighed. "Great Makiyu, help us all."
"We are currently retreating to base with General Covinski."
"Alright. I will meet you there."
The Vultau master turned his attention back to the two girls.
"My apologies for that!" Fermato knelt to the girls. "Thank you for stopping your flurry of those darn needles. Allow me to, ahem, introduce myself. I am Master Fermato of the Vultau Order."
The master reached his hand out for a handshake.
He didn't attack me, Misuna stared at his hand. Why? Vulpi would attack me the moment they see me.
"You're wondering why I didn't attack you?" Master Fermato observed Misuna. "You're a Reaper Squad. Aren't you? You're frightened that I would harm you as the Waxing Sickle did to you."
What? How did he know? Misuna held Calice close.
"Don't worry. I am not here to hurt you. Not all Vulpi like the Waxing Sickle wish to hurt humans. I assure you," Fermato said. "And I saw your commotion with the droids, and I am deeply sorry about that. You must be tired and confused."
Misuna nodded a bit.
"Ah! Got a response from you!" Fermato grinned. "You're quite different from the Reaper Squad. You're giving me the chance to talk to you!"
Misuna turned to Calice, who was still unconscious.
"How is she?" Fermato checked her pulse.
"She," Misuna mumbled. "Well…"
"Well, at least I got you talking!" Fermato twitched his Vulpi ears as he patted Calice's head. "This young lady is alive and breathing well, but she will need a place to rest."
"Y… yeah."
"But you ladies are in luck," Fermato's cello jumped from his hand into the shape of a horse.
The stringed horse neighed cheerfully, stretching its wooden legs. Misuna flinched at the horse's excitement.
"There, there," Master Fermato stroked the horse's head, straightening its mane made of tan-colored strings.
The horse blinked it's curved eyes, nodding its head as if it was responding to something Fermato said.
"Ow!" Fermato groaned to his back pain. "Not again!"
The cello horse laughed, excitedly stomping his legs.
"Shut up, Echelus! I am not old! Stop laughing at me!" Fermato shouted with a vein popping out of his forehead.
The master took some time to straighten his back.
"Ah! Don't be frightened," Fermato told Misuna. "Echelus loves giving folks a ride! He just told me he would love to give you two a ride to our SHRIKE base. Your friend would be able to rest there."
"SHRIKE base?"
"That's right. And, oh my! How rude of me. I never asked your names!"
"M… Misuna," Misuna mumbled as Fermato placed Calice on his cello steed's back. "That's... Calice."
"Well! Nice to meet you, Misuna, Calice!" Master Fermato carried Misuna unto Echelus before wincing to his back pain again. "Ack! Ahem. Excuse me. And Misuna, take heart. I sensed your conflict to find where you belong. Somewhere to call home or family. So, allow my humblest steed and yours truly to offer you a path!"
"Okay?" Misuna replied, uncertain if she understood the old Vultau master.
Echelus nodded to Fermato as the Vultau master got on his back.
Can I trust him? Misuna wondered. A Vulpi? Does he truly want to help me and Calice?
"Dang it!" Fermato looked back. "I heard that! Of course, a frail old Vulpi like me is willing to help you two!"
Misuna gasped while Echelus neighed in a giggle.
"I called myself old?" Fermato kicked Echelus' leg. "Gee, thanks for reminding me. Why does my horse make fun of me?"
Misuna laughed a bit.
"Ah! I got you laughing!" Fermato smiled. "Never thought a Vulpi like myself would treat you so kindly, eh? Not like what those Kneapexists taught you at their academies, hm?"
"Umm," Misuna said. "I guess?"
She never spoke to a Vulpi before. Misuna was told that Vulpi were a savage race of humans that attacked people with magic called Vultau. Misuna didn't know what to think now that a Vulpi was speaking to her like any other human being.
"Haha! I told you there are kind Vulpi like myself! Now, ahem. Echelus and I did promise you two a place to stay! Why don't we chat while my humblest steed of the strings gives us a wondrous ride?" Fermato patted Echelus' neck. "Ready, my long time partner? Let's go!"