"We're here."
Both Commander and I arrived in Orphanage.
"Hiro!", Vinna shouted.
She's run towards me and suddenly stop when she saw Commander.
"Commander, why are you here?"
"I'll answer that later. Is Ernesta is still not found yet?"
"Eh? No."
"I see. All of you, focus on finding the children."
"What about you, Commander?"
"I'll find Ernest."
"Do you know where Ernesta?", Vinna asked.
"Yes. She's in the South-West."
"But, there are some footmarks going to North-East.", Lulu said.
"Yeah, that's why Ernesta is really in South-West."
"Let's talk later, we have to find the children."
All of us except the Commander starts to run lead by me.
"Do you know where the kids are?"
"Yeah, they are in the Center of Novus."
"Eh? Didn't you say that there are so many people there to hide them?"
"Yeah, but I was wrong. Those Outsiders most likely hide the children not in the place where its hard to find them but in a place where we never think."
"I see... I really don't get it."
*Why is she acting like Ernesta right now?*
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, seriously."
"It's like they're hidden in a place where there are so many people yet they wouldn't be found at all. A blindspot. In other words, they're at the center in Novus in the underground."
"Oh, I see now."
We're already at the center of Novus.
"All of you, find a way to go to underground."
This is the last place I can think of if they are not still here…
_____________________________________
(Before the arrival)
Both Commander and I running towards Novus. The Commander of A-2 is taking care now of our HQ. So now, we can focus on finding Ernesta and the children.
"So, where's Ernesta went?"
"Before Ernesta went missing, we saw some footmarks in North-East of Novus."
"So that means Ernesta is there?"
"No, it's the opposite."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Those foot's mark is just a trap. The pure-blooded Outsiders are in the opposite direction."
"Continue."
"After clearing my mind, I find out what's really the goal of those Outsiders."
"And what is it?"
"They planning to get rid of Ernesta."
"Huh?"
"Didn't you notice? The Orphanage is far from the outside of Novus, yet they still decide to kidnap the children from there instead of from the near place. They are trying to make Ernesta come to them."
"How about the footmarks in North-East? How come they are traps"
"If you look at the map of Novus. The North-East side of Novus is farther than the South-West, plus, the place in North-East is a market place so that means there are so many people from there. They wouldn't take a risk from that. Ernesta might flee to South-West when see saw those footmarks."
"Why Ernesta? and why Ernesta go there alone?"
"Maybe because Ernesta is a big problem to them. Also, Ernesta already knows what those Outsiders want."
"Then why?"
"Because she has no choice. She intentionally caught to their bait."
"No choice?"
"The children are still inside of Novus, but those Outsiders might not since they can go inside or outside easily. Ernesta is trying to stop them from coming back and buying us some time to find the children."
"Those bastards! I'm going to crash them once I saw them."
*Scary*
_____________________________________
"There's a tunnel here!", someone shouted.
We run towards the tunnel and went inside.
"Are they here?"
"Everyone, search every corner!", Cedric order.
All of us search every corner of the underground.
"They're here!", Rick shouted while pointing his finger on the left side.
We run towards the direction he pointed and spotted the children who were inside a huge cage. The cage is a locked so we break it using Rick's gun. After opening the door of the cage, the children run towards us and start crying.
""Waaaahhhh!!""
"Thank god they're here.", Vinna said with a relieved expression on her face.
"Yeah, we should ask them later after they're calm down."
_________________________________________________________________________________
*I'm totally dead!*
The Commander of A-1 HQ approaches us with a serious expression on her face. Every step of her feet makes my body shake. The dome that Ernesta made is slowly vanishing.
The Commander of A-1 looks at Ernesta. After staring for few seconds, she turns her face to me with a rage expression. Her face looks like someone who's about to kill.
"You!!!"
The ground starts to shake. The dome is completely gone now but I doubt I could run away from her. The ground shakes more that I almost lose balance.
She's about to dash towards me but Ernesta stops her. I took the opportunity to run away. While running, I look at the back and saw the Commander staring at me with sharp eyes. That stare is enough to make my body chill.
"Huh?"
I heard Ernesta say something towards me.
I saw Arnil and Zod that looks like waiting for me.
"I can't believe that you're still alive.", Zod said while holding his chest.
"Shut up! Let's run now before that woman chases us."
"Yeah."
"That old fart! Did he predict all of this and let us die here?"
"How about Ernesta? We won't kill her?", Arnil asked.
"Go back if you want! If that Elizabeth caught any of you. I won't dare to go back and save your asses!"
The three of us run away and go back to Cerex.
While we're running, I think about what Ernesta said.
*" You're different from the others."*
*Did she find out already?*
________________________________________________________________________________________
Running towards the South-West, I saw a huge dome where I'm heading. It's so huge and looks like made of metal.
*Ernesta is there!*
No one can create that kind of dome made of metal except for her. Creating that means bad news, Ernesta only uses that only in an emergency, or more likely when she's outnumbered or her opponent is stronger than her. In short, she's in danger right now.
When I reach the dome. Without thinking of anything. I punch the dome using my fist cover with rocks and break it in one try. It creates smoke which makes it hard to see what's inside.
"Ernesta, you still alive there?", I asked hoping someone reply.
After making a hole in the dome. I step inside and saw one of the pure-blooded Outsider and Ernesta. I walk towards Ernesta while keeping eye on the Outsider.
When I reach Ernesta, she smiles at me like there's nothing bad happen her. I saw her body full of blood and wounds. There's a large cut on the front of her body.
After seeing this. My blood boil and my body become hot. This is the first time I saw Ernesta like this. I face the Outsider. I can't think of anything except killing her. I was about to dash towards her when Ernesta pulls my arm.
"What is it?"
"It hurts! Bring me to the hospital right now!"
"R-Right!"
My mind is back to normal. I almost forgot to priorities Ernesta's safety over anything.
"…", Ernesta say something, but I'm thinking so much that I couldn't hear it.
"Did you something?", I asked.
"N-No, nothing."
*I really heard something. Doesn't matter.*
"Hey!" Ernesta shouted while pushing her arms towards me.
"What is it?"
"Carry me! I can't walk!"
"There's no time for jokes!"
*How can she do that in this situation?*
"But! I can't really walk."
Ernesta makes a face of a kitten who's about to cry. I can't resist that face of her.
Maybe she can't really walk because of the fight.
Before I carry Ernesta, I staring at the Outsider who's running away. She also looks back at us and saw me looking at her.
The next time I saw those Outsiders, I'll make sure they're dead.
"Come here."
"Yey!"
I can see the joy in Ernesta's face while carrying her. I can't believe she makes that kind of face in this time of situation.
______________________________________________________________________________
After saving the children, we bring them back to the Orphanage and calm them down. Commander carried Ernesta to the Hospital here in Novus. Cedric and his men guard the Orphanage while we're here at the Hospital with Ernesta.
"Why you went there alone!", Vinna shouted while holding Ernesta's collar.
"Well..."
Ernesta's scratching her back of her head.
"it's a secret."
"You!!!"
"Teehee.", she said while sticking out her tongue.
*Stomp**Stomp*
We heard the noise of someone who's running towards here.
"That noise."
"Yeah."
"ER-NES-TA!!!"
"Geh!"
Ernesta looks shocked after hearing that voice.
The person who's running stops at the room where Ernesta is confined. Her feet slide a little on the floor when she stops. That person is none other than Relaine, who's panting and sweating so much. She walks towards Ernesta with heavy steps.
"Relaine!", Ernesta shouted with a smile on her face.
"You!!!"
"Ah!"
Relaine hit Ernesta's head with the bottom side of her fist.
"Unfortunately your body is injured."
"Hehe. What's that even mean."
Ernesta is pretending not to know what she meant.
"You little brat! How dare you to dive into that dangerous situation!"
"Well…"
"It's either you give me a good reason or your prayers right now."
"Well… that's this and that's that or something like that."
*I can't understand her...*
"You brat!"
Relaine grabs her collar.
"No one is allowed to hurt you nor kill you except me. Got it?!"
"Y-Yes! Mom!"
"Don't call me your MOM!"
Relaine turns her head to us.
"Also, why you didn't even ask me for help?"
""Heeh!""
Our body chill she asked that.
"Oh, about that.", Ernesta butt in.
She pointed her point to someone.
"It's Lisa's fault."
Commander looks shocked when Ernesta pointed her.
"Hey, let's talk outside."
Relaine walks outside that room.
"Ah."
Commander sighed while walking towards the door.
"Good luck Lisa!"
She really dares to say that after blaming her.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Walking outside the room. I saw Relaine waiting for me.
"Hey."
Her angry face, when she's inside the room, becomes serious.
"Why didn't call me when she went missing?"
"You're in the middle of the mission."
"But still!"
"Do you really plan to abandon your mission?", I asked.
"Who said I'm going to abandon my mission."
"Eh?"
"If you just ask for my help. I'll just finish the mission faster. I won't leave until I finish it."
*I see… that's what she meant.*
"You're really concern about her that much huh."
"Shut up.", she said without shouting.
Relaine turns her head in a different direction.
"Ernesta's life is more important than all of our mission."
I'm surprised when I learn she's really that concerned with her.
"Sorry…"
"Don't apologize. It's my fault running her and start shouting. But-"
She faces me again.
"Next time, don't hesitate to ask for my help."
"Y-Yes."
"Well…"
Relaine stretches her arms and starts walking outside of the hospital.
"You're not going back?", I asked.
"No need, Ernesta is alright and that's enough. Just tell me if something happens."
"Yes."
There's a part of me that knows what's Relaine is thinking. That concern to her face, is that the real her? If she really cares about Ernesta that much, why she's acting rough to Ernesta?
I don't know whether I can ask her that directly.
___________________________________________
After the recovery of Ernesta, both of us call from the main building of our superior. The main building is at the top of the tall mountain. It's a white huge mansion with so many guards. If you make things that make you look like a threat to them, they won't hesitate to kill you.
We're already inside the building, facing the three out of four superior. They're the one whose give us order and the one who make the rules. We can't oppose them, even this naughty Ernesta here. Thankfully she didn't run towards the door and start shouting, maybe because we had been called here in the middle of the night and Ernesta feels sleepy and not in the mood to do that.
"Elizabeth and Ernesta of the Area-1 Headquarters disobey one of our rules."
"Wait, isn't only Lisa the one who disobeys the rules? Why I'm even here?"
*Here she goes.*
Even though they are superior to us, no one can stop Ernesta from doing this.
"Silent! It is because you're the reason why she disobeys our rules."
"The rules of not allowing the Commander to leave its headquarters.", one of the superiors added.
"What if there's an Outsider destroy your headquarters?"
"That's why I ask for some help from Leo to take care of our HQ."
Speaking of Leo, he already experiences this before Ernesta recover. I should just ask him what they talk about here.
"But Leo is a Commander also! You make him disobey the rules."
"Don't worry, I will take responsibility."
"Good. As for your punishment. We decided to-"
"Wait."
Before the superior finishes his word. One of the superiors appears behind us. A tanned beauty woman with short white hair that matches her white dress walk towards us.
"Tina!!!" Ernesta is back from being energetic after seeing her.
Altina is one of our superiors. She is the leader of the other three superiors in this building. She has the highest authority and position. She's known for being kind and has the best judgment at all. Unlike the other three who judge a person base on rules. Altina judges their base on the situation. In other words, her judgment is based not on equality but on equity.
No wonder why people chose her to become the leader. Even the other three superiors never oppose or question her judgment.
"What is it, Altina?"
"Elizabeth and Ernesta did nothing wrong."
"Why do you think that?"
"Elizabeth left the HQ to save Ernesta. You know Ernesta is a valuable person to us.
If something worse happens to her, it may lead to long-term damage to us."
Her judgment is really absolute.
"I-I see, I think your right."
"Yeah."
"Sorry for wrong judgment."
All of them agree with her.
"Don't apologize, all of you are just doing your job."
Thankfully she's here.
Altina faces us.
"Are you alright Elizabeth and Ernesta?", she asked.
"Y-Yes, Miss Altina."
"I'm alright!"
"I see. I'm happy that nothing worse happens to you, Ernesta."
Altina patted Ernesta's head and give her a beautiful smile. That smile alone can make anyone bow down to her.
"Do you already eat dinner?", she asked.
"Well, we already-"
"No! We haven't!", Ernesta said while holding my mouth with her two hands.
"If that's the case, I'll make dinner for two of you."
Altina turns around and starts walking.
"Yes!", Ernesta shouted like she won a big prize.
The two of us follow her.
Not just that her judgment is good but also her cooking. The food that she cooks is enough to make someone fall in love with her.
After waiting, the table is full now of food made by Altina.
"Eat now before the food gets cold."
"Thank you."
Ernesta starts putting the food in her mouth without saying anything.
Altina couldn't able to cook some food at the HQ party since she was busy, thankfully we have the opportunity to taste her delicacy.
While eating, someone from the outside walks towards Altina.
"Oh, you two are here huh."
It's Relaine.
"What are you doing here?"
"I have some files that need to submit to Miss Altina.", she said while giving a folder to Altina.
"Thank you Relaine."
Relaine is about to leave but Altina calls her.
"You should eat before you go."
"Eh? Well, if you insist."
"Thanks for the food, Tina.", Ernesta said after eating.
"You're welcome. You can come here every time you want."
"Yey! Tina! Please marry me!"
"Oh my, if you insist I might-"
"Hold up, what the hell are you saying?"
Relaine grabs Ernesta's arm and pulls her away to Altina.
"Hey! Wait! She already agrees! She already agrees!!!"
"Don't ever lay a hand on her you pervert!"
"Woah! I smell some jealousy here! Relaine really loves me."
"Oh shut up!"
Relaine let go of Ernesta.
"I'm going back."
"Eh? You're not going to eat."
"Later. I just need to report something to Leo."
"Ba-Bye! Relaine.", Ernesta said while waving her hand.
"You two really close."
"Yup!", Ernesta didn't disagree.
"She also really love you."
"Really?"
"Of course, if she didn't. She would deny what you said earlier."
"Hehe."
"By the way, are you ready for the event next week?"
"Event? What event?"
"You know, some sports or competition."
"I see."
"Especially the battle between the HQ's team."
"A battle huh."
"It looks like we have fun next week."
"Yeah!"
"What's fun in battle?"
After the talking, the two of us went home. We announce about the event and ready ourself next week.