Ren was in the hangar, getting into Nemesis, preparing to launch the mission to rescue Tsukiko's daughters.
Serenity and Eleonora were also preparing their own personal knights. Eleonora's knight was a clean white mixed with some black-colored designs, while Serenity's knight was white as well, but had pink designs due to her own request.
Laelli was hanging out in the hangar, right next to Ren's knight. She was sharpening her knife for the mission.
Laelli looked up at Ren and asked "So... we're going to be swimming in space?"
Ren corrected her "Floating so technically."
The plan was for Ren, Serenity, and Eleonora to get as close as they could to the rebel ships access hatch, and once they reached a point where they were comfortable, they would go towards the hatch using thruster packs with limited boosts. They would also all wear protective gear to make sure space wouldn't harm them. Ren, Serenity, and Eleonora would have someone else fly their knights, and they would launch. Scarlet would be taking Ren's, Lily would be taking Eleonora's, Sakura would be taking Serenity's, and Tyler would be taking his own with Laelli in the back. Once the infiltration team successfully infiltrates the enemy base, they will all wait in the rings of Anatos II, which will be filled with asteroids, for the signal to begin the assault.
"Are you sure about this, Ren?" Laelli asked.
"I'm sure." Ren replied.
"Why did you choose me? I don't even like you?" Laelli said with a frustrated voice.
"Because you will be useful on this mission." Ren said as he was still working on his knight. Then he looked down at Laelli and said "Look, I know you don't really like me, but you trust Ashastha. I'm not asking you to give me the same amount of trust, but just give me the benefit of the doubt. Who knows? Maybe I can earn a little of your trust on this mission."
Laelli put her head down and thought about it before saying "We'll see" before she walked away.
Ren sighed before he continued working on his knight.
It wasn't long before Lucilia, Ashastha, and Sthora walked over to him.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Lucilia asked.
Ren got down from his knight and walked over to the girls. "I'm sure Lucilia, have some faith in me."
"I do trust you, Ren, with all I have...it's just..."
"She's scared since you'll be on the battlefield without her." a voice said, interrupting Lucilia.
It was Mae who had come out of her office.
"MAE!" Lucilia yelled with a blushed response.
Ren then grabbed Lucilia and embraced her in a hug "Just trust me, Lucilia. I'll always come back to you."
Lucilia blushed even further and buried her head into Ren's chest.
"You're not leaving me out of this!" Ashastha said before hugging Ren from behind. "Once you get back, we will celebrate together, my fated one..."
"And what does that entail?" Ren asked.
"Whatever it is you want." Ashastha responded.
"I guess I'll have to think up some ideas." Ren said with a slight smile.
Ashastha held him tighter, which took Ren's breath away since she was using a lot of her strength.
"Asha...please...need...oxygen..." Ren said tapping Ashastha's arm.
"Oh!" Ashastha said before letting go of Ren. "Sorry"
Ren took a second to get his barrings before looking back at Ashastha. "It's fine, just less strength, please."
Ashastha and Ren re-embraced, with Ren's head being put in between Ashastha's two mountains on her chest.
"Now I can't breathe for a different reason...at least this way it's enjoyable." Ren thought to himself.
Once the two separated, Ren and Ashastha shared a kiss before Ren turned around.
It was then that he noticed Sthora on the side blushing and seemingly getting antsy while watching Ren with Ashastha and Lucilia.
Lately, it had seemed like Sthora was finally opening up her feelings to him, but she wasn't ready to push for anything—at least not yet.
Ren walked over to where Sthora was standing, which surprised Sthora.
"What are you-?" Sthora said before Ren embraced her in a hug.
This quieted Sthora, who's face now was completely blushed as she felt the warmth from his body.
Ren then moved his head closer to her ear before whispering "I know right now your thoughts and feelings are hectic, to say the least. But just know that whenever you feel ready to explain how you feeling. I'll listen."
Sthora slightly nodded after hearing this, and Ren backed away and started to walk back to his knight.
"Hey! Where's our hugs?" a voice said from the sides.
It was Scarlet who spoke up, and Lily was right next to her.
"I wasn't going to forget you two." Ren said.
"Sure..." Scarlet replied with a laugh.
"Scarlet, you're literally driving my knight; if anything, Lily should get the hug first since I won't see her until after the mission is over.
Lily smiled upon hearing that as she ran up to Ren, hugging him, causing Scarlet to pout in response.
"Lily, just because you act cute, it does not give you hugging privileges." Scarlet said.
Lily didn't respond; instead, she nestled her head into Ren's chest.
Ren put his hand on the back of Lily's head as he told Scarlet "I don't know...the cute factor is definitely working right now."
Scarlet stared daggers at Ren before screaming "I CAN BE CUTE TOO" as she ran up and embraced her as she stood right next to Lily.
Ren laughed in response before leaning over to Scarlet and kissing her "You can most definitely be cute too, Scarlet."
Lily then looked at Ren with some puppy dog eyes before Ren said "Relax, you're getting one too."
Ren then kissed Lily, to which she smiled.
"Are you two ready?" Ren asked.
Scarlet and Lily both nodded in response.
"Lily, please be careful out there." Ren said to Lily.
"I will, Ren; you need to be careful too." Lily responded.
It was then that the speakers on the ship called out "Okay guys, we're getting close; all pilots enter your knights; infiltration team, make sure your gear is ready. ETA is six minutes."
The voice was Rumia, who had taken charge on the bridge of the ship.
Everyone involved in the mission started to get ready. Ren and Scarlet got into his knight as well as the others in preparation for the mission. Ren spoke on his knight's comms. "Laelli, Eleonora, and Serenity, are you three ready?"
"Im good." Serenity responded.
"All set." Elenora said.
"Why is this knight such a tight fit?" Laelli asked.
"I'll take that as your ready. Okay, guys, we have only a few minutes before launch. Once we launch Scarlet, Tyler, Lily, and Sakura will take us to a nearby asteroid in the belt where we can lay low. Once there's an opening, we will use the thruster packs we have put on the outside of the knights. Once we put them on, we head to the access hatch. Remember, use the thrusters for course correction only. We have limited thrusts; we run out, and next thing we know, we'll be floating in space. Laelli, listen to our instructions to boost when we tell you, You remember the training we had with them, right?" Ren said.
"Kind of..." Laelli responded.
In preparation for the mission, Ren and the infiltration team had trained how to use the thruster packs in zero gravity, so they had a rough idea of how to use the thruster packs.
It was then that the wait started for all to be clear from Rumia.
Ren sat there in anticipation, waiting for the call, which luckily came "Guys, we have arrived at Anatos II; the mission is now up to you. Make sure you're careful; go to the asteroid belt, and you know where to go from there." Rumia said.
"Right, guys, it's time to launch!"
It was then that the doors to the hangar opened, and the four knights left the hangar, immediately heading towards the asteroids.
It was then that Scarlet said "So Ren...regarding Lily. When are you two going to, you know?"
"Not the time, Scarlet...also the mic is on." Ren replied.
"What?" Scarlet said before looking at the live mic.
*Inside of Eleonora's knight*
Lily was flying the knight with a full blush on her face.
"Why Scarlet why..." She said under her breath.
Eleonora in the back was shaking her head after hearing that "And there goes all of the tension for the mission..."
The knights traveled to the asteroid belt and settled behind one of the bigger asteroids, which had a decent sight of the enemy base and ship at Anatos II.
"So what now?" Laelli asked on the radio.
Ren was the first to respond "We wait for a opening....after that, it's time to begin the mission."
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