.....
Varakiel: shifty, distance to modernia?
Shifty: 2km left.
Rapi: not as close as i'd like…
Anis: a heck of a lot closer than we'd be without the train.
Neon: yeah.
Varakiel: Let's move on then.
Rapi: Yes, commander.
…..
Shifty: I'm sensing a reaction! It's chatterbox!
Rapi: !!
Anis: just as we feared. it feels like it's taken a shine to the commander, don't you think?
Varakiel: The bastard didn't even wanted to take me on a date first, talk about being toxic.
Anis: hahaha! yeah.
*Stomp!*
Chatterbox dropped from above, creating a thick dust around him. through the dust, an eerie smirk can be seen.
Chatterbox: it's been a while. Now can I make an impression of you guys? engaging!
Varakiel: Nice to see you again, prick.
Chatterbox: hehehe, i don't know what kind of trick you pulled before but this time i won't make the same mistake, i will break each one of your bones, human.
Rapi: This isn't going to be easy.
Chatterbox: hahaha. you fools. you're probably thinking everything is going according to your plans. but you're mistaken. I only made it seem like that. That way I can wipe all of you out in one fell swoop.
Anis: you're the one who's going down.
Chatterbox: we'll see about that, humanoids.
Varakiel: chatterbox, heh, you really like to chat don't you? *whistle*
Chatterbox: what?
*BANG*
A bullet tears through the ground with a roar and Strikes chatterbox.
Chatterbox: !!
Snow white burst out from the ground.
Snow white: good job, this magic of yours is really useful.
Rapi: Snow white?
Anis: what? When did you start following us?
Snow white: from the very beginning.
Neon: wow. you knew about this master?
Varakiel: Yeah, she joined us around 4:30 AM.
Anis: Really!? I didn't even notice.
Snow white: that means i did a pretty good job isn't it?
Anis:...*sigh*
Snow white: Go, Varakiel. I'll deal with this.
Varakiel: sure, be sure to come to the outpost for maintenance later.
Snow white: *nods*....
Snow white nods without saying anything.
Chatterbox: No more games!!
A shockwave erupts from chatterbox's body.
Shifty chatterbox's output is increasing! it's the highest number i've ever detected!
Chatterbox: you are all going to die here! all of you! no one is escaping!
Snow white: shut up would you?
*BANG*
a huge hole appears in chatterbox body.
Chatterbox: W-WHAT!?
Snow white: you're not the only one that has received some upgrades, hey, I don't think he's gonna let you go anywhere like that.
Varakiel: don't worry, chivalry is coming.
Anis: huh? who is it?
*Vroom—!!*
Anis:...an exhaust?
Neon: i haven't heard that sound before.
Anis: me neither.
Varakiel: oh c'mon you recognize a train but not a-
*Crash—!!*
Chatterbox:!!
…A bike appears out of nowhere and slams into chatterbox.
Neon: is that…
Anis: a motorcycle!
Sugar: not too late, am i?
Snow white:....
Sugar:....
Snow white: cool bike.
Sugar: thanks.
Varakiel: nice timing sugar.
Sugar: hey chief. you should get on the bike.
Varakiel: Wait, the four of us?
Sugar: black typhoon can handle it.
Rapi: Snow white, are you going to be okay?
Varakiel: Yeah, Snow white is stronger than she ever was, chatterbox is a piece of cake for her.
Snow white: yeah, i got this.
Chatterbox: don't make me laugh! you are not going any…!
*BANG*
Chatterbox: *cough*
Snow white: this is between you and me. let's go.
Anis: yeah she can handle it, let's get out of here.
Neon: sugar, please drive safe.
Sugar: you betcha!
....
sugar suddenly stops..
Sugar: we're out of fuel.
Anis:...
Neon:...
Rapi:...
Varakiel: Dang, I should have taken my own bike as well.
Sugar: yeah, wait you got one as well chief?
Varakiel: Yeah, want to take a look at it later?
Sugar: sounds like a plan. Well, gotta hoof it from here.
Anis: *sigh* Are you kidding me?
Sugar: we're almost there.
Neon: how close is "almost"?
Sugar: very.
Neon: wow, right in front of our noses!
Anis: I hate you so much.
Shifty: 300m to destination.
Varakiel: haha, thanks shifty.
Sugar: see. I told you we were almost there. Go. I'll stay behind and make sure no one follows you.
Anis: Will you be okay?
Sugar: I brought more bullets than I did for fuel. I'm set.
Anis: You should have brought more fuel then!
Rapi: good luck, sugar.
Sugar: yes.
Anis: This is weird.
Sugar: weird in what way?
Anis: a lot of nikkes are being mobilized to clear the way for us. It's all a gamble. there's a chance we won't be able to do much to marian.
Sugar: I never minded gambling with low odds.
Anis: That's you, but the others…wait, I get it. It was an order. maybe that's it.
Sugar: we all agreed to this mission. not a single person objected to it.
Anis:....why?
Sugar: Everyone is hoping. we all hope….just maybe….you might do a miracle….
Rapi: a miracle…
Sugar: this is our world. This is us. you guys need to be our hope. Even if things go south, there is hope that we can come back.
Varakiel: Mhm, leave it to us, we will give everyone the miracle they wish.
Anis: you….(yeah…he came for this exact thing…hope..) *smile*
Rapi: com- no…varakiel….(right, yes he came for to help us out, he's the last hope of this world.)
Neon: master….(master is truly strong if there someone who can do miracles is master!)
The three of them smile while looking at varakiel.
Sugar: chief you seem to bring hope wherever you go, and your words are never empty….we all leave it to you….bring marian back.
Varakiel: *nod* here take this.
Varakiel hands a toffee to sugar.
Sugar: what is this?
Varakiel: is a coffee based candy, coffee takes a lot of time to sprout out so i only got enough coffee for this.
Sugar: Is this real coffee?
Varakiel: mhm, give it a try, counters, let's move out.
Sugar then takes it.
Sugar: yes, now scram. Move your asses.
Anis: way to spoil the moment…
Then counters rush to modernia location.
Sugar:.....*munch*....so this is how real coffee tastes like huh
*drip*
Sugar:..is….sweet.
a small tear falls down from sugar's cheek.
Sugar: Chief….please, give us a miracle.
Sugar says as she cogs her shotgun with a smile on her face.
...…
Modernia: huh…
Shifty: meeting up with modernia and absolute.
Eunhwa: you're finally here.
Rapi: yes.
Eunhwa: absolute will back off now. we'll take care of the raptures nearby.
Emma: rapi, you have to win this one.
Vesti: I have faith in you.
Rapi: yes.
Eunhwa: Go! good luck…you bunch of rust buckets
Absolute turns back and heads in the other direction.
Modernia: ah, swapping out for new players, are we? They took more time than I anticipated. I'm feeling a little stressed. I'll take my stress out on you, then go deal with the others.
Varakiel: no, this is the end of the round for you.
Modernia: that voice, i don't know why but when i hear you…..
Anis: huh? Did she remember the commander?
Modernia: I want to break you in a million pieces.
Neon: I think she did it in the bad way….
Rapi: marian…
Modernia: who is that?
Rapi: That was your name.
Modernia: wrong how many times i have to tell you, i'm modernia. the queen's confidante. I do not have such a strange name.
Rapi: right….
Varakiel: So you remember me.
Modernia: ah yes, i remember you now you were a thorn in my side before. you and the pilgrim, right?
Varakiel: confirmation complete, no traces of marian, proceed with the plan.
Modernia: So are you finally finished chatting? Are we going to fight or what?
Shifty: very well. commander, use the vapaus when you see fit.
Varakiel:....
Modernia: ha! even after declaring all out war, still you won't make the first move? fine, then allow me.
Varakiel: (the first to make the move is always the loser.)
Shifty: incoming!
.....
Modernia: how strong you are! haha, to be honest, i didn't expect you to be this strong. you even banged me up a little bit.
Varakiel: ( she doesn't seem to remember the time i fought her, weird)
Modernia: Anyway, I suppose it's time to wrap this up. I….
Rapi: what is happening?
Modernia: Ah. argh…! my…head..!!
*Eeeeeek–!!*
An unpleasant sound rang out.
Modernia: Ahahahahah—!!....commander?
Varakiel:...
Rapi:...
Anis:...
Neon:...
Modernia: commander. Commander..did..you come to save me?
Rapi: don't play games. commander, stay back.
Modernia: rapi? Why, why are you doing this?
Varakiel: ( she is using the memories she collected, NIMPH is really something to fear, huh.)
Modernia: i-it's me. don't you remember me? i-is it because we've only met once? that…mission where we were looking for the missing squad…
Rapi: I remember that.
Modernia: then why are you pointing your gun at me…c-commander. Please stop her…I don't know why she's doing this. we can talk this out. right? commander?
Varakiel:.....
Modernia: c-commander…do you not remember me either? this. Can you see this? this is the bandage you wrapped. when I was hurt. Do you really not remember?
Varakiel: (for raptures to remember even that, they really were trying to make her alike huh.)
Modernia: you know. I've never taken this bandage off. It was the first time in my life anyone had ever been kind to me. The first time I felt warm inside. Even when the bandage was coming off, I never swapped it for a new one. I thought it would be nice if you wrapped it. C-commander. Can you wrap my bandage again?
Modernia gets closer to varakiel.
*click click click*
Rapi: don't come any closer. heretic.
Modernia: why. Why are you acting like this?
modernia turns around to face rapi, anis and neon.
Modernia: Did I do something wrong?
Rapi:...tell me your name.
Modernia: I'm the commander's nikke. names do not mean anything. commander can you give me a name?
*click*
Varakiel: don't you dare to make a move.
Varakiel points a pistol to modernia.
Varakiel: There's a way you can prove me you're right, tell me what was the last thing I gave you.
Modernia: r-really? i-it was this bandage commander, you wrapped it up on me before shooting me.
Varakiel: heh, so you remember that…..
Modernia: t-then!?
*click*
Varakiel: But that was not it, the truth is modernia...
Varakiel suddenly appears in modernia's back and shoots her with vapaus.
Varakiel: The game was rigged from the start. (lily do it now)
*Bang*
A Bullet hits modernia.
Modernia body suddenly freezes up!
and an ethereal element is suddenly injected into modernia!
Modernia: Ugh..! Ahhhhh..!!! Urgh…! Arghhhh..!!!
An ominous light burst out like an explosion.
Anis: c-commander what happened?
Varakiel: Marian is taking her body back.
Rapi: m-marian is in there!?
Neon: w-what we do!?
Varakiel: she is going to be okay, don't worry she will never lose, not with what i gave her last time.
Neon: her bandage?
Varakiel: no neon, the last thing i gave her is…..hope.
Anis: why go to such lengths for someone?
Varakiel: heheh, because….
Modernia has stopped screaming for a long time by now.
Varakiel: *smile* I want to save all of you.
Rapi: varakiel..
Anis: varakiel….
Neon: master….
the parts covering modernia fall to the ground. the parts disappear as if being blown away by the wind.
Rapi: Is she collapsing?
Anis: What do we do? Marian didn't make it?
Neon: no i think only her heretic equipment is doing that..
Modernia:....hhhh, ahhhh...*ugh*...comman…der..?
Varakiel: welcome back home marian.
Marian: C-commander! commander! *hic* commander!
Varakiel: How are you feeling marian?
Marian: yes, yes! I am okay commander! Can you hear my voice?
Rapi: !!
Anis: are you…back?
Neon: sniff!
Varakiel: I remember it as I just heard you yesterday complaining about my recklessness hahahaha!
Marian: Varakiel!!!
marian tries to step forward and embrace varakiel but she tumbles down, but he catches her.
Varakiel: calm down, you have been without a body for a long time don't you?
Marian: y-yeah, Promestein told me t-these would be the secondary effects.
Varakiel: calm down.
Rapi:...marian, welcome back.
Anis: welcome back marian you have so much to learn hehe!
Snow white: watch out!
Chatterbox: Arrggghhhhh–!!
Neon: above us!
half of what's left of chatterbox falls down from the sky.
Varakiel: This guy is really persistent isn't he?
Rapi: shoot it down!
Anis: okay!
*rat-tat-tat-tat*
Chatterbox is being blown apart, fragments breaking off everywhere. its body contorts as it desperately fights to change direction. chatterbox is caught in a hail of bullets. only the head remains. which falls towards Marian's head.
Marian: huh?
Chatterbox: not even one! I will not relent!
A flash of light emits.
Marian's shrill cry can be heard.
Marian: Ahahahahh—!! my head…!
Varakiel: marian! (lily!?)
Lily: (relax she will be okay, right her body is controlled with her soul not her brain so at most she will lose the capacity to speak for some time.)
Varakiel: (*pew* as long as she is okay…what did he do..?)
Marian: uh….sniff-!! c-commander…
Rapi: shifty! check the reaction!
Shifty: o-okay!....
Marian: commander..
Shifty: corro….sion detected…
Marian: commander. commander. commander. commander.
Anis: uh…!
Neon: this can't…be…
Chatterbox: ha…haha…hahahaha…
Varakiel: *pufffff* hahahahahaha!!!!
varakiel laughs even louder than chatterbox and the surroundings shake.
Varakiel: I have to admit it, I didn't expect you to pull such a trick, but you know.
varakiel grins at chatterbox head.
Varakiel: I am always prepared. I expected something like that, she is completely fine right now, you just made her unable to properly speak, AHAHAHAH!!
Chatterbox: W-WHAT!? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!?
Varakiel: Mwaahhahah!
Varakiel laughs like vanir.
Varakiel: like hell i'll tell you, you son of bitch, Anis do me the honors, kill him like the dog he is.
Anis: you son of a bitch!
Anis tramples on chatterbox's remains.
Anis: I have always wanted to do this GRRRAAHHH!
Neon: huh, anis…i think that's enough.
Anis: one second….ERRNNGGHHH! *pew* now! there! son of a bitch is finally fucking dead! *sniff* *sniff* damn you, damn you!
Varakiel: there, there anis.
Varakiel pats anis head.
Anis: varakiel…is that true?
Varakiel: yeah, here look at this, Marian how many fingers do you see?
Varakiel shows Marian 3 fingers.
Marian: commander…commander…commander…
Varakiel: now?
Varakiel then shows 2 fingers.
Marian: commander…commander.
Rapi: i-is true!
Varakiel: mhm, right now her brain is indeed corroded, but her soul remains intact, don't worry she will remember everything.
Anis: r-really? you are not lying?
Varakiel: You think I would, in a time like this?
Anis:....no…no, you never would varakiel *sniff*
Rapi: Let's get her back to the ark, even if her soul is intact there could be irreversible damage if her brain is too damaged.
Varakiel: mhm, let's go, don't worry marian you will be fine, we'll all protect you, just like how you did it for me.
Marian: commander.
Varakiel: mhm let's go, operation lazarus was a complete success.
Anis:...*sniff* yeah, let's go back home. we will protect you marian we promise.
Marian: a…..nis.
Anis: *sob* She is indeed fine.
Rapi: yeah that answer reassures that, shifty.
Shifty: end of engagement. all raptures nearby are retreating. the mission…commander what should we call it success or failure?
Varakiel:...hmmm…success, she will be fine, and we did get our miracle isn't? hahaha!
Shifty: yeah you're right marian is back, not the way we intended but i heard everything you said….so yeah, this is not short of a miracle….commander..thank you.
Snow white: are you all okay?
Varakiel: We are good, chatterbox pulled a trick on us but she will be fine.
varakiel says while he looks at marian on his back.
Anis: *sigh* i can't even be mad at you right now, i really wish to punch you so bad but ill bear it.
Snow white:....sorry about that, i didn't expect him to pull such a move as well.
Varakiel: i didn't aswell, actually i though he was just going to blow himself up and kill us all….which would have been a way better strategy, what the fuck?
Snow white: i….agree, does that mean something to you?
Varakiel: Yeah, for him I was more important than marian and killing my squad.
Rapi: that….that's true actually.
Neon: yeah that's…weird.
Anis: very weird, i just thought he had some kind of weird rivalry with the commander…i guess it was something else, the commander is more important to raptures than we thought right?
Everyone, even Marian, was looking at Anis weirdly…
Anis: w-what!?
Varakiel: is the first time we see you use your brain for once.
Anis: y-you piece of!
Varakiel: alright time to go back, heck i didn't left unscatched from this i need to go to the hospital.
Rapi: a-are you okay commander?
Varakiel: I'll be fine, I just want to make sure that whatever chatterbox did didn't affect me aswell.
Anis: yeah, that's true….so we are done?
Varakiel: mhm, counters, marian, snow white let's go back home.