the next day.
Varakiel: *yawn* Which hour is it?
varakiel notices his bed is slightly tilt to the side.
Neon: mmmm…master…fire dragons are dangerous. you need to increase your firepower a bit more.
Anis: uhuh..my butt…it's clean…it doesn't smell..
Rapi:...*snore* zzzz…
rapi anis and neon were sleeping on one side of the bed.
Mihara:...zzz…
Yuni: commander…..please…get well….soon…
Mihara and Yuni were on the other side of the bed.
Varakiel: *chuckle* (they are so adorable, i am really lucky to have found them when i arrived…)
Varakiel then pats Yuni and neon heads.
Neon: ~...
Yuni: so warm~
Rapi:....zzz…
Varakiel: (i promised to not stand up from the bed, but they didn't say that i couldn't do anything else, heheh.)
Varakiel then, using magic power on his hand, begins to wave his hands in the air.
*click* *thing* *fuwush*
Varakiel was cooking remotely using magic.
Varakiel: breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all…
Rapi: *snore*zzzz..huh?...ah!....about time you woke up.
Varakiel: *chuckle* hahaha, good morning sleeping beauty, can you wake them up breakfast would be ready soon.
Rapi: ready soon? by who?
rapi notices varakiel was swiftly moving his hands on the air, then she notices the noise from the kitchen.
Rapi: commander…
Varakiel: what? you didn't say anything about using magic.
Rapi:.....touche. I'll change your electrolytes, anis, neon, mihara, yuni, wake up.
Neon: !!
Anis: huh..
Mihara: *yawn*
Yuni: Hmmm, just 5 minutes more….
Neon: i-i wasn't sleeping just dreaming, that's all!
Anis: ahhhh! wh-what!
Rapi: the commander is awake. Let's get started.
soon after…
Anis: Okay, all done.
Neon: are you feeling okay, master?
Varakiel: i'm fine, you should eat your breakfast before it gets cold.
mihara: yummy, let's go yuni.
Yuni: aw…fine.
Yuni, who was being petted by Varakiel, followed Mihara to the table.
anis: using magic is cheating, commander.
Varakiel: I didn't write the rules you did, muahahah.
Neon: ….
*beep*
—--
Ingrid
It's me.
I've brought her.
—---
Rapi: what is it commander?
Varakiel: Marian is here. Let's go meet her.
Varakiel then stands up and grabs the IV.
Varakiel: Let's go, everyone.
Neon: Yeah, let's go.
Rapi: okay.
...…
Ingrid: as of today, marian will be a member of the counters. any questions?
Varakiel: none.
Ingrid: right. come in.
Marian:...
Rapi:....
Anis:....
Neon:....
Anis: It's nice to meet you. I'm anis. glad to be working with you.
Neon: Hello, I'm neon. Sorry to say this during our first meeting. But I'm a spy. try and keep it on the down low.
Rapi: I'm rapi.
Marian: ah…ahhoah.
Marian says with a smile.
Rapi:....
Anis:...
Neon:....
Ingrid: she can't speak yet. you'll have to take it one step at a time.
Anis: Alright, leave it to us, she'll be the Marian we all love in no time.
Marian: Yahoo. aheuah.
Marian then goes closer to varakiel and grabs his hand.
Marian: Comman, der. (I am back commander.)
Varakiel: mhm, welcome home marian.
Rapi: So she does remember..
Ingrid: the neural wipe went just as planned. yet somehow she remembers her name and the word commander. This reason is unknown….but…if what varakiel said is right, it was because her soul refuses to forget, if there is something like that, it's not in the brain.
Anis:...
Neon: see i told you, master can create miracles.
Ingrid: she's a quick learner. I'm sure she'll be able to speak soon. and….no. it's nothing. I'll be heading out.
Rapi: I'll escort you.
Ingrid: thanks.
Rapi and ingrid walk away.
Anis:...now then, marian.
Marian: ahwoo?
Anis: from now on, call me the almighty anis.
Marian:.....a-nis.
Anis:....*sniff* welcome back, marian…wahhh!!! *sob*
Anis quickly embraces marian.
Marian then hugs her back.
marian: ahwoo, ahwoo.
Neon:...*sniff*
Varakiel: mhm (i will never allow a tragedy to fall upon my friends, never.)
...
one month later. on the surface.
Anis: finally, i've been dying for a taste of the real thing again. just do as you practiced and everything will be fine. All right, marian?
Marian: don't worry anis, I got this.
Neon: i'm worried.
Anis: what?
Neon: i agree marian is a fast learner, and her simulation results in the tower were superb, but if she doesn't have a true appreciation for firepower, then of course she'd feel insecure.
Anis: always going on about firepower…you sound like the leader of a cult. -_-
Rapi: don't worry. In terms of combat ability, she is second to the commander.
Anis: that may have something to do from her time as a heretic.
Rapi: Maybe, maybe not. either way. it's not an issue now. She's come very far.
Varakiel: And all of you have done as well, your control over magic has improved a lot.
Anis: yeah, i can finally lift up a boulder and use it as cover, really useful.
Neon: and I can add extra firepower to my shells now.
Rapi: I can recognize raptures from our surroundings. I have to say, magic is indeed powerful.
Marian: yes, in my time on the commander world I could see how far magic can take someone, magic is something to fear too.
Varakiel: mhm, as long you have respect for magic there's nothing to fear. but she still needs to a lot of help. 1 month to learn what an adult human can do is so little time.
Anis: well, this should help with her rehabilitation. let's get this show on the road. marian, you are taking the offensive this time.
Marian: okay. encounter.
...
Rapi: enemy neutralized.
Varakiel: Good job everyone.
Anis: hmmm. good. good enough for me.
Neon: I don't think there's any problem combat-wise.
Anis: she's a real prodigy, this one.
Rapi: all right marian, conduct any necessary repairs and head back.
Marian: commander I can see it again….
Marian says as she stands in front of a rapture, whose core is flashing. she reaches out and smashes the core.
Varakiel: raptures are sentient things, i confirmed that but no matter what, they are the invaders, and they should get out of our planet.
Rapi: Yeah, I agree.
Anis: me too, we should send them back to where they came from.
Neon: I'll blast them all away.
Marian: yeah.
....
Andersen: Marian noticed that a rapture was begging for mercy?
Ingrid: I certainly didn't expect that. I expected for them to feel pain, but beg for mercy? That's new.
Andersen: Perhaps this is an aftereffect of when she was an heretic.
Ingrid: I can agree with that, for them she's still the, how she called herself back then? queen confidante?
Andersen: ah yes, she said something like that. So what do we do with this information? Do we tell everyone that raptures might have feelings? or do we disclose it?
Ingrid: Of course we disclose it, no matter what raptures say, it doesn't change the fact that they massacred billions of humans, babies, child, male, woman, elders alike, for us they are nothing more than killers.
Andersen: i agree.
Ingrid: And what do you think about it?
ingrid asked varakiel.
Varakiel: no matter what raptures say, they still killed billions of humans. and they shall pay the same price. I care for all living beings, but they should have stopped when they had the chance.
Ingrid: good, you only care for nikkes and humans.
Andersen: The fact that Marian was able to remember everything is nothing short but a miracle, even more the hate for raptures it doesn't come from her NIMPH, it comes from her very soul.
Varakiel: Mhm, I told you that she was strong.
Ingrid: then…there's been some suspicious activity in the ark. and i don't think it's just my imagination…be careful.
Varakiel: What sort of suspicious activities?
Ingrid: troops are on the move. there is a high chance they're after marian.
Varakiel: Marian is still part of my team.
Andersen: yes, and as a member of the commando unit, she has my full support as well as ingrid's. That means no one can touch her.
Varakiel: Greed can make people do crazy things, if they dare to lay a hand on my squad I will label them as treason, no matter the rank of the offender.
Andersen: As long is not someone who is of importance to the ark, just do as you see fit, however, considering just how unique Marian is.
Ingrid: someone coming for her is a possibility we can't ignore.
Ingrid: we can never be too careful.
Varakiel: i'll keep that in mind. thanks.
Andersen: good. you should head back up.
...
Anis: Now here try to do this exercise.
Anis shows a picture of a complicated exercise to marian.
Marian: okay.
Anis: nice you're coming together just fine marian, soon enough you'll be back to where we first meet.
Marian: yeah! still using magic is hard, i saw some in the commander world, but i couldn't practice that much…
Rapi: don't worry we can help you out, the commander teached us some useful tips to learn to use magic more efficiently.
Marian: perfect.
Varakiel: It seems you all are having fun.
Rapi: hello, commander, welcome back.
Marian: welcome back commander.
Anis: So what did they say about it?
Varakiel: aslong she doesn't become a heretic again, which it's impossible, she is going to be okay.
Neon: *few* so only good news this time.
Varakiel: not so fast, there might be some people who would try to take marian by force, if something like that happens when i am away you have my permission to defend yourself, and if i am in the outpost call me out, i'll solve it myself.
Rapi: …like now?
Varakiel: Yep, everyone get down!
Anis: hmm?
*rat-tat-tat-tat-tat*
the sound of gunshots rings out. The windows are smashed and the items in the dorm scatter every which way.
Marian: Are we under attack?
Varakiel: seems like it.
Anis: what's going on!?
Varakiel: rapi, identify the target.
Rapi: we're under attack by the triangle squad and their forces!
.....
Privaty: no way they're getting out of this one.
Admi: isn't this a bit overkill?
Yulha: we're using suppression bullets, so I don't think it'll cause any issues. probably.
Privaty: Well, I think they've got the point now. It's time for the main event.
*pew*
a bullet whizzes past privaty's ear.
Privaty:....
Rapi: Next one goes between your eyes.
Privaty: w-with that lousy aim of yours!? I'd like to see you try!
Admi: privaty, your legs are shaking.
Yulha: You really shouldn't be standing out in the open like that.
Privaty: be quiet!! can't you see i'm talking!?
Rapi: explain this.
Privaty: I have orders from my superiors to secure marian by any means necessary.
Rapi: superiors?
Privaty: yes. It's an order from the deputy commander-in-chief.
Varakiel: Who is it? Andersen is out of question.
Rapi: she's not yours to take. She belongs to the commando unit.
Privaty: the nikke known as Marian is suspected of secretly communicating with the raptures.
Rapi: Bullshit.
Varakiel:(oh ho, rapi is angry haha.)
Privaty: there are reports of marian noticing emotions from raptures on a recent visit to the surface. nikkes are not capable of such actions. investigation into those suspected of colluding with the enemy is a top priority. an order has been issued to conduct an investigation into this matter. we've been authorized to use force if necessary. so just hand over marian.
Anis: oh, just can it already! don't try and give us the runaround. you just want marian for yourself, admit it.
Privaty: absolutely not. I'm here on orders from my superiors.
Anis: woof! woof woof woof! arrrr.! woof woof woof woof!!
Privaty: what on earth are you doing?
Anis: I'm talking to a central government lapdog.
Privaty: all troops! move in!
Rapi: commander, we need to fall back.
Varakiel: (*sigh* killing them all will make matters worse, whoever issued these orders is i will make him wish that he was dead, no matter who it is.)*sigh*
Rapi: I know your capabilities but…I don't wish for innocent lives to be wasted like this.
Neon: should we go to the ark?
Rapi: no, the ark will be crawling with the central government troops.
Neon: then…
Rapi: We should hide on the surface. we can't lose marian…not anymore.
Varakiel: Very well, I'll get in contact with Andersen on the way.
Rapi: Yes, commander.
Anis: escaping up to the surface…never thought I'd see the day.
Neon: it's kinda poetic when you think about it.
....