---

Cristina though about the offer before her, having more power always helps especially when you are in a war.

She briefly recalled her brief encounter with Hou Ren, she already knew there is no way for her to win against a Zodiac but even with the man just fooling around while she try to use every trick in her book and hold on, she still nearly died. And her sister could probably something more than that considering on what she is.

That's why she needs to take the deal, if she wants to stand a chance of facing her.

Although taking Huo Ren's power to herself felt wrong, felt the wrong course of action to take.

But what is?

She wasn't sure if it would work but it was better than nothing.

"What about something that stops Noble Arms from activating? I'm pretty sure such a useful ability would exist in your collection of powersets?"

“I’ve had more than enough time in, so called, perv dungeons.” Charles said. He considered which mission to take. Infiltration was definitely more up his alley, skills wise. It just wasn’t what he wanted to do. Besides, it felt like the roster for the rescue was filling up. “I wanted an excuse to refresh my combat diver training. What better excuse than putting C4 on the outer hull of the enemy ships.” He considered the possible counter measures they would face and the logistical difficulties of a long swim. “Or, I have been itching for HALO drop. Straight onto the deck.”

He paused. His mind running thousand miles a second. He always got excited when presented with a military problem. Reminded him of the old days. “I’ll sign on for the fleet. Will need more information to put together a proper plan.”

La Trinidad de Manila Academy - 12/1/2022, 5:20, UTC+8

Nil had tried to listen and she technically did, but understanding what was being said? That was a different story altogether, at least he said Qingshe was alive, maybe? Then stuff about Noble Arms, and more words and more.

It didn’t take long for Nil to get annoyed at the long discussion, especially since wasn’t taking in anything from all those words being tossed at her. Softly but surely she shifted to the back of the group, they would probably have an official briefing on the next misison anyway, even if short.

At least here in the back they were having fun, Gree was chuckling from what that Myke and Tonka had said… Normandy? Perv dungeon? She didn’t know what those meant, so Nil turned to Mikey who mentioned those.

”Uh, Myke? What is a Perv and Norm?”

WO "Mikey" Rangel

---

"might be in poor taste to call it the perv dungeon in a room of people who just lost their CO to said location, but I definitely would prefer that view over the ocean"

Goosebumps went straight up Mikey's back and her blood ran cold. First, from simple surprise. She hadn't registered the presence of the... well, the quite striking woman standing behind her. Then, from embarrassment. She certainly hadn't expected to be overheard, and a part of her now realized that her choice of words probably was in poor taste. Way to stick your fuckin' foot in it, Mikey.

She shook her head hard a couple times, physically forcing the wide-eyed reaction off before more than a couple of seconds had passed, and gave the woman a smile. This one was... another volunteer. Mikey thought she remembered her dossier saying she was from Russia, but that might have just been her own assumption based on the accent. Her name was... Tonka, right? Like the toys.

"Uh, yeah, sorry." she whispered back, doing her best contrite face. "Didn't mean to make light of the whole thing. Just, uh... yeah, sorry."

At least Archer didn't seem put off by her faux pas, judging by his laugh. That was a comfort; of all the other people in the room, he seemed the most normal, and Mikey thought she could use a bit of normalcy at the moment.

"Honestly, I’m not sure where I fit into all of this. I suppose I’ll just let them decide where I’m best suited. I can’t exactly pinpoint where my... talents would be most useful,"

There was something in those words, in the other soldier's demeanor, that twinged Mikey's spidey senses. Mikey felt nervous as hell, herself; maybe that's all there was to it with the big Englishman, too, but she had to admit she didn't know him well enough to say for sure. Instead, she filed the judgment away; if she were really curious, she could always ask him about it when they weren't, say, in the middle of a briefing, surrounded by other people.

"What about you?"

Mikey shrugged. "You know, it really hadn't occurred to me that we'd actually have a choice. In my experience the military isn't big on--" She was suddenly aware of another person standing next to her, looking at her with bright blue eyes and an inquisitive expression. Mikey thought that this white-haired woman might also have been older than her, but there was something disarmingly childlike about her question and her broken English.

”Uh, Myke? What is a Perv and Norm?”

Mikey opened her mouth. Closed it. Almost said, "I'll tell you when you're older," then thought better of it. Looked to Archer and Tonka, her face a silent appeal for help.

Several feet away, closer to the front of the room, she heard Charles speak up.

“I’ve had more than enough time in, so called, perv dungeons.”

Oh, come on! Frenchie too?!

Callie laughed. She couldn’t help it. The strategic situation was dire, their force had been decapitated, gutted and half-replaced, and this was where the briefing ended up?

Just like the Cadets… God.

It was exactly what was needed.

(Well, perhaps for everyone but Nil. Again – she really ought to follow up with her.)

“We can do better on insertion than helis and chutes – I’ll go over it with you and the team later,” she told Charles, a gleam in her eye, before addressing the room as a whole. “With Command’s permission, I’ll be joining the anti-naval operation in a reconnaissance and tactical mobility capacity. I’ve performed the role before under those circumstances and the open sea accentuates just about all of my capabilities, where tunnel fighting would minimise their impact.”

Oh, and nothing else, Caroline?

The gleam faded; that whisper had sounded alarmingly like him. She did her best to push it out of her mind… Even as her vision ran over the Director, even as his offer wormed its way through her thoughts.

Don’t pretend. First the portal and the sword, then the minister… What if you mess up again and someone actually dies? No, better a nice, safe delaying action… You’re terrified, girl.

A shiver down the back of her neck.

Wouldn’t be so terrified with a bit more power.

Not yours, of course. Can’t go wrong that way.

Callie screwed her eyes shut, just for a moment, smile still plastered to her face. It is more tactically sound. Besides – grow by stretching yourself, not grafting things on, she assured herself… The words sounding hollow in her mind.

Not yet.

Not yet.

Henri listened to the rest of the briefing carefully. The conversations didn't exactly go in a direction he would have approved of, though, especially with the talks of the perv dungeon. But he didn't let it bother him.

"If there is indeed a choice, I think I'll be at my best in the ocean" He declared. Leonidas was an area-of-effect NA, and while it didn't last for long or cover that big of an area, it would suffice for the most dangerous shots from Arms-Masters to a ship or a helicopter, should he be placed into one.

Christina's request for a power sounded dangerous for Henri. Anti-NA abilities were decently understood, but the idea of an anti-NA ability sharing a space with regular abilities could have unexpected consequences. And Sinagtala was a spacetime-NA, so complications could be... if not explosive, implosive.

"Pardon me, Director" Henri spoke, "But can an anti-NA ability exist simultaneously with a more conventional one in the same Arm?"

Henri wasn't interested in a new power at the moment, but it was good to ask for Christina's sake.

Intermission Four - Darkest Hour

La Trinidad de Manila Academy - 12/1/2022, 5:20, UTC+8



Director Bathala answered Cristina and Henri first, saying as firm as the grave, "Yes, but with the caveat that you need to switch between the new powerset and the old one if the new powerset is a form of Anti-Magic. Now, Cristina, draw your Noble Arm and steady your hands as it trembles."

If Cristina did so, the Director would tap it with his Kalis, the Noble Arm sending a jolt into the girl's mystic weapon, giving it a new, foreign power.

The Director then added, "So, two members of the Task Force for Superbia's Dungeon, two others undecided, and the rest are taking up La Naval de Manila II. Fair choices made."

He then looked at Myron and said, "You are to lead the mission to rescue First Lieutenant Alonso from the Avatar of Superbia itself; you are the only one besides Callie who can reliably get the sub-team to Gansu now that Angelino Jaime's NA is gone and Qingshe is... out of commission. And Callie's best at destroying fleets. Now, there's still a week or so until this breather is over, so I'd advise you all to train, sample the amenities of Trinidad Academy, or some mixture of both: The green recruits and veterans need to learn how each other fights. Thankfully, La Trinidad de Manila is more than some rich people's playground - You'll find extra-tough arenas, obstacle courses, and a few... simulators, courtesy of the United States of America's past administrations."

Myron nodded, then told the rest, "We're getting star treatment here; La Trinidad de Manila has free school lunches within reason - It used to have a program where high-performing students or the rich got Michelin-class food, but the Director abolished that due to how easy it was to cheat. Do you guys want to know how I know that? Well, it was the Director who took me in when I surrendered to the UN after I got my Noble Arm, just before the Disablers were systematically dismantled - I was one of them; just a kid but that's not an excuse. He gave me a new life and allowed me to atone for my past crimes - The burden of guilt I carry."

The former Disabler then gave Tonka his full gaze, knowing that she and he shared similarities in past tactics and backstories. He then said to her and Oscar, "We three will need to go over what we know about that gold mine in Gansu, China, and what info we can collect on short notice; maybe after a meal or so."

Turning towards the Director, Myron asked the Sapient Noble Arm, "I presume we're dismissed?"

Director Bathala nodded behind his hardwood desk, telling them, "One last thing. The La Naval de Manila II mission needs a leader, and sadly, the most able ones in Task Force Obsidian are the ones who disappear out of the blue. If the Philippine Government of National Salvation cannot spare one of their own, I'll appoint The Crown Prince nominal leader and hope for the best - Remember that. Now, you're all dismissed; enjoy La Trinidad de Manila."

@Gerlando@Nimbus@QJT@Amidatelion@Digmata@Chiro@Creative Chaos@4wheathRmany@Danyel@Sanity43217@DammitVictor@ctrlsaltdel@Archazen@Goblininamech@Vidar the Quiet

---

"Uh, yeah, sorry." she whispered back, doing her best contrite face. "Didn't mean to make light of the whole thing. Just, uh... yeah, sorry."

Mikey opened her mouth. Closed it. Almost said, "I'll tell you when you're older," then thought better of it. Looked to Archer and Tonka, her face a silent appeal for help.

Tonka couldn't contain her laughter, stifling it with a hand to the mouth was all she could manage. She felt it, these people were gunna be just as fun as her family back in Ukraine. She truly had meant it as a light hearted joke, assuming her Russian accent might have played into Mikey thinking her statement a jab. Putting a reassuring hand on Mikey, looking over to the....very very interesting squad-mate they had. Nil. Her file was one of the more unique looking of the group, and based off the little interaction she was privy too, there definitely was a big story there that Tonka would try to wrestle from the woman later. "Think a really really gross place, where individuals abuse their captives in dehumanizing ways" Tonka wanted to say more, but the meeting quickly picked back up, before they were dismissed. Walking past Nil, she paused for a second "don't read to much into it, I think Mikey just wanted to ease the rooms tensions with a light hearted joke" winking at the woman before walking over to Myron.

The former Disabler then gave Tonka his full gaze, knowing that she and he shared similarities in past tactics and backstories. He then said to her and Oscar, "We three will need to go over what we know about that gold mine in Gansu, China, and what info we can collect on short notice; maybe after a meal or so."

Hearing Myron talk a bit about his history with this place, and his life before trying to turn the "ship" so to speak, and his gaze at Tonka before addressing those who were also to be on the rescue mission, confirmed he also knew and felt a sort of kinship with her. She had heard about the group Myron previously called his, but because of their dismantling before Tonka was active, she thankfully never had to deal with them. Her "father" harped on and on about the wasted potential, it seemed like the Ex-KGB Director might have had more than one interaction with them, but she never cared much to ask about it. She wondered how much Myron might have been privy too, considering the choice to accept her might have required him to voice an opinion, and she felt thankful to not be the only one with a particularly storied past.

She saluted to the CO, signaling she didn't have any qualms about being picked for this mission, even if she was new to the Task Force. This is what she had hoped they would be asking her to do, what in a lot of ways, she was born for. Letting Myron speak fully, he looked to the both of them for a confirmation "After the meal, I can reach out to a contact I have still within the SVR. If you're okay with it, I also can reach out to General Komar, I know the General had a couple of contacts within Chinese freedom fighter groups, I don't know how much they'll know but it couldn’t hurt to ask" she wasn't sure how many people they wanted to know the TFO was attempting a rescue mission behind enemy lines. Plus while she was certain General Komar was rock solid in his ability to prevent a leak, it was the contacts in China that worried her more. Her little birdy in the SVR lived and died on whether they were good enough to be Tonka's personal double agent, so there wasn't any worries about them potentially being a liability. She glanced up at the HUGE man who also would be going on the mission with them. Tonka had read his file, but the thought of a 7'3 tall human in comparison to her was comical. Plus the couple of Scotsmen that were at the UIL made for great drinking partners, even if they refused her Vodka every time. Despite the mans size, she felt confident that she and him could work well together, at the very least he'd probably always be visible in Bound by Shadow.

---

Cristina blinked as she let out her Noble Arm, she didn't expect the powerset she spoke of to exist or to be given just like that. She expected things to be more difficult, more complicated?

She can feel the power as Director Bathala's kalis touched Sinagtala. It felt different from the warm rays she was used to having. It is cold, like a star that had long lost its heat and warmth. It felt wrong, something opposite what she is supposed to be but this is power, one that might completely even the odds if used correctly.

"I'll be joining the Naval Mission." Cristina declared, thinking that she should choose a safer mission to test her powers out before doing anything else.

That is when she heard who would be her new leader is.

"Wait what do you mean the Crown Prince?" she asked with clear shock on her face. Someone at the top actually going down to help, that might be a first?

La Trinidad de Manila Academy - 12/1/2022, UTC+8

Myke didn’t actually say anything, maybe she doesn’t know it either? Then why say things you don’t know? Actually nevermind, Perv does sound funny.

At least the other person answered, Tronka, Tonka, Tanka? New people names are hard.

"Think a really really gross place, where individuals abuse their captives in dehumanizing ways" Tonka wanted to say more, but the meeting quickly picked back up, before they were dismissed. Walking past Nil, she paused for a second "don't read to much into it, I think Mikey just wanted to ease the rooms tensions with a light hearted joke" winking at the woman before walking over to Myron.

Nil didn’t really understand, but at least it was an answer! And honestly, Nil was more interested in their reactions and words usage, rather than the explanation itself.

Myron dismissed Tonka after solidifying their planned meet-up later in the day to talk about the rescue mission. She felt good about the group, and she was grateful they’d trust her with something so important. Turning on her heels, she surveyed the room again, using Bound by Shadow to watch everyone begin to relax a little more now that the Headmaster was done sufficiently setting the tone, so to speak. She watched Nil, deciding that unique woman would probably be the easiest to start a conversation with “I definitely need a friend to drink with at the very least” almost on queue, just on the very edge of her hearing, a scream so quiet, it would have sounded like the fluorescent bulb hum you hear in older buildings. Distractions were in big demand for the Russian, her legs deciding before her brain, and made her way back over towards Nil.

“Hey, I don’t really know if you…eat? But I was wondering if I could get your help on account of the” she pointed at her Blacked out circle sunglasses, pulling a white folded up cane from her pocket “vision problem.”

On the other side of the conversation there was a blank, slightly confused stare, what does she mean by vision problem? Nil moved a little left observing Tonka’s weird movements, before responding to the first question.
”I eat, yes!”

Tonka smiled at Nil’s excited response, looping their arms together, and pulling them both in the direction of the Cafeteria. Along the way, Tonka was still able to weave through groups with Nil in tow, probably adding to the confusing statement of Tonka’s supposed “vision impairment”. She wasn’t lying however, the last couple of days, she had to wait for the line to die down. The visual noise of everyone grabbing food proved to be a little more than what Tonka wanted to deal with, just for some grub at least.

Stopping at the doors leading inside, she unlooped the twos arms and pulled out the white folded cane out again, flicking it out. Deactivating Bound by Shadow, her regular clouded vision coming back. She had already more or less charted the path she wanted to walk, but the cane was more of a warning for others to look out for her. With a deep breath, she pushed through into the noisy room and was already incredibly thankful she wouldn’t have to be using her abilities to see through the sea of patrons. “Do you mind helping me get food on a plate?” The various cuisines and the smells accompanying them seem to find Tonka and Nil, Tonka’s stomach growling in response.

On the other end Nil didn’t mind following Tonka, but was back to being confused when she began using her white cane for no apparent reason. Thinking on it, she remembered someone doing the same thing to appear invalid. ”Okay.” Nil replied, with an emphasis on the Y.

Cristina is disappointed that her question is not further elaborated upon. You would think that an Imperial Prince joining the frontline would get more coverage or buzz but she left the meeting scarce about the details. Unlike others he had already eaten her breakfast so she decided to just take a cup of coffee. A boost of energy before she heads to the training area to train her new powers, she can feel that it wants to be used and she's not really uncomfortable about letting the effects of Director Bathala’s procedure remain unknown.

She is already holding a cup of coffee when she hears a growl behind her, looking back it is the newcomer. What was her name again, Tonka right?

“Oh it's you two, is there anything I missed at the meeting?” Cristina asked to both Nil and Tonka.

”Oh, Perv.” Nil was the first to answer.

As they talked, a sixteen-year-old boy in JSSDF Fatigues plus a flak jacket walked into the mess hall, looking around and taking in the scene with an awestruck curiosity. His eyes settled on where Tonka, Nil, and Cristina were talking, and he walked over, the sunlight shining on his silver-colored hair, visibly struggling with what to say.

Bowing slightly, the young man said in clear English, “Hello, my name is Shinya. Mind if I am the one to provide help and support? It will please me greatly.”

Overly formal, as though not used to talking with ordinary folk in ordinary settings. But the kid, though unused to this place, clearly marveled at his surroundings and his nervousness did not stop him from approaching people. Upon seeing Cristina, the sixteen-year-old smiled out of the blue, before visibly trying to force a more serene expression.

The addition of two voices prompted Tonka to use her abilities for only a second, stealing a glance at the overall shapes of the two that now joined them. A smile crept along Tonka’s face at what she surmised to be a teenager offering to help instead “you would have my deepest thanks Shinya, i'm not partial to any food in particular, so ill leave it up to you to surprise me” Tonka spoke formally back to the teen, hoping it would make him feel less awkward. Christina asked them if she missed anything, Tonka looking to Nil to give a much more detailed account of what had been happening…if only because she had been so preoccupied by Myke’s joke from earlier to catch the tail end of the meeting.

Unfortunate that Nil didn’t know what had been said during the meeting, at least not any of the important parts. But at least she failed to understand Tonka’s cue as well, so at least they conversation didn’t awkwardly drift back to Mikey’s comment (or Myke in Nil’s head).

Cristina will notice the smile but decide to do nothing about it. It's just a smile, there are many ways it could be interpreted. “Well Shinya, it appears that you’ve been here for quite a while so I'm curious on what you will recommend on dear Tonka here.” she asked as she took a sip of her coffee, it is clear that she's only staying here out of curiosity and ensuring nothing untoward happens to Tonka.

Now that she thought about it, Shinya sounds like a Japanese name? Maybe he knew something about the crown prince rumor. She'll ask him if she gets a chance in private.

‘Shinya’ couldn’t help but light up again as he replied, “I’ll get a tray of Chicken Kararage, some rice, some Garlic Ramen with Ggg, and a few fresh fruits; if Ms. Tonka does not know chopsticks, I can get a spoon and a fork.”

And off he went to get the mentioned items, his footsteps quick but not light as Tonka could hear them all along the tiled floor of the La Trinidad de Manila mess hall.

When getting the food, the server looked at him with visible surprise but suppressed her minor shock as he ordered the food, whispering at her to keep quiet. Either way, he returned after a few minutes, before saying to the three, as Nil was still there, “So, you three are Task Force Obsidian members, right? My sister was there during its initial founding; she was also one of those who left to go off on their own the very next day.”

A hint; maybe a blatant one. But he felt as though he could get away with it.

Tonka hadn’t had the chance to talk to Christina in a smaller group setting, though she could feel the woman's sincerity through what she assumed was a smile accompanying her words. The smell of the meal Shinra grabbed all her attention for a moment, and not only her as Nil was similarly standing in attention as Shinra served the food, the Russian made a note to ALWAYS have Shinra order for her. She hadn’t worked up the nerve to be adventurous with her cuisine here and letting the teen pick was absolutely the right choice. They had conveniently been standing in front of an open table while they awaited Shinra’s return, Tonka noting this Teen was evidently not your average run of the mill rugrat running around the campus. His steps felt…purposeful, coupled with the whispers as he returned only solidified her assumption. “Chopsticks will do just fine, I might be blind, but I take pride in my hand dexterity” giving Shinra a thankful smile as the group sat down at the table

”I hate chopsticks, but i'll be damned if If I eat this Ramen with a fork”

On any other day, Tonka might have waited for them to grab food, so she wouldn’t be the only one eating, but either by grace of whatever status Shinra was, or it being Tonka’s first meal of the day, she started eating ravenously. Only a watchful eye would notice that she was only managing to grab a handful of noodles, but Tonka spoke up first “I’m new to the Task Force, but I have a feeling you’re someone important around here, if your sister was a founder” she looked over to Christina and Nil for some type of confirmation.

“I'm also recruited long after the founding, so I do not know where she is.” the freelancer spoke, she ignored any news about Task Force Obsidian until she got recruited to fill their lines which is why she cannot fill in the blanks.

But she knew the feeling of losing a sister and could feel that he's in the same situation.

“If you need something, just try to find me.” she spoke to Shinya before finishing her cup of coffee. “I think I’m done here, I need to do some training.” she spoke before starting to walk away.

Nil was the only one of the three who saw the person being mentioned, the Japanese Princess Fuyuko, although Nil only saw her in Lingayen, and she definitely didn’t want to remember that day. Missiles, Earthquakes, a fucking Volcano raising from the ground, next day she even got less sweets than the planes the grounded, what a scam!

So Nil just stared back at Shinya, partly knowing but also unsure what the title of Prince and Princess actually entailed. Next moment she was voraciously eating her own ramen, without chopsticks or fork… just dropping it in her mouth.

The door opened once more, and a fifteen-year-old girl in a black and red military-esque uniform with red stockings (?) strode in, her footsteps purposefully poised as she approached Shinya, before saying, “We need to talk; you’ve been avoiding sparring with me since the assault on Bamban City and the Pro-Chinese Militiamen there, and now I find you telling everyone I disappeared, which then again, is the truth; other cities need protecting - Our allies need to be protected.”

Faced with the girl’s accusation, the small JSSDF soldier refused to flinch, whose silver hair was the same shade as his own, before saying, “To be honest, I thought you were avoiding me. War has changed you; imotou. But I am glad you are still focused on protecting our allies and the people within them. But it seems you’re back with us, at least for a while?”

Shaking her head, the girl spoke, “No; I’m only visiting Task Force Obsidian for a little bit. It seems that Noel was the glue keeping the team together; he wasn’t the best, but he was good enough that the mix of personalities the Task Force had was able to fight as one.”

She then raised her head enough to cause her eyes to glint, then continued, “Fair warning; don’t smile too much at foreign girls - Or boys for that matter. If that happened, you’ll be out of the line of succession, and I’ll have to wave my Noble Arm around until our cousin gives me what I most want - He’s not an Arms Master while I am, and to the JSSDF and various other factions, that’s more important than an outdated tradition.”

Shinya, or rather, ‘Shinya’, raised an eyebrow, before saying, “You’re seeing things. That said, I appreciate your concern; I presume you’re visiting others too? Maybe the Director?”

The response was an elegant, yet aloof nod, as the girl spoke, “Yes. Contingencies have to be made for False Turing’s re-emergence - Do not let yourself be captured by him; you and the girl who caught your eye can be used in his plans. Whatever our differences, Noble Arms must not fade away, understand, brother?”

She then introduced herself to everyone with a bow and a Western-style flourish, “Greetings, I am Imperial Princess Fuyuko, ninth daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako; of those, only Princess Aiko exists in the ‘One True Timeline’. My brother is Crown Prince Shinyahito, although considering how he constantly rubs himself out of reality, he may find that status removed should he slip up…”

Tonka was glad to hear Nil eating next to her, though she was certain she was seeing the woman bringing the entire bowl to her face, Tonka’s attention was pulled away to the two siblings talking. Hearing the reveal of who the two were, happened to hit Tonka while she was in the process of swallowing, prompting a coughing fit as the food seemed to catch in her throat. The food being so good, the peoples collective whispers in the cafe, everything started to click as she went to stand and return a deeper bow to the Princess. “I’m Volunteer Tonka, forgive me for not realizing who was talking too, or letting your brother get food for me!” Tonka racked her brain for any memory of the two in the SVR, The Princess being the only one she was familiar with. A good political target if the SVR ever had the means for it. Upon hearing Fuyuko remark about Shinya “rubbing” himself out of reality, she only had a slight clue to why she hadn’t heard of Shinya before..

”definitely someone important, shit Tonka”

Tonka’s formal, if slightly startled, voice did wake up and annoy Nil, probably since they were eating close. Look down, ramen is pretty much gone, look up, oh there’s Fuyuko, speak of the Devil. Nil struck a barely-there smile at Fuyuko, it was the second, maybe third time they saw each other, then she waved to her. ”Hej Fuyuko.”

Salutations over, Nil noticed Tonka’s distraction, her bowl wide open, if she is not eating might as well take it. Now that Tonka was ’not looking’, Nil extended her arm and grabbed her ramen, intending to eat it very much like the one before.

Amidst the ongoing whirlwind of thoughts is Cristina who is internally fighting an internal battle of what to do. First Shinya lied to her then she learned that his sister is an Imperial Princess which means that he is the crown prince that she will follow for the naval mission!

Then she learns that the imperial siblings had a vested interest in keeping the timeline.

And Shinya or is it Prince Shinyahito now lied to her!

She let out an annoyed sigh which might probably gather everyone’s attention but she doesn't care if she's commiting lese-majeste right now.

”Then you should probably start lecturing your brother right now, I know that he is staring and smiling at me the entire time, your Highness.” Cristina spoke before using Sinagtala to blink away, leaving the crown prince to his sister's mercy. That should be enough as a payback.

Crown Prince Shinyahito was blushing red; he had lost this round.

His sister looked at him in shock as she said, “I see I was right. While I want the succession laws changed, you putting yourself out of the running this early means our cousin will be the heir and I need to oppose that. More to the point, discrediting yourself in such a way dirties my reputation as well. So be careful, brother.”

A moment passed, before Shinyahito sighed, and said, “Sister, you’re fifteen, just one year younger than me. And yet every other moment is filled with you talking about the throne, about fighting, about politics, and the JSDF’s role in world affairs. Our childhoods are already drained away by war and death; any time we have to just ‘be a kid’ is running out.”

His eyes glinted as he continued, “As it is, I spend a lot of time and energy watching my back for reasons both of us know. Live a little, sister; learn to live a little.”

Tonka took the lack of acknowledgement as a pass for any potential missteps she had made earlier. Turning to scoop her bowl in one motion, she brought it to her mouth, mimicking Nil and gulping it down. “Nice try búsinka, you’re gunna have to be much faster” taking a seat again, she stifled a burp, pulling out a small pocket watch with embossings and hands she could touch to read the time. She whispered to Nil “Do you think it would be rude if I left spontaneously?”

Nil looked at Tonka, a little sad that she wasn’t fast enough but at least the ramen didn’t go to waste so it’s not a big deal. She shrugged her shoulders a little, not sure how to respond to Tonka’s question. ”Eh, it fine.”

Princess Fukuyo’s response to Shinyahito was a simple, “No. I’d rather you keep stonewalling my efforts out of mere suspicion than shame the Imperial Throne in such a way. If you must excuse me, I’ll go see if the other training rooms are free…”

And then she left, with Shinyahito sighing in response, then asking Tonka and Nil, “Should I leave too? Take my leave, I mean?”

Nil waved as Fuyuko walked away, turning to Shinyahito with an oblivious expression. She really didn’t care if he was royalty or just some bloke, he got them ramen so he’s good.

Tonka reached over to touch the teen’s shoulder “don’t be too hard on yourself, it just sounds like your sister really is trying her best to prepare you for the life you already find yourself in. Thank you for the Ramen Prince Shinya, I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other” standing, she looked over to Nil “thanks for keeping me company on the way here, and eating with me, I’ll find you again some other time to eat if you don’t mind” she hadn’t really gotten the chance to ask Nil about herself or how she fit into the equation here with the force, and Nil’s lack of caring for Tonka’s blindness was definitely refreshing. With a bow, shadow tethers yanked her into the shadows legs first, and winked at them both before her head dipped before the shadows, aiming for where Myron had said to meet after grabbing food for herself. She hadn’t gotten word back from The General, assuming he had his hands full, but her contact in the SVR had already condensed what they could find on a cursory glance of the information privy to the SVR regarding the Mines here mission was intending to infiltrate.

Shinyahito nodded at that, then went to eat…

Collab with @Letter Bee @Vidar the Quiet @Digmata

Henri watched as Director did his thing. He had to admit, it was an impressive feat. Now, while he admitted to have occasionally hoped for another power, Henri decided to keep his own. Leonidas, for all of its limits, was Still a rarity as far as NA powers went, and wasn't worth sacrificing. That plus, weird as it sounded, Henri had, in his own way, grown fond of the shield.

Listening to the choices made, Henri pondered whether or not the undecided would go for the rescue mission. Battles needed more men, but he wasn't sure if two would be enough for the other job. Now, there were Arms Masters, who could perform missions single-handedly, but they were very rare, and nothing was guaranteed in the unpredictable event of combat.

As the briefing ended, Henri rose up and gave a salute. Noble Arm or no Noble Arm, the director deserved the respect of a soldier.

"Might as well check, what sort of lunch they have" Thought Henri to himself as he left for cafeteria.

The food available was certainly diverse. A lot more than what was available in schools back in Belgium, when Henri was a kid. He couldn't say, if it was michelin level stuff, though. Henri had never been much of a gourmet.

Finally Henri ended up in front of something the text next to it referred to as Metsado. Certainly looked tasty, so Henri shrugged and decided to take some.

Having settled down, Henri saw shadows moving close by. He prepared to advance, but it looked like there wasn't trouble yet. Henri nonetheless kept an eye on the situation, as he began his meal.

Oskar watched as the weapon turned man did his thing, and if he was being honest, he was a little disappointed. He knew logically that not all powers were flashy and obvious, but he had still been expecting something to happen as the director tapped Cristina's weapon with their own. Oskar shooed those thoughts away as the Director recapped were each of them were going. A slight frown formed at the edges of his mouth as he heard it'd be only the two of them going on the rescue mission. That would make things much trickier.

As they were dismissed Oskar decided to finally get himself some food as he had skipped breakfast this morning. He quickly grabbed a large plate of something labeled Sisig, he had no idea what it was other than a large amount of delicious meat. He turned around and saw a few of his new squad mates had decided to get some food as well. He stood there for a few moments mulling over the idea of striking up a conversation.

He usually wasn't the chatty type, but he had to at least build up a bit of repour with his new team members. Even so he decided to approach the brown-haired Belgian man who'd sat by himself. If he remembered right his name was Henri. He tried to temp down the scowl that was a permanent fixture on his face as he sat across from the other man.

"Hello, I am Oskar. Figured I'd introduce myself and get the awkwardness of the first real meeting out of the way while I had the chance." He said as he offered a hand to Henri. "I figured I'd start with the stragglers as I'm not much of a social person."

---

Collab w/ @Archazen

---

La Trinidad de Manila Academy, Training Room - 12/1/2022, 15:32, UTC+8

Mikey had sincerely hoped that her inability to fully process everything Task Force Obsidian had learned that morning was due to the early hour. (She’d never been an early riser after all, and despite the Army's best efforts, that hadn't changed in the last two years). That hope had carried her from the meeting with the Director back to her dormitory. It was all too much to wrap her head around now, but maybe after a shower and a hot breakfast, the whole situation wouldn't seem so... big.

Breakfast had come and gone. The cafeteria was serving something called tapsilog, which ended up being pretty tasty. Clarity, unfortunately, was not on the menu.

An hour or so after breakfast, Mikey finally put down her book. She had turned the same page back and forth about seven times; ignoring the future, even just for long enough to finish one of her treasured romances, apparently wasn’t an option.

Instead, she spent the following hours doing things she really should have done sooner. In her defense, the Task Force had clearly been in no state for deployment upon her arrival, and so she had put off things like "liaising with the local armory" and "preparing her equipment" to a later date. That was changing now–which was why she was walking down the corridor of the Academy's training area, an AFP-branded rifle case in each hand.

Her head was just as occupied as her hands, running the morning's news back and forth like a free-spinning gear--which was why she didn't notice Archer until she just about ran into him, weapons and all.

After leaving the meeting, Griff felt the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. The combination of a sleepless night and the Director’s imposing presence had drained him completely. He managed a small wave and smiled at the others before retreating to his room for a nap.

His nap, though brief, provided some relief. The fresh air wafting through his window, mingled with the futile efforts of the fan to combat the humidity, gave him a semblance of peace. Yet, as he awoke, the pervasive tiredness lingered. Griff couldn't help but curse the persistent jet lag that clung to him like a second skin.

Determined not to let it hinder him further, Griff got dressed and headed to the cafeteria. The array of unfamiliar food did little to excite his already picky palate. He settled for a couple of bananas, finding comfort in their simplicity as he wandered aimlessly through the academy's halls.

Each step echoed the profound sense of foreignness he felt. The cacophony of new sounds, the distinct smells, and the relentless humidity—all these sensations overwhelmed his senses. His mind wandered back to the meeting, focusing on his bracers. For the first time, they had exhibited some form of reaction, stirring a curiosity within him. What latent abilities did they possess? What secrets were embedded in their ancient craftsmanship?

Lost in thought, Griff meandered through the corridors, his arms subconsciously outstretched as he pondered these mysteries. It was only when Mikey almost collided with him that he snapped back to reality. His reflexes kicked in just in time, his outstretched arms allowing him to sidestep and avoid a tangle of limbs.

"… Are those weapon cases?!"

"Wha-ope!" Mikey teetered for a moment, the rifle cases swinging out as she regained her balance. Thankfully she did not manage to hit Archer with her flailing, but it was a near thing, and she set the weapons down carefully once she got her feet again.

"Hey! Uh. Yeah, they sure are." She rubbed her face as if trying to wake herself up, then looked up at the man she had almost run straight into. "Oh, hey. Griffin, right? Sorry I almost ran you down, there."

She started to excuse herself, then stopped, looking at Archer's outstretched arms. "Are those... yours?" Mikey didn't elaborate, but the direction of her gaze made it clear what she was talking about. And if the question was blunt, there was no malice behind it--just genuine curiosity. "Guess you're on your way to the training grounds?"

Archer smiled, the corners of his lips turning up as he observed Mikey. She was undoubtedly the most approachable person he could talk to right now, and it amused him that fate, or perhaps luck, had brought them together. He watched her set the cases down, his eyes lingering on them with a sense of curiosity and anticipation.

His cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink as Mikey’s gaze settled on his bracers. He instinctively tugged his sleeves down to cover them, feeling a mix of self-consciousness and the need to avoid coming across as overly sensitive about his Noble Arm.

“Y-yeah... They’re mine.” His voice was barely more than a whisper, his eyes drifting to the floor as he grappled with his embarrassment. He didn’t want to be perceived as the weird guy who got overly protective about his gear.

After a moment, he gathered his courage and looked back up at her, forcing himself to meet her eyes. “You can call me Griff, by the way. It’s sort of a nickname,” he added, his voice a bit steadier.

“It’s Mikey, right? I was just kinda... Roaming?” he continued, trying to maintain a casual tone despite his nerves. “Were you going to train?” His question hung in the air, a tentative bridge to the conversation he hoped would continue.

Mikey's eyebrows went up--just a bit--as she watched Griff's reaction to her question. Despite his intentions, he might as well have hung a big neon sign above his head: I've got feelings about the weapon attached to my soul!

...you know what? Me too, big guy.

"Griff it is, then. Thank god you already know my nickname. My CO back in the states usually uses my last name, but every time he calls me Michaela"--she pronounced it Mike-ala--"I feel like I can see grand-mama's ghost hovering over his shoulder."

She shuddered dramatically, then gave Griff a big goofy grin, inviting him in on the joke.

"Not exactly training. I just picked up these guys from the armory, and I wanted to sight them in and make sure everything's working correctly. I'm sure the armorers here do good work, but..." She spread her hands. She didn't want to say it aloud, but the silent implication hung in the air between them–I don't want to go into my first fight to the death with weapons I've never handled.

The silence went on for a second, and her eyes searched the other soldier's face. She remembered how she had felt leaving the briefing that morning--and knew that the thundercloud of emotions which had formed there was still just over the horizon of her thoughts. She remembered the way Griff had looked during the briefing, as well--and her own intention to follow up with him later.

No more than a moment passed before she made a decision. She had rarely seen someone in more pressing need of good exercise and an ear to bend. Besides, some human company would do her better than putting a couple clips into paper targets, and for all that she didn't know him very well, she'd decided she liked Griff.

"I can do that any time, though. Have you seen the obstacle course they have here?"

Grateful that Mikey had also glossed over his embarrassment, Griff joined in her laughter at the joke about their overbearing 'Grand-mama.' It was comforting to know he wasn't alone in dealing with a somewhat overbearing family, and he found solace in her goofy grin.

As Mikey continued talking about testing out the guns, Griff couldn't help but be taken aback by her familiarity with firearms at such a young age. The thought lingered in his mind that perhaps her American background made it more natural for her to be accustomed to guns, even though he found the ease of access to them quite unsettling. The mention of an obstacle course, however, quickly shifted his focus and his ears pricked up in genuine interest.

“An obstacle course? That sounds fantastic!” Griff's excitement was palpable as he spoke, his grin widening with each word. “I've been itching to stretch my parkour muscles, and that sounds like the perfect opportunity!”

Mikey returned the grin in full measure. Apparently, she had been right on the mark. "Parkour, huh? Where I'm from, we call it free-running." She turned and grabbed the cases where she had set them, motioning to Griff with a gesture of her head. "If you don't mind me joining you, I'm curious to see whatcha got."

She waited for him to catch up and fell alongside, walking just enough ahead to lead the way. "So, Griff," she asked, her tone casual, "am I right in thinking this is your first rodeo, too?"

“You guessed right,” he admitted, a hint of sheepishness in his tone. “First time for me. I’m still getting used to everything—new place, new team, new... everything.”

He glanced at Mikey, curiosity sparking in his eyes. “Hard to imagine someone who casually hauls around weapons like those not being used to this, though.” he said, casually pointing to the crates Mikey was hauling. “You must have seen something before, right?”

Mikey shook her head. "Nah, I'm in pretty much the same boat. Only 'action' I've seen before is in the simulated tactical setup back at Aberdeen." She shrugged her shoulders, jiggling the gun cases as she walked. "As far as the guns go, three years ago I'd have been as surprised as you. But out of all the bullshit they've had me doing since I enlisted, target practice is one of the few things that's at least enjoyable. Range instructor was one of the few people there who wasn't constantly up my ass. Said I was a natural with a rifle. Guess that makes a kind of sense." That last bit was said with some distaste.

Griff was caught with an air of confusion. First of all, at the mention of Aberdeen, he couldn’t help but think about how that was in Scotland, but Mikey clearly wasn’t Scottish and definitely sounded more American. He shook his head, meaningless thoughts filtering out of his head.

“Maybe I’m just a little bit greener than you, then. I’ve never even held a rifle so you’re ahead of me on that.” His lips tugged on one side into a half-grin. “Why does that make sense..?” he said, hearing the soft level of disdain from Mikey’s mouth.

"Really?" Mikey's eyebrows went up, her surprise obvious. "I mean, I don't know what you... y'know, do," she waggled an elbow at Griff's forearms, "so maybe that makes sense for you."

She considered his question for a beat; it would be easier to show him than say it out loud. So instead of responding, she rolled her shoulder; a shape appeared, made of dark, shifting colors, slung across her back. After a split second, it resolved itself into the form of a small carbine rifle, of a design over 80 years old. The stock had been carved into a relief of an angel's wing, and the sling was embroidered with those same dark colors seen when the weapon appeared.

"I already saw yours, so fair's fair," she said, more lightly than she felt. "Suppose it just seems right that a rifle would be good with a gun."

Griff’s eyes grew wide as Mikey’s Noble Arm materialised out of thin-air, his first-hand experience of such a thing. He stared for a little longer than possibly would have been expected from a fellow NA wielder but this was all vastly new for him.

“Wow.” He muttered, moving his face closer to the rifle, looking over its details and marveling, mostly out of shock of seeing a weapon simply ‘poof’ into existence from nothing. “So it works and everything? Like.. shoots and stuff..?” his question was filled with naivety. “I gotta say, I’m a little jealous.”

Mikey barked out a laugh, despite herself. "You sound like my little brother. He asked me almost exactly the same question the first time I told him about it." She nodded at him. "Yeah, it shoots and stuff." From someone else, under different circumstances, she might have taken umbrage at the notion that Angel Duster was something to be jealous of--but from someone so clearly having difficulty with their own Noble Arm, saying it so earnestly, she couldn't bring herself to be upset.

"Look, the course is just up here to the right." She nodded at a set of double doors just up the hallway. "Let me put these down and I'll show you something really cool."

Griff's grin spread wider, his teeth showing as Mikey's laugh echoed. He was relieved to have found someone he could connect with, even if they were still getting to know each other. When the course was mentioned, Griff's heartbeat quickened, and it raced even more as Mikey hinted at something even cooler.

"What!? What's cooler than materializing an actual gun from nothing?" Griff's palpable excitement exuded from him pretty clearly. This was what he had wanted to see when he signed up.

Mikey pushed open one of the double doors with her back, opening them onto what looked, at first, like a gymnasium. It had the traditional polished hardwood floors, and it had at one point been painted with lines meant to be used for some sort of team sport. Since then, though, the bleachers and other bits of sports paraphernalia had apparently been ripped out, to be replaced by a collection of obstacles. There were low walls, high walls with ropes dangling from them, railings, steep stairs, rope bridges, monkey bars, and a dozen other bits and bobs meant to test and train dexterity.

She walked to a nearby corner of the room, set her gun cases down, and pulled the little carbine from her shoulder, making sure to keep the muzzle pointed away from Griff as she walked back up to him. Wordlessly, she pulled back the bolt, ejecting an unspent bullet from the gun which she caught in midair. "Making things appear from nothing is actually a specialty of mine," she teased. The rifle disappeared at the same moment she dropped the bullet. The moment it hit the ground, it made the sound of tinkling glass and vanished, replaced by a four-pack of glass bottles cold enough to give off a light mist in the humidity. The package proudly proclaimed: Drink CHEERWINE - Since 1917.

Mikey bent down and removed one of the bottles, twisting the cap off. "One of the few good things that I found when they shipped me across the country. Brought them with me as a little treat--feel free to have one if you want." She had intended to save the sodas for a special occasion, but she figured that maybe making her first friend since arriving ought to count.

Griff's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the obstacle course. "This place is incredible," he murmured, mostly to himself, a sense of awe in his voice. The variety of obstacles instantly caught his attention, fueling his excitement.

But then, as Mikey performed her bullet trick, Griff's amazement reached new heights. His jaw dropped as the bullet transformed into a pack of sodas. "Wow," he whispered, his voice filled with genuine wonder. "How did you...?"

He hesitated for a moment, then reached for one of the bottles, twisting off the cap with a shy smile. "Thanks," he said softly, taking a sip and savoring the new taste.

Griff's gaze returned to Mikey, his curiosity evident. "It's... amazing how you do that," he said, still in awe of the trick. "Making things appear like that... it's incredible."

As he glanced back at the obstacle course and then at Mikey, a smirk formed on his face. He raised the bottle slightly in a 'cheers' motion. "Looking forward to working with you," he said, his voice a bit more confident now.

Mikey made an exaggerated bow, like a stage magician taking applause for a trick. Her Noble Arm so often felt like a manacle, keeping her chained to the military--it had been who knew how long since she felt like she could actually take pride in her abilities, like they were something worth celebrating, rather than just something she could do.

And after all--she thought back to what the Director had told them that morning--if you had the choice, would you really give it up?

She "cheers"’d Griff back and walked over to stand alongside him, looking at the obstacle course. "Likewise." She gestured at the course with her bottle. "Age before beauty."

Griff feigned a dramatic gasp at Mikey's playful jab. "How very dare you, Madam! Presuming that I, a paragon of... Yeah, I can’t keep that up." He chuckled, shrugging off his hoodie to reveal his bracers, now indifferent to scrutiny Mikey might have. He dropped into a low stretch, extending one leg while bending the other, alternating sides. Rising, he stretched each arm overhead in a habitual yet effective routine.

Griff inhaled deeply, feeling the adrenaline surge through his veins. With a confident nod to Mikey and a spirited shout of "Don't wait up!" he launched himself toward the first obstacle, a low wall. His legs moved with swift precision, muscles working in seamless harmony as he approached the barrier.

Without breaking stride, Griff vaulted over the wall in one fluid motion. Landing lightly on the other side, he barely paused before sprinting toward a high wall adorned with dangling ropes. Reaching the wall, he leapt, grasping a rope and using his momentum to swing himself up and over.

A series of railings of varying heights awaited him next. Griff navigated them with effortless finesse, leaping, ducking, and weaving through the metal bars. His movements were precise and controlled, a testament to his training and innate agility.
A steep set of stairs loomed ahead. Griff's pace remained unbroken, his feet barely grazing the steps as he ascended swiftly. At the summit, a swaying rope bridge greeted him. He dashed across with impeccable balance, reaching the other side without missing a beat.

The monkey bars came next, and Griff tackled them with enthusiasm. Swinging from bar to bar, his grip remained unwavering. Upon reaching the end, he executed a graceful flip, landing deftly on his feet and seamlessly continuing his run.

A series of low and high hurdles emerged in his path. Griff cleared each one with ease, his body moving like a well-oiled machine. His focus was sharp, his determination unyielding.

Finally, a series of narrow planks suspended above the ground presented the final challenge. Griff traversed them with the agility of a feline, his feet finding sure footing on the slender surfaces as he raced across. With one last leap, he landed on the other side, breathing heavily but grinning triumphantly.

Turning back to Mikey, Griff raised his arms in victory. "Your turn," he called, his voice brimming with exhilaration.

Mikey let out a low whistle. That was... fast. Probably faster than she could manage. Still, she had thrown the proverbial gauntlet--in the most friendly and collegiate way, of course, but the point remained that she wasn't going to back down from a challenge she had issued.

She put her soda down, stretched towards the ceiling, then took a deep breath--and with a burst of energy took off running towards the low wall.

Griff had cleared each obstacle with grace and economy of motion; Mikey's approach was both flashier and more energetic. She threw herself over the first obstacle in a dive, landing in a roll that brought her to the climbing rope. She almost ran up the high wall, hands and feet working in concert, and swung herself around the various railings like a dancer. She took the stairs in great, leaping bounds.

The rope bridge slowed her down, but only for a second before she cleared the monkey bars, emulating Griff's flip and landing in another roll. By the time she made it to the hurdles, she was breathing hard, having pushed herself faster than she might have without the competition.

Tragedy struck on the planks--she made it halfway across when her balance gave out, her pace having exceeded her grace. A shout of "WHOPE", then a soft thud as she landed on the soft mats underneath.

"Phew," she managed to get out, her chest heaving. "Damn. Ok. You. Win. Ugh." She rolled over, sprawling out on her back with her arms spread out over the mat.

Griff's eyes widened in awe, mixed with a hint of self-consciousness, as he watched Mikey showcase her impressive skills. She moved with an effortless grace, turning even the simplest rolls into a dazzling display. Though Griff prided himself on his speed, he couldn't help but feel he lacked the finesse that Mikey possessed. He paused to catch his breath, his gaze following her every move. When Mikey stumbled and fell, Griff immediately jogged over, concern etched on his face. Once he saw that she was unharmed, he couldn't suppress a small, relieved laugh.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry, but before she could answer, he added with a burst of enthusiasm, "That was fantastic! I think we can learn a lot from each other." His enthusiasm was contagious, fueled by the thrill of finding someone he not only connected with but also shared common ground.

"Oof. Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing hurt but my pride." Mikey managed to sit up, returning Griff's smile in equal measure. Maybe Manila wouldn't be so bad after all.

"I'm glad you think so, because I want a rematch! And we're going to time this one!"

Collab Post with @Digmata

Collab- Cristina and the Imperial Siblings
Cristina watches as the last of the autonomous training dummies sliced in half by Sinagtala’s new power. Fighting without her Noble Arm’s usual powers is a little jarring but one that she got a bit of experience, still she knew that it won’t be enough especially against someone like her sister but she won’t exactly improve fighting dummies she already memorized the attack patterns of.

She let out a sigh, going back to the controller and now turning up the dial to nine dummies simultaneously. This is getting boring, she hopes adding numbers and variety could spice things up, not that she had much hope. Maybe she should just get training sword and use that instead.

Audible, not too loud, not too soft, but poised footsteps echoed behind her, as Imperial Princess Fukuyo entered the room, saying, “Ms. Bernardino; fancy a spar? Mere drones won’t be enough for people like us… And I have a bone to pick with you.”

Cristina was about to press the activation button when she heard the Imperial Princess entering the room. Well she was right, after everything that happened, it will take more than drones to push her to the limits. Her having a bone to pick is a new thing, she had an idea on why though.

“Is this about your brother?” she asked as she set the cleaning drones to clean up the arena and give the princess her time to warm up. “Don't worry, I’m not interested in him.”

The Princess smiled and said, “Thank you; he’s too good for this world, and that is not entirely a compliment.”

She then drew her Noble Arm, a katana that blazed with a fiery orange glow, as though hungry to burn and grow, and said, “Let me reward you for that…”

“Not everyone will see your action as such.” Cristina spoke as she raised her Noble Arm, it is notably shorter than Fuyuko’s blade but it seems to hold up against the glow well.

“She's not telling me everything.” Cristina’s mind spoke. ”Well maybe she'll loosen up after this.”

Cristina smiled as began her charge against the white haired woman, when was the last time she entered into a spar? It's been so long since the last one.

Fukuyo counter-charged, the fifteen-year-old (or was she now sixteen?) following up with a flurry of swift cuts and parries, all of which heated the air close to her; unlike Huo Ren, she seemed immune to her own fire. Every time she struck Cristina’s sword, or Cristina’s sword struck hers’, sparks flew through the room, lighting things up as the Princess reveled in the adrenaline of the fight.

She then asked, “Are you immune to heat? Genuinely wondering.”

Cristina responded through her own attacks and dodges, sometimes using her ability to blink to mix-up her position and get the initiative of the battle. She must admit though, the Imperial Princess will beat her in a straight fight.

Luckily she had other ways of fighting back.

“You just get used to it.” Cristina answered as the two of them entered a blade lock before blinking to a distance. From there she swung her blade and stars white flames were created.

“Dodge.” she spoke as they got launched to Fuyuko.

The white flames seemed to wane as the stars that held them shrank and dwindled, allowing the Princess to sidestep, parry, and then just swat them aside, before she slashed down, unleashing a vertical wave of flame at Cristina, a flame that would also hide her exhaustion from using what ability had deadened her opponent’s miniature stars.

Cristina would look at her shrinking stars as she saw that Fuyuko's Noble Arm is in play, she wasn't sure what but it seems using fire is not effective. She threw another star at the coming wave but this one instead exploded into light, blinding Fuyuko for a few moments.

In those moments, Cristina blinked at Fuyuko as her blade went for the neck. She knew this attack won't kill her, she's after all coveting the throne.

Cristina stared at the princess as a feral smile entered her face. “Getting tired?” she asked with a little teasing.

Princess Fukuyo had yanked herself away just in time, trying to clear her eyes before responding, “I can see why people like you; you’re a dominating opponent.”

She then surrounded herself in a ring of fire, before saying, “Why don’t you attempt to blink through this?”

Then she launched another flurry of attacks; cuts and slashes that were the lead-up to a thrust!

Cristina's eyes widened as she saw the circle of fire, she could blink away outside but she needed time. Time that Fuyuko won't give, forcing the freelancer to solely rely on her swordsmanship to survive the onslaught. She managed to parry the initial attacks just fine but managed to land on her clothes.

And Fuyuko's thrust drew the first blood on her cheek.

This is good, she's a good opponent.

She wants to throw everything out.

She entered a stance, before a flash of light entered Fuyuko's eyes. When she opened it back, she saw Cristina throwing her entire body for a jumping strike. Is that a desperation tactic? Or something else?

Imperial Princess Fukuyo was no fool, and despite the personal embarrassment to her, she threw herself back, hoping that the heat of her ring of fire would be enough to slow down Cristina, even as she planned to attack with fireballs from range - She knew enough about how dangerous an opponent the freelancer was.

Enough to guess about what she was planning…

Cristina's form disappeared as materialized dangerously close to the princess, as she stretched her sword to her stomach. It doesn't matter if she saw it coming if she's fast enough.

The Imperial Princess yanked her sword down, barely parrying Cristina’s thrust as she was staggered back again, while Cristina’s clothes were engulfed by the ring of fire covering the Princess, with predictable consequences.

“I’ll purchase you new clothes later,” said the white-haired girl. “So, do you wish to continue?”

Cristina took advantage of the short stoppage to catch her breath, she really got her there.

But she can feel it, in every exchange she's getting more tired. Just a bit more and she could win.

“Are you trying to quit now?” she quipped and took off her burnt jacket and raised her blade once again. This time the blade glows white and Fuyuko's ring of fire slowly dissipates. She won't be able to blink away now but the imperial princess won't be able to use her flames as well. “Because I know you want to see how this will end.”

The final stage will be decided by pure fighting ability, just like they did at those halls back then.

Cristina charged with a blade ready to parry Fuyuko's counter and press on.

Fukuyo attempted a clean cut at Cristina’s midsection, ducking to lower her profile as she dashed towards her opponent.

Cristina easily made the parry as she saw the attack coming but that is not the only thing she did. She let the blade slide past her, allowing her to get close to the imperial princess.

And deliver a powerful punch to her liver. She was too focused on the sword to forget her hands.

Fukuyo’s ducking posture, which ensured that her stomach was scrunched in, made her liver harder to reach, but all that did was lessen the damage of Cristina’s punch as it hit.

Staggering backward, the Imperial Princess grinned as she said, “You win.”

Cristina was about to follow up the attack with a tackle when Fuyuko's forfeit snapped her back and made her stop.

“You still have the energy to continue.” Cristina is not asking, she is simply stating a fact. ”Well I do as well but I would like a serious duel someday, I really enjoyed this while it lasts.” she however acquisized before letting her body fall to the floor and lay herself down.

This fight drained a lot for both of them.

“That bone to pick of yours, how exactly did I get it? Or are you really just that protective of your brother.” she asked the Imperial Princess as she sat back to the floor, wiping the blood on her cheek.

Fukuyo sighed as she sat down, cross-legged, and said, “I don’t like easy victories; even defeats are preferable to them. And quite frankly, my brother is too… easily moved by positive emotions. By that, if he shows more than causal interest in you, I get to win easily, shunt aside my cousin, who’s next in the line of succession because he is male, but lacks a Noble Arm, and then become Empress of Japan.”

Her eyes glinted a little, as she repeated, “Again, I do not like easy victories.”

Cristina patiently waited for the end of Fukuyo’s explanation, she didn't know what to expect but it wasn't Fuyuko wanting to make things harder for herself.

In fact she doesn't believe it in a bit. ”Forcing your brother to fight you because you want a challenge? Don't you think that's a little cruel and selfish of you?” she pressed on the Imperial Princess.

Maybe she's stepping out of bounds but the necessity of manners has been gone since they clashed blades. She wouldn't exactly call herself a friend but thinks they are definitely more than acquaintances.

Princess Fukuyo’s eyes narrowed as she said, “Shinyahito is soft, emotional, overly kind, and yet, when he has his mind set to opposing something, he is as hard as granite. His goal for opposing the revision of the Imperial Family’s succession laws is not because he is against women taking the throne, but because he believes I’d bring back the dark days - A past he is afraid of. My brother is a boy of contradictions; soft and spineless unless certain of his own correctness, and afraid that the past crimes will return if anyone but him had power. What a self-centered, yet well-meaning… If he wants a fight, I am not letting him throw it.”

Once again she listened to Fukuyo and found herself even more confused at her thought process but despite that she felt a bit of respect for these two siblings in her.

“So you wanted your brother to stand for his beliefs regardless if it's against your dreams. I can't be mad about that.” she rationalized.

“I don't know what to feel about it…”

After all, she has no dreams after getting her sister back and she doesn't know what she’ll do about it…

“Yes,” the Imperial Princess confirmed. “He does not need to be… distracted from that.”

Cristina let out a sigh. What Fuyuko means is that she better not see her wooing or being wooed by the Imperial Prince. In theory it should be easy enough to do.

In practice, they are about to have a mission together so she better prepare herself.

“I do think that your brother is cute though.” she confessed to the Imperial Princess. What is she going to do, start the round two of a spar she just won?

The response was a frown and a half-sincere, half-banter request, “Find someone else.”

“We’ll see.” She responded to Fuyuko's banter. “If I ever find myself developing feelings for him, you’ll be the first to know.”

A rare smile was the response.

______

Cristina entered the room Shin-, no his highness Shinyahito told her to get in for her mission brief with a neutral expression on her face. She supposed she could just blink her way and jumpscare the prince but that might possibly be too much even for him.

Wait, is she supposed to call him his highness or his excellency. She wasn't really sure and there's the part where she's not really a follower of whatever throne the siblings are fighting over.

You know what screw it, she’ll just act as she wants until she is instructed to do otherwise.

The freelancer opened the door and entered.

“You summoned me, your highness?” Cristina spoke with a small bow before the prince.

Crown Prince Shinyahito could not hide his smile at seeing Cristina, but he could nod in acknowledgment as he stood on the head of the small Molave wood table, once used by Trinidad Academy’s Student Council. He then said, “So, it seems the others haven’t arrived yet. Very well, I’ll give the latest news first - Admiral Yi Yeol has sunk the Russian and North Korean fleet to the bottom of the sea; the South Korean and Japanese Fleets will be heading south to reinforce us and the United States Navy soon.”

He then mused, “Even then, we’re going to need you and the others who volunteered for the navy mission; to be honest, I won’t lie - We need teamwork to bring down the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Aircraft Carriers. But…” he prepared to admit something, “There’s something else - No, it’s not what you’re thinking. No, it’s something your old friend, Cornelio Malong, told me just a while ago - The various warlords composing the rival ‘Continuation Government of the Philippines’ have gathered in Davao and Lubao, where they are gearing up for a counteroffensive against us backed by Chinese weapons. The ones in Lubao led by Flores Pagkanta Corriente have been deliberately driving refugees to the National Capital Region, where Manila resides, to use up our remaining supplies.”

Looking at her, Crown Prince Shinyahito spoke, “We need to deal with the problem she poses, but we also need to feed the refugees…”

Cristina looked at his Shinyahito as he gave the brief, so could be a professional. She'll give him this one in his favor.

Her eyes perked up when he mentioned the new warlords, their heads fetched for a high price one he couldn't avail due to her being part of the Military. Not like she cared for it.

“And what will you do about it? As a freelancer I am not paid to say my ideas.” she spoke to the prince.

“Unless you want to order an assassination, it's been a long time since I took one. Got my most intense missions from there.” she recalled.

Duels in her Imaginary Space to the death.

The feeling of your enemy clinging onto life in an attempt to ensure she dies first.

The sound of your heart beating as you try to be the last one standing. Missions like these are the best for her unfortunately she cannot show her excitement before the Prince.

“Regardless, it is the fastest way I can see to solve the problem.”

Crown Prince Shinyahito pondered the temptation for a moment, then said, “It’s bad optics; if I order their assassinations, it’s going to look like Japanese interference in Philippine affairs. Instead, I was going to ask you if you want to distribute Rice with me to a refugee camp… but we can select one suspiciously close to Lubao, where Flores Pagkanta Corriente is still lurking?”

“Who said about you ordering me to perform an assassination?” Cristina asked with a raised eyebrow to the prince. “I'm pretty sure the government won't mind if you simply suggested the idea right?” the mercenary asked the prince with a shrug. “...but if you need to consider how you look, your image as a benevolent heir would be crucial if you want to fight your sister.”

Silence permeated the two teens who might be doing too much for their age before Cristina spoke once again.

“Are you sure you want me to be there, you must have an idea about my reputation.” Cristina asked the prince.

Despite being legally safe from the consequences of her ‘friendly fire’, her image get a little infamous as a bloody heartless mercenary hired by Obsidian.

“It might harm your fight with your sister.”
8
Shinyahito arched an eyebrow, then said, “I care that you’re intelligent and competent. As it is, I heard about the incident; it was a matter of bad timing and it’s no one’s fault… which is terrifying. But you’re still here, aren’t you? Because you want to keep fighting.”

He sighed, then added, “Besides, distributing rice might be good optics for you too, if that’s the case…”

“And what if I told you that it wasn't out of the kindness of my heart? If I told you that I’m only going to get my sister back or die trying, would you still want me by your side?” Cristina spoke as her averts from Shinya’s gaze.

“If I told you that I will burn this world with you in it if it means she gets a better life, what will you do?” she asked the Prince while one of 7her hands was in her pocket.

“Yes to the first two questions,” the Crown Prince said without hesitation. “As for the last one… I’ll fight if it comes to that. If.”

His eyes glinted, showing steel and anger behind his gaze, “When every option is exhausted, I’ll fight, even if it means going against you. But it is not that day yet and I will keep working to avert that day. Until then… Let’s work together.”

Cristina felt stunned by the Prince’s answer, she expected him to be stunned and a little hesitant. Or veer on one side stupidly.

“Your sister is right, you are indeed a naive stubborn headed idealist.” she spoke as reveals the item in her pocket.

The burner given to her during the peace talks, an escape to everything given to her by that pirate.

“But it wasn't a bad thing.” she spoke as she crushed and burned the thing in a fireball.

She then stared at Shinya with a smile on her face. “I look forward to working with you, your highness.” she spoke to him.

She wasn't convinced that her and her sister's story will have a happy ending.

But perhaps she could guide the siblings to what she would get.

Shinyahito returned her smile and said, “So, want to give out food together?”

“Sure.” the girl spoke to the prince. “Just don't be surprised if something went wrong, I just have a record of being unlucky...”

END

Oskar watched as the weapon turned man did his thing, and if he was being honest, he was a little disappointed. He knew logically that not all powers were flashy and obvious, but he had still been expecting something to happen as the director tapped Cristina's weapon with their own. Oskar shooed those thoughts away as the Director recapped were each of them were going. A slight frown formed at the edges of his mouth as he heard it'd be only the two of them going on the rescue mission. That would make things much trickier.

As they were dismissed Oskar decided to finally get himself some food as he had skipped breakfast this morning. He quickly grabbed a large plate of something labeled Sisig, he had no idea what it was other than a large amount of delicious meat. He turned around and saw a few of his new squad mates had decided to get some food as well. He stood there for a few moments mulling over the idea of striking up a conversation.

He usually wasn't the chatty type, but he had to at least build up a bit of repour with his new team members. Even so he decided to approach the brown-haired Belgian man who'd sat by himself. If he remembered right his name was Henri. He tried to temp down the scowl that was a permanent fixture on his face as he sat across from the other man.

"Hello, I am Oskar. Figured I'd introduce myself and get the awkwardness of the first real meeting out of the way while I had the chance." He said as he offered a hand to Henri. "I figured I'd start with the stragglers as I'm not much of a social person."

[quote=@Chiro]




Henri was mostly focused on eating, though occasionally he looked around him. It was then that another fellow appeared at the table. A soldier himself.

"You and me both, pal." Henri replied and shook Oskar's hand,"I'm not much of a conversationalist myself, either. Henri, Henri Janssens."

While they were both military men, this didn't feel like the time of going for ranks. Besides, Arms-Masters here were relatively casual outside of battle.

"So, what do you think of the Philippines?" Henri asked, hoping to ease the mood. "Personally, the sights are beautiful, but this heat really gets to me."

W.O. "Mikey" Rangel

---

Refugee Camp, North of Manila - 12/3/2022, 10:53, UTC+8

---

"You're welcome!" Mikey gave the man what her mother would have called her thousand-watt smile as he took the bag of rice from her hands. As soon as he took it, she let out a puff of breath and wiped at her forehead with a hand, trying her best to dry her forehead. The temperature really wasn't that bad--it was in the low 80s--but she had yet to get used to the humidity. She had been raised in southern California, where they were lucky to get more than a foot of rain in a year; from what she had been told, Manila got more than that in a month during the summer. Ugh. Think I'd just melt.

She popped the lid on her canteen and sipped ice-cold water, closing her eyes to savor it. At least she wasn't on some godforsaken march to nowhere, sweating her ass off purely because the CO thought she was getting "soft". She had been skeptical when the call went out in TFO for people to help hand out food to the refugees. She didn't think she was too good for the work, but that was the kind of thing she had expected the task force's newly designated leader to think. Apparently she'd been wrong, and Mikey had jumped at the opportunity for a distraction. Training and prep for the coming mission could burn a lot of her spare time, but the downside of it was that by the nature of the activity, it didn't exactly help distract her from the fact that it would be all too soon before she was in her first shooting engagement.

Still, the scene here wasn't that much better. Utilitarian tents had been pitched in a line, serving long lines of displaced refugees with packaged water and staple foods; the refugees themselves all looked tired but determined as they waited for the chance to get their allotments. It reminded her of when she was very young, and her family had evacuated ahead of a wildfire that had thankfully ended up not reaching their house--except they and the other people in the shelter had been able to go back home the next day. These people weren't so lucky; some of them were less than a hundred miles from their homes, but they might as well have been across the ocean--at least until the so-called "Continuation Government" finally put down their guns.

Well, in any case, it felt good to be doing something to help--especially something that didn't involve fighting.

Mikey sighed, then turned to one of her fellow Arms Masters putting their own dent in the pallet of rice and offered them the canteen. "Hydrate or die-drate," she chirped, trying to sound flippant.