Chapter 2
Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 2
OP Song:
Spy ["Who Can You Trust" Music Video by Ivy Levan in HD (1080p)]
Insert Song: Start
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gou OST | 04 Loneliness
It was sometime in the afternoon.
Eugene Thruston knocked on the front door.
"Come in," a voice called out to him.
He would go inside and close the door. He would find an office, and from the desk found just near the slightly closed window, he would see a woman with white and purple religious robes, with a matching habit that frames her slightly wrinkled face and covers her long black hair, and grey-blue eyes. She was looking at the files of the newly arrived and transferred students. Her eyes, upon seeing Eugene, would slightly widen in recognition and surprise, before her mouth immediately forms a warm, welcoming and joyful smile.
"Eugene," she spoke his name.
Eugene silently made a respectful salute. However, the woman would have none of that as she stood up from her office chair, unable to contain her joy upon seeing a familiar face. She walks towards him and gives him a warm hug.
"It is good to see you are well, my son," the woman spoke with a smile.
"...You too... mother," Eugene muttered softly, his blue eyes softening and letting the woman's embrace take him, putting his arms around the woman's back.
Her name was Sister Margaret Lindman. She was the current Principal and Headmistress of West Genetics Academy. She was also a veteran Pandora who had been involved in the early clashes against the Nova, more specifically the 5th and 6th Nova Clashes that happened in the mid-80s. In the 5th Nova Clash, she suffered traumatic experiences, being one of the only few survivors of the grueling fight, and that experience made her consider retirement. But the 6th Nova Clash and its aftermath proved decisive to her eventual goal to become an instructor for future Pandoras, though she could no longer go back to active duty as a Pandora due to the critical injuries that she received during the 6th Nova Clash.
She was one of the few people who knew his true identity and his CO, Director Ironwood, was the one who gave her the heads-up that he would attend West Genetics Academy as part of a Blackwatch mission. She accepted the proposal with no hesitation.
As for him calling her mother, that is more than true despite being not related by blood. But that was a story for another time.
After the embrace, they would sit down from their respective chairs and talk for a bit. How has Eugene been? Has he been eating well? Simple things. Eugene would also speak of his first step inside the Academy and have been doing a bit of exploring. Then he got to the part where he met Chiffon Fairchild.
"Chiffon? You've met her?" Margaret spoke with concern.
Eugene nodded.
"I see. What is your first impression of her?"
Eugene wasn't a man of many words. Hence, he limited himself to a few words. "Sad...yet beautiful."
"Hmm, that's surprising," Margaret smiled a little, musing. "I never quite heard of someone describing Chiffon Fairchild in those terms."
"...In any case, mother, seeing as it's almost evening, I should be heading to my assigned room in the male's dormitory," Eugene spoke formally.
"Ah yes," Margaret smiled sadly. "I would not want to keep you for too long, and that's beside the part where I still have preparations to attend in light of tomorrow and the following days ahead. But do come by my office from time to time. I rarely see you nowadays personally, only communicating by mobile devices and virtual holographic platforms. Nothing replaces personal contact, it's one of the most important aspects of being human, is that not so?"
"Of course, mother," Eugene agreed wholeheartedly. "And I will also find time to visit you."
"Splendid. Oh, and before you leave, I must ask, how is your CO doing by the way?" Margaret spoke inquiringly.
Instead of responding verbally, Eugene would take something out of his bag pocket. A red rose and a sealed envelope that had the stamp of a modernized stylized eagle. "He wanted me to give you these."
Margaret smiled fondly at the rose and the envelope, taking them both out of Eugene's hands. She smelled the rose and fragrance entered her nostrils. "Hmm, it seems that man has not changed over the decades. Quite sweet, even if he is rather rough around the edges, though I suppose that is one of the reasons why he was chosen to lead Blackwatch. Tell that man that I have received his gifts and would treasure them fondly, but tell him to at least come to me personally next time."
Eugene nodded.
It was sometime during the night. The newly arrived students were resting in the dormitories in light of tomorrow's assembly.
Eugene was resting on a bunk bed, occupying the lower one. His bag was placed somewhere on the side of the bed. Currently, he was looking at silver dog tags. The inscription read: "Red Beetle". A lot of memories, good and bad, came to mind when he looked at it. That was the old codename he had gone by before coming here to West Genetics. He never really imagined something like this. Just resting in bed, preparing for the next day of school. He was not like the other teenagers, especially those who were so eager to sign up and be part of "something greater", as much as the commercials would have people believe. There is a truth to that, but there is always the price of life or death when it comes to the battlefields. For the battlefields are devoid of compassion.
"So, umm, you met the Student Council President, huh?"
The one who asked was his new roommate, sitting on a chair, facing backward from the chair, with his arms placed on the support of the chair, looking at him. Abel Rotomaster. A young man with fair brown hair and amber-brown eyes. Before first meeting him, Eugene knew who this young man was. He was the son of somebody who had once aspired to be a Senator and ran for the previous 2009 elections, the one where Benjamin Asher became the next President. During the times of the 2009 elections, the man decided to give up running at the last moment for some reason, neither winning nor losing. For that reason, Abel and his father have an estranged relationship.
Going back to the beginning, he remembered meeting Abel when he was walking inside the male's dormitory. They gave each other their own introductions after noticing and discovering that the two share the same room, and had a bit of conversation where they get to know one another.
"So what's your story?" Abel once asked.
Eugene would explain a little abridged and edited version of his life. He was the adopted son of a military official, whose name he could not fully disclose at the moment because he was ordered not to, for the sake of national security, and ultimately for the sake of privacy potentially away from politics and military affairs. Bad enough to get hounded on the job, one would rather not deal with it when out of the job. Eugene had been raised by said official regarding traditional and military values, and before being a Limiter, the only things he ever did were to study all kinds of subjects via reading books and stuff, having a proper physical regiment, training in firearms, and attending self-defense martial arts classes. So his childhood was radically different compared with most teenagers.
"Woah, that's...rather amazing," Abel responded in awe.
In some sense, not really. Eugene thought dryly. This was an abridged and edited version of his life. He told the truth, but there were layers of hidden enigmas that could not be deciphered without the proper context. A perfect art of war that means to deceive the enemy by not telling a single lie. And no, he did not quote that from Sun Tzu, which belonged to his CO.
Going back to the question, Eugene, still staring at his dog tags, would ask. "What about it?"
"Well..." Abel raised his right hand to rub the back of his neck, making a mixed expression. "...I mean, you do realize that this woman that you bumped into just so happens to occupy the number one spot as the #1 Pandora in the world."
"I am aware," Eugene spoke with an unsurprised tone. "Long before I came here, let's just say I did a little research."
"Then you do realize that there are probably plenty of Limiters out there, including here, who would definitely love to be her Limiter. I know that you just met her and all, but this may possibly be the start of something else, and I'm not blind to the fact that at some point in the future, some greedy bastards may try to antagonize you for that position," Abel spoke with a concerned tone, raising an eyebrow, and putting his chin on the upper part of the chair.
"I'll deal with that when it happens, until then, I'm going to take a little nap. Tomorrow's the morning assembly after all, so I suggest that you do the same," Eugene said, moving his body to the right, with his dog tags being kept in his pocket.
Abel could not help but shake his head. "You know, I don't know whether I should be impressed or worried about you because you don't seem to find this situation of yours a big problem.
Oh, you have no idea, because I've dealt with bigger problems than potentially being selected as the Limiter of the #1 Pandora in the world, and I've been threatened with my life more times than I care to admit. Eugene thought with exasperation.
And it was true. Though, now that he thought about it, he'd probably report this later to the Director General of Blackwatch regarding this potential development. Abel was right, he thought. If he gets potentially picked, all eyes would be on him, which may prove a little detrimental to his mission. Blending in, have a normal life, keep an eye out for the Academy, the works. Being at the center of attention may obstruct his mission, so he would need to think about this accordingly.
Chiffon Fairchild was not one to waste time. When she had taken an interest in someone, she would do everything in her power to find out who this someone was, no matter what. Determined and stubborn. No one can convince her otherwise. Her roommate and fellow student council member, Ticy Phenyl, is fast asleep, which gives Chiffon plenty of opportunities for a little privacy.
Typing her laptop and accessing the files of the newly arrived students, she got the file she was looking for. Eugene Thruston. Born: May 3, 2000. Lived somewhere in New Jersey, McGuire Air Force Base, adopted at a young age by a military official in charge of the base, guardian's identity unknown, which was typical for someone in the military. It seemed that he spent most of his life there, at least before eventually attending West Genetics. Nothing too out of the ordinary, except for the fact that he had been chosen to undergo a strict regiment that lasted for about a month in preparation for his role as a Limiter. That was all she could ever find out about him.
Then Chiffon was just staring at the photo of the young man who was accompanied by a tall military official with black hair with grey sides, with a black eyepatch covering his left socket.
"...!"
She recognized the tall eyepatch man as Director General Rick Edwards Ironwood, the Director General of the interdimensional organization, Blackwatch. He was accompanied by a few other people in the photo, some she would also recognize. She wondered just what was Ironwood doing there. Was he perhaps just visiting the airbase at that time? Ironwood was known for visiting various military bases from time to time when his schedule allowed, so maybe he knew someone in the airbase. Does Ironwood then know about Eugene? If so, what's his relationship with him? She does not have a lot of context and can only make assumptions without concrete facts, so she would think about Ironwood's presence in the photo later.
What really drew the young woman's attention was the expression on Eugene's face and eyes. It looked...very familiar, much to her disturbance. It was the eyes. They were weary and grim, despite their normal appearance and the genuine smile that added a layer of sadness. It was like looking at a mirror. It was a contrast to how she met him. They were not the eyes of a child or a young teenager. They were the eyes of an adult. It was the same eyes that she had. An adult. But why?
She checked a few photos where Eugene appeared and they all depicted the same general expression, that same weariness that is hidden in those eyes, seem to exude upon the photos.
Chiffon was a little concerned. Perhaps she needed to keep an eye on this young man from now on.
It was sometime during the early hours of the morning, just right before the sun was rising.
"So you finally met that woman, huh."
The unsurprised tone spoke from the red-colored phone that Eugene was carrying. It was somewhere away from the dormitories, somewhere just near the rooftop. Dressed in his uniform, having taken a quick but effective shower, he's managed to clean himself nicely. Why was he on the rooftop? Well, he's had a habit of sometimes wanting to enjoy the rising sun. It keeps his mind a bit afresh. As for the person who is speaking to Eugene, aside from Sister Margaret Lindman, there was one who was also an adoptive parent of his. He just so happened to be his CO in Blackwatch, and the man who ultimately gave him the mission to have a normal life, for the most part.
Director General Rick Edwards Ironwood.
Eugene had just reported to him the recent meeting that he had experienced with Chiffon Fairchild. Ironwood knew about her and her actual origins just as much as Eugene did.
"I shouldn't be too surprised. When I sent you there to West Genetics, I knew it was only a matter of time before you would eventually bump into Gengo's youngest daughter."
"What do you want me to do in the meantime, sir?" Eugene asks.
"For now, let things flow naturally, though I'd advise some level-headed caution all the same. Your friend...Rotomaster was it, he's right, you should watch your back. A lot of people have their eyes on Fairchild, and if by some dumb luck, she picks you to be her Limiter, well, all eyes would turn on you too."
"Would such a thing be able to compromise the mission?" Eugene asks.
"Hardly," Ironwood spoke bluntly. "Yes, if that happens, they would know you as Chiffon Fairchild's Limiter, but...they would not know you as Red Beetle, Agent of Blackwatch. In fact, this could prove beneficial for us. You can accomplish a lot of things and establish a few connections if Fairchild becomes your Pandora."
"Hiding in plain sight," Eugene said.
"That's right, though yes, there are some cons to this, because there's a 90% chance that the girl would report to her father of what she may discover about you, but shady as the man is, Dr. Gengo Aoi is an ally to humanity and had helped Blackwatch in the past when he is acting as a consultant in extradimensional affairs. We both have different methods, but we all want the same thing, and...he'd probably trust Red Beetle over a random Limiter to handle and protect his daughter. You did once save Kazuha Aoi, the Legendary Hero of 2013, during the 8th Nova Clash."
"Even so, I hardly think that the woman needs any kind of protection from me. She's quite a capable combatant, and I have seen the footage of her skills in action," Eugene spoke honestly.
"I wasn't doubting her skills in combat, kid, I know better than most that Chiffon Fairchild is quite deadly, and that's understating it. What I was talking about was the possible corruption that may happen to a Pandora, if you remember that briefing that you attended last two nights ago."
Eugene's expression was silent and serious, knowing what Ironwood meant. Ironwood continued.
"To remind you of part of that briefing, Dr. Gengo Aoi himself would call this corruption process, Novalization, or Nova Form. There are two known types of it, and you've seen one of them up close."
Ironwood explains the first part.
"The first is called Assimilation-type, it's one where a Nova were to infect a Pandora and force them to become a deadly opponent on the battlefield who would indiscriminately try to kill anyone in sight, turning from a powerful friend and ally, to a gruesome and unkillable super drone that could slaughter modern militaries by their lonesome. You've already seen Rogue Non-Infected Pandora in action during the Cold War, back when Mother Russia and Uncle Sam were still at each other's throats more than half of the time."
Eugene remembers all right. He even remembers... killing some of the Rogue Pandora. Ironwood continued to explain.
"The second is called Corrosion-type, it's one where a Pandora where to push beyond the limits of what her Stigmata could be capable of, resulting in a corrosion rate that may run amok. A Pandora would get her abilities enhanced when in this type of Nova Form, but there comes a personal cost, a collateral one. Explosion. Killing not just the Pandora in question, but may also take several civilian populations and infrastructures with them, causing potential casualties to go by the number. You've seen this specific type up close, back during the Cold War as well."
And Eugene remembers stopping that too, with his own two hands.
"Neither of these unpleasant scenarios has actually happened when it came to the Nova and the clashes specifically, so these are still hypotheticals on the drawing board for now. However, we cannot rule out the possibility either, since we've seen non-Nova examples of the scenarios in question. The precog department of Blackwatch has also confirmed it over the years, monitoring alternative timelines where such things did happen, to a variety of damaging costs. One of the reasons this fear of a Nova-Infected Pandora hasn't happened in our timeline is that we and everyone else who is important on this political, military, espionage, and conspiracy chessboard are more than prepared when something like this were to happen. You are one of these contingencies."
Ironwood explains further.
"I don't need to remind you of the threat that one Pandora could pose. It's an eyesore at best. Now, imagine twenty or thirty Nova-Infected Pandora running amok. Modern militaries would get slaughtered in an hour at most. You're gonna need one of the more powerful and experienced capes to deal with a threat like a Nova-Infected Pandora. Again, you're one of them. The possibilities for the Nova to exploit are endless. Brute force tactics. Sleeper agent scares. Kamikaze bombs. And a whole lot more. That's where you come in."
Ironwood continued.
"With the Masked Rider System implanted into your body, you would at least have the capacity to prevent these corruption scenarios from taking place, and if corruption is inevitable, you can use your AT Fields to contain the blast of the Pandora's explosion or take the corruption of the Nova away from the Pandora altogether. Since the last debriefing, your body has completely undergone a few modifications and readjustments due to the efforts of one of our top surgeons, Dr. Octagon, in order to prepare for your mission, to take on the role of a Limiter of any Pandora. You're one of Blackwatch's wild cards that would be monitoring Genetics from the inside. The other one is assigned somewhere in East Genetics, and he's already made a detailed report of what he had observed before you did. He also wanted me to pass on something to you."
"And what's that?" Eugene asks.
"Beregite sebya, tovarishch. (Take care of yourself, comrade.)" Ironwood spoke in Russian.
Eugene, while not showing it, would smile underneath his professional demeanor. "With respect, sir, can you tell him: Ty tozhe. (You too.)?"
"Don't push your luck, kid, I ain't your SMS, so tell him yourself," Ironwood warned, with a tinge of humor.
"Yes, sir," Eugene spoke respectfully. "And sir, mother wanted me to pass on a message to you. She said and I quote: "I have received his gifts and would treasure them fondly, but tell him to at least come to me personally next time."
"...No promises on that, but I'll try to look into my schedule when I'm able."
Eugene could tell by the voice that his CO was smiling a little. Eugene smiled in turn, though quickly changed back to a professional expression. "Though, in relation to Chiffon Fairchild, sir, being chosen to be her Limiter is still far away from reality, so this too would be hypothetical for the time being."
"True," Ironwood agreed. "Though, be honest with me, kid. If you did get chosen by her to become her Limiter, you'd eventually have to undergo Baptism, and that implies being able to see through the closet."
Eugene was silent.
Baptism.
It's a specific type of formal ceremony between a Pandora and a Limiter, where a Pandora in particular would officially acknowledge a Limiter as her bonded partner. The ceremony entails a Pandora removing one of her Stigmata and re-implanting it into the Limiter to create a bond known as an Ereinbar Set, which allows the Limiter to use Freezing. This is usually done in the form of a First Room Invitation, where a Pandora formally invites her chosen Limiter to her room to perform it.
Now, there's this common misconception, and Eugene figured that would be one of the reasons for some, not all, but some males and their motivations for attending a Genetics Academy branch. Because there was the misconception of sexual intimacy being involved. Yes, there are cases that does happen, but only after the Baptism occurs. After. It's an optional method that allows to further consummate the relationship between Pandora and Limiter, and further strengthen the bonds between them, making them quite a powerful pair.
All five senses become enhanced. Their mind, their body, their heart, and their soul as one. Each one can tell what seems to happen to the other, especially when it seems likely that one of them would be close to death. A Pandora for example would be able to tell if their Limiter would feel pain, especially a grievous injury. It seems that those Pandoras and Limiters who formed such romantic relationships were effective and efficient in creating such a dual fighting force. So sex by this context is a practical bonus and benefit, though again, it is an option, and the Pandoras and the Limiters would not even need to perform such a thing, for they would be strong together all the same. There are other relationships besides love and romance. Respect, friendship, and other emotional connections also provide a little boost. Romantic and unconditional love seems to be at the highest pinnacle to unlock the true potential of a Pandora and a Limiter.
Now, what concerned Eugene's worries was none of the above. What concerned him was that, as Chiffon Fairchild is considered to be not like the other Pandoras, she may start to see something about him. His memories. Not just as Eugene Thruston, but as Red Beetle, and the decades worth of experience that he has. Some of those were personal. Some were of the traumatic kind. Some were just sealed bottles in a can that Eugene left to rot and never tried to open again. Some were memories that he may have forgotten, but never truly forget.
Ironwood continued. "Well, not like her hands are squeaky clean either. I don't think I need to remind you of that one time HYDRA tried to capture her."
Eugene knew perfectly well what Ironwood was referring to. Fairchild, a few years ago, had befriended someone when she was on the run. That person was very important to her, but unfortunately, she was caught in the crossfire when HYDRA tried to nab Fairchild. What resulted was a bloody slaughter. About an estimated 120 HYDRA Soldiers were killed alone. Eugene and Ironwood held no sympathy for their predictable demise.
"That may be true, sir, but the difference is... ...that I lived thrice as long as she ever did and never slept through it all, that makes me the one with the most blood on his hands," Eugene answered.
"True, and I was there for more than half of that time. We both did what we had to for the greater good, as much as that seemed to help us sleep better at night," Ironwood spoke with an understanding tone, accompanied by grim acceptance.
The years from before. These experiences that Eugene Thruston would call his own. He could remember the flashes of a Second World War up to the long cold winter that stretched through the decades, which ended by the early 90s. Major and minor events in history. The Occult Wars. The Peace Walker Incident. The 1971 Worm Secret Invasion. These were just three of many minor events within the major. However, just because it is minor does not mean it did not affect the globe. These three listed minor events did affect the world, in a variety of ways.
"Well, I'd kept you on long enough. I'm gonna have to hang up this call because I still have other important things that require my attention, and I'm more referring to what's currently happening in the Middle East."
"The GLA?" Eugene asks.
"Got it in one, so I'm hanging this call-up, in the meantime, message me of anything important that I should know. Also, if you have more time, message Dr. Octagon and give him the current status of how you are adjusting to the new modifications."
"I will, sir," Eugene answered.
"Good. Ironwood out."
Then the call was cut, leaving Eugene to process his thoughts. He stood still and breathed a sigh. He grabs his dog tags and sees his "Red Beetle" alias, making him sport a thoughtful expression. He waited as the sun was seen on the horizon, complementing the once-night sky with the bright rays of hope.
Everyone, all of the new freshmen, was gathered in the same large gymnasium. Seats were prepared.
Eugene was among the crowd, watching the crowd of eager students, many of whom were whispering several things. Many of these boil down to recognition, getting a Pandora, or even becoming a Pandora. For Eugene, looking from his left and his right, all he saw were children, some of whom were getting way over their heads because they may not even know just what kind of battlefield they stepped on.
His expression turns grim.
Being a Pandora or a Limiter would be no different from being a soldier in the military who would have to fight on the front lines. The added caveat to this was that they needed to fight actual extradimensional beings, classified as Special Disasters, called the Nova, who had first appeared sometime a year after World War II, which shook the world.
Genetics Academies all around the world, while they would emulate the feeling and years of someone who would attend a simple high school, and may even experience some cliches about it, along with the enjoyment of being around beautiful women, the Pandoras in this case, most of whom were quite attractive and well endowed, one cannot deny the grim reality. This was a training ground. Pandoras were essentially the next Super Soldiers of the Earth, one out of many ideas that make up a part of the Super Soldier Arms Race that started during World War II. Entire nations would try, by any means necessary, even to the point of unethical, to replicate the birth of the iconic and famous Sentinel of Liberty, Captain America. The Nova, unfortunately, was one of the perfect excuses for humanity to start fanning the flames for the Super Soldier Arms Race.
Now, one could call Eugene out for being a pessimist due to seeing the grey and black sides of becoming a Pandora and a Limiter, but Eugene would correct that notion, for he would consider himself more of a realist. The International Humanitarian Laws that specifically prohibit child soldiers were unfortunately, even by proposed practical reasons, slowly cast aside, unofficially for the most part, and little by little, young teenagers were becoming the minimum that statistically make up a lot of the population of various spy agencies and military organizations, and this would include Genetics and its supranational military backer Chevalier.
Orphans most especially made the best of recruits.
"Hey," Abel Rotomaster would nudge Eugene by the elbow to grab the latter's attention. "Where the heck did you go off to?"
Eugene answered. "Enjoying the rising sun."
The answer made Abel raise an eyebrow.
Eugene answered further. "You'd be surprised if one takes a step back and is willing to admire the little things in life. It even gives plenty of incentive."
"Incentive? For what?" Abel asks.
"Of what we would fight for, and how we fight, because that in the end is what matters," Eugene spoke seriously, not looking at Abel, who looked a bit thoughtful.
Then, Eugene, Abel, and everyone else would watch to see a woman with white and purple religious robes, with a matching habit that frames her slightly wrinkled face and covers her long black hair, coming up from the stage. Standing on the stand, turning on the microphone, and glancing to the sides, seeing the instructors gathered on the stage, would now clear her throat and begin her speech, one that she had to say numerous times.
"Hello and welcome, all of you, to West Genetics Academy. My name is Sister Margaret Lindman and I am the current Headmistress of this establishment."
Margaret continued.
"Before I continue, I would like to make something abundantly clear to all of you."
There was a pause. Then, with her expression turning grim, she said.
"From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to each and every one of you. You have chosen to put your life on the line fighting an enemy that shows neither mercy nor quarter. No matter what reason brought you all here today, know that I and every instructor behind me, as well as each of your comrades in other years, are grateful for your service. I want you all to know that I consider you, and every other child here, a part of my family. You are, all of you, my children."
She smiled at all of them.
"You have now all finished your basic examinations and training. I wish for you to know that things will only get harder as your next four years go on. Your body will be pushed farther than before from Volt weapon training for the Pandoras, to the heavy strain utilizing a freezing field puts on the limiters. I have faith however, faith in you all, that you will meet the coming challenges with dignity and grace."
The following speech afterward was an in-depth explanation regarding the chain of command, class authority, and general information about the facility that they were in, a speech that lasted for a quarter of an hour. Eugene knew the general gist of it already, only taking this opportunity to examine all of the faces around him. Before Eugene came here, he researched Genetics and Chevalier, what they do, how they operate, how many places are under their control, and other things that he needed to know. Eugene Thruston, an Armed Agent, was an infiltrator, to play the role of an observer and provided the details back to High Command.
And now, one of those tasks was monitoring Chiffon Fairchild, the secret youngest daughter of Dr. Gengo Aoi, the pioneer behind the concept of Pandoras and Limiters. She was standing on the stage, along with her fellow student council member and Vice President.
"With that being said, the last thing that I wished to say to you all, the current generation of students, is this," Sister Margaret would look towards the direction where Eugene was, spotting him easily. She smiled genuinely. "Make me proud."
Everyone, especially Eugene, made a respectful salute. Then Margaret would go down the stand and the next person would take her place. Chiffon Fairchild. She took her spot on the stand and would step forward, with her eyes slit closed, her smile unmatched, her body straight and without compromise, she spoke with a tone of authority.
"Good day to each and every one of you, my name is Chiffon Fairchild, the Student Council President of West Genetics Academy. Know that in light of your stay, I and the rest of my fellow student council members are here to assist you to the best of our ability."
While Chiffon would speak, she would use her enhanced eyesight to look at each student. There was one peculiar student that she was looking for. And after searching, she found him. His expression was attentive, focused on her and her words. Chiffon's smile turns a little brighter, inside and out.
"Also, yes, we are all here to prepare for the threat of the Nova against our world, that is our primary mission which we must not neglect. However, aside from times of battle, there will also be times of peace. In that sense of peace, we must not neglect to develop lasting friendships and true bonds that would complement and even aid all of you in times of battle. We share our thoughts, our dreams, our feelings, our emotions, our desires, and everything that we have to offer, and it is in this, the Nova will know our strength. And that even in the darkest of times, we dare to hope, and that is the one thing that the Nova will never take from us. Our friendships. Our love. Our camaraderie. For we, all of us, as one united family, dare to hope."
"...Hope," Eugene muttered, his eyes turning soft as lighter memories passed through his mind.
As he contemplated this in silence, looking straight into the woman's slit-closed eyes and meaningful smile that he somehow knew was directed at him specifically, the crowds cheered on and yelled in praise.
It was sometime after the assembly. Students were exiting the gymnasium and were about to go about their daily business.
"So Eugene, what are your plans for today?" Abel asks Eugene with a smile. Considering that actual classes wouldn't start until next week, they have all of the time to relax.
"First, what exactly are your plans for today, Rotomaster?" Eugene asks, with arms crossed.
"Ugh!" Abel pinched his eyes out. "Eugene, we talked about this, call me Abel, you don't have to be so formal with me, geez."
Eugene sighs. "That's what the Stud-, I mean, onee-chan had to say about my habit of formality."
"Onee-chan?" Abel asks.
"My name for...the Student Council President," Eugene explained, rubbing the side of his forehead with two fingers.
"And onee-chan is right here~!"
"Woah!"
Abel expressed shock at the sudden appearance of Chiffon Fairchild who appeared behind Eugene. Eugene was not surprised but was more of raising an eyebrow. Though, he could feel the sudden wrap of her arms, and feeling a warming embrace. It comforted him.
"Sorry, I could not help but overhear both of you talking about me," Chiffon sported a contrite expression, still covered with a smile. "Which reminds me," She would begin to introduce her best friend and fellow council member who was right beside her. "I believe that you both know Ticy Phenyl, the Vice President of West Genetics."
The young woman with long black hair, reaching down to her waist, and grey eyes, bowed her head a little.
"Good day to all of you," Ticy made a kind smile. "I hope that you're both enjoying your stay in the Academy so far."
"Umm, yes," Abel sported a little embarrassed expression. Looking at Ticy up close, Abel thought, she looked cute. Well, so was Chiffon, though Abel had the feeling that this woman was somehow taken already, and no one was realizing it, if her hugging his new friend was anything to go by. That may be a jump to a conclusion, but that would not also be out of the realm of possibility either.
"Oh, umm, Rotomaster, was it?" Chiffon asks.
"Yes?" Abel said.
"May I kindly borrow Eugene from you? In return, I would give you Ticy instead," Chiffon sported a smile that seemed to speak of amusement.
"Wha!" Abel was shocked at the proposal. And so was Ticy.
"Ticy," Chiffon looks at her best friend. "I entrust Abel Rotomaster to your care, now, if you excuse us."
"Uh, wait!"
Ticy would try to stop Chiffon, but she was already leaving, with Eugene in tow. She would glance hesitatingly at Abel, who directed his gaze sideways, also being a little hesitant. Both of them were quiet as they didn't even know what to say to each other.
"Hmm?"
There was a beautiful woman in the crowd who noticed Chiffon Fairchild dragging someone with her, arms locked and all.
She was Elizabeth Mably.
A beautiful young woman with somewhat pale skin, large breasts, back-length curly blonde hair that has chest-length strands hanging on either side, dark blue eyes, and an hourglass figure.
She was the leader of the Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC), the one who maintains discipline, dignity, decorum, and rapport of West Genetics, as well as controlling the student body through rules and regulations, and the channelization of their energies into positive and creative direction and promotion of manners, personality, character, and civilization.
"That's odd, who's that boy that Chiffon is with?"
Insert Song: End
Insert Song: Start
The Best Is Yet To Come · Donna Burke · Rika Muranaka · Rika Muranaka
Outside, Chiffon quietly has Eugene locked into her arms. Eugene was just silent, noting only the absolute strength and grip that he was locked into, with no hope of escaping. Well, he never really intended to escape, but was rather curious why Chiffon would drag him along and they would just... ...stroll around the school in private. Where he ended up was somewhere in a park of sorts, a specific part where barely anybody would notice the two, so for the most part, they were alone. Chiffon was just humming with a positive tone, giving a cheerful atmosphere. It only made Eugene even more suspicious.
"So," Eugene made the first move, raising an eyebrow of inquiry. "Why did you drag me all the way here?"
"Hmm~ Oh, I don't know, Eugene, what do you think?" Chiffon asks with a smile.
"I can't read your mind, that's not something within my power to do," Eugene spoke honestly, seeing no point in mental gymnastics in a time of peace.
"Boo~ You're not even gonna guess what your onee-chan is thinking?" Chiffon made a pouting expression.
"Call me stingy if you must, but I simply see no point in a mental exercise that doesn't concern my well-being," Eugene said.
"You know what your problem is, Eugene, you're being way too serious. Couldn't you lighten up a little?" Chiffon asks. Some part of her felt a little sad that Eugene wasn't playing along. There was not a sign of an embarrassed reaction typical of a teenager. Even adult men would at least have the decency to blush or be a little resistant. No reaction. Just inquiry. Just a serious tone contrasting her cheerful and relaxed state.
"How exactly am I supposed to lighten up if you, the Student Council President, are arm-locking me and dragging me around for some unknown reason that continues to elude me? Though as I stated, I cannot read your mind, that is not within my power to do so," Eugene said.
Chiffon sighed a little as her smile turned a little sad. "Oh Eugene, it's not wrong to take a simple guess. Even if one were to be wrong in the conclusion, at least one tried to guess."
"Wouldn't that just be me making a fool of myself?" Eugene asks with an inquiring tone.
"Fools tend to be surprisingly well accomplished in a lot of things," Chiffon spoke sagely.
"Those are a different kind of fool. What I'm referring to is something of a non-sensical that doesn't leave much of an impact in the world and only draws out wasted time and energy," Eugene said.
So serious. Chiffon thought with a sigh. Well, she could at least get an idea of who this young man is. Quite serious to a fault. No time to relax and play along with acts of humor. She may need to work on that. And the way that this young man treats things seriously reminded her way too much of her past self. Back then, she was only starting to learn about human emotions. She had a certain friend to thank for this opportunity. A friend who had passed away to a tragedy by only being associated with her.
"Well, if you must know," Chiffon smiled a little. "I thought that I just wanted to spend time with you."
"Why?" Eugene asks.
"To get to know you more, silly, what else?" Chiffon said, her smile twinkling a little.
"With respect, that's a bit random. We only just met, and it is not like I'm worth your interest, so you have no reason to do this," Eugene said.
"It's my personal decision of what is and what is not worth of my interest, Eugene, you don't get to decide that," Chiffon's tone, while smiling, had a tone of seriousness. Eugene noticed, taking a mental note of this.
"That is true," Eugene agreed. "That is a part of your right of freedom as a human being." Eugene does not mention the fact that Chiffon is more than a human being, but that would not be wise. It is a very sensitive and classified topic. No one in this school even knows about her origins after all.
"Then it is also my right to get you to lighten up," Chiffon's face brimmed with positivity, making Eugene wonder just what this woman was thinking. "Also," Chiffon spoke, and her smile turned solemn. "You seem to have sad eyes. I can't place my finger on it, but there was something different about you when I looked at your eyes. They were...sad. Does that make any sense?"
Eugene became very silent because he knew what Chiffon was talking about. It's not like she wouldn't be able to tell. Her senses are much sharper than the average human.
"...It does," Eugene confirmed, making Chiffon perk up a little.
She looked into his face and he saw a little crestfallen look, one that hides behind everything else, hiding behind the veils of professionalism and formalities. Behind the face of the youth was... ...someone older. Weary. Tired. His eyes stared somewhere in the long straight distance and looked past it. One wonders just what he was thinking.
Chiffon made her smile into one of understanding and empathy, turning into a ray of genuine sunshine. "Is that so?"
She made her hold on Eugene more comforting and she was exuding a kind of brightness that made Eugene feel a kind of warmth that he had mostly forgotten.
He did not understand why, but he feels... safe? Secure? Comforted? The desire to rest and take a nap? A warmth that went beyond that of a mother. It was like a tiny fraction of light that would point him the way out of the grey atmosphere that was covered in ashes. It almost felt like, for Eugene at least, that the memories of the past were fleeting and soothing, almost like they were swept by the cool wind. In fact, the leaves that were littered on the ground were gently prodded by the winds that came from the east, and he noticed Chiffon's hair flowing a little, with her hand holding a part of her hair to sway it away from her cheek.
Eugene became mesmerized by this beauty and the scene that was depicting her. He and Chiffon simply spent the rest of their time in silence as they walked the pathways. Then they found a bench to sit down and rest. The silence continues. But Eugene never minded. It was a little odd that Chiffon Fairchild would be rather silent and simply be content to spend time with him like this. Though he did not feel any unease by this. His arm was gently wrapped by the arms of this woman and humming a lullaby-like tone that would make even the hardened heart rest and take sleep.
Straight ahead, there were a bunch of flowers, of different colors, on the grass that flowed gently.
"Ne, Eugene," Chiffon muttered. "What was your life like, before entering Genetics?"
Eugene only looked upwards at the blue sky, wondering how to put it into words without deliberately compromising his identity, though he did have some suspicions that Chiffon may already know anyway because she has her own secret connections. He racks up his mind and can only think of one word. "...Tired."
"...Why?" Chiffon asks.
"...You ever get the feeling that... your destiny got decided for you on the fly without your say-so, and you don't seem to know how to escape it. You are caught in this cycle of conflict where you have to do what you must for the greater good, yet you look back into the past and you start to wonder... what could you have done differently, or will it be more of the same or similar choice. You sometimes ask, what is it that keeps you fighting, when the people you swore to protect would keep fighting for justified or petty reasons and you have to do everything in your power to break it up and would see from your own eyes, both compassion and cruelty, bodies lying on the ground, your future and your past, simultaneous, yet never separating. All of them, together, form parts of the whole that is you, and you would have to live with it, each day, every day. But the trouble is... ...what if you may be living for too long?" Eugene spoke grimly.
Chiffon listened. Concern, perturbation, and something akin to deep empathy were a mix of emotions and feelings that passed through her line of thought.
"...And what was your answer to that?" Chiffon asks.
Memories. Such a fickle, yet tributary thing that is found in the human mind. For Eugene, these memories would flow to him by heart. One memory allowed him to recall the time when he, as a young child, would walk slowly, tired and held gently by the hand, and see the dehydrated and starved Jewish and other prisoners of war that had tears of relief and sorrow in their eyes as they were freed from the grueling torture and nightmare. The stench of death, the bodies left over, the HYDRA personnel that either lay dead on the floor or who have surrendered, with hands up and being led away by the Allied soldiers.
Then he looks upon a man with blonde hair and blue eyes, with a uniform made of carbon polymer flame-resistant jacket, a pair of custom-fitted blue-dyed paratrooper trousers, a bulletproof helmet with a wings motif, rigged combat gloves for extra grip, a utility belt and a handgun holster, combined with with a disc-shaped shield made of vibranium, with a white five-pointed star on a blue circle surrounded by three concentric rings of red, white, and red. The man's expression was serious as he and a young Eugene walked together, with the morning sun rising and permeating on their faces.
"Build the future. Keep the past alive. See everything through the end of the line," Eugene answered solemnly.
Chiffon noted what he said. Silence reigned a little. And the next thing that she did...
"Hmm...?" Eugene raised an eyebrow.
...Was lay her head on the young man's shoulder. Eugene felt the softness of her cheek and her hair. He feels his arm embraced tightly, feeling her modest female breast, and the heart that seems to be beating. Chiffon smiled, happy and sad, and the desire to embrace this young man, with a history that eluded her, with a history that disturbed and haunted her, with a history that made her want to find out more, and she would embrace them all, do and not try. Then, one of her hands interlaced with his and locked it, holding Eugene's hand.
"...But above all, one should not forget to smile."
Chiffon completed what Eugene said. Eugene looked stunned, looking towards the woman who...
"...!"
...Opened her eyes.
Her eyes were unnaturally colored. Her irises were bright gold. Her pupils were straight-line white. Deep yet meaningful. They looked upon his blue weary eyes. Eugene was stunned by the woman right in front of him. Her hair blew a little as the wind came down on them. Her smile amazed him as his heart felt like it was slowing down. The warming rays of such a smile seem to come upon his eyes, the windows of his soul, and penetrate to its depths.
...This was a different and new kind of experience for him.
Afterward, Chiffon closed her eyes to a slit once again and was content to lie down on his shoulder with a smile, leaving Eugene to his contemplative thoughts. Eugene would slowly close the gap, with his fingers locking with Chiffon's hand, as their hands were held together, firmly.
As for Chiffon, in her mind, there was that one resolve. She wanted to find out more about this young man who seemed to carry a hidden burden behind the weary yet youthful blue eyes. The returning thought of Director Ironwood in one of Eugene's photos crosses her mind. There was one thing she could do. Ask her father. There may be something that he could possibly know, since her father knew Director General Ironwood.
Then she remembers one peculiar memory. One advice that she made use of.
"Want me to teach you a way to become happy? You just have to smile. No matter how hard things get, don't ever forget to smile. If you just keep on smiling, then one day, that smile of yours will become real. The more you smile, the more happy you'll be."
A memory of sitting on a fountain, talking to a certain friend that she had the fortune of meeting, before her untimely passing. Aureriel Fairchild. Whose surname Chiffon was using, in her honor and memory. The advice that her friend gave which seems to come back to her. She smiled and did so for the rest of her days.
Aureriel... I think I just met someone who makes me smile in a way that I never could smile before. I'm happy... ...yet I'm sad. I don't know. I cannot describe this newfound feeling that I have. If you were here, what would you call this smile?
Chiffon did not know what to call it. The emotions that she is feeling right now. Happiness and sadness, interlaced to become something else. A feeling. An emotion. A new experience. A new discovery. A new question. What was it that she called it? She did not know. But she felt happy and sad, which made her want to care for this young man beside her.
She loved this new feeling that she discovered. It made her smile feel more meaningful, more impacting, more worthwhile. She wore different varieties of smiles over the years. But this smile... ...was new, and yet special.
And she does not want to lose this newly gained incentive. A newfound smile that made her future feel a little brighter.
The more I smile... The more happy I'll be... This... This feels like that. Yet I also feel sad.
For the very first time, Chiffon smiled. But there was a new kind of happiness that came with it. She did not know what to call it. But it felt so right, so soothing, so peaceful, something that made her whole. It was a smile that seemed to be a kind of reward for her. That her sufferings of the past were never in vain. This was her reward, and she felt joy.
I don't know what to call this feeling... this happiness... mixed with sadness... But I know one thing. I can... ...never let this man go.
And the winds gently blew over them. Eugene was looking at the flowers with a softened look and a warm feeling burning through his chest. Chiffon laid her head on his shoulder and was content to remain where she was.
Eugene did not know why, but he loved this feeling that he was experiencing. But he did not know what to call it. This was something new for him. And as the hours passed by, the two were just content to sit there, not saying a word. And Eugene made a soft yet simple smile.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
Sins of The Father · Donna Burke · Ludvig Forssell · Akihiro Honda