Chapter Two: The Commandant and The Alter

I woke up with the sunlight meeting my face, my body curled up hugging a pillow since I've always fallen asleep hugging something soft. The sun was just barely out, rising over the east and I could see a small number of humans already starting out their day below.

Even without looking at any clock, I could tell what time it was already for no matter how late I sleep, I always wake up in the same five in the morning everyday. As though to prove my point, the huge clock hanging over the wall just managed to point its short hand over the number.

I immediately went back to my room, fixing the blankets and the pillows I took the previous night before going into the bathroom. My baths don't take longer than ten minutes, and I've already worn my Alter uniform by then which is a one-piece red clothing with a turtle neck and sleeves only reaching before the elbows and the connected shorts reaching just over the thighs. Over the ineide clothing was a long gray overcoat covering my entire body that reached over my knees, with small slit on each corner by the end.

The rest of the small designs were black buttons over my chest down to my navel, along with a black belt surrounding my waist. The sleeve of the overcoat would reach down to my wrists, my wrists covered by red gauntlets attach to my white hand gloves. I also wore the usual battle boots reaching over my thighs, my Alter badge placed carefully just below my neck.

And of course, I never get by any day without wearing my black scarf no matter what weather it is...and the collar, well let's put it inside rigjt now. Though anyone would say our uniforms look uncomfortable and hot, and while that is true, our uniforms were also made to protect our bare skin from the virus' exposure since we're mostly out in the wasteland.

I was already in the middle of preparing the Commandant her coffee in the kitchen when her door opened, revealing her figure wearing the same uniform as I do except that she wore a Commandant badge that decided her status. Her long black hair was gently spread on her back, amber eyes still looking as cold as ever.

Over my three years staying with her, if there was one thing I've learned about her, it's that she doesn't really like talking to me unless it was about work or something that would hinder her responsibility.

Despite that, I do love making her morning coffees. It was like a way of a "good morning" between us now that her accepting it would mean the same thing. We don't often need words, I understand the Commandant in every little action she acts upon or each expression she makes.

Just like how I would know she how she grabbed the cup and her tablet before heading to the terrace to start reading the reports she hasn't read yet the night before or check the morning news while I make her breakfast, unless there's an urgent task and when I saw her return to the kitchen not even ten minutes later, I knew then I wouldn't have to do breakfast.

"Did you notice anything strange at last night's festival?" She immediately shot the question.

I shook my head. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

"What time did it end?"

"Around one in the morning."

She finished her coffee, gulping the rest in one go. "What time would the field excursion start?"

"According to the updates last week, it would be eight sharp today." I answered, remembering. "We still have two hours."

I have a very good memory, which means I wouldn't be able to forget anything as long as I've seen it once or twice and Commandant often relies our daily schedules on me to remind her since she's always so preoccupied with different things and usually forgets some important stuffs. While I am curious as to what causes the urgency in her voice, it's not really my right to question things humans do.

"We're going to the Central Zone before meeting up for the Excursion." She said, already making her way to the elevator.

"Understood." Naturally, I followed behind her after turning the dorm's power off by my hand print before entering the elevator with her.

Silence once again ensued betwen us for the few minutes we were in the elevator and when we got out of the building, I immediately put on my hood that covered my hair and horns. It's easier to hide it knowing how big my hood is, so I'm not particularly worried about them showing.

People, as usual, greeted the Commandant with reverence, not minding me at all. It was better that way to be honest, I've always disliked attentions after all, especially from humans despite working under one.

After walking for a while, we soon reached the Central Zone. One area was surrounded by a holographic yellow line that was made to keep people out as authorized personnels investigated the area itself. The Commandant headed straight towards a group of people, probably a bunch of reporters. One man in the particular—I recognized as the Zenith City Governor.

He was a short and fat man with long beard, his body always dangling with golden necklaces and rings and if that's not enough flexing, he's always surrounded by sentry mechanoids created to guard him.

"Commandant Alestrandra," the Commandant named herself as she got near. "I have received your earlier report, Governor Hendrixon."

"Good, good. You are early as usual, Commandant." The Governor said, shaking the Commandant's hand as his sentries drove the reporters away. "Still, a pleasure to meet you again. I have not heard from your father for a while now—"

"I suggest we skip through the pleasantries, Governor, and tell me what exactly is this all about." The coldness from her voice made the man flinched, but I do recognize the annoyance and impatience in her tone. Governor is one of those people who lusted after the Commandant's family status name for reputation after all, and Commandant absolutely finds annoyance in facing people like him.

"Of course, of course." The Governor nodded, pointing at the Yellow Zone, that holographic line I was talking about earlier. "I received an alarm this early morning that there has been a tampering attempt over a few mechanoids here in the Central Zone. They were merely cleaning machines, but I sent out people to check their systems but before they could, the said machines exploded."

"A system failure?"

"No. They have already been tampered, that explosion was a sign of that."

"A tampering attempt in a single machine would eventually lead to the entire system of the same mechanoid class to be affected. If so, are you saying that someone was in control of all cleaning mechanoids in the Central Zone?"

"Yes, that is why I am mobilizing people to investigate the cause of this. My people have already rebooted the cleaning class' system, so there is no fear for further explosions now. But we can't be too certain."

"If you're asking me to help in the investigation, I'll have you know that I am part of the JADES Organization and inner colonial problems aren't part of our concerns." The Commandant strictly reminded him.

"Normally, that is." The Governor smirked. "Not unless your personal Alter might be a suspect."

Commandant sighed, another obvious ploy to get her helping. "You will have to do better than that if you want to threaten me, Governor Hendrixon."

"Threaten you? Oh no, I am simply asking for the help of the best Commandants in your organization and considering we found out the hacker wasn't a human, we can only conclude it was an android. Thus, all androids at the moment are possible suspects."

"My Alter is not an android."

"That is not what your organization has ruled out. Or perhaps you prefer calling her a humanoid."

"How did you acquire personal information?"

"Let's just say I am not as uninfluential as you might think."

"You can say whatever you want, Governor, but I will not help."

"You—!" His face distorted to anger now. "Do you really think this is just as simple as a prank?!"

"Prank or not, unless the JADES Organization interferes, I will not help you." She glared at man, making the latter step back in fear. "Especially not those who want to sully my name by insulting my Alter."

Commandant no longer said anything, immediately turning around leaving the Governor fuming in anger. However, perhaps out of impulse, my sight caught a movement behind us, his hand reaching out to grab the Commandant from behind.

Unfortunately for him, I will not let anyone touch my Commandant especially those with malicious and harmful attempts that before he could make a contact with the Commandant, I have already caught his wrist.

"What are you planning to do?" I asked, and despte how I said that out warningly, with my soft and meek voice, it ended up being the opposite of a warning.

"That's—I should be the one asking that! Damn android, let me go!" He yelled. I frowned, but with him unable to see what I look with my hood up, it really doesn't matter at this point that I crushed his wrist, earning a scream from him. "You! I'll have you know that I can arrest you androi—"

"That's enough, Elirah." With a single order from my Commandant, I found myself letting the man go. "I suggest we stay out of each other's way from now on, Governor."

The Commandant continued on with her walk, and I followed behind her, not minding the stares we were receiving. The Governor is an extremely impulsive person, he will not hesitate to do anything to get back against the Commandant. I fear I might have made the matter worse, but I don't really regret it. Commandant might think differently about this matter though. I wonder if she's disappointed again.

"Were you that offended to be referred as an android?" She suddenly asked after a while of silence.

"I do not understand what is offensive in that concept, Commandant."

"Then that action was unnecessary."

"I apologize, but I think otherwise."

"Why is that?"

"I will not hesitate on crushing those who wish harm upon my Commandant."

"Your loyalty is as distasteful as ever."

I gripped my black cloak, feeling another swelling around my chest as I looked down. "...I apologize, Commandant."

She sighed, and I knew very well it was yet again disappointment. "Even with the name given for you to use," she stopped, feeling her look at me with her cold amber eyes. "You keep locking yourself in. It's unsightly."

"I... apologize, Comman—"

"Enough with the annoying apologies. Let's move along."

I said nothing more, following behind where my rightful place was. Commandant can hate me all she wants, I think I deserve it after everything I've done. We've been together for almost three years now, but I have never really figured out what exactly it is that she finds so hateful in my actions. Or perhaps they were just excuses, what she hates aren't my actions but what I am as well as the past that will forever haunt us both.

A Nexus can be formed through the link between a Commandant and an Alter while a link can only be performed successfully if both have bond and trust for one another to the point of risking death if failed.

Despite how our relationship is, strange as it may be, our synchronization rates are far more higher than most Nexus partners. After all, our bond is formed through her hatred of me and my desire to protect her—that reasoning is enough for us to trust one another with our lives.

Which is why the Commandant can use me however she likes, she can break me, or even let me die—and I would still stand strong ready to offer her everything of me until the day comes where she will no longer have any need of this Alter.

But if this isn't a desire to protect, then I don't know what this connection is. Perhaps some emotions simply tend to stay as a mystery, but it's fine. I have a long time to figure it out—I just hope she'd still need me by then.