X15: Build-up

The two got back up into the observation room. There were many operatives in the room that were watching the fight. News probably got out about Lilly fighting someone. Eliza sat up on the stretcher as she twisted her body to look at Kazuki. He didn't have anything written on his face. But she knew that underneath those golden eyes was a fervour, she's seen it before. Her doubts slowly seeped back in, Kazuki's violent but there must be a reason… Even compared to what little she's seen in the industry, he's far more brutal.

"You lasted longer than I expected," said Kazuki.

"Hey!" Archius interjected, "Good job."

Archius came over to her as he patted her on the shoulders. Kazuki remained still as Archius slapped her on the back. Now that she thinks about it, Archius always was an enigma to her - maybe even to Kazuki. Kaz always seemed to act cautious around him; well he acts cautious around everyone…

'Good job,' said Synthia, the holographic projection forming from her holo-phone, 'You put on quite a show, Miss Eliza.'

'Not… good enough…' Eliza muttered to Synthia.

"But… good enough to get me like this." Lilly staggered in as Quinn and Amyé were right there to make fun of her.

"You nearly lost to the hottie!" shouted Quinn, slapping his superior on the back. Amyé sniggered.

"Haha! Look at the old hag!" snapped Amyé, wrapping an arm around Quinn as the two laughed at Lilly.

A grizzled man placed himself between everyone as Lilly took a step forward, frightening the group of operatives, most of which wore red and white trimmed armours. He had white hair and a white stubble, pale as the Eclipse maelstrom, yet glanced down at Eliza dismissively. "Hey, at least she has the balls to fight the newbie!"

But Lilly moved him aside. "Thank you, O'Hara, now get back to work. I'll be doubling your guard duty next time round." ordered Lilly.

Eliza looked at the operatives, noting that these were the men and women that she'll be using to help her investigation, with added manpower this should be easier. The immediate sense of dread filled many operatives as they immediately stood to order and fled from the room, leaving only those that she couldn't lay a hand on.

Lilly twisted to Eliza. "Alright… outsider, I guess there's hope for you yet."

Her eyes thinned at Eliza as Lilly's face made an unremarkable expression. Yet that wasn't what caught Eliza's attention. Her words felt somewhat warm, and her bias towards that warmth forced her to ignore everything else.

"Thanks…" said Eliza. "Do you really have to be harsh on them?"

"Hmph." Lilly turned away, showing Eliza her white trimmed armour and gold-trimmed pauldron. The bias showed as Eliza once again refused to acknowledge what Lilly truly meant.

Claire approached Eliza, kneeling down to her level. "Don't worry about the pain you feel, you'll get used to it. Simulated pain is probably the closest thing you'll be getting to on-field testing."

She immediately injected a few medi-jectors into Eliza as she made sure that everything was alright. Eliza caught a glimpse of the green cross underneath her lightly armoured plate.

"Thank you." said Eliza.

"No need, name's Claire, self-taught medical expert." Claire replied as she lowered her voice, "But don't worry about that, learnt most of it from textbooks; there's a lot of nuances to injectors, so don't think that it's just as simple as injecting-away the pain."

"Wait… you didn't go to med-school?" asked Eliza, watching Claire tend to every one of Eliza's ailments, even the bruises on her arms with aseptic spray.

"Fuck no!" Shouted Claire. "Too expensive, have you seen the admission rates? Still, if you need me to patch you up, I'm here for you." She continued to spray down the bruises and scratches, ensuring not a speck of pathogens remained, figuratively of course. Her crimson armour with a slide of gold showed some connection between Claire and Kazuki, though Eliza chalked it up to her being one of his commanders, like Lilly or Martinez.

Eliza was left slightly dumbfounded; there was someone just as dedicated as her! The sensation of admiration crept onto her, just like how she idolised so many people in the past from scientists, engineers and inventors.

Eliza glanced up at Kazuki. He didn't have anything to say as Claire helped her up. "Come on, new-kid, there's a bar that me, Lilly, Quinn and Amyé go to. Perfect place for contractors like us, you down for it?"

"Why, thank you, I'd love to have something to drink." Eliza smiled at Claire as they started to walk off. "I can pay the bill, if I am honoured to do so."

"Sure, sure." But a single sentence caught Eliza off guard as Claire twisted to Kazuki. "Oi, she's legal for drinking right? Don't wanna be bringing in someone underaged again."

Kazuki nodded. Eliza was only a few months younger than Kazuki. By now, if they had just had normal lives… they'd be in university. But here they are. Claire turned to Eliza as they left the room, "So, you watching any shows?"

"Well, the one with Dr. Garreau is quite interesting," said Eliza. Claire's mouth slowly opened, a grin on her face.

∗ ∗ ∗

Silence followed. Kazuki glanced over at Lilly as Archius rolled his eyes.

"I'm not that young…" Archius said, shrugging and sitting down, taking out a report. "Hmm… missing explosives… probably criminals."

Lilly sighed as she gave Kazuki a stare. "She's not ready. You know that.

"She's not for combat," said Kazuki. He understood her eyes, she despised Eliza. It was somewhat understandable. A new girl? An outsider? Here? Kazuki hoped that they'd get along well.

"She won't last a minute in this industry. Get her the fuck out, before you kill her, you were lucky that Gabriel knew how to fight."

"She won't die." Kazuki intensified his own glare, his pupils penetrating through Lilly's skull. "She has a specific set of skills that I wish to utilise. And if any of them lay a hand on her, I'll personally see to their torture."

Lilly narrowed her eyes into an inquisitive glare, slowly realising something. "What do you want with her? Why her of all people? You know, some defectors say that you killed Tessie over a pink-haired girl… that's her, isn't it? Just what are you planning, Kazuki?"

"I'm planning nothing." Kazuki said, bluntly.

But his mind continued to race, he knew he was lying. Eliza meant far more than Lilly could even know. Kazuki's eyes thinned. "But I owe her this, no more questions. Understood, Captain?"