The Fall
…..
???: How long are we going to wait here?!
???: until they come.
???: we're sitting ducks out here!
???: we'll wait until they come
???: did you not see how hard they went down?! you saw that explosion! What are the odds of them coming out of that alive?
???: we haven't received any confirmation of death.
???: what, so we're waiting here until we do?
???: this is the rendezvous point. leaving here would throw a wrench into the works.
???: this is absurd!
Marian: everyone!
???: ah! you scared me!
???: !!
Marian: I'm marian. The commander is here with me.
Varakiel: hello.
???: …..are you serious? How did you survive that explosion? i got that you're a nikke, but isn't that one a human?!
Varakiel: Yes, a very durable human, thank you very much.
???:...something's fishy about this. Are you really the commander?
Varakiel: yes
???: Excuse me for a moment. commander identification code, read.
Varakiel: identification code? I must have left it on my other pants, hahaha.
Marian:.....
???:....*sigh*
???:.....the squad 04-F commander has changed.
???: rapi, we don't even know them! how could you…
Rapi: now´s not the time to argue! There are raptures right ahead of us.
???: well…that much is true.
Rapi: From now on, you're in command. as the former commander is unable to issue orders at present, no formal procedures are necessary to transfer authority. The situation is urgent. I'll explain the details once the battle is over.
Varakiel: Very well, nice to meet you rapi and uhhh…
Anis: *sigh* name's anis.
Rapi: You said your name was marian? What branch are you from?
Marian: I belong to silver gun, I'm a machine gunner.
Anis:...it checks out…urgh…very well then. All right, commander. What's the next move?
Rapi: awaiting your command.
Varakiel: Squad, Destroy the raptures
Rapi: Yes, commander.
Anis: Let's get this party started!
Varakiel: Mhm, let them come.
Varakiel says as he unsheathes his sword.
Rapi:...commander…
Anis: say what now?
Varakiel: don't get distracted you two! marian, rapi and anis you take care of any flying unit or master class, let me the ground units we need to save all the ammunition we can.
Rapi: commander, that's too reckless, get behind us now.
Anis: is another of these *sigh* we are doomed!!
Marian: understood commander!
Anis: what…
Rapi: marian!
Marian: believe in the commander, he's well versed in combat, I have seen it myself, let's give him support when needed.
as the three of them prepare for combat varakiel has already charged to the ground units.
Varakiel: (10 ready to shoot, 6 blocking my way, 14 trying to surround us…5 minutes, start…now!)
*THUD*
like lighting varakiel stabs at one servant core!
Varakiel: 1, 5 seconds.
Varakiel then evades to the side when 2 servants try to pierce him with their claw-like legs.
Varakiel: (their attacks are coming!) *inhale*
[Serene mind 2]
Anis: h-hey! he stopped moving, he's cowering in fear!
Rapi: dammit commander.
Marian: don't get distracted you two,
*PEW**PEW**PEW**PEW**PEW**PEW**PEW**PEW**PEW**PEW*
Varakiel deflects all of them at the same time using serene mind.
*BLING*
*BLING*
*BLING*
*BLING*
*BLING*
*BLING*
*BLING*
*BLING*
*BLING*
*BLING*
Varakiel instantly sends it back to them!
Varakiel: 20! 2 minutes!
Varakiel then charges ahead to the remaining servants.
Anis:.....rapi, didn't they say humans can't fight raptures back?
Rapi:...they shouldn't…..this is weird, really weird.
...
after the battle was over.
Varakiel: *puff* *pant* that should do it….
Varakiel takes a look at his now half broken sword
Varakiel: *sigh* i desperately need a workshop, doing field work will only take me this far…
Anis:.....
Rapi:.....
Marian: Do you need me to get you some scraps commander?
Varakiel: No need , I can do it myself….
Varakiel then walks to the raptures to make another sword.
Anis: alright marian, what the hell is going on here.
Marian: To tell the truth I don't know either, the commander is weirdly strong for a human….
Rapi: Is he a human to begin with?
Varakiel hears rapi.
Varakiel: I am a 100% human, I can explain everything when we are back in the ark, for now…
Anis: That's true….anyways that was easy, i have to admit that only destroying the master classes without the annoying servants is a huge help.
Rapi: That's true. Thanks for the assistance.
Marian: Why did you ask to take the commander up to the surface all of a sudden? so…
Anis: I'm afraid so. our former commander is dead.
Marian:....
Varakiel: *sigh* What did he do?
Anis: just like you he tried to fight back the raptures. hurling obscenities at them all the while. He knew that those pea-shooters couldn't put a dent in a rapture…
Marian: you two failed in your duties. you let him die.
Varakiel: marian!
Varakiel yells at marian.
Marian: c-commander?
Varakiel: they didn't fail their duties, their commander failed them, instead of relying on orders and planning beforehand he let his emotions take over and tried to play a hero.
Anis:....we've always been willing to protect the commander. no matter what, even if that meant sacrificing ourselves!
Varakiel: indeed, you can't always protect someone who is actively trying to get himself killed.
Marian:....
Anis: fine….i was just saying.
Rapi: Could you tell us your name?
Varakiel: (lily?)
LIly: (don't worry the information has been rewrited a long so ago~)
Varakiel: Varakiel.
Rapi: Anis.
Anis: I´m going to do a little digging. let me see….hmm?
Rapi:What's wrong?
Anis: this commander is a total rookie.
Rapi:...what?
Anis: they just graduated from the military academy yesterday.
Varakiel: with honors anis, with honors.
Anis:.....he seems to have been the best of his class…
Rapi:...let's move to the commercial street. It's too dangerous here.
Varakiel: mhm, squad let's move out.
anis: roger.
Marian: understood commander.
Rapi: yes commander.
—
After walking for a while rapi starts a conversation with varakiel.
Rapi: Did you really just take up your post yesterday?
Varakiel: Yes, is something wrong?
Rapi: how can a complete amateur be sent to replace a commander killed in the line of duty…what were they thinking?
Marian:....what?
Rapi:...nothing. anyway, you're the commander of this squad from here on out. If you don't have any objections, I'd like to go over our current course of action.
Varakiel: I have no problems, despite my capabilities i am oblivious of where to go now, you're in charge of the route rapi.
Rapi: understood commander. I'll brief you. 46 hours ago, we lost communication with a nikke squad that was patrolling this area. They went completely dark, so we decided to send out a search party. During our search, an accident resulted in the death of our now-former commander.
Anis: The only problem is that the deceased commander was the one who knew the coordinates to our destination. you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?
Varakiel: sadly, i don't
Anis: *sigh* I figured as much.
Marian: I know the coordinates.
Anis: yeah, i figured that too….huh?
Varakiel: (hmm….)
Marian
Corruption: 65%
Varakiel: (crap it's progressing faster than i thought.)
Marian: That information was input into my system when I was sent out on this operation. I'll take the lead. follow me.
Anis:oh…okay.
Marian: And you, are you called rapi?
Rapi:....?
Marian: You failed to protect your former commander. who are you to call someone else a novice? they're putting their lives on the line just like we are.
Rapi:....
Marian: if i ever hear you talk like that again, it-
Varakiel: Marian enough!
Marian:.....
Varakiel: yeah we fight on the line, but that doesn't mean that there's no stupid people that risk their lives for a bit of recognition….sorry if i offend you with this rapi and anis but….
Anis: Go ahead, I have heard a lot of things already.
Rapi:....
Varakiel: But their commander was a stupid fool, that kind of people should remain down in the ark while the ones that can survive a battle should be here on the surface….and we also don't need internal pressure right now understood?
Marian:....yes commander, i am sorry….
Varakiel: It's not me who you should apologize to.
Rapi:....(this commander is….different.)
Marian:.....rapi….i am sorry i was rude, and the commander is right, not all commanders are…perfect.
Rapi:....i'm sorry too, i misspoke, and i am sorry too commander, is clear that despite your….active experience, you know how to command an squad.
Varakiel: is okay, rapi, i wouldn't trust someone if they told me this was their first day on this kind of situation too, haha.
Rapi:.....
Anis: *chuckle* this commander also has a good sense of humor too, definitely not an ordinary commander.
Varakiel: well, you can't judge a book by it's cover, and this book as a ton of pages.
Rapi:....
Marian:....
Anis: okay, that was not funny…
Varakiel: that can't be!
Gnome:.....
...
Marian:....
Anis: are you okay? you don't look so good.
Marian: i don't know what it is, but i feel a bit…
Rapi: let me do some maintenance. take off your top.
Marian:wh-what? right here?
Anis: is there a problem?
Marian: what i mean is….the commander is right there…
Anis: you don't actually think the commander sees you that way, do you. relax. to them, we're just emotionless fighting machines. the last thing they're thinking of when they see us is sex, trust me. isn't that right, commander?
Varakiel: *cof*....i'll do some recon ahead tell me when you are done…
Anis: -_- well well, so you do see us that way! interesting!
Varakiel: what can i say, to me you're just living beings like any other, *cof* anyways tell me when you are done.
Varakiel slips away from this…quarrel…
...
Rapi: everything seems okay…
Marian: i told you.
Rapi: let's keep going.
Anis: hey, i saw that!
Marian: *gasp*...
Anis: just kidding.
Marian: gah….
Anis: hehe, ill go get the commander, he shouldn't be that far.
Anis the walks off to look for varakiel.
...
Varakiel was making a new sword with the remaining scraps from raptures he collected along the way.
Varakiel: mhm, this should do for now.
Anis: hey commander, i am wondering, you seems to be really proficient when fighting raptures face to face, say, what is your secret?
Varakiel: 100 situps, pushups, and squats followed by a 10km run.
Anis: -_- i knew you wouldn't tell me.
Varakiel: hehe, like i said let's go back to the ark first then we can chit-chat all you want.
Anis: fineeeeee….
...
after walking a long while the squad receives a signal.
???:...do you…copy?
Rapi:....?
???: ark control to surface. Do you copy? rapi, anís?
Rapi: communication…this is rapi,.shifty, do you copy?
Shifty: about time we got through! What's the situation on your end?
Rapi: the new commander has arrived. The operational coordinates have been confirmed and we're proceeding as planned.
Shifty: excellent. We had quite the scare back there when we lost contact with the transport ship.
Anis: you took the transport ship straight into the middle of an enemy camp? what were you thinking?
Shifty: what?
Anis: it's completely obliterated. with friends like you, who needs enemies?
Shifty:....raptures in that area have no anti-air weapons.
Anis:...what?
Rapi: Shifty, can you send me the data for the transport ship's black box?
Shifty: Sure, once I'm done analyzing it. it won't take long.
Rapi: okay, thanks.
Shifty: just a sec….well then…
then the hologram screen comes to varakiel face.
Shifty: hello, there! i'm shifty, an operator from the ark intelligence department. i will be assisting you throughout the operation from here on out. nice to be working with you.
Varakiel: nice to meet you shifty, i'll be in your care.
Shifty: yep!
...
after getting close to the objective.
Shifty: high class energy detected ahead, most likely lord class.
Anis: what? what's something that big doing here?
Rapi: i suggest we retreat.
Marian: what about the missing nikkes?
Anis: we leave them behind.
Marian:.....
Anis: only 0.2% of nikkes who go missing are ever recovered. you, of all people, should know these search parties are just for show.
Marian: well i can't pretend like they don't exist either!
Varakiel:...how strong is a lord class?
Shifty: they are the ones who lead high-level raptures. their combat capabilities are unparalleled. judging from the simulation, our chance of success are high, but there's a high probability of us sustaining heavy losses…and a 24.35% probability of total annihilation.
Marian: commander, should we pull out?
Varakiel: we keep going, if they are dead I am at least giving them a proper burial.
Rapi: then please give the order. that's all we need. we follow the commander's orders no matter what.
Varakiel: squad continue the operation.
Rapi: yes, commander.
Anis:...commander, you do realize that this could be a suicide mission, right? so long as our brains remain intact, we nikkes are no worse off. it's a different story when it comes to humans. you're fine with that?
Varakiel: haven't i showed you enough of my capabilities? or want me to show something even better?
Anis:.....you're right, argh commander you're so annoying.….okay, understood.
Marian: commander….i'll protect you.
Varakiel: likewise marian.
Shifty:.....(what do they mean by that?)
....