Pilgrim and Heretic

...

Varakiel is greeted with a familiar face after some distance.

Chatterbox: it's too bad really. had you found out it was a trap, you would have at least stood a chance of besting me. but hindsight is 20/20 i suppose.

Varakiel: (it was obvious from miles away, this guy is really arrogant.) so, do you want something from me?

Chatterbox: plenty.

Varakiel: Jeez, at least buy me a dinner first or at least a rose ....those still exist right?

Chatterbox:.....ha ha ha ha! excellent, that works out perfectly! I despise humans as well!

Varakiel: (oh brother this guy stinks!)*sigh* just get to the point.

Chatterbox: I have a few questions for you. I hope you answer honestly.

Varakiel: Go ahead then, surprise me.

Chatterbox: have the impostors working with you been enhanced in any way?

Varakiel: Why do you say so?

*snap*

Varakiel: (oh so we are playing these games uh?)you mot-,

varakiel fakes his cries of pain.

Chatterbox: I believe I said I wanted answers only. it's just you and me. no one's coming to save you.

Varakiel:(yeah sureeeee.)

Chatterbox: let's try this again. have the impostors working with you been enhanced in any way?

Varakiel: Yes, they have.

Chatterbox: where are you from?

Varakiel: (oh this one is a tough one but i'll risk it) The ark.

Chatterbox: Were you ever sick as a child?

Varakiel: (oh so he knows about vapaus, interesting.)...i believe so.

Chatterbox:....ha ha, i see. much better. All right, human, come with me.

Varakiel: where to?

Chatterbox: you don't need to know. what i will say is buckle your seatbelt. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.

...

Varakiel: May I ask you a question?

Chatterbox: what a nosy human you are. bother me again, and i'll start putting my knowledge in anatomy to good use.

Varakiel: (so someone teached him about anatomy, good to know) if you don't answer, I'll blow myself up.

Chatterbox: blow yourself up? ha ha, you're a human, not an android.

Varakiel: really?

*Boom*

when varakiel says that a small explosion occurs behind them.

Varakiel: I usually carry demolition bombs on me for some operations and also some grenades.

Varakiel then pulls out a grenade.

Varakiel: if you are well versed on humans you should know what a grenade is, 3 seconds and i go boom.

Chatterbox:....you're bluffing.

Varakiel: really?

*ping*

varakiel then pulls the pin of the grenade.

Varakiel: I just need to take off my hand of the trigger to blow it up. and I know you want me alive for some reason.

Chatterbox: very bold of you indeed. willing to gamble with your life like this. i have my ways of ensuring to take away that toy from you, you won't be able to do it.

Varakiel: And what do you think the bombs under my uniform are for?

Chatterbox: …

chatterbox stops.

Chatterbox:...fine. one question, and one question only.

Varakiel: two.

chatterbox:...fine, okay!

Varakiel: ( heh-heh so easy) you were behind that map inside the research base?

Chatterbox: yes. I knew what you were up to from the very beginning. You were like a fish just waiting to land on my hook. To be honest, I feel a bit disappointed. you all fell for it hook, line and sinker! ha ha ha.

Varakiel: How do you know the location of the ark?

Chatterbox: ha ha ha, that's easy, remember those two impostors? the ones trying to capture me?

all the scraps that they took under there told me exactly where to look.

Varakiel: How many breads have you eaten in your life?

Chatterbox: what?

Varakiel then jumps off chatterbox and throws the grenade.

*boom*

Chatterbox: what do you think you're doing?

Varakiel: payback, Fire!

*bang*

A gaping hole appears on chatterbox's body.

Chatterbox: !!

Snow white: nice job making him stand still, and you, don't you ever die?

Chatterbox: A pilgrim!?

Snow white: I'm not letting you get away this time. 

*bang*

Chatterbox: Urrghh….

Chatterbox retreats a good distance.

Snow white stands in front of varakiel.

Snow white: are you all right?

Varakiel: I am fine, thank you for the assistance.

Varakiel then grabs his snapped finger and then….

*Crack*

set it back straight.

Varakiel: Thank you, Snow white.

Snow white: it's you, the commander from before…do you need help?

Varakiel: Yes, I need your help.

Snow white: Ok, I'll help you. but you have to forget what you are about to see.

Varakiel: In that case, you also should forget what you are about to see.

Varakiel's body then was surrounded by a white armor.

Varakiel: I am sorry, chatterbox, but your uses are over.

Varakiel then charges at chatterbox.

Chatterbox: what!?

*BANG*

Varakiel: This is for mihara!

Chatterbox: UGH!

Varakiel: This is for yuni!

*BANG*

Chatterbox: W-WHAT!?

Varakiel: this is for all the nikkes you have corrupted!

*BANG BANG BANG*

Chatterbox: ARGHHHHH! W-WHAT IS THIS!? A HUMAN, A HUMAN SHOUL-

Varakiel: And this is for marian!

*BOOOM*

Varakiel: *pant* *pant* *pant* snow white, finish him off before he runs away or something, and do it fast.

Snow white:....i have so many questions myself now.

Varakiel: i can respond any of them bu-

Chatterbox: damn human! I swear I will snap your body in half!

Snow white: Begone, you blasphemous creature. you do not belong here. engaging!

....

Chatterbox:...guhhhh…

Snow white: enemy neutralized.

Chatterbox falls to the ground, griggling.

Snow white: human…are you okay?

Varakiel stands beside snow white.

Varakiel: yeah, i just used too much stamina back there, it was vengeance for all the nikkes who he has hurt.

Snow white: I've got a lot of questions for you…but first…

Snow white walks to chatterbox.

Snow white: I finally caught you. I've got a lot of questions for you.

Chatterbox: spare me…

Snow white: are you begging for your life? spare me your crocodile tears, pitiful creature. What sinful force brought you into this world?

Chatterbox: please…spare…me…

Snow white: disgusting.

Chatterbox: my….queen…

Snow white: !!

the dark sky splits apart.

something descends amidst the light and darkness.

Varakiel: a nikke using a rapture armor? interesting. (and this malice, heh, it barely reach a 10% of what black alice felt for the world)

???: how pitiful you are, chatterbox. don't worry, I'll save you. Are you the one who injured my companion?

Varakiel: this voice….(lily?)

Lily: (well they did managed to corrupt marian by a lot so they probably rolled with what they had and created this….heretic)

Varakiel: (so is not marian? just a thing using a copy of her body?)

Lily: (yes, even if you call her, she would not respond to the name of marian this is just but a hollow copy, destroy it, me and the system dislike what they were trying to do to marian and this is a reminder of her fate if you didn't come varakiel.)

Snow white:...the heretics. it's you, the one who answers to the queen! a traitor who sold out all of mankind! a nikke who chose to join the raptures!

Modernia: modernia will do just fine, if you don't mind.

Snow white: I'm in luck, i've gotten one step closer to the queen.

Modernia: I ought to kill you where you stand. but for the sake of my friend, we'll have to stop here for today. I won't forget your face.

Snow white: I won't let you get away.

Modernia: you will not be facing me.

*clunk clunk clunk* 

giant raptures appear in front of snow white.

Modernia: have at it, boys.

Snow white: out of my way!! oh for goodness sake….she got away!

Varakiel: wait don't go just yet,

Snow white: you, human! go home!

Varakiel: Let me go with you.

Snow white: you're of no use to me.

Varakiel: Well, I can find, how was it called modernia? and chatterbox you really believed i was enjoying a free roller coaster on his back and don't put things to help.

Snow white:..! you better not slow me down!

Snow white then rushed to pursue modernia.

Varakiel: haha (i want this girl on my squad now~!)

Varakiel then runs at the same speed of snow white.

...

Snow white: good, we haven't lost the tracks. but this snowstorm is picking up. if we don't pick up the pace, these tracks are going to vanish.

Varakiel:...hm.

Snow white: Are you tired?

Varakiel: Oh no, I am fine, I was just thinking.

Snow white:...uh huh. Let's rest for a moment.

Varakiel:.....you're not taking a no for an answer do you? *sigh* fine.

Snow white: good, i've got to make some preparations as well.

snow white and varakiel walk to a nearby building to cover from the snow storm.

….

Snow white: where there's a will, there's a way.

Varakiel: Hey, are you okay? you're pretty banged up.

Snow white: that's because my equipment isn't quite up to par.

Varakiel: How long has it been this way?

Snow white:...i don't remember. maybe since the first rapture invasion. a few decades at any rate.

Varakiel: mhn, as expected, but you can't go on like that someday it will break and you will die….

Snow white:.....who are you anyway? Why did chatterbox kidnap you?

Varakiel: Well, I have some theories myself, but I think it has something to do with my body.

Snow white: your body?

Varakiel: my blood to be precise.

Snow white: !! you have blood type Rh X!?

Varakiel: the one that creates vapaus? yep.

Snow white:....you should be careful who you tell that information to.

Varakiel: Well you helped my squad before and you saved me now so I can trust in you.

Snow white:....look, what you're doing is not something that ordinary humans are capable of….that being said i want to also ask what did you do to be able to damage chatterbox to some extent.

Varakiel: Oh that, that's a special armor that damages the nanomachines of raptures using vapaus.

Snow white: impossible no one is able to create vapaus into a usable weapon.

Varakiel: Well, I have a lot of material inside of me and I have quite the blacksmith helping me, so we figured a way out eventually.

Varakiel arms then suddenly are wearing a pair of white armor gloves….

Varakiel: You could say that when you helped me you inspired me to create something to destroy raptures.

then they suddenly disappear.

Varakiel: and it's easy to deploy too. So tell me you know something about chatterbox and modernia?

Snow white:.....i don't know those guys, but i'm pretty sure they are directly under the queen. we find them, we find the queen.

Varakiel: the queen, like the queen of raptures?

Snow White: yes, the raptures' queen. if we manage to bag her, we'll be able to usher in a new era….let's get moving before this snowstorm gets any worse.

Varakiel: alright.

....

Varakiel and Snow white then continue their pursuit of modernia and chatterbox.

Snow white: we're getting close to a whiteout. Can you keep up?

Varakiel: Like I said before, I'm fine, I am not your average human.

Snow white:...i haven't met many commanders, but i've never met one quite as raring to go as you are.

Varakiel: Well I am not a common human after all is it?….how did you meet chatterbox?

Snow white: at first, i was destroying raptures as i went along, just trying to make my way towards the queen. but i was hitting a dead end. they didn't communicate using any human language, and whatever data they had stored inside was scarce. and then, I came across chatterbox. that is…if i remember correctly. then a massive beam of light shot out from the ark.

Varakiel: the ark?

Snow white: yeah, i ran into him near the ark. a rapture who could talk. It was like an epiphany. I thought I could get some information about the queen. but that clever little sneak is always thinking about how to slip away. so our conversations have been brief. I thought I could make him say more this time, but there was an accident.

Varakiel: modernia…

Snow white: a traitor. scum….the less said about them, the better. All I can tell you is they are mankind's adversary, without a doubt. they're also my ticket to the queen. I've said too much. we need to speed up.

Varakiel: wait…you said they don't use any human language, right?

Snow white: yes.

Varakiel: Do you have any record of that language on you?

Snow white:....

Snow white doesn't know why but she feels like this human, can do something….she hopes. snow white hands varakiel a device that displays nothing he has seen before….

Varakiel: Do you mind if I study it for a bit?

Snow white:....go ahead i couldn't decipher any of it…

Varakiel: (....lily can you do it?)

Lily: (of course i can~....hmmmm….but at most it will take me 2 or 3 years…this is a complete new language after all)

Varakiel: (i can wait that time, meanwhile i can rescue nikkes and bond with them, having my own army of beautiful girls doesn't sound so bad~.) hmmm….

Varakiel takes out his phone….and fakes a call.

Varakiel: Hello, yes, it's me, did you receive the data? good...mhm.

Snow white ears perk up.

Varakiel: So tell me, can you do it?.....ugh, really?

Snow white slowly gets closer to varakiel out of curiosity.

Varakiel:.....wait you really can do it!? awesome…eh!? 3 or 2 years!?.....that's incredible!

Lily: (hehehe)

Snow white:....(could it really be?)

Varakiel then saves his phone.

Varakiel: Good news snow white, it seems my partner will be able to decipher the rapture language, the bad news is that it might take between 3 or 2 years.

Snow white: r-really!?

snow white put her hands on varakiel shoulders.

Varakiel: Mhm, I guess today is your lucky day, hahaha.

Snow white: I didn't know the ark was that advanced in technology.

Varakiel: Well the ark isn't, this is secret technology developed by my family.

Snow white: your family?

Varakiel: my name is varakiel fateburn, commander of the counters squad. nice to meet you snow white.

Snow white: fateburn?...have i heard that name before…?

Varakiel: Well, my family was rather famous 55 years ago. (lily you really gave me that deep backstory)

Lily: (of course, it is easy to write something about the past without changing the future too much.)

Varakiel: (I see.)

Snow white:.....i can't remember…. just 2 or 3 years though…..

Varakiel: Now wait snow white, we are not sure if that information you collected shows any clue about the rapture's queen.

Snow white: you're right…

Varakiel: So I have a proposition to you, come back with me to my outpost after this….

Snow white: No, I can't do that.

Varakiel: Let me finish jeez, I am not asking you to stay there…..

Suddenly the snow storm gets more wild.

Snow white: damn blizzard…the tracks will be gone soon. we need to move faster.

Varakiel: calm down, i put two trackers on modernia and chatterbox, they aren't getting away.

Snow white: when?

Varakiel: first to chatterbox when he was carrying me, and modernia when she turned around.

Snow white:...but still we can't get too far away from them….are you okay?

Varakiel: is a bit chilly but nothing I can't handle.

Snow white:....even if i told you to go back you couldn't go back if you wanted to, should we find another shelter? 

Varakiel: hmm…let's keep going, if I can't continue I will tell you.

Snow white: very well.

...

Varakiel: I want to ask you something, have you ever thought about going to the ark?

Snow white: …no. we haven't completed our mission.

Varakiel: I see, but you know you can't keep going like this, like I said one day your equipment will fail, even nikkes have to take a rest to lick their wounds and heal up. 

Snow white:...and even if I went there….we know nothing about the ark. 

Varakiel: Absolutely nothing?

Snow white: yes. not a single thing. we don't have the slightest idea about. what kind of environment that place is. so we can't go to the ark. Even if they wanted me, I still wouldn't go. We are but pilgrims wandering the frozen lands, looking for a glimmer of hope.

Varakiel: but even wanderers have to lay down snow white, you might be a nikke, but your soul need to lie down and rest…..that's why i invite you to my outpost, there you can rest, there you can maintain your weapons, that's what is it for, a sanctuary for nikkes, tired, broken, hopeless, mind broken, amnesic, i welcome all nikkes.

Snow white:....a sanctuary for nikkes?

Varakiel: you see, my dream is rather simple, i want to give this world hope, this world has been hurt beyond repair by raptures, but there's still a future, for humans and nikkes. that's what i fight for, a future full of hope, hope that nikkes can use to build the future. a future without raptures.

Snow white:.....hope…

snow white looks at varakiel directly.

Varakiel: snow white, prepare, modernia and chatterbox are almost on our sight.

Snow white: Ro- understood.

Varakiel: (heh-heh)

…..

Snow white:...found them. it's a heretic and chatterbox. Is she repairing chatterbox? they're awfully chummy, aren't they?

*cha-chink*

-

Snow white: I'm going in guns blazing. you better find somewhere to hide.

Varakiel: wait..

an anti-tank rifle appears in varakiel hands.

Varakiel: You shoot modernia, and I go for chatterbox.

Snow white:.....very well.

Varakiel:....*inhales* 

Varakiel then counts to 3 with his fingers to signal snow white.

3.

*click*

2

Snow white:....

1

Varakiel:...fire!

*Bang bang*

two bullets are shot 

Modernia: ah! you just don't get it, do you?

Chatterbox: arghhh!!

Modernia quickly arrives in front of snow white.

Snow white: when did you..!?

Modernia: I was merciful enough to let you go once before. out of sympathy for your poor wretched souls, destined to forever wander this cold, dark planet alone.

Snow white: enough!

Modernia:...ah, I see. you've had enough, haven't you? that's why you came to me. you want out. 

Snow white: enough of your blasphemy! traitor!

Modernia: in that case, then allow me…to put you out of your misery.

*bang*

Snow white shoots her rifle again.

unlike before on their surprise attack her bullet explodes before it touches modernia.

Snow white: a magnetic field? She can do that all on her own?

Modernia: I'll admit that you caught us off guard before. Unfortunately, it seems that your equipment is somewhat rusty. What a shame.

modernia then wipes her wings to hit snow white.

Varakiel: hmph!!

Varakiel, using all his strength, manages to push Snow white out of the attack.

Varakiel: I told you. you need maintenance.

Modernia: oh, a human protecting a nikke? Now that's something you don't see everyday…poor thing. 

Varakiel: (lily load vapaus in my pistol)

Lily: (done~)

Varakiel: Snow white give me support, i can evade those attacks but you don't.

Snow white: what nonsense are you saying? get behind me now!

Varakiel: Snow white, believe in me!

Varakiel then walks to modernia.

Varakiel: I don't know who do you think you are….(has promy and papi finished "that" already lily?)

Lily:(ohhhhh are you using that? niceeee I want one too~!)

a cylinder tube appears in varakiel hand.

*Psshhew*

a white lightsaber comes from the cylinder.

Varakiel: (is weird to use this but since it's a sword, there should be no problem!)

*Nnnnnnn*

Varakiel: ( i might not practice the force, but i can compensate with magic.) but using the voice and body of my dear friend.

*Vrãu, vrãu*

Varakiel: is not something I can forgive.

Modernia: oh what is this? a new human toy? wah ha ha ha! I want it, it looks fun!

Varakiel: HA!

like it wasn't there varakiel saber goes through the magnetic field of modernia.

Modernia: what!?

Modernia then attacks varakiel with her wings!

*Vrãu, vrãu*

*BANG*

like it was butter the lightsaber cuts through them.

Snow white: incredible….what i am doing, i must look so pathetic standing still like this.

Snow white then rushes for her rifle.

*bang*

Modernia: why you…!

Varakiel then runs to snow white side.

Varakiel: good job snow white, are you ready? If so, let's go.

Snow white: yes….commander!

Varakiel then rushed ahead.

Varakiel:.....snow white, shoot a bullet to the sky.

Snow white:...roger.

*bang*

Varakiel: Alright while the cavalry arrives it's just you and me, cover me!

Snow white:....leave it to me!

Varakiel: ha!

*Vrãu, vrãu*

Modernia: s-stay away from here!

modernia pulls back quickly afraid of varakiel mysterious weapon.

*bang* 

Modernia: urgh!

Snow white bullet hits modernia's leg.

*rat-tat-tat*

Suddenly 3 extra weapons are shoot.

Rapi: commander!

Neon: master!

Anis: commander!

Rapi: Sorry we're late. we saw the signal and came as quickly as we could.

Varakiel: Good job, now prepare for combat.

Anis:...commander….just how many weapons you have.

Varakiel: not enough!

Neon: master! Is that a lightsaber!? like an actual functional lightsaber!?

Anis: And what are those? don't tell me that's a pilgrim and a heretic. holy crap, what are the chances of seeing these two things together!?

Varakiel: 100% with me around! hahaha! counters let's destroy this heretic!

Anis: roger! What do you think, pilgrim?

Snow white: why not.

Neon: Let's end this thing!

Rapi: engaging!

Varakiel:.....let's do this!

Varakiel then begins to shine.

-Ominous Cross-

Varakiel: (oh right, haha,) ha!

Varakiel charges ahead!

Neon: music again?

Anis:....i'm gonna kill my boss after this, the commander even took his hobby of shining for some reason.

Rapi:....i don't think this music is his doing.

Snow white:....just what is he?

Modernia: human, impostors!! dieeee!!!

...