Chapter Text
Shin did not realize that the 86th sector and the Grand Mur had been infiltrated immediately. No, at the moment it happened he was too distracted by the thousands of legion that surrounded him and the battle drive that had overtaken him.
The moment he realized, was when he heard a phantom voice. A silver-bell voice rang through his ears with determination, the moment a louvre was about to hit him with a shot that would have ultimately been fatal. “I will not forget!” It was her voice that woke him from his stupor and once again saved. Yet, it also felt like a kick to the gut, because with her voice a thought crossed his mind. Was she now… did they get her. He was aware at that moment that the Republic had fallen, and with that she too….
Shin had many comrades fall but none felt quite the same as the thought of the major’s death. Also, with the possibility that she not only was gone, but that her mind was immortalized in a machine intent on killing all. It broke a piece of him.
He knew he should confirm it. He should double check that the phantom voice was and actual ghost and not just his imagination bringing forth a memory. He just couldn’t bring himself to, in reality it would be extremely dangerous if the Major had become one of the legion. He was sure that the unfeeling legion would realize the quality of her brain and make her into some unstoppable shepherd. Her strategies and intellect was second to none. Yet, still he refused to think about it.
He was grateful when the divisional commander stopped him from identifying the legion’s position within San Magnolia, because in doing so he might truly hear her final words and his fears will be a reality. He chose to ignore the words of Theo and Kurena pretending that he was not at all aware why Anju and Raiden were worried. He also chose not to explain that the Republic was most likely wiped out. They knew that the legion had attacked the Grand Mur, but they were not aware of the extent of the attack nor the outcome.
He did not think about the Republic nor the foolhardy Major until the announcement of what most deemed a suicide mission to take out the morpho. That night he felt restless, he had to escape from the barracks. It was then while talking with Frederica that he realized he had to know. If he was going to die. He had to know if the major would be stuck. So, later as he stood in silence he listened. He listened for the ring of silver bells, and he searched as much of the Republic’s territory as possible. It was then that he came across a weird phenomenon. While, all reports say that the Grand Mur had been taken, and Shin’s own hearing had confirmed this fact, no legion appeared to be within the sector of the Republic. In fact, that wasn’t the only sector without any legion; there were about 3 sectors where the legion appear to be absent.
He didn’t know what to think of that, but he was sure now that he could not hear the sound of dying words spoken in the major’s voice. So, at least she had not been taken, he felt that he could deal with that. He had wanted her to live longer than him. She was the one person he thought he could trust to remember him, the one person who would carryhim on ahead when he passed, but it was nothing new that his hopes and wishes weren’t answered. He knew better than to hope, but he had with the major anyways. She was just too persuasively optimistic.
No longer being tortured by the thought of the Major’s last words echoing out for eternity he resigned himself to this mission. Not that he was trying to die, but it would be okay if he died on this mission. He knew nothing but the battle and if it was between his or one of his comrades' lives he would gladly make that sacrifice. He felt like he was drowning in the memories of all that he had left behind and he no longer had the buoy that someone would be there to remember him.
All thoughts of the major left him and he focused on his mission killing the morpho. It wasn’t until after he had killed the morpho and he heard Kiriyia’s thoughts that he once again remembered all his comrades that he had lost. All of the comrades lost in the 86th sector, Kurena, Theo, Anju, Raiden, the Major, and even Frederica. At this moment he once again recalled the phantom words that she had promised, now certain they were only a memory. He understood Kiriyia’s want to fight, want for destruction, but he never wanted to turn out like him. He understood that is why he wants to follow those that went ahead. He has nothing left but battle, and in this case it might not be long before he truly becomes the monster that everyone refers to him as.
That is why he is so frustrated when he not only wakes up from the self-destruct of the morpho, but the amiese bearing down on him is taken out. He, like always, has been denied death. In this frustration he sees a juggernaut crest the hill and stop. The cockpit is opened and for a moment he is shocked at who exits. After hearing that there are parts of Republic territory not occupied by legions, he had somewhat expected there to be survivors. Most likely smart eighty-six that made it through the offensive, but the processor exiting was not an eighty-six.
The girl exiting was small, mostly likely around Theo and Kurena’s height, she also had to be younger than him. But none of that was what surprised him. No, he was surprised by the fact that she was an Alba. Her long silver hair was thrown into a ponytail that shown as sunlight touched it and her eyes were so colorless that they seemed almost reflective. Once he got over his shock, he noticed that she had approached his regenlief and was trying to talk to him and was seemingly about to give up thinking that he was dead due to his lack of response.
“Wait,” he did not care for the republic nor the Alba, but if this girl was alive there were sure to be others and he recalled the air support that he had in his fight against the morpho. Since she arrived so soon after the morpho’s defeat he believes that it must have been the survivors from San magnolia that was responsible. “I see that you are with the San Magnolia Republic.”
While his speaker seems to be working his audio does not so he cannot hear her, but her words are transcribed, “yes. You are?”
Shin responds, “I’m with the Giad Federacy 177th Mechanized Infantry Division.” He explains what he had been doing and thanked the girl for her help in the fight. She brushed aside his thanks and instead appeared to be concerned that he was alone. Fearing that he had been left to fight on his own without support. He assures the girl that he is not alone, and that he was separated from them, and that he intends to rendezvous with them later.
He knows that the alba forced him to fight in the eighty-sixth sector and treated him horribly, but that was not all of their doing. Especially, a girl as young as she is, and one that took up fighting when it came down to it. He could not hate her. So he offered, “will you come with me?”
He was taken aback when the girl refused and instead declared her intention to continue to fight. He sighed at her obstinacy, “Fight? For what? Are you in a hurry to die? Then you would’ve done better to not fight at all.” He knew his words were biting and hypocritical, but at that moment he didn’t care. The girl walked closer but was stopped when another juggernaut appeared. She threw her hand out to stop it and reached behind her head touching the back of her neck, where he assumed her pararaid was.
When she activated it, it also connected to him and so he could hear the conversation between the two. “I’m fine.” Her voice was familiar, in its silvery cadence. Another woman responded in a husky tone, “if something happens. Make a run for it, my queen. You are out of your juggernaut and will be in the way if there is a fight.”
Shin was surprised and almost couldn’t believe what he had heard when she spoke again, “no, we don’t know that something will happen. I will return to my juggernaut soon, but first I want to make sure that this processor will be fine.” He knew her voice, her voice was that of ring silver bells, crisp and clear, full of determination. He wanted so badly for it to be her, and that was when she confirmed that before him was the Major, Vladilena Milizé, that she had not forgotten Shin and her promise. That she continued fighting for them. She wanted to catch up to them, even when he protested that as she believed the people she talked about had died, she was firm in her resolution.
Out of her processor jumpsuit she pulled some folded paper. It was the note and the picture that him, Raiden, Theo, Anju, and Kurena had left for her in the Spearhead base. She once again spoke to him, “And you, you’re the same. You fought to the end, you survived. That’s why you’re here now. I think that’s something you should be more proud of.” At that moment he couldn’t help the tears streaming from his eyes. The Major was alive, she had fought, fought to be beside them, remembered them, and most of all she had not left him behind.
A smile came to his face as a weight had lifted from him, “Major… I…” he pushed the button for his cockpit to open, but before he could he heard the voices. The voices of the long dead rushing towards them. He immediately stopped it from opening and tried to get his Regenlief to move. He had to fight, he had to protect the major.
Relief washed through him when he heard the frontline commander, “leave the rest to us.” As Shin relaxed it appeared that the major and the other processor had become aware of the threat.
“Federacy Soldier, come with us.” Shin just denied as he watched missiles connect with the approaching legion. The Major had already started heading towards her juggernaut when it happened and she paused looking up to see the aircraft’s responsible. Shin watched as the other processor and the Major conversed resolved to meet her after they both recover from this battle. It may be selfish but he doesn’t want her to meet him on a battlefield where he has lost his pride to fight. Instead, with her words he’s determined to meet her in a place where they can continue to fight together.
His thoughts were drawn away from Lena when the colonel speaks to him, and the others also connect. It takes him a moment to realize not only did Lena not leave him, but none of his found family left him in this fight. He’s happy to hear them all, even Ernst.
As Frederica and he talk, he watches Lena leave in one of the Federacy aircrafts. He gets out of the reginleif and reaches up towards where she had gone, for once looking forwards to something in the future. No longer living in the moment to battle. This fight had changed him and he knew it. Later when he rejoined the federacy’s temporary frontlines he met up with the rest.
All of them had some cuts and scrapes, but none of them were severely injured. Raiden was the first to bring up after the fight. “Shin, who was that you talked to, those were Republic juggernaut’s, right? Were there surviving eighty-six?” Raiden’s words had caught the interest of the other three, all of them had been too far away to see the fight with morpho. “From where I got blasted back to I could just vaguely make out a person and two juggernauts.” He could tell that Raiden was curious, no doubt also wondering if he had seen right about the person he saw being an alba.
Shin had to hide his smirk, he knew that his friends would be surprised and he intended to tell them, but first he wanted to mess with them a bit. “Yes, it seems that the republic saw our fight with the morpho and did what they could to help. Did any of you see the multiple air strikes on the morpho while I was fighting? They also hacked into the Federacy pararaid to tell me when they were going to strike. Those two juggernauts came to see if I had survived the self-destruct.” He enjoyed the shock on everyone's faces.
“Not only were there survivors, but they were also to get access to the missile defense system of the Grand Mur?” Raiden was the first to put words to his disbelief.
Shin was fighting the smile that wanted to be on his face masking it with his regular emotionless expression. “It appears so.”
Theo spoke next, “wow, to think the eighty-six were able to retreat to the Grand Mur, build a defense and gain use of the missile systems. That seems like something the Princess……” he cut himself off as if his words had brought an answer to his mind.
Anju, prompted by his words, seemed to catch on, “wait, you don’t mean.”
Raiden couldn’t help but laugh as he too followed their train of thought, “who else would cause the sky to rain fire.”
Kurena was the only one left in the dark as she watched her friends start to smile. Her confusion was interrupted when Frederica walked into the tent that they had all congregated in, “Ernst is making me go back tomorrow.” She then looked at Shin, “Did you tell them about that Major of yours?”
Kurena finally understood what the others had started to realize. Theo whooped, “that crazy princess!”
Raiden laughed, “she seems to be as foolish as ever.”
Anju’s eyes were cresting with tears, “she fought, she’s been fighting this entire time.”
Kurena burst into tears, she had never been too fond of Lena, but she never wished for her to die. “I’m so happy she’s alive.”
As they all expressed their initial reactions Shin let the smile he had been holding back light up his face. “Yes, the Major not only survived, but it appears that she also has learned to fight as a processor. She is now truly one of us.” His words did hit him, because while he was happy she survived. That she was strong, it also meant that she must have been through a lot of pain.
Theo seemed to catch what he had meant too, “wait, so you are saying handler one left behind being a handler and is now a processor?” Shock swirled in his eyes, but if Shin wasn’t mistaken he also saw concern. Lena was alba and while they could be wrong it seemed like the ones maintaining the fight are eighty-six, so was Lena forced to fight or had she chosen to.
Shin shook his head, “I’m not sure what position she is holding within the survivors. I know that she saved me by shooting down an ameise that was aiming for my head after my reginleif was busted. She seemed more determined than ever to fight and, the little I heard of her conversation with the second juggernaut processor she seemed to be revered. The other processor called her queen.” Lena didn’t seem dispirited, in fact seemed more resolved and stronger than ever. Both of which Shin was sure she obtained in battle.
Theo laughed, “that seems on brand for the major, first she was a princess it’s only natural that after going through battle she became a queen.”
Raiden however had a straight face when he looked at Shin, “did she…” he didn’t finish his thoughts but all of them had caught on to what he had meant.
The smile returned to Shin’s face, “the major scolded me when I suggested she come with the Federacy to safety. Her reason being that she had people that she had to catch up to and bring onward with her. Even going as far as to bring our note and picture from her pocket.”
All of them now had a sheen to their eyes, the Major had remembered and was determined to fight for them, even while she thought that they had died. Anju sighed, “I wish I could have met her, just once.” Then as if another thought crossed her mind she met Shin’s eyes, “ does she know… did you tell her?”
He shook his head, “about that, I was going to and then more legion began to appear. Also, I wasn’t aware that any of you had survived yet. Though, if it is alright with you guys I want to stay on the front and make sure that the rescue teams have no problem. I want all of us to meet her in person and continue to fight with her by our side, whether that is as a processor or a commander.” All of his family was shocked by his words. Shin never voiced desires, or anything that could be confused as a wish, a hope. And yet, at this moment he had clearly done just that. The only one who didn’t seem surprised was Frederica who had talked him through this realization after he had met with Lena.
Even through their shock all of them looked at each other in confirmation, it was Raidan who voiced their decision, “we’re with you, Shin. We also want the Major to catch up to us.”
Frederica whined from where she was standing next to Shin, “no fair! I want to stay with you guys!”
After their debrief with colonel Wenzel, they had discussed their desire to stay to help with the rescue efforts; she permitted it as long as they stayed as support only until their wounds had healed and then let Federacy soldiers deal with anything involving direct contact with Republic survivors. All agreed to her proposal. It seemed that Colonel Wenzel had been prepared for a request like this, she did not however miss the moment to tease the ever stoic Shin with a recording of Lena and him talking.
For two weeks the team recuperated, Shin all the while monitoring legion activity and paying attention for any news regarding Lena. Shin and the rest were able to gather from those leading the rescue efforts that Lena was still acting in a commanding capacity and revered by the surviving eighty-six as their queen. They were able to gather that Lena had recalled all eighty-six squadrons into the inner districts once the legion offensive had begun. Fighting and leading survivors out to the Grand Mur once they had gathered for its defense capabilities and they maintained the other two districts for supplies needed.
It appeared that their first fight with the morpho had been caught on their radars and so while monitoring the morpho they had caught Shin fighting it and decided to give what support they could.
After their recuperation, their involvement in the efforts mostly concluded patrols of the area between the republic and the temporary frontline base of the republic. Shin also maintained his monitoring of the legions position through his psychic ability. This was how he noticed a strange occurrence. The legion seemed to be targeting certain groups of the Republic defensive at times, almost seeming like it was trying to seperate and cut off a group from the rest of the republic.
It was when he brought up this concern and the times that it happened to colonel Wenzel that a grave expression appeared on her face. “Give me a second lieutenant.” She appeared to be checking something on her mobile device, and sighed.
“I cannot say for certain but it appears that the occurrences you reference only have one thing in common, and that is the presence of Captain Vladilena Milizie.” Shin’s breath caught in his throat, “what?”
Grethe sighed, “ I cannot say exactly what this means, but when you say that the legion has acted strangely coincides with fights that Milizie has taken part in. However, I cannot imagine why.”
Shin however thought back to when he did not know she was alive, when the Grand Mur had fallen, and he had thought he might have heard her ghost. Shin had paled to a point that Colonel Wenzel noticed, “Captain Nouzen, what are you thinking?”
Shin looked at Grethe, his eyes holding lingering fear but also what seemed to be resolve. “The remaining Nordlicht Squadron needs to be assigned to the protection of Captain Vladilena Milizie.” His words seemed to surprise his commander, “what! Why?”
Shin was not shaken by her surprise, “She is a valuable asset, it seems that the legion has realized her capabilities.” Shin had returned to his stoic expression, but his voice held a determination that Grethe had rarely heard from the boy, “The legion are no longer unthinking machines. They must have realized that the Major was commanding the defense of the Republic and was impressed. I do not know what she specifically did after we left the Republic but I do know that while there she was a brilliant strategist, often saving many of her processors with that alone. She became a major at 16 and her intellect is foremost.” Shin thinks back to when she saved him in a juggernaut, “let alone now that she also fights alongside those she commands. Even if we ignored that, she was the one able to keep a strong defense even after the fall of the Republic with few resources and trained personnel.”
Grethe now was no longer just shocked, but stunned. Of course she knew that this girl was a brilliant and strong fighter, she may not have met the girl, but she had kept an eye on her. She seemed to have some impact on the five eighty-six in her division, which is enough to draw her attention. On top of that, though, the girl has the respect of all the other eighty-six that remained within the republic, which Grethe knew would most likely end up within her division if they chose to continue fighting. Due to both of these things Grethe was considering bringing the Girl in as a Commander or Captain, so she had done her background check. Vladilena Milizie was a prodigy officer, doing what she could for those under her command as a handler. Later, defying her superiors to do what she thought was right. It appears that the girl had started to learn to fight in a juggernaut even before the large-scale legion offensive, joining the squadron she commanded in battle. Almost like she was preparing. Once the offensive had started she took on the task of commander of remaining republic forces surviving for months with no support and little resources and outdated equipment. Going so far as to help in the morpho fight that she had no clue was occurring. Even after the Federacy had offered their support, Captain Milizie had not stopped; she continued to join in the fights that occurred where she happened to be at the time, commanding the eighty-six who refused to listen to anyone else in their defense, and organizing relief efforts. Still, she could not imagine why the boy in front of her wanted to have the Federacy’s elites along with himself protect her. While personal feelings could be clouding his judgment, she knew that if that were the case he would not have asked for the entirety of Nordlicht. Also, while it was evident he cared, Shin was not one for feelings to cloud his judgment. “I understand the value of Captain Milizie, lieutenant, however explain why we would employ a protection detail to her of the federacy’s elite.”
Shin’s eyes did not waver, his stare still bore into her, “The legion just lost an important Shepherd General, they are looking for a replacement. They have determined their target and now are intent to have her head. If they were able to retrieve the Major’s head, the legion would not put it into a normal legion machine. Maybe, she will become another railgun, or they may want to use her for a new legion type.” Shin shook the thought of the horrible machine that would forever hold Lena’s ghost. “However, what I am certain of is that she would be more powerful than the morpho. She would be harder to kill and if the morpho was any representation would decimate the surviving nations. Think of her military tactics and intelligence, in a machine without conscience or ethics.” Grethe couldn’t help but gasp at Shin’s revelation.
She could see where he had come to the assumption and it made sense. Also, he was right that if someone like Captain Milizie was made a part of the legion. It would have disastrous consequences. “How did you come to this conclusion so quickly?” She was not surprised that Shin had deduced what the legion was up to, but the boy had concluded this almost immediately after the mention of the republic captain’s involvement.
Shin’s eyes shuddered no longer showing determination, everything about him emotionless. His voice cracked as he spoke though, “because I already considered it. I thought about it the second the Grand Mur went down and I thought I heard her voice calling out.” Those words would have told Grethe all she needed to know about the two's closeness if she had not already expected such.
“Captain Nouzen, while I agree with your concerns. I cannot fulfill your request.” She saw him begin to argue but she held a hand up to stop him. “ Milizie is important and could be dangerous in enemy hands, but so could you. Any of your comrades in Nordlicht squadron could. Also, the president has already demanded your return to the capital and enforced a minimum of a month's leave. I can no longer keep any of you here.” Shin was surprised and a little frustrated.
“This is more important…” he was again stopped by the colonel as she held up a hand.
“I agree this is important, but the two options are not mutually exclusive and you know this. Another group can be assigned as guards.” Shin wanted to argue more, but he could tell that she was not done speaking. “However I believe I favor another option. I am going to do everything in my power to keep Milizie off the battlefield for now. I’m not sure how well it will work since from what I hear the girl is drawn to the battlefield just as much as the rest of you. Despite that, it will not be easy for the legion to acquire her. She is a capable fighter and she takes on the position of sniper or a control type combatant, which are good options due to her position as a commander. She has protection too, none of the eighty-six would hesitate to give their lives for her from what I see, and it’s not like the Federacy would sit back and watch as the legion took her. So while I understand, I deny.” Despite her solid reasoning Shin wanted to argue, however he knew that it was his personal feelings affecting his judgment. He needed to leave. They were being forced to step back and leave, and he hadn’t even met up with Lena yet. He turned on his heel frustrated. “Nouzen.” Shin stopped not turning back. “I have a plan and I will do everything in my power to make it so that you five can fight with her.” He stiffened, how had she known that was what they wanted. He did not know if it was an educated guess or somehow she had heard it. However, he did know that with Colonel Wenzel’s support they had a better chance of such a thing happening. “Go.” As she commanded Shin left, his control of the emotions he showed on his face being tested by the numerous emotions he was feeling.
A couple days after his talk with colonel Wenzel, Shin and his team were standing in the chilly morning air preparing to board one of the transport aircrafts. Shin’s frustration at the situation had dissipated and while he was still unhappy with the situation he was resigned that he couldn’t do anything about it at the moment. “So, we’re going back. I’m sure Frederica will be happy to see us.” Raiden broke the quiet they had all been sitting in due to drowsiness.
Anju laughs, “I don’t even know if she’s had a chance to miss us. I hear Ernst has been keeping her busy doing school assignments.”
Theo blanches, “you don’t think that he’ll start making us do assignments on our leave, right?” While none of them were unintelligent, due to the nature of their circumstances, they had received little to no education. During the time they spent living with Ernst before they decided to go through officer training and getting back into battle, Ernst had wanted them to start receiving education. This however had been pushed to the back burner in want of recuperation and then their decision to return to the battlefield. The only education they had received from Ernst was to make sure they were proficient in being able to read and write. This task was easy for the elder four of the eighty-six because they had been in school or received education before being relegated to the encampments. Kurena, however, had more trouble with the task due to her never getting the chance to go to school.
Shin had never been opposed to learning, probably due to his hobby of reading anything and everything he could get his hands on. He had even started to learn to read old Giadian from his trips to the capital library. Challenging his mind had always made it easier to distract himself from the voices of the legion and have a moment's reprieve. Despite this, he understood his friend’s dislike of the schooling Ernst would put them through. “Our leave is for the minimum duration of a month. I’m sure that Ernst will try to keep us longer, but after a month's time we can all run off to the battlefield even without his permission.” The others seemed to be relieved after his reassurance and before they could talk more, the helicraft they were supposed to board.
Kurena, Theo, and Anju walked ahead as Shin noticed that Raiden held back. “What is it?” Shin asked his oldest friend.
Raiden looked conflicted, “what about the Major?”
Realizing what Raiden had been worried about Shin sighed, he had not told any of them about his concerns about the legion and Lena or his discussion with Colonel Wenzel. He was not purposely hiding it, he just felt that there was no point telling them when they were not going to be able to do anything about it. Shin knew that like him, they would be worried for Lena and frustrated by being unable to do anything. However, since Raiden knew nothing of those circumstances, his question was more about the resolution that he and the others had made after they found out that Lena had survived. “Colonel Wenzel is aware of her talent, and the remaining eighty-six processors have made it clear they do not wish to listen to anyone but her.” A smirk came to Shin’s face recalling what moniker the once dubbed princess had been given. Bloody Reina. While he was not completely sure about the origins of the title, he was sure of one thing, the respect that she had earned to not only get a title, but also one that means she is the unofficial queen of the eighty-six. “During our last discussion, she warned that the future growth of the 177th specialized Regenlief division may be dependent of Utilizing Captain Milizie’s skills.”
Understanding flashed through Raiden’s eyes. He knew that while Shin hadn’t said it, Colonel Wenzel wanted Lena to join the 177th as a commander. “There’s nothing to do about it, if that is what is best for the coming growth of the 177th division.” The smug words Raiden spoke were accompanied by a smirk. The two finally continued on to the helicraft, joining the others where they had taken their seats.