Those Meteorn, especially the dragon-like one, seemed to know him somehow. They were incredibly strong, and if it weren't for his rescue, what would have happened? They weren't hostile towards him, but their actions were odd. Was there something about him that they wanted? And what did they mean by calling him "Lord"?
As the aircraft descended, Yuren couldn't help but feel like something had changed in the way people looked at him. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he had the feeling things were different.
Yuren entered block 14, heading straight for his office. His mind was racing with thoughts and questions, and he needed some time alone to process the events that had transpired.
The moment he closed the door, a fist met his face, knocking him back into the wall.
"Garra?" He exclaimed, shocked.
"Are you stupid?!" She grabbed him by the collar, pulling him closer, "After experiencing a black-out zone did you really think it'd be something simple whenever high density resonance is involved? So many red flags and you just blindly accepted what those Generals told you!"
"Garra, I..."
"Not only did you nearly get yourself killed, but you also ran into the worst possible scenario! And not just any Meteorn but a Lord and a Tyrant class? Two in one place?! Are you crazy?!" Garra berated.
"I didn't know, okay? I didn't have a choice! They insisted that I was the only one who could chart the resonance patterns! I had no idea that was going to happen! How could I have known?!" Yuren defended.
"You're right, you didn't. You have no idea what was there, and you didn't check any records or reports. No due diligence done, fucking idiot." Garra let go of him, "The 532nd never went there. You were sent there on purpose."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Think, dumbass."
Yuren tried to comprehend what she meant, but his mind was a mess. He had no idea what was going on, and it was driving him crazy. "I... I'm sorry, Garra. I messed up. I didn't know."
"I'm not the one you should apologize to." She pointed to Lina and Eri, standing behind her.
"Oh, Lina, Eri." Yuren bowed his head, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine, Commander." Lina responded, "You're safe now. That's all that matters."
"Safe now. Worry gone." Eri nodded.
"Thank you, Lina. Eri." Yuren sighed, "And thank you, Garra, for being worried about me."
Garra stormed out of the office with a huff, slamming the door behind her.
Lina and Eri sat on the couch, motioning for Yuren to join them. He made his way over and sat down, still shaken up from the events that transpired.
"You've been through a lot, Commander." Lina stated, "You must be tired."
"Yeah, it's been a long day." Yuren sighed, "But, I'm glad you're here."
"Notice. Commander, please report to the medical ward." Naiola's voice announced over the intercom.
"Ah, looks like you have a date with the doctor. You should go." Lina smiled.
"Okay. I'll be back later."
"Take your time, Commander."
Yuren headed to the medical ward, and after about an hour, the doctor called for him.
"Commander Gotsutoa, how nice to see you alive." The doctor greeted him.
"Hey, Doc." Yuren nodded.
"Hey kiddo..." Masie, greeting from a bed.
Yuren was taken aback by her condition; Her skin was pale, and her body was covered in burns and bruises. She had cuts and bandages on her arms and legs.
"Ma-Masie? What happened to you?" Yuren questioned.
"The Tyrant, Nidhogg. I'll admit it's not weak." Masie laughed.
"Not weak huh? She swept the forest floor with you." Adelah spoke from another bed, her right leg missing.
"I was testing it's strength, that's all..." Masie coughed.
The doctor cleared his throat, his expression serious as he focused on the Commander. "Let's get you checked out, Commander. If you would please step onto the scan platform," he instructed, gesturing toward the sleek, metallic device that hummed softly in the corner of the room.
"Of course," Yuren replied, his tone calm despite the slight tension in the air. He walked over and positioned himself on the platform, feeling a mix of anticipation and concern.
As the scanner whirred to life, a soft blue light enveloped Yuren. The device began its routine, meticulously taking measurements and scanning for any injuries or abnormalities within his body. The procedure felt strange but familiar; he had undergone it many times before.
After a moment, the doctor studied the readouts on his console, his brow furrowing. "It looks like you're in perfect health, Commander," he announced, relief evident in his voice. "You are a little dehydrated, but other than that, everything is fine."
Yuren released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "That's a relief," he said, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
The doctor paused, his gaze shifting back to the screen. "But… hmm… actually, never mind. You can go," he said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Wait, what is it, Doc? Please, tell me," Yuren pressed, sensing there was more to the doctor's hesitation.
"Nothing serious, just a recommendation," the doctor replied, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "You need to take some time to rest. No rigorous activity for the next few days, and try your best to manage your stress levels."
"Right. Thank you for the advice," Yuren nodded, appreciating the concern but also feeling a flicker of frustration.
"No problem, Commander. You're free to go," the doctor concluded, his demeanor softening.
As Yuren stepped off the platform, Masie, who had been waiting nearby, smirked playfully. "See you later, kid."
Adelah, standing a few paces away, watched Yuren exit the ward with keen interest. "Alright, out with it. What did you see?" she demanded, her voice firm and unyielding.
"Colonel..." The man turned toward her, clearly caught off guard by her intensity.
"It's an order. Tell me," she insisted, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke, his voice low. "The Lieutenant's resonance is around 538 percent, well above the human lethal density of 50.48 ppm. It's almost as if he's..."
"I knew it was far too high," Masie interjected, her expression shifting to one of concern. "Even for an Exalted, that's dangerously excessive."
Adelah's face paled slightly as she whispered, "Vice Minister…" her mind racing with the implications of this revelation.
"What is it, Colonel?" Masie asked, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
"Nothing. Let's drop the subject for now," Adelah said, the determination in her voice returning.
"Yes, ma'am," Masie replied, though a hint of worry lingered in her expression as they both pondered the troubling situation they now faced.
***
"General Rolf and General Sennheiser, I need a clear explanation for why you sent Commander Gotsutoa on such a perilous mission," the Vice Minister demanded, her tone sharp and unwavering as she leaned forward in her chair.
"Because the mission was imperative to our strategic objectives," General Rolf said, maintaining his composure. "We were confident in Commander Gotsutoa's abilities to return unscathed. In fact, we deployed a squad specifically at the site to provide him with the necessary support."
Amalia couldn't help but scoff in disbelief. "And look at the outcome! That squad was annihilated before he even arrived on the scene. Two high-class Meteorn emerged, effortlessly wiping out all of the 315th's androids and leaving half of the 532nd's troops critically injured. All the drones we dispatched were destroyed in a matter of moments. Now, Masie is severely injured and will require extensive reconstructive surgery. Adelah lost a leg and will not be able to participate in combat operations again."
Rolf's expression tightened. "It was an unexpected outcome. We had no way of predicting such a scenario."
"Unexpected?" Amalia shot back, her eyes narrowing into a glare. "You were actively trying to rid yourselves of the Commander. Your plan was to eliminate him by deploying him into an area known to be extremely hostile, knowing full well the risks involved."
"I assure you, Vice Minister, we genuinely had no knowledge of the Meteorn's presence there, and we never intended for Commander Gotsutoa to meet his end in that engagement," Rolf insisted, his tone earnest.
Amalia shifted her focus to Sennheiser. "So, what were the motivations behind your choices, Sennheiser? What did you hope to accomplish by putting the Commander in such jeopardy?"
"The reasoning is straightforward: the androids," Sennheiser replied coolly, folding his arms as he met her gaze.
"Ah, so you're attempting to usurp the hierarchy? You want to take my creations for your own use? What exactly makes your strategy superior enough to warrant these drastic measures? The 701st are among the most advanced androids we have, and they rightfully belong to him."
Sennheiser smirked slightly. "Him? He's just a human. Yes, his resonance is exceptionally high, but that holds little significance. He lacks the knowledge and rigorous training necessary to harness it effectively."
"He's an Exalted, which means he possesses an innate connection to the Meteorn," Amalia countered, indignation in her voice. "You cannot hope to exert the same level of control over the androids we've created. Without his command, they might as well be mere scrap metal."
Sennheiser exhaled deeply, his frustration growing. "So what you're saying is that those androids represent the very force we've been battling against? Is that your assertion?"
Amalia shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "Fight fire with fire, resonance with resonance. We've been struggling against the Meteorn, so why not turn their own capabilities against them? It's only logical. Given the unique resonance signature of these androids, they should be incapable of rebelling against us."
"You can't be certain of that, Vice Minister," Rolf interjected, his voice steady but firm, "Reports indicated that several androids that entered blackout zones have exhibited signs of turning. What did we label that process again? Oh yes, transmutation, leading to the initiation of the termination protocol."
"You refer to those exposed to elevated resonance levels for an extended period, not the ones under the Commander's direct oversight—the ones in the 701st. They are safe, General. You need not worry about them," Amalia reassured.
"We shall see about that," Rolf replied ominously, his expression resolute.
As the Generals turned to depart, their footsteps echoing through the appointed chambers, the Vice Minister sat back in her chair, a deep frown creasing her brow as she contemplated the implications of what had just transpired.
"They're scheming something; I can feel it. But the question is... what are effects of what they are truly planning?" she wondered, her mind racing as she began to piece together the troubling possibilities.