Mastermind in the FranXX

Episode 12



THE SPEAR OF LOKI

...

...

...

...there's no...

...Huh?

So... tiiiiire...

...easy if...

Where... wha...

...hell below...

Moving... soooore... window...?

Above us only sky

Pretty... staaaars...

Imagine all the people

"Hey."

"Huh?"

"She's waking up."

Living for today

Voiiiiiices... scaaaary...

Imagine there's no countries

Red... eyes...

Red eyes!

Panic and adrenaline burned her muscles alive, begging her tired body to move. She whimpered in pain.

It isn't hard to do

"Easy! Easy, easy. Shh. We ain't gonna hurt ya."

Voice... lighter... woman?

Nothing to kill or die for

The woman's gloved hands came up to her face, lifted the red eyes onto the helmet. She could barely make out the brown irises in the dark. The vehicle lurched.

"See?" she rasped and clicked. "Goggles. Mask takes a bit longer to remove, sorry. It's survival equipment, it's okay."

And no religion too

They... people? Not... monsters...

Her throat was dry. So dry. "Who..."

Imagine all the people

The woman pointed to herself. "I'm Inyo." Then she thumbed to the man in the driver's seat. "That's Itan. We're scavengers, salvagers."

Itan lifted a hand in greeting, keeping his red 'eyes' forward. "Hey, kid. Welcome back. You've been out for two days."

Living life in peace

"Zo...ro..."

"Eh?" Inyo looked at her for a moment, eyes curious. "Oh, your boyfriend? He's right there."

Boy... friend? What... was...

You may say that I'm a dreamer

Fighting through the searing pain, Miku twisted her neck to the left, following the woman's finger. Zorome was right next to her, pale and sleeping. Both of their bodies were covered by a large blanket.

"You have quite a bit of nerve damage, missy," Inyo told her. "Your left arm, especially. It's pretty shot."

But I'm not the only one

"And... him...?"

There was a pause. "It would be easier if I showed you."

She reached back and rearranged the blanket with care, revealing his legs - or rather, where his legs used to be. His knees and everything below were missing, gone. Stumps, covered in bloody gauze and bandages. The smell of burnt skin wafted into her nostrils.

I hope someday you'll join us

"Your friend will... never walk again," the woman whispered through her mask as she moved the blanket back into position. "And he's lost a lot of blood. Had the doctor contacted us even five minutes later, we wouldn't have made it in time and he'd be dead."

"Zo...ro...me..." Miku wheezed. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to move her left arm underneath the blankets. It barely responded, twitching and shaking, but she found his limp hand and wrapped her own around it.

And the world will be as one

She collapsed against the seat, exhausted from the effort. "Where... we..."

Inyo and Itan shared a long look.

Imagine no possessions

"Home," the man rasped at last.

She was confused. "Plan...ta...?"

I wonder if you can

Inyo shook her head. "No, not your home. Our home."

"...H-Huh?"

No need for greed or hunger

"The Garden never told you... never told us," she explained. "But... not everyone died."

Miku's tired eyes widened.

A brotherhood of man

"There... a-are..."

"Survivors? Yeah. Humanity's tough, you know. People came from all over. Young and old, many and few. One of the last habitable pieces of land. Even with things as they are, word tends to spread fast."

Imagine all the people

Itan looked over his shoulder, red eyes gleaming in the night. "We're taking you two to Asphodel."

"As...pho...del?"

He nodded. Out the window of the jeep, the stars shone, bright as could be. Not a cloud in the dark sky.

Sharing all the world...

"The last city."

The nurse approached the cold storage bay, her pace brisk and purposeful. It would not do to make Nine-Alpha wait. To make Nine-Alpha wait was to make Papa wait, and one must never make Papa wait. Papa was good. Papa was just. Papa had saved her, saved them all. It was her duty to ensure Papa's success. Her task was critical, her mission of profound importance. She unlocked the storage with her key. Extra-strength tranquilizers specially made for Nine-Iota, Code 002, two batches. Why two batches, when before they had always only needed one? No. It mattered not. Papa was right. Papa had a plan. Should she need to know, Papa would have told her, because Papa loved her.

The nurse grabbed a tray and placed upon it the required bottles and syringes. She double-checked, making sure the amounts were correct, as she always did. Papa loved her. She had been rescued. It was only right that she tried her hardest.

A hand covered her mouth. Another one wrapped around her neck. The pressure tightened.

"67... 68... 69... 70..."

Zorome and Miku had been dead for three days, today. Tonight. Three days. Three days of endless nightmares. Every time he closed his eyes he saw that day, saw Argentea's cockpit getting impaled. The only thing that kept him going was the rage, the need for vengeance. Zorome had loved Papa and Papa threw him away. It was his duty to get justice.

His stomach screamed at him. Sweat stung his eyes and soaked his shirt. He groaned, staring at the warm, fresh rolls of bread on the plate in front of him. Maybe... just one...

"Hey! You know the rules!" A wadded up piece of paper bounced off his shoulder. Damn iiiiit! Why was she always like this?!

"C'mon, Ikuno! Just... just one..." he begged. Another wad. He saw her angry eyes turn away from her book and focus on him.

"You're weak. Stop being weak. One hundred push-ups, then you can eat."

He genuinely didn't understand her. Why was she doing this? "Why did you... ask Hachi..."

She turned a page. "Keeps you away from Kokoro, and I understand you better than I do Mitsuru. He's a creep. Never opens up. I can read you like an open book. It's better this way."

Girls were... so weird! How did Hiro do it?! How was he so comfortable with her?! "I thought... I was the creep!"

"There are different kinds of creepiness, Futoshi. You're creepy in the 'no personal space' way. He's creepy in the 'murder you in your sleep' way."

Were the others creepy, too? "What about... Goro?"

She thought for a moment. "He's creepy in that awkward, 'never speaks his mind' way. He's... too nice. It's weird. You know, creepy." The girl shivered.

"And Hiro?"

"He's not creepy."

Eh? "What do you mean?"

An annoyed sigh escaped her lips. "Hiro's like all of you combined. Like you, he doesn't respect personal space. He broods sometimes, like Mitsuru. He's overly polite and aloof, like Goro."

Futoshi furrowed his brow, thinking hard. "But... but Ikuno, that doesn't make sense! If he has all of our creepiness, wouldn't that make him extra creepy?"

With a huff she marked her place in her book and shut it with a thud, dropping it into her lap. She crossed her arms and leered down at him, disappointment written all over her face.

"Not at all. Unlike all of you, Hiro is genuine."

"Genuine? The heck does that mean?"

She raised her hand, counting off on her fingers. "The only person's personal space he doesn't respect is Zero Two's, and she clearly enjoys his attention. If she didn't, he wouldn't do it. When he broods, it's almost certainly about her or something related to her. He's overly polite to others because he doesn't want them to compromise the relationship he has."

It was starting to make a bit more sense, now. "So, you mean..."

Ikuno nodded. "Hiro's motives are clear as day. That isn't creepy, that's honesty. He's true to himself."

He turned his head back to the ground, sighing. "And... and Zorome?"

His new partner was silent for a long moment. "Zorome wasn't creepy. Zorome was just an idiot."

...

Futoshi braced his arms against the ground again. Thirty more. "...Count, please?"

She re-opened her book, watching him from the corner of her eye.

"71... 72... 73..."

It was a curious reaction. A klaxosaur's hull, whitened from stress and trauma. Years ago, he would've found the process remarkable. Such a specific physiological phenomena, once thought unique to humans. Now? Just one more thing to add to his list of crimes. The context was no excuse. He'd known full well what he'd done.

"Doctor? The preparations are complete. The techs will move to the other Franxx next."

He glanced at Nana, who had joined him on the walkway in front of the silent machine. "Good, good."

"If I may ask, doctor, why did you have us do this? The area around Garden has always been secure. They have never had a klaxosaur break through the walls."

Werner looked back at the Franxx, watching it closely. "Just another hypothesis, my dear."

"A hypothesis?"

The doctor leaned on his cane, old bones creaking and sore. "Allow me to pose you a philosophical question, Nana. Do you believe something beautiful can bloom from something foul?"

The administrator gave him a questioning glance. "I... suppose so, doctor. Is that not why we're doing these things?"

"And do you believe the beauty of the new grants worth to the foulness of the old? That the ends justify the means?"

She bit her lip, thinking. "I do not know."

"Neither do I."

Nana returned her gaze to Strelizia. "Why ask those questions, doctor?"

A sigh escaped him. "You were not with us during Strelizia's development, were you? You were engaging with Squad 13, at Garden."

"Correct," she replied, nodding.

"Upon beginning the conversion process, Franxx hulls fade to a slate grey. Once they are completed - or, in the case of Squad 13, imprinted - their colors change. That never happened with this machine."

"It... didn't?"

Werner shook his head.

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "You said it was a hybrid, did you not? Was it always white, then?"

His exhausted eye trailed up the mech's form, coming to rest on its retracted horn. The guilt welled up inside him, once again. He pushed it back down.

"No. It was originally black and blue."

Garden trips used to be nothing special. A trip to the labs, the occasional check-up to make sure their YBC levels were stable. Some occasional preventative care. So why did this one bother her so much? Why did she feel like they were venturing into hostile territory?

The 26ers had been whisked away as soon as they'd appeared. One moment 090 was telling them APE had abandoned them and left them for dead, and within a few hours they'd vanished again. When she'd woken up in the morning, it was like they'd never been there at all. Had it been all a dream? Nana and Hachi had told them Squad 26 had been taken some place more 'secure', but what did that even mean? Had APE thrown their own squad away, too? Was Plantation 13 not secure?

Ichigo closed her eyes and sighed. Things were never easy. She missed those days a bit, where the path in front of her was straight and narrow. Then Zero Two had come into their lives and it began twisting and turning. Now, it felt like there wasn't a path at all. What was real? What was a lie? Who should she believe? She missed Miku's exasperation and Zorome's obnoxious, goof-ball persona. They shouldn't have died! Why'd they have to die? Why...

A hand planted itself on her head and ruffled her hair. "How're you doing, Ichigo?"

Some of the existential dread faded away. At least she still had Goro... though it was weird to see him in the pants the boys never wore. She supposed dressing warmly was important. It was Garden, after all.

"Dunno."

He removed his hand, sitting down next to her on the courtyard steps. She pushed off the column and followed suit. Being taller than him in any situation freaked her out a little.

"I remember Hiro explaining himself at the beach," her partner began. "Feels like an eternity ago, now. He said they tortured her, lied to her so she'd fight, the works."

The memories dragged themselves up from the depths. She didn't like them... not these ones. "Strapped her to a table. Shot holes into her hands. Shocked her."

Goro rubbed her back. It was a good feeling. Relaxing. "That's what he said, too. Hiro's not a liar, you know? It got me thinking."

Ichigo whined and dropped her forehead into her palms. "Jeez, Goro, I don't know what to think anymore! Who can we trust?! Nana and Hachi are telling us APE's used us all these years, that we're expendable cogs, but are they using us, too?! That old doctor is so strange! I wouldn't trust him to save my life! It feels like we're caught in the middle of some weird feud and I don't know what to do!"

"Trust your squad."

Her head twisted to him. He was giving her a calming grin.

"The... squad?"

Goro nodded. "We're all here for you, right? Here for each other. We're family."

"You're like a sister to me, Ichigo. We're family. I've always thought that, had you met each other, you two would've been great friends."

She sucked in a breath. "Family..."

"I think I get what makes him different now." Goro reached out and took her hand, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. "You can't trust someone just because you're told to. Trust has to be earned. Zero Two was the only one he knew he could trust. The only one he could rely on."

Ichigo grinned and looked out at the treeline. She squeezed his hand. "Yeah. As long as we have each other..."

Goro followed her gaze. "We can figure things out ourselves. All of us. We'll get our own answers."

Things were going according to schedule. That was good. The schedule must be followed, after all. Troops were in position, rapid response teams were on standby. The other Nines were waiting by Iota's favorite place, just in case. For all her supposed spunk, her methodology was quite boring and obvious. Every time they visited Garden, it was always the same process. Iota would resist, she'd beat down some poor guards and escape into the forest. They'd track her down and find her standing or sitting in front of the same tree. She would fight back. They would subdue her, sedate her and bring her back to the facility for maintenance.

Every single visit, without fail. It had gotten to the point where they didn't even need to track her. Alpha expected this time to be no different. The only outlier was Code 016, who apparently had a penchant for violent overreactions. But his outbursts had been planned for. The troops were in position. Once they were cornered, they'd be brought in and the leashes would be upgraded and attached. Shock collar for him, in-built pacification drug dispenser for her. The threats would be managed. Papa would be pleased. All that was missing was...

Oh! There she was now. Perfect timing.

"You have the tranquilizer?" Alpha asked. The nurse nodded and the clone turned to a guard. "Excellent. You there! Escort the nurse to her assigned station and keep her safe. We are expecting things to get momentarily violent. Make sure the tranquilizer remains undamaged."

The guard nodded and complied immediately. "At once." He turned to the nurse. "This way, please."

Alpha turned to a second soldier. "We are expecting them soon. See to it that Squad 13 is separated from Nine-Iota and Code 016 upon arrival. The Squad 13 parasites are not to be harmed, per Papa's instructions. Bring them to maintenance swiftly. Keep them calm and safe while the other two are subdued."

"Understood!"

"Should you need myself or the other Nines, we shall be stationed at the secondary location. I expect the situation will not escalate to that degree."

"It will not."

"Good."

It was a shame. The clone wanted to exchange a few friendly words with Code 016 and perhaps receive an apology for the parasite's earlier misdemeanors. It was of no consequence, however. Such a thing could be arranged after the maintenance.

She didn't even know darling had pants! They were nice. He wore them well, mhm! It was a good thing she kept her old stockings, too. Chilly legs were gross!

"Alright, all done."

He brushed around her horns with a tender touch, leaving them clean and spotless. A happy smile lit up her face.

"Thanks!"

Darling sat down net to her, storing the file in his shirt pocket for safekeeping. She leaned against him, wrapping herself around his arm. For now, she could relax. Yeah, they had to go to icky Garden. Yeah, it sucked. But now she had darling with her! It would be okay, yupyup! As long as they stuck together, everything would be fiiiiine. The guards would leave her alone this time. She'd ask nicely! They didn't need "maintenance" or whatever. That was dumb! Maybe they could visit the tree?

She shook the thoughts away. Not now! Focus on darling! She looked up at him.

"Hey!"

He cracked an eye open. "Hm?"

"Lemme check your teeth!"

She sat up as he turned to her. With a chuckle he opened his mouth wide. "Ahh!"

...Wha. They were... just like hers...

She swallowed and tried to fight down her blush. He was so...

Darling closed his mouth and flashed her a toothy grin. "Well?"

...hot.

"They're... as long as mine..."

He ran his tongue over his teeth. "I like them."

Why had she been so afraid of this? Of them being the same? What had she been worried about? That fear was so foreign to her now. His horns were beautiful! His scent and taste were so strong, so incredible. It was so hard to resist him sometimes. She just got these... urges, and... andand all she wanted to do was throw herself at him. It wasn't wrong, was it? She knew she was addicted.

But she really really liked it. Whenever she put on the headband, it felt like she'd go insane. Recently, she'd only been able to wear it for short bursts, and even that was becoming too much to bear. She needed to smell him, always always always! If she couldn't... it was like a part of her was missing. Like she couldn't live or breathe or think or exist. How had she worn it for so many years? How had she even survived? She couldn't remember. She didn't want to remember. A life without him wasn't a life at all. An existence without breathing his scent, without tasting him or touching him, it was just... just torture! Bad ugly terrible torture!

Her eyes trailed across his, focusing on the corners. Would he... get the markings, too? Nono of course not, why would he? He'd never had blue skin! But... butbutbut even so!

The image flashed through her head. Her heart did a backflip.

"Darling? Do you think you'll get the markings?"

Those bright and brilliant icy orbs blinked at her. Darling scrunched his face in thought. She loved it when he did that! It was so cute!

"I dunno," he thought. "But I hope I do. We can match."

It... it wasn't them. It wasn't her. They were addicted and that was fine. She loved it. All she wanted was to be with him. He was perfect, he was her everything. For years, she'd thought it was her fault. That he had been taken from her because she was a monster.

But she had never done anything wrong. She loved him. The soldiers had taken him from her, had never left them alone! It was APE's fault! All along, it had always been others trying to separate them, trying to impose their stupid rules and telling them stupid lies and making them fight stupid battles!

Darling wanted to be like her. She wanted to be like darling. If they were the same, they could be together forever. And... and they were the same! Darling was perfect and darling was like her. Darling could never be a monster. And that meant... that meant...

She... she really hoped he got the markings!

"You'd look great with them," Zero Two whispered. Leaning forward, she pecked his lips.

Mmmm... again!

Darling laughed when her breath tickled his mouth. She brought him to the ground with a gentle push, straddled him and then leaned in for a longer kiss. His hands cupped her jaw. Zero Two couldn't help but stare when they separated. Everything about him was amazing. It was soooo crazy! Perfection wasn't supposed to exist, and yet here it was looking up at her, mhm!

"One of these days, we'll be able to do this for as long as we want," darling breathed. His thumbs traced the red skin around her eyes. "No more interruptions."

That dream flitted by her again, guided by his incredible scent. Their house, their beach, their future. Just them. Forever. For the rest of their lives!

As long as she had that, she could get through anything. As long as she had him. Her beaming smile nearly split her face in half.

"Can't wait!"

Zero Two lowered herself, closing the gap for the third time.

"Find anything?"

Kokoro shook her head. "There's no reference to any 'Building AM-01' in Garden's old textbooks. Ah... the ones we still have access to, I mean."

Mitsuru uttered a mental curse. Damn it all. It seemed like the closer he got, the further the answers actually were. No coordinates, no geographical information, no nothing. Besides the mention in that strange file, the location may as well have never existed. And he still couldn't find any mention or definition of BTTS, either.

"What do you want to do, Mitsuru?"

The only other option he had... was...

But that was treason. If they were caught, they would be killed. Almost certainly. Like Zorome and Miku, but with none of the flare or heroics. They'd vanish, like whispers on the wind.

"I have an idea, Miss Kokoro, but it's too risky. It would be better if I-"

"Absolutely not!"

He turned to her, shocked. "What?"

She crossed her arms under her chest, glaring at him with those big blue eyes. "Don't even say it! I'm not letting you run off by yourself!" She glanced away, embarrassed by her outburst. "I... I want answers too, Mitsuru. I'm just as involved as you are, now. The things in that file... I want to know the truth."

Sweating a bit, he scratched his cheek and sighed. "...Very well."

"What's your idea?"

"The-" He cut himself off. Everything was bugged. The cameras would hear him. He beckoned her closer and whispered in her ear, cover his mouth with his hand. "The doctor has returned. From what I understand, he won't be coming with us to Garden. His main office used to be there, before he moved to Plantation 13. I want to check it out."

Her eyes widened. She whispered back. "Wouldn't it be guarded? We're going there for maintenance! What happens if we're caught?"

"I'll claim the professor was busy and sent me to pick up some old files he needs for some research. I have the key he gave me. It should be enough."

Kokoro backed away, an intense expression on her face. Wait, why was she blushing? She cupped her chin and mulled it over for a moment. Then she nodded.

"Alright," she murmured. "We usually get some free time after the check-ups, right? It should be enough."

He had to give her one final out; he'd feel bad, otherwise. "Last chance to back out, Miss Kokoro."

The girl shook her head and smiled, blonde hair fluttering around her. "We're in this together." She flashed him a thumbs-up. "Let's do it, partner!"

Mitsuru was interested in biology and the sciences. But he also had his morals - and if even half of the reprehensible deeds in that file were true, he couldn't see himself serving APE any longer. It was disgusting. It was irresponsible. It was... wrong. To play around with life in such a disturbing manner, to push forward regardless of the consequences. There had to be limits.

He was starting to understand Kokoro, he felt. Still not fully, but already he felt more comfortable around her than he ever did with Ikuno. And his new partner was right. They needed answers. They needed the truth.

A beep rang from their communicators. They read the message together; Mitsuru felt his stomach tighten. It was time to go.

Garden awaited.

"Why don't we get stockings?" Ichigo groused, adjusting her hat and eyeing Zero Two's legs. If it was an attempt at cheering everyone up, it didn't work.

It was something Miku would've said.

Evidently, APE had not had the foresight of providing visiting pistils with something warmer - at least for their legs. The boys had their pants, but the girls were still wearing their skirts. Their jackets would have to make do, but was an oversight that did not go unnoticed. Ikuno was fuming, a murderous aura swirling around her. Futoshi took a large step to the side, sweating in nervousness.

"Come now, everyone," Nana called as they walked into the hangar, where the transport was waiting. "We know this visit will be relatively awkward in light of recent events, but it is still required. Please be on your best behavior and do not cause any commotion. We will try to be in and out. Stay calm and remember the procedures."

They approached the transport, but a call rang out. "Hiro. Zero Two."

It was the doctor, standing over to the side. He beckoned them over with a gloved hand. Nana beckoned the others onto the craft, giving the three privacy.

As always, the Strelizia duo were wary. Even in his 'apology', the scientist had still failed to mention the existence of small blue murder-demons. What else had he lied about?

"Listen to me," Werner urged. "You must exercise caution. Stay alert."

"Doctor? What do you mean?" Zero Two questioned, suspicious.

"A while back I received a message." His lone eye darted between them. "APE is planning something at Garden, for you two specifically. I assume it's in retaliation for..." He glanced at Hiro. "...a certain someone's violent stunt."

Hiro squeezed Zero Two's hand, cursing under his breath.

"Then... then why are we even going?!" she urged. "Shouldn't we stay here, where it's safe?"

The old man shook his head. "It is not worth the risk. It could very well be nothing, or something minor. If you were to stay here, APE would consider you AWOL and mobilize everything to track you down. They would invade the plantation. The punishment would be far more severe than whatever it is currently. The risk is too great. Our hands are tied. We can figure out the solutions later."

It was always like this. They could never do anything. They were always helpless against fate. There was no chance of escape. Even their 'guardian' forced them to abide by the rules when it truly mattered.

"Stay together, keep an eye out," Werner finished. "And do not do anything stupid."

The two kids shared a worried, frightened look. They glanced back at the waiting transport and squeezed hands.

"It's... it's okay," Hiro whispered. "We can get through this."

"...Yeah."

Hesitation and trepidation in their steps, they got on the transport. The door closed and it was off.

Werner watched the craft until it disappeared over the snowy horizon. He bowed his head and closed his eye.

All he could do now was wait.

The ride had been silent, long, and distinctly uncomfortable. It seemed he and Zero Two weren't the only ones thinking they were entering hostile territory. Futoshi looked like he wanted to break something. Ikuno was still glaring at him. Mitsuru was lost in thought, with Kokoro shooting him the occasional concerned glance. Delphinium's parasites looked fine, but even in the dim light he could see the sweat drip down Goro's cheek and Ichigo's nervous, habitual lip bite. And everyone was aware of the two missing members. Argentea haunted them all. Even now, he could still see that final, desperate charge. The static, the flames, the eery glow. It reminded him of Strelizia, and not in the good way.

Zero Two wouldn't let go. Her grip around his arm was borderline painful. But he understood perfectly. He didn't like Garden either.

He only had one good memory of this place. Out of all the years they'd spent here, those hours were the only ones he cherished. He was sitting next to the girl who'd saved him, so there wasn't any reason to go back.

And yet, here they were.

There was a dull thud and the hum of the engines disappeared. The ramp opened, nearly blinding them. Nana stood up and waved them off.

"Let's go, children!" she chirped, her tone fake. As one they stood up and exited single-file. Zero Two's grip transferred to his hand. He'd never held it tighter. Their knuckles were white, but it didn't matter. He wouldn't let her go. Not ever. Especially not here, in this hellhole.

He had once enjoyed the snow, but now it made him sick. Nausea engulfed him. This dead, barren place was everything wrong with the world. APE's most prized facility, where all the children were 'educated', taught lies and half-truths. The books he'd found gave him his respite, his relief. They were his exit for the longest time, back when he had nothing. Through them he broke through the brainwashing, even as the other children succumbed to its empty promises. Fight for Papa, live for Papa, die for Papa. Papa had given them nothing. Papa had given them suffering. This was where she'd been tortured and abused. The land of no hope, of endless torment.

The mere thought made his blood freeze. The horrid rage began chilling his gut, icing over his heart and mind. He squeezed her hand, protective urges rising.

If the monsters tried anything, if they so much as touched a beautiful lock on her perfect head, he would KiLL tHeM.

"Darling," she whispered. "Look."

Hiro followed her eyes. She was glancing at a watchtower, close to the main facility. There was an armed guard stationed in the enclosed platform, speaking into a radio.

The guard was staring at them. Not the squad - them.

His eyes swept to the entrance they were approaching. Two more soldiers, positioned on either side of the large doors. Armed and ready. Staring.

At them.

A low growl worked its way up his throat.

"Aren't there... m-more guards than usual?" Kokoro whispered.

"Quiet!" Nana snapped.

They couldn't get separated. They couldn't get separated. Not here, not now. This was a trap. It had to be. What the hell was the doctor thinking? What were they thinking?! He was such an idiot! They were walking into a cage!

Her grip on him was unbreakable, her voice low and wary. "Darling, this was a mistake."

"I know," he muttered back. "Stay close. We can't let them take us to separate locations." He turned to her, gazed into her eyes like they'd disappear any second. "No matter what."

She nodded, her expression reflecting the exact same urgency.

The statue-like guards watched them enter the main lobby. Eight soldiers were waiting for them inside. Three stepped forward.

"Welcome to Garden. State your business."

Nana was in her administrator mode. "Squad 13. Here for routine check-ups and maintenance. Scheduled."

"Good." The guard gestured to a hallway at the far end of the lobby. "Please, follow us."

They all made to follow. But as soon as he and Zero Two moved, seven rifles were shouldered. Four lasers on him, three on her. They froze. An ugly sneer marred Hiro's face.

This wAs nOT oKAy.

Nana whirled on the designated talker, furious. "What do you think you're doing?! Lower your rifles at once!"

The parasites were tense. Futoshi clenched his fists, but Goro put a firm hand on his shoulder and dissuaded him with a shake of the head.

"Apologies, ma'am," the soldier replied. "We're under orders from papa himself. Code 002 and Code 016 have been scheduled for advanced maintenance and are to be escorted to a separate part of the facility under armed guard."

The man turned his head to them. The expressionless mask was staring at his soul.

"Compliance is mandatory."

The lasers didn't waver. The trap had been sprung. Just like that, they'd been caught. He was naive. Naive and stupid! What the hell was wrong with him?! He should've refused! Why had he let the doctor have his way?! Damn it! Damn it all!

Two of the lasers fell away, leaving three on him and two on her. The three guards, including the speaker, began escorting their squad away. He watched them go.

Ichigo's face was panicked and terrified. She looked back at him, brow twisted in worry and concern. He couldn't even say anything. All he could do was watch them go.

"Follow me," one of the other guards demanded. "And no sudden movements!"

They were led down three separate hallways, to a section of the facility he'd never seen. Where were they being taken? What was going to happen to them? If they tried to escape they'd be shot. He was suffocating. There was a noose around his neck, tightening with every step he took. The soldiers ushered them up a flight of stairs, to a second floor. What were all these machines? What did they do here? Were they going to have their memories suppressed again?

His body was frigid. The only emotion he felt was hatred. Rage. The urge to mURdeR them all and pRoTeCt hIs ZERO TWO. He felt his eyes burning. Their hands were still connected.

This was insufferable. It was disgusting. What had they done to deserve this? All they wanted was to be left alone. They weren't trying to rebel. They weren't trying to cause any problems. All they wanted was peace.

It felt like his promise was fading away.

Down another hallway, around a corner, into a large room. They passed more soldiers standing guard at the door. Another lobby? There was a nurse standing against the wall by the door, next to a small table and opposite a large window. What was that tray? Syringes?

He grit his teeth. The avalanche gnawed at him, threatened to bury him alive. No.

Whatever they were going to do didn't matter. None of it mattered. They'd pushed too far.

There were two separate doorways in front of them. The soldiers halted. One began barking orders.

"You will enter separate rooms for maintenance. Code 002 on the left, Code 016 on the right."

They squeezed their hands together. Inseparable.

The soldier lowered his rifle and grabbed a device from one of his pockets. He pushed a button and it hummed to life.

"Compliance is mandatory," he repeated as he approached Hiro.

"...No," was his whispered reply. Inseparable.

The soldiers approached. Another one grabbed a similar device and cautiously moved towards Zero Two. The humming was in his ears now.

"Compliance is mandatory."

"No!"

Sharp, stabbing pain pierced his neck. His muscles seized and spasmed and his hand was wrenched away from Zero Two. A soldier grabbed his head and slammed him face first into the floor. His hat fell away from the sudden motion.

"Darling! DARLING!"

Before she could react, a similar device was placed against her neck. She cried out in pain as she was forced to the ground. Her whole body twitched and convulsed.

Something in him snapped.

No.

NonoNonOnoNOnonONOnoNONonONoNoNoNONONONONONONOONOO-

Pain. Pain. Eyes burning. Muscles tearing. Heart racing. So much pain. FIgHt through iT gEtUp tHEyArEhURtIng

hIs

ZERO TWO

FIGHT

FIGHT

FIGHT

FIGHT

FIGHT

GET

UP

NOW

"Stay down! You will comply!"

mOrE PAIN PAIN mUSt cONtRoL GET UP GET UP GET UP

The three soldiers struggled to hold him down. The two from outside raced in. One slammed his forearm into his neck. He gasped in agony. The other went to assist with Zero Two, who was screaming and fighting back, even as she was electrocuted.

"Nurse!" one of the guards on top of him called. "The tranquilizer! Quickly!"

She nodded and turned to the table. "At once."

NonoNONonONonONONO! NO! NO!

The cold fire burned at his eyes, tore into his skin and scarred his flesh. He could feel it peeling and scraping and destroying. It didn't matter. All that MATTERED WAS-

Bang.

whAt wAS

Bang.

"Hey! What the-"

The nurse was gone. The pain had stopped. Warm liquid trickled over his neck. The two still holding him down were distracted, looking at the door and the dead soldiers.

gEt Up

He tackled the soldier shocking his Zero Two, carried him into the wall at full force.

The man's back - and the wall behind it - shattered on impact.

"Shit! Shit!"

One of the two soldiers on top of her got up, rushing him with the butt of his rifle. Or... Hiro thought he was rushing? He was moving at a snail's pace. Hiro pushed the gun away; it flew from the guard's hands. He kneed him in the chest. With a whimper the soldier collapsed. Hiro stomped on his back for good measure and the floor fractured underneath.

Zero Two was up, snarling, on top of one of the soldiers that had held him down. She grabbed his head and twisted. The guard died.

A fist, coming at him in slow motion. He caught it, squeezed. The hand and wrist broke like a twig, mangled in a gruesome manner. The soldier howled in pain.

wAiT

His eyes followed the arm up its owner. He looked at the masked visage.

"You touched my Zero Two."

His free hand came up, braced against the soldier's collar. The offending arm was removed from his body and dropped onto the ground. Blood and gore splattered the floor. The man collapsed, gurgling, clutching at his stump. Hiro brought his foot up and slammed it against the guard's head. The helmet cratered. Hiro grimaced in disgust.

But an odd thought passed through his adrenaline-hyped mind. The guard had tried to punch him... but he was armed. All of them were armed. Why not use their most powerful weapons? As soon as the two of them fought back, they had dropped the rifles. Concerned, he grabbed one of the guns off the floor. They had been instructed in their use growing up, in case of emergencies, but he'd never actually fired one. They were to become parasites, after all. It was claimed they wouldn't need to use such things. He ran a critical eye over its surface. The safety was on. Eyes narrowing, Hiro grabbed the lever and yanked it back; no bullet exited the chamber. What? He thumbed the magazine release and checked.

Empty. The gun wasn't loaded. It was an oversized piece of hardened plastic attached to a laser sight, nothing more. But why would...

Movement from the other side of the room caught his attention. He dropped the useless gun and checked on his Zero Two.

The final soldier was backed up in the corner. He watched as she removed her headband with casual grace and tossed it away, forgotten. Horns grew. It was beautiful. She was beautiful.

The love of his life peered at the man, glowing red eyes shadowed by her bangs. Her smile was murderous.

"My darling belongs to me, you know. What makes you think you're allowed to look at him, let alone touch him?"

She kicked him in a very sensitive area. He dropped to his knees. Then she twirled around, gorgeous hair flying, and roundhouse kicked him in the face. He slammed into the wall. The wall dented.

Zero Two dusted herself off and turned to him. Her red eyes widened and before he knew it, she was in front of him. Her hands cupped his cheeks, thumbs tracing around his eyes.

"You have them," she breathed.

He grinned. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful!"

Chuckling, he grabbed her shoulders with a tender urgency and nuzzled his horns into hers. Something sparked, raced down his spine and into his toes. The warmth of her soul thawed him instantly.

"Whoa..." they whispered in unison. They pulled back. Her eyes weren't glowing anymore. But... what was that? Their horns weren't connected, but he could still... feel her? Like a... tether? An invisible rope, binding them together. He could almost...

"Darling?" she asked. "Do you-"

"-feel that?"

They blinked at each other. He started. "It almost feels like I-"

"-know what you're going to say."

There wasn't any hesitation or prodding or waiting. It simply happened. The sentence completed, as if only one person was doing the talking. He couldn't read her mind, though. Couldn't hear her thoughts. So what was...

No, they could figure it out later, maybe have some fun with it. But they'd just killed a whole bunch of guards and more were probably on the way. He glanced at the window.

This seemed familiar.

"Hang on," he told her. He walked over to the small table, frowning at the tray. He threw it to the floor without a care and picked up the piece of furniture. Hiro opened his mouth as he turned, preparing to warn her, but she'd already moved aside - like she knew what he was going to do. That was kinda cool, honestly. He liked this.

The table was thrown through the window. The howl of the frigid wind greeted them. He walked up to her and grabbed her hands.

Mother used to say,

"Ready?" he asked.

"You are so special."

"Mhm! Second time's the charm, right?"

"No one will shine as bright, my dear."

Their lips connected.

Needless to say, this was not a standard Garden visit. They probably weren't getting maintenance today, or maybe ever. Mitsuru wasn't sure if that would be a problem in the future; he didn't know that much about YBCs in general, only that they were somehow related to klaxosaurs. The fact that they even needed them was suspicious enough. Just one more thing to figure out.

"What the heck is going on?" Goro whispered. Ichigo was glancing out the window. Soldiers, running. His concern began growing. Had Hiro and Zero Two done something? He knew how possessive the boy was over her. The soldiers had already put them all on edge when the guns came out. And if they were nervous and tense, he could only imagine what Hiro was feeling.

This was bad.

"I don't think it's safe here," he noted. "We should find Hiro and Zero Two and go."

"Nana went to learn more about their procedure," Ikuno replied, arms crossed. Futoshi was watching the door. She was watching Futoshi. "And she still hasn't returned yet."

Their guards and all the staff had run off to who-knew-where. Before departing, a nurse had told them to stay put, and that their maintenance would resume after the situation was resolved. For now, they were alone. If they left of their own free will, they'd be marked as AWOL. Such a thing had never happened before, not in APE's history. Squad 13 would be the first and there wouldn't be a precedent. He didn't know what would happen. But if they stayed here, it could be hours before they learned anything. The information could be hidden from them, 'classified' for some stupid reason. Both options had their advantages and disadvantages.

"Mitsuru?"

He glanced over at Kokoro, who was giving him a strange look.

"I think... now's our best chance. Whatever's happening, it seems important. All the guards are gone. The room is probably abandoned."

So... that was it, huh? This was where their search had led them. But there was no point in backing out now, not when they were this far. They needed to see this to its end.

"I agree." He left his position against the wall and beckoned her to follow.

"Wait!" Ichigo called. "Where are you two going?"

Mitsuru looked over his shoulder. "To try and learn more about Hiro."

"Then we're going with you." Goro had walked forward, his eyes hard. "It's time we got some answers."

"Are you sure?" he questioned. "We were ordered to stay in this room. Following us would be committing treason."

Futoshi was already walking to the door. "Not committing treason is what got Zorome and Miku killed! Now they're going after Hiro and Zero Two! Like hell I'm just gonna sit around!"

Mitsuru looked over at Ikuno, who had stood up and was dusting off her skirt. "What?" she sneered. "You think I'm staying? Squads stick together, and I much prefer being with you guys over all these stuck-up creeps."

"That settles it, then," Ichigo announced. "Let's get this over with and then find Hiro and Zero Two. Lead the way, Mitsuru!"

They were in the third bloc, second level, which meant... this way. He took off down the hallway, keeping an eye out for any staff. Kokoro was right - everyone had left. From the hallway window he could see even more soldiers running through the snow, their rifles at the ready. It couldn't be a klaxosaur attack. Garden's walls had never been breached and he didn't see any Franxx on the horizon. Which meant it had to be...

Damn it! He hated being so helpless! If they were in trouble, they had to do something. And if they were running...

Seven years ago, they hadn't helped. It had been him and her, together against the world. That mindset was why Hiro had grown so distant and so singularly obsessed over the girl. He rarely spoke his mind. Until they'd been reunited, he'd exhibited classic signs of depression. It was unhealthy to be so focused on one thing to the exclusion of all else. Hiro ate himself alive, rarely interacted with Naomi, his assigned partner. And yet, nothing could be done. Mitsuru was powerless. Locked out from his friend's innermost thoughts. He tried to learn about the circumstances. He'd been told the story. As he grew, the doctor revealed more and more details: that Hiro was changing because of his reckless behavior; that he wasn't fully human anymore; that he would need to be watched, studied and supported, like some sort of test subject. So he had learned all he could. The doctor began to 'trust' him.

It wasn't enough. Things were hidden. The situation was potentially repeating again, and he still wasn't there to help them. To help him.

He picked up the pace, not bothering to check corners and hallways anymore as they ran through Garden. Minutes later they were in front of the locked door leading into the long-abandoned facilities, where the scientist had once performed his experiments. Mitsuru pulled out his key, not knowing if it would work. If need be they would bash down the door. It didn't matter anymore - the answers were more important.

The door unlocked and slid open with a hiss. Motion detectors brightened the long hallway.

"It's... this way," he informed, pausing to catch his breath. Futoshi was gulping down air behind him. Ikuno was probably glaring.

Mitsuru led the group to the end of the hall and then took the first right. There it was. His private office.

If any leads still remained, they would be there. The door was unlocked.

The office was dusty from disuse. Ichigo sneezed upon entry. "This place is... kinda weird. The layout seems different from normal Garden."

Kokoro had already begun tearing apart the office, opening drawers left and right. He booted up the computer as he he explained. "This section of Garden is where Hiro was taken for his special tests before the... incident. It's where he saw the experiments being performed on Zero Two, or so I've been told. The observation room is at the end of this hall."

A bead of sweat rolled down Ichigo's cheek. "You mean... the table?"

Mitsuru nodded.

"So they did know each other," Ikuno noted. Delphinium's pistil looked at her, blinking.

"Y-Yeah. Sorry for... not telling you, Ikuno. It's a long story."

Ikuno shrugged. "Like I said way back when, it's none of my business. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that they had some history together, but it's nice to get confirmation."

Mitsuru searched through the computer as they talked. Anything related to this 'APUS' thing or 'BTTS' or...

Wait. Video logs? There weren't many, mostly from unrelated dates. But this one... was from...

He clicked it. The feed popped up on the large monitor behind him. Conversation between the parasites stopped as they watched. The doctor was seated at a desk, speaking into a camera. The environment was stark white.

"Mitsuru," Kokoro breathed. "That's the room from the picture!"

"Log date: 2133, November 7. Code 016 has begun to stabilize, despite the rapid changes to his anatomy. I have decided to increase the frequency of the blood transfusions instead of upping the dosage. It appears the serum is basing its edits off of the available klaxian genetic code circulating in the blood stream. Reminiscent of ribonucleic acid. The, brain, skeleton and digestive tracts appear to be the primary focuses, currently, though I suspect the additional sensory glands will come sooner rather than later. Without the transfusions, the process becomes dangerously unstable. Caution must be maintained moving forward. I expect the suppression to wear off within two weeks, but such an estimate is not a guarantee. I hope it does not take longer; it will impair his development."

The doctor stroked his metal chin. Mitsuru felt disgust well up inside him. What the hell had they done to him?!

"I have managed to isolate some of the serum as it returned to his blood stream. The process will be long, given the sheer quantitative differences, but it is necessary. I fear her klaxian traits may become too dominant. Should her body stay the way it is by the time she reaches puberty, they may become incompatible. Such a scenario is unacceptable. It is a risk and she will require continuous maintenance while undergoing the treatment. But, when considering what has been seen within Code 016, I believe the hypothesis is valid."

"What... is this..." Ichigo whispered. The doctor took a moment to jot something down on a piece of paper. There was some movement behind him. Other staff members?

"Regarding Code 002 herself: she will need to be relocated from Garden soon. The suppression held quite poorly - as expected, given the anatomical differences between a human and a hybrid. Since their... unsupervised meeting, she has broken out three additional times. Twice today, or so I've been told by my staff at Garden. This last time she nearly made it into the facility proper, to the other children. I believe she is looking for him. Smelling him, perhaps, if the information on klaxian biology is correct. She has already claimed him on a subconscious level, much like a dog devotes itself to a master. Oddly affectionate, but also dangerous. It will become harder to control her as she ages. She cannot know where he is until they are both ready. The suppression device will need to be constructed soon. It should also aid in allowing her human traits to fully manifest and stabilize. An added bonus."

His blood boiled. So... clinical. So cold and callous. No moral responsibility whatsoever. They'd been treated like experiments!

The doctor twisted away from the camera and looked into the room. He had been blocking the operating table. Hiro was tied down, contorting in pain. Several white-clad staff members stood over him, taking notes or otherwise just observing. The boy's teeth were grit as he squirmed. His eyes were wide open, unseeing.

They glowed a vicious blue.

The doctor looked back at the camera.

"Incredible, is it not? Simply incredible!"

They weaved through the trees, the sound of gunfire echoing behind them. She heard the dull thud of the bullets against the snow. Something was wrong. She knew something was wrong! She'd been shot before! The soldiers were accurate! So what was different now?

No! Nonono it didn't matter! She was still holding his hand! Darling was still right next to her! As long as... they kept running! Surely this time! This time, they could...

They could be free!

As long as they kept running! They could hide, they could be safe! They could find their way back to the beach and build a house and go fishing and make a farm and have a family andand-

The bullets impacted the trees next to them. Wood splintered. The soldiers were close, so close! This was badbadbad!

"D-Darling!"

"I'm okay! Let's keep going!"

He squeezed her hand. Okay, okay! Keep running! They could keep going! Once they made it to the walls, they... they could disappear! They were dressed warmly, they still had their coats! All they needed was some food!

They just... had to keep running!

There was a clearing up ahead. Wait, she knew this place! This was...

The two of them stopped in front of the tree and looked up, panting as they caught their breath.

"You gotta... be kidding me..." darling chuckled through his gasps. "How ironic. The second time we're here together... and it's the same thing all over again."

She giggled. "You've come here alone, too, haven't you?"

Darling nodded. "And so have you. Shame we don't have the picture book, though."

Zero Two shook her head and smiled in spite of the circumstances. "We don't need it. You were right."

"Huh?"

"That story is too sad! Its only use was letting me meet you!"

He laughed. "That's-"

"Absolutely disgusting. Truly, Iota, have you no dignity?"

Iota Iota Iota Iota Iota Iota Iota - no! No! Grinding her teeth, she whirled around to face her tormentors.

Iota was dead! She was not Iota! She was not a monster!

"My name is Zero Two!" she snarled.

The blonde asshole sighed and stepped forward. "Papa gave you everything, and you repay him by casting off his special code and running away with this... mutated fodder?"

...

dID

iT

juSt

caLL

DARLING

fODdEr?

Volcanic heat burned her alive. She took a thunderous step forward. Darling's grip on her hand tightened.

"How did you find us so quickly?" he growled.

"Find you?" It laughed, fake and hideous. "No, no. I'm afraid you found us. You were never running away - merely in circles. Did you enjoy your... trip down memory lane?"

iT wAsGoIngtoDIE

Another sigh. It looked at her with something akin to pity. She didn't need that creature's pity! She needed its bLoOd!

"Our dear Iota has tried this many times in the past, you see. She always came to this tree and it always ended the same way. For all of her hyperactivity, her strategies are somewhat lacking. We were supposed to tighten your leashes today, but..." Dead eyes snapped to her forehead. "...it seems Iota has somehow removed it. Clearly, the leashes themselves will not be suitable. We shall have to reindoctrinate you both. Come now, time is wasting. Please do not struggle. It's unbecoming."

NO.

The putrid green one giggled. "Don't worry, Iota! Your dah-ling will be in good hands from now on!"

She saw red. Everything, red. It was going to die.

It was going to die.

In an instant Zero Two had tackled it to the ground, screeching like a banshee. Clawing, scraping, biting and mauling. It screamed, tried to defend itself.

"DON'T EVEN LOOK AT HIM!"

Her nails carved across its face, stabbed into its eye. A bloodcurdling scream gargled from its throat. Its partner, the purple haired stalker, rushed to its defense. But through the tether she felt her light, felt him close. She ducked.

The stalker's arm came up in defense. Darling's leg slammed into it, sending it flying. She saw the white of bone break through the forearm. He grabbed her and pulled her away so they weren't surrounded.

"Get Delta and Epsilon to the medical bay!" the blonde asshole roared. Two of the silent white-haired ones leaped forward and dragged them off.

"Guards!" it demanded. From behind the trees emerged a massive group of soldiers, laser sights highlighting their bodies. They advanced as she and darling backed closer to the tree.

Darling stepped in front of her, just like all those years before.

Nononononononononononono!

She couldn't do this anymore! Why wouldn't everyone just leave them alone!

"Stay away from us!" she screamed.

"That will not be happening, Iota!" the monster sneered. "Secure them!"

The soldiers edged closer. She could see their future slipping away. All this time, they'd been trapped. Angry tears burned her cheeks. They had never left the cage. She roared her frustration to the heavens.

"Just leave us alone!"

"You are so disgra-"

It stopped and looked up. They all did, even the soldiers.

The heavens had roared back.

It was a disaster. Rubble, fire and shattered steel no matter where he looked. A line of destruction from the holding bay to the massive and now destroyed hangar doors. Snow billowed in from the outside, chilling him down to his old bones.

He had never felt so elated.

A tech scrambled over to him, the very definition of panic. "Sir! It's-"

"Strelizia, I assume."

"Y-Yes! We don't know what happened! It activated on its own and... broke out!"

He laughed.

A full-throated, hearty chuckle, deep from the belly. He guffawed until he was gasping for breath. His heart was pounding. He felt so alive!

The tech had taken a step back, a bit unnerved. "Sir?"

"Clean up this mess! I'll locate Strelizia."

"Right away!"

He wouldn't, of course. There wasn't any need, not anymore. His hypothesis was right. He was right! He had done it!

Werner Frank lifted his old, tired hands into the air.

"Incredible. You truly are incredible! Strelizia!"

'The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.'

'No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy.'

These were sayings of the old world and not something Nine-Alpha would know. They were fancy ways of cautioning against overconfidence and certainty, and of drawing attention to something of great importance in the realms of planning and strategy:

The variable.

Hard to account for and ever present, in a myriad shapes and sizes. Nine-Alpha had just become painfully aware of the one overlooked.

The world quaked. Snow flew in all directions, a veritable avalanche of wind and powder. The soldiers in the impact zone's epicenter were crushed underfoot. Others were blown clear. Still more hunkered in place, attempting to outlast the potent gusts.

Alpha' arm lowered as the turbulence subsided. Eyes glanced up and widened.

"Strelizia? But how? Its pilots are..."

"I don't think that was Iota."

In that forest, under that tree, the leader of the Nines had an epiphany. The words uttered, soft as a whisper, would change the course of human civilization forever.

"It's alive."

Strelizia's roar rumbled through the trees. It spun in place; the tail cut into the ground, sending men and snow flying. The two wayward children, huddled together on the ground under the mistletoe, looked up at the mech.

"Strelizia!"

The rogue machine's head snapped to their location with unnerving precision. It began lowering itself to the ground.

They had been ordered to keep the two alive, no matter what. The parasites were critical to Papa's plans. But them escaping with one of the most powerful Franxx in the arsenal was a far more dangerous scenario. Alpha began barking orders.

"Soldiers! Shoot to kill! Do not let them escape! Nines, to the hangars! We will pursue!"

As APE's special forces withdrew, the few conscious guards moved to engage. But they were too late. As they opened fire the giant's forearm slammed into the earth, forming a makeshift barricade. The bullets didn't so much as scratch.

Strelizia's head lowered over Hiro and Zero Two. The cables surged forth from the open cabin, but they were not long enough to close the full distance. They halted just within arm's reach of the parasites, quivering in desperation.

The hybrids stood, reached up, and grabbed the tendrils with their free hands. They were hoisted into the air. More cables wrapped around their bodies, securing them. Up and away they were lifted, into the cockpit. The faceplate closed with a hiss. Strelizia turned, thrusters priming.

"Fall back!" called a soldier. "Fall back!"

The pilots held onto each other. The cables held onto them. "Let's... let's go!" Hiro rasped.

With a blast of power the mech was off, dashing towards the outskirts of Garden. Zero Two looked back, at the tree of her childhood. Then she returned her gaze forward and hugged her darling close.

They didn't know where it was taking them. It didn't matter.

For the first time in their short, tortured lives, the prince and princess had found an ally.

A steed.

Over those insurmountable walls and into the untamed wastes soared Strelizia, the bird of paradise.