Papa stood on the command deck, fuming, Earth's red glow almost blinding as it shined into the command center. The time to assault the Gran Crevasse was drawing near, and Plantation 13 was nowhere to be found. If they were following the course he had set, Plantation 26 should have at least sighted them by now. Where the hell was Plantation 13?

"Have you found them yet?" He snapped at a tech that was observing navigational data.

"Not yet, Papa. Their tracking says they're right alongside Plantation 26, but nobody has spotted Plantation 13."

"Can you connect to Plantation 13?"

"I'm trying Sir, their communications signal says where connected, but they don't seem to be receiving us."

"Where's its origin?"

"Right next to Plantation 26."

He grimaced. Where was Plantation 13!? They couldn't have been destroyed, could they? Or worse yet. Had they betrayed him!? No... No, that was impossible. Werner was his lifelong friend. There was no way he could have done that.

"Prepare a planetary broadcast, open all channels."

"But sir, that'll reveal our location to the Klaxosaurs!"

"No consequence. They don't have weapons capable of hitting us. Now don't make me ask you again."

"Aye, sir. Right away, sir."

He watched with a smug smile as the techs frantically went about fulfilling his orders, desperate to please him.

"Channel open."

"Dr. Franxx." He announced. "We seem to have lost track of you buddy, now where the hell are you."

He waited… And waited… And waited…

"Any response?" He growled at his crew.

"None, Sir."

He gritted his teeth. What was going on!? Where was Werner?"

"Sir!" A tech shouted. "There is a massive energy surge coming from the surface!"

"Identify!" He shouted.

A second later, a massive energy beam slammed into Apus's construction hangar, and APE's headquarters shook violently from the impact. Warning alarms sounded, indicating that they were venting atmosphere.

"Seal the bulkheads to the hangar!" He shouted, barely keeping his balance as the station shook violently. "And get me a status report now!"

"Minor structural damage to the hangar, but the blast disabled the transport system, construction on Apus has been halted until it is restored."

Another tech shouted up from the crew pits. "I found the source of the blast." An image appeared on the main viewer, and he swore. That stupid dragon the Klaxosaur queen kept as a pet, stood panting on the edge of a mountainside staring up at them.

"Sir, there's another energy surge." A tech yelped, interrupting his thoughts.

He stared at that stupid dragon, wishing with all his might that he could do something about it. But for now, that stupid thing was safe on the surface, and he currently didn't have a weapon capable of retaliating.

"Sir!"

He gritted his teeth in disgust. "Full burn; take us into high orbit. Devote all nonessential power to the energy shield."

The station shook as all its maneuvering thrusters fired, slowly pushing them farther and farther from the Earth's surface. He watched with relief as the experimental energy shield that he' ed just commissioned, flickered to life around the station. He watched with satisfaction as the dragon's second energy blasts arched up towards them and dissipated against the shield.

"Shield holding at 90% capacity." A tech reported.

He smiled beneath his mask. "Take that you stupid Klaxosaurs." He muttered.

"Sir, Dr. Franxx is hailing us." A tech said suddenly.

He sighed in relief. "Finally." He muttered, then in a louder voice said. "Patch him through."

"Hello, Artos," Werner said, looking sad for some reason.

"Werner." He said in relief. "I'm glad we got a hold of you. We've had a hard time finding you as of late."

Werner nodded. "I know."

He felt a growing sense of unease but did his best to ignore it. Werner was his friend, after all. "So. I thought we had agreed to attack the Gran Crevasse?"

"We did. A long, long time ago."

"What do you mean we just talked about this, all Plantations are converging on the Crevasse, we're a few months away from finally ending this."

"No.. You're not. You're a fool if you think this is going to work."

"Of course, it'll work. The Gran Crevasse doesn't have enough firepower to repel Nine Iota, The Nines, and the rest of our army. They'll crumble beyond a shadow of a doubt."

Werner stared at him, sadness and contempt evident in every line in his face. "It might be a problem if Zero Two and the rest of the members of Squad 13 never show up."

He scoffed. "As if they'd have the nerve to rebel against me."

Werner shook his head. "Oh… They already have." And in a satisfied voice, he added. "And so have I."

"What." He snarled. Unable… No unwilling to comprehend what he was hearing.

"You heard me," Werner said quietly.

"Why?" He choked, his hands clenching into fists.

Werner shook his head in sad amusement. "Oh, Artos…. You are such a fool. You don't even realize it.

"Realize what?"

Werner looked at him sadly. "You became the very thing we swore to destroy. In fact. You've done more than they could have ever hoped to do."

"I saved humanity." He fired back. "You and I… We created the perfect society."

"No. We didn't."

"What do you mean, of course, we did. Everyone's free of pain. Nobody wants for anything. The equality that people fought centuries for has finally been achieved."

"No… You turned everyone into a drone. There is no more individuality. No more soul. A lifeless husk? Is that your definition of perfect. A lifeless husk that just exists forever."

"Humanity is not lifeless." He fired back. "It's been freed. Freed of the suffering and pain that has plagued it for centuries. The politics and corruption of the old world is gone, and humanity can now live in the utopia that it was always meant to."

"Utopia." Werner scoffed, shaking his head. "No real human would ever except this as a utopia."

"But they have!" He screamed. "And when the Klaxosaurs are finally destroyed, we'll be able to live on the surface once again!"

"Enough!" Werner shouted, holding up his hand. "I can't do this. I won't do this anymore, Artos we're through. You can try to stop us, but our resolve will be the end of you. Humanity. True humanity will prevail in the end. And this time, we're going to do it right."

"And for how long will that last." He said snarling. "How long will your "True humanity" prevail. Because you forget, humans die."

"That's why humans have children to continue on when their parents die and continue to build a better world."

"What children." He sneered sarcastically. "You think your parasites could ever have kids. Do you think the girls of Squad 13 want to bare the children of their combat partners."

"Combat partners." Werner laughed. "Have you been so deprived of a human connection that you've forgotten what it's like to bond with someone?"

"…"

"I'm done, Artos. I can't do this anymore. Squad 13, and I will take our chances against you. Because living in your world isn't living at all." Werner looked at him tears streaming down his face. "Goodbye, Artos. Maybe if we get another life, we can be friends again. But until that time. This is goodbye, my old friend."

The image of Werner vanished, and he stared numbly at a blank screen, the words. "No signal," demonstrating the level that their friendship had reached.

"Werner.." He snarled, feeling hot tears slipping down his cheeks. "After all we've been through… You'd betray me? After everything we promised to do together, you'd abandon me."

He felt a lump in his throat, as all his emotions fought to come bursting out of him.

He slammed his fist down on the railing and let out of hate-filled scream of rage and pain. This was the last straw he' ed had enough. Why was this happening to him? All he' ed tried to do was help humanity, to give them a better life. To stop tragedies like the seven days of fire from ever happening again. Isn't that what they'd agree to put an end too? Was the promise they'd made as children worthless?

"Get in there!" The guard shouted, giving him a kick that sent him stumbling face-first to the ground.

The door to the holding cell slammed shut behind him, and he picked himself up, fighting desperately to hold back tears.

"Here, let me help you." Said a boy who looked to be around the same age as him.

Grateful, he grabbed the hand the boy had offered to him and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.

"T-Thanks." He said weakly.

"You just get back from the procedures?" The boy asked as they made their way over to a secluded corner of the room.

He nodded.

"What they take?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. They put me to sleep. All I know is that when I woke up, my body hurt all over, and seven different points on my body throbbed for hours."

The boy nodded. "I've had that happen to me too. I wonder what they're doing…."

"I don't know, and I don't care. I just want it to stop."

"I suppose you're right… By the way, what's your name?"

"Artos." He said weakly. "How about you?"

"Werner." The boy said with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Werner."

"You as well."

They sat in silence for serval long minutes.

"Do you think we'll ever get out of here?" He asked timidly.

"Yes," Werner said after a long pause. "Yes, I believe we will."

"I hope you're right." He said, trying to keep his voice from shaking. "Because I don't want to be trapped here forever."

"We won't," Werner said, sounding like he was trying to convince himself. "We've got to stick together down here. They only win if you let them."

"But how do you know that? I feel like they can just take whatever they want." He said despair starting to creep into his voice.

"Here, how about this," Werner said with a smile. "Let's promise that when we get out of here, we'll do everything we can to build a better world. A world free of all this suffering."

He smiled slightly and nodded. "I swear it. When we get out, we'll build a better world. And no human will ever suffer again."

Werner chuckled. "Of course. Because I have a feeling that you and I are going to accomplish great things together."

Was that all a lie? After everything they'd been through, after all the hardships they had endured. Werner would just betray him? For what, some stupid girl!? Their lifetime's worth of dreams and struggles; thrown away for some stupid, worthless girl that came out of a bottle?!

He slammed his fist down on the command deck railing. Damn it all! Damn all of it! He was going to make Werner pay for this. It didn't matter if it was the last thing he ever did, Werner was going to pay.

"Sir?…" A bridge tech said timidly.

He stood up, his eyes alight with fury. "I have new orders for the Garden. We're modifying the parasite program. I want ready to fight parasites every two weeks, and Franxx for every pair. Its time we destroyed the Klaxosaurs."

"But, sir!" A tech protested frantically. "We can't develop fully functioning parasites in that short of time. Accelerating their growth to that level would make them nothing more than attack drones at best."

"I don't care." He snarled. "We'll worry about making real humans after the war is over… Now, if I have to repeat myself one more time, you will never speak another word."

"Yes, sir." The tech said saluting, looking terrified. "Everything will be done as you command."

"Sir!" A tech shouted. "New security footage from The Great Seed Vault, just caught Plantation 13 on camera. Dr. Franxx, Nine Iota, and the rest of Squad 13 have all been spotted."

"When was this captured!?" He demanded, the lust for revenge coursing through his veins like fire.

"Two days ago, Sir." The tech reported, "The archive team just found it."

"What direction were they headed?"

"We do not have the necessary data to determine that, Sir. But we've managed to come up with a search zone of where they could be."

Straitening himself, he stared down at the Earth's red surface. "When can we deploy attack squads?"

"I'm sorry, Sir, but the nearest plantation is at least a month out."

He grimaced but held his temper. "Launch observation craft from the Garden, and have them converge on the search zone. Tell them to stay out of sight but on the target. Coordinate elimination strategy as soon as the target has been found."

"It will be done, Papa."

He let out a long sigh of pent up rage, but it felt good to have a plan of action. He was going to make Werner pay for this betrayal. Damn it if it was the last thing he ever did Werner was going to pay for this.

"Naomi…" The voice of Numa whispered.

Naomi's eyes fluttered open, and she groggily sat up. Instinctively she glanced over at Numa, who was still floating in her cloning tube. Seeing her daughter safe and happy made her smile. Numa was doing a thousand times better than she had been when she had first got here. The girl who had been perhaps days away from death's door had disappeared.

"Morning, Numa." She whispered.

She yawned and stretched, trying to work the kinks out of her body. Soon after promising to be Numa's mother, it became apparent that sleeping upstairs away from her wasn't going to work. She'd found it incredibly hard to relax, knowing that her little girl was in such a fragile state, and could possibly die at any moment. So the next morning she'd requested the privilege to sleep down here, and was relieved when Maya not only accepted her request but actually went out of her way to find some sort of bed for her, which Naomi appreciated immensely. Her duties as a mother gave more satisfaction than anything she had ever done, but she couldn't deny that it was exhausting. The babies she was nurturing inside her were always on her mind, and it felt like that, no matter how much she ate, her babies used up all her energy, so she was constantly hungry. Not only that, but her duties to Numa put another strain on her body. Breastfeeding was an incredible experience that allowed her to bond with Numa on a whole other level, but she could have never imagined how many times a day, a baby needed to be fed.

Mentally, however, she shrugged. There was no use in overthinking it, however. The bottom line was she was a mother, and not only that, she was the mother of the last remaining Klaxosapiens. Of course, it was going to be difficult, but that didn't mean that it wasn't important. And deep down, she knew that this was the most gratifying thing she had ever done and probably would ever due. But beyond that. She loved her children. All of them, and she knew that she'd endure anything for them. Stretching again, she looked down at herself, just taking in the changes that she'd undergone in these last serval months. Her once pink skin was rapidly changing into the cyan color that was emblematic of the Klaxosapiens. Not only that, but she was acutely aware of the horns that protruded from her forehead, and as they grew larger, the connection she felt with her babies only seemed to deepen. At times she could even tell what Numa was thinking. But as if she didn't need anymore, more evidence of her change, she noted that her Klaxosapien markings were becoming more prominent.

"I wonder if my babies will have the same markings." She muttered.

Shaking herself out of her musings, however, she stared down into her belly and smiled at her growing babies, making out their tiny little bodies that were just beginning to form. She realized, however, feeling both scared and excited that even though her babies were still small, they were growing extremely quickly. She knew it wouldn't be long until her belly started to bulge and that until her babies were born, it was only going to get bigger.

Just then she became aware of an aching in her breasts and judging by how heavy they felt she knew that Numa was bound to wake up hungry and looking for her attention. With a smile, she looked over at Numa, proud at how far her little girl had come. The once crippled little girl on the verge of death was no more. Her disfigured and malnourished body had started to heal, and she knew that her little girl was on the way to recovery. She couldn't wait for the day when Numa could finally be removed from the tube. But at least for the moment, that reality was still a ways off.

After a few minutes, Numa's eyes fluttered open, and almost immediately swung over to her. She smiled and gently leaned against the tube that held Numa.

"Good morning." She whispered, her horns pulsating with loving energy.

"Mommy…" Numa's faint voice replied.

"How are you feeling this morning." She asked affectionately. "Any better?"

Numa stared uncomprehendingly at her until her focus seemed to shift. Suddenly Naomi had the feeling that someone was staring at her breasts, and with a small chuckle, she got up.

"Come on. Let's get you fed."

She stepped over to a ladder that had been placed alongside the tube, and as she began to climb, she silently thanked Maya for the modification that had been made on her behalf. Gently she climbed onto a small platform at the top and hitting a switch, the top of Nima's tube slowly unsealed itself.

Smiling, she climbed into the tube and submerged herself, gently she pulled Numa into a loving hug, and spent serval long minutes just bonding with her little girl. Slowly they made their way through their morning routine, taking their time to bond, as Naomi gently nurture Numa, back to health.

Nobody disturbed them for hours, and when Maya finally did, Numa was napping peacefully in Naomi's arms, lulled to sleep by the nurturing power of mother's milk.

"Naomi," Maya whispered softly into her head.

She looked up. "Y-Yes." She responded shakily, trying to practice using the telepathic communication that Maya had been teaching her.

Maya smiled. "I have more to teach you today, and I think it'll be beneficial to do it while Numa is asleep."

She nodded and gently let go of Numa climbed out of the tube. Quickly she dried herself off and followed Maya, ready to learn anything and everything that Maya could teach her.

A long time later, she and Maya sat quietly on the throne room steps, Logos having departed, for some alone time in the destroyed Klaxosaur city. Naomi gently lay back against the steps, thinking over all the things she had been learning. Which, upon further reflection, seemed to be just about everything. Maya seemed to be running her through everything having to do with Klaxosapiens, to the point that she actually understood more about being a Klaxosapien than she ever did about being human. She seemed to be, being trained on how to do everything, and she had the strangest feeling that Maya was trying to pass on all of her knowledge, which was stressful to try and comprehend sometimes. The subject that was by far the most interesting, not to mention the most practical, had to be the coaching on motherhood. Maya seemed determined to cover everything, catching her up to speed about what to expect during her pregnancy, how to go about giving birth a fascinating but terrifying subject, and the part that probably made her the most nervous actually caring for her newborns. She felt overwhelmed with all the attention, that even one would require, and as Maya liked to remind her, she was going to have twelve of them.

"You're doing very well with Numa," Maya said quietly.

"What… Oh.. Um.. Thanks." She stuttered, still lost in her own head.

"It's extraordinary what you've done for her. I never even dreamed that she'd be able to leave that tube, but now." Maya smiled. "Now, it's almost a guarantee."

She sat up and stared at Maya. "She can leave the tube!?"

Maya smiled. "Not quite yet. She still a little weak at the moment. But under your care, I have faith that she will."

"I don't really feel like I've actually done a whole lot." She said, blushing.

"Naomi," Maya said. "You do realize that you saved Numa from certain death, and not only that have healed er broken a crippled body."

"All I did was give her some affection," Naomi said simply.

"No, you did more than that. It takes love to perform miracles like this. Pure unadulterated love."

"Whats a miracle?" Naomi asked, confused by the word.

"When the impossible is made possible," Maya said with a smile.

"I don't get it." She said, still confused.

"Maybe it's better if you don't. Just know that Logos and I are indebted to you more than you'll ever appreciate."

"I think you forget that you're the one that made all this happen." Naomi said reasonably, "I'd be dead if not for you."

"You might owe me your life." Maya said, "But how could that ever compare to the revival of my people. The people I led into war and death will be restored by you. Nothing could ever compare to that."

"Well." She said, shrugging. "I guess you can see it that way. The only concern I have is that they're happy." Then a little ruthfully, she added. "Because if they're not happy, they let me know."

Maya smiled. "Just wait until they grow a little bit more and start kicking inside you."

Naomi grinned. "And twelve of them. Sounds like the beginnings of a party. They could even start their own squad…." Her voice trailed as she reminded that she was still separated from her squadmates; and that even though she had plenty of babies to keep her company, she sometimes missed having people her own age to talk to.

Maya stared at her for a long moment and then sighed. "I'll see what I can do about arranging a meeting with your squadmates."

Her heart leapt into her mouth. "Really!"

Maya nodded. "Yes…. I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you!" She cried, giving Maya a hug. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Maya smiled. "You're welcome."

"Just promise me, you'll keep doing what you're doing."

Naomi smiled. "You don't need to worry. I love my squadmates, but I am a mother. I don't think it's possible for me to abandon my children. And truth be told. I'm going to worry about Numa the whole time. I'm super excited to see my friends, but leaving my little girl alone is going to be hard."

Maya smiled. "Thank you."

They sat in silence for a serval long moments grateful for what they were each doing for each other.

After another few moments Maya broke the silence. "Unfortunately, I can't promise anything sooner than a month away. Dr. Franxx and I will have to do a lot of coordination because I'm unwilling to expose you to any unnecessary risk. I've already lost enough. I won't lose you too."

Naomi's deflated a little bit at the prospect of having to wait a month but understood why it was being done. "I understand."

Maya smiled. "I'm sorry for the wait, but it is necessary. The only silver lining I can offer is that I do have some new information about the squad for you. They've changed quite a bit since you last saw them. And they actually have a new member."

"Really!" She said, surprised. "Who?

"Her name is Zero Two. She became Hiro's partner shortly after you disappeared."

She nodded, feeling a little hurt and resentful that she had been replaced. Shaking herself, she realized that was an unworthy thought. It wasn't fair to start judging Hiro's new partner before she'd even met her. Obviously, there was something special about her if she had managed to pilot with Hiro.

Maya nodded, looking thoughtful. "Anyway. I'll fill you in between now and when we leave. Got to clarify a few things with Dr. Franxx, and they've changed a lot since you last saw them."

Naomi smiled. "Alright, but don't keep me in suspense for too long."

Maya smiled. "I won't."

(about a month later)

Hiro and Zero Two sat lying against one of the support beams that had been erected to hold up the watering system for one of the larger garden beds. He and Zero Two had just finished planting carrot seeds in the freshly tilled Earth. So much had happened over the last few weeks, and he felt excited but slightly overwhelmed. For one thing, Zero Two was now officially over two months pregnant. She wasn't showing quite yet, but in their nightly cuddling sessions, he liked to believe that her belly felt a little bit firmer. Unfortunately, Zero Two still tended to have sporadic bouts of morning sickness, which despite her best efforts to assure him, still caused him a great deal of stress.

"I can't wait until they start growing." Zero Two said softly, as they gazed out over the carrot field.

He smiled. She said that every time they planted a new vegetable. The entire squad had spent the last month hard at work, spreading the dirt that the plantation had collected, planting seeds, and building watering systems to nourish said seeds. It had been a month's hard work, but their fortitude was finally paying off, and they' ed been rewarded with the first genuine spouts that had been seen in over a century.

Gently he cupped the base of Zero Two's belly, "I can't wait to you start growing." He whispered playfully in her ear.

Zero Two smiled and gently placed her hands on top of his. "Soon, Darling soon."

They sat quietly for serval long minutes, just basking in the love the three of them shared with each other.

"You change your mind about our baby's gender yet?" He whispered playfully in her ear.

"It's still a boy." She stated firmly. "Right, big guy?" She whispered, stroking her belly.

"Mommy is being mean to you." He said, stroking her belly. "Daddy knows you're really a girl."

"Hey!" Ichigo called, waving from an unplanted field the rest of the squad had been working on.

He and Zero Two practically jumped out of their skins, their hands abandoning Zero Two's belly faster than anyone could comprehend.

"I just got a message from Dr. Franxx; he says that he has a surprise for us, but we need to hurry."

Helping Zero Two to stand, they rushed over to the squad, fervently hoping that nobody had noticed what they had been doing.

"So, what's this surprise about?" He asked when they arrived.

Ichigo shook her head. "I don't know. He just said that it was vital that we meet him in the hangar." She looked down at her communicator and added. "And fast."

"I guess we' ed better get going then," Zorome suggested.

"Probably a good idea," Goro added. "Any objections, Ichigo?"

"Nope."

"Alright, then let's go."

Excited but slightly apprehensive, they briskly made their way back to the main lobby, and then all crowded into an elevator, before departing to the main cargo hangar. Moments later, the elevator stopped with a hiss, and they all spilled out, all mutually surprised to see the main hangar door wide open. On the far side of the hangar, they spotted Dr. Franxx, and so quickly made their way over to him.

"Hello, Dr. Franxx," Ichigo said cordially.

"Good day, to you. I see you've brought the rest of the squad with you."

"Yes, I did. You said you had a surprise for us."

"Yes, I do. And it's something I should have done a long time ago."

"Done what?"

"Everyone." Dr. Franxx announced. "I have something to confess." There was a long pause. "I told you that we never found Naomi that we were never able to recover her. Well, that's not entirely true…."

"Then, where is she!" Ikuno demanded, her voice thick with emotion as her mind went wild with a thousand different scenarios.

Dr. Franxx's communicator beeped, and he looked down at it. He looked up and smiled. "Stay here for the next minute, and you'll find out."

The squad immediately began pestering him with questions and demanded answers, but Dr. Franxx refused to answer them.

Suddenly they all heard a roar, and they stared out the hangar and saw a large black shape flying towards them.

"What is that!?" Zorome screamed, his voice cracking.

"It's a Klaxosaur!" Zero Two shouted, a hand instinctively darting to her belly, as she took a defensive stance.

She was right; a massive Klaxosaur dragon was flying straight at them wings spread wide as it descended towards them.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Ichigo shouted, staring at Dr. Franxx.

"You'll see." Was his simple reply.

Instinctively the squad huddled together, unconsciously hoping that strength in numbers would protect them. Quickly he stood in front of Zero Two, shielding her with his body, protecting both her and their growing baby from any possible harm. With apprehension, they watched as the massive dragon flew closer until, with a deafening crash, it landed roaring its defiance as it stood in the center of the hangar. It was just then that they noticed that two people were riding the dragon, one looking very eager to disembark.

The massive dragon slowly settled down and stared at them with great golden eyes. Somebody with chestnut brown hair quickly slid down the side of the great dragon and began running towards them.

"Naomi!" Ikuno shouted, sobbing as she began running towards the figure.

And a second later, he realized it too. It was Naomi. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it was her. The squad watched in stunned silence, mouths wide open, unable to believe who was running towards them.

"Ikuno!" Naomi shouted, waving.

Ikuno didn't even bother instead, crashing into her friend and pulling her into a hug, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Naomi!" Ikuno cried. "You're alive!"

Naomi returned the hug with equal fervor. "Oh, Ikuno it's so good to see you. I've missed you so much!"

"We thought you were dead." Ikuno sobbed.

"Well, I'm not!" Naomi said cheerfully.

"Naomi!" The rest of the squad cried as they all skidded to a halt.

She turned to them a big radiant smile on her face. "It so good to see you all again! How have you guys been."

She stretched her arms out wide to give them all a hug, which they all began to reciprocate until they saw that one of her arms was actually a tentacle, and they all stared horrified rooted to the spot.

Hiro stared at the girl who had once been his partner remembering her chestnut brown hair that perfectly matched her eyes, her helping hands always there to assist whenever he was feeling down. Now, however, one of those hands was gone, replaced with a black tentacle that seemed almost fused to her body. The chestnut brown eyes were gone, replaced with ones that glowed a soft pale blue. As he stared at her, he saw the smile that he had known so well; and although she'd changed, he knew that she was still the same person she had always been.

"Naomi," Ichigo said, horrified. "Wha... What happened to you?"

"Quite a bit actually," Naomi said with a smile.

"No, seriously," Ichigo said, sounding concerned. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am. Believe me; I'm actually better than I was previously."

Just then, a figure appeared behind Naomi, and everyone's eyes widened in shock at the sight of this unknown figure.

"Naomi. Who is that?" Goro asked politely but confused, pointing at the figure who had just appeared behind Naomi.

"This is Maya," Naomi said energetically, turning to the figure. "The Queen of the Klaxosaur's. And she also happens to be the one who saved my life."

"The Klaxosaurs have a queen?" Miku said, shocked.

"Yes, they do," Naomi said with a smile. "Fun tidbit for you. The Klaxosaurs were actually a race of people that…" Naomi glanced at the Queen with a knowing smile. "That used to exist."

"Wait, what?" The squad said shocked.

"Yeah, I know, right." Naomi continued energetically. "I had the same reaction."

Briefly, she launched into an explanation of the Klaxosapiens and what had happened to her that left far more questions than answers in its wake, but none the less they had the cliff note version of things. The Klaxosaur queen kept giving Naomi confused and slightly surprised looks, and he had the funny feeling that Naomi was leaving out parts of the story, that were probably pretty major.

"And basically I'm now one of them. Or I should say, turning into one of them." Naomi finished with a smile.

"What!"

"I'm so confused." Zorome stuttered.

"It's not that complicated," Naomi said teasingly. "Here, I'll try and re-explain."

"Alright." The Klaxosaur Queen interrupted. "I'm going to cut you off before you make anything worse for your friends." The queen turned to them and said. "Hello, my name is Maya, and as Naomi has explained, I am Queen of the Klaxosaurs. I… I apologize for any actions the Klaxosaurs have taken against you. They were a necessary evil up until now."

The squad just stared at her, stunned for serval long moments, but Ichigo was the first to recover. Striding forward, she said. "It's nice to meet you, Maya, my name is Ichigo, The squad and I would like to welcome you to Plantation 13. Currently rebelling against Papa's tyranny."

Maya smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Ichigo. I'm pleased to see that there is still some hope for humanity."

Ichigo and Maya slowly got dragged off into a conversation, and the rest of the squad stood quietly, just listening.

Eventually, however, Naomi broke the silence.

"So, I've really wanted to meet Zero Two," Naomi said, looking around. "I'm curious to know who finally managed to pilot with Hiro."

He and Zero Two stepped forward, and Naomi's eyes went wide as she saw him.

"Hiro!" She said, surprised. "You've changed."

"So have you." He chuckled, then with a more serious tone, he said. "Naomi... I .. I'm sorry… That day at the transport…. I should have done something to save you."

She shook her head. "Hiro. Don't apologize. That day was meant to happen, and I'm glad it did." Her hand drifted to her belly, and he realized that it was the same gesture Zero Two instinctively did with her own belly. "A lot's happened to me, and I wouldn't take back a signal minute of it."

"Naomi…"

She cut him off and turned to face Zero Two. "Now, you must be Zero Two." She extended her hand.

Zero Two smiled and grasped it. "Yes, I am. It's nice to meet you, Naomi. I'll be honest I've been curious about you ever since I found out you used to be Darl… Hiro's partner."

Naomi smiled. "Well, here I am, not much to look at, I'm afraid."

Zero Two shook her head. "On the contrary, You're the most fascinating person I've met. I'd love to hear what happened to you."

"Never mind that, you gotta tell me how you managed to pilot with Hiro. I've been dying to know. I spent years trying to crack that nut case, and he never budged." She smiled playfully. "Although maybe its the fact that you're so damned gorgeous, you're like the perfect example of everything a guy could want."

Zero Two blushed. "No, I'm just the freak that happened to find the perfect guy." She gestured at her horns. "Not exactly what most people are looking for."

"But he was though," Naomi said with a smile. "Maybe that's the secret. Naomi gestured up at the little horn protruding from her head. "Maybe I could have managed if I'd had these."

Zero Two smiled. "No, I'm afraid I sabotaged his chances of piloting with anyone else but me. When we were little, he ingested some of my blood, and I think it might have kept him from piloting with anyone else. I uh. I apologize for any hardship that's caused you."

Naomi shook her head. "Don't be. As I said to Hiro, I wouldn't change a signal minute of the things that happened to me." She paused and then resumed. "I didn't know you guys had a history together, when did you guys meet?"

"Right around the time that Mitsuru got his injection," Hiro interjected.

"Really?" Naomi said, surprised. "Where were you all this time?"

"Our memories were wiped." Hiro explained, "We did some rebellious things at the time, and we got punished for it."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Naomi said sincerely. "That must have been hard…" She thought for a moment. "Is that why you could never really sync with me? You knew that there was somebody who you cared about, but couldn't be with?"

He blushed. "Probably… And again, I apologize, that's not fair to you…"

Naomi held up her hand. "Hiro, don't apologize, because I completely understand. I know what it feels like to love that deeply, and I couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose the ones that I love."

"Naomi." He said, confused. "What are you talking about?"

Just then, he noticed a strange smell that hung around Naomi. He couldn't explain it, but for some reason, when he glanced over Naomi again, his eyes paused on where her belly would be, and he noticed, feeling his cheeks warming, that her breasts were larger than he remembered.

She took a deep breath. "I haven't been totally honest with everyone, and I left out a major part of the story. The reason I was taken to the home of the Klaxosapiens and why I am now becoming one."

Naomi grabbed the bottom of the tunic she was wearing and pulled it up, revealing her belly, which was covered with transparent skin, and a moment later he realize that their were serval small humanoid type things inside her. With a big smile Naomi showed the entire squad, and everyone stared open mouthed at her.

"Naomi…" He said stunned. "What happened to you.

Naomi smiled, looking down at her belly. "I'm… I'm pregnant with the last remaining Klaxosapiens."

"Pregnant," Ikuno whispered.

"Wait a minute. Wait a minute." Ichigo stuttered, lost for words. "You're telling me that those things inside you are Klaxosapiens?"

Naomi nodded. "Yep. And I don't know if you guys can see but, you can actually make out little faces if you look close enough."

Predictably everyone leaned forward, and Naomi blushed scarlet as all her friends all at once started encroaching on her personal space. "Um, guys…" She stuttered flustered. "A little space, please."

"Oh, sorry." They all said hurriedly.

"Naomi," Ikuno said after a moment. "When did this happen? And who…you know got you pregnant?"

Naomi thought for a moment. "Hmm... To my knowledge, soon after I arrived. As too how I got pregnant, its a little complicated, since there isn't a living male Klaxosapien." Briefly, Naomi explained what had happened to her, though Hiro thought that she might be leaving parts of it out and stretching the truth a bit, due to the odd glance Naomi shot at Maya.

"But why couldn't the other children grow properly," Ikuno asked after Naomi had finished.

Naomi shrugged and looked at Maya, who only shook her head. "I don't know why." She glanced at Dr. Franxx. "Maybe Dr. Franxx could help you. He's the only one who's managed to clone a Klaxosapien."

"He has?" Zero Two injected sounding surprised.

Dr. Franxx only shook his head. "I didn't really clone anything. All I created was a hybrid."

"You did? Who are they and why haven't I seen them."

Dr. Franxx sighed. "Of course, you haven't. Zero Two, you are that hybrid."

Zero Two look thoroughly confused. "But you said that I'm a combination of Klaxosaur and human DNA."

Dr. Franxx sighed. "I know I did, but thats not entirely the truth. The truth is that you're a combination of Klaxosapien and human DNA. The queen is the genetic sample I took to create you Zero Two." Dr. Franxx said, then taking a deep breath, he added. "To be exact. You are the combination of both mine and The Queen's DNA."

Zero Two stared at them, stunned. "So.. So does that make you my…."

Dr. Franxx nodded. "Yes, I am your father, and Maya is your mother."

To everyone's surprise, Maya shook her head. "No.. Just because she has my genes doesn't make me her mother." Maya looked at Zero Two. "I was never there for you… I don't deserve that title. I pray that when you have a child of your own, you don't make that same mistake…" Just as Maya finished, her eyes narrowed, and she seemed to be studying Zero Two.

Everyone was silent for a few moments, but eventually, Naomi broke the silence. We'll Zero Two if you ever get pregnant, try not to get impregnated with twelve children at once."

"Twelve.." Ikuno spluttered. "How in the world can you carry that many?"

Naomi laughed and launched into a jovial explanation of her unique pregnancy and about baby Klaxosapiens.

While everyone was distracted, Maya stared at Zero Two, and without opening her mouth said. "You are with child, aren't you."

Both he and Zero Two stiffened, unaccustomed to having somebody speaking directly into their minds. Quickly he looked around to see if anybody else had heard, but it seemed the queen's message was directed solely at them.

Zero Two nodded, blushing.

"I'm assuming he's the father?" Maya said, glancing over at him.

Again Zero Two nodded and gently slipped her hand into his.

"Does he know?" Maya said, nodding in the direction of Dr. Franxx.

Zero Two shook her head.

Maya smiled and said, almost wistfully. "To be young again….. Well, take good care of your little one. It'll be your most beloved treasure." And with a wink, she added. "And I'm sure it won't be your last."

Both he and Zero Two were very red in the face by then. Astounded by how the queen knew that Zero Two was carrying their baby and at the fact that they'd just had a secret conversation right under everyone's noses.

"How did you know?" Zero Two mouthed.

Maya frowned. "Did you just ask how did I know?"

Zero Two nodded.

Maya chuckled softly. "I guess you'd have no reason to know, so I'll let you in on the secret. Just like a Klaxosapien, your body is pumping out a very specific pregnancy pheromone that is designed to stimulate your mate, making him protective of you during your pregnancy."

He and Zero Two looked at each other, and Zero Two flushed scarlet and looked away embarrassed.

Maya continued speaking. "I and other Klaxosapiens can smell it, and although it doesn't stimulate the same response as it does for Hiro, it lets us know that you're pregnant. Naomi is releasing a similar pheromone, that you can pick up if you pay close enough attention."

"Is something going on over here?" Ichigo asked, interrupting. "Both of you are red in the face."

Both he and Zero Two opened their mouths to try and say something and then closed them unsure how to explain what had just happened.

"Maya can talk to people with her mind," Naomi interjected with a small smile. "I'm sure she's been talking to them for the last serval minutes without us even noticing."

"She can do that?" Goro said, sounding amazed.

"Yes, I can," Maya said, speaking directly into everyone's mind.

The entire squad instinctively flinched, and then realizing nothing was wrong stared around in amazement.

"Wow," Ichigo commented. "That's such a weird sensation."

"Oh yeah, it's definitely disconcerting," Naomi said, chuckling. "And in some ways, its way beyond freaky."

Maya looked sidelong at Naomi and said aloud. "Says the person who can also do it."

"What, really?" Ikuno said, amazed. "You can do that too?"

Naomi laughed. "No, not really."

"Yes, you can." Maya countered.

"I've only really ever done it with you, and you're a master at it," Naomi explained.

"Well, nows a good learning opportunity. Try it on them."

Naomi looked at the squad uncertainly, but they all stood patiently waiting for her to try it. She sighed and then straining herself, stared directly at them, and said, "Hi," without moving her lips.

The squad gasped in amazement and congratulated Naomi on her achievement, watching as her cheeks turned bright red with embarrassment.

The atmosphere in the hangar remained lively as everyone exchanged stories of what had happened when they were apart. Eventually, Ichigo invited Maya and Naomi to return to Mistleteinn with them, and with smiles, they both agreed.

Devastatingly, however, an alarmed blasted, the sound deafening as it echoed around the walls of the hangar. Dr. Franxx's communicator immediately began ringing, and everyone gave a jerk of surprise from all the noise they were being assaulted with.

Dr. Franxx whipped out his communicator. "Hachi, what is going on?"

"Sir," Hachi said calmly but with a note of urgency. "Plantations 90 and 55 are bearing down on us, and have already deployed their FRANXX squadrons in attack formations."

"How did they sneak upon us? We're hooked into APE's database, right?"

"We are, Sir. Their transponders just came online a few minutes ago."

Dr. Franxx gritted his teeth. "How long until they make contact?"

"The squads will be in striking distance within the next fifteen minutes; the Plantations are still an hour out."

Dr. Franxx looked at them. "Squad 13 prepare to sortie. We must repel this attack."

"Roger!" They all shouted.

"Come," Maya said, grabbing Naomi's arm. "We need to get out of here."

"But." Naomi protested. "We only just reunited, I can't leave now."

"We have to," Maya said, panic starting to creep into her voice. "I should have never taken you here in the first place. You and the babies are far too exposed."

"No!" Naomi protested. "I can't just run away while my friends are in danger. I'll never forgive myself if one of them dies for me."

Ikuno broke away from the group and hugged her friend. "You should go Naomi."

"But." Naomi protested, sounding hurt.

Ikuno slid her hand beneath Naomi's tunic and placed a hand on her pregnant belly, which made Naomi jump. Tenderly she whispered. "I'm so jealous… I've wanted a baby since the moment I found out about it, but you're actually pregnant with them."

Naomi blushed. "Ikuno, I don't know if this is the time…"

Ikuno gently removed her hand. "I can't allow you to get hurt. It pains me to have to see you go, but I never could deal with the thought of you being dead, and I'll kill myself if that becomes a reality."

"Ikuno, don't…"

"Shh… Please, Naomi. Please fulfill my selfish request. Get yourself to safety, because the next time we meet, I want you to tell me all about what it's like being pregnant. Would you do that for me?"

"Ikuno I…" Naomi stuttered, blushing.

Naomi looked up at the squad, her eyes wide with indecision, the friendship with her friends fighting what she knew was right.

Slowly the squad nodded, and all agreed with Maya that she should go and protect herself and her babies.

"Naomi!" Zero Two called, from where she was standing beside Hiro. "I know we didn't really get to know each other all that well, but I hope we can be friends in the future. I'm sure you have some interesting stories about Hiro, that I'd love to hear."

Naomi smiled, "Yeah, sure. Take good care of him for me, to be honest; he doesn't do very well on his own."

Dr. Franxx chimed in. "I'm sure the Queen and I can find a way for you to connect with the squad more regularly."

Naomi smiled. "I'd appreciate that."

"So, will you go now?" Ikuno said quietly.

Naomi took a deep breath. "Yes. And the next time we meet, I promise to give you every little detail about my pregnancy experience so far."

Ikuno smiled, her warm olive eyes fill with warmth. And then suddenly, Ikuno leaned forward and kissed her, soft lips imparting her with a gift of tender love from her dearest friend.

Ikuno back away, blushing and then ran back towards the squad as she stood rooted to the spot, still reveling in the fact that she had just had her first kiss.

"Naomi." Maya said, breaking her out of her trance, "We need to go."

They all watched as the queen led Naomi away, the separation from their friends after so long, weighing heavy on their hearts, but yet the knowledge that both she and the babies she was caring would be safe, was enough for them to take solace in. The watched smiling and waving as Naomi and Maya mounted the dragon.

"Dr. Franxx!" The Queen called. "You still have that experimental energy shield I set you awhile back, right?"

Dr. Franxx thought for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, I do!"

"Well, if you can, you should install it. It'll protect the Plantation, at least for a little while. And especially since you stripped the plantation of its armor, it may help!"

"Of course, and thanks again!" Dr. Franxx shouted back. "Have a safe trip!"

"Goodbye!" Naomi cried, waving. "I promise I'll come, see you guys soon!"

"Bye!" They all cried.

The massive dragon roared and then turned around, with a leap that made the whole plantation shake, it flew off into the air, Naomi and the Klaxosaur queen disappearing in moments beyond the horizon.

"Alright, squad, let's go!" Ichigo commanded, turning towards the elevators. "We've got a job to do."

The squad got dressed at breakneck speed, and within less than five minutes, they were all running along the walkway to their FRANXXs.

He and Zero Two grasped hands as they ran towards Strelizia, her faceplate already descending as they got closer. Charging through the hatch they slipped into their seats, and Zero Two deployed the controls for him. Grabbing them, he watched as their sync rate soared to the max, and he felt Strelizia come alive around him. He and Zero Two's consciousness merged, and he felt like he was Strelizia; no longer was he guiding Zero Two as she controlled the mech. They worked together as one. Just then, he became aware of a presence nestled in what felt like his pelvis, and realize with a smile that it was their baby. Gently he delved into Zero Two's presence and felt as her body gently sent loving nurturing energy to the baby inside her.

"Darling." Zero Two's voice said sweetly.

He smiled. "I know… Now's not the time."

Gently he backed out a little bit and brought his attention back to the present, reaching down he grabbed Strelizia's magma lance and waited for the other members of the squad, as he did his best to accustom himself to the feeling of having the baby nestled inside him.

"It's a weird feeling, isn't it," Zero Two said quietly.

"You mean the baby?"

"Yeah." She said quietly. "Ever since I knew I was pregnant, I've always been faintly aware of the baby, but I'll admit I've never experienced anything quite like this."

Before he had a chance to respond, Ichigo called. "Everyone ready."

"Ready!" They all shouted.

The hangar doors opened with a loud hiss, and when they had fully retracted, Ichigo shouted. "Launch!"

The squad charged out of the hangar and off towards the attacking squadrons.

"Hiro!" Ichigo called "Get into the air I need eyes in the sky."

"Roger!"

Strelizia leaped into the air, and they flew off soaring into the sky as they climbed, however, he felt Strelizia's altitude sag a little bit, and he realized that the sensation of the baby was throwing off his instincts by just a little bit. Noticing the change, he did his best to compensate.

As they soar higher, he spotted the enemy squads, watching as eight enemy FRANXXs boar down on Squad 13, the squads angled to converge right at the point of impact.

"They're converging on your position Ichigo!" He reported,

"Squad 13!" Ichigo commanded. "Split up."

He watched as Squad 13 scattered shooting off in different directions, turning his attention back to the enemy he watched as they too split up.

"They're breaking up too." He reported. "It looks like you each got two apiece."

"Understood," Goro said, smiling. "Wait a little bit before you engage."

He watched carefully, looking for an opening, and he spotted it, turning he dived for one of the enemy FRANXX closing in on Mitsuru and Kokoro. The enemy FRANXX barely managed to throw itself out of the way and crashed to the dirt dust rising in a shock wave around them as they landed. The enemy disparate to recover, shot the polearms tip at him, and he spun to the side, mercilessly he jumped into the air and came down on the enemy FRANXX driving Strelizia's magma lance through the FRANXX's core, destroying it instantly.

Hiro gulped as he processed the gravity of what he had just done, realizing that he had just ended someone's life. It didn't matter that they had been corrupted by Papa; it was still a person he had just killed. However, as he stepped away from the wreckage, he felt the baby's presence again and reminded himself what really mattered. In this moment, he had to decide what mattered to him most, and what he was willing to sacrifice to get it. And as he felt Zero Two's presence all around him and felt their baby nestled inside her, he knew he had his answer.

He took a deep breath and stared at the enemy FRANXX that was still rushing towards Mitsuru. Carefully he lined up his trajectory and then fired Strelizia's thrusters into full gear. Strelizia flew, and its lance tore through the FRANXX like butter, and he watched as the top half of the FRANXX spun off high into the air. As he watched Genista fired a bolt of magma at the FRANXX and the last of it disintegrated into a million tiny pieces.

"Thanks for the assist," Kokoro said, sounding relieved.

"Let's go help the others," Mitsuru said, turning Genista towards the other members of squad thirteen.

With a nod, he and Zero Two sped off to assist the other members of squad 13. Within a matter of moments, they'd caught up to Argentea, Zorome, and Miku battling two enemy FRANXXs at the same time. And that's when he noticed it. One of the FRANXX was holding a different weapon then the standard FRANXX was equipped with. Horrified, he realized that one of Argentea's legs had a cord wrapped around it and that one of the FRANXX kept pulling on it, causing Argentea to stumble. And every time that happened, the second FRANXX would seize the opportunity to attack, Zorome's skill only barely managing to keep him and Miku alive as they barely dodged those fatal attacks.

"We really need some help!" Miku shouted over the comms panic obvious in her voice.

"We're coming!" Zero Two replied. "Just hold on!"

Strelizia's lance slammed into the FRANXX holding Argentea the force of the blow sending the FRANXX flying through the air. Disastrously the force of the blow tugged violently on the cord wrapped around Argentea's leg, and Argentea sprawled helplessly on the ground. The second FRANXX seizing the advantage leaped into the air magma pike aimed perfectly for a killing blow.

"No!"

Desperately he swung Strelizia around, watching in slow motion as the pike's tip dived for Argentea's exposed chest. However, moments before the impact, Zorome barely managed to roll out of the way, and the pike buried itself into the Earth's red surface with a small cloud of dust. Desperately the FRANXX pulled at the pike trying to get it free, but Argentea delivered a deadly uppercut, magma claws shearing the FRANXX's head clean off.

He let out a sigh of relief but then was forced to jerk to the side as the FRANXX that he thought he had destroyed fired its binding cord at them. Before it could capture them, however, he dodged and managed to grab it out of mid-air. Raising Strelizia's lance, he aimed at the FRANXX, lying crippled on the ground, but still putting up a brave fight. Strelizia's targeting computer beeped as he locked on, and with all the force he could muster, he threw the spear straight at the FRANXX, and this time he hit the core, and the FRANXX exploded in a fireball.

With a yank on the magma lance's hose, it returned to him, and he hurried over to Argentea and gave Zorome and Miku a helping hand.

"Thanks," Miku said, sounding relieved. "I thought we were goners for sure."

"No problem." He said equally as relieved. "Have you ever seen a FRANXX with that type of weapon before?"

"No. I thought that all FRANXX came with the magma pike, but maybe we're mistaken."

Zero Two shook her head. "I don't think so. I have the strangest feeling that these are new. That weapon was designed to trap a FRANXX."

They all looked at each other. The thought that Papa was developing weapons specifically to hunt them down weighing heavy on their minds. After another moment, they departed, setting off to assist the rest of their squadmates.

They came across Chlorophytum first, Futoshi, and Ikuno ducking behind cover while harassing the enemy with a hail of magma bullets. Hiro was impressed by their level of skill they showed surprised at how in sync they were. He' ed never seen Chlorophytum move like that before. Ikuno and Futoshi had even managed to pick off one of the standard enemy FRANXX, but they were still struggling to destroy the second, and he realized that this FRANXX also had a new weapon. One of its arms had a gun very similar to Chlorophytum's, which the enemy was using to keep Chlorophytum pinned down.

"Hiro, go help, Ichigo!" Zorome shouted, "I'll finish up here."

He nodded. "Roger."

With a surge of speed, He zoomed off towards Delphinium, only to find two destroyed FRANXXs lying on the ground, Delphinium, standing over them, her faceplate blackened from being too close to an explosion.

"You two, alright?" He called down.

"Yeah, we're alright," Ichigo responded with a wince. "Just got to close to an explosion."

He nodded. "Well, I'm glad you guys are okay. Did you guys have to deal with any new weapons?"

She nodded. "Yes, one of them had a sword. Why has anyone else had to deal with new weapons."

"Yeah, just about everybody." He replied. "And from what I can tell, they seem to be designed specifically to destroy FRANXX."

"Great…" Ichigo said with an annoyed sighed.

Serval minutes later, the rest of the squad arrived, looking shaken but unharmed.

"Is everyone doing alright?" Ichigo asked.

Everyone nodded confirmation that they were unharmed.

"Is it just me, or does it feel like that those FRANXXs had weapons designed to hunt FRANXXs," Miku stated. "I've never seen anything like them before."

"I think you're right," Futoshi replied,

Ichigo shook her head in frustration. "Damn it. Papa must have found out that we've rebelled, and is trying to hunt us down." She gave the squad a serious look. "We're going to need to be more careful from now on."

"Agreed," Goro said with a nod. "We need to have a team meeting about our strategy moving forward. We can't be this disorganized when the next attack hits."

A moment later, Plantation 13's command comm hail, appeared before them, and Nana's face flashed up into view. "Good work, Squad 13," Nana said with a smile. "Plantation 90 and 55 are retreating, and you've bought Plantation 13 some safety for the moment."

"We're only doing our job Ma'am," Ichigo replied.

Nana smiled. "Well, you did a fantastic job. You're all free to return home."

Author's note:

Thank you for reading Chapter 20 of The Jian Bird.

Thank you for still sticking with this story after all this time. Moving forward I would like to make a new commitment; I'm going to try release chapters monthly again, so holly the wait won't be as long.

Thank you all for your continued support

Stay tuned for Chapter 21 of The Jian Bird: Steps Forward