Sergeant Faye did a quick headcount. While Del Rowan and Sergeant Shizuka were wearing their normal attire, the other three were wearing…additional protection.
Hayley, the school doctor, was dressed head to toe in high-tier intimidating Beast Armor. There wasn't a single spot of skin showing on her body, making her look similar to Tsukuru's "Haunted Knight" Summon. Only bulkier, with the armor looking more spiky. It was the type of Beast Armor one would expect of the daughter of a Head General. On top of that, she had a heavy-looking greatsword on her back that was nearly as big as she was. Looking at her, no one would think she was a base's doctor. She looked like a professional Traveler.
Meanwhile, the two remaining sergeants, Leo and Faye, were wearing light armor that fitted tightly to their skin. Seeing as how they both possessed abilities specializing in speed, they had to wear armor that was both durable enough to protect them from Beasts, while also being light enough to not impede movement.
nodded in satisfaction, and looked at the group.
"Alright, our goal is simple." She replied. "Track down the three missing students. Alive if possible."
The other four all nodded in agreement.
Sergeant Shizuka narrowed her eyes, and adjusted her cap.
'Tsu-Tsu, you'd better still be ALIVE.' She thought. 'I've lost too many FAMILY MEMBERS, as it is…'
Instantly, a memory flashed in Shizuka's mind, the last memory she had of her father…
***
A man in her late twenties to early thirties wearing the standard military uniform slung a navy-blue bag over his back. The man looked like an aged-up Vorden, especially considering his shoulder-length blonde hair that was gelled back giving the back of his head a spiky look. The only exception was the few strands of hair that hung down his face. On the left side of his face, he had a thick bang that reached down to cheek, thick enough to cover the space between his left eye and ear. Meanwhile, the two stands of hair hanging down on the right side of his face were relatively short. They only reached down to his eyes.
He also had a huge, nasty scar going across the entirety of his face. It started at the very bottom of his left cheek, and then went upwards at a diagonal angle. Up the right side of his nose, the center of his forehead, and up his right temple. He also had a cigarette hanging out of the left side of his mouth.
The man closed his eyes, and pressed his index and middle fingers against his lips, the cigarette between them. He took a deep breath, and then blew out a thick plume of smoke. As the man reached for the handle of the door, he heard a feminine voice behind him.
"So you're really leaving?" She asked. "Just like that?"
The man let out a sigh, and turned around.
Standing behind him, was a woman in her early twenties.
The woman had brown hair that was pulled back into a bun on the back of her head, leaving her roots exposed, with a solitary, long bang extending down on the left side of her face down to her shoulders. She also had blue eyes, and had a set of elegant-looking earrings on either ear. They looked like turquoise ovals, with small, pearl-like "beads" lining their outlines. She wore a white, form-fitting sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline that reached down to her legs, with slit sides, leaving her thighs exposed. She also wore knee-high, dark-grey stockings, and high-heeled white shoes.
The man looked at her with a tired expression.
"We've been over this, Reiju." He replied, before looking away. "I…can't be here anymore." His hands clenched into fists and trembled as he spoke. "I…can't take the risk of…putting you in danger."
The now-named "Reiju" narrowed her eyes.
"So you're running away now, Mason?" She asked.
The now-named "Mason" responded by throwing his arm out, and punching a HOLE in the window of the door. The window shattered, with fragments of glass cutting up his hand. Although, Mason didn't seem to even notice, as his face was twisted in rage.
"THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN FIX LIKE ONE OF YOUR MACHINES, REIJU!" Mason roared, his voice echoing through the room. Tears started to fall from his eyes, as a look of deep sadness appeared on his face. "You don't know what it's like! When I'm in one of my blind rages, I can't control anything! I just black out, and wake up surrounded by mangled corpses! And I can't remember ANY OF IT!"
Mason reached forward, and grabbed Reiju's shoulders with his hands.
"Don't you get it?!" He asked. "If I don't leave, one of these days, you will be the 'mangled body' lying on the ground in front of me! Or, god forbid…them." He added, looking at something behind Reiju.
Slowly, she turned around. As she did, she saw a small girl, roughly ten years of age, with long, brown hair, and striking blue eyes. She wore a dark-gray outfit with a red trim. In her arms, she cradled a four-year-old boy with blonde hair.
"Shizuka. Tsukuru." Reiju muttered.
The girl narrowed her eyes.
"Are you two fighting again?" She asked.
Mason let out a sigh, trying to calm himself down. He then forced a smile on his face.
"Mommy and Daddy just are having…a difference of opinions, Shizu." Mason replied, using his pet name for his daughter.
Both he and Reiju walked over to the two. Reiju knelt down, with her arms outstretched. Knowing what she wanted, Shizuka outstretched the infant Tsukuru out towards her. Once Reiju had taken Tsukuru in her arms, Mason knelt down in front of Shizuka.
"Hey, I got something for you." He replied. He reached into his bag, and pulled out an old, tattered, hard-cover journal. "This book has been passed down in our family for generations." He replied. "From my father, to his father, to his father before him. All the way back down in the generations of our family spanning over a hundred years. It is the originalEarth Ability Book."
Shizuka took the dusty old book, and looked at it. Abilities. They were something relatively recent, only having been discovered seven years ago. Shizuka nodded, and hugged the book to her chest.
"I'll make you proud, daddy." She replied.
Mason ruffled her hair.
"I'm sure you will." He replied. He got back to his feet. As he reached Reiju's location, she turned to him.
"What will you do now?" She asked.
Mason flung the bag back over his shoulder.
"I've requested to be assigned to the front lines." He replied.
Hearing this, Reiju narrowed her eyes.
"A suicide mission?." She asked.
Mason let out a bitter laugh.
"If I'm going to end up killing something in my rage, it might as well be those damned Dalki." He muttered.
Mason opened the door, and walked out.
***
Shizuka clenched her fists, as determination filled her.
"Duke…" She snarled, causing the others to turn to her. "You just made the biggest mistake of your entire life!"
Next to Shizuka, Del let out a grunt of discomfort.
"Why do I have to wear this thing?!" He grumbled.
On Del's back, he had a fairly large rucksack that looked quite heavy. He took a few steps forward, and his feet stomped into the ground as he did so. Additionally, his back was arched at an uncomfortable angle.
Shizuka snapped her head back at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She said in an aggressive, condescending voice. "Is the school teacher having a hard time? You should know by now that the weak in this world end up as pack mules!" Her eyes narrowed. "You want us to protect you? Then carry the damned portable Portal, dipshit!"
Next to Shizuka, Sergeant Faye winced. Shizuka had been like thissince they left the base.
'The sooner we find Hikiko, the BETTER.' She thought.
Del's face scrunched up in annoyance. Instantly, he snapped his head over towards Hayley, who should be in the same boat as him. However, seeing her Beast Gear, even he had to admit she looked intimidatingfor a mere "doctor".
'Rich people.' He thought bitterly. 'That's what happens when daddy is the Head General of a Military Base.'
"Why do we even need this thing?" Del muttered under his breath. "Isn't the teleporter fine on this end?'
Sergeant Leo glanced towards Del. Despite his muttering, Leo had heard his perfectly due to his enhanced hearing.
"It's a back-up." He replied. "What happens if we run into a strong Beast and have to make an emergency exit? Or what if a Beast is blocking the Portal on this Shelter? Better safe than sorry."