2 When I Wake Up

[!"#$%&'()0]

[D *nO; 8 DCr t cYANB]

[D *nO; 8 DBr ubYBNB]

['C *nP <8 DBr ubYCO8]

[k s i f j h w ? k f 9 %]

[H @ v 7 ler 1 2 Bl@<k L0<U+, c0p Y]

[H an d ler 1 t0 Bla<k LocU+, c0p Y]

Static. Numbers. Random noises seeped into his ears. Everything was still black; everything was still ringing. For a brief moment, though, the world within his mind grew silent. As if piercing this void, a voice was heard.

[Handler One to Black Locust, copy.]

[Handler One to Black Locust, do you copy?]

[He's not awake yet.]

[Handler One to Black Locust, establish contact when you are ready.]

[B *aX l.? F-hdHNW.]

Just as quickly as the voice came, it vanished. Noah's inner world was nothing but a stream of intangible numbers and letters once again.

***

"Uuuhhhhhhhh..."

That was the first thing Noah said. A deep, sore moan from the depths of his throat. He blinked his eyes open, which felt like they were sealed with glue. In a flash of prismatic light, he saw luscious green plains and the blazing sun high in the sky.

"Oi, oi, oi. Look who's up!"

"W-white Swan?" Noah croaked.

"The one and only."

"If it isn't sleepy beauty!!"

"Dark Swan?"

"Yeah. You finally woke up."

"Where am I?"

"Where do you think? In your Juggernaut."

"Eh?"

Noah looked to his left and right and saw the familiar cockpit of his M4A1 Juggernaut. He saw the standard screens, the hologram displays, and the radar showing his friends. Noah felt something was off but disregarded the feeling.

"H-how did I get here?"

"He doesn't remember. Damnit."

"M-mad Hatter?"

"Yep. Glad you woke up, princess."

Noah breathed in deeply. He prepared himself and spoke the command.

"Black Locust to Carpe Noctem Squadron, do you copy?"

"Dark Swan, copy."

"White Swan, copy."

"Thumper, copy."

"Mad Hatter, copy."

Four voices spoke. There was no fifth.

"Orb Weaver?"

"Noah," Amelia said. "I'm sorry. He didn't make it."

Noah closed his eyes. The pain of losing one comrade bore into his heart, but he was overjoyed that the depressive hole in his chest wasn't the size of five.

(I'm sorry for thinking like this, Toby.)

The display information he saw in his near-death moment was a lie. His friends were alive. Miraculously, they made it. Noah closed his eyes and was assailed with memories.

---

"Carpe Noctem, this is Storm Cloud; we're moving in! Take cover!!"

[All units, fire on that Legion!! Aim for its incendiary cannon!!]

---

Suddenly, Noah recalled the massive Legion and how it slowly backed away from the Hesh fire.

(Storm Cloud Squadron did it. They saved us.)

"Carpe Noctem to Storm Cloud Squadron, do you copy?"

Noah expected to hear the brash, welcoming voice of Abyssal Dragon, but there was only silence.

"Storm Cloud Squadron?"

"I'm sorry to break it to you like this, captain," Mad Hatter said, "but not all of them made it. Especially Abyssal Dragon."

(What? How?)

Storm Cloud was ten Juggernaut pilots strong. While the battle occurred, there were no causality reports on their side. Did they really sacrifice themselves?

"Who is left?" Noah asked with remorse.

"Demonic Judge, Steel-Run, and Secretive Plotter."

(My god. Three out of ten. Three out of ten are all that's left.)

"Demonic Judge, copy." (Ariel.)

"Steel-Run, copy." (Hans.)

"Secretive Plotter, copy." (Jun.)

These three solemn voices rang out. Noah felt bitter regret in his throat as he heard them. He couldn't dwell on it, though. They must keep moving, or they'll die. Noah breathed in and proceeded to give orders, for it was his responsibility as a Captain.

"This is Black Locust of Carpe Noctem squadron. As captain with secondary command, I will lead all remaining Processors until further notice. For now, we'll head back to base."

[Handler One to Black Locust, that is a negative.]

"Handler One?"

[Yes. As of right now, you are being relocated to a new base east of here.]

(A new base? I've never heard of it.)

"Handler One, this is unexpected news. A new base? I've never heard of it," Noah voiced.

[Due to incessant Legion attacks, the Republic believes it should take an aggressive stance in the following war. We've taken a portion of Legion territory and have built a base of operations for the Eighty-Six to operate from.]

"But if it's in Legion territory, won't they attack us more frequently? What is the point of this?"

[Hahahaha.]

An ominous laugh was heard from the Para-raid Resonance.

[All Legion will shut down in two years' time. Once that occurs, the world will be free again. That base will serve as a stepping stone into exploring the remnants of the continent.]

"I see. I understand then."

[Black Locust and Carpe Noctem, I will send the coordinates of the new base directly to your Juggernauts. Prepare to depart immediately.]

"Roger."

They received the coordinates and the display showed the new garrison.

(That's strange. Was my hologram always this blue?)

***

"My god..."

"There's so many of them," Mad Hatter said.

The remains of Storm Cloud and Carpe Noctem entered the new settlement and saw the myriad of Juggernauts.

(This doesn't make any sense. How is there so many Eighty-Six?)

The Juggernauts they saw numbered in the hundreds.

"Handler One, what is this?"

[These numbers may shock you. The Republic has increased its wartime production and recruitment. You'll see numbers like these often.]

"Is there even enough Eighty-Six to fight?"

Noah's inquiry was met with silence. He had the right to ask, though. The Republic was shameless in its treatment of the Eighty-Six. The country of the five-hued flag drove the Colorata outside of the protected 85 districts and barred their entry with the Gran Murr. The Alba government forced the Colorata into interment and labor camps, and if not there, they made them fight the Legion on the frontlines.

Noah lived in those internment camps, and they didn't have hospitals or any form of medical care. He saw newborn babies die, and if they survived their first winter, there was a high chance of being sold by their fellow prisoners.

So, no new Colorata were being born, and the Republic doggedly drove the "subhuman pigs" to their deaths. It didn't make sense how there were so many right now. There was another point of contention: why was the Republic sparing so much effort in a base for the Eighty-Six? It wasn't a secret fact that the Republic of San Magnolia were stingy cowards - they begrudgingly gave the Eighty-Six the Juggernauts, the only method of fighting the Legion.

[I can feel you thinking about it, Black Locust.]

That firm voice felt as cold as icy water. It wasn't a question, it was a statement, and the words encroached on Noah's mind.

[You shouldn't worry about it,] Handler One said more calmly.

(He's telling me to stop thinking about the matter.)

[You will wait for orders until further notice. Be on standby.]

"Roger."

Soon after, the Resonance cut out, and Handler One's voice vanished from their ears.

"He seemed grumpy," Blake (Dark Swan) joked. "Someone's on his nuts."

"Blake, come on," Amelia (White Swan) rebuked.

"Hey, I'm just spitting facts."

"Blake is right," Noah stated. "Handler One seemed... different."

"Eh, we did fail to kill that unknown unit. Handler One probably has his superior officers all over his ass," Renata (Mad Hatter) added.

"Maybe, but do the Republic officers seem to care enough?" Thumper (Terrence) asked.

"Maybe he is taking it personally," Noah stated.

(But it's strange. Whenever we suffered a loss, he would always try to bottle his emotions and respond with cheeriness, just for our sake. What changed?)

-!Ding!-

"Oi, I received new orders. C'mon, I'll lead everyone. We gotta park our Juggernauts."

"Okay, but where's the hanger?"

Instead of placing their Juggernauts in an enclosed hanger, the only available space was an open field. They saw Juggernauts in orderly grids, completely still.

"Eh, chalk it up to the white pigs being cheap. Come on," Noah said.

Carpe Noctum filed behind the other marching Juggernauts in proper lines and found their resting areas.

"Hey, Black Locust, why do you get more room than everyone else?" Ariel (Demonic Judge) whined.

"Stop complaining," Jun (Secretive Plotter) said.

"Says you," Ariel whined, "you get to have as much room as Black Locust."

"I don't really see the problem here," Hans (Steel-Run) said with a laugh.

"Shut it. You get more room too!"

For some reason, Black Locust, Secretive Plotter, and Steel-Run were given more room than the others, even though they took up as much space.

"Don't hate me, hate the Alba. They organized this."

"Whatever. It's cramped here."

The other Storm Cloud and Carpe Noctem squadron members were nestled closely next to the other Juggernauts, and it did appear crowded. After powering down their Juggernauts, Noah felt ready to walk around.

(I can't wait to get out of this and stretch my legs. And sleep. God, I feel tired.)

***

Several days passed. Eighty-Six piloted Juggernauts came and went. They fought on the front lines, and Carpe Noctem noticed an increased absence whenever platoons returned.

"When will we get to do something?" Jun asked.

"I dunno," Noah replied. "It feels wrong to watch them die."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but... I hope we get to fight soon," Hans added. "I want to lift their burdens."

"Hans being heroic as always. Like a knight in shining armor," Ariel jested.

"Shaddup."

Hans's apparent embarrassment brought laughter to the entire squad. They couldn't help but smile.

(I wish... I could protect these days. Forever.)

***

It was another day, another morning. Noah was sleeping soundly, but he heard something whisper into his ear.

[!"#$%&'()0]

"Guh!"

Noah gasped out, and his vision flashed with prismatic light once again.

(I need to get to my Juggernaut.)

With a blurred consciousness, Noah made his way to his unit. He entered the cockpit, and initiated the combat systems.

(Wait... why did I do this?)

[Handler One to Black Locust, copy.]

The clear, deep voice of Handler One spoke smoothly in Noah's ear.

"Black Locust to Handler One, copy."

[Prepare and mobilize your squad. I'll brief you on the way.]

"Legion, sir?"

[...]

There was a brief pause, but his Handler's voice returned with a steelly firmness.

[Yes. We are sending your squad to deal with the issue. Although it may be troublesome.]

"How so?"

[I'll tell you bluntly. The Legion has adapted. They have created a mobile, fast-moving unit. As of right now, they are unpredictable.]

These words permeated Noah's soul and he shivered with fear. A new unit. The Legion not only made a new unit, but they made it mobile, fast-moving, and unpredictable.

(Fuck.)