22. Duty

The next morning, Kazuki and Haruka arrived together at the office. They smiled at each other, and there was no awkwardness, just an effort not to draw any suspicions. As soon as they sat, the operator called:
- "The Colonel is calling you to his office. You've got a new mission."
- "Alright, we are going." - they replied. They went together to the Colonel's office and sat in front of him. He said:
- "Raikubo-san, Yukiya-san, good morning."
- "Good morning, sir" - they replied.
- "I bring you a key and difficult mission. Things are serious now." - he got up and used the screen behind him to help. It showed the places that he talked about - "so, our operatives have been able to locate the Hachimorph. It is hidden on an underground rebel facility on the neighbourhood of Todoroki. It is a repurposed industrial facility."
- "Sir, is that one of the so called rebel havens?" - asked Kazuki.
- "No. As we had suspected, the rebels are arming themselves, and this facility is only for military purposes." - he paused - "that's why tomorrow we will be raiding the facility with our forces" - Haruka and Kazuki's eyes widened - "I will be leading an elite squad that will raid the place and pacify it, arresting all rebels we find."
- "Is that our mission, sir?" - asked Haruka.
- "No. You two will support our mission with a previous stealth operation. Tomorrow at first light, you will invade the facility and find the computer which controls their security. On it, you will either disable the security protocols, or, will insert the operator's flash drive on it. Operator-san."
- "Yes" - said the operator on the NCID - "so if the systems security is too tight, you will use my flash drive to hack the system. I've already prepared the virus, so it should be really easy."
- "Thanks, Operator-san." - continued Colonel Husky - "So, by doing that, you will allow our operation to work as intended. Then after you do that, follow the Operator's instructions. She will also be in contact with me, so she will communicate you the best course of action, whether it is more sabotage, supporting the assault or even leaving the facility."
- "Well, so far it is clear sir." - said Kazuki.
- "The mission is this. As always, the Operator will send you all the details including the facility's map. Just one thing. Remember this operation is key to the safety of Nouveau Nippon. The rebels are heavily armed and captured a deviant, they are very ill-intentioned. Your work will drive NUMO's success and peace of the country." - Husky stared at them - "Is that clear?"
- "Yes, sir!"
- "Then, Raikubo-san, you are dismissed. Yukiya-san, please stay here, I want to talk to you about your pyromancy abilities."
- "Alright, sir." - Kazuki replied. Haruka left the office. After she closed the door, Colonel Husky signalled for him to turn off his NCID.

Husky took a deep breath before continuing:
- "Yukiya-san. You have an extra assignment tomorrow."
- "What is it, sir?"
- "Please take a look at these pictures." - Husky opened a file and gave him printed pictures. Kazuki looked at them and his seriousness melted into dismay. The pictures showed someone negotiating a ring of Brumetium with the rebels, in exchange for money. The person was a woman, with pink hair and green eyes. It was none other than Raikubo Haruka.
- "What... what is that, sir?"
- "Yukiya-san, this is none other than Raikubo-san, negotiating with the rebels, selling them a powerful weapon. I am sure you can see that, I am just confirming it."
- "But... that cannot be true."
- "I too was incredulous at first. But the pictures are clear. And we have more" - he gave more pictures to Kazuki. Some showed Haruka going in and out of the place where she sold the ring. And others showed her getting access cards from the rebels in exchange for money. Kazuki was shaking and put his hand over his face. Husky gave him time.
- "So, are we really sure these are real?" - Kazuki asked.
- "Unfortunately, yes. Our sources are reliable and we tested every single evidence we found. We also have an audio recording."
- "No need for this" - Kazuki got up, restless. He took a minute to sit down again and ask:
- "So, what is the mission, sir?"
- "Well, Raikubo-san has committed high treason. Consequentially, your mission is to eliminate her, as soon as you disable the security systems tomorrow."
- "Eliminate her? Why me?" - Kazuki's eyes were wide and he gesticulated - "I am her partner. can't it be anyone else?"
- "Unfortunately no." - the colonel made sure not to change his serious expression - "Not only is she a high skilled agent, but also she trusts you. You are perfect for the job."
- "I don't think I can." - he hesitated.
- "Yukiya-san, may I remind you that she has committed high treason. Allowing the rebels to catch the deviants is one of the most dangerous things someone could do. And that's what she did."
- "But what about everything she has done for the country?" - Kazuki was restless and tense.
- "I've not forgot about those. That's why on the official records it will say the rebels killed her during the assault." - Husky took a breath - "I understand this is terrible, but that is the best way to protect the country and honor her memory at the same time." - Kazuki looked down before replying:
- "I don't think I can..."
- "Yukiya-san. Remember, that is an order. You are to eliminate Raikubo-san to protect Nouveau Nippon and to honour her memory. Soldier" - he turned to Kazuki with a stern face - "isn't that your oath? To serve your country and honor your brothers and sisters? So, I ask of you" - the Colonel got up - "Will you honour your duty? Or will you be weak and give in to your feelings?" - Kazuki breathed a few times, before getting up and saying with a serious face:
- "Yes I will, sir. Duty must come first, correct?"
- "Yes, correct."
- "Alright sir. I will do as you command."
- "That's what I like to hear soldier. Dismissed." - Kazuki left the office without looking back.

Seeing Kazuki again, Haruka said:
- "Hey Kaa-chan, so..." - he just rushed, almost knocking her over and went straight to the bathroom. There, Kazuki punched the wide sink and looked into the mirror. He was disfigured by shame and feeling torn on the inside. He puffed, he gesticulated, he moved around, he facepalmed and tried to clear his thoughts. Unable to ease his mind, all he did was think of an excuse. 

He left the bathroom and was met with Haruka's worried look, who said:
- "Kaa-chan, what happened? Are you alright?" - he hesitated before saying:
- "It's nothing. Um, it's just that I'm frustrated. Raikubo-san, the Colonel is very unsatisfied with my pyromancy, and he was pretty harsh. I am going to spend the rest of the day practicing." - Haruka gave him a rather suspicious look:
- "Is that it?"
- "Yes, just that. I prefer to practice than to ruminate about my performance."
- "Alright then" - she smiled - "be sure to rest also, because we have a tough mission tomorrow" - he gulped - "I trust you will do very well" - smiling, Haruka left and Kazuki released his tension. He went straight to the training grounds.

***

After Kazuki left the office, the Colonel got up, picked a up a cigar, lit it and smoked. He took a deep breath and started talking to himself:
- "I thought they were our most valuable assets, our greatest resources and our most prized creations. Oh damn it!" - he puffed the smoke - "Alright alright... Maybe one of them is still worth a lot, even without the other..." - the Colonel's rambling was interrupted by a call on his NCID:
- "Hello Colonel."
- "Hello, General, sir."
- "Just calling to remind you that eliminating Pisces 2 is the best decision. I think Pisces 1 will still be valuable alone and even if not, the Project is moving fast, it is not a big deal."
- "Yes, sir, I agree."
- "And, do you trust Virgo 8?" - the general's tone was doubtful. Husky replied with as much confidence as he could:
- "Yes, I think she will be loyal to the end, as she has always been. And even if she is not, well, it will be easy to dispose of her."
- "Great. Remember, following on through with The Zodiac Project is our biggest priority."
- "Yes, sir."
- "Dismissed." - the Colonel continued smoking alone on his office.

***

At night, Kazuki had one of the worse nights of his life. It was already midnight and he was walking around the apartment, restlessly, thinking, complaining, gesticulating, unable to find a way to rest and unable to find a way out of his situation. "There is one thing I don't understand. Haruka would never betray NUMO. If she did, she must have had a good reason. However, I cannot guess what the reason was. And... I don't think she would ever betray me. What now then?" - these doubts came to and fro on his mind. It took him more than an hour fro him to come up with an answer - "Well, I can give Haruka time to tell me what is going on. As much time as I can. And if she... does not reach out... it can only mean one thing... she betrayed me. In that case I'd have... to..." - he hesitated - "do my duty. That's the only option I will have." - Kazuki tried more, but did not come up with another answer. So, he went to sleep and woke up at every hour.

On the other hand, Haruka was also anxious and conflicted: "I'm unsure of what to do tomorrow. I don't know how to make things work out, I think I need to tell him. I need to tell him. But I am afraid." - a sliver of hope, however made her able to sleep: "Well, I can trust one thing: perhaps, if Kaa-chan is there with me, we can make thins work out. I sure hope so..."