The Cello's Fermata

"Hmm?" Misuna opened her eyes. "What? Where am I?"

"Hey," She heard a voice. "You're finally awake."

Misuna looked to see a cockpit full of screens and buttons along with windows that revealed the blue sky.

"I'm in a dropship?" Misuna turned to the driver's seat to see who was driving.

"Yep," She saw someone smile at her from the driver's seat. "You okay?"

"Wait," Misuna remembered. "You're that girl Hernamidos captured."

"You know, I do have a name. It's Calice."

"I don't understand. Why am I here? Where's Kumiciel?"

"Your boyfriend knocked you out."

"Huh? No, he didn't."

"He tried to put you into one of those simulators that turn people into killers."

Misuna crossed her arms, recalling her argument with Kumiciel. "How did I get here?"

"I helped you escape."

"What?" Misuna gasped. "No! I shouldn't be out here! I belong back there!"

"Huh? Why would you go back to your toxic boyfriend?" Calice questioned.

Misuna jumped onto Calice, swerving the steering wheel and spinning the aircraft within the clouds.

"Whoa! What the heck do you think you're doing? You're crazy!" Calice tried to take the wheel.

"No! No!" Misuna pushed her back. "I can't leave! I'm nothing without the Reaper Squad!"

Calice and Misuna brawled over control of the steering wheel, causing the dropship to plummet into the city streets where the SHRIKE and Federation brawled.

"Misuna! What the hell?" Calice coughed on the smoke.

"I need to go back!" Misuna pressed buttons, hoping the dropship could still fly. "The Federation is everything to me!"

She dashed out of the aircraft.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Calice chased after her.

She ran through the cracked flaming streets of the ruined city. Calice watched the SHRIKE aircraft and Federation drones dogfighting above. Calice flinched at the sight of a hammerhead shark gunship chomping on a fighter jet as if it were a real shark catching a fish.

Why the heck does she want to go back to those toxic people? Calice thought as she jumped over the rocks to get Misuna.

"Hello? Does anyone read me?" Misuna turned on her wrist gear. "This is Corporal Misuna Jiyang. Requesting support immediately."

Calice grabbed Misuna's arm. "Are you nuts? Do you want the droids to kill us?"

"Get off me!" Misuna kicked Calice. "I'm going back to where I belong!"

"You don't belong back there!"

"I repeat. Does anyone read-"

Calice shot lighting at the wrist gear.

"Leave me alone!" Misuna shouted as she activated her other wrist's saw launcher.

Calice used her lightning-fast speed to dodge the rotary projectiles. "What's wrong with you? I'm trying to help you!"

Misuna ran away as Calice zoomed at her, yanking her by the cloak until Misuna kicked her.

"Don't make me hurt you!" Misuna drew her bayoneted rifle.

Calice growled, not understanding why Misuna wasn't thankful for her help. She was tempted to electrify Misuna with her rage but took a deep breath instead. After all, Calice is a social worker.

"Okay. Stay calm. Let's talk," Calice proposed. "Could you at least tell me why the Federation means so much to you?"

Misuna ran off again.

"Hey! Why won't you talk to me?"

"Stop following me! You won't understand!"

The two girls heard a cybernetic ringing. Two drones flew away from the dogfight towards Misuna.

"Thank goodness!" Misuna ran after the drones that heard her signal.

My parents told me about those things, Calice looked at the winged drones. Sailfish enforcers. They are talking scouts that kill anyone who don't obey the curfew laws.

The gray drones hovered in front of Misuna while Calice hid behind a collapsed hospital. The drones' red cycloptic eyes looked at Misuna as their cylindrical thrusters burst with energy.

"Identifying," One of the drones scanned Misuna. "Misuna Jiyang identified."

"Yes," Misuna cleared her throat. "I'm requesting assistance to return to the Ironclad Eagle."

"Misuna Jiyang," The other drone aimed its wing guns and heat laser turret at her. "You have been deemed hostile to the Global Federation of World Justice."

"Wait, what?" Misuna saw the other enforcer drone point its weapons at her as well. "That can't be! Override code, XJ7W!"

The sailfish enforcers made beeping sounds as they analyzed Misuna's code. "Override code ineffective. Misuna Jiyang no longer possesses the authority to command the droid army of the Global Federation of World Justice."

"No! Stop! Please take me back!"

"Negative. You are to be terminated immediately."

The flying droids fired at Misuna. Calice jolted towards her, grabbing Misuna away from the electrifying bolts with her speed. The enforcer drones looked about, unable to find Misuna.

"You're insane!" Calice hid Misuna behind the rock pile.

The girls heard sniper rifles blasting at the droids. SHRIKE soldiers ambushed the drones, distracting them from Calice and Misuna. While Calice watched the battle, Misuna ran off.

"Ugh! Misuna!" Calice chased her into a ruined hotel.

After dashing across the tattered lobby full of suitcases and carts, they encountered another street to see a four-legged brachyura terrortank blasting a SHRIKE tank off the street.

"Brachyura!" Misuna ran after the terrortank. "Corporal Misuna Jiyang. Requesting for assistance to return to the Ironclad Eagle."

The droid stomped towards her, curling its neck like a cobra. The brachyura twitched its antenna ears as its armored head bent down to scan Misuna.

"Misuna Jiyang," The terrortank pointed its chin gun and arm cannons at her. "You are to be terminated immediately for insubordination against the Global Federation of World Justice."

"Override code, XJ7W!"

"Override code ineffective."

"Wait! This is an emergency C766!"

"Negative. Misuna Jiyang has no clearance to declare an emergency executive protocol."

"Aiya! Misuna!" Calice yanked her away.

Calice accidentally zoomed into a wall, making both her and Misuna tumble. "That went exactly like last time! Are you happy yet? Cause I'm not in a mood to save you again!"

"I don't understand," Misuna whimpered. "The Federation is my home. Why did this happen?"

Calice threw a thunderbolt at the terrortank, but it blocked with its armored legs. The brachyura fired its arm cannons to send her flying, knocking her out cold beside Misuna.

"K-Kumiciel!" Misuna pressed her wrist gear to contact him. "Please help!"

No answer. She shuddered as the brachyura stomped its way toward her. Misuna then saw an elderly Vulpi charging at the machine with a horse made of cello parts. The white-robed Vultau master slashed his cello bows like swords against the firepower.

When he was close enough, the Vulpi jumped off the horse and scaled the armored legs to slash its eyes off. The cello horse then jumped, crunching its hooves on the droid's neck.

"Good job, Echelus!" The elderly Vulpi gave his steed a head pat.

It's a Vulpi, Misuna worried. Is he going to hurt me like the Waxing Sickle did?

"Hello, ladies!" The master boomed. "I'm Master Fermato, and this is Echelus!"

The cello horse neighed triumphantly as Fermato offered a handshake.

He didn't attack me. Misuna stared at his hand. Why?

"You're a Reaper Squad commando, I see. It's alright. I'm not here to hurt you," Fermato twitched his Vulpi ears until his back spasmed. "Ouch! My back!"

Misuna blinked, watching Fermato adjust his spine while Echelus rolled and burst into laughter.

"Ah, shut up!" Fermato kicked his horse that snorted with an endless chortle.

Misuna couldn't help but giggle. After Fermato's back was straightened, the master checked on Calice.

"Friend of yours?" He asked.

"Uh... sort of?" Misuna mumbled.

"This young lady is alive and breathing well, but she will need a place to rest."

"Where are you taking her?"

"To a SHRIKE base!"

"SHRIKE base?"

"That's right. And, oh my! How rude of me. I never asked your names!"

"M-Misuna. And that's Calice," Misuna watched Fermato place Calice on his cello steed's back. Can I trust him? A Vulpi? Does he truly want to help me and Calice?

"Nice to meet you two! Care to join us for a ride?" Fermato sat on Echelus.

Ever since being kidnapped by the Waxing Sickle, she never spoke to a Vulpi. She and the Reaper Squad were indoctrinated that Vulpi were savage and nasty people. Fermato didn't match anything she was taught about Vulpi back at the Academy.

He seems nice, I guess. Misuna looked at Calice. Calice got hurt because of me. I should at least see that she's safe.

Finally, Misuna nodded and hopped on Echelus' back.

"Why didn't you attack me?" Misuna asked. "You know I'm a Reaper Squad commando."

"I know, but I believe Humans and Vulpi can be friends!" Fermato smiled as Echelus trotted across the street. "Now, why is a commando like you out here alone? Please tell me about yourself!"