Cross Ange: The Knight of Hilda

Chapter 11: Memories

-Arzenal (11 years prior)-

As commander of Arzenal, there were very few things that inspired intense feelings of revulsion in Jasmine anymore. Years of having to fight on behalf of the humans who had discarded her and those like her like garbage, having to send young girls to their deaths at the claws of those monsters, it just wasn't worth the strain to get worked up about it anymore. But one thing she never learned to be numb to was having to induct a recently caught Norma into the ways of Arzenal. Most of the Norma sent to the Arzenal facility were identified immediately after birth. They at least were spared the trauma and loss of being ripped away from their families. But occasionally they'd receive one whose identity had up to that point had remained hidden. The last one they had received not more than a few months ago, a little red-head from Enderant. According to the teacher she was assigned to, she still cried herself to sleep every night and had yet to connect with any of the other Norma children. Now, they were about to receive another one. This one an 11 year old from Rosenblum. Jasmine had to admit that it was pretty impressive for her to be able to hide her status for that length of time. Though Blitz had contacted her about possibly smuggling them out, Jasmine had turned him down. Preparations for Libertus were still proceeding and while humans rarely set foot on Arzenal aside from the yearly inspection, she couldn't risk suspicions being raised by any unexplained disappearances. They'd just have to wait for Embryo to be defeated and then hopefully they could reunite them with their families.

Overhead, the transport finally arrived as it hovered over Arzenal and was given clearance by the Command Center to land; the aircraft's Mana engines tilting as it descended onto the extended launch strip. The rear loading door opened and a female guard stepped out with a brown haired little girl in tow. Both wrists were manacled in restraints and her green eyes were wide with fear. 'What a fearsome creature,' Jasmine thought as she stepped forward. 'Good thing the humans took the precaution of restraining her.'

"Commander Jasmine," the guard said. "We're here to turn this girl over to you."

"Understood," she said with a salute. "I'll take it from here." The guard didn't return the gesture, but Jasmine didn't expect her to. Instead, she roughly shoved the little girl forward, almost sending her face first onto the landing strip before turning around and returning to the transport. Once they left, Jasmine looked down at her guest. Firm but fair. That was the way to handle brats like this.

"I'm Commander Jasmine," she announced. "From this day forward. You are to do whatever I tell you. Understand?" The little girl gulped but nodded. Well at least she was smart enough not to talk back. That made this part of the job a bit easier. "Good. Now come with me." With the new arrival following behind her, Jasmine led the way to the elevator which they took all the way up to the command deck. Once there, the Commander escorted the little girl towards the "orientation room" where two guards were awaiting them. One look at the room's décor and the little girl froze in place, her face drained of all color. "Relax," Jasmine sighed. "Most of this stuff is just for show. We only use it if we have to. Just behave yourself and we'll get through this quickly." With a final nervous look around, the little girl stepped into the cell and stood before the height chart. Her profile pic was taken and then she was called over to the table in the room's center to be debriefed.

"#4192-17 Sarah Honister," Jasmine read from the file. "Origin, Rosenblum. Age 11. Okay, let's get down to basics. This is a military base. But since you're almost the age at which our girls enter combat rotation, we'll start you off as a special case. You'll be put in basic education and given some time to adjust to the ways things work around here. Got it." The little girl meekly looked up to Jasmine from her chair.