Cross Ange: The Knight of Hilda

Chapter 32: A Whole New World

"Mei to bridge. Repairs are complete."

"Understood," Pamela replied. "Restarting systems in 3...2...1." With a reverberation that shook the entire ship, the Aurora's engines once more sprang to life. The DRAGONs carrying them released their grip and after a brief lurch, the Aurora once more took to the sky under her own power. Behind them, the Ramius and Badgiruel followed behind under the wing of their own DRAGON rescuers as the storm of spacetime continued to advance on their position.

"What's the status of the merger?" Jasmine asked.

"Merger now 97%," Lizardia confirmed.

"Boss what are we going to do now?" Spider asked.

"Let's wait until Tusk gets back with Jill. We'll figure it out after we talk to her." Shifting her gaze to the ruined base of the Dawn Pillar, Jasmine hoped that she was alright. Just a few minutes ago, Jill had broadcast that she had secured Embryo. But then the line went dead and they hadn't heard from her since. And then, according to Rio, Embryo had reappeared and taken Ange away. In hopes of learning what had happened, Tusk had flew down the pillar to find her while Rio and Salamandinay had brought Villkiss back on board. Something is very wrong, realized. Jill please be safe.

"I've got a contact," Hikaru suddenly announced. "It's Tusk. He says Jill's wounded pretty bad."

"Pamela, you have the bridge," Boss announced. "Call Maggie and get her to the flight deck right now. Jasmine, with me."

Under guard by Aurora's security, Salia leaned back against the wall alongside Chris, the only other survivor of the Diamond Rose knights. By Chris's side, Rosalie stood with her arm around the silver haired girl's shoulder and continued to comfort her. After Ange had been taken by Embryo, Salia had been escorted aboard while a transport went down to pick up Hilda, Rosalie, and Chris while a trio of Schooners had brought in Theodra. In an effort to keep occupied, some of the armorers went to work repairing the damaged Ragna-mail which had been parked alongside Rio's unit, Cleopatra, Vilkiss, and the red unit from the DRAGONs' world. At the fore of the launch deck, Rio and the others waited for Tusk to return with news of what had happened to Alektra.

"Hey I see him," Vivian cried out. Against a sky that had turned nearly black, a pink Arquebus came into view. The crowd parted to give it room to land and as soon as it touched down, Salia felt herself go numb in horror. In the Arquebus's cockpit, Alektra lay across Tusk's lap, her midsection drenched in blood from a hole in her stomach.

"Alektra no!" she yelled. Shoving past her guards, Salia rushed towards her former mistress as Tusk leaped off his unit carrying Alektra in his arms.

"Get me a medic now!" he ordered as he laid her down on the deck. From out of the main hall, Maggie along with Jasmine and a muscular older man with a short grey beard rushed out. Behind them was Momoka carrying a large medkit.

"Shit!" Maggie cursed as she saw the state her friend was in. "Momoka, give me some gauze and coagulants. Someone get me a stretcher and..."

"Don't bother," Alektra whispered with a weak smile. "Lost too much blood...just...get me a smoke." Maggie looked down at Alektra, her face a mixture of shock and denial until finally, she began rummaging through her coat pockets. Behind her, a lanky man with a pointed face suddenly held out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

"Here," he said. Maggie looked to the man and reluctantly accepted his offering. Taking Tusk's place in supporting Alektra's back, Alektra slipped a cigarette into Alektra's mouth before lighting it as the others gathered around her.