[Original/Outdated]Honkai Impact: A Merc's Involvement

Chapter 42: The Far East Reunion

After a lengthy rush back, Himeko had led Alex back to where the Far East Branch had their base of operations set up, as the Hyperion was docked just behind them.

Once they had been allowed in by numerous security and guards protecting the base, Himeko, who was still carrying the recovering Alex on her back, quickly went to where the others were currently at.

Eventually she had arrived at their room, an infirmary room as she peeked her head inside the doorway.

"Oi everyone!" Said the redhead.

Inside the room was Bronya, Theresa, and Mei, all still resting and recuperating from their encounter against Void.

However the moment they heard and saw the redhead stick her head in, they all immediately turned their attention towards her.

"M-Major Himeko!?" Said Bronya and Mei in shock as they hadn't seen her in a long while.

"Finally your ass shows up! Where the hell have you been!?" Asked Theresa.

"Look, it's a long story involving me and another redhead. I'm sure she can tell you later when they get here." Said Himeko before focusing on more pressing matters. "Anyways, I just so happened to pick up a rather important package on my way over here."

The three girls were intrigued by that last statement before Himeko walked in, allowing the girls to see the boy on her back as he slowly waved at them.

"H-Hey girls." He said, trying not to talk a lot.

"A-Alex!?" Said Mei, surprised to see the condition Alex was in as she immediately noticed the large puncture on his stomach.

Himeko sat Alex down on one of the medical tables as Mei immediately went to work on disinfecting the wound and patching him up.

Bronya walked over to them also in shock as she looked at Alex.

"W-What happened Subject Alex?" She asked.

Alex struggled to answer her question, as what had happened clearly still didn't sit right with him.

Himeko would call his attention and gave him a reassuring nod as Alex sighed.

"Listen you three, you need to hear this. After you all had retreated from the Herrscher, I ran on ahead to catch up with Fu Hua who was engaging her. When I had gotten there, she was majorly beat up, as she was being held by the throat. I had arrived just on time to break it up as I tussled with the Herrscher myself, though to no one's surprise I didn't fare all that much better. In the end, I got defeated." He said before pointing at the wound that Mei was currently treating.

"As y'all can see, she left me with a very nice parting gift." Said Alex, chuckling a bit as he tried to make some light of the situation.

"I see. I'm sorry you had to go through that." Said Theresa feeling a little guilty though Alex quickly reassured her.

"Don't worry about it Ms. Theresa. You three didn't have a choice but to retreat in the condition you all were in. Hell, when I had passed by Bronya on my way to the Herrscher, you and Mei were knocked out. Besides, thanks to some encouraging words from Major Himeko, this wound signifies just how much I'm willing to save Kiana from the Herrscher's influence." Said Alex.

That had brightened up everyone's mood for a moment before Theresa immediately picked up on the clear elephant in the room.

"Wait. More importantly, where's Fu Hua? She was with you wasn't she? Why hasn't she returned yet?" Asked Theresa.

The three immediately looked at Alex as that question immediately hit him hard like a semi truck.

It took him a long time to even find the effort to just say what happened, but he eventually did.