Darling in the FranXX: Insurrection

Chapter 6- Into Darkness

"Hey, did you know today marks one month since I arrived here at Plantation 13?" you ask Ichigo. "Really?" she asks adopting a playful smile. "I could have sworn I have been putting up with you longer than that."

You stick your tongue out at her as you walk. "Seriously though," Ichigo continues. "Has it really been a month already?" "Yep," you reply. "And it's been 27 days since I was officially made a parasite and your partner." "Not like you are counting or anything," Ichigo jokes. "Not at all," you smile.

The two of you are on your way to the morning's lesson. So far, they hadn't been too challenging, though it has only been two weeks since they began. The topics you covered continue to change by the day but, what makes it interesting compared to what you did in the Garden are the assignments handed-out alongside the lessons. Nana would give out sheets of paper containing questions about the days lesson and expect you to have them finished by the next.

That didn't sit well with a portion of the squad. Zorome in particular disliked the academics and anything related to them. When it came time to work with Hoshu and the maintenance staff on the FranXX however, he sang quite a different tune. Which was good because some of you, yourself included, understood the bare minimum of what the man was telling you about how the FranXX operated.

"What do you think Nana will teach us today?" Ichigo asks. "Hopefully not more biology," you answer. "That stuff bores me to no end. Kokoro seems to be good at it though." Ichigo gives you a slight push, "Not everyone wants to listen to Hachi talk about formations and tactics all day either." "Don't rob me of my favorite part," you say sarcastically. "Besides, the more I know the easier I can make things for you." "You have a point," Ichigo mumbles as the two of you enter the briefing room.

To your surprise, today the desks are gone, leaving the room bare like it had been before the lessons began. Nana and Hachi stand at the monitor with the former also messing with her tablet. Their attention turns to you however when you enter.

"Ichigo, (Y/N), please have a seat," Nana says. "Is something going on Nana?" Ichigo asks. "We will not be having lessons today," the redhead answers. "The rest of the squad will be arriving shortly, please wait patiently until then."

About fifteen minutes later, you and Ichigo always liked to show up early for any event, the rest of the squad makes their way into the briefing room. They appear to be just as surprised as you when they enter the room and are told that there will be no lesson this morning.

"Now that you are all here," Hachi begins. "We will commence with the briefing." This causes several gasps. They didn't tell us anything about being deployed, you think. Nor did the alarms go off. "I am sure some of you have questions," Nana says. "Please hold them until the end of the briefing."

An aerial image appears on screen as Hachi continues speaking. "As of 2100 hours last night we became aware of a new threat." The image zooms in on a large hole in the ground. As it does, a single ant like Klaxosaur makes its way out of the hole. "Our initial scans lead us to believe that we have stumbled on a Klaxosaur nest."

The image once again shifts, this time to a proposed network of tunnels that make up the nest. "An opportunity like this is unlike anything we have had before," Hachi says sternly. "Yes Miku," Nana says to the pistil. "Are we going down there?" the girl asks with a quivering lip.

"Your mission will be to infiltrate and collapse the nest," Hachi answers. "We estimate that there could be as many as several hundred Klaxosaurs of various classes within." "And we have to do it by ourselves?" Futoshi gulps. "You will be working with the FranXX squad from another plantation," Nana reassures him. "Which plantation?" Ichigo asks. "Plantation 26," the caretaker answers.