Darling in the FranXX: Insurrection

Chapter 49 - Deal with the Devil

"How long have they been like that?" you ask the watch officer.

The young woman checks the time telling instrument on her wrist.

"At least an hour, sir. Probably two."

You squint through your binoculars but still fail to get a good picture of the figure standing below the large serpentine Klaxosaur. "They haven't moved or made any attempts to contact us?"

"No, sir."

"They're waiting for something," you mumble. "We've already noticed them. Do they want to show us something?"

Nearby, Zero Two looks out at the monster she shares a form of kinship with. "It isn't upset, the hood would be out if it was."

You know that Zero Two refers to the folded scales on the crest of the snake's head. A common response for such a snake while angry was to raise its hood and hiss. This is more than a typical hooded snake, however. In addition to the eyes on the upper side of its face, another set is located on the underside of its lower jaw.

"We've seen this one before, haven't we?" Hiro asks.

From several feet to the side Miku nods and gives her reply. "It's from the S-Planning site we defended before deciding to leave Plantation 13. It nearly killed us before Squad 70 sacrificed themselves."

"That thing ate several bombs," Zorome says with his elbows resting on his knees in the wheelchair. "How could it have survived?"

You shake your head. "One thing's for sure, it's not a normal Klaxosaur. That 'person' beside it isn't either."

"What do we do?" Hiro asks.

"I'm going to talk to them," you state.

"You're what?!"

Ignoring the concerned cries of your companions you begin walking toward the Klaxosaur. It has shown no signs of aggression and whoever was with it has been waiting for hours now. Clearly, they have something they want from the rebel base or its occupants and are prepared to stand their ground until acknowledged.

The walk is over a mile long, which gives you time to consider what you'll say to whoever it is that was carried here by the unique Klaxosaur. For some reason, "Hi, nice to meet you," doesn't seem like the correct way to go. That's assuming that they'll even be able to understand your speech in the first place.

Your comm crackles to life.

"I'm not going to try to talk you out of it," Miku's voice echoes in your ear. "But be careful. Our cannons are ready to fire if it makes a false move, and the sentries are on standby."

"I really don't think it's here to fight us," you stress to her. "Thanks for having my back though."

You can hear the smile of your "younger sibling" through her voice. "Always. Make sure you stay safe, the girls are waiting for you back home."

"I'll be home before dinner," you reply with a dry smile. "Keep it warm for me."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

At some point you can begin discerning the individual resting just in front of the massive Klaxosaur with your own eyes. Without a doubt, they have a humanoid figure. The strange individual seems to be just over five feet tall, and has long, pale silver hair that reaches almost to the ground.

The next thing you notice is that they have a long, tapering black tail that's much thicker than your arm stretching out behind them. The figure's skin is blue, covered with odd skin-tight black markings that are either differently colored skin or a tight garment, you can't tell which. From the center of their head protrudes a long blue horn, one end from the forehead and the other from the back of the head.