Editing City Series:Volume6b Chapter7 (section)

===Part 7===

The Geheimnis Agency #8 Base’s Grösse Panzer hangar had been reduced to rubble.

Hazel stood alone next to that rubble and spoke into it.

“I can’t believe anything survived in there.”

“They make these things blast resistant, you know? Now stand back. I’ve got a direct link.”

She heard a voice from the rubble and then the pile of concrete collapsed as a black arm stuck out.

The palm alone was a yard across. It belonged to the Schwarz Löwe.

“Did you hook the communication cable I gave you to the back of Gelegenheit like I asked?”

“Yes, but should we really be using the repair parts in here?”

Hazel picked Gelegenheit up off the ground. It was now wrapped in Berger’s black coat, making it look thicker. The black coat had transformed the nearly-yard-long hilt into a black staff. The slot usually used for Phlogiston Tanks was now hooked up to an extension cable with the same type of plug.

“It’s fine. This is Schwarz Löwe, used by Alfred Maldrick. It’s designed for army use, but it’s a generic model capable of both anti-air and long-term ground battles. It was the test bed for designing the Kaiser over there. If I’m using it, so why wouldn’t I use the equipment here too?”

“Is that how it works?”

Hazel tilted her head and handed over the coat-wrapped Gelegenheit. His blood stained the metal fingers, giving them an oily sheen.

Strangely, she was not repulsed by the sight.

The Grösse Panzers black right hand gripped Gelegenheit tight.

“Gelegenheit is so hard. It doesn’t bend no matter how hard you squeeze.”

“It must take all this more seriously than you.”

Hazel kept a smile in her voice and looked up toward the heavens.

The wind was blowing there. A heated wind. Long bands of orange Tons formed rising vortexes in the sky.

…''That explains why Corelle said she couldn’t descend near the base.

Those updrafts spiraled around, creating collisions of air above the base.

The sounds of roaring flames, gunfire, and explosions took on the tone colors of red killer intent or metallic black aggression as they rose into the air. But Hazel noticed the tempo of a powerful, calm will within it all.

“They aren’t all fighting for their killer intent and aggression.”

“Did you say something?”

Hearing that, she looked down.

The giant black hand was pressed against the ground, with Gelegenheit still in its grasp. He was standing up.

“Outta the way. Once I’m out, you join the others withdrawing. I’ll buy you all enough time to run away and for the base to collapse.”

“…Okay.”

But she did not take a single step.

Schwarz Löwe failed to notice as it lifted its face-down body from the ground. The rubble and dust were blown away and the Panzer broke through the hangar’s roof.

Still on its knees, Schwarz Löwe looked up.

Hazel was standing in front of it.

“Hazel, I told you to go.”

“Are you planning to die here by staying on the battlefield alone?”

Schwarz Löwe was momentarily unsure what to say, but then he spat out an answer.

“Anyone who plans to die on the battlefield is an idiot.”

“Then that settles it. The safest place here is in Schwarz Löwe’s copilot cockpit. I can watch the battle from an untouchable seat.”

“Hey, Hazel, calm down, okay? Leave now and we can write this off as a kid’s silly game.”

“Have you already forgotten what I said two years ago?” She spoke to kneeling Schwarz Löwe on reflex. “I don’t want to run away…so I won’t. I never will again. Maybe I am still a kid, but this isn’t a game and there are some things I refuse to do.” She held out her right hand. “Two years ago, I only left the Sylphide all alone and allowed my friend to get hit because…”

She held her tongue, refusing to say the rest. Bringing up the past was meaningless here.

Instead, she simply held her hand out toward Schwarz Löwe.

Schwarz Löwe’s shoulders clearly slumped.

“This isn’t a smart move and you’re rushing this way too much, Hazel Mirildorf. Is this what the Messiah would do?”

“Yes, yes, it is. Because it’s my choice and the idea is for me to become the Messiah, not that I already am. It was only effective that one time and I’m still not confident, but I’ve been thinking a lot how to use that power, so, um, uh…” She took a breath and looked up at Schwarz Löwe. “I don’t think anyone could want to do this more than me.”

“I really wish Marsch had asked them to interview the patient before giving them the Messiah implant…”

He sounded exasperated, but Schwarz Löwe reached its right hand toward hers. He placed the tip of Gelegenheit on her hand.

“You will cry over this later. Don’t forget that.”

“Please teach me everything I need to know.”

She smiled up at him and walked forward, rubbing gently at his outstretched hand. She noticed a red dragon emblem on the shoulder of Schwarz Löwe’s combat dress.

“Why does it have a dragon emblem when it’s named after a lion?”

“That’s the Maldrick emblem. They took it because Alfred slaid a dragon and now his older brother is out in the Soviet Union looking for an even bigger dragon.”

“Th-that’s quite the sibling rivalry.”

She placed a foot up on his hip armor and then sniffed her nose with a puzzled look.

“What now?” he asked. “Nasal inflammation?”

“Well, last night I rubbed against you around here while you were asleep and I thought I could still detect my scent even in this Heavy Barrel.”

“I really wish you would stop imagining things like that.”

He sounded exasperated and tilted his head while she climbed up Schwarz Löwe.

She awkwardly circled around to its back.

She saw the hatch on the starboard side of the copilot’s cockpit, so he grabbed the latch and then took a quick look around.

She saw the pile of rubble, the Black Forest, the empty sky, and the wind dancing there.

About a mile away, at the center of the base’s runway, a white Heavy Barrel was turning their way with a green Heavy Barrel lying at its feet.

<The Emperor watches over his territory.>

The Kaiser walked toward them.

Hazel silently opened the hatch and threw herself inside the copilot’s cockpit.

She threw herself into what had to be the most reassuring place in the entire world.

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