Exploring [Open to Black Knights]

[Zane Burnlight]

Zane had never been graced with much in the way of a sense of direction. Up until today, he hadn't ever considered that to be too much of a set back. Today, however... he was very lost. Penglai Island was an absolute maze, and he still had yet to find a map.

He turned a corner and found elevators. They weren't the first ones that he'd seen since he started wandering. He had a good feeling about these, though, and stepped onto the closest. With a shrug, Zane pressed the highest button.

After a few moments spent waiting in the relatively silent elevator, it dinged and the doors opened, revealing blinding light. Zane raised his hand to shield his eyes and stepped, blinking, into the sunlight. The lift had taken him to the surface of the island.

It wasn't until his eyes had adjusted to the light that he understood where he really was. In the years since the Chinese Federation had given the small island to the Black Knights, something akin to a city had grown across its surface. People bustled to and fro and Zane could hear the horns of cars somewhere nearby. It was, in a word, amazing.

"Are they all Black Knights?" he wondered aloud. If so, then the group had a better chance of victory against Britannia. If not, then this island was an enormous liability. So many civilians in a concentrated area was almost too good a target to pass up in a war. Especially for Britannia.

Zane made his way to a nearby convenience store, ignoring wayward glances of fear, confusion, and anger. He couldn't blame the Japanese for feeling the way they did about him - he was Britannian, after all. Inside, he bought a pack of cigarettes and a map.

Upon making his way back into the sunlight, he lit one of his cigarettes, stepped out of the way, and opened the map. He wanted to find the military docks. From his understanding, the Black Knights were rather well-equipped with ships for the sea and the air and he was interested in seeing the fleet.

[Sakura Shizuka]

The shrill sound of Anju laughing caused Sakura to bolt upright, her head smacking the top of her desk in the process. Wincing as a hand flew to rub the aching spot, Sakura fished out her cell phone and turned off the alarm. She should’ve learned the last time when her wallpaper became Bonta-kun holding a machine gun, that giving Anju your cell phone to play with was not a good idea. She should’ve learned the last time when “I’m Bringing Sexy Back” suddenly blared off in the middle of an important meeting that it was a horrible one.

Sakura sighed as a gentle smile crept up the corners of her mouth. “But…can’t deny it’s not effective.” She said to herself, her index finger going to rub her left ear. It was still ringing. Spinning the phone around on her wooden table, Sakura’s mind drifted off for a few minutes. Current situation: kidnapped princess on board. Zero has returned. France has sent their very own Epee to aid them. Sakura’s eyes narrowed slightly. She still wasn’t too crazy about that. Just the idea bugged her…it was too careless on the part of France to send in their best…just didn’t make sense to her. But then again, Sakura was a natural cynic when it came to things like this. She mentally shrugged. Well, so far the man was proving to be useful. Nothing blew up because of him, which was always a good sign.

Sakura stared back down at her desk. She had actually gotten some work done, for once. That was before her body decided to take a snooze…it tended to do that on her. Scrunching her nose, Sakura picked up her tea flask to take a sip…only to find it empty. She frowned and peeked in through the hole. Empty. Bloody thing was empty. Well, this was unacceptable, now wasn’t it? How could she possibly tackle a report on how letting a French playboy take care of a young princess was wise without having any tea? She couldn’t. Standing up, Sakura grabbed her thermos and walked out of her office and into the kitchen. Just a quick refill, and she would be on her merry way back into the warzone that is her office.

“What. The. Fuck?" An eyebrow twitched with every syllable that came out from her mouth. Clenching and unclenching her fist in an attempt to calm her nerves, Sakura took a deep breath as she looked at….well….nothing. It was empty. Her tea supply was empty. Completely empty. Sakura reached up on her tip toes and peered in all the way of the cupboard, hoisting herself in midair for a good minute or so as her eyes scanned the back ends in hopes of finding at least one teabag.

Nothing.

Growling and muttering curses, Sakura eased herself back down onto the stool and then onto the floor. Well, this just meant she had to go out and buy the blasted thing, now didn’t she? Now normally, Sakura loved tea shopping. It was a stress reliever for her. But today she was not in a mood to be relieved from stress. Today she wanted to tackle that bitchload of paper piled on her desk before she got stressed. She was trying to take the initiative here! But could she? No, of course not. Continuing on her colorful muttering rant, Sakura stormed out of the kitchen, her aura sending passerbys against the wall for fear that they should get in her way.

The warm sun against her face did little to brighten Sakura’s mood. Briskly walking into her usual tea store, the store manager greeted her.
“Ah, Sakura-chan…ohi-
“Ohiyo, Jii-san.” Sakura quickly cut him off, placing her already full basket on the counter. The old man blinked, surprised by her behavior. Sakura generally wasn’t the rude type in his eyes.
“Sakura-chan…is everything alri-
“Everything’s fine, Jii-san. That’s 3000 yen?” Sakura paused at the concerned look on the man’s face. Immediately guilt ensnared her. “Gomen, Jii-san…I’m just a little stressed.” she said, bowing her head in apology. The man smiled kindly.
“Then I suggest a cup of green tea when you get home.” he said, slipping in an extra box. Sakura smiled gratefully.
“Hai.”

Mood considerably lighter, Sakura exited the store and began to head her way back to the main base. Walking down the street, a figure ahead of her caught her eye. Tall….dark hair…looking vaguely lost…

“Burnlight?” she said walking up to him. She glanced down at the map and a small smile itched her corners.

“Need help?”

[Zane Burnlight]

Zane was surprised when someone said his name. Not enough to jump, but just enough for his head to whip involuntarily in the direction of the woman's voice. He was grateful when the owner turned out to be Commander Shizuka. "Need help?"

He blushed a little when he noticed her glancing at his map. He folded the thing and took a drag off of his cigarette. "You... could say that, ma'am." He gave the situation a little thought and came to the conclusion that it was embarrassing as hell. Here he was, a Britannian-trained Black Knight officer, acting like some pathetic civilian. "I'm looking for the naval docks. I hear that we've got quite a fleet." Supposedly, some of the ships were almost 100 years old. With that much military hardware and history, how could he not visit it?

[vierre]

“If you choose a direction and continue walking, you’re bound to find some kind of a dock.” Vierre approached, dressed in his complete Black Knight attire, laundered and ironed to crisp lines. He carried his firearms with him, strapped securely to his sides, apparently on duty.

He had a habit of interjecting into conversations midstream, which was something that most of the senior Black Knights were undoubtedly well aware of by now. It was not dissimilar to his tendency to arrive late to meetings between the captains or with the executive officers. Strangely enough though, he was always late by the same amount of time, almost to the second, precise and calculated. And each time he would arrive calm and collected, and comment casually that he was exactly on time. “At worst, if you walk far enough you’ll likely be rescued by something that will eventually return to the naval dock.” Vierre smirked, but even then he seemed strangely serious about the suggestion.

“Good day, Zane,” greeted Vierre properly. He glanced about, observing the surroundings and noting the landmarks. “Taking some time today to explore the island, are you? Well, if it is any consolation Zane, you’re heading in the right general direction. More or less. Though I’m afraid I can’t be much more specific with directions. Boats, you see, aren’t my thing, and therefore docks aren't a very big draw for me either.”

“And of course hello to you as well, Shizuka,” the First Division Captain nodded to the Commander, before his eyes trailed downward to note the stash of tea Sakura was holding. “Ahhh… replenishing your tea supplies, hmm? I suppose you were dangerously low on stock.” Vierre spoke calmly and presented a suspicious smile. Now, how in the world did he know that?

[Sakura Shizuka]

The faint blush that crept up the young officer’s cheeks made the faint smile on her face become slightly gentler. He was new. It was only to be expected that he didn’t know the location of every single thing on this island. "I'm looking for the naval docks. I hear that we've got quite a fleet." An eyebrow rose delicately. The naval docks? Odd sort of place to be looking for considering this man’s area of expertise. Sakura mentally shrugged. Whatever. Maybe he felt like being a tourist for a day and paying the historical spot a visit.
“The naval docks, eh? Well then, conti-
“If you choose a direction and continue walking, you’re bound to find some kind of a dock.” Sakura’s eyes rolled over to see the first division captain walk towards them. Turning fully to face the man, Sakura eyed him from bottom up, taking in note of his attire. Full BK garb, eh? Complete with firearms. An obvious sign that the man was on duty.

Despite being a firm believer in respect of authority and the idea of formality in regards to work, Sakura was not fond of uniforms. She found them too constricting and rather bothersome. She also saw them as a means to distinguish people from one another. For example, a Knight of Rounds uniform. All she had to do was walk out with it on for her to be suddenly treated like nobility. When it was off, however, she could pass through the streets of Britannia without so much as a second glance from civilians. So it wasn’t much of a surprise that the Commander was not in her own BK attire, but rather in her everyday casual wear. The only distinction between her and the everyday commoner was the sword hanging loosely from its holder around her waist. In her eyes, just because she was Commander it didn’t mean she had to flaunt it.
”…you’re heading in the right general direction. More or less. Though I’m afraid I can’t be much more specific with directions. Boats, you see, aren’t my thing, and therefore docks aren't a very big draw for me either.” Sakura chuckled slightly as the image of Vierre commanding a fleet crossed her mind. Yeah…while the man may be a brilliant Captain, he was more of a land-based soldier rather than a water-based.
“He’s correct, Burnlight…just continue heading straight until you reach a fork.” She said, pointing out ahead of her. “Take the left side and walk about .8 miles until you see an old fisherman’s port. Turn right and there you should see the docks.”
“And of course hello to you as well, Shizuka…” Sakura turned to Vierre, her head tilting in response. “Ahhh… replenishing your tea supplies, hmm? I suppose you were dangerously low on stock.” Sakura glanced back down to the several tea-full bags in her hand.
“Oh yes…I guess I’ve been drinking more than I thought I was….when I went down to get some earlier, my stock was emp- Sakura paused midway. Wait a sec. What did he mean when he supposed she was low? Her eyes narrowed slightly in at first thought, but then rapidly into suspicion. Why would he know? Unless….

Sakura mentally shook her head. He wouldn’t. Vierre was many things, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew her tea collection was sacred…he would raid it just to ruffle her feathers…or to get revenge…

She could practically see the glow of innocence radiate around the First Division Captain.

He so would.

Head bent, Sakura took several deep breaths while thoughts of warm mugs of tea filled her mind-the usual calming routine. After a few seconds, Sakura snapped her head back up, a cheerful smile on her face. “Hai, you are correct~ I was in need of restocking…” She walked up to him and ran a hand through his hair, an uncharacteristically sweet smile on her face. “ Aren't you such a good Captain, taking note of everything~ You must have noticed it was empty this morning, didn’t you?” The smile left her face, and her eyes flashed a dangerous shade of green.

“Correct?”

[Zane Burnlight]

"I may just be a ground-pounder, but I've always been interested in military equipment and history. Ships, jets, Knightmares, infantry weapons, even tanks; I just can't get enough of them. Thank you both for the directions, though," Zane said with a fair deal of interest in his voice. When he was done, he watched Commander Shizuka and Captain Vierre - he never did get a chance to learn the Captain's last name - with rapt attention. They certainly made an interesting pair. He couldn't help but enjoy simply listening to their interactions.

With a sudden realization, Zane opened his mouth to talk to the Commander, but thought better of it. She had better things to do than answer the questions of an ambitious new comer. Given her ostensible tendency towards informality and the sword strapped to her hip, it was possible that she was on duty, too. All the same, there were answers that he needed. "Ma'am, would you happen to know when I will be receiving my uniform and official post?" In the time since joining the Black Knights, he had been given only scattered messages through email. For a soldier such as himself, it was a difficult situation. He hated not having anything to do.

[vierre]

A soft breeze picked up, as if on cue, tussling Vierre’s hair lightly at the same time the Commander passed her hand through. He glanced sideways at the hand. He had anticipated many potential responses from her, some that could be considered absolutely terrifying, but this particular action he did not foresee. And that made it better. He was pleased to be surprised and even caught a bit off guard.

He played a dangerous game of chicken with the Commander, and it was a mystery how far he could risk prodding before being thoroughly run over by her fury. Had there been a betting pool among the Black Knights inclined towards such things on the subject of how Vierre would eventually die, a safe gamble would call for the Captain’s demise at the hands of one of his fellow officers. War with Britannia be damned. There were no threats out there that compared to the perils he regularly danced with among his own colleagues.

“You must have noticed it was empty this morning, didn’t you? Correct?”

Sharp, attentive eyes remained fixed on Sakura’s hand, following her as best he could as the hand eventually passed beyond his peripheral vision. “Hmm? Oh yes, of course. Mmm hmm… I must have noticed it was empty this morning,” he agreeably echoed her suggestion. He blinked slowly and then, as he re-opened his eyes, looked away far off into the distance. He sighed languidly and commented, “Or… or perhaps it was yesterday morning and not today? Or maybe even last night? Hmm… Oh it’s hard to say. All these days and nights just seem to blend together.” He looked back at her and interlaced his fingers from both hands together, illustrating the act of blending. As always he freely admitted something to the Commander, without admitting to anything at all.

“Ah now Zane’s question is a rather important one, Commander. I think it would only be fair to help him out with some answers,” said Vierre nodding to the man. “Though come to think of it, I believe I have an excellent suggestion. Shizuka, you should consider having Zane assigned to be your personal guard. After all, holding such a high position, as you do, makes you a target. Especially considering Zero is absent so often. He could be the soldier standing between the threats and you. Or the threats and your Pocky. Or the threats and your tea.” Vierre shrugged. “Just a thought.”

[Sakura Shizuka]

“Or… or perhaps it was yesterday morning and not today? Or maybe even last night? Hmm… Oh it’s hard to say. All these days and nights just seem to blend together.” Sakura blinked slowly at the captain
“You don’t say…” Vierre was a strange man…sometimes he said certain things, and it made Sakura wonder if there was more to his actual words. He was also odd in his address to her. He frequently flipped smoothly between the use of her first and last name in conversation. Why, she had no bloody clue. All she knew was that there was a hell of a lot more going on in the young Captain’s head then he gave off.

She knew her supply had been full last night. She had made several trips over the course of the evening to have a mug…or two…or three…
Sakura mentally winced as she calculated exactly how much tea she consumed in that one night alone. No wonder her stock was out. "Ma'am, would you happen to know when I will be receiving my uniform and official post?”
“Hmm?” Sakura turned to Zane, her eyes blinking twice at the question. This man hadn’t been assigned to a division yet? Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as her hand dropped from Vierre’s head to her own neck, her fingertips fiddling with the loose chain around her neck. “You haven’t been notified yet? Strange…” She bent her head in thought and murmured some incoherent words to herself, mostly on the lines of ‘many recruits’ and ‘process taking too bloody long.’
“ I believe I have an excellent suggestion” Sakura lifted her head and eyed Vierre, an eyebrow arching slightly. Oh? Man has a suggestion, now does he? She could only pray that his idea of excellence agreed with hers. “Shizuka, you should consider having Zane assigned to be your personal guard…” Immediately, Sakura’s face faulted.
"Eh?"
“After all, holding such a high position, as you do, makes you a target. Especially considering Zero is absent so often. The eyebrow began to twitch.
“Ano sa…”
“ He could be the soldier standing between the threats and you. Or the threats and your Pocky. Or the threats and your tea. Just a thought” Sakura stared at Vierre, mouth hanging slightly open, as her brain tried to think of the right words, whilst her voice box tried to form them. Eyebrow still twitching slightly, Sakura closed her eyes as she tried to reason out exactly what Vierre had just suggested. Did he…did he seriously think…that she, of all people out there, needed…a bodyguard? She. A former Knight of Rounds. The current Commander. Her eyes flashed between Zane and Vierre.
“No.”

It wasn’t that Sakura didn’t believe in Zane’s capabilities. No, she knew the man was well educated in defense and whatnot-why else would he be here? So it wasn’t that she didn’t trust him to defend her ass, it was that she didn’t need him to defend it. Ever since she was young, Sakura was the defender. Whether it was for the Imperial Family, her father, or her own self, she never relied on anyone else. So, it was only natural (at least, in her eyes) that she would oppose a suggestion like this. To her, having someone to cover her 24/7 was an insult. How could she be a Commander, where protecting her subordinates was a priority, when she couldn’t even protect her own ass? She couldn’t.

“While I’m sure you meant no insult when you suggested this, DeMara, having someone cover for me would mean that I am not fit to be Commander. My job is not only to protect Zero’s wellbeing, but the wellbeing of everyone under me. That includes both you and Burnlight.” She said, her arms folded loosely across her chest. “I appreciate your concern, but I will ask you to dispose of it. Such attention should be reserved for those who are of importance to you and your cause, such as your family, division, and Zero. Worrying about everyone else is my job. Don’t meddle in my work.” Her eyes turned from hard and serious to one of subtle humor and sarcasm. “Besides, I’m a wanted fugitive. I’ve had the target sign plastered on my back for quite some time now.” She cracked a small grin. “I’ve grown fond of it. It added a little excitement to my life.”

“As for your question, Burnlight...” Sakura said, turning to face the young officer again. “I apologize for the delay, but if I remember correctly, your application is still undergoing some final reviews. Once they are done , odds are you will be placed into a division and then, you will receive your uniform and- A sudden vibration from her pocket interrupted the young commander. Her cell phone. Frowning slightly Sakura pulled it out and quickly glanced at the ID. And sighed. “Hello Kanzaki, I know I’m due at 14:00 hours and-oh? What? Burnlight? Yes, I’m actually with him now…why? Is there a prob-oh, he’s been categorized? Wonderful timing. Mmhm…oh so he’s in that division, eh? No, no…just ironic, that’s all. Alright. Will do. Oh, please have his uniform sent directly to his room, will you? Much appreciated. Ja.” Snapping her phone shut, Sakura looked up at the two men with her. “Well, looks like you’re all done, Burnlight. You are now a member of the First Division, your captain being the ever so dependable DeMara…” She waved a hand over to Vierre. “Your uniform will be in your room when you return. Congratulations.” She looked between the two and raised an eyebrow.

“Lets hope you two get along, shall we?”

_{OOC: I hope this is ok x,x;;; I really had no idea how to answer to that ;;;;”}

[Zane Burnlight]

Zane took another drag from his cigarette while listening to the Commander and Captain spoke. They really were entertaining. He was smiling until Vierre said “though come to think of it, I believe I have an excellent suggestion. Shizuka, you should consider having Zane assigned to be your personal guard. After all, holding such a high position, as you do, makes you a target. Especially considering Zero is absent so often. He could be the soldier standing between the threats and you. Or the threats and your Pocky. Or the threats and your tea. Just a thought.”

All thoughts came to a screeching halt. Personal guard? To the commander? Such a post would be an incredible honor to hold. All the same, chances were good that it would also be one that would involve very little combat. High-ranking officers were rarely found on the front lines - exactly the place that Zane wanted to be. If he was going to fight for Japan's freedom, then he wanted to actually fight. It was something of a relief when the Commander answered "no."

Zane listened intently as she gave her reasons. He felt pride spring up within him while she spoke. An officer that cared about the men and women under her command was a refreshing change of pace from his time with Britannia. All the officers that he had ever had the chance to work with were far too ambitious for their own good and were more than willing to waste the lives of their subordinates. He was almost too caught up in his thoughts to hear her say "Besides, I’m a wanted fugitive. I’ve had the target sign plastered on my back for quite some time now. I’ve grown fond of it. It added a little excitement to my life.”

It was like a lightning strike in his brain. How he had managed to not recognize her name until now was nothing short of a mystery. She was the so-called renegade Knight. He was standing next to the Sakura Shizuka! Every soldier in the Britannian military knew the name and his instructors during training had often referenced her. The cigarette fell from his open mouth as two words formed in his mind: Holy shit.[/i] The Black Knights were more of a powerhouse than he had first thought.

He snapped to attention when she said his name. “I apologize for the delay, but if I remember correctly, your application is still undergoing some final reviews. Once they are done , odds are you will be placed into a division and then, you will receive your uniform and-" She retrieved a cell phone from her pocket and started speaking into it. It was an understandable situation, really. No doubt whoever was in charge of such things was also conducting a thorough background check, too. "Well, looks like you’re all done, Burnlight. You are now a member of the First Division, your captain being the ever so dependable DeMara. Your uniform will be in your room when you return. Congratulations. Lets hope you two get along, shall we?”

Zane glanced at the Captain. He seemed to be the sort of man that Zane could easily get along with. And if the division's designation of "first" was any indicator, they would see combat. He smiled and resisted the urge to drop to one knee in a Britannian-style salute. A standard, right-hand-brought-to-the-forehead, salute would be more than acceptable, though, and that's just what he did. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you," he said, happiness unchecked in his voice. With a pair of fingers on his left hand - pressed to his side in attention - he touched where his lucky coin sat safe and sound in his pocket. Lady Luck had a tendency towards being a fickle wench, but she was positively beaming on him today.

[vierre]

((If any of you live in Canada, I apologize because I’m about to reference a tv commercial that airs in this country somewhere in this post))

Vierre’s expression washed over with a mute neutrality. It was rare for him, but despite his antics, he knew when to be serious. He did not survive battles for both the Black Knights and the Britannian military by treating life as a continuous joke. Of course, he knew of the Commander’s history as a Knight of the Rounds. He certainly knew that his noble-blooded grandparents, in all their aristocratic arrogance, had often invoked the Shizuka name when they wanted to spurn his accomplishments. “Why look at this Sakura girl,” the Viscount and Viscountess DeMara would comment off-hand. “A fine, young lady at the age of 15… A Knight of the Rounds already!” And even after Vierre had proven himself to be an uncanny marksman, both in and out of a Knightmare Frame, the inability to live up to his grandparents’ unreasonable standards remained. No, even after demonstrating his skills, they would then ask instead why he was not training or putting forth his own name to be one of the illustrious Knigts of the Rounds. The truth was that Vierre was not too interested in living up to those standards.

“Of course, Shizuka, no insult intended,” said Vierre, correcting himself. “However, I do not believe the suggestion, even though I was not particularly serious, would indicate you are not fit to be Commander. While I realize you are perfectly capable of protecting yourself, an additional pair of eyes and arms is rarely a tactical disadvantage.” It was another rare moment for Vierre’s regimented Britannian military persona to emerge. Though like the Commander, his humourless tone also faded before delivering the last part of his statement. “Ah yes, a fugitive from the homeland. Aren’t we all though, Shizuka?” said Vierre looking at Zane as well. “Britannia just doesn’t know about Zane and I yet, eh? And probably doesn’t care as much either. Nonetheless, I’m sure the military never expected ‘the one-armed boast’ to return wearing these colours.”

“The one-armed boast” was an urban legend at the Britannian military academy, and possibly one that even Zane may have come across during his time with the military, especially considering he was a pilot as well. The story went that a pilot-in-training had purposely severed the right arm to the Knightmare Frame he was piloting moments before initiating one of the most notorious combat training simulations. The story then said that the cadet claimed proudly through the external speakers of the Knightmare for all to hear, as the arm struck the ground tossing up a plume of dirt and dust, “I will not require that. If destiny panics when under fire and crippled, I will still prevail. I will force fate.” The pilot went on to complete the course flawlessly. Years later, that pilot now stood in the streets of Penglai Island, speaking with his fellow Black Knights. Vierre never spoke of what happened that day, leaving fact and myth inseparable, free to grow and twist at the whims of people’s imaginations.

Sakura’s phone buzzed. Vierre listened curiously to her half of the call, eyeing Zane as he apparently became the topic of conversation.

"Well, looks like you’re all done, Burnlight. You are now a member of the First Division, your captain being the ever so dependable DeMara. Your uniform will be in your room when you return. Congratulations. Lets hope you two get along, shall we?”

The two men shared an exchange of glances. Vierre then chuckled breaking the pause. “First Division, hmm? Welcome then, Zane Burnlight! I hope you’re daring. I’m… Well, let’s just say I have a bit of a reputation and leave it at that. Of course, that’s not much of a concern when my assignments entail reconnaissance at Clovisland.” He looked wryly at Sakura, unimpressed, even though he realized those particular orders didn’t necessarily come from her. Though maybe they did, and it was some kind of punishment.

Vierre cleared his throat. “Speaking of the First Division though, Commander, how are our equipment stores. I’m interested in re-equipping my men and women. Zane, I understand you’ve already had a Gekka unit assigned to you, yes? Well, that makes one of us in the Division, at least. The Frame I was using is no longer functional, and I’ve been hoping for something more… suitable.”

[Sakura Shizuka]

A soft chuckle escaped Sakura’s throat as Vierre mentioned the little job he had been sent to do in Clovisland. In all honesty, Sakura had no ill intentions when she had sent the order. After the bombing incident, some members were beginning to get a wee bit nervous, afraid that whoever it was trying to frame them would succeed and one way or another, their base would be found and all would end with Madame Guillotine. It was a stupid thought, in her opinion, but she knew she was outnumbered in this case. She needed to somehow reassure them. After all, discouraged men were useless in war.

So she had sent the most able-bodied man to go and investigate. Alright, so maybe in reality she just picked a name out of a hat, but still! Same concept. Thus, Vierre was given a lovely packet of instructions and sent on his merry way to the land of gumdrops and jellybeans. When he returned, Sakura was told that he did not find anything that related to the bombing incident. However, he did find something amusing. The report was still waiting for her on her desk.

The reminder of the large pile of paper made Sakura wince as a familiar throbbing sensation pulsed at the sides of her forehead. Just when she had managed to sooth her headache…
“Speaking of the First Division though, Commander, how are our equipment stores?
“Hm?” Sakura snapped her head over to the First Captain. And mentally cursed. She really had to learn to stop doing that…
“The Frame I was using is no longer functional, and I’ve been hoping for something more… suitable.” Sakura sighed. Of course. Of course he would want one. Everyone and their mother wanted a brand new shiny toy to play with, so why shouldn’t he? It wasn’t like it cost a fortune or took a hell of a bargaining session to get decent Knightmares in bulk. No, not at all~

Sakura mentally slapped herself. ‘Oy. Quit it with the bitch monologue.’ Bloody little Miss Conscious. Impeccable timing, as always. But Conscious was right. It was only natural that Vierre would be curious about getting a new Frame for both him and his division. If anything, Sakura should have been pleased that the man was thinking of upgrading his underlings like that! It showed he was taking the initiative. Something a certain masked leader should be doing…

Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose before forcing a carefree smile on her face, despite her cheek muscles’ protests. “I’ll have to look into that for you, DeMara. I believe Anju-san’s Pandavas are still going through some final trial tests, but once they are cleared they will be available for BK use. Though it seems that others may be allowed to pilot one too…” Emerald eyes narrowed in displeasure as the thought of the French Epee filled her mind. Maybe Sakura was just a natural bi-atch when it came to these things but the idea of some French boy waltzing in, claiming to be an ally and then using technology that was designed specifically for the Black Knights did not exactly tickle her. But then again, the Pandavas were Anju’s creation. Woman could sell them to whomever she liked. Sakura had no place to say otherwise.

“Sorry for not being any more helpful, but once I have a talk with that inept leader of ours, I’ll see what I can do. For now use what we’ve got for practice, and if anything is broken, contact the Science Department and see what they can do. As for when actual battle arrives…well, hopefully a new shipment will have arrived by then.” Sakura was not exactly the biggest supporter of Knightmare Frames. At least, not in battle. She found them to be unfair, especially when it was Knightmare vs Ordinary Citizen. She was a more traditional sort of fighter. Hand to hand combat, whether it be with gun or sword (though preferred). The idea of Knightmares…she wasn’t too thrilled with it. But it would be stupid of her to think the Black Knights could take down Britannia without them. It was a sad truth, but a truth nonetheless.

“As for regular weaponry, we recently got a new shipment of firearms and the like, so if you wish, feel free to poke around.” She offered the man a small smile before stretching slightly. Squinting up at the sun, Sakura safely deduced that it was approximately five minutes till teatime. She turned back to her two companions. Well, tea was always good with or without company, wasn’t it? “I for one could use a cup of green tea." She held up her bag.

“ would either one of you two care for any?”

[Zane Burnlight]

“Ah yes, a fugitive from the homeland. Aren’t we all though, Shizuka?” Zane's new Captain gave him a meaningful look. “Britannia just doesn’t know about Zane and I yet, eh? And probably doesn’t care as much either. Nonetheless, I’m sure the military never expected ‘the one-armed boast’ to return wearing these colours.”

Once again, the relative novice found himself amazed. Zane had tried to emulate the one-armed boast on several occasions - and failed miserably each time. His instructors had laughed and commented on his over-reliance on firearms. He broke his reminiscing when he heard Vierre speaking again. “First Division, hmm? Welcome then, Zane Burnlight! I hope you’re daring. I’m… Well, let’s just say I have a bit of a reputation and leave it at that. Of course, that’s not much of a concern when my assignments entail reconnaissance at Clovisland.”

So the Captain wanted daring, did he? Zane could handle that.
"Captain, all you've got to do is give me targets then sit back and watch the fireworks," he said with pride. He had always had a great - some would likely call it unhealthy - admiration and affinity for heavy weapons. To his mind, there was nothing better than sending a torrent of hot, screaming death downrange and watching the enemy fall to pieces under the barrage.

"Zane, I understand you’ve already had a Gekka unit assigned to you, yes? Well, that makes one of us in the Division, at least. The Frame I was using is no longer functional, and I’ve been hoping for something more… suitable.”

"That's right," Zane almost said "sir," but checked himself just as the s was slipping out. "My girl and I are ready whenever you need us," he finished, referring to his Knightmare. It was a habit that reached back to his days with Britannia. Truthfully, he couldn't remember when or why he had started doing it, but it wasn't likely to change anytime soon. He stayed quiet for the exchange that followed; there really wasn't anything that he could contribute to it.

Commander Shizuka's mention of something called a "Pandava" really caught Zane's attention. He figured that it was some kind of new Knightmare and found himself getting excited. He hoped that he would have a chance to pilot one at some point. “As for regular weaponry, we recently got a new shipment of firearms and the like, so if you wish, feel free to poke around." Another exciting proposition. He had left his personal LMG back on the Japanese mainland. All he needed was a new one for the soldier in him to be happy. "I for one could use a cup of green tea. Would either one of you two care for any?” She was holding up a bag.

Zane cocked his head, trying to remember if he had ever had green tea. Satisfied that he had not experienced it, he looked at the Commander. "I would, ma'am. Thank you for the offer." He was - almost - always up for trying something new.

[vierre]

In truth, Vierre had not minded his covert mission at a lively and recovering Clovisland. Yes, in his own mind, he certainly entertained a much grander fate for himself, but then again everything in his mind, even his breakfast, was of a much more epic quality than reality. Besides, the trip had its interesting moments, including an encounter with a certain Britannian prince.

"Captain, all you've got to do is give me targets then sit back and watch the fireworks."

“Oh, is that so? That’s good to know. I happen to really enjoy fireworks. Like brilliant illuminated paints awash across a still night canvas,” replied the First Division Captain. “It sounds like you may be as... hmm shall we say… enthusiastic as me.” He avoided the word reckless. However, while Zane favoured the heavy weapons, Vierre differed with his personal preference aligned more with the deft and agile use of rapid, precise firearm strikes, only slowing down when equipped at long range with his favourite sniper rifle. Vierre grinned. “Shizuka, I believe the paper pushers you have may have created something rather dangerous here. And you are its witness.”

He turned his attention back to Zane as he referred to his Gekka as a girl. “Girl, eh? Does she have a name? I hope you treat her well. Nothing quite so fierce as a spurned lady. I’m sure the Commander can attest to that, yes?”

Vierre smiled as Sakura sighed at his request for equipment. He knew full well that she received the exact same request from every other division of the Black Knights. He had attempted to spare her from much of the same from the First Division, but too much complacency was irresponsible for the unit’s commanding officer. The rumours of Anju’s Pandava were also beginning to circle, and as if on cue the Black Knight’s Chief of Science’s creation became a topic of conversation. Though Vierre’s curiosity for the Pandava’s capabilities was piqued, he was suddenly more interested in the flicker of disdain buried behind Sakura’s voice when she mentioned potential “other” pilots for the Knightmares. He now chuckled. “Ahh Sakura… you seem upset or perhaps maybe just annoyed about something. Or is it someone?” He crossed his arm and pretended to ponder the thought. “Perhaps a certain French man? One with more… limited tastes than, say, another red-haired French man?” Rumours about the construction and launch of the Pandava were not the only ones to make their rounds about the Island. The living, breathing Épee of France, traveling freely through the Black Knight compound was a harder secret to keep.

Vierre lowered his voice so that only Sakura and Zane could hear him. “In all honesty, I do not like it either. I wonder how skilled he truly is though. I imagine he might be a worthy opponent, eh? One must earn his or her reputation after all.” He smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes from the fanciful hypothetical scenarios rumbling within his mind.

Reputations were indeed earned, and the Épee had yet to earn it in Vierre’s mind. What was Vierre in comparison though? He was just a mere Division Captain and an underdog against a national champion, at least on paper. But that did not intimidate him. His confidence in his abilities and style were ample. It was almost unheard of for a Knightmare pilot to focus so intensively on pure light to medium firearms combat, as Vierre had done, yet it had produced unique results. But of course, for such success there would be sacrifices, and Vierre readily admitted that he stayed away from hand-to-hand situations. So much so, in fact, that it necessitated the self-development of a close range gunplay alternative. Not that these thoughts mattered. They were all supposed to be on the same team after all. Supposed to be…

“And no tea for me, thank you,” said Vierre, politely declining Sakura’s offer. “It wouldn’t be right to waste your precious tea supplies on me.” He offered her a smile, for the most part warm and sincere.

[tazune]

"Oi oi, is someone doubting my abilities before they even have a chance to see them?" The Epee - Tazune Legende - said from around the corner, then turning around said corner to meet the various black knight members there. He gave them a small salute, his sword at his side.
"And I wouldn't worry about those parts - the first shipment from the EU arrives later today, ahead of schedule. Your supposedly 'inept' leader found some way to open up the usually private chinese shipping routes for us." He said, pulling out the signed contracts for usage of the various inland rivers and such.
"And by the way, I haven't gotten any approval for piloting your precious Pandavas - so until such a thing arises, I'll be piloting my own machine - that make you feel more comfortable?" Admittedly, Tazune quite liked the commander, though due to certain rules of his, he wasn't going to be chasing after her anytime soon - 18 or above only. However, he was certainly interested to see her abilities on the battlefield. Technically speaking, he and her should've been of similar skill, being effectively each army's counterparts... or at least, until she went and got kicked out of the britannian army - but details, details.

[Sakura Shizuka]

“It wouldn’t be right to waste your precious tea supplies on me.” Sakura’s eyes narrowed slightly at Vierre’s declination of tea. As polite as it may have been, Sakura was not pleased. The man refused her offer for tea. For green tea. That, in itself was most unacceptable.

“I beg your pardon, DeMara, but perhaps you are mistaken. When I said ‘would either one of you two care for any,’ I did not mean to give you the idea that you had a say in the matter.” She eyed him, her gaze daring him to object. “You will join us for tea, DeMara. I know you like green tea as much as I do, so don’t even think of saying you dislike it.” She folded her arms across her chest, an eyebrow arching slightly. “Unless, of course, you are questioning my judgment in tea partners? You should know well that I rarely invite others to share my stock. So me offering you is a compliment, DeMara. You should accept it.” Her stance lessened slightly in terms of menacing, and a somewhat honest smile itched up the corners of her mouth. “So, what say you? Fancy a cup of nature’s finest? I promise it’s not poi-

"Oi oi, is someone doubting my abilities before they even have a chance to see them?" Sakura’s eyes closed and a grimace made its way across her face. Her mouth formed a silent plea, somewhere along the lines of: ‘no. please, just go away. it’s just your imagination…no’

“…by the way, I haven't gotten any approval for piloting your precious Pandavas - so until such a thing arises, I'll be piloting my own machine - that make you feel more comfortable?" With her back still turned to Tazune, the grimace remained on her face for a half a second longer before Sakura turned around, a polite yet professional smile hiding well the young Commander’s true feelings.

Standing there, blue hair all spiked up was that bloody French Epee himself. Tazune Legende. Now, mind you, the man hadn’t done anything directly to Sakura as of yet (beyond the occasional nicknames), so in all technicality, Sakura had to reason to not be chummy with him. But then again, this was Sakura. The words ‘Sakura’ and ‘chummy’ were rarely found in the same sentence. Plus he was French. Sakura had bad experiences with French people (coughLuciencough)

Using every nerve in her body to keep a neutral, calm expression on her face, Sakura tilted her head politely to the Frenchman. “Good day to you too, Legende. However, I’m afraid you must be mistaken. The Pandavas are not my ‘precious babies.’ They are Anju-san’s. It would not be right of me to take credit for them.” She smiled sweetly. A sweet smile that said ‘say otherwise and you might find yourself a different gender come morning.’

“I trust you’ve settled down well enough, Legende? No troubles, I imagine?” She glanced up at Zane and Vierre behind her before turning her gaze back to the bluehead. “We were just going to have some tea…” Her eyes flashed to Vierre, promising him if he denied, there would be hell to pay.

While normally Sakura wouldn’t have even considered doing what she was about to do, the circumstances deemed it only appropriate.

Her eyes turned back to Tazune, the polite smile back in full swing.
“Care to join us?”