A Transport plane's engines roar though the atmosphere, carrying hundreds of tons of materials in it's cargo hold. The passenger compartment held several members, including Dr. Franxx, Nana, a few parasites, including a girl with pink hair a red horns.

Code 054's POV

Who am I? What am I? Why is everything as it is? These questions have only recently started to plague me. I should know the answer to these questions. I'm Code 054, a parasite stamen. I am apart of Papa's shield, to protect the adults that dwell in the plantations from the klaxosuar threat. I make sure papa's wishes are complete, yet I still feel incomplete. I feel unsatisfied with myself.

I opened my left eye to see my partner, leaning on my left shoulder. The long rising and falling of her chest indicated that she was sleeping. Taking note of her state, I tried not to disturb her as she looked peaceful. My head turned down to myself.

'I look awful.' I thought to myself, my left leg and right arm were fixed in bandages and casts, along with my torso. My head was laced with gauze with a medical eye patch planted firmly on my right eye. A breathing apparatus was off and on your chest, most likely taken off once you were asleep.

I felt something wet on my left shoulder, so I slowly shifted my view to my left shoulder. I could see a small bit of my partner's face, her eyes turned downwards as if they were stressed or sad with bits of water leaking from them. 'Is she crying?' I shook the thought from my head and continued to look at myself.

As I finished admiring myself in a medical wardrobe, I turned my head to look outside. The clouds seemed to tickle the aircraft while the blue sky glared from above. It felt so peaceful and relaxing if the engines of the aircraft were tuned out. However, perhaps I shifted one too many times as I heard shuffling next to me.

"I see someone's awake from their beauty sleep." I teased as my partner, 167, as we called each other by number, was waking up. "It's hard to get sleep while traveling." 167 yawned as she composed herself back into her seat. "Sorry for sleeping on top of you, I didn't mean to."

"It's fine." I replied. I rested my head on the pillow, relaxing into the hospital bed. "It's nice and all, but try to break the habit." "I know, it's just that we've been traveling for so long and it gets annoying to keep sleeping in these seats." 167 explains, now beginning to slouch in her seat.

"I wanna take a bath." Zero Two's voce rang out throughout the aircraft. "Not again, Show some some self-control." Dr. Franxx responds. Zero two then leans over to the aisle seat "Hey, how do I smell?" She asks her sleeping partner. "Not again" I heard the doctor grumble. "Let 081 rest. The antics with rescuing Clyepum drained him". Dr. Franxx shuffled in his seat, turning his head towards the window. "Sheesh, such high maintenance parasites."

Zero Two turned her attention towards you. "Hey, Shi!" I spun my head to greet the pink haired girl, who had a warm smile on her face. "How do I smell?" She asked. "Great question, I can't exactly give you an answer from this distance."

"Don't you dare try walking over there." Dr. Franxx exclaimed. "We are about to land at plantation 13." Zero Two disappointedly nodded, her face now holding a frown. "Ugh, okay."

"Don't worry about it, Zero Two. I'm not going to be moving anywhere." I said. Zero Two looked at me with sadness before returning to a happy smile. "I know that." She responded. 'I know that's not a happy smile'

"We will be landing in a few moments. All passengers, please be seated with fastened seat belts." The pilot says from the intercom. 167 got out of her seat and walked to me, adjusting the bed to an upright position. "I hope you're ready to walk around, tomorrow is start up-" "Start up ritual. I know I'm confined to a bed, but it doesn't stop me from information." I cut her off.

"Oh." She meekly says. "It's fine. It's nice for you to inform me, but I know everything." My smile droops into a frown. "Everything." I repeated, more mumbled this time.

"Watch out Clyepum!" Strelitzia painced. Clyepum's head would turn to see the Gutenberg's massive crab-like claws smash against Clyepum. We were sent flying to a rock face.Understanding the dangers, I pulled the emergency ejection switch for the pistil. The ejection shielding covered 167, but did not eject due to system failure. An unthinkable amount of pain filled me as a large boulder hit the face-plate of Clyepum, going through and hitting the cockpit.

I could only remember the sound of the footsteps of the Klaxosuar, walking towards our mauled frame before my eyes closed shut.

"Shi! Shi!" I was brought back to reality, but your vision was hazy and blurred. "Shi! Thank goddess, you're alive!" I couldn't exactly tell who it was as their voices seemed so distant and distant. I felt nothing, nor could I move anything but my head. I saw my hand being raised and held by something, which I assumed was Zero Two.

I was able to shift my head to the left to see something oval in shape, surrounded by staff and equipment. 'She was able to get out of there, right? She had to...' My eyes didn't stay open for long as they shut closed again.

"Hey, we've landed. Can't be stuck in bed all day." 167 says, shaking me from my thoughts. "The doctors said it would be good for you to be walking around." "Oh please, I've heard this so many times." I groaned. "Oh well, oops." 167 shrugs as gave me my crutches. "These again?" I complained. "Why not a wheelchair."

"Excuse me, but, who would have to push you around then?" 167 deadpanned me. "Fair enough." I grumbled, following 167 off the plane and into the hanger.

As 167 and I walked off the plane, we trailed the aging Dr. Franxx with his group of bodyguards who also guarded Nana, Zero Two and 081. The pallets of cargo were unloaded off the plane and into the hangar, the clanging of machines rattled the air.

"Good grief, these transport plane seats are too rough for an old geezer like me. Can't we travel in a different manner?" Dr. Franxx complained. "Deal with it." Nana replied. "Our options are limited when it comes to the transportation of 2 franxxs. Dr. Franxx sighed and continued to walk down the hangar floors.

"Is Hachi well?" Dr. Franxx asked. "He's been asked to speed up the children's training. After all, this will be the first trial run for the unit we're using this time." Nana informs. "I see." Dr. Franxx acknowledges. "If I may ask, why are you running that test case here? With that, a makeshift team no less?" Nana asks. "Something's been bothering me. Although the geezers in APE might not understand it." Dr. Franxx replies.

As he explains, I noticed that Zero Two moved away from the group and towards one of the doors of the plantation. Didn't she want to take a bath?. "Dr. Franxx, please do attend the start up ritual as well." Nana says.

"Yes, I know." Dr. Franxx mumbles. "By the way, one of our problem child has gone off running." I didn't bother to look around as she was already long gone while the rest of the APE staff, including Nana, panicked. "But, she was just.. How?" Nana stammers.

"Look." Code 167 says, pointing to the right, Zero Two taking off her coat and military cap. Her face held a smug smile with a lollipop in her mouth. "Damn it. She's running off again." 081 groaned. "167, Could you take 054 to the Mistilteinn's boarding house and figure out where Zero Two when?" Nana asked. "Will do ma'am." 167 nods. I also nodded and followed her down the escalator and towards the Mistileinn.

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Squad 13 - Parasite 13 Boarding house.

"Partner killer?" Futoshi asked curiously. "Apparently, the girl has these red horns and white fangs that sucks away the life from any parasite that rides with her. Without fail, the parasite will die after the third time." Zorome explains. "Yikes, doesn't sound like a person I would ride with." Futoshi expresses, taking a bite out of a loaf of bread.

"It's surely just a rumor." Miku replies. "It's true! I overheard it from the guys at security." Zorome reassures, dismissively waving his hand. "Ichigo." Goro calls out, entering the lounge room. Ichigo looks up from her communicator to Goro. "Were you able to get Hiro?" Goro asks. "No, I wasn't." Ichigo replies, putting her communicator away.

"Hey,So is he gonna stay here after all?" Zorome asks "He didn't attend today's briefing, so I don't think he is." Futoshi responses. "Hiro's going to leave? That's going to be sad." Kokoro adds, her head dipping. "Where would Hiro's mess leave Naomi? After all, she did get caught up in his mess." Ikuno adds

"I say Hiro's showing real integrity." Mitsuru starts. "It must be hard for him to face us after what happened, too. Spare a thought for how he feels" Mitsuru ends.

"God, how forced." Miku comments, resting her elbow on her knees and her head on her hands. "Are you okay with this, Ichigo?" Goro asks, turning to look at Ichigo. "That Idiot." Ichigo mumbles.

X----------------------------------X

167 and I walked down the dirt pathway that led towards the boarding house. My left eye wandered around the environment, immersing into the beauty of the forest as it put you at ease before. However, it didn't this time. The feeling of incompleteness remained.

"Let's just focus on getting Zero Two back. I'm sure these rookies can't handle a person like her." 167 says. "She said she wanted to swim in an ocean, so I suspect Zero Two in one of the lakes here." I added as we continued towards the boarding house.

"Was it really necessary for me to tag along? I'd much rather prefer ." I complained, the soreness in my armpits increasing. "As the doctor said, you-" "I know, I know." I cut 167 off before she finished. "I am merely giving a suggestion, y'know." 167 rolled her eyes as she continued walking.

The boarding house came into view moments later. "Why not rest inside? I can wait while you rest before we set out again." 167 recommended. "Would be a pleasure to rest." I replied. We ascended the steps to the front door of the boardhouse.

"Hello?" 167 knocked on the door. It was moments of silence before I heard footsteps. "Who's outside?" A voice said from beyond the door, followed by footsteps.

The door opened to reveal a short girl with blue hair in a razor cut, having a hair clip to her right bangs. She looked at 167 with soft emerald eyes. A boy that towered behind her had glasses, accompanied with loose spiky blonde hair. Others were behind them, but I couldn't see them well.

"Oh, Um, Hello." The blue haired girl greeted. "Yes hello, you don't mind us staying here for a little while, right? My partner here needs a little bit of rest." I walked next to 167 to present myself. The blue-haired girl's smile turned into a panicked yet confused form.

"Is he okay?" The blue-haired girl asked, her voice quick. "He's fine, he just needs to take a rest." 167 assured. "I can speak for myself." I added, annoyed. "I just want a place to rest for a moment."

"Oh, well, if you both are parasites, come in then." The blue haired girl opened the door further to allow 167 and I in. As we walked in, I took note of everyone present.

The shortest boy, looking around 5'3, has glaring purple eyes with a light brown color to his hair. His hair was another story, straying to the sides and bangs covering his forehead. The one next to him looked to be 5'10 with short brown hair with very thick eyebrows. His eyes had a brownish green tint to it and his body much rounder than the rest. The last one near the back had slick back olive brown hair with deep green eyes. I assumed he was around 5'5.

The other group, the girls, had a bit more distinction among them. The first was a 5'3 autumn red hair done in 2 pigtails and ocean blue eyes. The one next to her was again around 5'3 with ash blonde hair that fanned out to her waist with rich blue eyes. The last one was around 5'7 with deep violet hair tied into a ponytail with strays of hair hanging to either side of her face. Freckles dotted her face along with a pair of glasses.

We sat down in the lounge area and the aching stop. 167 sat beside me while the rest of the other parasites sat across from the lounge. "I don't need to rest for long, so I'll get to the point of my questions." I began, resting my crutches on the couch.

"Do you know where a certain parasite is? She has pink hair, red horns and a red parasite uniform." The room tensed and I understood it. "I see, I'll move onto a different question then. Where's the largest lake nearby here?" I again continued to look around, waiting for an answer.

"054, I don't think we should ask them questions without introducing ourselves." 167 butted in. I turned my head to see my partner with a concerning frown on her face.

"We shouldn't be here for long." I shot back. The lounge was silent for a tense second. "Well.. If you walk back down the path and take the west route, you should be able to.. Um, find whatever you need." The tall one answers.

"That'll be all. Thank you." I stood up and grabbed my crutches. "167, let's get going." 167 stood up and followed me. "Hey, isn't it a bit rude to just waltz in here without an introduction." A Voice said, making me stop.

I turned around to greet the blue haired eyes staring at me. "Look, I'm sorry for his behavior, but 054, we really should introduce ourselves to them." 167 says. I sighed but nodded. "I should apologize about my behavior." I said. "I'm not exactly someone you'd call 'open to others'."

"Oh, well, that's alright." The blue-haired girl replied. "I'll introduce squad 13 to you. "I'm code 016, Ichigo. There is code 214, Futoshi. Code 666, Zorome. Code 056, Goro. Code 326, Mitsuru." She says, pointing at each respective person. "They are code 390, Miku. Code 556, Kokoro. Code 196, Ikuno."

"How about you two?" Ichigo asks. "Code 167." My partner replies. "He's Code 054." "As she said." I added. 'Wait, they don't use their codes?' "Excuse me, code 016, I would like to know the strange use of your names. It seems unorthodox to use something other than your code."

"Well, it seems less bland to use just our codes. Afterall, Hiro gave us these names." Goro explains, while the one named Mitsuru flicked his head away in disgust. "Why don't you guys use names?" the one known as Zorome asks. "Our codes are sufficient enough." I replied. "Sheesh, how lame." Zorome trailed off.

"What would be the point of names if you already have codes? Codes that were assigned by papa himself." I again questioned. "I prefer the Title 'Zorome the great' instead of 'Code 666 the great'. It gets the message across, but it doesn't have the ring to it." Zorome explains as I couldn't understand his logic.

"Pay no attention to him, he's just trying to impress himself." The girl named Miku spoke, giving a smug smile aimed toward Zorome. "Coming from you, that doesn't mean anything." Zorome shot back. "Hey, what was that supposed to mean?"

As they bickered amongst themselves, a slight tug at my chest began to develop. The tug became tighter and my breathing became restricted. "Inhaler, 167." I mumbled, holding my chest. 167 leaned down to hear me before her eyes wided.

167 dug into her pockets and grabbed a medical inhaler. She lifted and leveled my head, then popped the inhaler into my mouth and breathed in the medication. "Thank you, 167." I thanked her. "Anytime 054." She smiled back.

The rest of the other parasites stared in confusion. "What did you guys just do?" Goro asked, adjusting his glasses. "Ah, you see, 054 has a condition that's called-" "It's unimportant." I cut 167 off. "You don't have to tell them." I whispered to 167. "Right, sorry."

Again, I stood up and was followed by 167. "It was a satisfactory chat. Good day to you all." I said and I began to walk towards the front door. "If we meet again, we can continue chatting, but until then." I said before 167 and I left the boarding house.

As 167 and I leave the boarding house, squad 13 is left quiet. "How lame." Zorome remarks. "I hope they're better on the field than in conversation." "You want to fight them already?" Miku asks, a disbelieving tint in her voice. "Why not? His casts prove they've been in actual fights and I've got a title to live up to." Zorome asks back. "A Title nobody gave you but yourself"

X----------------------------------X

167 and I made our way down the path. Following the instructions that Ichigo had given, we started to hear the ambient sounds of water. I spotted the far banks of the lake as we came closer. "You know what, I've taken a liking to you." Zero Two's voice says, sweet in tone. "Would you like to be my darling?" She finishes. You heard another person's voice, but you weren't able to make out his or her voice.

"Your abilities are probably just still dormant. I can awaken it for you." Zero Two says. "You were also not frightened by my horns." She adds. 167 and I came out of the forest, coming up behind the pink-haired girl. "Ah, Shi!" Zero two gleefully says, pulling up the person on the ground.

"Say hello to my darling!" She says, her face expressing happiness. "Who?" I questioned, my eye-brow lifting in confusion. "Um, Hello. I'm.. uh." The boy stammers, clearly nervous. "Code 054." I said "Code 167." my partner adds. His face turns into one of questioning, but before he can act, you hear footsteps behind.

"We've been looking all around the birdcage for you." 081 says sternly. "054 and 167 were sent first, but they didn't report back." 081 adds. "It's not like there is much to do before tomorrow's ceremony." Zero Two shoots back. "Noted, but I have to suffer for your actions as your partner." He replies, planting a military cap on her head."

"054, 167, why didn't you tell us where they were?" 081 questions, turning to face me and 167 "We had just arrived here. 054 had to take a break from moving, so we rested in the parasite's boarding house." 167 replies. "Also, please note he had his asthma attack today." 081 nods and starts to lead the rest of you back to Dr. Franxx.

"Wait!" The boy shouts out. "Don't you guys have names?" Me and 167 look away as our answers. "Names?" Zero Two speaks up. "Do we parasites even have names?" She responds coldly. The boy's face sinks. "However, I'm always called Zero Two, so I guess that can be my name." She ends off, continuing to walk behind 081. I followed suit with 167.

The walk out of the Mistileinn was dead quiet, other than the sounds of the forest singing outwards. Me and Zero Two gave each other some glaces and 167's eyes were forwards all the entire time. "Darling, I remember you." Zero Two mumbled, but it was barely audible to me. You weren't sure what she meant, but you decided not to question it.

After reaching the Mistileinn's elevators shut in front of you as it begins to move downwards back into the city of lights, and the city of the ghosts.

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The next day

X----------------------------------X

I woke up to the next day in the temporary guest rooms. I got ready for the day by taking a shower. Then I changed the bandages and cast on my injuries, then into uniform. I wasn't required to attend the ceremony due to my injuries, but I did get wind of a pair of parasites leaving the plantation. One code, 703, was an old friend. I met her at the garden before, so I wanted to give her my condolences.

I made my way out of the bathroom to see 167 reading in the small lounge area. "167, I have a small question if you don't mind." I spoke up, taking her attention from the book. "Sure, what is it?" She asks. "I wanted to meet someone who's currently about to leave this plantation. A fellow parasite." You explained. "Code 703? Yes I know her." She replies. "Well, seeing that you don't have to attend the ceremony today, I don't see why not."

"Thanks." I replied. "I'll see you after the ceremony." I exited the room. If I had stayed a bit longer, I could have heard her say "Stay safe, I hope I can trust you with that."

X----------------------------------X

I made my way down the catwalk. The boy from before, 016, and 703 were there. If I remember correctly, the name she uses was Naomi. A guard was also stationed by them. "You should've stayed, Hiro." I heard up ahead, telling by the voice, it was Naomi.

I slowed down so I could eavesdrop on their conversation. "Did you refuse because of me?" Naomi sadly asks "No. It's not like I'd be of any use even if I stayed." Hiro responded. "You've always been like that. You're just running away." Naomi starts. "From me, from yourself, everyone. Do you remember how many people disappeared back at the garden? There was no reason we couldn't have been chosen to also disappear. Look at you now! You're lucky to have a chance to stay at all!" She shouts.

Naomi buried her face into her hands, softly crying. "We made it so far, yet you decided to run away from everything! I wanted to stay, even if I would die!" She cries out to Hiro.

I saw her eyes, tears running down her face. "054?" Naomi chokes out. Hiro turned around, eyeing you. "You? What are you doing here?" He asks, his face perplexed. "Code 703 was an old friend of mine back in the garden. I heard she was leaving, so I wanted to say goodbye beforehand." I explained to Hiro.

Stunned, Naomi dropped her luggage, walking to me. Moments later, arms surrounded me. Looking down, you see the wavy dark brown hair below you. "Where have you been all this time?" Naomi said through her crying. Smiling, I hugged her back, resting my body weight on the crutch.

After a few seconds, Naomi backed away, looking at you. "What happened to you?" She asks. "I had an accident during an S-planning defense." I briefly explained. Her face's expression morphs into disbelief. "What happened? Did a klaxosaur do this to you?"

"Correct, it was a lucky hit from the Klaxosaur in our faceplate." I explained further. "I took the brunt of the hit in front of the Klaxosaur so 167 wouldn't be injured." "You've always been like this." Naomi jokes. "A knight in shining armor, ready to take a hit for others."

"It was a calculated risk. The Pistil takes priority over the Stamen in a life or death situation." I explained. "That's really cold." Naomi replied.

The ground started to shake as a plant transport arrived. "Code 703, please board the transport." The guard asks. "Well, I guess I have to get going." Naomi says, walking over the catwalk towards the transport. I followed suit, stopping next to the railing edge. Hiro also walks over in-front of you, giving Naomi her dropped luggage

"Well, take care, you two." She states. "I don't think we'll ever see each other again. My time has come, but you still can use your chance, Hiro." She says. "Don't factor me into your thought process." She turns to you, "054, or Shi, thank you for all of those times. Even if this moment is short and quick, thank you." She ends, her eyes having tears at the corner of them. I looked her in the eyes with a neutral face and nodded.

"Hang on a minute, Naomi!" Hiro started to run up to her, but was thrown back as Naomi had thrown her suitcase at him. "What are you doing?" Hiro questions. "Those items, I won't be needing them anymore." Her tone was sorrowful. "Share it with everyone else. For the record, I also really like the name you gave me." She adds.

"Hiro, I hope you find a good partner." Naomi ends, streams of tears flowing down her cheeks. The transport doors closed shortly afterwards. "Naomi.." Hiro says, quickly getting up, trying to run towards the closed doors. "Don't! You can take the next plant and still make it!" The guard says, restraining Hiro "Naomi.." Hiro mumbles.

"Are you also the one leaving as well?" I asked as I waddled closer to him.
Hiro slowly nodded. "I see. For a teen code, I would've hoped you would've found success. Disappointing." I remarked before walking away.

"Wait- Wait!" I heard behind me. I turned around to see Hiro with his arm extended to me. "I want to talk with you before I go. I want some answers."

"Ask what you desire." I replied as he walked closer to me. "I remember you from yesterday. Who are you?" He asks. "I'm code 054." I replied.

"Don't you have a name?" Hiro asks. "I never was assigned a name, other than my code." I explained. "Why do you want to know-" "Who is Zero Two?" Hiro interrupts me. I was caught off guard by this question.

"She's.." I tried to find the correct answer. "Zero Two is an admirable comdare in the field." "No, I want to know who she actually is." Hiro demanded. "I've said my answer." Hiro's eyes softened and relaxed.

"Code 016, get ready to board transport." The guard says, ending our conversation. Hiro grabbed his suitcase. The transport stopped and the catwalk leading towards it extended outwards. The transport and catwalk connected, anchoring it firm with each other. Hiro stood at the catwalk's entrance, his eyes glued to the floor. Is he thinking?

"What's the matter? Get inside the transport before it departs." The guard says annoyed. Hiro's foot began to move, but stopped, then retracted his foot. Hiro looked up towards the guard. "Uh, I think I'll-" an explosion rocks the ground, shaking all of us "What was that?" I asked, dazed.

"Were those things there before?" Hiro asks as he pointed at something in the distance. The departed transport started to rise then fell into the ground, a blue and black silhouette covering it. The transport main hull was crushed, the tip falling to the side. "Naomi!" Hiro screams. The blue and black silhouette rose, revealing its entire body. A Klaxosuar.

The klaxosuar's shape was reminiscent of the ancient T-Rex dinosaur, its head having a massive chin. Its arm stubby with legs that were sharpened at the ends. The klaxosuar began trekking towards the plantation. "It's a klaxosaur! Start interception fire on it!" The guard shouts into a radio. "Hiro!" I shouted, but Hiro remained still. I abandoned my crutches, limping as fast as I could get to him. "So, that's a klaxosaur?" He mumbles to himself.

I grabbed Hiro, bringing him out of shock. "Hiro! We gotta get out of here." I shouted at the boy. Artillery guns boomed as they coughed smoke, lobbing shells at the klaxosuar. The outer shell of the klaxosaur shrugged off the incoming shells. One shell finds its mark, tipping the klaxosuar into the catwalk we stood on.

Using the momentum it generated from its fall, it spun its tail to destroy the plantation artillery guns and catwalk. I pinned Hiro onto the railing and myself. "Hold on to the railing, tight, now!" I screamed at him. The catwalk threw itself, taking me and Hiro along with it. The catwalk crashed into the plantation, shooting debris everywhere.

I felt my back hit the ground, very hard. I stopped once I hit a large piece of debris. "054!" Hiro cried out. Blood soaked through my right arm's cast, my entire body being caked with bits of blood. I scanned around for the raven haired boy, finding him in the rubble.

I ignored the pain as I dragged myself, cutting myself on the small bits of debris. "Hiro, get up, now! You still have legs to run on!" I screamed at the boy. Hiro remained dazed but shook out of it. "Get out of here and make yourself useful!" I ordered. "I'm taking you with me." Hiro replied and grabbed my right arm. "Wait, not that arm-!" It was too late, Hiro yanked my right arm up.

I screamed in brutal pain, my right arm feeling as if it was stretched beyond its limit. "Sorry!" Hiro switched to my left arm to support me, but the damage was done. Hiro set me down on the plantation walling. "Go get help, now!" I demanded. "What about you? I can carry you to-" "There's no time for that, get your ass moving, now!"

"Where do I even go?" Hiro asked, completely confused. "Left, towards the Start up ritual grounds. You should find help there." I instructed. Hiro nodded and began to run towards the start-up ritual grounds. 'I have to stop the bleeding.' I grabbed a piece of my shirt and ripped it off. I glanced at my right arm, seeing pieces of bone and muscle that pierced the skin.

'This is messy' I began to wrap my arm with the piece of cloth. The pain was intense, but I continued to wrap the makeshift bandage. The ground shook once more, making me look up to see a mechanical white and red lion sprinting towards the start up ritual grounds.

"Strelizia?" I mumbled. The next minute was quiet, but I focused on trying to stop bleeding. A blinding blue light shined for a few seconds, but dimmed shortly afterwards. "Did.. Strelizia do that?" I questioned myself. Footsteps rang out as Hiro came back into view. "054!" Hiro yelled out.

A second later, Strelizia's frame came flying towards us. "Hiro! Hit the deck!" I warned him, but it was too late. Strelizia crashed next to us, smoke covering the crash. As I became undazed, I looked for Hiro. Spotting him, I began to drag myself to the boy.

"Hiro, get up! Now!" I demanded, getting closer to him. The pain ached my bones, but I had to ignore it. "054, what happened?" Hiro asked, dazed. "Strelizia nearly crushed you." I motioned towards the Franxx. "Who?" The cockpit to Strelizia flew open and a body

Wait, Code 081? Oh no. Hiro rushed to 081's body "Huh? H-hey.." Hiro says. "Forget about him. He's done for." A familiar voice stated. "You're.. what are you doing in there?" Hiro asks, standing. "What? I'm going monster hunting, obviously." Zero two replies, looking down at him. Zero Two then noticed me and looked in shock. "Shi?" She questioned.

"Fancy seeing you here as well, Zero Two." I remarked as Zero Two came closer to me. "Shi, what happened to you?" She asked, her tone filled with distress. "We were at the transport deck when the klaxosaur attacked. We were able to escape." I explained. "Damn monsters." Zero Two mumbled, then turned back into the Franxx cockpit.

"Wait! You can't pilot that robot alone." Hiro says. So?" She dryly replied. "Wait- Wait a moment! You're hurt!" Hiro says, trying to pull her away from the cockpit. "Don't get in my way!" She says, slapping Hiro away. "You are insane if you think you can pilot it alone." Hiro retorted. "I'm always alone." Zero Two solemnly replies. "It's how it's been, I'm used to it." "No! You'll die if you do that!" Hiro shouts back.

"I'm not afraid of death. The monster over there is going to start moving in a moment if I don't do anything." She explains. "If it starts to move before I do, everyone here will die." Zero Two ends. "I'm going to get going now. Take care of Shi for me." Hiro stands there, in thought.

"Zero Two." I said, sternly. "I know you. You're gonna go out there and fight that thing. I know you won't stop until it's dead, even if you die in the process."

My eyes narrowed. "Don't do this alone."

Zero Two looked at me, her mind in thought. "Take care, Shi." Zero Two turned back into the cockpit.






"Wait."

"I'll pilot that robot with you. I'm not about to let you go alone." Hiro stated.

"Oh? Are you prepared to die?" Zero Two retorted. 'Don't scare him away, just accept him.'

"I don't know, but as I am now, I don't belong anywhere. That's no different from being dead." Hiro continued. "So take me with you!" "Huh.. you really are like me. All alone. You and I are very similar."

"It's been a long time since I last saw a human cry." Zero Two shifted herself to meet Hiro fully. "I like the look in your eyes, it makes my heart race."

Zero Two extended her hand out "Now, come to me." Hiro took her hand, being pulled into the cockpit by Zero Two. She looked at you "Take care, Shi, I'll come back for you" She softly says. I nodded.

Zero Two looked down at Hiro. "Let me get a taste of you."

You are now..."

"My darling!"

If I saw correctly, she kisses Hiro on his lips.

The lights within the cockpit lit up, displays with the words 'Strelizia' were shown as the machine booted up. The cockpit door shut moments later and Strelizia began to transform, but was interrupted by the klaxosaur attacked from above.

I gasped as the mouth closed shut on Strelizia. Moments later, blinding yellow light glowed, Strelizia's legs transformed out, now lifting up the whole Klaxosuar with it's lion shaped mouth. It continued to lift it as it transformed back into Strelizia proper. Arms now carried the Klaxosuar which was thrown back onto the earth. I helped myself onto the railing to continue watching the battle.

As Strelizia finished, She revealed her true iron maiden form, the large blue headpiece moved into its final position, followed shortly by the eyes of Strelizia opening. The Klaxosuar used the downtime to reform, now preparing to fire on Strelizia. Strelizia's hands grabbed on her lance, flung it at the klaxosuar at high speed. The spear found its mark, piercing through the klaxosuar's mouth and into the body.

Strelizia's boosters fired, allowing Strelizia to quickly cover the distance between her and the klaxosuar. Closing the distance, she rammed the klaxosuar, bringing the momentum into her spear which drove deeper into the klaxosaur. Magma fuel rushed through the connective cords that were attached to the spear as Strelizia activated the spearhead.

"Game over!" Strelizia confidently exclaimed, the spearhead exploded. An empty magma fuel cell was ejected into the air, the klaxosaur's core now shattered. A large blue mist exploded after the klaxosaur's death. The blue mist starts to rain on those nearby, the core on the spearhead sliding off.

As the battle ended, Strelizia started to march back towards my location. "Wonderfully done. You showed them that papa isn't meant to be messed with." I commented. Strelizia extended her left hand out, allowing me to get on it. She nodded and began to walk to the recovery site, her spear in her right hand and you in her left hand. "Let me take you back, Shi." She says, her tone now sweet. "Thank you, for saving all of us, Zero Two."

Stopping at the recovery site, Strelizia lowers her left hand, allowing me to be recovered by a medical team, afterwards deactivating. The face-plate of the cockpit opened out, allowing Zero Two to exit and dragging an unconscious Hiro out as well.

As I was being strapped in an emergency medical bed, I heard the other parasites. "Hiro?" Ichigo said, confused. "What's he doing there?" Zorome adds. "Wait, there's someone else up there." Goro says, pointing up towards Zero Two. "Are those horns?" Miku asks. Futoshi saw me and walked over to me.

"Hey, 054, you mean that's the pistil you were looking for?" "The partner killer?" Ichigo also adds. I was too exhausted to give an answer. "Let me introduce you to code 002. A pistil with the special forces unit APE directly controls." Nana replies to the other parasites. "She's a girl that carries klaxosaur blood." Nana ends.

"Nana." I called out. "Could I be allowed to speak to Zero Two?" "I'm afraid not. You are in critical condition and therefore must be put into critical care." Nana replied. Zero Two nonetheless ran over. "Shi!" She gleefully hummed.

"Congratulations, Zero Two. You taught that klaxosaur who's the best dancer." I remarked. "Thank you, Shi. Go get some rest now and stay out of trouble this time." "If I ever could, I would." I joked.

"Alright, you two can continue your conversation at a later time. Medical team, get him to the ICU. Once he's stable, he can be stationed in the Mistileinn's medical facility." Nana says.

As the medical bed started to roll away, I relaxed on the pillow. My eyes started to close from the day's events, finally, it was now peaceful for me.

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Jesus Christ, I didn't plan for the 1st chapter to be this long. It was suppose to have around 4000 words at best, but I got carried away to 6600. Anyways, if you have any questions as to the story or any criticism, please do post! It will help me advance as a writer. I should sleep now, it's 4 AM when finishing this chapter.

So, I really want to know. Do you like this edited version over the previous? If so, I'll continue to edit the rest of the story and continue again. I'm so sorry for the near 1 year hold, but I should be hopefully updating it in the near future.