A Bio-Weapon’s Rhapsody

Chapter 279: They fight what now?

They actually had a room ready for them, it was quite comfortable, had an individual bed that could barely fit Ale and nothing else. The room had a singular table with one chair and a small refrigerator.

"[You may use this phone in case you require food or something.]" The Spartoi said that and after looking at Miriam Eversoul one more time, he left.

Ale just threw her backpack to the bed and sat there.

"Thank you for coming with me all the way." Ale said pointing at the chair for Miriam Eversoul to sit there.

"Don't mind it..." Miriam Eversoul placed Alexa's bags near the wall and then walked to the chair and table, standing near them instead of sitting.

Now that she was standing beside them, Ale could appreciate something, while the chair and table didn't look particularly off to Ale, they now looked very different from a normal pair of chair and table.

That is to say, they were too small compared to the normal size a chair and table should have, actually...

Now that Ale looked closer around, most of the things that were on this room was Ale sized, as in it was roughly sized for Ale and not a normal average adult.

It was kind of funny now that Ale was paying attention, since Miriam Eversoul was kinda crouching a little.

"It seems well prepared, and it has the right amount of amenities for a short stay." Miriam Eversoul added after looking around, "Let me just..."

And before Ale could say anything, Miriam Eversoul moved to the refrigerator and opened, Ale took this chance to peek and see what was inside too.

"Water, soda, cold tea... sandwiches and a few popsicles...." Miriam Eversoul said reading the labels on the drinks and pulling a can of soda and a sandwich. "Seems legit enough..."

And without much fanfare she opened both and took a sip and a bite from the food and drink. Ale wasn't sure what was this all about.

"... No reactions..." Reactions to what? Ale was mildly confused at the moment, but Miriam Eversoul was looking at a smartwatch on her wrist, "Sorry about that, I know this is a Saintsworths facility so I needed to make sure, I would suggest you don't eat or drink anything that isn't fully sealed. Just in case."

... It took Ale a few seconds to process why that would be, but soon enough she joined the bits of data about what she was doing and how Miriam Eversoul continued looking at her watch from time to time as she slowly ate and drank from that food.

"... You think I could be poisoned?" Ale asked surprised, poisoning... was not an issue to her, the nanites would make short work of the toxins if they ever entered into her organism, "It should be safe here, right?"

"Never get overconfident," Miriam Eversoul said shaking her head, "The other Scions of the Saintsworths are nutcases, and half the high council is like that or worse. People don't know much about you at the moment, but when they notice it... You may be in danger. I wouldn't be surprised if part of that body armor your asshole of a brother gave you is a way to keep you safe."

The Nuzzler Mk 2?

"Since it has a mode that allows it to become ordinary clothing, he probably gave it to you as insurance." Miriam Eversoul then moved towards the door that went to the outside, "Well, since it looks like a safe enough place I'll go and prepare to move my stuff to the apartment."

Unsaid was the fact that Miriam Eversoul stretched as soon as she walked outside the room. Now Ale understood why the Spartoi didn't even walk inside, but then again, the machine could probably shorten itself in height if it wanted.

"Okay, see you..." Ale was about to say tomorrow, but she then stopped short, she wasn't sure if she would be able to see Miriam Eversoul tomorrow.

"I'll come tomorrow to see you out," Miriam Eversoul said nodding to Ale, "And I will be there at the airport when you arrive there."

Ale nodded and sighed in relief, she wasn't sure why that was important either, but felt it was right.

"Can we call [Big Sister]? For the arrival I mean." Ale asked, she didn't have [Big Sister]'s number saved, she hadn't needed that before, and honestly that part of their life was managed by Alexandra. Most of her contact means came from Hephaestus' Forge mask.

And that was no longer available to her at the moment. Which somewhat confused Ale, since she knew as a fact that Vulcanus (Or at least half of him) worked for the Saintsworths.

"I will check on that side tomorrow. I'll ask Eleanore to get us in contact so they can come and see you when we settle down at the apartment." Miriam Eversoul nodded after a few seconds.

But if they arrived at the apartment... then she didn't need for Miriam Eversoul to schedule the meeting did she? Since [Big Sister] lived a couple doors down.

Ale didn't comment on this and merely nodded, as she was having some weird feeling.

"Thank you," Ale merely nodded and waved at Miriam Eversoul as she walked towards the outside.

It wasn't even half a minute before she had left that the Spartoi returned.

"[Are you ready for take off Lady Ale?]" The spartoi asked.

Ale sighed and turned to look at the Spartoi.

"So, are you Iskander?" Ale asked reading the incoming transmission, "Or one of those twenty that Miriam Eversoul said? Just streaming your consciousness into this body?"

Ale wasn't quite certain which one it would be.

"[I am not Miss Iskander.]" The Spartoi spoke shaking their head, "[But you are correct in assuming that we are controlling this unit remotely, most people just assume we had our bodies modified. Did Miss Iskander inform you beforehand?]"

Ale shook her head at that question. Iskander hadn't told her anything.

"I noticed because of something else," Ale answered, "But let's leave that aside. Did you come to tell me the time of departure?"

"[Yes.]" The Spartoi nodded at Ale, "[We are departing as soon as you load your luggage.]"

Ale nodded in understanding.

"I guessed as much," Ale said as she sighed, "We didn't left as soon as I arrived since Miriam Eversoul walked in, right?"

"[Correct again, Master gave precise instructions that you were to leave as soon as possible and to not allow anyone outside of the needed people to know.]" The Spartoi offered Ale a folder with some printed letters, Ale didn't bother checking them, she knew more or less what they would say. "[And while Miriam Eversoul intentions may be good. Master is right, she is a hypocritical figure.]"

"She wants what's best... And so far is among the very few that seem to admit their mistakes and move forward with the best intentions." Ale said, unsure why she was defending the woman that hadn't any issue violating her privacy first thing when she met them.

"[That may be true, but letting the world know you are here like this would expose you to greater danger. As she correctly guessed before.]" The Spartoi pointed out, "[So do know that we will need to depart either right now or tomorrow we will come up with a new excuse to delay the flight till she leaves the facility.]"

"Then let's go I guess." Ale sighed picking up his backpack and seeing how the Spartoi picked up Alexa's luggage, "Thank you for the help."

"[It's nothing to be thanked for, this costs me nothing and doesn't tire me.]" The Spartoi shrugged, Ale knew that too of course, since this wasn't his real body they probably didn't mind how much weight they had forced upon them, "[The Drake One will depart as soon as you board.]"

Ale turned to follow after the Spartoi as they walked towards the big plane they had seen before, as Ale walked closer to it she noticed that the other four fighter planes were bigger than she had expected.

It seemed that there had been some kind of holographic shenanigans as they were quite bigger and more sturdier looking from up close, as Ale had expected, these were indeed the fighter jets that could turn into gigantic mechanical robots.

"These are also piloted by Spartoi then?" Ale asked as they moved past one of those, the plane had several cameras that Ale felt were following their movements.

"[No, these are piloted by Miss Iskander. Some Spartoi do get to pilot them from time to time, but for this particular mission Master deemed that the highest degree of security would be needed.]" The Spartoi answered Ale's question.

That had been interesting to find out, that would mean that these vehicles could be piloted by a human mind remotely. Meaning that Ale could probably pilot them remotely too.

"Can they truly become giant robots then?" Ale asked the most important question.

They had arrived in front of the Drake One already and the door was already opening, Ale could see the four fighter jets that would escort her back to Ohio.

But she couldn't help and ask, while she didn't see the value to these gigant robots, she couldn't lie and say that she wasn't interested in piloting or seeing one in action. Giant robots beating the heck out of each other were quite a novel sight to behold after all.

"[Yes, they can. I am not sure if you will see them do so today as the transformation does burn quite the amount of energy and fuel though.]" The Spartoi commented, he hadn't finished speaking when Ale heard the sound of mechanical parts moving.

Turning around to follow her hearing Ale caught sight of one of the fighter jets morphing and standing up, one after the other each fighter jet turned into a humanoid form that was close to sixteen meter tall.

Probably around a five-floor building.

Each one of them wielding a different type of weaponry, from one wielding two guns, to the one wielding a rifle, and then the other two wielding melee weapons.

One held a two handed sword while the last one had what looked like an axe...?

Why would a giant robot use an axe of all things?

"[It seems Master left instructions to allow you to see this if you wanted.]" The Spartoi commented, "[I was told these could do partial transformations too when first designed, but that part of the design was thrown away since it was harder to balance and fly around like that.]"

Ale could imagine that the fact that these could smoothly transform like this while grounded was impressive by itself. Ale guessed that most of these transformations were done in the air since it would be easier to have enough space. Unlike how it had been here on the ground.

"Thank you," Ale said turning to the transformed mechanical giant robots.

She also made sure to log the materials that the schematics said they had been made, the fact that their components could tolerate that kind of shift and transformation meant that they would be useful to the project of getting their [CRAB] form back.

"[Would you like to leave a message for Miriam Eversoul for when she arrives later today?]" The Spartoi asked pulling out a notepad.

Later today?

Miriam Eversoul had said that she would come tomorrow though?

"[She will come as soon as we report the departure of Drake One. Or when she notices that we haven't reported said departure and the logs show an empty spot in the traversed routes available.]" The Spartoi elaborated, "[Chances are she will arrive within five minutes of your departure, which is why we are doing it now that she is in the middle of transit.]"

That was... actually smart, if Ale was to be honest.

"Tell her my arrival date and that I am sorry for not being able to wait for her." Ale said after thinking some, "You will pass my message right?"

"[As soon as she arrives to the facilities.]" The Spartoi said with a bow, "[Master asked us to ensure you would have free reign when you arrived home, and Miriam Eversoul will not allow that.]"

She wouldn't?

"But she has been doing her best to help Alexa and me." Ale pointed out, "Why wouldn't she let me do my thing? She knows I can be alone in Columbus Ohio."

"[Because you, Lady Ale. Are a kid.]" The Spartoi answered, "[As thus, she will do her best to keep you in a safe environment, the expected area of activities that Master pointed us for you would put you in the middle of super villain territory, which means Miriam Eversoul will not allow you be there alone.]"

Ale could... actually see that now that she knew more about Miriam Eversoul and how she moved and acted, even if she had some kind of device to detect poisoning, or a device to counteract it, she had actively drunk and eaten food that she suspected could be dangerous to Ale.

The chances of her letting her live as usual and normal in an environment she deemed dangerous were... kinda low.

"I see..." Ale sighed turning her attention back to Drake One, "Is that why Alexanders set up this?"

"[Among other reasons yes. One that is also important is that the holographic projectors don't work during takeoff, so Miriam Eversoul would discover one of the lines of defense, and that can't be permitted.]" The Spartoi said pointing to the four fighter jets behind them. They had returned to their relatively normal form once again, "[So the take off will need to be when no one suspects it.]"

"These actually contribute to the defense of the city?" Ale asked surprised, "I doubt they can be that efficient to fight off armed planes from other forces."

As Miriam Eversoul had said, a missile that can hit a target on the horizon would be too expensive and more efficient than fighting a brawl with these giant robots.

"[They aren't made to fight against other planes, but against megafauna.]" The Spartoi pointed out, "[Against human planes and vehicles of war we just let Miss Cardinal and Miss Iskander take turns.]"

...They let them take turns?

Ale looked confused at the Spartoi who merely pointed upwards, towards the Sky. The accursed Sky.

"They interface and get the ND0 System to intervene?" Ale asked confused, it had that kind of power?

"[I assume that is another secret project from Master, but no. They merely use one of the orbital lasers to destroy the enemy planes.]" The Spartoi shrugged as if it was the most obvious thing, "[But against Megafauna that doesn't work that well, the amount of energy needed is too big for it to be viable, compared to that if we just knock them out or cause grievous wounds on them with the melee weapons then that is good enough. And since these can take humanoid form they are also able to pull back home the corpses of the megafauna, which in turn can be harvested and like that we recoup the losses.]"

That was... actually a good point.

"[In a war against humans a giant robot is indeed a futile and useless thing, but we aren't fighting humans here.]" The Spartoi pointed out, "[AS Master said, we are to become the fire that will light the beacon of civilization.]"

"...He really is putting that everywhere, isn't he?" Ale said sighing, she really should have keep her mouth shut.

"[It is a good way to define our work.]" The Spartoi said in a serious tone, "[Those of us that joined the Spartoi program at the very least believe that, we were less than people, more like bags of meat waiting to die. And Master gave us a way to provide and help humanity move forward. We truly believe that his dreams will serve the betterment of humanity.]"

Ale didn't know how to react to that, so she just nodded and moved towards Drake One. The sooner she boarded it the sooner she would be back in Ohio after all.