Well well well, we're back and I got a new chapter for you guys.

Enjoy ^^

PS. My proofreader is kinda unavailable right now. If anyone finds mistakes please tell me, I'll fix them right away.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

I tilted my head and mustered him, it was very unusual for him to say something like that. Normally he had been the calm and collected one, of course he was emotional sometimes but he always had had an answer or at least an opinion about things. Songe was surprised as well looking at his comrade with an open mouth. Karen on the other hand barely had a change of emotion, her only reaction was to lift one of her eyebrows.

"You know I would never force you to do this. I have always given all of you a choice concerning the non-official missions. Still, I want to ask you why?"

He ignored me and Songe and looked directly into Karen's eyes.

"Karen, where does our loyalty belong? Who is it we owe our loyalty to?"

Surprised I almost said A3 out loud but stopped myself in time, this was not somewhere I should intervene. Karen mustered him throughout, her gaze seemingly piercing through her subordinate. Ignar remained calm and almost looked accusingly at Karen as she answered.

"Our ultimate loyalty? I'd rather hear your answer to this, I'm not sure if you'd like mine."

He barely moved his body as he averted his gaze.

"Karen, in the military structure my loyalty will always belong to you. Whether the clan or command says otherwise doesn't matter, this will always remain true as long as I breath. But A3's loyalty, OUR loyalty shouldn't belong with any military installations. We have but one obligation, to secure the lives and living conditions of the citizen of the United States of America.

I cannot call the battle of New York a success and with what you're telling me... We're going to threaten the balance amongst the countries of the world?"

Shaking his head he continues.

"I do not know if I can follow you through this plan. We'd be effectively trading Rose's life for chaos in the world. You know I would never abandon a comrade, Rose is important for me as well... But I am not blinded by this either, we'd be singlehandedly destroying any remaining stability keeping your Clan in check.

This being said, my honest opinion is to take the odds of our normal facilities to save Rose. Yes, she might die but I'm sure she wouldn't want to wake up in a world dominated by your Clan."

Then he faced her again.

"Karen, in the end you are still my superior and I trust your judgment. If you order me to follow you into these missions I will do it. A-"

Before he can finish Karen cuts him off by holding one hand in front of herself.

"Ignar, I will never force you to do these things with us. I understand how you feel and that you don't want to bear the responsibility of giving the Clan this power. But you must understand, I do not wish to bear the responsibility of losing Rose while I know she can be saved.

Losing comrades cannot always be avoided but as soon as I am able to keep one alive... I will always choose this path. You talked about loyalty, mine never belonged with the military, it fully belongs to my comrades."

It felt like Ignar was about to rebuke her but then he simply sighed.

"Can you promise me something Karen? After this is done, after we have saved Rose, I want you to cut all connections with the Clan. If needed to fight against them too. If you can do this, I'll see these objectives through."

Karen's entire expression was cold and she seemed nervous. Eventually she answered with a conceding attitude.

"Ignar, I'm not going to lie. Our chances of succeeding without you are substantially lower but I do not wish to force you."

Then she lifted one hand above her heart.

"I swear that if we manage to capture the targets of the Clan and heal Rose that I will cut any remaining connections of A3 with the Clan."

With this Ignar seemed satisfied for the moment, though we could still see that he was still bothered by something.

"Very well Karen... If you really think this is our way to do it... but remember one thing. Should we ever endanger a big number of citizen I will do everything in my might to protect those in need. I was not able to follow this objective during New York because we had official orders and others had already been on it. But this will be something entirely else and I doubt that Rose would want us to sacrifice normal humans for her wellbeing."

She looked at him and with sadness I noticed a spark of disappointment in her eyes before any trace of it disappeared. Then she saluted in front of him with a smile.

"I can accept that and I wouldn't have expected anything else of you Sergeant. Glad to see you onboard."

Turning around she simply walked out of the room, I wasn't sure if I had imagined it but it seemed like she was biting her lip as she stormed outside. Shaking my head I turn towards my two comrades. Ignar was the oldest member of A3 in age and the second eldest in time served, I guess he still had the original values of the military he joined inside him... As for me, I did not feel any obligation to save the citizen of the USA, or any country as a matter of fact. Looking at it from an outsiders perspective it certainly seemed cruel but that was just how it was. Of course I would help someone in need if I could. But if someone that was important to me was in danger I knew that I'd drop a hundred lives to save one. A small smile appeared on my face.

That was just how human I still was.

Ignar noticed me and patted my shoulder.

"Do not worry about it too much, I do not expect you to understand my feelings. You simply have not served long enough. It will eventually come to you. Christian knows the obligation too but he is blinded by sorrow and will not see the dangers."

With that he looks at the board in front of him again and moves his last piece, making Songe accept his loss. Afterwards he stood up and left the room, before fully exiting he gave us a last look.

"As long as you follow your own conviction I will respect it. But always remember, you cannot bargain with the Clan and expect to get a positive outcome. The only ones that will benefit from it are their own members. Nobody else."

Then he was gone and left Songe thinking about the game and me thinking about our own situation. In the end Songe walked away afterwards, leaving me alone in the cafeteria. Eventually I ate some leftovers and headed to my room. Arriving there I got rid of my clothes and threw myself into the bed.

Ignar had made me realize how young and selfish I was. But I already had said that my comrades would come first and that I simply could not feel any responsibility towards humans I did not know.

Ultimately it took me two hours to fall into a uneasy sleep.

It was a dreamless night that was eventually disturbed by a loud banging noise. Annoyed I opened my eyes to blast whatever was interrupting my rest into oblivion but quickly realized that it was simply somebody knocking on my door. Still sleepy I yank myself of the bed and open the portal to the outside world that was straining my patience.

"Anyone care to die?"

With a devilish smile I look outside, facing me was a surprised Karen that looked down once before tilting her head.

"Alex, do me a favor and put on some clothes. Liam has come up with a plan, we're gathering all members so he can present it. We'll be meeting in 20 minutes in the cafeteria, get ready and head there please... and next time don't open the door fully when you don't know who's on the other side. Some people might enjoy the view but then there are others that'd die of shame."

With that she closed the door in front of me and I could feel her leave. With a burning face I turned back to my bed and put on my normal clothes. I had only realized I stood in front of the door naked.... too late.

My face was still red as I eventually found my way to the cafeteria once more. Inside I could make out Karen who seemed to be slightly smiling at me. Or it was just my imagination, though it did not matter, my cheeks definitely should not be that color.

The last one to arrive was Christian, who had a dark expression, he still seemed stressed out due to Rose. Looking around everyone was seated at one table facing the still standing Liam. His eyes seemed eerily alive.

"Ok, since everyone is gathered how about we get started."

He threw multiple brown envelopes onto the table and motioned us to open them. Inside where multiple copies of Arthus and his cult's reports.

"We've all read through these reports multiple times and I've come to the conclusion that our best chance to get to Arthus would be to join their cult."

Ignar looked like he wanted to say something but Liam stopped him.

"I know what you're thinking, our chances are extremely slim to get in contact with their as plain humans. But we've still got two espers, me and Alex here."

Pointing at me his entire behavior turned decisive.

"We can still cover our limbs with the synthesized skin from the labs. I'm sure that the Clan has some kind of idea where Arthus is, if we're allowed to infiltrate the Welten we could potentially find the ones we're looking for."

Doubt showed in our faces as we heard of his plan, though Karen seemed to nod slightly. Ignar was the first one to ask a question.

"I'm pretty sure that the Clan already tried this, why do you think we would have a higher chance of success?"

Once more he pointed at me.

"Alexis here started to modify my power somehow, she seems to be able to read thoughts once in a while, if she can train that power I'm pretty sure we'd be able to find out his location if we only get close enough to high ranking members."

It made sense, in a way. Then thinking about it... not really, silently I raised my hand.

"Liam, I currently cannot control that part of your power enough and I seriously doubt that the Clan does not have any mind reading espers amongst them."

The others nodded at what I had said. Other, stronger espers surely had tried this before as well. But he only grinned with an air of insanity.

"You don't realize what Alexis has what nobody else really has, she has the ability to recreate memories. I am quite sure that even if the espers from the Welten resist any mind reading that nobody can obstruct her ability to form their own memories inside her brain. And I know that you're able to do this Alex, you were able to manipulate your brain into 'remembering' my past. As such you only need to find out the setup of their brains."

I tilted my head as I thought about what he was saying. It was most certainly possible, though I would have to go through quite some trouble to do so. With anticipation in their faces the others waited for my reaction.

In the end I gave in.

"It can work. I would have to force my cells to build a separate brain, but it can work. I'm ok with going with his plan, as I honestly don't think we're going to have any better ideas that the Clan hasn't come up with yet."

Karen examined everyone of us before nodding herself.

"Very well then, it's planned then. We're going to Germany and Liam and Alex will infiltrate Arthus Welten to find the location of their . The rest of us will be on standby and get ready to react. We're going to meet up with one of the Clans' teams there. Any objections?"

Nobody raised their voices though Ignar did not seem content. Liam on the other hand was obviously glad.

"Ok, everyone pack up what you need, we'll be heading out as soon as I get a plane ready for us."

Suddenly I realized something and raised my hand. Tilting her head Karen looked at me and gestured me to ask what I wanted. Barely audible I voiced my concern.

"Ehm.... I don't know any German..."