Clone Girls

Ticia took the time to inspect her surroundings.

A room with familiar machinery she knew nothing about, where tubes filled with unknown substances went back and forth into the wall, ceiling and the machinery itself. The wide room was crammed with these machines as far as her eyes could see. Although there were a lot of them, you could still walk up to each machine’s front where a small tablet showed the state of the machinery.

Ticia recognised these machines. Although they seemed to be of a different model from the ones in CI3, these were clearly growth pods. Some looked brand new, while some others had traces of dust and rust, showing their age. Most of them seemed to be a mix of both new parts and older ones…

This resulted in the room having quite the smell…

You can smell the dust, the rust and the moist, but also the burnt scent of welding, the peculiar odour of newly made bioplastic as well as some kind of medicine… Yup, it’s that smell.

Ticia did not mind the smell, in fact, this mix of scents felt familiar and nostalgic…

The room in which the Nulls grew up was similar to this one, albeit on a smaller scale…

Ticia smiled wryly as she remembered the past, the thrill and expectations as well as the pressure she felt back then marked her. Strangely enough however, she felt calmer than she thought she would be.

Rika looked around, a wondrous look on her face. She had told Ticia before that she actually never came here before. Ria and Mia on the other hand did not react in any way, they were familiar with this place.

“Apologies for the mess, Owner, I did my best to fulfill your request in the shortest delays.” Atrax-ia’s apologetic voice reverberated from a nearby wall speaker, bringing Ticia out of her thoughts.

She could see drones and subservient AIs in between the ranks of machineries, seemingly doing maintenance runs.

“Don’t worry about it.” Ticia said with a smile, still looking at the machinery. “So long as there are no problems with the equipment, I don’t mind a bit of a mess.” She noticed, thinking back on how unreliable the growth pods used for the ECGs and Nulls were, but it’s not like much could be done at the time anyway.

“Don’t worry mom! Everything is in running order!” Nia declared proudly, puffing up her chest. Ticia knew her daughter was a serious worker, so she had no doubts about her tech-crazed daughter’s work.

“Now then Owner, how about we go to the central unit?” Rebot-ia excitedly said, making a display blink a bright light. This made Atrax-ia protest a bit since her sister AI was intruding her domain, but Rebot-ia simply laughed it off.

Ticia did as the AI suggested. The central unit was put on a small pedestal from which you could see all the rows of growing pods. Its design was rather simple and the computer seemed a little rusty. A closer look told her that it was currently glitching, but when she was about to ask the AIs if this was normal, Mia gave the computer a punch. The computer stopped glitching afterwards.

“...”

Ticia looked at her daughter with a questioning look, to which Mia replied ‘it happens sometimes’ with a smile…

That’s a bit worrying… Is everything REALLY gonna be alright?

“Now then, let’s begin!” Atrax-ia said excitedly, switching the screen's loading window to a new one. “I’ve compiled a few templates for you owner. Are you familiar with clone classes?”

“Clone classes?” Ticia said, tilting her head before nodding. “I’ve got some notions, but I don’t know much, so tell me more.” She said, remembering what her first AI told her about clone creation.

Since she only roughly knew the basics and Rika knew nothing about the cloning process, she asked Atrax-ia for a detailed explanation.

“To enhance efficiency, a set of gene enhancements is usually given to clones which will serve a specific role. For example, if you want a clone to work on hard, laborious jobs, you enhance his/her physical abilities. If you want the clone to fulfill a scientific role however, you enhance his/her brain and through deductions. A clone with the former specificities would be classed as ‘Labourer’ for example, while a clone with the latter specificities would be classed as ‘Scientist’, or something like that.” The AI explained.

She continued, saying that any clones would receive the according title in their ID number in order for humans to immediately understand their role.

“There are some exceptions of course, such as your current daughters. The AI in charge at the time called the 12 ‘prototypes’ ‘Nulls’. The name itself has not really been used to call prototypes like this before, and due to their specificities as, well, ‘prototypes’, they all have different gene enhancements. The same applies for the ECGs. That AI called them ‘Emergency Clone Girls’ because they were made in a rush.”

“Also, do note that the template is not a rigid case but a flexible one. A clone can be based on a template and have additional modifications added or removed to better fit to their specified role. In this case they still fit in the same template, so they’ll keep the same letter.”

“Right. Templates are created only if you want a specific role to be fulfilled by a specifically modified clone for a better performance. It can be useful for some tasks, but I do not recommend making a specific class for each role you can find. That would be too inefficient.” 

“By the way, the code numbers of clones will be reset to zero each time a new batch is created. In order to differentiate each generation, we add the batch number they were from.”  Rebot-ia added

“So basically, since this is the first batch you are creating, their code names will be ‘CG-number/1.”

“I see…” Ticia nodded in understanding. What the AI said seemed logical to her. She looked towards Rika to see whether she understood for now. Rika had a thoughtful look on her face and when she noticed Ticia looking at her, she smiled.

“Moving on…” Atrax-ia continued. “Your previous AI had already made a few classes. Here they are.”

The screen blinked and a new window opened.

Ticia nodded. She remembered A4 talking to her about the SCG class.

If I remember correctly, this class is based on Mia, Nia and Nicia. I don’t know about LCGs and CGs, but OCG? Yeah, that’s based on Ria for sure. Also, what’s up with that ‘your average daughter’? 

Ticia had no doubt this was the work of one of the two AIs in front of her since A4 was incapable of cracking a joke. At least she thought so…

“Now, here’s a list of additional classes me and Rebot-ia have made to complete the list. They are not as ‘basic’ as the other four, but still needed in my opinion.” Atrax-ia said, scrolling down the window page and opening a new slide.

“Why specialise troops for reconnaissance?” Ticia asked after reading everything. She had some questions about these classes.

“Because it’s extremely important.” Rika answered, smiling. “Knowing where the enemy is and what they are doing is the basics of the battlefield, which is why I sent you so often on recon missions.”

That made Ticia grunt a bit as she remembered the past. There were some times where she was put into delicate situations because of these reconnaissance missions. Still, it showed how much Rika trusted her and relied on her.

On the side Ticia could also see Ria nodding in agreement with Rika’s words.

“These RCGs will also get trained to be able to move and fight in any hazardous environments, be it thick forests and jungles, deserts or mountains.” Atrax-ia added.

“So they’re versatile.” Ticia concluded, to which Rika nodded.

“They can’t replace standard troops either though.”

“Got it. What about the commandos?” Ticia asked next.

“They’re based on both Willia and Nillia, Owner.” Rebot-ia said.

Ticia thought so too. The enhancements these two had received were mainly physical after all. Imagining multiple of her daughters with strength and toughness similar to her beloved daughters made Ticia smirk. 

There’s no way any regular soldier would stand a chance against them.

“Just like the Ionians, we need troops that can move independently from the main army and lead deep strike operations.” Rika added her own opinion.

“They’ll be our elite, mother. I think we should use them as elite assault troops.” 

“You got the words out of my mouth, Ria.” Rika smiled, to which Ria huffed, a small grin on her face as she answered back confidently 

“I learned from the best.”

Ticia watched the interaction between the two with an envious look.

I’m kinda jealous… Ah! No good, I can’t think that way!

“Hey mom, mom! Can you guess who the MecCGs are based upon?” Nia said on the side. This was just the distraction Ticia needed.

“Of course it’s you.” She said back, rolling her eyes at her daughter’s smug face.

“You absolutely need to make some of them!” Her daughter said. “I’ll need some second opinions when developing our arsenal!”

“Got it.” Ticia said, though she also wanted to be involved in this. “And you better not be a bad influence on them, got it?”

“O-of course mother… Ha… Haha…” Nia forced a laugh, but Ticia could see she was sweating bullets.

This girl… I better keep an eye on her… Ticia sighed at her daughter’s shenanigans.

Ticia asked a few more questions to clarify each and every clone class shown to her.

Aside from SecCGs and SNCGs, It looks like I need most of them… She deducted. In her opinion, the need for protection could be done by regular CGs or clones right now, though that might change later on.

As for why selecting MCGs and not SNCGs, this had to do with Nathalia’s demand. The woman asked for assault troops right now, not crewmembers. Ticia would ask for her to train navy crews later on if their collaboration continued or if the woman asked it herself.

While Ticia was thinking about what classes to select, Nia dragged Rika away to ‘inspect’ the growing pods. Rika was curious about them and the tech crazed Null CG was more than happy to explain to her all the details.

“Before you finish your selection, Owner, there are a few experimental classes I’d like you to check out…” 

“...Experimental?” Ticia frowned. What did Atrax-ia mean by that?

“Your genetic code is just too interesting. It is so malleable, you can literally do whatever you want with it. So I was wondering whether we could try out some other modifications that are out of norms or stuff like that…”

“Hmmm…” Ticia was unsure. In the back of her mind floated the abominations she had seen back in the laboratories. Failed clones that were nothing more than mass of flesh you could not make sense of. Ticia definitely did not want that…

“It’s okay mom, I’ll make sure things are done correctly.” Mia said from the side, smiling. 

“I also think this is a good idea.” Ria also chided in.

“You girls… Okay, but don’t go too far.” She ended up acquiescing.

“Great! Here are some suggestions.” Atrax-ia said, opening a new slide.

“You want to duplicate Ticinia’s power?” Ticia frowned, stopping reading after the first one. The part about ‘singing and dancing’ also made her frown, but for all she cared, that was not really a problem in and of itself. She was curious what Ticinia had in mind for them.

“Yes, Ticinia’s power defies scientific logic, so I’m extremely interested in it. Is it a one time wonder? Or could it be replicated?”

“It should be fine to produce a few, Mother. Even if they can’t reproduce Ticinia’s ability to a lower extent, they can still act like the Ionian republic’s inspectors.”

Ticia nodded. What her second daughter said made sense. She decided to focus on the next template.

“Mh? Isn’t this identical to the Nulls?” Ticia said as she looked at her own daughters. 

“Not really. The Nulls were made in order to calibrate the cloning process. These ones will be taken from already stable stems.” Atrax-ia answered.

“In other words, from us, mom.” Mia said from the side.

“I see…” Ticia nodded.

“There is a catch however. Just like the Nulls, ACGs will have high authority and independent thought, so do be careful.”

“There’s nothing we can do about the authority thing. The stronger the gene enhancements, the higher the level of authority over other clones…”

“Which is why we call them ‘advanced’. It doesn't sound as negative as ‘experimental’.”

“Besides, they’ll still be under us.” Mia added to the AIs’ arguments.

“Obviously.” Ria said after a huff, in a somewhat proud tone. “So don’t worry about it mom, we’ll take care of it.”

“Ok, I’ll trust you girls." Ticia decided this was worth the risk. Diversifying her arsenal was a must for the future. She also agreed with the denomination. 

Ticia went on to read the last experimental template.

“...Eh?” Ticia’s brain froze as she read the rest of the description. She suddenly felt warm growing on her cheeks. 

“W-we’re not doing that one!” She declared in a fluster.

“Eh? Why not, Owner? Your genetic code is a wonder, and based on the results from your own existence, it could work. So why not mix-”

“I said no! And in the first place, can it even be called ‘cloning’!?” Ticia said angrily. “Delete that template!”

“...Understood, Owner.” The AI obeyed, albeit in a dispirited voice. The template disappeared from the screen.

“C-calm down mom, think of it calmly!” Ria said in a panic, which was rare from her. Mia also seemed flustered by her mother’s reaction.

“You girls, if it worked, do you realize what this would mean?” Ticia said, anger in her voice. 

““W-well…”” Both stuttered, seemingly well aware of the implications and searching for a good argument. Ticia would not have that.

“So you do huh?” She said. “No means no. Don’t bring up this topic again.”

““...”” The two Nulls went silent. They probably had not expected their mother to be opposed this much to it.

“Is something wrong Ticia? I heard you raising your voice…”

“Eh? No, n-nothing wrong at all! Don’t worry about that…” Ticia heard Rika’s voice behind her. Startled, Ticia turned in a hurry, laughing dryly as she hid the computer’s screen from Rika for some reason…

Why did I do that? That’s so suspicious!

Rika also looked a bit confused, but decided not to delve on the matter.

Meanwhile, Ticia heard her daughters whisper among themselves.

“...It’s a no go huh?” Nia said.

““Yeah…””

“Damn, guess Vinia is gonna be upset about it. That was her idea.”

What!? That was Vinia’s idea!? I need to have a serious discussion with her. You can’t play around with stuff like that… Ticia thought. There were simply too many things involved with what this TCG class suggested, and Ticia was not keen on agreeing with it…

But why am I so flustered about it… She thought, glancing at Rika. Rika looked back, tilting her head. Ticia sighed, regaining her calm.

“...Let’s continue where we left off.” She said out loud. “Rika, what’s your opinion as a general?”

“You’re asking me about the composition?” Rika said back, thinking for a bit before answering.

“Usually, you need two thirds of active combat personnel in a unit the size of a brigade or larger, the rest is mainly logistic, maintenance and administrative.”

“That many?” Ticia frowned.

“Of course. While not on the level of a division, a brigade is a small village in and off itself. We need the correct amount of personnel to ensure performance, if not more."

“But what we need right now is frontline units, not backline.”

“Indeed. Hmm… I think forming four logistics companies should do the job for now…” Rika concluded after thinking about it for a moment.

“That’s a higher level than on the division level.” Ria remarked, raising an eyebrow at the number. “Usually you only need one company for a brigade.”

“Yeah, but I think we would be better with our logistical support being independent from the brigade for the moment.” Rika explained her point.

“That's true. That way they can also help out other units and not be stuck with the brigade where they are not needed. If we add to that the personnel you need for the administration company, plus the staff needed at HQ… I’d say around five hundred are needed.” Ria said back after a short calculation.

“Got it, five hundred it is.” Ticia agreed with the experts’ opinions. “The rest?”

“A brigade of infantry is formed at minimum by three infantry battalions and various support battalions. We can round off the manpower to one thousand each, minus the officers, of course.”

“Three each.” Ria said decisively. “One in charge, a second in command, and a reserve officer.”

Ticia looked at her daughter. It appeared she had already decided the internal structure of each unit. Since OCGs would be based on Ria, Ticia agreed. Ria was better placed to decide.

The discussion continued for a while to set up the total number. Aside from the three infantry battalions, some other units that would normally work independently were added to the structure. Some of the Nulls had requested help, and Ticia tried her best to incorporate their demands while striking a balance.

“...So, let me sum it up. Three infantry battalions. Two demi-battalions of RCGs for recon with one specialized in mountain fighting while the other in forest fights. One regiment of artillery for support with four batteries. A mechanized squadron, one support company, a medical corps, four logistic companies, a small pioneer troop, a signal company, a maintenance company, an administration company, one task force of CCGs, MCGs and SOCGs, a brigade headquarters and a commissariat. How many clones would that make?”

“That would total five thousand eight hundred and fifteen. Above the number you requested, but still within our production limits. Would you like to know how many clones of each class that would make?”

“Yes.” Ticia said, and a new window opened on the computer’s screen.

Ticia nodded at the numbers. Some units were understrength, others were too numerous, so much so that this could hardly be considered a ‘brigade’, but this was made considering her group’s current needs.

“We have a bit too many Commandos I think.” Ria commented from the side.

“That’s true, but I don’t expect us to lead any ‘regular’ battle for a while.” Rika answered. “Besides, there's the others.”

Rika was referring to the clones. If you added them to the balance then certainly, the proportions sounded about right.

“Mom, why not have some regular CGs with Miria and Tiria’s gene modification?” Mia suddenly said.

“Mmmh… What would be the benefits from that?” Ticia asked, unsure. Sure, the ability of her twin daughter had some advantages, but also some big flaws…

“We can make it less impactful.” Mia continued. “We can try to take it to a degree where they can only ‘sense’ each other. Theoretically.”

“Theoretically?” Ticia was not reassured by the last part, but she sighed. “Fine, but just a few.”

“Now, before we proceed further. Owner, would you like to add some ACGs to the list?” Atrax-ia asked her owner.

“Hmmm… I do have some ideas…” Ticia said, putting a hand under her shin as she thought. “We’ve talked about weather adapted units, but can that be done on the genetic level?”

“Oh, that should be doable.” Atrax-ia replied in a somewhat interested tone.

“We probably won’t have to fight in immensely high or low temperatures, but preparing for the future can’t hurt.” Ria mumbled, nodding to herself.

Ticia suggested other ideas, and so did Rika. Their exchanges concluded that they needed a few more ACGs to test the waters.

In addition to the two weather resistant variants, an ACG would be created to test G-resistance in order to create an air force in the future. Another one would be created to see whether a close-combat and martial artist expert class would have any use. An ACG that has strong regenerative ability and finally, four ACGs with a modified version of the twin’s power to see if it could be applied to a group.

“I’d like to add a last one if possible…”Ticia mumbled in discontent. Something was bothering her…

“Sure, what’s your idea?” Rika asked.

“Nothing!”

“Wha-? Ugh, Ticia…” Rika could not help but facepalm, sighing at Ticia’s wide smiling face. 

“Sorry, I just like round numbers.”

Hehe, I couldn’t help myself… Ticia thought with a somewhat guilty pleasure. While it was true that she had absolutely no idea and she liked round numbers, it was also true that she somewhat enjoyed playing dumb with Rika.

She was always the brain after all. I simply followed orders as an uneducated orphan.

“Well, fine. How about maxing out all senses for one of them?” Rika suggested, rolling her eyes. She had understood her former subordinate’s joke.

“Oh, but Lidia’s already like that.” Ticia immediately answered.

“Not quite, mom.” Mia said from the side. “While Seventh Sister has enhanced senses, they’re not all on the same level. She only has hearing and sight maxed up. Having an all max senses would be… interesting…”

The creepy smile on her daughter’s face made Ticia think twice before agreeing. Even her other daughters took a step back from Mia…

“I’d recommend maxing out her mind enhancements too though. Otherwise her brain will go boom-boom.” 

“B-boom-boom!?” Ticia was horrified by Rebot-ia’s light comment.

What do you mean by that!?

Mia nodded, thinking seriously.

“Certainly, strong senses could overwhelm the brain and cause… erm, a short-circuit?” She said, weighting her words as she glanced towards Ticia. 

“Mia… Please don’t use mechanical terms to describe a horrific way to die…” Nia, her sister, said from her side, shaking as she hugged herself just imagining the scene.

“Mh? Would you rather I detail everything as scientifically as possible?” Mia said, tilting her head.

“That's even worse!” Nia replied back, taking another step back. Mia giggled a little, making her mother sigh a bit. Her daughter was joking around.

Even Mia did not want to terrify Ticia or her sisters about these negative effects…

“Anyway. We should try it mom. The pros outweigh the cons.” Mia concluded. For a moment, Ticia looked at Rika and Ria to see their opinion.

Ria nodded, seemingly convinced, while Rika expressed her favor after thinking a bit.

“Alrighty then! We’ve got our full production list!” Atrax-ia said happily. “Now, about their implanted knowledge…”

Atrax-ia directed the conversation towards the implanted knowledge after the talks on the ACGs were finished. The talks quickly moved on to the level of loyalty that should be implanted from birth within the clones.

Ticia was opposed to complete and blind obedience towards her. She wanted her daughters to think freely and even suggested not implanting any loyalty within them, but Ria insisted some precautions needed to be taken. There was a bit of a back and forth between the two and Ticia had to compromise after the other Nulls agreed with Ria’s opinion and even Rika leaned towards Ria.

“We’ll go for a medium level of obedience and make sure to emphasize the ‘family’ part.” Ticia concluded after struggling with her own morals, satisfying most of the other’s worries.

“But still… Perhaps we should go up to high for some of them like the ACGs, SOCGs and CoCGs…” Ria still seemed unsatisfied.

“Nope, not doing that.” Ticia shot it down. She thought high loyalty could become problematic in the long term…

Loyalty could transform into fanaticism, and I’m not about to start a religion…

Most concerning to her were the ACGs. If they really were similar to the Nulls, then chances are this implanted loyalty could have some backlash and make them rebel if they get disillusioned…

“I’ll just have to make everyone happy. You’ll help me with that, won’t you, dear?”

“...If you put it like that, then I can’t object, mom…”

Though Ria expressed some concerns, Ticia’s motherly words and hug made it impossible for her to refute and she sighed, smiling wryly.

“As for your official position-”

“Of course I’m their Mother!” Ticia said before the AI could finish her words.

Ticia’s proud words made her daughters smile. Mia and Nia in particular seemed extremely happy.

“Hehe… I remember when mom didn’t want to be OUR mom.”

“I’m happy our sisters will never know this fate.”

“Buh!” 

At her daughters‘ innocent remembrance of the past, Ticia took damage.

Sorry! I’m really sorry girls, I was so indecisive back then!

Seeing her mom like that, Ria sighed. 

“It's ok mom, we understand now that we’ve grown up. It’s all in the past.” She said, a wry smile on her face.

“Ria…” Ticia looked at her second daughter with tears in her eyes, but just as she was about to hug her…

“Ahem. Not that I wish to interrupt this fond scene, but we’ve got five thousand eight hundred and twenty five new girls in the waiting here…” Atrax-ia suddenly said, which was unusual of her. The AI was usually meek towards Ticia and the Nulls…

Is Rebot-ia dyeing on her?

“What I want to clear up is Miss Rika’s status, Owner.”

“My status?” Rika tilted her head.

“Yes. Basically, to make sure the new CGs recognise you as a superior without having Owner saying it. We would avoid any confusion this way.”

Ticia thought for a bit. What was Rika’s position indeed? She was a general to all, a close friend of hers, and a… nanny to the Nulls and ECGs?

“Why not put her as a ‘second mother’?” Ria suddenly said.

““Eh?””

““Agreed!””

While Ticia and Rika were surprised, Mia and Nia immediately agreed to the suggestion.

“W-wait wait wait! Ria!? Girls!? What do you mean by that!?” Ticia panicked.

 Wouldn’t that mean they think me and Rika are-

“What exactly are you thinking mom?” Ria said, rolling her eyes. “We don’t mean anything by that. Geez, sometimes you’re just like Licia…”

Well duh. She's a copy of me! Ticia wanted to say, but held herself as she tried to calm herself. But more importantly… Why is the thought of- flustering me!? Calm down Ticia, it’s all because of that clone class they suggested before!

“R-rather than a ‘second mother’ I was thinking we could put Rika as a ‘nanny’ ?” Ticia managed to say in a trembling voice.

“That won’t do mom.” Ria shut it down immediately. “Rika did more for us than a nanny ever would. Riley is more akin to a nanny honestly.”

““That’s right!”” Both Mia and Nia agreed.

R-Ria, you were supposed to be the reasonable one… Ticia complained in her head, but it appeared her daughters would not back down. Just as she was about to raise her voice to firmly deny-

“...I don’t mind.”

“-Eh?”

“I don’t mind if they think of me as their ‘mom’.” Rika said with a serious look on her face.

“...Rika, have you thought of all the implications that would mean?” Ticia asked, mirroring Rika’s serious expression with a slight hint of anger added. She did not think Rika was such a person, but she hoped her friend did not say such thighs lightly.

“And you Ticia? Have you ever thought of how many five thousand is?” Rika replied back, not backing down. 

Tension rose as a heavy silence took place. No one dared to speak up and the three present Null CGs looked at their ‘mother figures’’s tense glaring contest with a worried look.

“Do you seriously think you can satisfy all of them just by yourself?” Rika finally said.

“I’ll manage somehow.” Ticia said back, not standing down.

“You’ll manage huh? Just like back then? On Brelia 7? Ticia, use your brain for a bit.”

“This is a completely different matter.”

“It’s not. It’s always the same. You’re trying to deal with everything on your own once again.”

“That-”

“Ticia. Do you really think I would say this lightly?” Rika cut off Ticia, although Rika looked calm, Ticia could tell she was angry, just like she was.

Rika continued.

“If you asked that of me back on Brelia 7, then sure, I would have said no. But not now. I’ve grown attached to these girls, and I’m not just talking about the Nulls. I also cherish the ECGs. Their unsure nature when faced with common sense, something they do not have, is cute. They might look like adults, but they’re like innocent children inside.”

“I know that much.” Ticia said back, grinding her teeth. “You won’t back down?”

“I won’t and you know it Ticia.” Rika replied.

They glared at each other in silence for a few seconds before Ticia closed her eyes.

“...Yeah, I know it.” She said, turning her back to Rika. “Fine, have it your way. Atrax-ia, do it, but don’t make them call her ‘second mother’.”

“Erm… G-got it… I’ll also put Emily as ‘Grandmother’, Chloe as great-aunt and Riley as ‘nanny’.” The AI said, sounding meek. Nobody asked for Riley or Chloe's opinions on the matter though.

Rika simply sighed back, not saying anything afterwards.

The Nulls also looked worried and Ticia felt frustrated about it. To them, it looked like they were the cause of the tension between her and Rika.

But it's not their fault, rather… 

Ticia did not finish her thoughts. Her stupid pride wouldn’t let her, not now while she was emotional.

Since this was the last part before launching production, Atrax-ia launched production afterwards. 

The machines let out a new humming as liquid flowed through the tubes. The production was launched and everyone watched in silence. The atmosphere was still tense between Rika and Ticia, Yet Ticia knew this could not keep going. There were still so many things they had to do…

Once she had calmed down, she would have a talk with Rika, just the two of them.

***

Bronz let out a depressed sigh as she looked at her little sister, ECG-002, from her seat. 

After coming back, all wounded ECGs were pressed to go to the infirmary. Nillia immediately checked every one of them and made her own diagnosis, scolding them for their recklessness. While Fana and her sisters from her squad had woken up, it was not the case for ECG-002 and Jinxy. Both of them were still in a coma. They were put into a separate room. Nothing could be done to make them wake up.

The ECGs that remained on Borkian Prime asked their sisters about what exactly had happened, worried and confused by their sister’s depressed and tense atmosphere. Yet none of the ECGs that had followed their mother answered. All of them had their own thoughts to deal with.

Bronz was the most shaken by the experience. She felt responsible for everything.

“Bronz, I understand you’re worried, but we can’t do anything right now…” Bronz heard from behind her as she felt a hand be put on her right shoulder. There was Nicia, a sad smile on her face.

“Prime sister…” Bronz could not finish her words as Nicia shook her head. 

“It’s my job.” Nicia said back to her.

Bronz might have been one of the most frequent visitors to this room, but it was nothing compared to Nicia. She rarely left the room when she had nothing else to do…

Still, Bronz could not motivate herself to do anything. Everytime she met her sisters and they asked for directions, she felt lost. This was the first time this happened to her and she did not know what to do. She did not want to bother her mother about it, nor her prime sisters. 

“...Well, I guess it’s fine for tonight.” Nicia gave up and let out a sigh. “I’m gonna go check on the others, call me if anything happens.”

And like this, she left the room. Bronz’s gaze went back on her sleeping sisters.

How could she have prevented their wounds? How could she have predicted what their enemies would do? Was she really fit to lead? Such thoughts crossed her mind.

No one entered the room afterwards, leaving her in silence. Only the beeping sounds of machinery checking the status of her sisters was heard continuously.

She did not know how much time passed, but Nicia had yet to come back. Perhaps she had gone to bed, she thought. 

She should have done the same, but she did not feel like sleeping…

“How long are you going to stay here?” 

Bronz suddenly heard a voice from behind her. She turned, it was Emily.

“Get up.” Emily said in a tone full of authority.

Bronz was a bit surprised, but she decided to obey.

Not so soon had she done so that Emily grabbed one of her wrist and dragged her out of the room.

“G-grandmother? Where are you leading me?”

“The training ground.”