"Moebius..."
Unlike usual, Sanguinius didn't teleport to Cortana in the DxD universe, but to the AI Moebius.
Upon his arrival, the remaining members of the Neo-Citadel's S.E.N.A. seemed to be discussing some unknown topic.
By glancing at the document lying on the table, he could grasp a bit of the debate's essence but...
'Building a Sacred Gear is an easily achievable goal, but there's no rush.'
Sanguinius judges the clones' actions too hasty, but then again, it's possible that he's the problem.
He had also noticed that he'd been having a strange perception of time for a while now.
A phenomenon that seems to have originated after his little tour in Jaehwan's body and the very nature of that body.
While he was slightly lost in his thoughts and endless mental monologues...
The computer creature appeared on his shoulder.
[A problem, master?]
[I detect a slight annoyance in your tone.]
As usual, she expresses herself quickly and simply to Sanguinius.
The blonde man with reptilian eyes, not concealed like in Axel, showed his usual nonchalant side.
There was a slight frown on his face.
"Why did you let the angels attack Cortana?"
Yes, that's the main question leading to his presence here, and not directly with his creations on Earth's surface.
The holographic fairy didn't panic in front of her creator's creator's annoyed face. She simply displayed several pieces of data in front of him and Sanguinius.
Can you see it?
It took a small minute for Sanguinius to nod in understanding toward the Earth-orbiting AI.
[I have tons of things to do "master", my current projects are originally yours,] she said, taking off from his shoulders to float in front of him.
Although the AI's "polite" tone contained a certain trace of sarcasm, she was right according to the information provided.
[I can't use precious resources for a colleague incapable of dealing with lower and intermediate class creatures.]
[You really want me to do an orbital strike in the Mediterranean? Haha, too funny. But more seriously, if she can't eliminate these intruders, then good riddance.]
As she was about to disappear or deactivate her holographic projection...
Moebius felt a cold current behind her.
A machina has no instinct... at least, Moebius had always believed it, and her daily life had only reinforced this idea.
Until that day.
The AI met the eyes of an annoyed "awakened."
A creature capable of cutting and destroying things supposed to be untouchable in the collective sense.
Especially since the "Trust" accumulated by Sanguinius offers him powers not yet completely understood by him.
He's supposed to embody a saint for many ordinary people, a hero for others, and for some others, he's simply considered perfect.
Even now, Sanguinius feels capable of warping the cracks of reality... as long as he stays within this theme.
"I'll grant you that, you're right, but..."
He grasped the hologram, which should be intangible by Moebius's will, and brought it closer to his face.
A gesture defying logic, but a saint performs miracles, right?
And this isn't as absurd as a certain Quincy, who comes back to life every time or gets out miraculously in desperate situations.
"But avoid disrespecting a senior subordinate, understood?"
Moebius frantically nodded her little head.
'I... I went too far.'
He got a bit carried away because of Moebius's remarks, and ended up intimidating this child.
Result: a little fairy on the verge of tears.
Yet, he couldn't show weakness here.
Thus, he decided to give carrots later since he had already given some stick hits.
"Excellent, continue your activities and be a good girl," he said, wiping the little pearl of "tear" from the corners of the AI's eyes.
"Shit, the original made a little girl cry."
"Anyway, I never could stand that one."
"Idiot, the administrator set her to Tsundere. She's not really mean."
His clones' comments made him feel like scum, who intimidates children.
But Sanguinius reassured himself: AIs don't count.
After some manipulations in the control center, he could observe the situation in real time on the island.
"An Astartes?"
The project isn't finished yet in Axel, so Sanguinius had a slight doubt at the moment.
But the identity of the man in red, who's 3.50 m tall, didn't take long to appear in his mind.
'Thrax... You've grown quite a bit, kid.'
...
Noise.
A chainsword's motor resonates loudly in the bunker's corridor, while Cortana's voice tries to reason with the uninvited angels to leave.
But, in vain.
Finally, after an unknown time...
Thrax had already finished putting on all the equipment stored in the armory, which was completed by Cortana.
"... Red."
That's the color of his Power Armor, which was among the few available and functional ones.
Creating armor used by classic Space Marines wasn't really an easy task for the current Cortana.
She could have used magic to make her task easier, but the object had to be purely technological, according to the orders of the time.
The result is a technological jewel, which was created with care and attention.
The Power Armor allows its wearer to survive and fight in extreme environments and difficult conditions, but also to provide various options increasing survival chances in case of serious injuries.
Especially since they globally improve the Astartes' senses and physical capabilities.
Examples of its functions are: dorsal reactor, armor system control by thought thanks to the interface, air recycling, body temperature control, toxin purification system, night vision, thermal, infrared, telemetry, optical zoom, ammunition and health display, automatic threat identification and target marking, ballistic analysis and trajectory corrector for integrated weapons.
The list is very long, and this varies according to the Chapter (special additions), according to the Astartes' Chapter.
Cortana didn't just have to create one armor... but thousands at once, while guaranteeing correct quality.
Thrax didn't appreciate the red color.
It evoked many unpleasant memories for him, and his eyes instinctively went toward an intimidating blue armor.
His instinct found its menacing appearance correct, but he had decided to leave it there.
It wasn't finished yet.
As his chainsword's motor roared...
The boy... no, the imposing man opened his mouth to express himself to the AI, opposed to the idea of her opening the passage to the outside of the base.
"I know I haven't had time to adapt to my interface (or Black Carapace) and other details yet," he said, looking toward the holographic projection.
"But... I know my body," he continued, with a determined air.
"So open this door."
From beginning to end, Cortana didn't respond.
She knew this man in front of her too well to try to stop him by authoritarian means, because that's counterproductive.
A nature softened through training, but still present.
After all, he had already fled the facilities once because of the rigid rules and severe discipline of the Night Lords legion training, before the surgical operation.
A situation understood by Sanguinius and Cortana at the time, because no one would like to stay locked up for months in a dark room where you repeatedly killed various creatures (the Humanoids were Servitors
disguised as criminals).
(Image)
[Be careful.]
"Worry about the adversaries instead."
Without adding more, he left the base, a bolter in hand and a chainsword in the other.
...
During the angels' ineffective assault on the base's shield, a head suddenly exploded under the blow of a bolter bullet.
At first, the angels thought they were becoming spectators of a morbid vision, as their temporary leader, Beatrix, fell toward the ground.
But...
They quickly understood that their nightmare was beginning the moment they spotted a giant in red armor watching them, an unknown weapon in hand.
'... divinity and ?'
Touki was an unknown thing for angels of such a low level in the celestial hierarchy, but the aura emitted by the giant was overwhelming.
The concept of war and violence literally breathed from him.
At that moment, they all understood.
If Michael doesn't come quickly... they will die.