Darling in the Franx: Alternate Core

Chapter 19: The Garden Where It All Began... and Ends.

(The Dom!) 

All three of them carried a hyper-bazooka and the insignia of a red and black 4-pointed star. Soon enough, female voices were heard over the radio...

???: /Ha! Another score for the R&B Tri-stars!/

???: /That will show those seven apes!/

???: /How did we do, sensei?/

The voice of Char soon spoke through the radio: /Good performance, but you still require refining your techniques. You take too much time following through your teamwork and tag combos, you make the speed of rookies of the Federation look like a bullet train. Am I clear on what needs to be worked on?/

The Tri-Stars: /Yes sir!!!/

Char: /Good, RTB to the Hermes for exfil./

As he closed communication and waited for the team to return to the airship, Alexander soon spoke: - That's the third one. We have been losing enough time taking out targets of opportunity. –

Char: - If we're taking them out is because we have the luxury of time Alex. –

Alexander: - We can lose it for many reasons, you know!! –

Char: - You being super impatient to seeing your son is one of them? –

Alexander: - I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE!!! Do you know how many years it has been?! –

Char: - I know, and I also know that you can endure a few more days. Keep complaining and I can make sure it extends to weeks. –

Alexander: - Why you little...! –

Char: - Alexander... this is your ONLY shot and you know it. Once operation 'Cinder' starts, all attempts for contact with APE units will be banned which will make your attempts to reach your son not only illegal but will also put you on the 'blacklist' of the Federation. Even if your son still lives and joins our side, that means that you won't see him for more years to come. Are you REALLY willing to exchange days into more years? –

Alexander was silent, he knew damn well that Char was right. This was literally his ONLY opportunity to reunite and rescue his son. If he could, he would have done that long time ago... but his brother and his girlfriend dissuaded him as his method would prove too risky so they both tried doing it their own way... and credit where credit is due... they almost did it... but they ultimately failed, and his brother's girlfriend lost her life, and his brother never became the same without her. Filled with guilt, he decided to continue his quest alone and that was the last time he saw his brother personally. The aftermath of that day was what formed the 'Disavowed', a group of freedom fighters that found the Federation's way too slow and decided to take the fight to their lines. This cost them their affiliation with the SMC and were declared 'Rogues', which limited their resources and numbers, and as such, it never gave Alexander a new window to rescue his son... until recently.

Alexander: - Fine... you win for now Char. –

Char: - Glad to know you're still capable of reasoning... and to show you I'm not ungrateful, I have some big Intel about your son that just came in. –

He had Alexander's attention now...

Char: - Apparently, her 'Highness' interest has been piqued by his squadron. She has been testing them all with her infamous 'trials'... -

Alexander grimaced at the thought: - Seriously? That's a little overkill even for us. How many squad mates did my son lose? –

Char: - None... -

Alexander: - What?! –

Char: - None. First, your son is not the leader and, he and his partner, the famous 'Stamen Killer', haven't been trialed personally, only his friends were. Second, against all odds, each one of them managed to best the Judges: ALL. THREE. Which leads me to the third report and the most important: your brother's pupil is with them... -