1 Chapter 1: A Simple Drop Off

Mission 456

Type: Drop Off

I opened up the door and stepped on the sand. I wondered what fun adventures would be waiting for me this time? What new people I would meet? What new places I would se-

You shouldn't be quite so optimistic about walking outside. You do know exactly what kind of world we live in.

You're no fun.

The sun was blazing yellow in the sky and was beating down a rather pleasant, if not intense heat. The sand shifted around by a gentle breeze, getting caught on stones and rocks in the ground. Pinewood trees, torn and ragged with their pines much darker than usual were the only sign that this rather barren-looking hellish landscape was once a forest near the border of America and Canada. Where I have no idea and looking it up would be rather fruitless as I would just forget it.

The sky, once blue, was now sky blue with purple and violet color as well as some hints of magenta mixed in; however, the middle of the sky was pure black with tiny white lights dotted in between. I think they are called stars? Apparently, most people can't see them. Lucky me, though in my personal opinion I think it would just be easier to call them white dots or sky dots.

Ferns and cactuses were scattered around the ground and in the distance were huge black pillars. Behind the shabby, pale, desert-colored house that I live in is one of those black pillars. One time I tried climbing up the pillar. To my surprise, the pillar started looking more and more serrated until it came to a point where it looked like a giant black tooth. Unfortunately, before I could get any further I was stopped by Kellie. She was very worried about me climbing up there. I could tell that she is always worried about me, even if she tries to hide it so well by being so mean to me.

I turned around and gazed up at the black pillar. There were no clouds in the sky, and there hadn't been any for a long time, but it was impossible to see just how far up the pillar went. It was simply out of sight.

I started walking towards it before abruptly turning left and started heading over towards the town. Thinking about the pillar is only gonna cost me time.

I was walking on the dirty and beaten trail that leads from the pillar behind the house I live in that leads to town when a piece of paper fluttered by. I snatched it up and examined it. It was about Isheva again. I wonder if she is gonna come near here? I doubt it since she prefers the cold and likes water so going this far where it is hot and water isn't in large bodies, she would be like a fish out of water. Correction: A fish that could drill underground and breathe just fine and is still very dangerous and just as deadly, only angrier and sicker.

My eyes caught on to something. No, SHE IS COMING HERE!

I double-checked just to make sure. No wait, it was just Shena. I doubt she is one of those Creatures but apparently, she is. She is going to be held in a prison near here! WOW! I can't wait to see her. I bet she has many cool stories to tell.

I don't think you'll be able to talk to her if she is locked up.

.....

Well STILL! I might be able to if I work extra hard! Kellie is as high as they get. Isn't she fourth in command? Not only that but her opinion on matters like this makes her contradict the third in command so she can get her way.

No. She and the third in command are equals. Both are skilled in different categories. There is no fourth in command.

Oh.

I put the paper in my pocket and continued on my way. I wonder what new missions Kellie would have for me today.

I think she said something about a pickup.

Just a pickup? Nothing action-packed?

....You do remember what normally ends up happening during an "action" packed mission, right?

Nope!

I skipped along, humming the tune of my music box back at home. I am quite the weird one. For anyone, I would be quite the sight! A tall teenage girl with electric blue hair and two long twintails on the side of her head, light blue eyes and a rather weird red shade of white pupils, skin untouched by radiation or wounds, and a joyful expression on my face. Then there was her wear. She wore a grey sharp-looking jacket of sorts with no hood and black pants that stopped before my ankles and light grey boots with spikes on the bottom of those boots. I also had a hidden spur on each boot in the front and back. Oh yeah, I also have a light blue tie that is mainly hidden by my jacket as my jacket covers most of the tie.

Oh lord, you need a better description of yourself. I think a picture will suffice. Hey! Can we get a picture in here!

Rude. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah!

My jacket didn't reach my wrists so instead a wrist cuff was on both of my wrists, the same color as my jacket. The same design with the different shadings too.

I once again stopped when I realized I was on the outskirts of the town. There was no one here. Normally there would be people chatting and Iquarks patrolling. No, there would always be Iquarks patrolling here.

I stopped by an apple stand and looked inside. The apples were still there but some of them were a deep red color which makes me think they just got in new apples. A lot of the apples were also on the ground which doesn't really make any sense since Mrs. Terrain is always trying to keep her stand nice and organized.

I picked up an apple and after looking around some more, bit into it. It was nice and sweet! In fact, it was much tastier than usual.

"Hey, Kellie! Do you have any idea what kind of apple this is?"

Kellie was one of my closest friends and the person I have been mentioning. She also is my boss. She doesn't get out much since her legs are weak from an accident but she talks to me through an earpiece. She also spies on me through multiple satellites and many of the ships that she owns which are invisible unless she orders them to become visible.

I feel bad for anyone reading your thoughts. They must be really lost.

A loud buzzing sound interrupted any comeback I had planned.

"Um...I don't. Just uh, leave that there and don't eat it. Maybe they are the reason Mrs. Terrain is missing?"

Kellie sounded different, more disturbed than normal.

"O-oh! My hands are all sticky now."

I put the apple down and licked my hand which had some kind of liquid on it.

"OOOOHHHHHH! My Hand Is Delicious!"

"Uhh, please refrain from doing that."

"No fair! I can't have the apple but I can't even lick the sauce or whatever juice is on my hand! Pick and choose!"

Kellie let out a sigh of defeat.

"Just wait a minute. I need to have a scan done of the area."

A minute passed where nothing happened. Finally,

"You can do both but make it snappy. Anyway, get to the town and wait by the bar called Taxi Laxi. An escort will be arriving shortly."

"YAY!"

I grabbed the apple and bit down enthusiastically. Over the intercom, I could hear Kellie groan with discomfort.

"Did you even listen to what I had to say after I told you that you can eat the apple!?"

I took another big juicy bite and couldn't help but squirm in excitement. It tasted so good!

"Yes Kellie, I did listen. You want me to wait by Taxi Laxi for an escort."

I waved the apple in the air at the direction the ship that usually is stationed here is located, which is to the East of me or to the right to put it in more simple terms.

"I might be weird but I do listen to you. That is one of the reasons I am such a valuable asset to you, right Kellie-chan?"

"You're not Japanese, Sardina," Kellie said through what I could only assume was a gritted and annoyed expression. I like getting on her nerves when she hasn't had her coffee. Normally it wouldn't be this easy but when I get her annoyed fast is when I know that she didn't have her coffee.

"Teehee! Don't tell me your shipment is late."

Three...two..one.

"IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO LATE IF IT WASN'T FOR ISHEVA HAVING SUCH A COFFEE FETISH!"

I giggled as I imagined the scene; Isheva lying asleep next to a destroyed ship and surrounding her was a bunch of coffee. According to Kellie, Isheva loves Kellie's favorite coffee more than any other drink. She hoards that stuff.

"You guys both have a fetish for that stuff."

"Listen here, Sardina," Kellie growled, probably grabbing the microphone and leaning forward to speak as loudly as she could without yelling. "Am coffee is a god-sent drink!"

"But you and Isheva are the only ones who like it."

"The others just don't have good taste! Am has such a refined and dark taste, yet at the same time is sweet and refreshing."

"YOU WANNA SAY THAT TO MY FACE CATHRINE!"

I let out another giggle. Cathrine was chief of navigation. She always comments on Kellie's tastes. Though I didn't hear what she said I assumed it was something about Kellie's taste.

"Anyway, just get going! I am cutting communications for now so try signaling the Osherado if you need help. You already know where it is."

I waved at the cloaked ship.

"Alright. Love ya Kellie-chan!"

"I love you to-WAIT WHAT!"

I quickly took off my earpiece and waited for the yelling to stop. Finally, I heard a jingle and I knew communications were now off. I put on the earpiece and continued walking, taking a big bite out of the apple as I did so.

....

This is getting boring. I was so used to seeing people and talking to them that the eerie silence is so intense...and boring. So very boring. Do they have something important to intend to?

Hey Sardina, look to your right.

I paused mid-step and looked to my right. A green-scaled fish person was lying still on the sand by a huge boulder. It was Fellish. He finally seemed to have changed his style. His pale red shirt is now a deeper red long sleeve shirt and his black short pants were now tan pants! The pants were a mix of jeans but weren't jeans. Those kinds of pants.

"Oh. It's Fellish. I don't think we should wake him."

I can't believe he would fall asleep at his stand but I guess with the long sleeves and the full pants that he couldn't take the heat. He will live but he must be exhausted. He'll probably wake up in a couple of minutes. He also should do something about that red stain on his shirt.

I waved goodbye and tossed my apple up in the air before catching it casually with the same hand. After taking another bite I started walking again. Almost there. I could see the mud-brick wall...there is the gate...and I am through!

What kind of transition was that?

A Sardina transition!

...What answer did I honestly expect from you?

A perfectly normal Sardina answer from me.

The town looked empty. I know that it always looked something like a ghost town but now it definitely does. No Iquarks anywhere too.

SARD! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANY FUN WITH THE IQUARKS IF THERE NOT HERE!

I wouldn't call what you call "fun" with them fun. In fact, I find it stressful and rather tiring.

The Iquarks aren't pushovers. They wouldn't give up their land without a fight. They might leave it for a little while but they would never abandon it. They probably just left because Kellie wanted to help me drop off this package. The Iquarks have a healthy relationship with the government and Kellie, and both respect each other. Neither would backstab the other. Of course, that doesn't mean they haven't fought before. They fight constantly but the casualty count is extremely low. It is more like a petty gang war with accidents happening every few months or so.

"Hey Kellie, can you explain what is going on here?"

I realized that communications are still cut out. I turned towards the east and started waving and pointing towards my ear. A beep sounded in my ear and static buzzed to life.

"Yes, Sardina?"

She got her coffee. I could tell since she sounded much more alert and serious. She wasn't cranky sounding or anything.

"The town is abandoned. Is this your doing?"

"...Uhh. No, but let's just say that everything will get back in order. Right now this is good for us as there are no distractions. This changes nothing."

I let out a giggle. My bad. Never mind! She still doesn't have her coffee. Her voice was cracking at certain points and she nearly fell asleep near the end of the sentence.

"Waking up finally I see. Well, I shall be at the bar in two or three minutes flat. Four at the latest. Keep in touch or are you gonna cut communications again?"

Kellie let out a sigh.

"I won't cut communications. What will be the point if we have to establish them again anyway?"

"You're as smart as always Kellie-chan!"

I felt Kellie start fuming on the other side. It was fun to hear her trying to hide it.

"Just hurry up already!"

I sighed and started walking. I was well done with the delicious apple and I had already licked my hands clean so with no one around I was getting kind of bored.

You have me.

I talk to you all the time!

Now that is cold.

Aha! The bar is in sight! How come no one is waiting outside of it? Maybe I have to go inside?

Blach! Alcohol tastes disgusting! Don't you dare drink any!

I won't...at least, not ye-

PERIOD!

I stopped by outside of the bar and then poked my head in. No one was inside but compared to the apple stand and the other stands in the outskirts this place was completely clean and organized. It looks like the people here just got up and left.

I stopped looking into the bar and started looking around it, checking the alleyway behi-oh.

There were three people standing in the alleyway. Two of them were clearly soldiers while one of them was a bald guy wearing a sharp black suit and red tie. In his hand was a suitcase. He waved at me and I walked over to him.

"Okay. Now go and wa-...you're already here. Well, thanks for making me look like a fool."

The two soldiers gave me a curious look. Strapped around their shoulders was a TG-64. It was a type of gun that was a mix between an M14 and a P-90. It also had a grenade launcher on the bottom and a laser sight. The two soldiers both wore a camouflaged green outfit with very little body armor by the looks of it but Kellia always said that the outfit, while looking like they wouldn't protect from any weapon, is strong enough to stop a bullet. The two soldiers must also be related since both of them have yellow hair and blue eyes. The difference between them is one of them is a girl while the other is a boy. They were around the same height too.

"Your Sardina, right? I need to inject something into your arm."

"....WHAT!? No one said anything about shots being included in this!"

"You're perfectly fine with getting blood drained from you but not when we inject something into you? Jeez."

"Fine. At least make it quick."

I held out my right arm and pulled back my sleeve. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited. I felt a sharp little pinch and the feeling of something getting injected into my bloodstream made me squirm. Finally, I felt a bandage go over the spot where I was injected.

"It is done, Sardina."

Kellie let out a sigh.

"That means you can open your eyes."

I opened my eyes and looked at the bandage. It was a cute blue bandage with a picture of a princess on it wearing a blue dress. She was cute.

"I don't get why you think one is worse than the other. They both feel the same except for the blood one the needle stays in longer. Shouldn't that make you more uncomfortable? I know it does for me and everyone I know agrees."

"It's the feeling," I say, covering the bandage with my sleeve, "the feeling of something getting injected inside you. Something that doesn't belong. It is just unnerving."

"Is the mission to get this somewhere or to someone?"

"Yep."

I let out a sigh of relief.

"Good! The sooner I get this out the better!"

"You can feel it? Oh, wait, yeah you can. My bad."

I giggled. Kellie forgetting stuff? She must be really tired. Who knew a girl could run on coffee?

"Alright, Kellie-chan! Where do you want me to go?"

".....I hate your guts. Those two soldiers will escort you to a team. That team will then bring you to your destination. Geroff, please go to the rondevu point pronto. Another team is waiting there so don't worry. Nothing is in the town as well but please hurry."

Geroff nodded and picked up the briefcase. He must have taken the shot out of there. He blinked at me and then walked out of the alley. The two soldiers looked at him until he went out of sight. They then turned towards me with an uncertain look in their eyes.

"Don't worry, Iquarks won't attack any government official just walking to be picked up without a good reason, and even then the chances of that are low as who would want a fight?"

The soldiers still looked uncertain.

"You know, she is right. The Iquarks won't attack him. Come on, soldiers, let's a go."

I smiled at the woman. She sounded nice. There was still some uncertainty in her eyes though like they were worried about something else

The two escorted me through a part of town known for their food. I desperately wanted to get some but they just kept on going and if I ever wanted to see Shena then I must keep going. Finally, we reached the outskirts of the town again, and waiting there was a big dropship. Surrounding it were many soldiers, these ones wearing black-grey body armor carrying all sorts of weapons, though mainly there were TG-64's. The two guards stopped there and gave me a thumbs-up before turning around and going to speak with a big soldier wearing a visor and a helmet.

"Now just go left until you see a small house. Go in there, get that special liquid taken out of you, then get out and head for the dropship. You got it?"

I let out a chuckle.

"I've been doing this for how long? You don't have to worry Kellie-chan! Nee!"

"Wow, you're excited."

Nee is something I say when I am excited. It is more of a habit since I can't really control when I say it. Kellie says it is a rather nice and cute feature to me.

You say it too, Sardenia!

Nope! And I Barely say it!

I let out another giggle, earning me a look from a couple of the soldiers who could hear me giggle. Another thing about me that Kellie thinks is cute is that I always giggle.

You're quite the quirky girl.

We are one and the same you know.

I'd like to think my past is a little more refined than yours.

What does that mean?

Ahh, forget about it.

I frowned, earning me a couple of weird looks from the soldiers watching me. I wonder why that is. Didn't they get a briefing?

I don't think that was their priority. By the looks of things, these guys are used to city life. They probably are used to evacuating citizens and helping the CAPU take down creatures.

Ahh! They would get massacred if they meet some of the wildlife here, or if they pick a fight with the Iquarks.

Yep! They think they're so high and mighty because they deal with massive, powerful, and quick creatures. When it comes to agile, quick, extremely hard to kill, and somewhat small, and used to killing armed forces wildlife here they are fucked!

But it would be so sad to watch.

Yeah, your right. All of these innocent souls. I hope nothing bad happens to them.

Sardenia! You're gonna jinx it!

Relax! The Iquarks protect this area! They wouldn't want government soldiers dying on their land. It would be seen as pathetic in their eyes. Same with the government, who protects areas when the Iquarks are gone.

True. Maybe that is what they are doing.

Quite the wide-scale protection they were doing then.

"GET A MOVE ON ALREADY!!!"

I let out another giggle and I knew I had a mischievous glint in my eyes.

"Alrighty, Kellie-chan! Anything for you!"

An unintelligible muttering sound came from the headset and then it suddenly and abruptly stopped. I heard a small jingly play and it was clear that she had cut off communications. I let out another giggle and couldn't help but say Nee again before I started walking to the left.

"To Adventure!" I cried out cheerfully.

You're delusional. Sardenia muttered out. Life as usual I guess.

....

Did you know it is impossible to outrun your own reflection?

....

I finally laid eyes on the little house. It was a Japanese-styled temple-like house. I may be completely wrong about that though. It had a red roof and a red stripe running through the side of the house diagonally. The rest of the house was a pale white tan color. I walked up to the sliding door. Outside there was a nice cherry blossom tree. Now that I think of it, this place was blooming with life. It looked more alive than anywhere I have been. On the way here there was a line of bushes. It was twenty seconds away from the dropship and out of view, tucked behind a large boulder. The Iquarks probably know about this place but try to keep it out of public view. If people found out there was no saying what they might do.

I knocked on the door and to my surprise, nearly punched through it. It looked new but it was definitely old. The wood seemed rotten up close. I guess the Iquarks can't really preserve something they don't want house builders to see. Does anyone actually know the style of this place?

Probably not.

"Hello? Someone there?"

"H-hello? Yes, my name is Sardina Terrokati. I am here because my friend Kellie ordered me too. She is my boss as well as my friend."

An old lady wearing a pink robe opened the door. She had a hunched back and wore a kind smile.

"Ah! Hello there. My name is Ai. Ai Nisobaki."

Your text is in all caps too...though I reckon that comes with the font. (The font didn't travel through and I am too lazy to fix it)

How come you can see the text!

I read code. You should know by now that the world is made up of coding that very few beings can see, and even fewer can actually mess with. Though to call it a video game is saying everything is fake. The code is just to wrap everything up but the world isn't all code. It just is our consciousness being trapped together an-

YES, I KNOW! Everything isn't a video game even if it has code. Code is just there. This code is also different from video game coding as it is completely different. AND name one other person who can see code other than when a creature exerts too much power causing reality to shift and bend, converting bits of reality into visible code!

No. Fuck off.

Say sod off Sardenia!

I get to decide what I say.

Anyway, you never actually met a person who could, did you?

I did. Now stop ignoring the old lady.

She didn't even say anything yet!

No, but you have your arms crossed for no reason and are looking at where my voice is coming from. You look like your angry at so-

"Don't worry, I read the file. You're talking to Sardenia, aren't you?"

And now we are both blushing. Great.

"Yes, sorry. I know it must be weird."

Ai let out a chuckle.

"Not weird at all considering your circumstances."

I let out an embarrassed laugh.

"You guys have quite the interesting relationship, always getting on each other's nerves but always forgiving one another. I wish I had a relationship like that with my sister."

I and Sardenia blushed even harder.

Get on with it Sardina.

Stop being so bossy!

THEN HURRY!

Fine!

"Well, I might as well get this out of my bloodstream."

I started scratching at the area where the liquid was. It hasn't left the area where I was injected.

"Ah, well come inside."

....

And we are now blind. Due to Ai's request, we didn't put up any security cameras in her house. I wanted to place in secret ones but of course, Kendrick brought up the elder's request card. Dumb idiot! Can't he see just how important it is to keep Sardina safe? I mean, while it's not like she can die or anything, she can be put to sleep and then be taken away. We did plan countermeasures, like the fact that there is a bomb or multiple bombs planted in her body. We also have multiple trackers on and in her body. We also have her energy source pinned and even her code and energy bomb readings. She is a near-impossible target to keep hidden from us. I would say impossible but while some things are, capturing her from us is improbable, not impossible. We learned that the hard way when we first hired her. A couple of missions and some hidden company got their filthy hands on her. Damn insects.

No one will hurt Sardina. She is like a precious child...who just happens to be the biggest and weirdest problem that my fleet has. At first, I was mad that I had to babysit her instead of using my fleet to attack the Creatures but now I have grown attached to her. Of course, my second and third fleet are doing fine, if not the third fleet hasn't been doing too well as of recent attacks. My fourth fleet is alright though and still waiting to be used.

"JUN! Get a drone squadron ready just in case. Launch them on my command so in other words, be ready."

"Yes, Mamm."

I was glad that even though I was babysitting, Chloe still allowed me my crew. I couldn't even ask for a better crew even if I tried. Loyal, smart, and were people I was all friends with both in and outside of work. They also don't treat me like a kid.

"Establish communication with Sardina. I don't think Ai will try anything but they still haven't come out yet...Oh, here they are."

Sardina and Ai step out of the door, Sardina looking grateful to probably have the TX-06 removed from her body. The company that stole Sardina stole TX-05 but luckily we had enough data on it to make an even better and stronger one. Jokes on them, huh.

I turned on communications. Now let's hope nothing goes wrong. I am expecting a rookie to be here any minute now.

....

That was quick. Do you think this will give me a chance?

You had a chance to begin with, Sardina.

I was almost upon the bush path. I can't wait to go on the dropship. It has been quite some time since I was on one. It was exciting. I wonder how Iquarks feel about going on dropships.

Toushobark says it makes him feel queasy.

Yeah. They must despise going on ships.

What makes you say that?

"Why don't you explain why Iquarks don't like going on ships Kellie."

"Huh? Me? Where did this come from?"

I let out a giggle at Kellie's confusion.

"Sardenia wants to know."

"Well alright. Iquarks hate going on ships since they have no record of ever using their own ships. They have two heavily armored war fleets carrying heavy firepower and a skilled crew but they rarely use them. There is no record of them using them for war other than for meetings, hence why there is no record of them."

"See now Sardenia! Kellie-chan for the win!"

I think I might start calling her Kellie-chan now. Ever since you started doing it more she has been becoming more and more annoyed.....

And soon she will accept it fully. Even as of now she is slowly accepting that Sardina will call her chan. Then we will start calling her senpai as we planned all along.

Yessss!

"Neee!"

Neee!

"Why are you getting so excited?"

I let out a giggle that all too well spoke of mischievous.

"Nothing."

"<_<"

Wait. Don't Iquarks leave town for a different reason too?

I stopped in front of a bush. There was a berry on the bush that looked tasty. I picked it up and tasted it. It was delicious! It had the taste of the apple mixed in with the berry! IT WAS SO GOOD!

"Speaking of ships, let me go check in on the dropship."

I looked around and noticed some other berries. They were orange but some of them were mixed with scarlet red darted in. Some of them tasted delicious while some did not. I wonder how I never saw them before?

"Hey Kellie-chan, don't Iquarks also go away if a strong pack of Visguarks are around?"

And at the same time Kellie says "Now that I think of it, there was no Visguarks around in the to-"

Then together;

"Oh Shit."

Oh Shit.

I stopped eating the berries.

"Is something going on?"

"Hey Kellie, you're gonna have to walk home by yourself today. Sorry about that. Just...see that much smaller bush path behind that bush?"

I looked at the bushes until I noticed a small gap behind one with a trail leading to somewhere. It was so full of foliage on both sides of the trail that it looked like a jungle. (Which I only ever saw in picture books)

"This one?"

"Yep. That should lead you right into town. Please go there and don't go to the dropship."

I cocked my head before smiling with my eyes closed.

"Alright, Kellie-chan! Nee!"

I went through the hidden bush trail as she commanded and soon enough I ended back in town, behind the knack shop. How no one ever noticed this before was a mystery. I guess the knack shop isn't really popular so I guess not many people paid attention to it.

I wonder how the dropship is doing.

Oh, don't worry about it, Sardina. Just focus on going back to the house. We can have so much fun in the house too so we better hurry.

I let out a smile.

"Yeah, you're right as usual Sardenia. Let's get going. Maybe we can have an apple too. Who knows?"

I felt Sardenia let out a smile too.

Yeah, who knows.

....

The metal door behind me opened. I knew who was here. I spun around in my chair to face him.

"Ah! Rookie. Welcome to the Galleon, my flagship."

I spun back around and opened a file before expanding it on a hoo screen in front of the control room.

"That girl with the blue hair is Sardina. Our mission is to watch over and protect Sardina. We also use her for many missions. Now here is the biggest thing you need to know when working with Sardina."

I opened up a live feed of Sardina. She was at the apple stand holding an apple.

"Hey Kellie, can I eat this?"

The rookie let out a small gasp.

"Yeah, go on and eat it. You've done well."

Sardina yelled Nee! before taking a big bite. I knew what the rookie was gasping at. It was a horror scene if I have ever seen one. Littered about were dead bodies. Most were half-eaten while some were eaten to the point where it was beyond recognition what kind of species they were. And the apples that Sardina thought were delicious were coated in blood from their owner, who laid dead just outside the station. To Sardina, none of this was happening. She was delusional and insane to put it lightly.

"Sardina Terrokati is one of the Creatures like Isheva and Shard. It is unclear if her real form or her Creature form is in fact the form you see here. Sardina has a friend that she talks to who may or may not be a version of her from an alternate reality named Sardenia. By Sardenia's words alone though. she says that she is the only alternate reality of Sardina. Sardina has a unique ability. She has a four-hundred-meter kill range when she is in a mental loss state. She has these...feelers? Katanas? Hands? that she controls. Normally her range is four meters and Sardenia's is three and both are more in control at two meters but if Sardina goes into a mentally unstable state and goes aggressive, their range will expand to four hundred meters.

"Sardenia has a kill range of eight hundred meters when Sardina is in a mental state of loss but normally has a kill range of three hundred meters. Sardina and Sardenia can heal back from anything and their pain receptors are inverted in a way that they don't feel much pain at all. Sardenia can make herself visible and tangible with some effort. Other abilities of theirs include matter manipulation and blue energy that can act as fire. Sardina, like the other Creatures, has a love for meat. Unlike the other Creatures, Sardina also loves fruits. Unlike again from the other Creatures, Sardina loves the flesh and blood of humanoid creatures. That is why she finds the apple coated in blood so delicious. It has human blood on it.

"It is important that you must keep normality around Sardina as if she finds out the truth about the world around her she will be sent into a mental panic where two things will happen. The first thing to happen and the most common is for her pupils to turn completely white. When in this state she will sit down, hands covering her head, and stay that way for hours or even days on end crying. During this time Sardenia is very protective of her. The second option is that Sardina's pupils will turn entirely red. In that case, she is to be either subdued or left alone. She will become aggressive, killing anything in a four hundred meter range unless something attacks her from out of that, which then she will kill that thing down and attack the moment they are in her nine hundred meter kill range. She is most effective with using her feelers when in this state. Either she will calm down herself or we will subdue her and get one of her friends to talk with Sardenia or Sardina herself to calm her down. Once both states are done she will forget the entire incident and go back to being the way she is now, happy and friendly and totally deluded to the way life is around her. That is probably for the best though."

I opened a feed to the dropship, showing the massacre that happened. A large pack of Visguarks was feasting on the soldiers there. Only four got away but one of them was gravely injured. These soldiers knew how to fight large Creatures, but when it came to the terrors that are the Visguarks, they didn't even manage to take down one.

"Sardina won't snap when in battle unless she gets in a situation where she is impaled, had her heart taken out, etc. Even then the chances of her breaking down are forty percent. But seeing a massacre increases the chances of a mental breakdown and while it may be true that Sardina might have been able to save some of the soldiers' lives, the chances of her having a breakdown are too much of a risk so we had to send her away. Don't think of us as monsters for that since if Sardina had gone aggressive...many more lives would be killed."

"Oh yeah. The last fact is that both Sardina and Sardenia are considered immortal due to their regenerative abilities."

I closed the feed of the dropship and looked back at the rookie.

"I hope you now understand what we are doing here. Please keep this to yourself and tell no one outside of here. I hope your file wasn't lying about your skill as a navigation planner. We are gonna need you going forward."

The rookie nodded, his eyes still looking at the file of Sardina and the live feed of Sardina tossing up the bloody apple, half-eaten, in the air and catching it, talking to no doubt Sardenia. Who knew babysitting could be this messed up?