Protect them (Part 1)

Sano wasted no time hunting the avian aragami, no matter how few their number. Maintaining his BURST Status he saw every Chi-You devoured on sight.

In the end, he only found 6. Over 2 hours ago.

Hey now!

Sano flew with his god-arc circling the region, still patrolling for more aragami.

Hello? Anyone in there!? Wake up!

The inmate continued veering haphazardly for any indication of aragami.

Listen to me! There's nothing left to find for miles! We've already gone farther than I'm comfortable with. So can we just head back now?

The inmate was hard-pressed forward, displaying a wolf-like tendency.

RING RING RING

I think you want to get that.

With a snarl, the inmate answered the phone in his pocket.

"Mr.Shimazaki? Hello? Is that you? Am I on hold?" Paylor's voice sang out the speaker.

Sano only answered with a grunt, but that was more than enough for Sakaki.

"Ah, you are there, I'm about wrapped up here, I heard you've been enjoying the sights. But don't get too distracted though, we must be off to the next Satellite Base, see you soon." The call ended.

Sano never responded, or even tried to call back.

NOW, can we head back?

After a moment of thought, Sano completed a U-turn and headed for the walls of the Satellite Base.

When we have a minute we should talk. Even if I'm the only one talking.

"(...I'm sorry.)" Sano thought, as his expression finally softened.

Well, at last, he speaks. The hell happened with you!? Talk to me!

"(Home was like this.)" The inmate flew over the Armor Wall and finally slowed.

Yeah, you said something about that earlier. But it didn't make you jump ship.

"(Home was like this. Then it was gone.)" Sano said.

Yeah, you don't talk about that often.

The inmate caught Paylor in the corner of his eye waving from the clinic, with his jeep. As Sano landed he brought the wind with him, buffeting Paylor's coat.

"Good afternoon, I hope you've enjoyed your sightseeing." Paylor said happily.

Sano peaked around to the side, noting the startled civilians. But mostly the lack of armed guards.

He doesn't look mad. If you pulled this on Churchill though...

"Something wrong? You look like you want to say something." Paylor said.

Sano was always caught off guard by the Doctor's reactions, but the fact that he wasn't even receiving some kind of verbal warning was making HIM uncomfortable.

As the inmate tried to think of what to say, a noise drew both of their attention.

Get back here, BOTH OF YOU!

Sano was put off by the pounding of hooves but recognized the voice.

It was the caretaker woman from before. She was chasing one of her pigs through the street. Along with a miniature horse chasing the pig.

The little pink creature was making a bee-line straight for Sano, with the horse in-tow.

With one big squeal the pig jumped right into the inmates arms.

Immediately the horse came upon the inmate and stood on it hind legs to lick at his face.

Did they follow us here!?

"Thank you! Don't let them get away-Oh hello again!" the caretaker woman said between breaths.

"Uh, hi." Sano said as the pig flailed in his arms happily.

"These two kids saw you coming back and hopped the fence when my back was turned. Naughty little piggy." the woman lightly smacked the pigs stomach. This didn't seem to bother him.

"Me?" Sano said as he felt the horse push its head against his chest.

"Ya know animals can pick up on peoples feelings, when you flew off the first time, they must've been worried about you. How'd you do that anyway? Are you one of the new Gen-3 god-eaters?" the caretaker asked.

"No." Sano said bluntly.

"In fact he's better. One of a kind." Paylor added surprising the inmate.

"Coming from you it must be true Director." the woman said happily.

"Ok say goodbye you two we can't hold these guys up." the caretaker said. The miniature horse licked Sano's face one more time before returning to the caretakers's side.

The pig however was stubborn and tried curl up against Sano further. In response the horse poked the pig by the nose.

"(They came for me...?)" the inmate thought, as he let the young pig nuzzle his chest.

The pink creature wailed as it lamented and returned to the woman's arms.

"So what do you think? Think you'll stay here?" she asked.

The question conflicted Sano so much he could no longer face the woman and her animals. He gripped his god-arc so much it hurt.

Did he want to stay? She only asked because she didn't know his circumstances. But it still felt good to be asked.

"I'll think about it." the inmate said, walking to the jeep past Paylor.

Only the doctor could see the visible frustration on the inmate.

"Yes, I'm afraid we must be off now, more Satellite Bases to see. Farewell." Paylor said as he boarded the jeep.

"Come back soon! The other Bases do it good, but we do it better!" the woman said as the jeep drove away.

"You'll be happy to know there was no mass panic when you flew off, I told the monitoring team that the live bogey was ours and there was nothing to worry about. They couldn't believe their eyes." Paylor said.

In the drivers seat Hosu grit their teeth.

Sakaki gave the order for Hosu to deliver the actual messages, while amidst an array of already pressing phone calls.

Well that explains why we heard no alarms.

Sano didn't give any visible response.

"A flying god-eater you're already being popularized in the child ward. Where did you learn do that anyway?" Paylor asked, his grin expanding.

Sano whinced.

Don't be shy tell him it was ALL-ME!

Sano whinced harder, as he felt the urge to kick his god-arc.

"Actually maybe we should save that conversation for another time. It's far from the topic I had in mind. You came back." Paylor said.

"From where?" Sano asked in confusion.

"From that migrating aragami spot. I assure you they wouldn't of come near the Satellite Base. Atleast not today." Paylor assured.

"I couldn't take that chance." Sano said firmly, making Paylor smile.

"For a place that holds no relevance to you? No meaningful ties?" he asked.

Sano narrowed his eyes at the Doctor and switched his sights to the window.

"It was a nice little home away from home. Took a lot of work to get that up and running. Even more work to protect it." Paylor said, his grin never leaving his face. Sano kept to the window, unwilling to look the man in the eye.

"How long till we reach the next one?" the inmate asked.

"Eeeh, around 30 minutes. You could get there faster by flying, but I'd appreciate it if you stuck around for poor Hosu's sake. Never know when an Aragami might pop-up." Paylor said, making Hosu frown.

What's this man's play here?

"(What is indeed?)" Sano thought.

Following a 30 min. wait Sano and Paylor arrived at the next Satellite Base. It had its own structure compared to the previous base, but it felt no less homey.

Paylor left to continue his work in the nearby clinics, Sano was more or less left to his own devices. No one really approached him, and since he didn't know anyone he didn't approach them carelessly.

The neighborhood children seemed keen on tailing him though, much to the inmates amusement. As a 'hello' Sano morphed his god-arc and ascended to a rooftop.

This became a game of tag between Sano and whatever kids happen to be around. It was then the inmate got an idea.

Roundabout a water tower, Sano lead a bee-line of kids to the clinic and starting flying around the windows.

Even if he couldn't see many of the patients inside, they could see him. One by one the children and adults went up against the windows, gazing at the inmate.

It was then Sano saw just what the Black Plague looked like up close.

It was just as described black tendrils marking the skin. Even on the face.

After flying for several minutes Sano saw Sakaki wave in the middle of children.

"(Time's up.)" the inmate thought.

Aww, it was just getting fun.

The inmate descended to the clinic steps.

"Well I see you've been busy." Paylor said.

Sano grunted in response and turned to face the horde of kids.

"I've gotta go now." he said.

The children whined and cried for him to stay.

"I'm sorry, but we must get moving we're burning daylight. He'll be back I promise you." Paylor said trying make way to the jeep.

Look at this guy putting words in our mouth.

Sano smirked and waved at the children getting inside. They all waved their goodbyes and the jeep went off to the next Satellite Base.

"Most impressive, you got the whole clinic active, I couldn't even get the adults to stay still." Paylor said with a laugh.

"They can never leave?" Sano asked.

"Quarantine or not they need exercise like regular people, but for the most part they can't. The Black Plague spreads through Red Rain and physical contact. We can't rule anything else out at the risk of exposure, but at the very least a surgeon or gas mask will help you feel safe." Paylor explained.

"I understand." Sano said, looking at the rearview mirror. The kids could still be seen waving, but now they were waving towards the clinic.

"(I still havent' seen a Red Rain.)" Sano thought.

Guess that makes us lucky.

"There are 4 Satellite Bases in total, granted the 4th needs finishing touches, and we're securing an area for a 5th. I expect to be busy for days." Paylor said wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.

"(2 more...)" Sano thought.

"SIR, I've just got a report!" Hosu said, interrupting Sano's thoughts.

"Speak." Paylor said.

"A PSION reported somewhere along our route, BLOOD is cited for dispatch, but it'lll be awhile even with a chopper. We're still an hour out, what's your call sir?" Hosu asked.

Before Paylor could answer, the door to the jeep was opened while the vehicle was still in motion.

"Which way?" Sano asked, as his god-arc began to change.

Doctor Sakaki smirked.

"Hosu what's the heading?" Paylor asked, too calmly for Hosu's liking.

"Uh---due North-East, they weren't sure where the Psion was traveling-AAGH!" Hosu felt something kick off the Jeep, causing them to scream.

"Honestly, he could've closed the door on his way out. Hosu, tell BLOOD the situation is in hand and get me Tastumi on the line." Paylor said as he re-closed the door.

You've been pretty gung-ho today you know that?

"(If its in our path, that means it's a threat to the Satellite Base.)" the inmate thought.

I agree, but what I mean is you've REALLY been impulsive. You're not the only one who got knocked for a loop, ya know. You living in one of these places would make me happier than you could ever know.

"(These people won't lose their family like I lost mine.)" Sano thought as he bit his lip.

We're getting closer, I'm starting to shake.

"(We'll end it with one blow.)" Sano thought gripping god-arc. He and the weapon entered BURST status and honed in on their target. A familiar adversary blue and icy. A Yan-Zhi.

This time around, I can protect them.