SUmmary

Dandelion was planning to have SKK visit Zucchero, but the Helena incident happened, so she contacted them for assistance. Sharkry, WA, and Reissi were sent to extract the Commander, while Springfield stayed in CHE-02 to provide intel support.

WA and Reissi broke through Magni's encirclement and entered the underground facility. With their help, SKK managed to fend off the ambush of the Omen Squad of Magni. Additionally, Dandelion successfully sealed the possessed Helena back into her box.

SKK and his Dolls ambushed the second Magni attack, exited the underground facility, and escaped via a Griffin Black Hawk piloted by Sharkry.

The leader of the attacking Magni forces was a red-haired woman called Lantine. She recognized SKK and revealed she had been present during the Battle of Frankfurt a decade ago. When her subordinates attempted to shoot down the helicopter, two unknown shooters intercepted the missiles, allowing SKK to escape safely.

It was later revealed that the helicopter was a gift from the Zucchero Dolls, intended to be presented to SKK upon his arrival in CHE-02. However, due to the unfolding events, it was used for their escape.

Upon arrival at CHE-02, SKK parted ways with Monsoon. He, Helena, and Colphne were escorted by Macchiato to a high-end apartment-turned-safehouse, where they reunited with Springfield.

After showering and settling in, SKK sat down to discuss the situation with Helena-68. Meanwhile, our Helena remained asleep in her box. Helena-68 noted that whatever had been possessing her was gone, at least for now.

At first, Helena-68 advised SKK not to get involved. However, SKK convinced her of his experience fighting Paradeus, assuring her that he could be trusted and would not meet the same fate as her previous helper.

After some persuasion and earning her trust, Helena-68 finally opened up about what had happened in the town and the underground facility. She revealed that she had been treated as a Machlian/Lunasia type of Saint figure and was subjected to experiments by the Niter and the cultist. Several Statesec agents had attempted to rescue her but ultimately became another experiment subject.

When SKK, Colphne, and Helena passed through the area, Helena-68 had been crying for help, which triggered our Helena to respond to her call. Her ability to call to her kin resembled that of an Isomer.

Once her explanation was over and SKK confirmed Paradues's role in this, Springfield suggested giving Helena-68 a new name to avoid confusion since there's two Helenas now. SKK decided on the name "Melanie."

SKK later reunited with Monsoon at Zucchero Café, where they enjoyed a feast.

After the feast, Springfield confronted SKK about his past decisions, regrets, and burdens. Being a great talker, Springfield helped SKK confront his guilt and find renewed resolve.

However, the moment of peace was short-lived. Springfield received a call from a business partner informing her that SKK's location had been compromised, and whoever was hunting him was closing in. Simultaneously, SKK received a call from Groza, who told him that a highly-armed forces were pursuing the Elmo.

They quickly made plans to leave Zucchero. Sharkry, Reissi, and Monsoon joined SKK to board the helicopter and help the Elmo, while Springfield said she would handle Box-Helena's transport to Lviv with Macchiato. Melanie stayed with SKK, as having two Helenas together posed a significant risk, so splitting them up was deemed safer.

On the Elmo's side,

Earlier, Groza was trying to hack into Sextans damaged base layer to mine some information, but due to the damage, all she finds is incomplete memories of Sextans's past. She was made to be some kind of vessel for a God.

During the hacking, Groza unexpectedly relived her encounter with SKK years ago. Everything played out as she remembered until the end, where she stabbed SKK. Mayling cut off Groza's connection, saving her.

Sometime later, Lantine managed to track the Elmo down. She returned with more forces, turned the entire region into a signal graveyard zone, ambushed the Elmo, and managed to corner Groza's squad.

Initially, Groza planned a suicide attack but survived when the armored vehicle she targeted suddenly exploded. Moments before, she saw a blue butterfly emerging from an azure flower.

SKK arrived just in time, Daiyan and Monsoon butchered the Magni forces, Lantine seethes and order her men to retreat, and all is saved.

After regrouping at the Elmo, Dandelion picked up an emergency signal which turns out to be from Dier, and SKK sent Reissi fetch him.

Dier's in the area to support Squad 404. His and SKK's goal is aligned, and they worked together.

During his inspection on Sextans, Dier discovered that Sextans's chassis utilized Boojum cells, which repaired her systems and rebooted her. Thankfully, due to the damage to her neural cloud, she's now on factory setting. SKK became her new master, and she now acts as a compass for detecting Magni forces.

Shortly after, the Elmo received another emergency signal from a Survey Unit soldier in the area. The dude who sent the signal died but left a working signal relay.

Using the relay, Sextans' compass ability, and Dandelion's support, they pinpointed Squad 404's location and rushed to their aid.

To be continued in Aphelion.