12Sorry for those or all of you that was expecting a chapter of Zekken, Ladybug, & Cat Noir, I started this new fanfic recently since no one made a crossover for SAO and Darling in the Franxx. I wanted to finish one chapter at least so I could post it as soon as possible, but the next one updated will be Z, LB, & CN. Also I never read anything ahead of the anime so I don't know how season 3 ended and Kirito's condition out of the STL.
Chapter 1 Code:000
It's been months after the Underworld incident. Kirito has mostly recovered from his brain damage and the production of the Soul Translator resumed again, under Kikuoka's group.
The young couple entered the quiet cafe and seated in one of the booths, anticipating Kikuoka's arrival. Asuna constantly checked her phone, looking at Kazuto's heart rate. Trying to calm herself from distress, "Are you sure testing a new game is ok in your condition?" The raven haired teen was hesitant to respond, he was still unsure of his health, some memories are still vague to him.
He lifted his hand to move strands of her chestnut hair to face her hazel eyes, "I'm testing it in the STL, nothing will hurt me. Besides it kept me alive after the encounter with Laughing Coffin." He moved his hand down to hers, bringing it closer to admire the ring upon her finger, "It's even better now that you're always gonna be with me."
A pink tinge appears on her face with a smile, "I'll always be your partner, till death will do us part." she gave him a little peck on the cheek.
Shortly after, a door swung open and shut. A familiar man in a gray suit with a stern look approached the two, holding a thin leather bag in his right hand. Asuna was slightly alarmed unlike Kazuto who stayed serene. Kikuoka fixed his glasses and turned his attention towards the two, "Good Morning Kirito-san, Asuna-san. Both of you know why you're here right?"
"To know more about this new system that we're beta testing." said Kazuto, both thrilled to know but perplexed at the same time.
Kikuoka opened his bag brought out a laptop, revealing slides of the world inside, "This program is called Code 000. Unlike the Underworld, it's set in the future where Earth is now a wasteland. Humanity discovered a magma energy that provoked these atrocious beings called Klaxosaurs." On the screen was designs of black and blue creatures in various shapes and sizes, but looked massive and destructive. "These monsters are attracted by the magma, but you two, along with many other pairs will be piloting a robot that's called a FranXX which functions mainly on the compatibility levels between a male and a female." On the screen was the structure of the FranXX, the exterior looked like female robot with a magma powered lance. "This is the reason why I wanted Asuna-san to join you."
Asuna tilts her head, looking closely at the cockpit, "Why is there only one seat in the entire body? Where does the other partner go?"
Kikuoka looked at his watch, "Well sadly, we cannot finish this conversation. A helicopter is waiting to transport us back to the Ocean Turtle. Someone in the system will explain the rest, but now we should go." He packed up his stuff, "Follow me." He stood up and left the cafe, with Asuna and Kazuto trailing behind.
Over the Ocean Turtle
The helicopter hovered near the Ocean Turtle, Kazuto peeked out the tinted window, "So that's how the base looks like..." The exterior was of a four sided pyramid, about a 25-story building, covered with a layer of black, hexagonal solar panels that looked like a shell. The helicopter started to descend onto a green landing pad, near the roof of the facility. Kikuoka left the chopper immediately after the helicopter landed, he then opened the back door as they unbuckled our seat belts. "Higa-san and Rinko-san are waiting for us in the main shaft. Let's go."
They proceeded to follow him down the hallways, Kazuto spotted multiple cameras through the corridors. Asuna noticed his observation, "When I first went down this hall, they thought I was Rinko-san's assistant, Mayuri Reynolds. Even the camera couldn't see through my disguise, which was only a wig with sunglasses." The two chuckled at the system security.
Eventually they stopped in front of a metal double door, "And we're here" Kikuoka entered a code in a panel near the door and faced a camera, soon after the door slid open. Inside was the main control room, Higa was lounging around in his chair probably napping while Rinko looked through the world on the screen at the opposite side of the room. Kazuto stared at the screen, speculating on a dome on the screen. There were people living inside the dome. Oddly they were all adults, not even one child was roaming around.
Rinko turned around to see the three, "Yuuki-san, Kirigaya-san, good to see you two again. Anyways let's head over to the STLs." Higa woke up and waved at Kirito and Asuna, she smiled as Ichiemon rolled up to Higa, distracting him as the four left towards the STLs.
Kazuto thought about that robot, mumbling "I wonder if I could make a body for Yui to control." he began to zone out, imagining the design and how overjoyed their daughter would be. Asuna nudged his arm when they arrived, nurse Aki was waiting inside, it was reassuring that a friend was gonna watch over them.
Kikuoka explains how the testing will operate, "For the next 5 days, the two of you will stay here and test the system. For 4 days, you will be brought out 3 times for meals and for cleansing and don't worry, time will be slowed down so you don't miss a thing. During those 4 days will be about a year in the STL, starting around the end of July. On the last day here, you will rest normally and we'd like a full review on its concept."
Kazuto comments, "So a break every month, that's sounds great."
Nurse Aki hands us some white garments for us to wear, we went into separate changing rooms and set our clothes aside. They went through the basic set up procedure, even had to decontaminate the whole room. Kirito and Asuna were told to lay down onto the gel beds, Kikuoka set up Kazuto's helmet as Rinko set up Asuna's. Aki monitored their heart rates as the machine booted up. Kikuoka moved towards the computer in the room and began to enter them into the system, "Word of advice for you two, don't use your names at all. Try to be like everyone else, don't stand out, just follow the code."
The Soul Translator turned on, Kazuto and Asuna entered the system, a bright light clouds their vision until the white faded into a thick orange color.
Kirito contemplated on what Kikuoka said, 'What did he mean by that?'
Into Code:000
The two spawned inside a plain medical room, facing up towards the ceiling, neither Kirito or Asuna can see clearly through the orange liquid, they could barely move their limbs too. Kirito tried to reach out, his hand finally hit something past the liquid. He felt around, the container they were in was some kind of tube. Shortly after they could spot was an old man wearing white watching them over the glass, and in his hand was some kind of device that probably controlled the machines. He pressed a couple buttons and suddenly the fluid flowed down, he did the same to Asuna's tube. When the liquid was completely gone, the glass slid down, allowing air to enter the container. Asuna tried to breathe, her entire body felt limp, she could hear Kirito struggling nearby. His limbs felt numb, his attempt to sit up failed until the old man inject something into his arm. Suddenly a rush of energy flowed through his veins and he was able to move fine now but felt oddly lighter than usual,the man did the same to Asuna. She cautiously studied his appearance, he didn't seem threatening, he looked like a plain doctor except what spooked her was his robotic eye, the right half of his face was metallic while he other was all human.
Both of them sat up in their container, wearing a dull white shirt with white shorts, watch the man as he spoke, "I am Dr. Franxx, everyone here calls me Papa, for I created every parasite in the garden, which is where we are now. You two are the first pair of parasites to be grown past the child stage." He walked over to Kirito and gave him a wristband to wear with numbers on it, "You will be Code 096." he then walked to Asuna and gave her the same wristband with different numbers on it, "You will be Code 046." The two of them moved their legs, crawling out of the machine and on their feet. They stared at each other in shock, they appeared younger, about early teens. Asuna recognizes Kirito's face, he looked the same when she first met him, in the town of Tolbana back on Floor 1 in Aincrad.
Two guards entered the room with rifles powered with the same fluid they spawned in. Dr. Franxx said, "Like every other parasite here, you two have to do the capacity test. This is so we can know if you two are compatible to operate a Franxx."
He slowly approached the guards, Asuna tried to walk forward and ask questions. She desperately wanted to know, Kirito raised his hand in front of her, blocking her path and quickly whispered, "It's best we don't ask now." Although he stopped her, he wanted to be informed too, the Doctor truly acted like an NPC, following the code as if he's forced. His persona was intriguing, similar to the Administrator's integrity knights, could someone like her exist here too?
Dr. Franxx turned around, "Follow me." He proceeded down the hall, the two followed with the guards trailing behind them. The corridor was plain white, but already reveals how advanced this society is, but the presence of sorrow and sadness lingers. Eventually we stopped near two hallways, one labeled 'Stamen' and the other 'Pistil'. Asuna realizes what Dr. Franxx meant by compatibility, her face slowly turns red.
"Codes 096 and 046, go into the proper rooms and change into your pilot suits. I will be waiting in the testing room, these two will escort you there. Hurry now, the others soon will be done." As he left, Asuna rushed through the 'Pistil' corridor, her face burns a bright red while Kirito faltered as he walked through the 'Stamen' corridor. Inside were separate rooms for every two hundred parasites. Asuna entered room labeled 010-100, inside was like a normal locker room, benches down the middle of many numbered lockers, typical except for the showers. There was no switch, some kind of force field barrier saying 'Parasite Only' separated them from the lockers, there was some kind of door or gate to get in the shower, but it seemed pointless if you could crawl underneath it. She claimed the locker labeled Code 046, expecting for there to be a suit inside, but there was some black and orange clothing, like a swimsuit but more like underwear.
She checked the numbered lockers next to hers, still had the same interior but nothing was inside, "This can't be the suit right?" As a last resort, she walked over to the panel and pressed play, it was a short simple video. The last part flustered her, how can a white skin tight suit suddenly appear on her, but she followed what it said. She stripped down all the way, placing her clothes and undergarments in her locker, replacing it with the black and orange underwear which apparently fitted perfectly and entered the 'shower'. After she shut the gate in place, something powered up, her feet were tingling as the suit appeared on her skin. The laser stopped at her neck, suddenly something was placed on her shoulders, she turned her head, looking at some kind of helmet. Attached to it was some kind of cord that was snapped onto her back, surprisingly not painful, then her foot was elevated as heels were attached to her feet. Causing Asuna to slightly stumble forward and open the gate, but quickly regained her balance. She examined herself, it was a plain suit, didn't feel tight or heavy, very breathable but didn't look durable.
A voice yelled down the hallway, "Code 046, are you done?"
Asuna fixed her hair and walked down the hallway, her heels made a clacking noise echo with every step, "Yes, I'm done." When she exited the 'Pistil' corridor, Kirito immediately caught her attention, he was wearing an all black pilot suit with a dark chest plate that stopped right above his stomach.
Before she could say a word, one guard nudged them forward as the other got in front of them. Kirito and Asuna followed the guard in silence while the other trailed behind. Asuna nuzzled herself onto Kirito, whispering "I like the black, it fits you."
He smirks at her compliment, "All I need now is a sword." She quietly giggles along with him, but stopped when they approached the door to the testing chamber, stepping away from him to prevent any suspicion. The guards stayed in place, Kirito took the hint and pressed on the key panel next to the door, causing it to slide open.
They stepped inside, welcomed by a dimly lit room with walls covered with monitors supposedly showing readings of both Codes 096 and 046, along with a viewing window across the room. Through the glass was Dr. Franxx with a red haired lady beside him. In the center of the room was a large sphere pod, it was open and within was a simulator of a FranXX cockpit. Asuna immediately recognizes the interior, there was still only one seat, but now she can clearly see a platform in front of the chair. "Can you hear me?", the pair directed their attention towards the Doctor as he waved his hand, still maintaining a dull, monotone expression. "Code 046, you have to get on your hands and feet, onto the platform, facing opposite of the chair. Code 096, you have to sit on the chair and grab the controls on Code 046." Both dismayed, frozen in place, Kirito's face reddened, as Asuna's turned bright tomato red, the two followed directions and climbed in the simulator. Asuna entered first and got down into the pistil's position while Kirito staggered to the stamen's chair, the moment he sat down, the controls around Asuna spring up in front of him. Waiting for him to grasp the handles, the pod closed and Kirito held the controls, pulling the trigger and initializing the startup process.
"Commencing stage 1 linking," said an automated voice. The screen on the back of Asuna's helmet lit up with their paracapacity scores already at 100 for both of them.
Asuna twitches as an odd but familiar sensation evoked those memories when Kirito first proposed to her. That moment was so gentle, that warm feeling coming back, being one with Kirito again, they were truly connected. Kirito was gasping for air, starting to sweat up a storm, his body felt numb but couldn't stop pursuing what he desired, so good and tempting. "Positive pulse, Negative pulse and P factor are stable and rising." Kirito peeked at the screen, their scores kept increasing, with no sign of it failing at all.
Dr. Franxx observed their paracapacity scores, they were phenomenal, for once his expression changed into a smile, he was impressed. "Now this is what you need to pilot a FranXX." he then asked Nana, "Which squad needs one more pair?"
She scrolled through each squad, all were full except for squad 13, "Squad 13 needs a fifth pair, Hiro and Naomi failed recently."
She felt upset thinking about that, the current squad 13 was important to her, Dr. Franxx noticed her sadness, "Code 016 will still remain in Plantation 13, but Code 703 will be sent back to the Garden. The boy can still pilot, he just needs the right partner, maybe his perfect partner may even kill him."
Nana's face froze, "Is that why we're sending her there too?"
Dr. Franxx sighed, "Her partner can only survive for one more ride, we can't let her go on stampede mode forever. Besides, they were already connected before their little incident 5 years ago." Memories of the lab, just hallways away, of that red klaxosaur hybrid and 9 year old Code 016, strapped down onto the table, their friendship and love, forgotten. "Although she's a beast, he became her friend, her prince, or what she'd prefer, her darling. Don't worry, he'll live."
He moved his hand onto the control panel and stopped the simulation, "Paracapacity Test terminated." said the automated voice and the pod opened up, revealing the exhausted couple inside. Kirito remained in his seat, Asuna was released from the platform, she slowly crawled out and sat up against Kirito's chair. Both of them felt out of breath, their faces were red and covered with sweat.
After a little break, Kirito raised his hand, asking, "Did we fail?"
Dr. Franxx responded, "No, Code 096, both of you have succeeded, your scores were marvelous. In fact, you two will be transferred to Plantation 13, where you, along with other 4 pairs, will protect protect the adults in the Plantation with your Franxx."
Asuna's head aches from her helmet or monitor rather, on her shoulders, she rubbed her head down to her shoulders and mumbled, "So we have to do this for the rest of the time here? Why a system like this Kikuoka?" Kirito heard her and wondered the same.
Dr. Franxx spoke again, "Now you will be escorted back to the lockers to change into your parasite uniforms." Kirito stood up and held out his hand to help Asuna get up, the door slid open once again with the same two guards standing in the hallway.
The two slowly approached the guards, Kirito pulled Asuna close and whispered, "Something is seriously wrong with this place."
She responded, "I know but I don't think they'll allow us to find out."
He shook his head, "We don't need permission, if they won't let us..." he looked back at Dr. Franxx, "then we're just gonna have to break the code."
So that's my new fanfic, the cover will eventually change into one of my drawings since no one made fanart of Kirito and Asuna in FranXX pilot suits. Also I might name the chapters with the date in the STL. It might not be accurate to the Darling in the Franxx timeline, but I tried.
