(100K Special 5 Chapters in a row) Counters.

…..

Everyone was on the lift to the ark.

Anis: shifty. marian. What's going on?

Shifty: that corruption code implanted into Marian's brain must be acting as a navigator! It guides nikkes to the blacksmith's location. That way, they're having their ¨food¨ delivered straight to the doorstep.

Anis: but she was acting completely normal before she went haywire.

Shifty: that's probably because of the commander. a nikke's highest priority is protecting their commander and obeying any orders given. i'm willing to bet the problem started when she met the commander. that's when her priorities were shifted out of order. she was completely defenseless when in close proximity to the blacksmith. that means the corruption was quite severe.

Then varakiel, rapi and anis go inside the elevator…

Rapi:....when did it start?

Shifty: what?

Varakiel: when was she first corrupted?

Shifty: during the operation, i suppose…

Varakiel: That can't be, she must have been corrupted way before that….

Rapi: Indeed, she must have been already corrupted, and that transport ship came from the ark.

Shifty:!! Were the aegis barriers broken?

Varakiel: no, it's clear this didn't even pass to the normal procedure, and the only people who can do that are...

Anis: What are you trying to say?

Varakiel: I'll leave it there, after all there's ears everywhere….ah i don't mean it like that shifty, i trust in you.

Rapi: true…

Varakiel: also shifty about that report….can you help me in here, i think you know what i mean.

Shifty:...leave it to me.

...

in an office somewhere in the ark

Shifty: that concludes my report…

???: you mean they took down a blacksmith? a novice commander with three nikkes, all in a single day?

Shifty: yes, sir. However, one nikke was destroyed during the operation.

???: if i didn't know any better, i'd say you're starting to develop a sense of humor, shifty.

Shifty: should i forward the combat data to you?

???: no, that won't be necessary. I would, however, like to meet this commander. make an appointment for this afternoon, will you?

Shifty: I'll inform them.

???: you do that.

Shifty: Anything else?

???: ah, yes. have the other nikkes who took part in the operation come along as well. ensure that they're armed.

…..

Rapi: HQ is calling us in?

Varakiel: seems like it, and you rapi and anis, will be going with me.

Anis: aw man…not this again.

Rapi: what?

Anis: so few of you, and yet you managed to take down a blacksmith! simply astonishing! keep fighting the good fight, my loyal and most subservient of all government lap dogs! It's always the same old routine.

Rapi: Well, we did perform exceptionally well during this last mission…to exceptionally i might say…

Rapi and Anis take a look at varakiel.

Varakiel: don't worry i'm sure shifty gave all the credit to you, so we are good, at most I will be recognized for giving such efficient orders in combat.

Anis: I hope so, the sooner we go, the sooner we can leave.

Varakiel: hmm…they also want you to go armed.

Rapi:...

Anis: -_- really? What an odd request.

...

varakiel, rapi and anis eventually arrive to the deputy chief office.

andersen: So nice to meet you all. I'm andersen. deputy chief of the central government command. we can dispense with the formalities. address me however you wish.

Varakiel: very well andersen.

Andersen: Good, I called you today because I wanted to conduct a little test. nothing too difficult. you can relax.

Varakiel: What kind of test?

Andersen: from here, go straight to the simulation room. there will be someone there to fill you in. That is all.

Anis: um…you called us here just for that?

Rapi: anis.

Varakiel: Is okay, Mr Andersen with due respect my squad just returned from a battle with a tyrant class, and we just lost a valuable companion, we also haven't performed the proper maintenance, so don't expect the performance you expect.

Anis:...I was just asking…

Andersen: That's true, but like any commander you must be ready for any situation, but it is nice that you pointed out those points, just perform as good as you can. I also wanted to meet you in person. No other reason.

Anis:....

Andersen: I believe we're done here.

Varakiel: May I ask you a question?

Andersen: one moment.

Andersen looks at his wristwatch for a second.

Andersen: I suppose I have time to answer one question. just one.

Varakiel: Has the aegis barrier been broken through in the past?

Rapi:!!

Anis:!! commander! this is not the place to be asking such questions!

Varakiel: just a simple yes or no would do.

Andersen: If that's so, the answer is no.

Varakiel: Thank you.

Varakiel then stands up and begins to walk out of the office.

Andersen: before you go, let's say someone corrupt one of your nikkes. maliciously. let's say they were so powerful, that you wouldn't stand a chance against them. tell me, what would you do?

Varakiel: those who hurt my friends or family, a fate worse than death awaits them in the future, no matter who they are.

Andersen body shivers a little, this is no normal anger, it feels primal, like an uncaged beast right under your neck

Andersen: oh? a fate worse than death you say? Is that it? What could a mere commander like you possibly do?

Varakiel: What a coward that hides in the shadows could possibly do when is being found out? make mistakes. I will find out eventually. Nothing lasts forever, not even the ark.

Andersen: Is that a threat?

Varakiel: is an opinion, while we hide underground, the raptures grow in numbers and they will eventually find us out, or maybe….guess what i want to say next.

Andersen: you're a bold and reckless, I'd very much like to see how you find out….too bad. I'm on a tight schedule. you may leave now. I'm sure we'll meet again.

Varakiel rapi and anis leave the room.

*click* *thud*

Andersen:....nothing lasts forever indeed.

.....

The squad then arrives at the simulation room.

There a tall woman is waiting for them.

Ingrid: I'm Ingrid, your coach for today. Welcome to the simulation room. This is where I'll be putting your combat skills to the test.

Anis:...commander, what is this all about?

Rapi: having our combat skills tested after a mission? i´ve never heard of such a thing. they usually do this sort of thing beforehand.

Anis: -_- and isn't that the CEO of Elysion? What is she doing here?

Rapi: This is a hobby of hers.

Ingrid: No chit-chat when I'm talking!

Anis:...

Rapi:...

Varakiel: Then what is the challenge?

Ingrid: straight to the point, I like it. you will face a battle simulation in the simulation room. i can tell you, you'd better not be lax and think it's just a simulation. The simulation room is the ark's pride and joy. you can experience combat in reality here. not only can it simulate all kinds of real battle scenarios. but you can also fight against virtual raptures. tactics will be essential to handle these various situations in battle. so, go and complete the test tactically. That is all.

Rapi: I have a question.

Ingrid: no questions allowed.

Rapi:...(i guess the commander will only give tactics this time)

Ingrid: before we begin the training. I need to know your squad name. Varakiel, tell me your squad name.

Varakiel: hmm….(any suggestion lily?)

Lily: (can i!? Yay, then, Counters~!)

Varakiel: *nod* Counters.

Ingrid: Name confirmed. well then, squad counters, looking forward to your superb combat skills.

...

Inside the simulation.

Varakiel: Then let's settle the simulation.

???: hey you, are you sure you are only taking two nikkes? If so, how would you like me to defeat you?

Varakiel:....

Anis: this is einkk the ia that controls the simulation room.

Varakiel: I see…einkk was it. I guess I will do the test that ingrid has put for us.

Einkk: That kind of test? booo, so boring, wake me up after the battle.

...

After the simulation test

Anis: argh, so tired.

Rapi: the operation results have already been reported. She told us to wait here.

Anis:....rapi, what do you think this is all about?

Rapi: Just like she said, it's a test, apparently, our performance was good enough to arouse suspicion.

Varakiel: I am sorry.

Anis:....

Rapi: *sigh* is okay commander, you just did what you could do, even if that brought us more problems.

Anis: you do poorly, they give you a hard time. you do well, same thing. you can't win.

Varakiel: let's bear with this for today i'll treat you with a meal later.

Anis: great.

Rapi: Well, it's not like it's a bad thing…doing our part for the cause and all that jazz.

Anis: I suppose so. So what now, do we just wait?

Varakiel then takes a chocolate bar from his pants.

Varakiel: *munch* Want some? I found it on the surface.

Anis: you found an actual chocolate bar!!? woo hoo this is the best thing of the day so far!

Rapi:...i'll like some as well.

...

meanwhile in the deputy chief office.

Andersen: well? how´d it go?

Ingrid: I can't believe it.

Andersen:...really?

Ingrid: a complete disaster! if they were really out on the field, they'd all have been killed in less than 10 minutes.

Andersen: oh? most unexpected indeed.

Ingrid: That's putting it lightly. could it be that they only excel in actual combat?

Andersen: Well he did point out some things beforehand.

Ingrid: what kind of things?

Andersen: He told me that he barely came back from an encounter with a tyrant, lost a and i quote "valuable companion" and haven't performed proper maintenance, so under that statement he is right.

Ingrid: hm…valuable companion he said? I think he's right, after all it is not common to survive a tyrant encounter even less having just one casualty.

Andersen: only one way to find out.

Ingrid: we have plenty of missions to send them on. take your pick.

Andersen: whichever is most difficult.

Ingrid: so…this one should do the trick

...

the next day after a well earned rest.

Anis: investigate a power station? the one in the coastal city?

Rapi:....is this the entire team?

Anis: I can't believe this! we go through hell for them, and we're sent straight back out without a word of thanks!

Varakiel: well, we need to comply and also was an order, don't worry i'll treat you with a meal after we are done.

Anis: *Sigh* Can I least pick where we can go?

Varakiel: sure.

Rapi: Who's the assigned commander?

Varakiel: well….me.

Rapi: what!?

Anis: this is…most unusual. What are they up to?

Varakiel: hm? What's wrong? 

Rapi: they never assign the same commander to a nikke squad multiple times in a row. otherwise things tend to go south. it usually results in infighting, and the team eventually falls apart. That's why they've enforced this rule for so long.

Anis: you end up with commanders executing nikkes on the spot. Sometimes, even the other way around.

Rapi: It's precisely to avoid these kinds of catastrophes. that a commander and any given nikkes squad can only cooperate once every three missions. so this is truly bizarre.

Anis: they're trying to get rid of us. They want to send us up to the surface and have us all killed without anyone noticing.

Varakiel: no, you're wrong, this is another test.

Rapi: a test?

Varakiel: they want to know how we could defeat a tyrant on our own, with only 3 nikkes and a commander.

Shifty: I think the commander is right, there's no other reason for doing that.

Anis: gah! you scared me! Where did you come from?

Shifty: I heard there's a new mission, so I came to assist. if they wanted you dead, you'd be dead already. they wouldn't bother with sending you back to the surface. In other words, this is a normal operation.

Anis: -_- normal as can be.

Rapi: If it's an order, I'll follow it. But, commander, are you okay with all this?

Varakiel: The moment you put your life on the line for me, you became part of my family, I trust my life to you.

Anis: your family? What kind of family do you have?

Varakiel: That's another secret, hehe, don't worry I will reveal it when the time comes, for now we should move on.

Anis:-_- well, thank you i guess, commander…..we trust you too. for the time being, that is.

Rapi: Let's head up.

…..