Back in to action
...
and so another 14 days passed, varakiel bonded with the nikkes, helped neon to create a superweapon for an ammo shell she created, and improved the outpost…..
Neon: commander we are here.
Varakiel: perfect, heheh just a month and look at the amount of progress we have made.
Varakiel says as he looks outside from his window.
Anis: yeah, so are we going back to work? while i like to stay in the outpost i can get tired of it you know.
Varakiel: mhm, first thing first, neon did you find anything about vapaus in the ark?
Neon: I tried asking around in the outer rim, but couldn't find anything. Exia also said that the substance database has apparently been expunged. So one thing, maybe the only thing, we know so far is that the central government is good at covering their tracks.
Varakiel: That was known neon, anything else?
Anis: the heretics are a dead end as well. There are next to no records on them. just rumors that read more like urban legends. nothing reliable. The only way we could find anything is if we could get ourselves into the central government library.
Rapi: But there's one small problem. The central government keeps that place under lock and key. it doesn't matter if we're special commandos, they'll never let us in there.
Anis: what should we do? everywhere we turn, we're being blocked by the central government.
Rapi: How about asking deputy chief Andersen for help?
Anis: I don't trust that man. We still aren't sure what his aim is.
Varakiel: I thought about it but it isn't worth it, they will find out and only bring us more problems than gains.
Anis: Do you trust that guy commander?
Varakiel: Mhm, he put us in here in the outpost to get away from the central government's ears and eyes, we can trust him on these matters.
Anis: really? wow, and i thought he was just tossing around orders.
Neon: So he's actually a good guy I see, i should dismantle my anti-andersen shell by tomorrow.
Varakiel: But we should put this on standby for now, if we look more into it we will raise problems with the central government.
Anis: agreed, the less people involved, the better.
Neon: for sure. Exia also said that…there was a facility on the surface that's comparable to the central government.
Anis: really?
Varakiel: Let's take a look into it, let's go with exia.
....
The squad then goes to the data center of the ark.
exia: hello. What brings you all here?
Varakiel:.....
varakiel then picks up his phone and sends a text message on the counters chat group.
—-
Varakiel
we came to ask you about this facility on the surface you told neon.
Exia
ah yes, that.
There is a scanning facility on the surface similar in scale to what the central government has.
It's been a long time since I last saw it, but I'm willing to bet it's still around.
—-
Anis: if you were going to talk through messages, why don't just stay in the outpost? -_-
—-
Exia
the closer you are the less chances they intercept our messages
Varakiel
I see alright.
—-
Anis: what an oddball
—-
Exia
There is an old facility beyond the ruins.
It was originally a munitions facility.
so the building is well-equipped.
that includes scanning devices.
you might find information in there.
Anis
really? why do you think so?
Exia
i think so. This "thing" is slightly older than the munitions facility.
There's a database there on materials used for bullets. probably.
Varakiel
What about the location?
Exia
I know where it is.
I can tell you.
Neon
Do you want to go with us?
Exia
Hardly!
novel and i have other business to attend to.
but we can provide you with support.
Varakiel
Did you find out something about heretics?
Exia
a little bit.
The rumors aren't far off.
People say they are nikkes who surrendered to the raptures out of fear.
that the raptures took them and reconfigured them.
that they're a new type of nikke, or an enhanced version
but few people have actually met them face-to-face.
it's better to start from 0.
Varakiel
alright…do you want your payment in cash or treats?
Exia
i would like 2 boxes
no 3 boxes please.
Varakiel
alright they will be here in an hour.
Exia
Is good to make deals with you commander, take care.
—--
Neon: Are we finally heading up to the surface and looking for the munitions facility?
Anis: seems like it, commander?
Varakiel: mhm, counters we are starting operation holmes.
Rapi: Yes, commander.
Anis: Who is holmes?
Neon: Thanks for your help, exia.
Exia: see ya.
—--
The squad then arrives on the surface.
Shifty: hello! Did you enjoy your vacation?
Anis: shifty?
Shifty: haha, it's been a hot minute, hasn't it? I applied to be the exclusive operator for counters. There weren't many applicants, so here I am.
Anis: So will you be working with us from now on?
Shifty: roger.
Anis: nice! although, isn't it a bit overkill having two spies in one squad?
Neon: huh? What do you mean by two?
Anis: you and shifty.
Neon:...oh yeah, I totally forgot about that. I was a spy for ingrid.
Shifty: erm….anis, i'm not sure if joking about being a spy is really appropriate.
Anis: What makes you think I'm joking? hehe…
Shifty:...
Anis: lighten up, will ya?! Of course, I'm only joking. you're starting to make me wonder if you really are a spy.
Shifty: wha…i was just taken aback, that's all! hehe…
Varakiel: don't worry shifty, we know, just redact anything special, is too soon for the central government to know about this.
Shifty: Roger commander….thanks for trusting in me. So!, where are you guys headed? since you all become a special commando unit, there's been no official information coming in. i know it's a bit cumbersome, but i'll need to ask for each mission. of course, it would be more convenient if you tell me first.
Anis: we're just going out for a nice stroll. It's been a month since we were up on the surface. we were starting to get withdrawals.
Shifty:..ah ha…okay.
Anis: we're on our way back now. get a whiff of that fresh air! you won't find that underground. being a special commando rules! we can go right up to the surface without asking permission.
Shifty:...i get it…is it all right with you then if i end my shift and take off? to be honest, i really want to catch a special episode of ark rangers that's airing tonight.
anis: oh, really? Can you please record it for me? I love that show.
Shifty: sure thing. Well, I'll be off then. I'll be in touch next time you all venture outside.
Anis: sounds good.
*click*
Neon: Hey…
Anis raises her finger and puts it up to her lips. with her other hand, she points off towards the distance.
Varakiel then nods and signals to move on.
…..
The squad then goes inside a facility.
Anis: these walls are made of materials that block out all communications. It's a good thing that the munitions factory is nearby.
Neon: I didn't know such a thing existed. but what of it?
Anis; I'm saying it might be the best place to talk.
Neon: okay, but why go all the way out here to talk?
Anis: because shifty is keeping an eye on us. commander, is there anyone that knows we are up here other than Exia?
Varakiel: no, about shifty, i personally requested andersen to assign her to us, she has been with us since the start and she hasn't snitched so she can be trusted.
Anis:....i see, you should have told us first you know?
Varakiel: I told you, you just forgot.
Anis::.....
Rapi: anis, he told us a week ago in the meeting.
Neon: you really just forgot…
Anis:....okay fine! yes i forgot….
*beep*
exia sent a message to the group chat.
—-
Exia
even so shifty shouldn't get involved with this
Anis
exia?
How are we getting a signal?
Exia
every wall can be breached.
For someone as skilled as me, it wasn't too difficult.
one little push, and the dominos came toppling down.
Anis
Have you been watching us?
Exia
Hardly!
I much prefer the term monitoring.
Anis
What's the difference?
Exia
I agree with the commander, shifty is someone worthy of trust.
Anis
and why's that?
Exia
she's at the max level in final quest.
Anis
What does a video game have to do with whether she can be trusted?
Exia
Nobody who plays final quest can be all that bad.
this is the truth
If you disagree, then you don't know anything about games.
Anis
fine if all of you trust in her, i'll try, but don't come crying if i was right!
Neon
but you're the paranoid one!
—--
Anis: you..!
Neon: what? What did I say?
Varakiel: *chuckles* hahaha, we never can be bored with all of us together, hahaha.
*beep*
—-
Exia
Stop squabbling.
proceed north.
Eventually, you'll encounter a damaged plane.
make your way there now.
—-
Varakiel: alright counters let's proceed.
Rapi: Yes commander.
....
The squad then arrives at a crashed plane.
Rapi: There doesn't seem to be anything special about this plane.
Anis: isn't Exia going to contact us?
Rapi: Just in case, let's secure the perimeter.
Varakiel: Mhm, neon takes the west , anis you take the east, and rapi you take the north, I'll look in the south side.
Anis: roger.
Neon: okay master!
Rapi: roger.
Neon: What if I just pretend to be guarding the west side and I shoot you in the back? i'm a spy, remember?
Anis: What did you say?
Neon: isn't it a bit foolish to entrust a spy with such an important task?
Anis: What's the big idea?
Neon: you lookin' for a fight?
Anis: you want a piece of me?
Neon: i don't want a piece. i want the whole thing!
Anis: you little..!
*beep*
Varakiel: saved by the bell.
—-
Exia
hey noob
Do you think we should break this up?
Varakiel
Let it be, I know they can settle this by themselves.
Exia
you're right.
rapi
open that box you see over there.
Rapi
a box?
Exia
yes. the one in front of the cockpit.
Rapi
got it.
—---
Anis: why does she want us to open the box?
Rapi: There must be some reason.
rapi then approaches the box.
Rapi: hmm? wait a minute…
Rapi feels the box for a moment.
*clunk*
Rapi: I'm opening the box….
—--
Rapi
I've opened it.
exia
What's inside?
Rapi
nothing
Exia
okay, understood.
proceed north.
—--
Anis: What in the world is going on here?
Varakiel: It should be a secret message, if there was something in the box it should have been another direction.
Neon: I see.
Rapi: most probable reason.
...…
The squad then keeps going.
Exia: hello.
anis: why do you keep doing this? if you want to communicate, then just send a message or a video clip.
exia was talking to the squad through video feat.
exia: hey, don't take it out on me! it's your fault for being so paranoid. you're lucky that you have noob as your commander.
Neon: true, very true.
Anis:...
Exia: cat got your tongue? or am i getting warmer?
Anis:....what do you want?
Exia: rapi.
Rapi: What?
Exia: had any good memory wipes lately?
Rapi: !!
Anis: !!
Neon: !!
Exia: you all should know better than to fib. even a rapture could see through your flimsy lies.
Varakiel: Do you know anything about it?
Exia: sadly i don't, it seems everything about her logs were deleted i can't find anything about that.
Varakiel: *sigh* so it was indeed on purpose, but why?
Exia: noob you don't see surprised that i know this little secret, why is that?
Varakiel: I knew you wouldn't be able to hold your curiosity, a gamer is someone who explores all secrets to matter the means.
Exia: oh!? i like that answer, yeah i was just curious about you guys.
Varakiel: Can we know how you found out?
Exia: of course, the box rapi handled before…it can explode when opened. It's due to a structural flaw. it was covered up via mass lobbying before being sold on the market. Therefore, there is no mention of any of this in the database. if you open it while it's tilted 20 degrees to the left, it won't explode. rapi opened that box 3 years ago and was injured. She remembered this, and thus was able to open the box without any issues. This indicates that her memory remains intact.
Varakiel: weird indeed
Anis: commander you're not helping say something.
Varakiel: anis she knows already, just accept it already.
Exia: yeah, i know rapi's memories currently can't be wiped for some reason…and i am curious why.
Varakiel: (but still she did it unconsciously, or…..wait maybe it wasn't unconscious at all…i have to look into this when we are back in the outpost, double personalities? sealed memories? clairvoyance? what it might be…)
Rapi: What's the point of all this?
Varakiel: calm down rapi, she did it without ill intent, she was just, curious.
Exia: yes. just curious, that's all.
Rapi:...what?
exia: when most people enter the data center, they'll take a good look around. she hasn't entered the data center since her last memory wipe, so i started wondering…and it turns out i was right.
Anis: And this is all just 'cause you're curious? you don't expect us to believe that, do you?
Exia: this video call will not be saved in the records. That's why I'm using it to communicate with you now, despite how cumbersome it is. you're the nosy little detective who started doubting your own teammates. you should be able to crack the case. or perhaps your teammates are the only people you suspect?
Anis:...
Exia: i don't like saying things like this because it makes me look unprofessional, sad, and needy, but you must believe me. if i wanted to harm you in any way, simply reporting you to the central government would have been muuuuch faster way of doing so, look even noob believes in me.
Varakiel: Hey don't say as I was the worst case here, I don't keep secrets between us.
Exia:....sorry.
Rapi:....
Exia: all right, then. I'm going to mark the next point on your map.
.....
The squad keeps moving to the designated location.
Rapi:...
Neon:...
Anis:...
Varakiel: Is everyone okay?
Neon: no, because Anis is playing detective and keeps poking her nose into everything. Of course, it's going to make us watch what we say.
Anis: Then don't say anything!
Neon: I can say whatever I want! Why should you care?
Anis: Are you intentionally trying to get on my nerves?
Neon: I'm sorry, do you guys hear anything? Is someone talking to me?
Anis:...forget i even said anything. you tell us not to talk, yet you won't stop prattling on. Are you practicing for a one-woman show or something?
Varakiel: Alright alright, you two stop already you're going too far with this.
Neon:...
Anis:...
Varakiel: I know you two will be able to solve this without violence, we are fated to have some conflicts but don't do it when we are on the surface. I don't want any of you to get hurt by your own negligence.
Neon:....sorry, master.
Anis:....i am sorry.
Neon: But still….
Rapi: neon.
Neon:...I am not apologizing to Anis until she does. I admit it is my fault for keeping arguing but she started it. I've done nothing wrong.
neon trudges toward.
Rapi:..anis.
Anis: You won't hear an apology from me either. there's nothing wrong about being cautious, so why…damn, just forget it.
anis trudges forward.
Rapi: commander, the formation…
Varakiel: Leave them be, this kind of conflict has to be solved by them, just take a look at them so they don't get surprise attacked by raptures, and don't worry I am going to be okay.
Rapi: right.
*beep*
—--
Exia
Are you sure a hands-off policy is the best approach?
Varakiel
yes, i know they will solve it peacefully, at most i will stop them if they get physical.
Exia
stop them if they get physical?
How would you do that?
Varakiel
you're the gamer in here figure it out, a clue for you, i am not using orders.
Exia
then how?
Varakiel
you say you can get any kind of information right? take a look on my past operations and found the answer, tell me and i'll tell you if you are correct.
Exia
…..is that challenge?
Varakiel
yes.
Exia
OK!
—-
…..
Rapi: …stop. these marks on the ground..it's as if something was digging in this area.
Anis: an ambush?
Rapi: no, I don't think so. These markings are too small for that. and there's too many of them.
*beep*
—--
Exia
It's a minefield
just a sec.
argh, what a nuisance…
Due to the high concentration of alva particles, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the mines. there's just too much interference.
Rapi
Can't we run a purification sequence?
Exia
Only the central government command and the intelligence department can authorize that.
I can hack their system, but it'll be risky.
if you're caught, then it's game over.
Anis
Then what do we do?
Exia
No choice. you'll just have to proceed with caution and avoid the mines.
There aren't any detours available.
Anis
What the hell kind of mission is this?
Exia
i am sorry
we don't have a choice.
—--
Rapi: commander, it's too dangerous to go through a minefield without any kind of backup. Of course, if you give the order, I will follow.
Varakiel: well i can us-
Shifty: excuse me.
Rapi: !!
Shifty: alva particle purification sequence activated. purifying. concentration 64.57%...31.51%...alva particle concentration 2.83% purification complete.
Exia:...initiating mine scan. scan complete. I'll mark it. proceed as planned, and watch out for mines.
Shifty: That was fast. always nice to see a proper protocol as well.
Varakiel: oh well.
Varakiel disperses his magic charge on his hand.
Anis: commander what you were going to do?..wait more importantly…where the heck did you come from!?
Shifty: sorry. I was worried about you guys, so I came back. um…look, i get it anis you're thinking i'm up to something, but it's not what you think! We all know how it works. you start getting close to the nikke, and before you know it, they're gone. That's why there's a clause in the operator code of conduct that tells us not to get attached to nikkes. but…I can't do that. I want you all to come out of this alive. and I want to help. I just don't want to be separated from my friends.
Anis:...
Varakiel: *smile* mhm.
Shifty: you have to believe me…
Anis: I'm sorry, but I can't trust you entirely…..not yet…..but i'll try.
Shifty:...i understand.
Exia: aw, aren't you two adorable?
Shifty: oh, by the way. I forgot to record ark rangers. sorry….
Anis: aw man…
Varakiel: don't worry I have it covered, I asked Mihara to record it yesterday.
Exia: you like ark rangers, noob?
Varakiel: Of course, it is a good show.
Exia: sadly nothing major really happened. you just le-
Varakiel then cuts exia video feat.
Anis:....
Neon:...
Rapi:...
Shifty:...
Exia video feat appears again.
Exia: why did you do that?
Varakiel: no spoilers!
Exia:...right, sorry.
Anis: good job commander.
Neon:....
Rapi: neon, is something wrong?
Neon: Let's pick up the pace.
neon strides ahead
Anis:.....
...
Shifty: I'm seeing a giant particle gun in the front. The model is…
Exia: MSIC-007. It's a high density particle cell model developed by missilis. They can shoot in a straight line. It's like a satellite laser. factoring in all cover and obstacles on an oblique curve…range is 2000 meters. complete disintegration upon contact. one hit from that thing and you're toast. There appears to be an interior energy reaction of some kind, but I don't think it will fire for the time being. it is unclear what the trigger will be.
Shifty: avoid the line of fire and engage. if it's able to discharge the MSIC-007, it'll be too late.
Rapi: What about raptures?
Shifty: those are lords. once you defeat them. you can enter the munitions factory.
Varakiel: Alright, prepare to engage.
Rapi: Yes, commander.
...
Rapi: enemy neutralized.
Anis: can't go wrong with two operators.
Neon:...
Shifty: !! The particle gun is still operational! It's charging!
Exia: no, not now! just can't catch a break…
Shifty: anis! neon! incoming at 3 o'clock!
Anis: !!
Neon: !!
anis and neon run toward each other.
Anis: watch out!
Neon: now!
As they throw their bodies upward, their gazes meet in mid-air.
Anis: ermm?
Neon: hmm?
*bang*
their foreheads clonk together with a thud.
Anis: agh!
Neon: ouch!
*crash*
Both of them drop to the ground after their mid-air collision.
Shifty: the particle gun is firing!
Anis: W-wwwhaaa?
Neon: Wow, woow..
The particle gun emits an intense light. In an instant, the light dissipates.
Exia: there wasn't enough energy output to fire. must have been an outdated version. Well, that was exciting, wasn't it?
Anis: sure, positively exhilarating.
Neon:...
Anis:...
Neon: all right, get on with it. go ahead and thank me for coming to your rescue.
Anis: Just when I thought you couldn't get any more irritating.
Neon: Look who's talking.
Anis:...i….once….
Neon: forget it.
Neon shakes off the dust, gets up and reaches out a hand to anis.
Neon: You can tell me all about it later.
Anis:...yeah.
Anis grabs onto neon hand. as anis brings herself up, neon lets go of her hand. Anis stumbles and falls back down.
*thud*
Anis: ugh.
Neon: the more i think about it, the more it pisses me off. Do you honestly not trust me? Do you know how many times I almost died while traveling with you guys? I'm a spy! I should be focusing on espionage, not fighting! Yet here I am, putting myself in harm's way with all of you.
Anis: i-i'm sorry.
Neon: spare me. You can get up by yourself.
Neon storms off.
Anis:...you think she is over it?
Rapi:...probably, what do you think, commander?
Varakiel: told you Exia, you owe me 50k credits.
Exia: damn, i really thought neon would apologize first.
Anis:...
Rapi:...
Shifty: I knew Anis would apologize first. I should have agreed…
Varakiel: hahaha.
...