Time to get serious.....kind of.

.....

as they go down

???: stop.

Rapi: What is it?

Privaty: please explain why you went up to the surface without permission.

just as rapi was about to speak.

Varakiel: special commando squad counter, we were performing a top secret operation, who i am talking to?

Privaty: Privaty, from triangle, and you are commander varakiel i am correct?.

Varakiel: affirmative, and about the exploration on the surface, we have a certain degree of autonomy, if we deem necessary we will skip the permission process due to the nature of our operation. and that was the case for this operation. anything else?

Privaty: you may be a commando unit. But triangle is no ordinary unit either. We are part of the central government. Therefore, we have the right to question you, commander.

Varakiel: We haven't received any prior notice. Rapi, did you receive any notice?

Rapi: I haven't, commander.

???: It sounds to me like you're not going to cooperate with us. Am I correct in that assumption?

Varakiel: While I normally would comply, the nature of this operation doesn't allow me to do so, the data is most certainly "sensitive" for the ark and since the incident of the nikke marian i can't trust anyone but the deputy chief at this moment.

Yulha: oh? impressive, someone was good at the academy i see. I am Yulha, leader of triangle.

Varakiel: I graduated as the best of my class. and nice to meet you Yulha, i am varakiel.

Varakiel and yulha shake hands out of respect.

Yulha: I see, you know we could shoot you all right here, but I have enough paperwork on my desk to do so.

Privaty: but still we need to question you. I suggest you follow us.

Rapi: permission to speak commander.

Varakiel: Go ahead.

Rapi: …..if you want us to do anything. you need to show me an official notice formally issued from the deputy chief or above.

Privaty:....

???: Let's go, Privaty. we're not getting anywhere with this.

Privaty: I'm not finished with you, rapi. I should have known you wouldn't fall for a dirty trick like that.

Rapi: not finished with me?

Privaty: that's right, we're sworn enemies, you and i. The current score is…

Rapi: I am sorry but I don't remember you. I had to make an emergency memory wipe….

this is of course a joke…..

Privaty: !! The current score is 21 to 0. Naturally, I'm in the lead.

Rapi:....i was joking Privaty, that makes it 22 for me now.

Privaty:.....damn it!

Yulha: Huh, so I didn't remember wrong.

Privaty: yulha, be quiet. Let's go, everyone.

Yulha:...tsk. Let's go admi.

Admi: yes. yulha.

Yulha: What a letdown.

Varakiel: Hey, if you want a challenge you can come to the outpost, I won't disappoint.

Yulha: hmph, we'll see.

Privaty: ah, and one more thing, counters. The central government is always watching. keep that in mind.

the triangle squad leaves.

Anis: if that's true, what would be the point of appointing us as a commando unit?

Rapi: seems like we're not very popular amongst the central government.

Anis: You think this type of thing will happen often?

Rapi: most likely.

Anis: what a pain in the neck…

Varakiel: alright you go to check if exia's okay i will go with andersen.

Rapi: roger, let's go anis, neon.

.....

Andersen: Have you had any involvement with the protocol squad?

Varakiel: Well, I requested her help for an operation that I had planned some days ago.

Andersen: I see, I also heard she was trying to hack the central government's database but a responsible commander convinced her it wasn't okay.

Varakiel: Well, curiosity killed the cat, so I managed to convince her to not do it. Her name is Exia.

Andersen: Ah right, that is her name.

Varakiel: Will she be okay?

Andersen: at most she will be severely scolded by ingrid but from there shouldn't be any problem with her.

Varakiel: *exhale* good.

Andersen: So tell me what did you find in this operation?

Varakiel: By now you should have heard that Syuen issued a ban against the word "vapaus" isn't?

Andersen: ah yes, she indeed did that, if you try and search it, nothing comes up, does that have anything to do with your operation.

Varakiel: Indeed, but I still have my doubts about the information, so I'll analyze it and report to you afterwards. You would also like to know that Syuen was part of this operation and that's why that word was banned.

Andersen: very well. then be on your way. If you find something, feel free to share.

…..

Everyone was back in the outpost.

anis: commander Exia is dead…

Varakiel: No, she isn't stop joking around like that.

Anis: fine, she is currently being scolded by ingrid so at most she will come in a day or two.

Varakiel: is ingrid that huh…. bad?

Rapi: Actually she is already leaving her off the hook by not wiping her memories,I guess what she has on her brain is more important.

Varakiel: Mhm, so first we'll take a shower, have a meal, then make maintenance to our weapons and we will meet in the hall tomorrow, alright?

Anis: alright, commander, but what about Syuen?

Varakiel: What about her?

Anis: oh, never mind then.

Neon: Yeah, let's leave Syuen to the commander, he seems to have a huge leash on her.

Rapi: I guess fear has its uses.

Then the 3 go inside the dormitory.

???: Hey, watson!

a girl holding a camera talks from behind varakiel

Varakiel: hm? novel? What is it?

Novel: I have a message for you.

Varakiel: Let me guess, is from Exia.

Novel: how did you know it was from Exia? What marvelous intuition, watson!

Varakiel: haha, you haven't seen anything yet, come inside let's talk into my room.

Novel: good idea!

...

in varakiel room.

Novel: Exia sent me a message a few hours ago. it seems ingrid is putting her under restraint for a day and she can't communicate with anyone.

Varakiel: *fiu* well she is at fault for saying that she would hack the government, anything else?

Novel: So Watson, what is Vapaus I want to know too. you can't leave me outside this!

Varakiel: *sigh* she told you?

Novel: yeah!

Varakiel: Wait for her to come tomorrow, it would be unfair if I told you and not her now right?

Novel: you're right watson! knowledge is for everyone to share, you'll make a great detective you know.

Varakiel: Heh, I'll think about it. Since you're here, do you want to have dinner with us?

Novel: of course! oh Exia will be so jealous now, hehehe.

Varakiel:.....(Exia has a good friend with her) right i should tell Syuen.

—--

Varakiel

come to the outpost tomorrow thanks to your prank Exia is on restraint by ingrid so i'll explain everything tomorrow

Syuen

what!? and why she has to be there that hunk junk Exia doesn't need to know this.

Varakiel

tomorrow, outpost, and that's final, bye.

—-

*beep* *beep* *beep*

Novel: hey, watson, don't you think you should answer?

Varakiel: Just ignore it, it's just a scammer.

Novel: I see.

.....

the next day.

Exia: hello.

Exia then arrived at the outpost.

Varakiel: welcome Exia now take a seat.

Syuen: you're so damn slow, can you hurry up?

Syuen was already there since morning…

novel: yeah, Exia i want to know the secret of this Vapaus.

Exia:.....

Varakiel: Is everything okay Exia?

Exia: ah, yes, just surprised to see Syuen here, I didn't know the commander had such a big influence already.

Varakiel: Alright so I'll explain to you what vapaus is and what it does.

Varakiel then takes out his phone.

Exia: ah, yes!

Varakiel: I'll send you the explanation through text while I explain it to Syuen and Novel, so first thing first, i have a deal for you Syuen, i want full access to your facilities and support from missilis itself.

Syuen: haaa!? Why do you think I will agree to such stupidity you're taking this too far, you fool.

Varakiel: After what you hear what vapaus is, maybe you'll change your mind.

Syuen:.....fine if it's worth it i might think about it.

Novel: alright hurry up watson the curiosity is killing me!

Varakiel: Alright so first…..

varakiel takes out a vapaus bullet.

Varakiel: this bullet contains vapaus, for vapaus to not dispel from the bullet it has to be created with the core of rapture, and the secret ingredient.

Syuen: What is that secret ingredient?

Varakiel: human blood.

Anis: w-wait human blood!? you didn't tell us anything about that commander!

Rapi: with human blood? how is that possible…

Varakiel: Well it is not any kind of human blood, it is a Very rare variant of blood there's only two people who have it in the world, one of them being me.

—-

Exia

wait so you used your own blood to create this vapaus?

—-

Varakiel: no, vapaus is in my blood, i have made some experiments in the past month and it seems like if a nikke is in direct contact with my blood they can't receive more memory wipes, they can disobey orders, they can attack humans, and they don't prioritize a commander's life.

Syuen: Wait, that thing destroys NIMPH!?

Varakiel: exactly.

—-

Exia: so they destroy the nanomachines in a nikke?

—-

Varakiel: precisely, but you must know this as well, is not that it destroy NIMPH, it destroy all kinds of nano machines, even the ones that a heretic has.

Syuen: Wait, what!? you mean this small thing can kill a heretic?

Varakiel: exactly, it can also stop a rapture corruption, 

Novel: incredible so this is what vapaus is!

Varakiel: mhm, now Syuen what do you think about that deal?

Syuen:...what's the catch?

Varakiel: like i said there's no catch, i want full access to your facilities and support from missilis, in exchange i'll lend you 1 liter of my blood for you to study, and no i won't lend you my creation method, and two never ever use it on innocent nikkes, do that and i'll end our deal forever.

Syuen:....and you think i will agree to those terms yet? you can't possibly be the only one with that blood.

Varakiel: Of course, I already found who might also have this type of blood.

—-

Exia

Who is it!?

—--

Varakiel: andersen.

Syuen: geh…..about that deal….let me think about it.

Varakiel: alright.

Novel: So the deputy chief has the same type of blood? Are they related?

Varakiel: oh no we are not if we were we would know.

—-

Exia

so this vapaus destroys a nikkes immortality…

—--

Varakiel: pretty much yeah, 

Anis: Hey, I want to know more about NIMPH.

—--

Exia

it's short for Neuro-implanted Machine for the Protection of Humans

Anis

go on..

Exia

A memory wipe directly stimulates the brain into severing synaptic connections.

you must have seen cases where combat data or other memories were retained.

Rapi

Yeah, I've seen it.

Exia

This indicates that you can control the information in your brain at will.

NIMPH is what makes that possible

There are three things that NIMPH does..

Erase, Remember and write.

The NIMPH implanted in a nikke's brain can break the synaptic connection.

while continuing to back up the latest state of the synapsis.

you know what autosave is?

Anis

the system when a video game saves automatically?

Exia

Exactly

it's a fresh brain where there has been a memory wipe.

the memory backed up with NIMPH is overwritten.

So long as there is no Physical trauma to the brain, this process can go on infinitely.

Anis

I see…

—-

Varakiel: Any more questions?

Syuen: How come you know all of this?

Varakiel: I've been working on it for a long while. By now, I discovered the power of my blood by accident.

Syuen: That sounds like a lot of bullshit….tsk, i'll send someone to retrieve your blood later, you better hold your part of the deal.

Varakiel: I treat my deals with the utmost respect. Thank you very much, and I hope you do so as well, and remember no innocent nikkes, on another point, if you want intact rapture cores i can sell you some, with a price of course.

Syuen: hmph…..bye.

Syuen leaves the dormitory.

Varakiel: Alright everyone who wants to help me make dinner.

Exia: I pass.

Neon: Let me help you commander.

Rapi: me too.

Novel: I am curious about such marvelous cooking methods. I'll join up as well.

Anis: Alright, I'll set the table then.

Exia:.....ill help anis….

...

Varakiel: hmm….alright i think things are getting complicated from here, i need some back up, and i know exactly who can help.

....

the next day in the deputy chief office.

Andersen: so, if I understand correctly. you want ingrid and i to be your backup. is that right?

Varakiel: yes.

Ingrid: On the business side, it doesn't appear like I have anything to gain from this.

Andersen: That goes for me too. I only stand to lose from this deal.

Varakiel: *sigh* Ingrid, Andersen, I have information about how to finally kill heretics once and for all.

Ingrid: Interesting, then tell me about it, it is about this vapaus, if it's so we'd be able to turn up plenty of information on this vapaus that's giving you so much trouble.

Varakiel then puts 2 bullets on the desk.

Varakiel: While that might be right, WE have information that you need.

Ingrid: heh, this isn't my first rodeo. you may be bluffing. share this information you apparently think we'll find so intriguing. right now. then we'll consider your proposition.

Varakiel: these two bullets can destroy the nano-machines of heretics, making them vulnerable and ready to kill.

Andersen: What did you say?

Ingrid: say that again!

Varakiel: vapaus is an anti nikke and rapture component created to destroy the nano-machines inside them.

Andersen: don't be stupid

Ingrid:....do you have any theories as to why this happens?

Andersen: don't tell me you're taking this seriously?! This is clearly a fabrication.

Ingrid: That might be the case…

Varakiel: *sigh* you are hard to please don't you? rapi shoot me.

Rapi: what!?

Anis: commander are you out of your mind!?

Neon: master!?

Varakiel: rapi this is an order to shoot me now!

Rapi: I refuse!

Varakiel: see?

Ingrid: see what?

Varakiel: she didn't listen to the direct order of a commander

Rapi: ah!

Anis: I swear I'll beat you up one of these days.

Neon: master that was rather harsh you know.

Andersen:.....

Ingrid: I'm going to ask again. do you have any theories as to why this happened'

Rapi: it's a substance that deteriorates the NIMPH. I think I was exposed to vapaus. I'm not sure when or how I was exposed. What I do know is that I have the end results.

Ingrid: So these bullets contain this vapaus?

Rapi: correct. These two bullets contain vapaus they were given to us by snow white on our operation prior to our vacations. The cause can always be determined from the result, and vice versa. you're the one who taught me that.

Ingrid:...you do remember….

Rapi: if you promise to cooperate, i-

Varakiel: That's enough rapi.

Ingrid: oh? Why is that so?

Varakiel: while i desire this cooperation i won't do it over the body of my Companion, these two bullets, and that's final.

Ingrid:....so you want to meet with the absolute squad for what reason?

Varakiel: I read the report that says that they faced a heretic. I want to know everything about it.

Ingrid: So you plan to hunt it down I see, very well then I'll authorize a joint mission. is better for you to see for yourself.

Andersen: Area H is off limits.

Ingrid: we can change that.

Andersen:....fine, commander, you convinced me it seems you have been working through your vacations even when i ordered to lay down and rest, it seems you're really serious about this….i'll allow it.

Ingrid: then you should leave immediately.

Varakiel: Very well, counters we are leaving.

Rapi: roger.

Anis: alright!

Neon: let's go master!

.....