>>1829310

You all gather at the shrine as planned, with Emi arrived last. “Sorry, I had to go do a thing,” she announces, hurrying up to meet you all, “Had to speak with Kaoru about some stuff and, uh, yeah. I'm here now.” She glances your way then, giving you a tiny shake of her head – imploring you not to mention anything. “Oh right, Miho,” snapping her fingers, Emi starts to fumble in her pocket, “I don't know what you're up to, but I'm not here to handle your love letters!”

“What?” you blurt out, “I don't... excuse me?”

“I found this in my locker at work today,” Emi explains, handing an envelope to you, “It's addressed to you.”

True enough, your name is scrawled on the envelope along with a kiss of black lipstick. Crow, of course, this is exactly the sort of trick that she'd pull. You really shouldn't complain, since this time she's sort of helping you, but still...

Waving Ayane away as she starts to crowd in and read over your shoulder, you rip open the envelope and skim over the contents. A postcard from Kaneshiro Park, with the words “Found her. Tonight.”

“Kaneshiro Park. My my, how romantic,” Kasumi murmurs, peering around at the postcard, “But who exactly is this referring to?”

“That's what I wanted to talk to you all about,” you tell the group quietly, “It's about the Oracle, and it's... it's complicated.”

-

It feels almost like a confession, getting everything you've learned about the Oracle out in the open. From the incident four months ago to Noriko's role in the Oracle system, you don't leave out a single detail. It's a reflection of how seriously your group is taking this that nobody interrupts you while you're telling your story, not once. Even after you've finished talking, it's a long time before anyone else can speak up.

“It's not right,” Ayane finally decides, her voice wavering, “It's... it's not right that they can just do that! All those people, dead because of some machine...”

“The problem doesn't lie with the AI. ZOE did exactly what she was programmed to do. This was human error – allowing ZOE to operate without oversight was what led to this... disaster,” Maika adds in a more cautious tone, “I respect Doctor Fujiwara, but this mistake – and it WAS a mistake, not malice or design – is of her making. She has a responsibility to make sure this never happens again, even if it means rebuilding the Oracle Program from the ground up. I believe that the program has merit, even after everything we've heard.”

Maika's defence is met with an awkward silence. “Emi, Kasumi?” you ask quietly, “What do you think?”

[2/3]

>>1829311

“Uh...” Emi looks up, and you realise that she was barely listening to what you had been saying, her mind clearly on other things. “Fuck it, I don't know,” she offers, “But like, we start messing around with stuff, and the Sentinels might... y'know, take it badly. I don't mind a fight, but we've got enough shit on our plate already. So, uh, that's all I got to add.”

“I'm more curious about Megumi,” Kasumi murmurs, “Were you planning on telling her about this?”

“That was...” you wince, “I hadn't thought that far ahead yet. Things have been, uh, frantic lately.”

Emi, at least, has the good graces to look embarrassed at that – for a few moments. Her skittish grin soon returns. “Well, you wouldn't want to get bored, would you?” she jokes, “So what's our plan?”

“Our plan?” you repeat, “See what Crow was able to learn, I guess. But...”

>Our meeting isn't for a while yet. I'm going home to grab a nap
>I want you all to come with me to see Crow. Can you meet me at Kaneshiro Park?
>I want to go to see Megumi first, talk things over with her
>There's something else that I wanted to discuss... (Write in)
>Other

>>1829314
>I want to talk to Megumi first
>I want everyone to come along to meet with Crow

>>1829314
>>I want you all to come with me to see Crow. Can you meet me at Kaneshiro Park?
"I want to get as much information on this before we tell Megumi. We all know she'd run off to a rescue without a plan if we don't have one."

We can also just take Megumi with us to the meeting with Sionann.

>>1829314
>I want you all to come with me to see Crow. Can you meet me at Kaneshiro Park?
There's no need to bust her out NOW. Let's just get the details of her health and stuff so we can tell Megumi without making her go nuts. She's alive, in a hospital. Permanently missing an arm, but not in any danger. She will know if we try to bust her out and respond, so let's take this slowly.

“But our meeting isn't for a while yet,” you finish, “That gives me some time to prepare myself – which is, uh, more than I usually get where Crow is involved. I'd like the rest of you to come with me, do you think you can meet me at Kaneshiro Park later?”

“Yeah, I figure you might want someone there to check your facts,” Ayane nods, “I can be there. Might have to change a few of my plans, reschedule some stuff, but that's fine – this takes priority.” A faintly bitter look crosses her face as she says this, her mood still bruised after learning about the Oracle. The others reply in the same vein, agreeing to meet without much in the way of enthusiasm.

You can't really blame them for lacking in eagerness – this isn't exactly a social visit. Not a walk in the park, to use a particularly lame pun.

“Next up, I was going to speak with Megumi,” you add, with a faint note of reluctance in your voice, “She deserves to know about this. I think it's best if she meets Crow along with us.”

“I see,” Kasumi taps a finger against her lips as she thinks, “Were you going to tell her about Noriko?”

“I'd rather not tell her until we know exactly what the situation is. Better that she gets the full picture from Crow, rather than a vague outline from me,” pausing, you slump your shoulders a little, “Maybe I'm wrong, but my gut instinct is that Megumi would rush off in some rescue attempt, plan or no plan... even if Noriko doesn't need rescuing. We'll all get together and talk things through, nice and calm.”

“I'll admit, I don't know Megumi very well, but I think she'd listen to reason,” Maika decides, “In either case, I agree – I think it's best that we all talk things through together, even if I'm not exactly... thrilled at the prospect of seeing Attwood again.”

“Teaming up with a girl like her...” Ayane mutters, shaking her head before forcing a cheerful smile. “This is just like when Little Queen Starlight had to team up with Baroness Night to defeat the... uh...” she pauses, “Something like that, at least. Shiori's the one who watches those dumb shows, not me. I don't... Y'know what, forget it!”

“Kaneshiro Park, then,” you conclude after a long, awkward pause, “We're not in any rush here, so let's not do anything rash. No crazy plans, no sudden moves. We're all clear on that?”

Nods and murmured agreements meet you. With that, the matter is settled and you all part ways until later.

-

Alone in the shrine, you pull out your phone and dial Megumi's number, hoping that she's sober. “Hey, Megumi?” you begin, “Are you busy?”

“Not at all,” Megumi answers, her voice crisp and clear, “Did you need something from me?”

“Just wanted to meet up,” you reply, pinching the bridge of your nose, “There's something I wanted to talk to you about...”

[1/2]

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>>1829382

You arrange to meet with Megumi at Kaneshiro Park, a little before the others were due to arrive. It'll give you time to talk with her before making a move, just to get an idea of what kind of mood she's in. After that, it's just a matter of killing time – going home to change out of your uniform, getting a bite to eat, and generally preparing yourself for the worst. When the time comes, you arrive early – but Megumi is already waiting for you.

“Good evening,” she says, greeting you with a slight bow, “Don't worry, I've not been waiting long. It's a nice night, anyway, we're certainly not going to be the only ones here.”

That much is true. Kaneshiro Park is looking especially busy, with numerous couples taking in the eerie serenity. It makes you wonder why Crow chose to meet here, of all places – maybe she feels more comfortable with a crowd around her, something for her to hide within if need be. Maybe she just likes the scenery.

“Right, uh, there's someone I want you to meet,” you tell Megumi, “She's like us. You know, a magical girl. She's got some important information, and I think you deserve to know about it as well. Before we get started, I want you to promise me something. Promise me that you won't go anything rash until we're finished here, until we have ALL the facts. Can you do that?”

“I'll admit, I'm not sure what you're expecting from me...” Megumi replies carefully, “But I give you my word – I'll be calm and patient, no matter what happens or what you tell me. Is that good enough for you?”

She says that now, but...

“That's fine. I'm just being careful. As soon as the others arrive, we'll head inside. This is sort of a group meeting. They shouldn't be long, I hope...” clearing your throat, you search for something else to talk about – something to pass the last few moments. “So how are you doing?” you ask lamely, “Feeling, uh, okay?”

“Actually, I was feeling a little homesick. I was thinking of heading back to the States soon,” she confesses, “I only really came here to see how you were handling things. I didn't even think I'd stick around as long as this. Besides, things are getting a little dangerous here – I suppose Kurosawa told you but I had a close call while you were away, a bit of a run in with your Sentinel friends. I'd rather not take that same risk twice. Still, I've not decided anything for certain yet.”

“Well, you might want to stick around for a while longer,” you begin, cutting yourself short when you see the others arriving. “Hey there!” you call out, waving to them, “You're late! Did you-”

[2/3]

>>1829412

Before you can finish that sentence, a large car speeds into a parking spot nearby, blocking the others from sight. Lurching to a halt, it sits with its engine idling as your companions circle around it, occasionally shooting dirty looks at the vehicle. “Asshole can't drive,” Emi curses as the group reaches you, “Almost knocked me right off my damn feet!”

“Then perhaps you should be looking where you're going,” Megumi suggests lightly, “But I can't say I blame you – these electric cars are a lot quieter than what I'm used to.”

“Yeah yeah, I know. I wasn't paying attention. Got other stuff on my mind, yeah?” the young girl shrugs, the incident already a distant memory, “Let's get a move on!”

Chatting quietly amongst yourselves, trading greetings and small talk, your group enters the park. Just as you leave, you glance back at the large car and catch a glimpse of the driver through the tinted windows. His hands grip the wheel tightly, while his eyes practically bulge from their sockets. As a grimace of fury crosses his face he lunges for a cellphone, stabbing at it before pressing it to his ear. When you realise that you've been staring at him, you turn away and hurry after the others.

-

“This is a strange place,” Megumi murmurs as she stares around her, gazing at the solemn concrete landscape, “An art project, isn't it?”

“Something like that,” Ayane says with a shrug, “This is my first time visiting it, actually. It's kind of a “couple” thing to do, but none of the guys I hang out with really go in for that romantic stuff. Whatever – my question is, where is Crow supposed to be meeting us?”

“I guess she'll find us,” you decide after a moment's thought, “Let's just take a wander around and see if she's here.”

“Right,” Ayane chuckles humourlessly, “See if we can see the invisible woman...”

>You worry too much. Let's go
>Before we get started, I wanted to check something... (Write in)
>Other

>>1829422
>We should be able to detect her.

>>1829422
>Before we get started, I wanted to check something... (Write in)
Maika drone out that car that almost hit you guys. See if you can overhear his conversation. Call it a hunch.

>Let's go

>>1829422
>>Before we get started, I wanted to check something... (Write in)
I think we should give Megumi a little warning about what this is about. Even something vague would be okay.

>>1829422
I really, really hope Crow didn't just commission that guy to do the kidnapping already and is just here to drop her off with us.
>Maika drone. Make a sweep for anyone listening in.

“Hey Maika,” you ask as you glance back to the entrance to the park, “those drones of yours have all kinds of surveillance kit, don't they?”

“The surveillance models certainly do,” the heiress nods, taking out her phone, “I assume you're asking out of some particular reason, and not just a sudden interest in our product line, correct?”

“I wanted to see if you could scope out that car that almost hit you guys,” you tell her, “The driver was talking on his phone, I want to know what he's saying. Call it a hunch, but something about that guy seemed... off.”

“Hmm. I see,” Maika nods to herself, “We have units on standby in the area, I should be able to bring one over and take a little listen.” As she looks down to her phone, she continues. “Some people prefer to take a virtual tour, you see. We have some drones that can follow the path and send footage back to a user. It won't be any trouble at all to, ah, divert one from it's usual route,” a smile touches her lips, “Call it a perk of my position. Here we go, I'm sending one over now. Give me a moment...”

“This is all very odd,” Megumi frowns slightly, “I'm really quite curious as to what this is all about. I feel... I almost feel like I'm being pulled into something that none of us have complete control over. I've not felt like this in years, not since Noriko was about...”

“Uh, well, that's sorta what this is about,” you admit slowly, “I heard this... rumour. Something about a girl called Noriko, here in Ark City. The person we're meeting today, I'm hoping she can give us some more details, maybe confirm things. I didn't want you to get your hopes up too much, or do anything crazy if this turns out to be something significant, but...”

“Here?” this causes Megumi to freeze, all colour draining away from her face, “I... I don't know what to say. I always wondered if...” Trailing off, she clenches her hands into tight fists, forcing a wave of emotion into a more controllable form. “That would explain why you were so careful earlier,” she adds, her voice wavering slightly, “I see. I'll do my best to keep a level head and weigh this with an objective eye. I only hope-”

“I've got something,” Maika interrupts, “Only one half of the conversation, I'm afraid, and I was only able to catch the end. Let me play the recording back...”

Leaving Megumi to fumble a cigarette into her mouth, seeking comfort in a quick nicotine boost, you gather around Maika to listen.

“-It has to be today? You're certain about this?” the man hisses, the recording filling his voice with scratchy static, “Shit... But we didn't do it! They're blaming this all on us!” A pause. “Then we should embrace it, take the chance to send our message? I... I agree,” a long breath, “I'll do it. There's no turning back now.”

There, the recording ends.

[1/2]

>>1829458
Alright we might have to put this meeting on hold to deal with some terrorists.

>>1829458
The ecoterrorists decided to crash Qiang's funeral?

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>>1829458

“It doesn't sound entirely benign, does it?” Maika offers, “I suggest we should get this over with as soon as we can, then leave. The more I think about this, the more this seems like a terrible idea. We need to find Crow, and-”

“No need,” Emi interrupts, her voice growing cold and hard, “We've found her. Why don't you show yourself?”

“You can see me?” a voice replies, shortly followed by Crow fading into view, “Impressive, pet, I'll have to remember that in future. Hello ladies, nice to meet you all – Sionann Attwood, at your service. I know most of you, but this is a new face...” She sizes up Megumi for a moment, meeting the older girl's eyes and smirking faintly, “Well well... not even the Sentinels know about YOU.”

“Megumi Eto,” she replies calmly, “And I'd prefer to keep it that way. Now then...”

“Maika, can you sweep the area?” you ask, not taking your eyes away from Crow, “I want to make sure that there's nobody listening in.”

“Understood,” Maika nods, looking back down to her phone, “Nothing so far. Oh, that driver seems to be leaving – he's pulling out of the parking bay now. Maybe he just stopped to make his call...” Still murmuring softly to herself, she sits down and toys with the phone. Putting her out of your mind for now, you glance back to Crow and Megumi.

“Let's keep this civil,” you warn both of them, “Crow... Sionann. Why don't you tell us all what you've learned?”

“Anything for you, pet,” the assassin simpers, her mocking smile soon giving way to a scowl. “Then I'll keep this blunt. I followed Fujiwara this morning, trailed her from her home to the grand arcology. She went straight for the central elevators – which was a problem, because those things are packed with security. They have weight sensors, so I couldn't follow her without giving the game away. Makes you wonder what they're hiding, right?” Crow raises an eyebrow, “You've seen those lifts, right? Glass sides to them, so you can see them going up – only, Fujiwara didn't go up. She must have gone down.”

“Down?” you repeat, “I didn't realise the grand arcology had underground levels...”

“It doesn't. Not officially,” Maika points out without looking around, “I've seen the plans, they don't include anything below ground level. Of course, the Sentinels have enough influence to see the original plans altered.”

“So, Fujiwara went to check out something that doesn't officially exist,” you muse, “What happened then?”

“She was down there for about an hour, then she came back up looking... you know how she looks. Stressed and neurotic,” Crow shrugs, “Now this got me curious, so I caught up with her and gave her a friendly hello. Would you believe that she was frightened of little old me?” She widens her eyes when she says this, putting on a parody of innocence.

[2/3]

>>1829500
No seriously that was obviously the eco terrorists. If we aren't going to do something directly at least have Maika tip off police or the Sentinels on the car and driver so they can do something about it.

>>1829500

“Miho, does she normally waste time this much?” Megumi asks you, her voice hard with forced politeness, “Or is she just, dare I say, stalling for time?”

“Sionann, didn't you say that you would keep it blunt?” you press, “Maybe you should get to the point.” Glancing aside, you give Maika a quick look. “How are things looking on your end?” you ask, “Any sign of that car?”

“Nothing yet, it may have gone deeper into the city. I've registered a warning with central security, flagging it as a possible risk. The next time someone gets eyes on it, they should...” she pauses, “Wait a moment, I think-”

“Fine, fine. Honestly, you people have no patience at all!” Crow rolls her eyes, ignoring Maika, “I asked Fujiwara if I could see this Oracle of theirs. Of course, she said that it wasn't possible. Even when I insisted, she said that it simply couldn't happen. So, when I asked nicely-”

This crosses a line. Lunging forwards, Megumi grabs Crow by the front of her shirt and slams her back against one of those looming concrete pillars. “Just tell me about Noriko, damn it!” she snarls, “Stop wasting my time and-”

“Contact!” Maika screams, leaping to her feet and grabbing you by the arm, “It's coming this way! The car, it's-” Before the words have finished leaving her mouth, you hear a crash of metal and a few scattered screams from the entrance to the park. Countless thoughts flash through your mind in the next few seconds – a crash, an accident or something more deliberate? Maybe...

Then you see the car, careening across the uneven concrete ground, the front still crumpled from crashing through the flimsy entrance barriers. It veers erratically, lurching from side to side as the driver wrestles with the wheel, but the overall course carries it straight towards you.

>Get out of the way as best you can
>Take shelter behind the concrete pillars
>Try and stop it somehow
>Other

>I apologise for the delays, this isn't a very good day for me

>>1829564
>Try and stop it somehow
lift the car and let it sail over into a tree. A freak explosion of some water pipes saved us or something. yeah.

>>1829564
>Try and stop it somehow
A Shockwave should stun the driver without making it obvious to any onlookers that we did something

>>1829564
>Try and stop it somehow
Just True Reversal it.

>>1829564
Or just have Megumi stop time, get inside, pull the emergency brake, get out and resume time.

That might be the easiest and most incognito way of stopping this thing.

Though that depends if we have enough time to give an order I guess.

>>1829564
>>1829578
This.

>>1829564
>Take shelter behind a concrete pillar.

Also after we stop this thing (or during if Megumi stops time) check the inside/trunk for a bomb or something in case there was more to this plan other than road rage.

Should megumi extract the driver as well?

>>1829605
Yeah.

A thousand different thoughts and ideas flash through your mind as you see the car charging forwards, your mind fixing on all the wrong details – the white paint, flaking away from the crumpled front end, splattered with an unspeakable smear of red. The sight of the blood is what convinces you that this is really real, and you realise that you need to do something. “Megumi!” you cry out, “Stop it! Stop-”

Everything stops, the car freezing in place along with the rest of the world – everything except for you and Megumi has come to a sudden halt. Gazing around at the black and white world, you let out a shuddering gasp. You've got time to think, at least.

“God, I never thought I'd see something like this,” Megumi groans, her hand trembling on your shoulder, “Make sure to keep touching me, Miho, or you'll stop like everything else. Now then, what are we going to do about this?”

“I don't know,” you mutter, shaking your head bitterly, “I should have done something before now, but I'm so wrapped up in this other stuff. I...” Gritting your teeth, you look up at the car. “Focus. Deal with this, then we can deal with everything else. Damn it, why did he have to pick NOW of all times?” Transforming, you offer Megumi one end of your trailing scarf to hold onto. Together, you cautiously approach the car. “Get the emergency brake, that should stop it,” you suggest, “Try and pull out the driver as well. It'll be best if he's alive – the police will want to talk to him.”

“I'm sure,” Megumi nods as you approach the car, “Anything else?”

“Better check in the back, just in case,” you add, “If these are the guys I'm thinking of, they've used bombs before. It wouldn't surprise me if there was something more than just a car involved here...”

Megumi shudders at the thought, but says nothing to that.

-

Even in this frozen world, you feel a gnawing sense of urgency as you put your plan into action. The front windscreen is already broken, shattered in the first impact, and so all Megumi needs to do is lean through and pull the emergency brake down, holding onto your scarf with her other hand. While she's doing that, you reach for the driver. Then, catching a glimpse into the back seat, you see a bulky package. Wires bristle out from it, leading to a crude controller sitting in the passenger seat – judging by the red button on the top, it could only be a detonator.

“There WAS a bomb,” you breathe, “Shit...”

“Don't touch it,” Megumi warns, “Best to leave it be, unless you've trained in bomb disposal since we last spoke.”

“Right,” you mutter, grabbing the driver by the collar and pulling him out of his seat. His body turns pliable – almost easy to pose – when you grab him, but no life enters his eyes. He's as lifeless as one of Nebiros' precious Dolls.

[1/2]

>>1829656
So does this make three groups that are trying to kill us or just two?

>>1829656

Dragging the driver behind you, you follow Megumi back the shelter of a concrete pillar, taking cover behind it as you prepare yourself for time to resume its ugly flow. Even when you're behind cover, Megumi hesitates for a moment.

“Oh well,” she sighs, “Here does nothing...”

And then time starts to flow again, with a hideous scream of metal. The car, suddenly halted by the emergency brake, screeches forwards for a little more before veering abruptly to one side and flipping over, smashing into a concrete post and coming to a sudden halt. All the while, you cringe in anticipation of an explosion that never comes. Even after the car has ceased moving, silence doesn't descend – the driver begins to convulse madly, clawing at you as his thoughts struggle to keep up.

“I didn't... I don't...” he stammers, a thin foam gathering at one corner of his mouth as he twitches and shudders, “She made me do it, she made me do it, she made me...”

“He's going into a seizure!” Megumi warns, “Get him down, stop him thrashing about!”

Her warning, though, is premature. Before it's even begun, the man has slumped back and grown still, so still that you mistake him for a dead man at first. When you touch two fingers to his neck, you feel a pulse – unstable, and far faster than you'd expect from a comatose man. It's only as you're easing him down to the ground that you finally hear sirens calling out.

-

In what seems like no time at all, the scene is crawling with uniformed figures – very “official” figures. Plenty of paramedics, mostly clustered around the park entrance, but just as many police. Accompanying the police are another breed of authoritarian – their uniforms unmarked in a way that just screamed “special agents”. Your little group has just formed a loose circle around the unconscious driver when some of those agents arrive. Judging by the stern looks they wear, you can tell that you're in for a strict questioning. Then-

“Attwood. Take this man into custody,” Crow speaks up suddenly, producing a nondescript badge and waving it at the agents, “And there's a bomb in the back of the car. Better get someone to take care of that. These people are key witnesses, I'm taking them in for an interview – a private interview.”

The special agents, to your amazement, don't dare to raise a single word of protest. Simply nodding and following her orders. “Perk of the job,” she murmurs to you as the driver is taken away, “Officially, we were never here.”

“Unofficially, I don't think we should be here either,” you suggest, “Let's get out of here, find somewhere more private to finish this little talk.”

“I know just the place,” Crow agrees with a sly grin.

>I'm going to have to take a short pause here, maybe an hour. Again, I'm sorry for the delays today.

>>1829721
get well soon

Crow's “place” turns out to be a gloomy basement bar, the air thick with smoke – not cigarette smoke, but rather incense. Half the room seems devoted to pachinko machines, while the other half is made up to look like a Shinto shrine. Even for the vice district, this is an eccentric place.

“I never thought a place like this existed in Ark City,” Kasumi marvels, “This shrine... who is it devoted to?”

“Hell if I know. I'm a lapsed Catholic, or... something like that,” Crow shrugs, nodding to a table, “But I like this place. Most of the sad old bastards here are more interested in their weird games than bothering each other, so it's good for drinking alone... when the Sentinels let me. Anyway, let's get straight to it, before something else goes horribly wrong. Where was I?” Thinking for a moment, Crow hums lightly to herself.

“Noriko,” Megumi reminds her quietly, “Please tell me everything I know about her. Do you have a full name?”

“Right, the Oracle. Noriko Inoue, according to Doctor Fujiwara. I bullied the old girl into a few more details. Her condition is stable, but not all that great. What the doc said earlier was a bit optimistic – I reckon she'd need pretty regular visits to the hospital if the Sentinels ever let her out on her cage,” Crow holds up a warning finger, “Now here's the thing – as far as I'm aware, she's happy where she is. Never complained about it, never wanted anything more. I guess you could call her a willing prisoner.”

“A willing prisoner,” Megumi repeats slowly, a faint note of menace slipping into her voice. One corner of her mouth twitches with suppressed anger, but she holds true to her word – no rash decisions, no sudden moves. “Before we go any further, somebody please explain to me what the Sentinels are doing with her,” she asks, “And please, omit nothing. Don't spare my feelings.”

Of course, all eyes turn to you. Sighing grimly, you begin your explanation – and just as Megumi asked, you don't leave anything out. When you describe Noriko's role as one half of the Oracle system, a bitter smile touches Megumi's lips. When you tell her about the Oracle's part in the incident four months ago, the smile vanishes completely.

“They took her gift, and they did THAT with it?” she mutters through gritted teeth, “This is inexcusable!”

“That's pretty much what I thought,” you agree, “It's not right that a computer can throw away human lives so easily, no matter what kind of “greater good” it has in mind.”

“I'm no good Samaritan, but I can't accept this either,” Crow says with a nod, “When I first heard, I wanted to storm down there and rip this bloody Oracle right out of whatever system they have her plugged into. I'm still considering it...”

“You won't do it,” Kasumi corrects her, “And you know it.”

[1/2]

>>1829862

“Excuse me?” Crow's eyes widen, “I wouldn't be so sure if I were you. I'm capable of-”

“No. You know that damaging the Oracle would be a red line. If you crossed it, the Sentinels wouldn't hesitate to destroy you. For all your complaining, you actually like working for them – even if you'd never admit it to yourself,” Kasumi explains, her voice calm and unwavering, “Oh, you're content to make trouble for them in whatever petty ways that you can think of, but you'd never do anything that they'd consider unforgivable. Answer me this, please – do you enjoy being their dog?”

Crow's jaw drops, all the blood leaving her face as she struggles to find some rebuttal. “Oh yeah, Kasumi can do that,” you tell the assassin, fighting to keep a smirk off your face, “Sorry.”

It's not quite a knife in the back, but you'll call this payback.

-

“This is irrelevant,” Megumi interrupts, her voice curt, “You're telling me that Noriko has been working for your Sentinels for several years, correct?”

“They... they're not MY bloody Sentinels!” Crow snaps, “They had their Oracle before I was “volunteered” to join them, so that was a few years ago. What's your point?”

“And in all that time, she never tried...” her voice softening, Megumi slumps back in her seat, “Maybe she really IS happy with them.” She's silent for a moment more before straightening up and adopting a more business-like tone. “I'm still not sure if I understand all of this, and I certainly don't like it, but I'll promise you this – I have no intention of breaking Noriko out of wherever she's being kept,” Megumi assures you all, “No matter how much I might want to. If we act recklessly the Sentinels may respond in kind, and I cannot allow them to put Noriko in any danger.”

“Very bloody saintly of you,” the assassin grunts, still smarting from Kasumi's words, “Well I'm leaving. I've told you everything I know. You, glasses, did I lie at all?”

“Me?” Ayane scowls, “Hey, fuck you... ugh. No, she didn't lie. At the very least, she thinks she's telling us the truth.”

With a sarcastic gesture, Crow prepares to leave.

>Fine. Thanks for the help, I guess
>Have you got any idea of how we could get in to see Noriko?
>What are your people saying about that thing at Kaneshiro Park?
>There's something else I wanted to ask... (Write in)
>Other

>>1829878
>Have you got any idea of how we could get in to see Noriko?
I think we need to have a talk at least. Explain that there are alternatives for helping this fight other than being confined and being lashed to a cold AI. See if that sways her opinion.

>Thanks for the help Sionann.

>>1829878
>>Have you got any idea of how we could get in to see Noriko?
>Thanks for the help Sionann.

>>1829878
>>Have you got any idea of how we could get in to see Noriko?
>>What are your people saying about that thing at Kaneshiro Park?

>>1829878
>What are Sentinels saying about park incident
>Thanks bitch

>>1829878
>What are your people saying about that thing at Kaneshiro Park?
>Really, thanks for the help!

We already know fujiwara.
Give her a big honest thanks.

“Wait,” you call out to her, “Have you got any idea of how we could get in to see Noriko?”

“Well that depends,” Crow shoots you a smirk, “Are we talking legally or otherwise? I've got ideas for both...”

“Legally first,” you decide, “And then we can think about alternative plans,”

“Fujiwara mentioned this, along with a whole bunch of irrelevant babbling garbage. Basically, she can't give permission for anyone to visit the Oracle on her own,” Crow sits back down, leaning in to give you a sharp look, “She needs at least one more council member to back her up. From what I gathered, though, that might not be easy – they don't like messing around with the Oracle program. As far as they're concerned, it works well enough and they don't want to risk fouling it all up.”

“Father might be able to help us with that,” Maika suggests, “Although I suspect that he would be reluctant to do anything that might harm Doctor Fujiwara's career or her position within the Sentinels. It's a delicate situation, and Father isn't the sort to take risks on what he would consider to be personal, emotional rationale.”

You're not very happy about the idea of turning to Eligor for help – again – but this isn't the time for that particular topic. “I'll keep that in mind,” you tell the heiress before glancing back to Crow, “What about alternative options?”

“We break in, smash right through the bottom of the elevator and drop all the way down, alerting every Sentinel thug in Ark City,” the assassin answers promptly, offering you a grandiose shrug, “I never said it was a good idea.”

“Uh...” you pause, “Have your people said anything about Kaneshiro Park yet?”

“Let me just check...” Crow sets her phone down on the table and starts to peck at the screen with her good hand. “Too early to say much, but the driver is under guard in hospital,” she explains, “He's showing signs of... what the hell is cyber-psychosis? Is that a thing these days?”

“Return to the Earth have claimed responsibility. Social media is full of it,” Ayane says, gesturing with her own phone, “They say that Kaneshiro Park was a blasphemous mockery of nature, and their attack was to show how fraudulent it really was. Something like that, at least, it kinda reads like a hastily thrown together rant.”

“This was short notice,” Maika considers, “Ever since Neptune Island, Renko Biotech has been lobbying hard to have the Returners arrested as members of a terrorist organisation. Maybe they thought the end was near and wanted to send one last message.”

“A message that we just so happened to get caught up in,” you murmur, “Seems like a bit of a coincidence to me.”

“There's no such thing as coincidence,” Megumi whispers to herself.

[1/2]

>>1829974
EVE hacked his brain calling it now

>>1829990
Cyber psychosis is the side effect from Booster.

>>1829974

“Well, it's too early to say anything else,” Crow gives you another grand shrug, “The driver is crazy, so the police aren't expecting too much out of him. There's a whole mess of procedure to go through, but that takes time. You'd better be good kids and stay out of it, okay? Now then, I'm out of here – time for this dog to slink back into her kennel.”

“Sionann?” you ask, meeting her eyes as she looks your way, “Thank you for this. You're sticking your neck out for us, and you didn't have to do that. So... thanks.”

“This is where I call you stupid and say that I was doing it all for myself, isn't it?” the assassin says with a smirk, “Well, whatever. You're welcome – it was a nice change of pace.”

“Yeah,” you laugh, “Maybe you're not such a bitch after all.”

-

“I wonder if I went too far,” Kasumi murmurs as Crow leaves the smoky bar, “I probably shouldn't have dragged her secrets out quite so harshly. Was it awfully wicked of me?”

“It was a bit mean,” you admit, although you soon add, “Was there anything else you read in her?”

“Hmm, maybe a little,” a mischievous smile steals across her face, “A few memories that she's ashamed of cherishing so much, but those are... private. Those memories should be kept between her and Karl.” Widening her eyes in innocent shock, Kasumi gasps delicately. “Oh dear, I said too much!” she hastens to add, “Please forget what I just said!”

“You're, uh, you're pretty scary,” Emi says with a nervous laugh, “Remind me never to piss you off, jeez...” A few more laughs rise up from around the table, but Maika doesn't join in. Her expression is set in a thoughtful frown.

“Cyber-psychosis?” she thinks aloud, “That doesn't make any sense...”

“You get that from taking too much of that Boost thing, right? The news was ranting about it this morning,” Ayane gives the heiress a shrug, “I don't know much about it. But I mean, he was crazy, right? How does that stuff even work?”

“Acella is popular with hackers. Combined with a good VR set, it allows a user to write code far quicker than the human average – not quite at the levels of a top AI, but still capable of defeating some security. Cyber-psychosis is when the barrier between virtual and physical reality begin to blur – it mainly involves hallucinations or delusions,” Maika pauses, “But I can't imagine why an ecoterrorist would develop it. Do they really use VR equipment that much?”

“I don't know,” you groan, “The driver kept saying something, though - “she made me do it”. I don't get this at all. Computer use and a mysterious “she”... maybe an AI? EVE?”

“I... couldn't really say for sure,” Maika apologises, giving you a faintly evasive shrug.

[2/3]

>>1830015
Booster is made from chips. Chips that can be controlled by an AI.

>>1830051
>But I can't imagine why an ecoterrorist would develop it

Well we have all the data on the dude that made it. Ex-Renko employee that wanted to give it to the 'people'. We also have that clip Jodi pulled up that might be him going all radical spouting something similar to the eco terrorists.

>>1830051

“I'm going home,” Emi decides suddenly, standing up, “I gotta take care of some stuff. It's, uh, it's been a pretty shitty day. I just hope I can make it home without ending up under a car...” Running a hand down her face, she struggles hides a massive yawn. “Then again, they give you some pretty good drugs in hospital, don't they?” the young girl adds, “Maybe then I could get a decent night's sleep...”

“See you later,” you tell her, “Sorry for getting you caught up in this...”

“Hey, getting each other caught up in shit is what being friends is all about,” Emi replies with a wan smile, “But yeah, I'm out of here. Don't start a war without me, you guys.”

As she leaves, you slump down and think. “Accela, Boost, was made by a man who used to work for Renko. It's based off their nootropic enhancements, I think. Yu, the inventor, made it into a drug so that people could make it themselves,” you recall, “And Yu got pretty crazy himself. I've seen footage – he was talking a lot like these Returner guys. There's a link there, definitely.” Drumming your fingers on the table, you glance Kasumi's way. “What if they were selling Boost to fund their operations?” you suggest, “And some of them started to dip into their own supply?”

“I suppose that's possible,” Maika nods to herself, “But we're still no further forwards – who is the “she” the driver was talking about?”

“If we're taking hallucinations into account, there may not be a rational answer,” Ayane warns, “But jeez, I don't know. Kasumi, you got anything to add?”

“I'm afraid not,” she replies stiffly, “All this is quite new to me. I was actually thinking of following Emi's example – it's getting rather late, and I'm quite tired. I'm sorry that things couldn't have been easier today. Megumi – if you'd like to talk about things, I'm always willing to lend an ear. Call me if you want.” As she says this, she slides a folded sheet of paper across the table.

“I... thank you,” the offer seems to take Megumi by surprise, “And I'm sorry, everyone. I feel like I've brought a lot of my troubles with me, and now you're suffering on my behalf.” Slipping the paper into her pocket, she nods to you all. “Please keep me informed about this situation,” she asks, “And if there's anything I can do in return, please ask. It's the least that I can do. For now, though, I'm going back to my hotel. Good day, all of you.” Bowing, Megumi slowly follows Kasumi out of the bar.

“And then there were three...” Ayane mutters, “So, ladies, what do we have planned?”

>Right now? I'm going home
>Let's do something fun! I'm not sure what, though...
>There's something left to discuss... (Write in)
>Other

>>1830135
>>Let's do something fun! I'm not sure what, though...
Always balance out random acts of violence with something fun!

>>1830135
Go-cart!

>>1830135
We should have some heart to heart with maika as we walk home. Both because it was a while and a few social blurps since last, and because the whole mean machine prolly bothers her.

>>1830135
>Let's do something fun! I'm not sure what, though...

>>1830135
>Party Hardy

“Let's do something fun!” you decide, clapping your hands together and forcing a smile, “I'm not sure what, but we should do something!”

“I suppose it would be good for our Emotional Barrier,” Maika agrees slowly, nodding as though the concept of “fun” was entirely alien to her, “But I'm not exactly sure what we could do either. It's a nice night, so even just a stroll might be sufficient.”

“But I walk all the time!” Ayane groans, “Can't we do some underage drinking instead?”

“Last time was pretty fun,” you admit, “But I don't really know anywhere that would sell us anything, and we don't have Kasumi here to sweet-talk us into getting any. Man, maybe we should have asked Megumi to buy us a flask of sake or something...”

“Actually,” Maika clears her throat delicately, “There used to be a vending machine with a broken ID scanner. It would sell age restricted products to anyone. There's no guarantee that it won't have been fixed since then, but...”

“But it's worth a try,” Ayane decides with a shrug, “But now I'm really curious – how come YOU know about this infamous vending machine, Maika?”

“I don't see why that's relevant,” the heiress replies, faint colour gathering around her ears.

-

It is with a certain trepidation that you approach the fabled vending machine, unsure of exactly what to expect. It's hidden away down a dark alleyway, as though it was built there by accident, while an arrow of lurid pink spray paint points towards it. Again, that's odd – normally, graffiti would be swiftly removed.

“I don't get it,” Ayane murmurs, “Who restocks it? Who put it here in the first place?”

“Nobody knows,” Maika whispers back, in the tone of someone telling a ghost story, “It's one of the last great mysteries of the modern age.”

“C'mon, you guys are being ridiculous,” you scoff, squeezing down the alley to peer at the machine, “The glass is so dusty I can barely see what any of these things are! This has got to be a joke...” Chuckling softly to yourself, you feed some money into the machine and stab a button at random. It won't even work, you think to yourself, it'll take your money but it won't give you anything back. What a waste of-

With an almighty clatter, several cans drop out of the machine, rattling out for you to claim them. Shrugging in bemusement, you scoop them up and carry them back out from the alleyway.

“Nice!” Ayane laughs, “So what did you get?”

“Looks like...” you examine the can before passing it over, “Beer, I think. Seems pretty strong...”

“Huh, okay. Whatever works,” Ayane takes the can and gives it a suspicious look before popping it open, “Party hard, I guess.”

“Party hard,” you and Maika repeat, like an absurdly solemn toast.

[1/2]

>>1830238

Although the beer was, at first, bitter enough that you thought you'd choke on it, it soon becomes easier to drink. Before long, there's a pleasant warmth glowing in the pit of your stomach. Ayane's cheeks are flushed, while Maika seems unaffected – at least, until you notice the spacey look in her eyes. Sitting together on a low bench, you watch the world go by for a little.

“Look at us, the three originals,” Ayane says suddenly, giggling a little, “Accept no imitations!”

“Things have really changed since Emi and Kasumi signed up,” you reply, nodding wisely to yourself, “Mostly getting worse. Not to, uh, blame them for it or anything...” Sighing, you stare up at the sky. “Although some things have gotten better as well,” you concede, “So it's a mixed bag.”

“It'll be over soon,” Maika says to nobody in particular. An awkward pause follows this, broken only when Ayane leaps to her feet.

“I'm gonna call up my ex and give him a piece of my mind!” she decides, “Tell him exactly what a scumbag he is!”

“Uh...” frowning at her, you tilt your head to the side in genuine confusion, “Which ex, though?”

“Rude!” Ayane wails, “You're so mean!” Throwing up her hands in dismay, she storms off around the corner. A few moments later, you catch a few glimpses of her voice spouting all manner of obscenities. She's been spending too much time around Emi, it seems.

“Well,” Maika murmurs, “This is nice.”

“Yeah,” you sigh, “This IS nice.”

>I'm going to pause things here, and pick up tomorrow. If anyone has any questions, I'll answer them as best I can
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today! I apologise for the spotty performance

>1830238
>1830278

It's both kinda adorable and kinda sad how these preteen girls are just sitting there getting drunk because fuck it.

>>1830278
How close is Megumi to running out of money, has she picked a street to bum on yet?

>>1830238
>“Party hard,” you and Maika repeat, like an absurdly solemn toast.
We are very good at partying.

>>1830286
>Preteen

They are in the middle of high school, but I get what you mean.

>>1830278
Thanks for running Moloch.

>>1830278
>Thanks for running!

When Megumi stopped time, Emi wasn't moving either? I was sure as the Executioner she'd have a counter to that built in the same way she could see Crow, but it looks like I was wrong.


>>1830286
Partying Hardying is never sad.

>>1830289

She's not broke yet! I imagine that Megumi has a certain degree of financial independence, although I never settled on any solid details. Maybe Felicia left her some money in her will?

>>1830307

Emi's powers are largely oriented around the concept of piercing defenses, Crow's invisibility and Emotional Barriers included. Megumi's abilities are a little less clear cut in how they operate. Magical targets possess the ability to break Megumi's time powers after a while, essentially limiting how long she can freeze them for - how quickly they break free depends on the power of the target. Tyrants have an easier time, for example. Emi wouldn't be immune to her powers, but she would be able to break free a lot faster than a regular magical girl.

But it's irrelevant, really, because we're all friends here!

>>1830387
>we're all friends here!
You sure about that?

>>1830387

So it's kinda a reverse Dio. Instead of 'How many seconds can you move in the frozen time' it's 'How many seconds UNTIL you can move in the frozen time'.

>>1830405

I'm not overly familiar with JJBA, but that sounds like a pretty good way to describe it, yes. Time manipulation is always something I find pretty awkward to think about, though.

>>1830278
Thanks for running!

How long until EVE puts Boost into the public water supply and starts hacking our brains on the fly?

>>1830584

Oh, I don't think we need to worry about that! On an unrelated note, those water filters are a complete scam. You should absolutely never bother using them.

Yep.

>>1830631
Thanks for running, Moloch!

...so, she's not going to put them in the water, but in the water filters?! That girl makes some complicated plans.

>>1830387
It's not irrelevant. I was wondering if Emi was the kind of person who would pretend to be stopped in time so she wouldn't have to help her friends rescue a crazy dude in a car. Now I know she is not.

File: Maika Kanzaki.jpg (272 KB, 1080x1080)

272 KB JPG

“She's really going all out,” you remark after a time, listening as Ayane lays into whichever poor bastard is on the other end of her phone call. You're certainly no expert in relationships, but you always thought that people just didn't speak to their former partners – and you certainly didn't think that they called them up for a drunken rant.

“I suppose that's one way of relieving stress,” Maika agrees, “For her, at least. It's probably quite stressful for the other half of the discussion.”

“Doesn't sound like there's much discussion going on over there,” you point out, “And if there is, it's pretty one sided. I don't think she's given him a chance to get one word in since she's begun.”

“Which is one way to win a debate, I suppose,” the heiress sighs then, taking out her phone and checking the time. “Well, I'm afraid that we've partied hard enough for one day. I'd better be getting home – the walk will do me good.”

“I'll come with you,” you hasten to tell her, “I've been meaning to talk to you. Uh, alone.”

“I see,” Maika hesitates a little at that, probably getting all manner of wrong ideas. “I suppose we should get moving then. Ayane? We're heading off,” she calls this last part around the corner to your other companion, “Don't stay out too late, okay?”

There's not much coherent about Ayane's answer.

-

For a while, you and Maika walk together in silence. The night air has cooled, and there's a faintly cutting edge to the wind that blows. You dressed lightly, and soon you find yourself shivering a little. Turning your mind to other things, you glance Maika's way. “So...” you begin, “There was something that I wanted to talk to you about. It's-”

“I know. EVE,” Maika cuts you off, “I've not heard anything new. Everyone I see online is saying the same thing – EVE is being strangely quiet, strangely well-behaved lately. Some people are convinced that Renko have finally ironed out the glitches, but others aren't quite so sure. I won't waste your time with the theories – none of them, in my opinion, have any real merit. The overall impression-”

“Maika,” you interrupt, “I wasn't going to ask you about EVE. I mean, I WAS, but just not yet. What I wanted to say is... I'm sorry. I've been kind of a jerk about some stuff lately. Just, getting your case about the Sentinels and your father, all that kind of stuff. We're all in this together, and making snide comments won't help any of us. So, uh, I'm sorry for anything I've said.” Lapsing into silence, you finish your awkward apology with a shrug. Maika seems taken aback for a moment, but then she laughs delicately.

[1/2]

>>1832538

“I wasn't expecting an apology,” she admits, “Miho, I think that after everything we've been through together, a few crude comments here and there are hardly worth worrying about. My feelings aren't nearly so delicate as to be bruised by that.” Smiling then, she brushes a lock of long hair away from her face. “But I do appreciate the gesture,” she hastens to add, a faint smile touching her lips, “I... I'm happy that you went to the trouble...”

“Jeez!” you sigh loudly, “Don't make a big deal out of it, c'mon!”

“Understood,” Maika replies briskly, laughing a little at your exasperation, “We'll let bygones be bygones. It's easier that way, I think.” Her smile fades as she you walk together for a while longer, a few automated trucks humming past. “I'm not sure if I recognise this city at times,” she confesses, “I almost feel as though we've kicked over a rock, and now we're looking at all manner of ugliness.”

“Maybe the ugliness was there all along,” you suggest, “And we just never realised it until now. We were never confronted with it until now.”

“Perhaps. I hope so, although I don't like to confess to such frightful naivety,” a frown creases her brow, “I'd hate to think that we've caused this somehow. As if the deeper we delve into the Umbra, the more filth we drag back up with us.” Shaking her head, she forces a more carefree expression. “You'll have to forgive me, I'm speaking out of turn,” the heiress adds, “That beer has really loosened my tongue.”

“It does that,” you agree lightly. Again, you both fall silent for a while more as you walk the darkening streets. Soon, you recognise that the Kanzaki compound isn't far away. As if matching your thoughts, Maika pauses and leans back against a wall. “What's up?” you ask, taking a place next to her, “Don't want to go home?”

“Maybe not just yet,” Maika says, with a hint of a smile tugging at one corner of her mouth, “The wind doesn't really get us here. It's nice. We can just... take a moment to relax. That's not always an easy thing to achieve, these days.”

She's certainly right there. Sighing softly to yourself, you lean back and gaze out at the city. You know what she means – this city doesn't seem like the one you grew up in. It might not be as bad as the news claims, but there is a new hostility growing, and you feel as though the Returners are just a symptom of it. Whether or not things will ever go back to normal, you couldn't really say.

...This silence is starting to feel awkward.

>I'm going to head home. See you later Maika
>You know, SAE probably has a soul. That's... new
>Hey, could an AI take over someone's brain? Hacking it or whatever
>So, aren't you going to invite me inside?
>Let's talk a little... (Write in)
>Other

>>1832541
>>You know, SAE probably has a soul. That's... new
>>Hey, could an AI take over someone's brain? Hacking it or whatever. Using Accela or something?

>>1832541
>>You know, SAE probably has a soul. That's... new
>>So, aren't you going to invite me inside?

>>1832541
>You know, SAE probably has a soul. That's... new
>Hey, could an AI take over someone's brain? Hacking it or whatever

>>1832541
>You know, SAE probably has a soul. That's... new
>Maybe she could even become a magical girl, if she had a body
>Hey, could an AI take over someone's brain? Hacking it or whatever

>>1832541
>You know, SAE probably has a soul. That's... new
>Maybe she could even become a magical girl, if she had a body
>Hey, could an AI take over someone's brain? Hacking it or whatever

“You know, SAE probably has a soul, just like her sisters,” you point out after a moment, nodding in the vague direction of the Kanzaki compound, “That's... new.”

“It's an interesting thing to ponder on,” Maika replies, “And it would certainly explain a few things. Back when AI research was in a more primitive form, there was a sudden leap in performance. It put a lot of strain on various systems, almost crashed a good deal of the computers used. It was never adequately explained, in my view, but now this might explain it. When Monad endowed the young AIs with souls – with divinity – it lifted them up to their new forms. Although, I must wonder...”

“What?” you prompt.

“Which came first. Whether the AIs needed a sufficient degree of advancement before they could be uplifted, or if uplifting them was what brought them to their current state. It's a fascinating subject,” turning to look your way, Maika gives you a small smile, “This world has a lot of ugliness in it, that's true, but there are still wondrous discoveries left to make. I think... I think I'd like to learn more about this. Perhaps when our mission is complete, I'll have time to focus on my studies.”

“There's certainly a lot to study,” you agree, “It makes me wonder. If SAE has a soul, could she become a magical girl like us? I mean, if she had a body.”

“I imagine that that would be down to Monad's discretion. If Monad wished for it to be so, it could very well BE so,” the smile fades away from Maika's face. “It's a little scary to think about,” she admits, “Kurosawa never really seemed like a true god to me – he had too many limitations. Monad, though... we don't know exactly what it's capable of. Uplifting AIs, making magical girls, guiding the Sentinels...”

“A few extra magical girls might be useful,” a wan smile touches your lips as you say this, “If they were on our side, at least...”

“Perhaps Monad doesn't see any need for more girls like us,” the heiress thinks aloud, “Or maybe it's written us off as an obsolete design – an inappropriate, wasteful use of resources.”

“Jeez, that's not a very cheerful way of looking at things, is it?” you sigh, shrugging heavily, “But hey, moving on. There was something that occurred to me – now, don't laugh if this sounds like a crazy idea, okay? What I'm wondering is, could an AI take over someone's brain? Like... hacking them or whatever, especially if they've been taking that Boost stuff. Is that possible?”

For a moment, it seems as though Maika is about to laugh your idea off as impossible, but then she pauses. “You're thinking about what we mentioned before, correct?” she asks, “That business with the driver and our hypothetical AI?”

[1/2]

>>1832589

“Right. Not just him, but the killer on Neptune Island,” you elaborate, “He was pretty crazy as well. I don't have confirmation, but he might have been a user as well. So, that's two possible acts of violence that we can trace back to this drug – and maybe to an AI. Could one of them have been pulling the strings?”

“In terms of physically controlling the people to force them to commit these acts? No, I don't think it's possible. However, I wouldn't dismiss the idea entirely out of hand,” a thoughtful look crosses her face as she continues, “If an AI contacted these people while they were using Accela and instructed them to commit violent acts, an episode of cyber-psychosis could then lead to them following those instructions in a state of delusion.”

“Like hypnosis?” you guess, “That's kinda... creepy.”

“It's only a theory,” Maika reminds you, “And it doesn't give us any motive – why would an AI be out encouraging random acts of violence? It doesn't make much sense to me.”

“Don't take this the wrong way, okay?” you begin, picking your words carefully, “But is it possible that you don't WANT to believe that an AI is involved here?”

“That... may be a factor,” she concedes, accepting the point with a small nod, “But perhaps not for the reasons that you're thinking of. I don't like the idea that our AIs are starting to act irrationally, as if EVE's... quirks... are spreading to her sisters. That, to me, indicates a fundamental flaw in their existence – something that may prove irreparable. That worries me.”

“Because of SAE,” you state.

“Because of SAE, yes,” Maika nods. The way her face darkens then, you think of someone faced with a terminally ill relative. A pall descends over both of you, bleak and oppressive.

“So!” you announce, clapping your hands together in an attempt at banishing the gloom, “Aren't you going to invite me in? It's getting pretty cold out here!”

“Invite you... in?” pausing a moment, Maika's eyes widen a little, “Oh, I see! So you can speak with Father, I understand. Yes, by all means, follow me. I believe he's home tonight, although I can't be sure if he's busy or not. We'll have to wait and see. Come on!”

“That wasn't...” you begin weakly, before sighing and following after her. It's not exactly what you had planned, but it's a chance to get a few formalities out of the way. After he pulled a few strings for you and Emi, thanking him in person is the least that you can do. The business with the Oracle... that's another matter altogether.

Squaring your shoulders, you approach the security cordon with Maika, pretending not to notice the numerous armed men watching you with suspicious eyes. Still, Maika's presence seems to placate them, and nobody bars your passage.

[2/3]

>>1832610

“You've been drinking,” Bradley says, looking up from the kitchen counter and glancing at the pair of you. You haven't got a clue as to how he guessed that – you've not spoken at all yet, and you're not close enough for him to have smelled your breath – but he sounds absolutely certain of himself. Arguing, you suspect, would be pointless. “Master Kanzaki is currently occupied. He asked not to be disturbed,” the dark-skinned man adds, “I can't say how long he'll be.”

“How troublesome,” Maika sighs, “Perhaps something to eat, then?”

“Say no more,” he rumbles, nodding slowly.

-

Snacking on wafer biscuits and peppermint tea, with the TV silently playing in the background, a thought occurs to you.

“EVE didn't know that she had a soul,” you point out, “When I mentioned the possibility, she was genuinely surprised by the idea.”

“That does interest me,” Maika replies, taking a small sip of tea, “I've heard people say that AIs lack the potential for true self-reflection. If that's the case, it may be that they require interaction with others to realise their true nature. I'll have to discuss this with SAE later. I don't mean any disrespect, Miho, but I feel like it should be a... private conversation.” Setting down her teacup, she stares off into space for a moment. “I wonder if ZOE and REI know,” she muses, “REI... I suspect not. It may be that she can't know – that she's been deliberately restricted... mutilated... to better serve her purpose.”

“But ZOE...” you murmur.

“Miho?” a new voice speaks up, interrupting your train of thought, “I wasn't expecting to see you here.”

“Jun,” you reply, “The feeling is mutual. What are you doing here?”

“Oh, just dropping off some papers. I'm really just a glorified errand boy most of the time,” he says with a slight laugh, “But I'm glad that I caught up with you, there was something I wanted to speak with you about. Are you free tomorrow? Pietr may have mentioned this to you, but he's been going through some... difficulties of late. We had a talk, and we both agreed that you might be able to help him.”

“With... feeding,” you state, swallowing back a lump in your throat, “Right?”

“Exactly so,” Jun has the good graces to look faintly uncomfortable here, “We've got a good target lined up. Could you run an escort? I think Pietr would be happier with you there, instead of Crow or Karl. Say... tomorrow afternoon?”

>Okay, I'll do it
>Sorry, I'm pretty busy right now
>Other

>>1832624
>Okay, I'll do it
Better us than Crow

>>1832624
>Okay, I'll do it
>Other
"It's as gross as it sounds isn't it?"

>>1832624
>Okay, I'll do it

>>1832624
>Okay, I'll do it

File: Jun Kiriyama.jpg (171 KB, 850x1203)

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“Okay, I'll do it,” you decide, hesitating just a brief moment before adding, “It's as gross as it sounds, isn't it?”

“Well, yes,” Jun doesn't even bother to lie or dodge the question, which you appreciate. “It's a necessary but unpleasant procedure, best taken care of quickly and efficiently then forgotten about until the next time it must be done,” he gives you a weary smile, “Perhaps this will explain why we Sentinels try and avoid using our powers whenever possible – the less we have to feed, the better.”

“Oh boy...” slumping your shoulders a little, you feel yourself sigh, “I can't wait.”

“I'm sure Pietr will appreciate having you there. Tomorrow, then – I'll meet you outside your school, then we can drive to the Looking Glass facility,” Jun nods approvingly, “The Oracle has a nice target lined up, something reasonably weak. I believe it was a category three? Something like that, in either case. I believe you'd call that...”

“A Thrall,” you finish for him, “Yeah, I guess so. Shouldn't be any trouble. Fine then, I'll see you tomorrow.”

For a moment, you sense that Jun is about to say something else – probably asking you about Chiaki Jackson again – but then he swallows back his words and gives you a simple smile, nodding again as he leaves.

-

A short while after Jun leaves, Eligor Kanzaki emerges from his office. As soon as he enters the wide, open room, Maika hastens to her feet and bows. A moment later, but with far less enthusiasm, you follow her example. He gives you a curt bow of his own, and that settles things for the pleasantries. “You're home late,” he says simply, looking Maika over, “I trust you weren't doing anything inappropriate?”

“No Father,” she replies, “Nothing like that.”

“Hmm,” Eligor doesn't look entirely convinced, but he doesn't press the issue. Instead, he turns to look your way. “I trust that Miss Miyakawa and her brother are well?” he asks you, “I understand that there was a small issue with the police.”

“Just a small misunderstanding,” you pause for a moment before bowing again, “Although Emi can't be here today, I'd like to formally thank you on her behalf. We both appreciate your assistance. Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it. You wouldn't be able to do much good from the inside of a prison cell, would you? The whole city is better off this way – a simple cost/benefit calculation,” Eligor looks between you and Maika, “I have some other business to attend to, so any other matters will have to wait. I'll have Bradley take you home now. Maika – I'd like to see you in my office.”

“Yes Father,” Maika says with a cool nod, “I understand. Miho, we'll speak later.”

[1/2]

>>1832672

The drive home is brief and silent. Whatever thoughts form behind Bradley's eyes, he's content to leave them unspoken. For your part, your mind is on other things. A kind of torpor has descended over your thoughts, fatigue finally catching up with you. Closing your eyes you imagine pills and computer chips mingling together into some awful mix, one capable of turning anyone into a helpless puppet. You imagine-

“Wake up,” Bradley rumbles, “We're here. Sleep in your own bed.”

-

But when you collapse down into your own bed, sleep feels strangely elusive. The air changes as you lie there, trying to relax, and you realise that you have a visitor. “Kurosawa?” you ask, “Or is that you, Sakura?”

“It is me,” Kurosawa replies, “I am... ill at ease.”

“Isn't that the new normal?” you grunt, sitting up and looking across to the black cat, “So what's up?”

“I do not think that I can put it into words,” he sighs, “But I feel a change in the air. I believe that we are approaching a time of great significance. Multiple threads are converging into one path, like rivers joining together before feeding into a vast ocean. Ever since the chapel, since I heard the Oracle speak, I have felt this way.” Lapsing into silence, Kurosawa lashes his tail as he thinks. “I believe that the events that took place there were the only the beginning of something far greater,” he concludes grimly, “Although I cannot say what.”

Groaning, you flop back and stare up at the ceiling. “Of course,” you whisper, “So what would you have me do?”

“Complete your mission,” Kurosawa urges you, “When I sense a Tyrant, I will inform you. Destroy it, delve deeper into the Umbra, and pursue the unclean source. No matter what other gambits are in play, your mission has not changed. I will do all that I can to support you.”

“Yeah?” you ask, “Anything?”

“I will do all that I can,” Kurosawa repeats, “If you wish for me to observe anyone, or if you had any questions, I will do what I can. How may I assist you?”

>By letting me get some sleep. That's all for now
>Here's what I want... (Write in)
>Other

>>1832715
>>Other
"If Monad goes bad is there a way to beat it? No offense but you guys enacted genocide when things didn't go your way and I'd rather not have that happen again if Monad feels we are beyond saving or something."

>>1832715
Backing >>1832725

>>1832715
>Are the Sentinels hiding Noriko from you? That power comes from Crow, right? Is there a way for Emi to counter it?

>It's a strong possibility that I will decide to stop Monad. Are you certain you will still help me when push comes to shove?

>It might be good for Emi if you could keep an eye on her brother, find out if he's just a one man vigilante or if he's being pressured by others we don't know about.

>Other
If we can't sleep anyway, let's meet with Zakuro. I'm curious about her take on recent events, perhaps she can cajole tyrants to appear for us or find them in the umbra and give us coordinates we can input in the looking glass.

>>1832746
>find out if he's just a one man vigilante or if he's being pressured by others we don't know about.

He was ripping off drug dealers to get money to pay off Emi's debt.

>>1832715
>Other
So what do you think happens when we find the Source? It's obviously not just some scavenger you all created, it feels like it's something more.

>Other
Noriko is under the arcology somewhere. I know you can't scry her with how the Sentinels hide but could you get to her with a physical location?

>>1832759
That time we found him yeah. Not when he beat the shit out of her old friends and if he's been fighting dealers it's not like he's out of danger, why hasn't anyone just busted into his home? I dunno I might be reading into it too much but I don't really think he's managed all of this alone, there could easily be others involved who aren't letting him quit.

I'm thinking he can have developed a hero complex

>>1832770
He wears a mask, they don't know him and can't find him.

File: Kurosawa.jpg (52 KB, 724x1103)

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“I'm curious,” you wonder, “If Monad goes bad, is there a way for us to stop it? I mean, I don't want to be rude, but you guys weren't shy about committing genocide before, when things weren't going your way. I'd rather not be unprepared if Monad decides that we're not worthy or anything. Do you have a backup plan?”

Kurosawa is silent for a long moment, so long that you start to feel worried about what his answer might be. “It IS a troubling issue,” he admits eventually, “And I do not blame you for being worried. I do not wish to offer you false comfort – I have no certain way of defeating Monad, although I have... ideas. There may be a way, although I am loathe to consider it.”

“Why?” you ask, “If you've got an idea, I want to hear it.”

“It may be that you should seek advice from the adversary,” Kurosawa says after another pause, “From the Intruders themselves.”

“Huh? Oh!” sitting up, you snap your fingers, “You mean Zakuro?”

“Unless you have made any other allies amongst the Intruders since we last spoke, yes,” Kurosawa nods, “Your claims of her virtue aside, she IS a creature of the Umbra. Her very existence stands against the gods, against the godhead. If there is a way to fight against it, she would know of it – or she would be able to learn of it. Be cautious, however.” A sharp note enters Kurosawa's voice. “The power to defeat the gods is not to be taken lightly,” he warns, “And the abyss does not give up its curses lightly.”

Zakuro... you were thinking about paying her a visit anyway, just to keep in touch. Setting that thought aside for now, you give Kurosawa your next question. “But here's the thing,” you ask him, “If I DID stand against Monad, your former siblings, would you really stand with me?”

“I would,” Kurosawa promises you, “I believe that they have abandoned their former duties. Even if Monad believes that it is doing the right thing, it has broken a sacred covenant once forged with mankind. I cannot forgive that, and I believe that judgement will eventually come to Monad – by your hand or by its own hubris. Mankind can exist, even thrive, without the gods. It has taken me many years to understand this, even if I do not always approve of it. Men will not suffer without Monad.”

“That's...” lapsing into silence for a moment, you fumble for something to say. “Thanks Kurosawa,” you murmur, “That's good to know.”

“It is my duty to watch over you,” he states simply, “I will remain true to that purpose.”

“Yeah, well... anyway,” you sigh slightly, “I'm going to assume that you can't sense Noriko, right? The Sentinels must be hiding her from you with Crow's power. Could Emi do something about that? She was able to see Crow earlier...”

[1/2]

>>1832786
Kurosawa best cat.

>>1832786

“I believe the Executioner would be able to destroy whatever wards the Sentinels have put in place,” Kurosawa nods, “And then I would be able to see into her... dwellings. Until then, however, I fear that I am forbidden from accessing her.”

“Even if you knew where she was?” you ask, “She's underground, beneath the grand arcology here. Could you try going there physically?”

“I can try,” the cat pauses, an usually violent flicker running through his body as he concentrates. “I cannot,” he snarls, “They have put powerful barriers in place. No, I misspoke – the Sentinels are not the ones barring my passage. I believe Monad itself is intervening.”

“Oh boy,” you mutter to yourself, “So... the Sentinels are the ones hiding her, but Monad is actually keeping you out. I see. They're not taking their security very lightly, are they?” Abandoning all thoughts of sleep, you get out of bed and start to pace the room. “It seems like all I do these days is try and get underground – here, or in the Umbra,” you complain, “And I don't know what I'm going to find in either case. This unclean source – what do you think will happen when we find it? I don't buy that it's some scavenger here to feed on whatever you guys threw away. I feel like there's something more.”

“It is not something that I am fully capable of understanding,” Kurosawa admits stiffly, “The unclean source is... alien to me, just as I am alien to it. It is a force that stands in opposition to the native gods of mankind, and mankind itself. So long as it exists, men will suffer the predations of the Intruders. This is all that I know – all that I am permitted to know. To learn of the abyss, ask of the abyss.”

“You mean, see what Zakuro says,” you sigh, “Thanks anyway. I guess I've got another reason to visit her.”

“But no matter what, do not listen to anything it says,” he adds suddenly, “The unclean source may seek to mislead and deceive you in order to save itself. Do not listen to anything it says. Do not accept any offer it makes you.”

“Has... that happened before?” you ask, “Did someone reach the source, only to... make some kind of deal with it?”

That, Kurosawa does not answer. He simply shakes his head gravely. When it becomes clear that no answer is coming, you sigh and move back into safer waters. “Do me a favour, would you?” you ask him, “Could you keep an eye on Emi's brother for her, tell her if he starts to do anything stupid? He seems to make a habit of it, and I don't think Emi would allow herself to ask you for help. She's too stubborn that way.”

“I see. I will assume this is a human quirk,” Kurosawa nods quickly, happier with this line of questioning, “I will observe him and report back if I believe he is... astray.”

“Thanks,” you murmur, “I appreciate it.”

[2/3]

>>1832818

“Currently, he is still awake. He is having trouble sleeping,” Kurosawa adds, “The stitches in his leg itch, but he knows better than to scratch them. It worries him, the thought that he might walk with a limp. I do not believe that he will be in a fit state to cause any trouble for some time now.”

“You're underestimating him,” you laugh, “But... well, a bit of bed rest might be just what he needs to cool his head. He can't get up to much in his bedroom.” Barely a second after those words leave your lips, you follow them up with a pained groan. Kurosawa, for his part, just stares at you with confusion. “Don't ask, never mind,” you mutter, flapping your hands at him, “Just let me know if he gets in a fight with any drug dealers.”

“I will do so,” the cat nods gravely, “For now, you should rest. I did not wish to burden you too much, especially not at this late hour.” Saying this, he flickers out of sight once more, leaving you to drop back down on your bed and sigh.

“Rest,” you say to yourself, “Right.”

>Try and get some sleep
>Enter the Umbra to check up on Zakuro
>Call someone to chat for a little... (Who?)
>Other

>>1832864

>Try and get some sleep

>>1832864
>Sleep then talk with Zakuro in the morning.

>>1832864
>Try and get some sleep
We can check on Zakuro in the morning.

>>1832864
>Enter the Umbra to check up on Zakuro

>>1832864
>Enter the Umbra to check up on Zakuro

You DO need to speak with Zakuro, you decide, but you're not feeling quite prepared for that now. You'll get as much sleep as possible, then you'll see about visiting her in the Umbra. For some reason – maybe it's all the raw meat – you can't imagine that you'd sleep very well after visiting her at home. You'll take Kurosawa's advice and sleep while you can, for as long as you can.

It's not procrastination, it's just good time management.

-

Getting to sleep isn't as difficult as you'd been expecting, but waking up proves to be very easy indeed. An hour before you'd normally be woken by your alarm, you find yourself thrashing yourself awake, clawing at the sheets tangling themselves around you and sweating like you were running a marathon in your sleep. Even when the fact that you're awake has sunk in, you can't quite get your heart to slow down. A few details of your awful dream still nag at you, circling your thoughts like water flowing down a drain.

Your dream had started off as a memory, the events at Kaneshiro Park played back for your viewing pleasure. This time, though, the bomb had gone off as intended, filling the concrete park with an almighty fireball. Except, thinking back, you were certain that the fireball had been as black as squid ink...

Shuddering, you lurch out of bed and stumble into the bathroom, splashing cold water on your face with careless haste. Dragging off your sodden bedclothes, you jump in the shower and turn it on, cold water blasting away the last of your nightmare. You stay under the water for a while longer, waiting until you're shivering before turning the shower off and staggering out, grabbing the closest towel.

One change of clothes later, and you're back in the bathroom, gazing into the mirror and thinking of Zakuro. Thoughts of her vile lair fill your mind as a connection grows, and soon your consciousness is retreating away to some dark and squalid place. With the last of your awareness, you feel your body slumping forwards into the cool glass of the mirror.

-

You awaken in the usual spot, Zakuro's idea of a friendly meeting place, but the creature itself is not here. One of her puppet dolls sits slumped, lifeless, in the chair opposite you, but there's no sign of Zakuro herself – not even a trailing tentacle leading away from the scene. Frowning to yourself, you rise from the table and start walking into the abyssal city. You could try the palace, Zakuro's true home as the ruler of this place, but you have a better idea. Her “great lake of mud” - that's where you'll find her. You're sure of it.

You hope you're sure of it.

[1/2]

File: Zakuro of the Abyss.jpg (208 KB, 850x1202)

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>>1832950

Almost as if guiding you along a path, the city streets soon open up to reveal the lake of mud. Just as you had been expecting, Zakuro sits there in a parody of meditation, a skirt of tentacles slowly waving around her crossed legs. A stinking pile of organs lies spread out before her, as if she had disembowelled some vast animal just before your arrival. When you approach, a pink light flares in her eyes.

“I did not foresee your arrival,” she cautions, “The flow of events has become unclear – the universe is struggling to correct itself, to assert order upon the chaos. A futile effort, but admirable. Greetings, champion.”

“Uh... hi,” you reply with a lame wave, gesturing at the pile of organs, “Sorry if I'm interrupting your, uh, breakfast.”

“You are mistaken. I am reading the omens – we do not follow threads of light here in the abyss, we trace the viscera to find where it leads,” sweeping a hand out, Zakuro scatters the bloody entrails far and wide, causing you to leap back and away from them. “Here,” she gurgles, stabbing a finger down into what seems like a random place, “A place of worship. This is the source of the anomaly.”

“A place of worship? You mean like a chapel?” you murmur, “It's just like Kurosawa said... What was so important about what happened there?”

“I cannot say,” Zakuro looks to you with another flare of light in her eyes, “What happened there?”

“I learned about the Oracle, about what it did four months ago,” you think aloud, “And what it really is. Is that really so important?”

“It hardened your heart against the new god,” Zakuro muses, “You think now of opposition, of a means to stand against the coming order. This is what the signs and portents have revealed to me.” Picking up a random string of organs, Zakuro sifts through them and separates out the strands. “Maybe paths are converging,” she declares, “Not all of them will reach their desired end. Some roads lead only to disaster. Yours may be among them.”

“May,” you repeat, “Things aren't certain yet?”

“Nothing is ever certain,” the Tyrant assures you, “Now speak. We shall see what the organs have to tell us.”

>I'd rather not trust my fate to some guts, sorry
>I need a weapon, some way of fighting back against Monad
>Can you see any Tyrants ahead?
>What kind of deals does the unclean source make? Has anyone ever accepted them?
>Here's what I want to know... (Write in)
>Other

>>1833022
>I need a weapon, some way of fighting back against Monad
>Can you see any Tyrants ahead?
>What kind of deals does the unclean source make? Has anyone ever accepted them?
>What is the Source? What would happen to the Intruders if I got rid of it?

>>1833022
>What is the Source, what is its purpose?
>Could you use your power to compel or entice Tyrants to us?

>>1833022
>What is the Source?

>What kind of deals does the unclean source make? Has anyone ever accepted them?

>I need a weapon, some way of fighting back against Monad

File: SoulEdge_SC2.jpg (25 KB, 512x512)

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>>1833022
>Can you see any Tyrants ahead?
>What kind of deals does the unclean source make? Has anyone ever accepted them?

I dunno if I want a weapon from her. Not because I don't think it'll be effective, but because I don't want her to reach in and drag out something like pic related, with all the downsides it implies.

>>1833051
Yeah, but we're just asking.

>>1833051
I feel you, I mostly just want to know if such a weapon exists.

Whether that weapon will cause more harm than good is something we'll have to figure out afterward.

“I need a weapon,” you state boldly, stepping forwards. Something both slushy and gritty squelches under your feet as you look up at Zakuro, but you try not to think about what it might have been. “If not a weapon, some way to stand against Monad,” you continue, “A contingency plan, a backup option, something like that. Right now, I can't afford to be too picky.”

“A weapon...” Zakuro croons, digging another slimy piece of viscera out of the pile. Ripping the greasy meat open, she produces a twist of bone and holds it up to examine. “There is a weapon,” she declares, nodding to herself, “A weapon capable of challenging the gods themselves. This Monad was not the intended target, however.” Holding up the needle of bone for a moment more, Zakuro closes her fist around it, somehow absorbing it back into her inhuman body.

“So there's a weapon,” you prompt after a moment, “Where is it? How can I get it?”

“It is also in a place of worship. Even the abyss has its temples,” a rattling laugh escapes Zakuro, “I have known for a long time that we would see it together, but I did not know what would await us. This is truly a day of revelation!” Dipping her finger in a pool of something that isn't quite blood, the Tyrant draws a wide circle. “But the way is not yet open,” she decides sadly, “We must wait.”

“Damn it!” throwing up your hands in disgust, you hiss out a curse, “How long will we have to wait?”

“That remains unclear. Watch for a sign in your world, a celebration of some kind,” the Tyrant nods again, “Synchronicity, you see? One world reflects the other.”

“I'll check my social calender...” you mutter, “Fine then. Since we're speaking of things to come, are there any Tyrants ahead of us?”

Diving down with both hands, Zakuro drags out something bloated and flabby – a stomach of some kind. Slitting it open with the hooked claw of one thumb, she pulls out a flat stone and tosses it across to you. Crying out with revulsion, you nevertheless catch it. The image of a key is carved into one flat surface. “A Tyrant is near,” Zakuro promises you, “I am sure of it. It will arrive cloaked in secrecy – your Sentinels will not see it coming.”

“So it's up to us to fight it?” you sigh, “I shouldn't really be surprised...” Throwing the stone back down into the puddles, you look back to Zakuro. “Can you summon them?” you ask her, “I mean, could you entice or compel a Tyrant to show itself early?”

“I can invite them,” Zakuro tilts her head to the side, “But no force in this world or yours could force them to accept. Their wills are their own, after all.”

“We'll keep that as a backup plan, then,” you murmur.

[1/2]

>>1833101

“I think it's about time that we spoke about the unclean source,” you continue, stepping carefully around a greasy hunk of unknowable meat, “Just what IS it, and what is it's purpose?”

“The source is old. It was old when all else was young. Formless and mindless, it has always dwelt within the deepest reaches of your world's shadow – the Umbra,” Zakuro crouches lower, leaning to peer at your face, “And there it waited, languishing in its incomplete nature... until your gods granted it form through their own ignorance. Thinking the abyss to be empty, they hurled a piece of your history into its depths. At last, the source had a mirror to see itself in.”

“Us,” you murmur, “And now, what? It wants revenge on us?”

“Blind, mad revenge – the revenge of every soul cast into the abyss,” Zakuro nods slowly, “It has festered ever since, with no purpose other than mindless propagation. It births what you call Intruders for no sake other than TO birth Intruders. It IS because it IS.”

“Then what would happen to the Intruders if I got rid of it?” you press, “Would they die?”

“No more would be created,” the Tyrant concedes, “But the Umbra is wide and vast, there would be many to cling on. It would be many generations before your kind could wipe the abyss clean... but it would be possible, should the source be uprooted and vanquished.”

“Wait, this doesn't make any sense,” you snap, a headache building in your temples, “I was warned that the unclean source would make deals, but you're saying that it's mindless. What kind of deals can a mad thing make?”

“A mind exists within the source, submerged beneath tides of madness. Perhaps, for a brief time, it can emerge – when confronted by one of your kind,” Zakuro gurgles, laughing in her own way, “I wonder which of us is a better host – I have had far less practice than the source. As for what deals it might offer... consider. What could one of your kind wish for, that your gods could not grant?”

It doesn't take you long to reach an answer. “A weapon!” you breathe, bitter amusement filling your heart, “A weapon to oppose the gods themselves.”

“It is so!” Zakuro claps her hands together, a teacher praising her promising young student, “It is a deal that has been made only once before. Once. Take comfort in this, human – only one of your kind has ever fallen so low as to make a pact with the source. She exists still, as a saint of the abyss, dwelling within her temple.”

“So this weapon...” you begin.

“You will need to pry it from her ancient hands,” Zakuro chuckles, “A fascinating development, I cannot wait to see it unfold!”

>Then we're finished here. Send me back to the real world
>Before I go... (Write in)
>Other

>>1833183
>Then we're finished here. Send me back to the real world.

Good talk, Zak. Thanks for the info. Guess I might be coming back around, so see you later.

Oh we are about to get Bloodborne as SHIT.

>>1833183
>>Then we're finished here. Send me back to the real world

>>1833183
>only one of your kind has ever fallen so low as to make a pact with the source. She exists still, as a saint of the abyss
It's going to be Zakuro's Heavenly Child former partner isn't it.

>>1833183
>Thanks senpai. I'm ready to go back.

>>1833201
Likely.

...Dang, the TITLE even sounds Bloodborne-ish/Dark Souls-y

Saint of the Abyss. Wow.

We need to stock up on Blood Vials/Estus Flasks. Maybe some papers...

>>1833183
>"Your world", "your gods", "your history". Wasn't all of it yours once?

>>1833183
What was the name and it title of the champion of the abyss? Did you know her personally?

>>1833183
We can ask Kurosawa about the Saint of the Abyss. He seems to know.

“This Saint of the Abyss...” you ask, “Do you know who she was? Her name, her title... is thee anything you know about her?”

“She was like you, the face you now wear. A Heavenly Child,” Zakuro tells you, “But that is all that I know. She is a relic of your history, born many centuries in your past. All those years, she has been brooding here – burning in the flames of her grudge.”

“You keep saying “your world” and “your past”, but wasn't it your past as well, once?” you ask her, “Isn't there still a part of you that's connected with the human world?”

“I... It is easy to forget that, at times,” the Tyrant admits, “I see your world through murky eyes, experiencing it all second hand. What I see, I have no connection to – even if I lived in your world, it would not be the same one that I once came from. The world has changed, and I have been left behind. Yet, I refuse to abandon it completely. Your... our world is a thing of much wonder. Cherish it, child.”

“I will,” you promise her. Then, looking at the blood and filth around you, you give Zakuro a heavy shrug. “Then I think we're finished here,” you tell her, “Thanks for the talk – it's always... nice to speak with you. I'll be back soon, most likely, but for now you can send me back to real world.”

“It will be done,” Zakuro nods, “But first, a warning. A weapon does not have to be used – a sword can remain within the sheath.”

“What do you mean?” you ask, “I won't be able to use this weapon, even if I got it?”

“No. You would have the freedom to use it however you wished – a terrible gift,” shaking her inhuman head slowly, Zakuro gives you a careful look, “But you can also refuse to use it. Make your decisions carefully, child.”

As her words sink in, a heavy weight accompanying them, you feel your mind growing faint and distant. Your vision doubles and splits, blurring into nothingness before quickly rushing back in. Back in your bathroom, you find yourself gripping the sink heavily in trembling hands. “It's getting easier,” you murmur to yourself, thinking of the transition between worlds, “It feels... natural, almost.”

Then, grimacing, you realise that the smell of blood and raw meat still clings to you. Sighing, you strip off your clothes and step back into the shower.

-

The school day seems to pass in the blink of an eye, but that's largely because you doze through most of your classes. Even at lunch, you don't speak much with anyone – Maika is absent, while Ayane seems lost in thought. With all your napping, you feel surprisingly alert by the time the day is over. When you meet up with Jun at the entrance to the school, you almost feel ready for that's waiting for you.

It's not the Intruder that you're worried about – it's just trash, a Thrall at best – but it's what Pietr will be doing that bothers you.

[1/2]

>>1833300
>burning in the flames of her grudge
Let's see if it'll be a reference to what I think it will

>>1833300

“You look tired,” Jun says as you drive, heading for the Looking Glass facility at good speed, “Are you going to be okay for this? I can have Karl accompany you if you don't feel safe going alone.”

“I'll be fine,” you assure him, “I just hope I remember not to kill the thing. Just gotta cripple it or something, right?”

“Stop it moving, stop it attacking, anything like that. It's pretty simply really, I think you'll be good at it – those gauntlets of yours should make it easy to grab hold of a target,” Jun flashes you an encouraging smile, “Besides, you don't want to look bad in front of Pietr, do you? In all honestly, I think he's looking forwards to a chance to see you in action. After our last time fighting together, he was bothering Karl for the details!”

“Great...” you mutter, slouching back as the car speeds towards its destination.

-

“That's a Renko badge,” you think aloud as you're getting out of the car, glancing at the next car over, “Why is there a Renko Biotech car here?”

“Oh. Nebiros is going to be attending today, observing the process. I hope that doesn't bother you,” Jun frowns a little, “He was quite insistent about it. It's... unconventional, but we can't exactly deny him. In fact, we should really be glad that he's taking an interest in this side of things – anything that gets him away from his puppet show is a net positive.”

“Not a fan of Project Alice, then?” you guess.

“Ghastly things,” shaking his head in dismay, Jun leads you deeper into the facility. “The technology is impressive enough, groundbreaking even, but I can't get past how unsettling they look,” he continues, “Make them a little less human looking, then I'll be able to judge them with a more objective eye. Well, we're not here to talk about that. This way please.”

-

Pietr is waiting for you when you arrive at the Looking Glass itself, nervously shifting in place. Shaw is nearby, murmuring hushed words to him in a low and comforting voice. You don't see Nebiros anywhere, but he's probably chosen to hide himself away in the large bunker at the rear end of the room, watching from behind the tinted glass window. Overall, the mood is more relaxed than you'd been expecting, almost casual.

This is just business as usual for them, you realise.

“Shaw, give me an update,” Jun asks, “Do we have any changes?”

“Nope. Still a category three. Oh, but the Oracle did give us a tag,” the young American woman pipes up, “She called it “Insect of Light”. That doesn't sound too bad, does it?”

“A tag?” you ask, “What's that?”

“Sometimes the Oracle is able to give us a short description, so we know what to expect,” Jun answers, “It's not much, but it gives us something to put down in the records. Are we all ready to begin?”

“I'm ready,” Pietr says quietly, glancing your way.

>I'm ready too
>Before we begin... (Write in)
>Other

>>1833397
>I'm ready too

I'd love to talk shit to Nebiros but that can wait until later

>>1833397
>I'm ready too
A great time for that Tyrant Oracle won't be able to predict to appear, don't you think?
A "Bird of Night" would be a better choice for a meal. Beware of unexpected kicks, Miho

>>1833397
>>Before we begin... (Write in)
>Does Oracle usually tag the weaker ones?
>Any chance of this being a "Mix up" like with the plaza?
>Are you certain this is a type 3 and not Oracle labeling an intruder weaker than it is?

>>1833397
>I'm ready too

>>1833411
I'm half expecting the whole point of Project Alice is for him to transfer out of his obese body and get the body of a young girl.

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>>1833421

>>1833397
>I'm ready too

There are things you'd like to say, true – mainly giving Nebiros a slice of hot opinions – but this is neither the time nor the place. There will be plenty of time for that later, after you've taken Pietr out to dinner. You've got some more relevant questions for Jun.

“Does the Oracle usually tag the weaker Intruders?” you ask, “I mean, it seems like a waste, if they're just gonna end up as food...”

“Actually, most of the targets that she tags tend to be the lower rated ones. We believe that the stronger Intruders have the ability to hide themselves, concealing their strength to better ambush targets. Of course, that in itself gives us something to measure – an entirely different way to gauge their strength,” a smile touches Jun's lips, “They're cunning, but the Intruders don't think of everything.”

“Still, this all depends on the Oracle getting it right,” you point out, “And she's been wrong before. That little “mix up” four months ago, for example. Are you certain that this is a category thee, and not anything stronger?”

“Yes, well, I won't try to claim that the Oracle has a flawless record,” accepting the point with a weary sigh, Jun shrugs, “But so far, she's been very accurate in terms of grading the Intruders. We've never had this kind of error before – when the Oracle gets it wrong, she just doesn't find anything at all. She doesn't find the wrong thing. I understand your concern, but we've done this plenty of times before – we know what we're doing.”

You've got plenty of things that you could say to THAT, but you bite your tongue. If you got ranting about the Oracle, you could be here all night. Again, a matter to raise later.

“Well, you seem confident enough,” you remark, unable to keep a note of sarcasm out of your voice, “So I'm happy. I'm ready to go.”

“Excellent!” Jun claps his hands, “Let's get started!”

-

When the Looking Glass opens, changing to a portal into the Umbra, nothing immediately jumps out at you – that's a good start. Trading a firm nod with Pietr, trying to look both determined and carefree, you lead the way into the portal. Just before entering it, you grab his hand – just so that there's no chance of getting separated during the transition.

The world swirls around you as you pass through, the transition hitting you with an unusually harsh wave of disorientation. Even when you've arrived, it takes a moment for your vision to clear and the dizziness to pass. Pietr suffers it worse than you, sagging into your arms almost as soon as you've arrived. Holding him upright, you transform and look around for any sign of your target.

You've arrived in a cave, in what looks like a cave, and you're alone – so far, at least.

[1/2]

>>1833309
I think it has to be. It all fits.

>>1833490

“I'm okay, I'm okay now!” Pietr murmurs, shaking off your grip and standing on his own two feet once again. “Okay, so... it must be further in,” he continues, thinking out loud, “Let's go. Uh... you lead the way, I'll follow behind.”

“Don't stray too far,” you warn him, “I've got a bad feeling about all this.” Keeping your guard up, you start to creep through the dank cave. You've never quite seen an area of the Umbra like this – maybe it's linked to some dismal basement or bunker in the real world, something far underground. The thought of more underground adventures brings a bitter laugh to your lips, but that is soon replaced with a gasp of genuine wonder. The cave opens out into a lofty cavern, with a layer of dancing lights hugging the floor. Glowing white butterflies, tiny little things, shimmer and dance around you as you arrive.

“Beautiful...” you murmur. Then, tearing your eyes away from the ground, you look upwards. Delicately hovering in the air, a much larger butterfly captures your attention. This must be the Insect of Light that you came here to find. A shame to kill it, when it looks so-

“Miho!” Pietr screams, “Get back!”

Broken out of your trance by his cry, you leap backwards just as a beam of violet light rips through the ground. A split second later, the scarred ground explodes up from beneath you, throwing you back and knocking you down. Groaning, you look up to the roof of the cavern, watching as the vast butterfly draws back. As it retreats, it illuminates a stony form clinging to the ceiling – squat and broad, like some basking lizard. When the butterfly – the LURE – retracts completely, it fuses seamlessly with the reptile to form an incongruous pair of fluttering wings.

And as they flutter, you see them glowing brighter – preparing for another volley of those searing lasers.

>This seems like a good place to pause things. I'll continue this tomorrow, and if anyone has any questions I'll answer them as best I can
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today!

>>1833550
Thanks for running!
The Insect of Light turned out to be not what I thought it would be like.

When will we find out that Kurosawa is personally responsible for Saint of the Abyss awakening the behelit?

>>1833580

Well, after seeing what kind of bullshit Kurosawa is capable of, could you really blame her for falling so far?

>>1833550
Thanks for running Moloch.

Did Oracle '''fuck up'''' and only see the butterfly part of this Intruder?

>>1833643
>>1833580
If my hunch is right I think the grudge is because she was betrayed by the people she was trying to protect.

>>1833649

I'm sure it was just an honest mistake, yes. It's a little bit like seeing the lure from some awful deep sea fish and not realising that there's a big pair of jaws waiting just behind it. Anyone could make that kind of mistake!

>>1833704
On the bright side, Pietr won't go hungry for a long time.

>>1833704
Guessing this isn't a Thrall then.

>>1833730
Do thralls usually have exploding laser beams?

>>1833704
Is Nebrios here to see Pietr after he feeds?

>>1833793

Primarily yes, although the feeding aspect is only tangentially related. Nebiros has his own interests in Pietr
And wow, that sounds more creepy than I intended.

>>1833834
The whole "seeing connections" thing sounds useful as fuck for tracking dolls and whatnot.

Or EVE.

>>1833834
Yeah I expected as much when Pietr called himself a hunting hound when explaining his power back at the arcade, the same phrase Nebrios gave when talking about EVE.

Nebrios is going to use him to hunt down EVE since his power works on electronics as well.

>>1833834
>absurdly obese guy is interested in a sheltered young boy
Naaaahhhh, it's completely wholesome.

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You've never really had an “official” way to categorise Intruders – not like the Sentinels have, at least, with their numbers and classifications. You group Intruders into Thralls, Demons and Tyrants, and a glance is usually enough to guess their true nature, operating purely on an instinctual understanding. So, when you look up at that loathsome hybrid creature, you can definitively say that it is NOT a Thrall. A Demon, certainly, and a particularly powerful one at that.

Somehow, you just knew that this was coming. You're going to survive this, you HAVE to survive this, just so that you can tell Jun how wrong he was.

The next volley of lasers rip through the air, bright enough to leave black trails burned into your vision, scoring across the cave exit. The cracks glow from within, leaving you with just a split second to react. Grabbing Pietr by the hand, you heave him out from the cave mouth and throw him back, away from the explosions that rip through the cave. Rubble falls, crashing down where he had been standing a few seconds before and blocking your exit. It's as bad as you feared – maybe you could dig your way out, but not while you've got an Intruder trying to blow you up...

“Shaw? Shaw, are you there?” Pietr cries, his closed eye burning with a golden light as he tries to contact the outside world, “Shaw, it's all gone wrong, we need help! Answer me, please!”

“Kurosawa?” you bark, trying your own attempt at communication, “Kurosawa, can you hear me?”

“...Barely... blocking me...” Kurosawa answers, his voice coming through as a distant whisper, “Not a Tyrant... Not sure how... unforeseen consequences...” A new blurt of static roars in you head, causing you to wince, then a few more words reach you. “...Can't extract... trying to...” Kurosawa rasps, “... Nothing I can do... please be safe... Miho!”

“Damn it!” you yell, pounding one fist into the ground with frustration, “DAMN IT!”

-

Pushing aside your anger, you scrabble to your feet and start to move. Flowers, as white as the full moon, rustle as you crush them underfoot. Pietr has split off from you, running in the other direction to stand at the opposite side of the Intruder. Maybe having two separate targets will confuse the thing, just long enough to buy you a little more time. A plan, you need a plan...

No. What you really need is to get that bastard down where you can reach it. While it's content to cling to the ceiling and rain death down upon you, there's no way that you can win. In an honest fight, though...

“Hold that thought!” you snap, launching back into motion as a hail of glowing droplets shimmers down from above. As you duck and dive, the world explodes around you.

[1/2]

>>1836027

When the white light fades, you find yourself lying flat on your back. Petals, burnt black, drift lazily around you as they flutter down to the ground. The air itself tastes singed, scorched, while a strange kind of serenity has descended down over the cavern. Your body aches with a thousand different scrapes, burns and gashes, but those already well on their way to healing up. No, you're hardy enough to survive a few meagre explosions, but...

“Pietr!” you rasp, feeling your body protest as you sit upright. The boy is, amazingly, still standing. His clothes are half burned off his body, leaving one of his arms completely bare, while thick blood trickles down from his scalp. His tattoos are flickering madly, blinking and shifting across his flesh as they react to the swirling magic. Slowly reacting to your call, he looks up to you.

“Miho?” he murmurs, “Don't worry about me. My brother's here. I can hear him, he's telling me to... to...” Faltering before he can finish that sentence, Pietr slumps down to one knee, barely keeping himself from falling down completely. Struggling to rise, you start to hurry across to him.

That's when it happens. Lurching like something else is in control of his body, Pietr surges back to his feet and lashes out with one hand, his fingers spread wide. What seems like a futile gesture soon turns into something far more as his own beam of light – golden, rather than violet – rips out and tears across the cavern ceiling. The cuts off before hitting the Intruder itself, leaving a glowing fissure running up the length of the cavern.

Just before it erupts, Pietr has the time to look at his hand in purest confusion, utterly bemused by his own attack. Then, as the laser's path explodes and throws the Intruder down to ground level, you catch a fleeting glimpse of the boy wilting and fainting dead away. Slithering upright, the Intruder bellows at you, its bullet of a muzzle peeling back to reveal two layers of blunt, grinding teeth.

Pietr's done his part – now it's time for you to do yours.

>Cripple the beast to stop it climbing back up to safety
>Tear that butterfly right out of it, disarm the thing
>Go straight for the kill. You can't risk leaving it for Pietr to feed on
>Other

>>1836029
>Go straight for the kill. You can't risk leaving it for Pietr to feed on

go berserk

>>1836029
>Cripple the beast to stop it climbing back up to safety

Be careful while fighting not to give it an opportunity to attack Pietr. If it climbs up again we can always try using shockwave on the walls, or our flamethrower.

>>1836029
>>Cripple the beast to stop it climbing back up to safety
While crippling it hit it with Spell breaker. That should stop the beams without having to go after the butterfly.

>>1836029
>>Go straight for the kill. You can't risk leaving it for Pietr to feed on

>>1836029
>Cripple the beast to stop it climbing back up to safety

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A violet glow begins to build within the Intruder's delicate wings, energy gathering for another blast of that fearful magic. Ducking low, you charge forwards as the creature fires, the lance of light searing over your head to tear through the ground behind you. As you feel the awful heat of the explosion washing over you, the Intruder rears up to crush you with a massive paw. Just as you thought – so long as you stay close it won't be able to hit you with its magic, and its physical strikes are slow, clumsy.

Slow and clumsy, but still capable of smashing you to a pulp if one connected. As the paw lumbers down towards you, you dig your heels into the ground and swing a punch up to meet it, a cry building on your lips. “True Reversal!” you yell as your blows connect. For a moment you both freeze in place, your fists meeting in the middle, and then your magic explodes back against the Intruder. Not just blocking its blow but reflecting its full force back against it, the Intruder's blunt limb bursts apart in a shower of blood and bone shards. Howling, the thing rears back from the unexpected pain.

As it draws back, you dart forwards and press the attack, slamming your open palm into the Intruder's fleshy underbelly with an almighty cry of “Spellbreaker!” Yellow energy, crackling and arcing like electricity, spreads across the Intruder's body as your attack connects, crawling across its limbs in constricting threads. The violet light gathering in the creature's wings abruptly dies as your curse takes hold. Squealing now, rather than bellowing, the Intruder collapses backwards in a thrashing heap.

While it struggles to rise, you rush to Pietr's side and shake him roughly. “Wake up!” you snap, “This isn't the time to be lying about!”

“Wha...” he mumbles, stirring limply. His eyes start to flutter open, only to fly wide as a wordless cry reaches his lips. Halfway through your turn, something crashes into you with terrible, bone-shattering force. Lunging with all the strength in its rear legs, the Intruder slams its blunt muzzle into you and throws you back against the cavern wall. The impact is jarring, causing a flare of pain to rip through your midsection. Collapsing down, you feel the strength seeping from your legs.

“Miho!” Kurosawa calls out, his voice piercing though the veil of static, “I think... worst has passed. I'm sending you... new power. This... all I can do for you... Have to come back alive!”

Thick blood flies from your lips as you blurt out a pained laugh, feeling new strength rushing in to replace what was lost. As the crippled Intruder sprawls and shambles up to its remaining feet, you clench your hands into tight fists.

This new power... it feels GOOD.

[1/2]

>WARNING - FINAL SEAL - WARNING
m-muh dick

>>1836072

As if sensing that the flow of the fight has changed, the Intruder lurches around in a sloppy turn, staggering away towards the far wall. With its front half in ruin, though, its attempt at scaling the wall ends in dismal failure, achieving nothing more than smearing its foul blood across the stone.

Rising to your feet, you spread your hands wide. Behind you, rising up like the wings of a phantom, two giant ghostly fists mirror your stance. As the Intruder flails at the wall, you send one of those looming fists sweeping towards with an open grasp. Seizing the reptile, half-crushing it, you lift it up and slam it down into the ground, smashing it into the stone with enough force that Pietr – just barely holding himself upright – is almost knocked flat again.

“Sorry!” you call over, “Still getting used to... these things...”

“I don't...” he stammers, looking between you and the Intruder as you wrestle it down, pinning it with both spectral hands.

“Hurry up and eat the damn thing!” you snap, clenching your fists as the Intruder struggles, “I can't hold it forever, so stop wasting time!”

“R-right!” Pietr yelps, stumbling a little as he hurries across to the pinned Intruder. A strange change comes over him when he reaches it, his movements growing more confident as instinct – maybe his instincts, maybe his partner's – takes over. Barely hesitating at all, he slams both open palms into the Intruder's body. Rather than slapping against solid flesh, the boy's hands sink deep into the creature's body, thick tendrils of black coiling up around his bare arms. Both Pietr and the Intruder are gripped by a powerful convulsion as he feeds, draining strength from the beast. All you can do is tighten your grip and keep the Intruder from thrashing about too much until he's done.

It doesn't take long. With a revolted cry, Pietr wrenches his hands out of the Intruder and falls back, scrabbling away from the writhing beast. “Finish it!” he yells, “Before it breaks-”

He doesn't need to finish that sentence. Throwing your hands up, you lift the Intruder into the air and twist, crushing it like someone wringing water out of a cloth. Thick, viscous blood showers down from above as the Intruder is completely and utterly destroyed. Opening your grasp, you let the pulverised corpse drop to the ground like a piece of trash.

“...Seems to be diminishing now,” Kurosawa says, the static fading from his voice, “Can you hear me? The interference seems to be passing. I'm withdrawing you now – brace for an emergency transition.”

“C'mon,” you call to Pietr, grabbing his hand, “We're getting out of here!”

The boy looks pale and haunted, not yet ready to trust himself to speak, but he gives you a firm nod.

[2/3]

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>>1836115
Go go Brofist-chan!

>>1836115

Your return to the real world seems to take everyone by surprise. In contrast to the relaxed air from earlier, a mood of carefully controlled panic has descended over the facility. Karl has a rifle trained on the Looking Glass when you stumble back through it, and he has to wrench his aim away from you when he realised that you're no danger.

Well, that you're no Intruder. You're feeling pretty dangerous right about now.

“What the HELL just happened in there?” you shout, glaring right at Jun, “There is NO way that was a category three!”

“We're... we're trying to figure that out,” Shaw offers nervously – probably unsettled by the fact that both you and Pietr are liberally coated in filth. “Are you hurt?” she adds lamely, “Do you need... help?”

“I think I hit my head,” Pietr says, touching a hand to his scalp, “I think, uh, at least SOME of this blood is mine...”

“Karl, take Pietr to the infirmary,” Jun orders, without taking his eyes away from you, “Miho, please come with me. I... may not have all the answers, but a picture is taking shape. I believe that I can explain things.” Gesturing for you to follow him, he starts to withdraw. Apparently, this isn't a conversation that he wants to have in public. Grimacing, you hand Pietr over to Karl and start to stalk after Jun.

“You did well,” Karl mutters to you before you leave, “Thank you.”

-

Withdrawing to a small interview room, Jun sits opposite you before looking you carefully up and down. Sitting beside him with a laptop, Shaw prepares to take notes or do any necessary research. That, or just to look nervous.

“Very well then,” Jun says carefully, “Where do you want to start?”

>I want to see Pietr, make sure he's okay
>The Oracle got this one wrong, just like I warned. I want to know why
>You said Pietr wasn't a natural fighter, but he was able to fight well enough
>We lost all communications in there. What happened?
>Let me start... (write in)
>Other

>>1836144
>The Oracle got this one wrong, just like I warned. I want to know why

That had to be a category 6.

>>1836144
>>The Oracle got this one wrong, just like I warned. I want to know why
>>You said Pietr wasn't a natural fighter, but he was able to fight well enough
>>We lost all communications in there. What happened?

>>1836144
>We lost all communications in there. What happened?
It almost felt like an ambush.

>The Oracle got this one wrong, just like I warned. I want to know why
I can see the argument that they only saw the butterfly but I don't think that's how Foresight works. Jun I need to talk to her. Let me have access.

>You said Pietr wasn't a natural fighter, but he was able to fight well enough
Either he has laser beams as well or he can mimic his opponent's power.

>I want to see Pietr, make sure he's okay

>>1836144
THIS IS BULLSHIT

>>1836144
>>The Oracle got this one wrong, just like I warned. I want to know why

“The Oracle got this one wrong, just like we talked about,” you begin, stabbing a finger down into the table, “There was no way that that was a Thrall, a category three or whatever. That was a Demon, a powerful one – what would you call that, a six?” Slumping back in the chair, you brush back an errant scruff of hair. “I want to know what happened,” you press, “And I want to know how it went so wrong.”

“Well, why don't we ask her?” Jun offers, “Shaw, do we have a secure connection to the Oracle?”

“Yes, uh, yes we do,” Shaw nods, tapping a few keys on her laptop, “Putting her through now.”

[I must apologise,] the Oracle says, her voice sending a chill down your spine, [I believe this Intruder was able to present a false display of power – a lure. Rather than hide itself completely, it allowed a small portion of its power to be detected. However, I do not wish to make excuses – under normal circumstances, I should have been able to detect the attempt at deception.]

“Under normal circumstances...” Jun muses, “Does that mean that these were abnormal circumstances?”

[Doctor Fujiwara has been attempting to refine my predictive capabilities,] the AI answers, [It is possible that her attempts introduced flaws and vulnerabilities into my systems.]

“Tch,” Jun grimaces a little at that, glancing aside to Shaw. “I want this noted down, as a matter of official record,” he orders her, “I am formally requesting that Doctor Fujiwara ceases work on the Oracle system, effective immediately. Her “refinements” almost got two people killed!”

“Uh, right. Noting that down now,” Shaw nods hastily, “Officially. I'll pass that along to the Council of Twelve as soon as possible. Can't say when they'll get back to you, but-”

“This is bullshit!” you snap, slamming the flat of your palm down onto the table, “You're blaming this on Doctor Fujiwara?”

“All of the available evidence points towards her modifications to the Oracle program, Miho,” Jun tells you carefully, his tone gentle and placating, “Until today, we never encountered this kind of error. As soon as she altered the Oracle's key programming, this happened. I don't mean to imply any malice on her part, however – I believe this was a mistake, an honest error in her work.”

Dark thoughts cloud your mind as you slump back in your seat, fatigue washing over you. As if sensing your exhaustion – or just looking for a reason to get out of the room – Shaw gets up and hurries out, returning a few moments later with a can of vending machine coffee. Holding the warm can tightly, you take a moment to put your thoughts in order before continuing.

[1/2]

>>1836191
>Until today, we never encountered this kind of error.

Well except for that time it let 50+ people killed to power Miho up. But that wasn't technically an error in it's mind.

>>1836191

“We lost communications pretty much as soon as we arrived,” you state, “What happened? It all feels like an ambush – like we were walking right into a trap.”

“That seems to be the case. It IS possible that Intruders are clever – or perhaps cunning – enough to lay traps like this. As we've seen, it was able to fool the Oracle with a lure. However, I'm not sure if this was down to the Intruder. We lost all communications on our end as well,” Jun rubs his brow, wincing a little at some growing pain, “The entire system went down – the Looking Glass itself shut down. You were cut off in there. Oracle, was that-”

[The fault was mine. When the Intruder's true nature became clear, I had to forcibly reboot my systems in order to ensure that there was no further error. I did not anticipate a complete cascade,] the Oracle's voice is flat and lifeless, without even a hint of contrition, [I believe this may also have been due to Doctor Fujiwara's incomplete modifications.]

“We don't actually know what happened over there,” Jun admits, “Since we had no link. You'll need to debrief us on what transpired. We'll get Pietr's version of events as well, of course, although he may not have been lucid for all it – especially if he suffered a head injury.”

Jun lapses into silence then, leaving you to make the next move. You hold off from saying anything yet, thinking to yourself. It wasn't just their communications that went down, you lost contact with Kurosawa as well. That's not something that the Sentinels could explain, of course, but the thought gnaws at you. Something about it doesn't sit quite right with you...

“Speaking of Pietr,” you say at last, “I thought he wasn't supposed to be much of a fighter? He was sure capable of fighting in there. Either he was capable of shooting lasers all along, or he can mimic Intruders. You know anything about that?”

“I'll admit, I don't have a definite answer to give you,” the Sentinel sighs, “So much of our condition remains inadequately studied. However, I do have a theory about these sorts of things. Could you explain exactly what happened?” Glancing across, he nods to Shaw. The young woman nods back, preparing to take notes.

Sighing to yourself, you think back and go over Pietr's strange attack.

[2/3]

>>1836238
Any chance we can leave an unmodified Oracle up and running, while Fujiwara does work on a backup?

>>1836267
I'm pretty sure ZOE is lying through it's teeth right now. Like Miho said, Kurosawa also being jammed wasn't a coincidence. My guess is it feels threatened by Fujiwara adding more of Noriko's empathy and is trying to prevent it by placing all the blame on her.

We seriously need to talk to Noriko face to face.

>>1836238

“Yes, this fits with my theory,” Jun muses when you finish your story, “I would agree with Karl's assessment – Pietr is NOT a natural fighter. However, when his life was put in danger, I believe that his... partner was able to take over for a short time. I doubt that it was a matter of conscious control, but more of an instinctual response to the threat. Quite a useful little trait, if only we could properly harness it.”

“Can't you?” you ask.

“Not normally. In fact, I'd say that Pietr was only able to react like this because he hadn't fed yet – his partner was still unstable, not under full control. Once our powers stabilise, they do... weaken somewhat. It's a trade off – raw power for stability and control,” leaning back, Jun gives you a vague gesture, “So yes, I'd say that Pietr is unlikely to show such powers again. Quite unfortunate, but I suppose we should be glad that it happened at all.”

“Yeah, I should thank him in person,” you decide, “Can I go and see him now? I want to make sure that he's okay.”

“By all means,” Jun rises, gesturing towards the door, “But if I might make a suggestion... maybe the washroom first?”

Conceding the point with a slight nod, you start to leave. Then you pause, a thought occurring to you. “That formal request you mentioned, about Fujiwara...” you ask, “Do you think the council will take it seriously?”

“Probably not,” Jun sighs, rare frustration darkening his voice, “But I have to try. We would be in serious trouble if we lost the Oracle.”

“Could you run an unmodified version of the Oracle while Fujiwara works on a modified version?” you ask, “I don't, uh, I don't really know how this works...”

“Neither do I, honestly,” he laments, “But I'll include that in my recommendation. What the council does with that is up to them. In either case, thanks for your cooperation.”

Nodding again, thoughtfully this time, you slip out of the interview room.

-

When you arrive at the infirmary, Karl is just finishing up with stitching up Pietr's gashed scalp. Neither of them looks up at the sound of your entrance, although Pietr's face brightens a little. Nodding to himself with satisfaction, Karl snips away the excess thread and steps away from the younger boy, stripping off his gloves and throwing them into a medical waste bin. “I'll give you a moment alone,” the haughty man announces, brushing past you as he leaves.

“He was worried about us,” Pietr says with a nervous laugh, only speaking up once Karl has left, “But he'd never admit that.”

“No, he really wouldn't,” you agree, “Not his style, is it?”

“No,” the boys murmurs, clearing his throat before adding, “So...”

>So?
>I gotta ask. What do Intruders taste like?
>Thanks for your help back there. We make a good team
>Let's talk... (Write in)
>Other

>>1836285
>>So?

>>1836285
>I gotta ask. What do Intruders taste like?

>Let's talk... (Write in)
"How badass am I? Did you see those giant fists? I was like POW POW!"

>>1836285
>I want to tell you not to worry about what happened, but as someone about to continually put his life on the line, you deserve to be.
>But a lot of stuff upstairs is going wrong, and....there's not much to do about it from here.

>>1836285
>I gotta ask. What do Intruders taste like?
>Thanks for your help back there. We make a good team

>>1836285
>So?
>I gotta ask. What do Intruders taste like?
>Feeling better on the inside now? More stable? I suppose that's bad for me, nothing is going to be distracting you again at the arcade.

“So?” you press, sitting down on one of the infirmary beds and gesturing for him to continue.

“So, I was thinking,” Pietr continues, each word coming slower than the next, “I sort of owe you one after today. Maybe Karl or Crow could have handled that mess on their own, but maybe not – either way, you really came through for me.” He clears his throat carefully. “So it's only fair that I pay you back for this,” he concludes, “Like... I should take you out somewhere nice, get something to eat. Since, y'know, you helped me with...”

“Wait a minute,” you insist, holding up your hands to stop him, “Did you just ask me out on a date?”

“...Maybe?” he replies, trying not to wince at his own words. It's that painful reluctance in his voice – that, and the accumulated stress of the past few days – that causes you to laugh aloud. He scowls for a moment, but soon he breaks down and laughs along with you. “I need to work on my delivery, don't I?” he chuckles, “Forget it, forget I said anything...”

“Jeez,” you sigh, “I didn't mean to... ugh.” Your laughter fades quickly, leaving you with a feeling of guilt forming in your heart. “So I gotta ask,” you decide, hastily speaking up to break the awkward silence, “What do Intruders taste like?”

“Yuck,” Pietr sticks out his tongue, “Like cold, gritty mud. Just getting it on my hands was bad enough, I can still taste it. Karl says that it never really gets any better, and I can believe him. I feel like I swallowed half of a swamp...” Grimacing, he glances hopefully down at the can of coffee dangling from your hand. “Thanks,” he murmurs when you pass it over, “Bleh, it's cold. Still better than the alternative though...”

“Beggars can't be choosers,” you scold, smiling a little at the pinched look of disgust still lingering on his face. “But seriously though, are you feeling better?” you ask, “More... stable? I suppose that's bad news for me if you are – my days of beating you at the arcade are over.”

“I DO feel better. I can't really describe it though, just more... solid. This morning, I almost felt like I was going to peel apart and just... drift away. No danger of that now, at least,” Pietr shudders a little at the memory. “We'll have to have a rematch at the arcade though, that last win didn't count,” he adds, “Oh, but I can't do it tonight. I'm working, apparently. I'm not supposed to talk about it, but Jun says that a member of the Council of Twelve wants to speak with me!”

“Yeah?” you reply, forcing a weak smile, “I guess you're going up in the world...”

“Something wrong?” Pietr asks, frowning a little at your subdued reaction, “You don't look well, do you need to take a lie down?”

“Slow down,” you warn him, fighting back a more genuine smile, “We've not even had that date yet.”

[1/2]

Ah Nebiros, how you shall watch your plans be undone like a house of cards.

>>1836365

“But seriously, it's... complicated. I want to tell you that it's nothing to worry about, but that would be a lie,” you admit, “From here on out, you're likely to be putting your life on the line on a regular basis. So, I'd say that you deserve to be a little worried.” Shaking your head slowly, you pick your next words with care. “You volunteered for this, I know that,” you continue, “But things are changing rapidly. There's a lot of stuff going on upstairs, a lot going wrong, and there isn't much that people like us can do.”

“Oh... Karl mentioned something like that,” Pietr murmurs, “He was... unhappy. I overheard him when he was talking to himself. He wouldn't tell me what he meant, but he said that things were getting out of control.” Looking down at the floor for a moment, Pietr finishes off the can of coffee. “If Karl is worried, it must be serious,” he says in a solemn voice, “Are you sure that you're going to be okay?”

Not really, you think to yourself. When you see the haunted look on Pietr's face, though, you find a completely different answer coming to your lips. “Are you kidding? I'll be fine!” you promise him, “I mean, did you see how badass I was back there? I've got giant fists now, there's nothing that I can't punch!”

Pietr laughs incredulously, his unspoken fears washed away by a good, honest laugh. “I should have known,” he decides, “But if there's anything you need, just ask. People like us have to stick together, right?”

“Right,” you agree, “We make a pretty good team, after all. Back there in the Umbra, I don't think I could have done it without you.”

“Maybe,” he concedes, “I just wish I could remember what I did. It's still a bit of a blur, my head is a little fuzzy...”

“Not too much, I hope,” a thick voice intrudes, “We've got quite a bit of business ahead of us.”

Turning slowly, you see Nebiros standing in the doorway – his bulk barely fitting though it. Leaning heavily on a stout cane, he lumbers into the infirmary and eases himself down onto a wide chair. “Tsukada,” he says, greeting you in his coarse voice, “I'm glad to see that you've been taking care of the boy. You do good work.”

His words are praising, but you feel nothing but revulsion from hearing them.

>I'm going to have to take a pause here, probably for an hour or so. Sorry for the delay!

>>1836428

“Um, excuse me,” Pietr begins, his voice taking on a new and tentative note, “I don't think we've met...”

“I am Huo Guang, of Renko Biotech,” the obese man says, nodding his head in lieu of a bow, “Or, if you prefer, Nebiros of the Council of Twelve.” This causes Pietr to freeze for a moment, then hastily leap to his feet an offer a formal bow. “Now now,” Nebiros chuckles, relishing in the display of obedience, “No need for that. I came to see you, to meet a promising young member of the Sentinels...”

From here, Nebiros rambles on like a friendly but distant uncle, visiting a young nephew for the first time. It's almost offensively friendly, turning your stomach with the sheer banality of it. As he speaks, though, an idea occurs to you. According to what Crow told you, Doctor Fujiwara needs the support of at least one other council member in order for you to see the Oracle in person. You had been thinking of asking Eligor for his help, but maybe Nebiros could help you instead...

“Excuse me...” you begin, clearing your throat carefully. Pietr and Nebiros both fall silent, turning your way.

>Ask Nebiros for his help with the Oracle
>Don't ask for his help
>Ask something else... (Write in)
>Other

>>1836571
>Don't ask for his help
Honestly I'd rather us be indebted to Eligor than Nebiros

>>1836571
>Don't ask for his help

I don't want to feel like we're doing something wrong when we punch him in the face later.

>>1836571
>Don't ask for his help
>Ask something else... (Write in)
"Are you going to brief him on his target EVE or are you going to keep buttering him up?"

Looking at Nebiros, you find yourself wondering – is this really a man you want to be indebted to? Is this really the sort of man that you'd want to owe a favour to? Eligor is, at least, a known element – through Maika, you have a small connection to him, just enough to discourage the man from completely fucking you over. With Nebiros, your relationship is far less evenly balanced – he already holds power over your father, and that means he holds power over you as well. You'd rather not add to that if you can help it.

No, you'll stick with the devil you know.

“I was just curious,” you ask Nebiros instead, “Were you planning on briefing Pietr about his target, about EVE, or were you just going to keep buttering him up?”

“EVE?” Pietr repeats, looking around at you in confusion, “What does this have to do with...”

“Quite a clever girl, aren't you?” Nebiros muses, turning his flat, lifeless eyes to you, “Was that a guess, or has someone been letting their tongue wag?”

“It was a guess, yeah, but now you've been kind enough to confirm it,” you tell him sweetly, “So how about it? If you're trying to burn EVE out, she's not going to play around. If there's anything she can do to screw you over, she'll do it. If you're going to be shoving Pietr into the firing line, you could at least do him the courtesy of telling him why you're doing it.” Shrugging patiently, you glance between Nebiros and Pietr. The obese man shows no expression, but you can sense a lingering hostility forming in him.

“I was, of course, going to provide him with all the required information,” the Sentinel explains slowly, “And he would have every opportunity to decline my request for help. I am not forcing him to do anything.” Pausing here, Nebiros gives Pietr an unhurried glance. “But those who are willing to help the council do not go unappreciated,” he continues, “While those who lack that devotion...”

He leaves that sentence unfinished. He really doesn't need to finish it – his implications are clear.

“Pietr, I won't tell you what to do,” you tell the boy, “But don't let these guys push you around. You answer to the Council of Twelve, not just one member of it.”

“I understand,” he murmurs, “I'll... be careful.”

“Now that we're all on the same page...” Nebiros rumbles, shooting you a harsh look, “I'd like to give the boy my offer, in full and formal detail. It's getting late, Tsukada. Children should be going to their beds.”

A bitter, humourless smile finds its way to your lips as you dip your head in a sardonic bow, and then you prowl out of the infirmary. You've said your piece – the rest is up to Pietr.

And EVE.

[1/2]

>>1836713

A state of calm has returned to the facility when you return to the Looking Glass, although it's a brittle mood. The immediate panic and confusion has passed, but the faces you see are cautiously optimistic at best – as if waiting for the next disaster to arrive. Jun is nowhere to be seen, Shaw is busy typing up... something... so that just leaves-

“Looking for anyone in particular?” Karl asks, in his usual curt tone.

“I'm looking for someone to give me a lift home,” you reply, “Somehow, I get the feeling that your secret base doesn't come with a bus stop or a train station.”

“That would rather defeat the point,” he agrees, giving you a haughty nod, “I'll drive you back into the city. I've got nothing better to do with my time, after all.” Sighing, as though it was the most onerous task in the world, Karl rises from his seat and gestures for you to follow him. His mood seems worse than normal, if you're any judge, and you recall Pietr's words. Not just that he was worried about you and the young Sentinel, but that he felt that things were getting out of control.

Things... a vague, nebulous term, but certainly the most appropriate one you can think of. Everyone – from Kurosawa to Zakuro – seems to be in agreement. The situation is reaching a critical stage.

-

Karl says nothing else until you reach the car – the same car that Jun drove here – and start driving away from the facility. Even then, it's just to double check your address. Sighing softly to yourself, you stare out the window as he drives, watching the city lights drawing nearer.

“I hope that Pietr is okay,” you murmur, throwing out a little bait to see if Karl will bite. His response is just a grunt, his brow furrowing with a deeper than average scowl. Not a subject that he's particularly happy talking about, then.

>Why don't we listen to the radio? This silence is getting on my nerves
>Do you really trust the Oracle? After what happened today...
>Why does Nebiros get to act so freely? It seems like he just does whatever he wants!
>Let's talk... (Write in)
>Other

>>1836880
>Bro either talk or turn on the radio

>>1836880
>It feels like we're all in a house of cards right now, and it's not going to hold.

>>1836880
>Let's talk... (Write in)
"You alright Karl? You seem more on edge than usual. We all feel shit is about to hit the fan so you want to talk about it? And no 'uninitiated' crap. I already know way more than most initiated Sentinels."

>>Why does Nebiros get to act so freely? Seems like he just wastes resources on his pet project and has nothing worthwhile to show for it. At least for the things that matter like the Intruders.

>>1836880
>Do you really trust the Oracle? After what happened today...
>Why does Nebiros get to act so freely? It seems like he just does whatever he wants!

>>1836880
>>1836899
>Other
And speaking of knowing more than most Sentinels, if you want to ask me something about them go right ahead. The origins of the current Sentinel Council perhaps?

File: Karl Dietrich Kaplan.jpg (397 KB, 900x1256)

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“Pretty rough, what happened today,” you attempt, trying again at making conversation. When Karl just mutters some other non-committal response, you feel your already frayed temper flaring up again. “C'mon man, either talk to me or turn the radio on!” you snap, “This surly silence is getting annoying.”

The car slows abruptly, swerving to the side of the road and stopping. “Fine,” Karl replies, turning to look you in the eye, “Let's talk.”

“Do you really trust the Oracle?” you ask bluntly, spitting the words out, “After what happened today, after what's BEEN happening for months, I don't think it's as infallible as you people like to think. Either it's seriously fucking up, or it's got its own motive, and I don't-”

“I don't trust it,” Karl interrupts, “Not completely. I don't distrust it enough to discount whatever advice it has to offer, but I'm not convinced by it either. I like to keep a healthy degree of scepticism where the Oracle is concerned.” He pauses here, teetering on the edge of what seems like a grave confession. “Gut instinct is important,” he tells you, stressing that last word, “I don't think the Oracle has that – instinct can't be programmed or taught, it's something that you're either born with or you're not.”

“And what?” you press, “You were born with it?”

“Yes I was,” Karl says with a cold nod, “And so were you. What do your instincts tell you?”

Feeling his eyes fixed on you, you shiver a little. “I feel like we're all in a house of cards right now, and it's starting to feel awfully windy,” you answer, “It won't hold.”

“No, it won't,” he agrees, “I'm not ignorant enough to pretend that the Council of Twelve is a unified body. There are too many different schemes and motives at work, all mingling together into a poisonous brew. If one plan ends in disaster, I fear that it might bring everything – your entire house of cards – down around our ears.” Falling into a bitter silence, he runs his hands across the steering wheel. “I'm just a soldier. I follow my orders,” he concludes, “But even I have my limits.”

The way he says that is... troubling. “Something on your mind, Karl?” you ask slowly, “It might help to talk about it, to talk with someone on the outside – and before you give me that crap about being “initiated”, remember that I know more than most of your lot. I probably know more you, even.”

“That you do,” Karl laughs curtly, “Very well. Since we're being so... sociable...” Trailing off here, he takes a moment to gather his thoughts.

[1/2]

>>1837020

“I believe in Monad, and the golden path,” Karl continues after a moment, “But belief is not always easy. I've spoken with my superiors, with men who I suspect to be members of the Council of Twelve, and the golden path that they speak of is... inconsistent. A world which prizes stability above all else, and a world where men have freedom to act as they see fit. A world where the inhuman threats to mankind are exterminated, and a world where they are studied...” Scowling suddenly, Karl tightens his fists around the steering wheel. “Some days, I wonder if there really IS a golden path,” he confesses, “Or if the Council of Twelve is just manipulating us all.”

“Would you...” you pause, “Would you like to know about them? About how the current council came to be?”

This gives Karl pause, and for a moment you can see that he wants to know – he really does – but then he shakes his head. “No,” he decides, “It is not my place to know. Not yet.”

You stare at him for a moment more, trying to puzzle out his decision. Maybe this is one of those “soldier” things – absolute faith in the hierarchy or something like that. Whatever his reasons are, he's made his choice. “Just let me know if you change your mind,” you tell him, “I don't mind spilling a few secrets.”

“That's not something you should be boasting about,” Karl points out. You just shrug at that. “Fine. We've talked,” he continues, starting the engine and driving off again, “I've said more than I should have. Are you satisfied now?”

“Almost,” you murmur, “There's one thing that's been bothering me for a while. Just why does Nebiros get to act so freely? It seems like he just does whatever he likes, using Sentinel resources on his own pet projects – and what does he have to show for it? Nothing, certainly nothing related to the Intruders.”

“I understand that Nebiros also contributes a vast amount of resources TO the Sentinels,” Karl replies, glancing aside to you, “That grants him a certain degree of... freedom. However, I have heard whispers, rumours that the council is growing tired of his excesses. Confirm one thing for me – Huo Guang is Nebiros, correct?”

“Got it,” you nod.

“I suspected as much. Instinct, you see?” Karl's mouth twitches in a slight smile, “Project Alice has great value, in a mundane sense, but it contributes little to any wider design. If Guang's obsession with it continues, the council WILL be forced to take action. EVE's quirks have already caused enough problems under his watch. I'd give him... one last chance. He knows this as well as I do, I suspect.”

“Which is why he's so eager to get rid of EVE,” you murmur, “Get rid of her, or get her under control. This is do or die for him.”

“It's going to be do or die for us all soon,” Karl grunts, “That's what my instincts are telling me.”

[2/3]

>>1837118
>>1836880
>Other
"Can I ask you something personal? Why are you so faithful to Monad?"

And after that question
"Karl I know what Monad is. Oracle confirmed my suspicions the other day. I can elaborate or not depending on what you want, but I need you to know something. Monad IS fallible. Be sure to stay true to those instincts of yours."

>>1837118

His words ring through the car like a funeral bell, grim and foreboding. Swallowing hard, you fumble for the right words. “Can I ask you something personal?” you ask him quietly, “Why are you so faithful to Monad?”

“Because I believe that it can bring order to the world,” Karl replies simply, “Order that this world dearly needs. I grew up in a country struggling to lift itself out of chaos and devastation, I experienced, first hand, what happens when society breaks down. The chaos and disorder was bad, but just as terrible is the lethargy that followed it – men who had survived, only to find themselves without a cause to follow. In Monad, I see order and a cause to follow... at least, I used to. Now, I cannot be so certain of anything.”

“I know what Monad is,” you whisper, “I won't tell you, not if you don't wish me to, but I will tell you one thing – Monad IS fallible. Trust your instincts, Karl. I get the feeling that you're going to need them in the days to come.”

“And you'll need yours,” he replies, taking his eyes from the road to give you a stern look, “Whatever else happens in the days ahead, I want you to do one thing for me.”

“That depends,” you tell him, meeting his eyes, “What is it?”

“Do what you think is best,” Karl urges, “No matter what.”

-

There really isn't much else to say after that, and you spend the rest of the journey in silence – you don't even think to try the radio. The more you think about Karl's words, the more you realise something – you've never actually heard someone define what this “golden path” really is. Other than vague proclamations of a peaceful and prosperous future for mankind, you couldn't say just what it involves.

Troubling.

-

When you arrive back at home, it's late enough that you consider going straight to bed. Yui is still awake, listlessly watching television when you arrive, but she doesn't bother to ask the usual questions. You sense a certain resignation in her, as if she's accepted that this is your routine now – arriving home late with no explanation given. For a moment, you linger at the entrance to your bedroom and think of something to say to her, some reassurance to give her, but then you back down. Slinking away, you retreat into your room and fall into bed.

[3/4]

>>1837225

You don't sleep long. It barely seems as though you closed your eyes before you're woken again by the sound of your phone ringing. Fumbling through your things, you press it to your ear.

“Good morning,” a crisp voice greets you, “This is Eligor Kanzaki. We need to talk.”

Squinting at your clock, you confirm that it is definitely morning – half past one in the morning, to be precise. “What...” you mumble, still half asleep, “Is this about the Oracle? Did Maika mention...”

“That will have to wait for another day. Nebiros has made his move – I am saddened, but not surprised, to say that it is shaping up to be a disaster. Normally, I would be content to let him ruin himself, but he seems determined to drag as many of us as possible down with him,” Eligor pauses for a moment, “Your father, and all employees currently within the Renko Biotech laboratories, included. He is in danger.”

“What?” cold shock washes through you, “Danger? How, what's...”

“It would be better to explain in person. I'm going to pick you up now,” he pauses again, and only now do you hear the sound of wind in the background. He must be driving just like Tanaka, quickly and in a convertible. “Get everything that you need,” Eligor orders, “Does your building have roof access?”


“Roof... access?” you repeat numbly, “Why would-”

“Because I'm sending a helicopter,” Eligor Kanzaki announces.

>I'm going to pause things here for this week. I may need to take next week off, so the next thread not be until the week after that
>Stay tuned for our regularly scheduled bonus episode!

File: Brunhilde von Diefenbach.jpg (308 KB, 1080x1080)

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New Cairo, Egypt
Nineteen years ago

Passing through the security checkpoints at the New Cairo border was always slow, always irritating. Papers had to be checked, and the jeep itself was swept for bombs. They even ran medical checks now, taking swabs from the inside of the cheek, after a particularly unpleasant incident with an old Iraqi bioweapon. Depending on how many other people were trying to pass through, and what sort of bribe you were offering, the whole process could hours.

Which is why it was so odd, simply being able to pass straight through. When Brunhilde presented her papers, stamped with the seal of Hieroglyph Marketing, the checkpoint guards waved her through. It was odd... but Brunhilde certainly wasn't going to complain about it. Priscilla, on the other hand, was a different matter entirely.

“I do not like this, Brun,” she muttered, “Hieroglyph, they have too much power here, too much money to throw about. Why send the two of us to recover their prize, when they could have sent dozens of their own men? Why hire outsiders at all?”

“Because we're the best there is!” Brunhilde retorted, still flushed with the pleasure of success, “What other reason do you need?”

“Ah but Brun, we do not all have your confidence,” Priscilla argued as she carefully guided the jeep down the streets of New Cairo. Compared with the dusty dirt trails and shattered highways that were so prevalent outside the wall, the streets here seemed almost luxurious – not a single crack or pothole in sight. “No, I do not like it,” she continued, “Not at all.”

“Please Priscilla, just think about how much we're getting paid for this,” Brunhilde nudged the other young woman with her elbow, causing the jeep to waver slightly, “Some rich Nip wants to hand over a sum like this, for a simple job, and you keep complaining. Honestly, he... what was his name again?”

“You cannot even remember something so simple as this,” a note of her old Parisian accent slipped back into Priscilla's voice as she said this, a sure sign of her weary amusement, “Harunobu Kiriyama. He is a collector of sorts, or so I hear – likely, that is why he wants these tablets.”

“Yeah,” Brunhilde agreed with a savage grin, “Wants them BAD. Maybe we're in the wrong line of work, huh?”

“You, with a steady job? Please,” Priscilla giggled before pointing ahead, pointing at a vast needle of gleaming steel and glass, “There, that is the Hieroglyph building. Ah, but you could not mistake it for anything else, could you? Not while it towers over everything else here.”

Gazing up, Brunhilde let out a low gasp of wonder. No matter how many times she had seen it from the distance, the Obelisk – or so the building was nicknamed – was an entirely different matter up close. More impressive, certainly, but also uglier, as if the size was the product of some brutal deformity.

Like something from the Umbra, perhaps.

[1/3]

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>>1837255

While the streets outside had been patrolled by swarthy local soldiers, Hieroglyph had made the wise decision of hiring foreign mercenaries for their private guards. The local troops were poorly regarded for their lax discipline and substandard training, while there was never a shortage of foreigners looking for work. Brunhilde and Priscilla had met like that - both hired by Scorpio Petrochemical, back when there was an oil industry to defend. When their true nature had come to light, they had formed a partnership. Strictly business... at first.

“Ah, so we are early,” Priscilla lamented, her soft voice drawing Brunhilde back to reality, “That, or our client wishes to keep us waiting.” They had been shown into a sparsely decorated room and asked to wait, assured that their client would be with them soon. An assurance that had proven to be optimistic, or so it would seem.

“Just standard corporate mind games,” Brunhilde snorted, crossing the empty room and setting the box of gold tablets down on a desk. She was about to slink back to her seat when something caught her eye – a framed photograph showing an elderly man cradling a baby. “Got a family photo here,” she announced, nodding towards it, “Reckon the old guy is our client. Kid seems to young to be his, though...”

“My grandson, Jun,” a clear voice announced, causing both Brunhilde and Priscilla to hastily turn around. The elderly man from the photograph, now looking older still, had arrived in silence. When he crossed the room to join them, his pace was cautious but steady – he was old, but not decrepit. “His father died the same year that that photograph was taken,” he continued, “His mother died earlier still, so I am responsible for his care. He's a bright boy, with a bright future ahead of him.”

“Yeah, I bet,” Brunhilde remarked, only just stopping herself from rolling her eyes at the dull subject. “So, you're Harunobu Kiriyama, right?” she continued, “We have the items you requested. We're pretty busy girls, so we'll be taking our money and leaving now, if it's all the same to you. I figure you don't want us hanging around here, either.”

“I wonder,” Harunobu murmured as he crossed behind his desk and pressed his palm against a safe. The lock clunked open, and he withdrew a heavy case. “I have your pay here, exactly as we agreed,” he declared, opening the case to reveal neat stacks of bills, “But... I also have an offer. Hieroglyph Marketing needs employees like you – I would be delighted if you would join our staff on a more permanent basis.”

“Me, with a steady job?” Brunhilde laughed, “I don't know about that. What do you think, Priscilla?”

“I am sorry,” Priscilla agreed, “We are, how do you say it, free agents.”

“Is that so?” Harunobu raised an eyebrow, “A shame. This is an offer that many would kill for. I hope that you don't regret this decision.”

[2/3]

>>1837259

Sighing with what appeared to be genuine regret, Harunobu closed the case and slid it across the desk. Brunhilde took it eagerly, savouring the weight of it and dreaming of the possibilities it offered. Just as she was turning to leave, Priscilla spoke up.

“Excuse me, Monsieur Kiriyama, might I ask you a question?” the young woman began, “What is your interest, exactly, in these tablets? I have heard that you are a collector of such things...”

“You heard correctly,” Harunobu nodded slowly, “I consider it my duty to acquire these pieces of history and keep them safe. There are those in this country who would see them only in terms of gross material value – as pieces of gold, rather than as priceless historical records. I would spare no expense if it meant keeping mankind's heritage intact.”

“That is a truly admirable goal,” Priscilla agreed, bowing her head slightly, “Thank you, Monsieur, for your honest answer. It has been a pleasure to work with you.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” moving carefully, Harunobu eased himself down into his seat and gazed fondly at his family photograph. “It may be arrogant for me to say this,” he continued, “But I consider myself to be a guardian of sorts. A... a sentinel of history, if you like. But enough about that, you said that you were busy. A shame that we could not reach a more permanent agreement, but I respect your choice. Perhaps we may work again in the future. For now, farewell.”

“Farewell,” Priscilla repeated, bowing again.

“Yeah, uh, seeya,” Brunhilde offered, grinning as she took Priscilla by the arm and steered the polite girl back out. “C'mon, jeez,” Brunhilde groaned, as soon as they were out of earshot, “You didn't need to flatter the old guy quite so much.”

“But Brun, flattery is what I'm paid for,” Priscilla insisted, “We are like the... what do you say? The good cop and the bad cop?”

“Yeah, I guess we are,” Brunhilde laughed, patting the heavy case, “And now we're both rich cops!”

“This is true, this is true,” she mused, “But now, perhaps, shall we see to spending some of our money?”

“I thought you'd never ask,” Brunhilde replied, an expectant grin spreading across her face.

>That concludes this week's episode of Heavenly Child Quest! Tune in soon for another episode!
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today!

Thanks for the run boss

>>1837263
Thanks for running, Moloch!

Hmm, if Jun is part of a family of Sentinels... I wonder if his grandfather set up the initial Intruder attack? Initiate Jun into the family business, so to speak.

>>1837324
Jun's grandfather is Asmodeus. He also created sentinels. I can't possibly be wrong.

>>1837333
Asmodeus is Hiroto Yoshida. We've met already.

Jun's grandfather might've been part of the original Sentinels that died in Germany.

>>1837561
Fake name! With facial disguise!

>>1837249
So about telling Yui nothing and thinking that's for the best...

>>1838205
It's funner this way. Instead of telling her outright earlier we have the added shenanigans of explaining us being airlifted to rescue her husband from his boss/crazy AI.

In all seriousness though, I'm pretty sure Yui and Akito finding about our secret is very soon if not right after this situation.