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I definitely despised Syuen as a person. Especially the way she clearly hated Nikke and treated them as tools.
But I could also understand her.
And right now, she was absolutely on the verge of losing everything and being turned into a tool herself.
It was ironic. And it'd be fitting karma.
But I was trying to break the cycle in general of Nikke being seen as not people, so it'd go against what I was trying to do to just let them kill her and turn her into a Nikke.
Not to mention she WAS a teenager.
And I knew that teenagers, especially in high pressure environments, easily resorted to extremism just to cope.
Hell, social media was toxic for a reason. Give the average social media user the amount of authority and power that Syuen had, and they'd probably end up in a similar spot.
Still didn't like her. Actively despised her.
But I wasn't about to let her get offed like that.
...Though I wasn't sure how much my casual chat with her helped.
"Mm..." I tapped a pen on my notepad and murmured, "Maybe I SHOULD look into nanomachines more."
Abraham Lincoln DID say that you destroyed your enemies when you made them your friends... I think.
So if I racked up enough gratitude from Syuen, it'd be more valuable than say making Mustang an ally.
After all, a person who hated your guts but eventually became your ally would never betray you.
A person who liked you from the start COULD.
And I was all about certainty.
"...Yeah. I'm a bit worried about her."
Judging from how Syuen acted, she was getting by only because she was too valuable to be killed.
The process of turning a woman into a Nikke could result in memory loss or erasure.
There was a balancing act that was made there whenever they considered turning someone into a Nikke.
Until now, Syuen seemed to have been navigating that tightrope pretty well. But it seemed like she was one misstep away from falling.
Since she was young, and since she had a petite frame, she completely lacked personal power. She tried to make up for it with authority and her sharp tongue, and it was working a bit. Especially since she had Nikke under her direct control.
But that only went so far, after all.
If a Deputy Chief... or maybe Enikk, decided that she was too much trouble...
"Mm... that'd explain the way she acts."
A young woman- No, a teenager who knew that her neck was always on the chopping block. Someone who HAD to show results again and again and again or else she'd be killed and harvested. Someone who didn't have any backing or family to support her...
Someone replaceable.
"Huh." I frowned. "...Not sure I wanted to know that. Damn."
It was hard to hate someone when you understood them.
And now I understood Syuen a bit too well for my liking...
"Hah... whatever. It is what it is."
If I could save her, I would. But I had already chosen people to prioritize in my life. I wouldn't go out of my way to try and save Syuen. But if it was something simple like just knowledge tidbits or recording some deployments, that'd be fine.
"Commander~" Marian's voice drifted by from just outside my office. "It's my turn. You promised. I get you all night long... right?"
Well. More pressing matters at hand.
...Emphasis on pressing. Heh.
===
After a relaxing evening with Marian... one thankfully NOT interrupted by Endless joining in for once, it was time to get back to business.
While we'd had a bit of a break to relax and recuperate, it seemed like we'd be back to work soon since I had a meeting with Deputy Chief Burningum today.
So, after spending time with Anis, checking in on Rapi... who seemed to be journaling more frequently these days, chatting with Neon and Endless who were codesigning some ridiculously overpowered theoretical weaponry, and then talking a bit with Nami, Hana, and Suri before I left, it was time to head to the Ark again.
As usual, I put on my armor, long sword, and shield. But just in case, I also brought my zweihander.
Deputy Chief Burningum had requested I meet him without any Nikke, but I sure as hell wasn't about to go in there unarmed.
But anyway, there I was, leaning against the elevator leading to the Ark all by my lonesome watching the lights flicker past.
And then blue light flickered in front of me before Shifty's face showed up in a holographic display. "...Paranoid as ever, I see."
I let out a slow breath, calming myself from the sudden jumpscare. "Hello to you too, Shifty. Also..." I frowned. "...Were you always able to do a video chat via holograms? Did I not have to use my phone the entire time?"
"Yes. But you seemed like the type to get distracted if it's not contained to a screen, Commander. I used my discretion and kept it to a video call instead."
"...I guess you know me pretty well by now, huh?" I chuckled.
Shifty let out a long suffering sigh. "Unfortunately... if the higher ups didn't assign me as your personal operator and if I wasn't getting paid so much, I might have just resigned for all the mess you put me in."
"Well, keep at it. You'll only get paid more as time goes on."
"That's what I'm concerned about... more pay means more work. And regarding you guys, more work means more world-shattering revelations..."
"Hazard of the business we're in, unfortunately."
"Unfortunately..." Shifty sighed. But then she put on a professional demeanor and said, "But enough small talk. I called because I wanted to go over the agenda with you."
"Right." I nodded. "I figured it was something like that." I paused. "Is Chief Andersen busy? I was under the impression I was directly his subordinate."
"You are. But it looks like Deputy Chief Andersen is on a mission, so you're temporarily under Deputy Chief Burningum's command."
"Hm..." I rubbed my chin. "How is this Chief Burningum?"
"Well..." Shifty hesitated. "He's... interesting? He's VERY competent in legal matters and bureaucracy. He's also a die-hard Ark patriot. He puts that above all else."
"...Uh." I frowned. "...I'm slightly worried now."
I VERY MUCH did not care for the Ark. Well, I cared for it in part. Like, I had my job as a commander. And there WERE nice people around.
But if push came to shove, I was grabbing everyone and hitting the Surface.
"Don't be. Apparently, Chief Burningum's very impressed with you."
"...You say that, Shifty. But you know me."
"...Please don't say that you'd choose your squad over the Ark in front of him?"
"...I'll do my best." I sighed. "But I'll play it by ear as always."
It was a bit concerning that Chief Andersen was out though.
...Hm. Maybe he went to check up on Snow White? He DID ask for information about the Pilgrims. And since he's the Legendary Commander, he might want to have a private meeting with them all.
Well.
Push came to shove, Enikk said she'd choose me. My friend had my back, I was sure of it.
After that, Shifty and I had some small talk. Mostly about her new collection of retro games and how she was visiting the shooting range to vent recently.
But before long, the elevator arrived at the Ark and it was time for me to head off to the Central Government offices again.
"Commander Hoopa." A mass-produced Elysion Nikke saluted me when I arrived. It seemed like she was a Soldier EG type, with military gear, a white outfit, and a light red hair color.
Kind of like Rapi, actually, if she was cosplaying Simo Hayha.
With a warm smile, she held her salute and said, "Good day to you."
I nodded back at the Nikke, no, the young woman with crimson hair and said, "At ease. And good day to you too. Just a meeting today, nothing big."
"Confirmed." The crimson-haired woman nodded, her crimson hair shifting behind her visor. "Have a pleasant day."
"You too... Ah." I paused and looked at her. "Do you know if Ingrid is busy?"
The crimson-haired young woman blinked and said, "Instructor? She may be. Rumor has it that Absolute recently returned from a mission. It could be that she's arranging matters with them."
"Thanks. Appreciate it."
The crimson-haired young woman paused. Then she gave me a warm smile and said, "...No. I appreciate you, Commander. Please, be well."
...Ah. It really IS that bad, huh?
A simple thank you like this was enough to touch her heart...
I paused to look at her and said, "Hey. If you have any friends, tell them that the Brave Squad is always looking for more recruits. The Outpost IS pretty big, after all. It'd be better than just standing around the elevator all day, right?"
The crimson-haired young woman's eyes widened. Then she shook her head and said, "I appreciate the gesture, Commander, but..."
"No buts. I'm serious." I held out my hand to her. "Promise to consider it?"
The crimson-haired young woman looked at my hand. She looked at me. Then she slowly reached out to shake it. "...Okay. I'll... talk to my superiors about a transfer."
"You do that. Tell them I directly asked about it. I DID request a squad of mass-produced Nikke from Elysion as well, so since I already met you, it'd be nice if it was you."
The crimson-haired young woman smiled and said, "Understood. Then, have a pleasant trip at the Ark, Commander."
"Of course. You too- I mean. Fuck."
She laughed.
I laughed too and then waved, walking off.
===
The trip towards the Central Government offices was fairly uneventful.
I had people taking photos of me and chattering about me as I passed, but considering I was in full armor and armed with a sword on my back, a sword at my side, and a shield on the other side, I expected it.
As I continued on my way though, a thought kept coming to mind.
'It's pretty much like New York, isn't it?'
Packed streets, cars, people going to and fro...
Nikke moving through the crowds as well, with some people giving them wide berths and others not minding.
'Guess all cities are pretty much the same.'
It was cleaner, of course. Since Nikke existed, and since they weren't limited to a fleshy human body, there wasn't any trash around.
Although...
I shifted my gaze to the distance.
The Ark consisted of a city underground. One with skyscrapers and everything.
...But I noticed that there was a section beyond the outer walls too.
'That's what they call the Outer Rim, huh?'
I hadn't paid much attention to it the past few times I was here. But now that I saw how clean the Ark was, I was wondering if there was a ghetto. But that definitely was it.
'...Hm. I should probably take a look at some point.'
Considering how grimdark this world was due to being post-apocalyptic...
Well.
It wasn't morally correct or really ethical.
But I could probably get useful things there. And if it helped me keep everyone safe and reduce variables, it'd be good.
Not to mention...
'A hand outstretched to those in the dark is one they won't let go of.'
I could probably do it.
Some would hate me. Others would despise me.
But I was sure I could find a few people there who would be fanatically loyal.
And in this world where betrayal could be catastrophic, people like that were essential.
But that was a trip for another time. Also one that I'd need to plan with the others.
For now-
"Light is our right! Heavenly Ascension!"
"Bring light to the Outer Rim! Bring light to the Outlaws!"
"Less money on machines! More money on humans!"
...Hm?
I paused just before rounding a corner to see a group of protesters in front of a government building.
It was a typical sight. Random people who looked like they didn't have anything better to do banding together, holding up signs. Some of those signs had the Missilis logo crossed out. Others had the word Nikke with 'Devils of Defeat' underneath it.
All-in-all, pretty crass and stupid.
It was definitely a waste of time. And trouble too.
So I pointedly kept my distance.
And then I heard what their leader was saying. A random guy. Average face. A nobody.
But he was speaking with absolute conviction.
"You've seen the leaks! Missilis is floundering! Their CEO is wasting money on Nikke experiments that lead to a dead end! Billions of credits on machines. And what about the humans who live in the Outer Rim? Resorting to scraps to live, even eating each other..."
"YEAH!"
"It's inhumane! A waste! Down with Missilis! Down with Nikke!"
"Down with the machines!"
I stopped walking and slowly turned towards them.
"My name is John Doe!" The unremarkable man spread out his arms and said, "And I will not be silenced! Those immortal witches who have all that power... the money being spent to maintain them... Isn't that unfair? They're just machines and yet we have people who treat them like humans! Waste food on them that they don't need! Even give them beds and-"
"Keep talking." I immediately walked over, slowly unfastening my helmet and tossing my armor pieces to the ground. "I don't mind resolving this the human way."