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The open night air, on board a certain changed Mother Whale Rapture.
Raptilion peered out at the land below from a window in Whaley's body, sketching the terrain onto his notebook. "Marvelous! To think that there was so much on the surface!"
"Indeed, Harmonizer." A white-haired woman with a straw hat and dressed like a wandering ascetic stood beside Raptilion, a faint smile upon her face. "This world truly is a marvel, is it not?"
Pinocchio, a young girl with blue-tinged white hair and shimmering clothes, walked over to Raptilion's side to peer out at the land as well. "You're right, Uncle! It's amazing!"
"It truly is, Pinocchio!" Raptilion laughed. "Our friend will surely make good use of this."
The wandering ascetic, Nayuta, tilted her head. "Your friend?"
"Ah, yes!" Raptilion nodded, a bright smile on his face. "My dear friend, Commander Hoopa. He was the one who confirmed my theory that we could communicate and befriend Raptures, and that Raptures who were interested in communication would change to be able to communicate with us better. Wolfy and the others were the first proof of that, adopting a humanoid form and calling our friend 'King.' And Whaley is the ultimate proof."
As if to confirm Raptilion's words, Whaley let out a content vibration.
Pinocchio sighed. "I want to meet the other Uncle sometime too..."
"Patience, my dear!" Raptilion smiled. "From what I can tell, our friend is working on reclaiming the surface. Eventually, our paths will cross again. But in the meantime, let's enjoy this marvelous splendor of nature... Like that!" Raptilion pointed towards a city made entirely of crystals. "Marvelous, is it not?"
"Wow!"
Raptilion smiled at Pinocchio's reaction and then sketched the area, expanding his map.
After taking a look at it, and seeing that it was mostly complete, he sent it to the secure line that the commander provided him last time.
'Hopefully this helps, Friend!'
===
A certain research facility.
There, a commander with cybernetic enhancements and white hair pulled up a communication device. "Cecil. This is Johan."
Johan swept his cold blue eyes across the research facility and said, "We've secured Unchained. Two bullets. It isn't as much as we thought we'd find, but it should do."
The members of Inherit, Johan's squad, moved to carefully package the glittering ruby bullets for safe travel.
A faint holographic window emerged, revealing a soft-spoken woman with long white hair and blue eyes. Cecil, a former researcher from the Central Government and one innovative enough for her mind to be targeted as a counter for Enikk in the past before she escaped.
On the holographic window, Cecil nodded and said, "That's good, Johan. Two bullets... Well. We can use one for research. If it's possible to reproduce it, that would be ideal. But it might be better to use both on Nihilister..."
"One is sufficient." Johan replied in a firm voice. "The dragon will fall." He paused. "...And Dorothy?"
"...She's been acting strange. Ever since that message from the unknown sender, Dorothy has been holed up in her room and constantly pacing."
Johan sighed. "Of all the times... Fine. We can do without her."
Noah, a petite Nikke with short-cropped pink hair and towering shields, walked over to Johan. "Commander! Isabel and Harran said we're all clear!"
"Then let's go." Johan adjusted his cap and glanced off into the distance. "The sooner that dragon is killed, the sooner Eden can obtain resources to reclaim the surface."
===
Dorothy, the former leader of the Goddess Squad after Liliweiss's death. The one who took over as captain following Ark Guardian and eventually left to form Eden along with Cecil and Johan...
As a former daughter of a powerful politician in the past, she was composed. Always. Grace, beauty, and composure was paramount to her life.
And yet...
"This is impossible... isn't it?"
In her private quarter, yet again, Dorothy examined the number on her phone. No, the NUMBERS on her phone. And the conversation logs belonging to both.
---
[Red Hood]
> Heya, Snooty. You still alive?
> Rumors of my death were GREATLY exaggerated, haha.
> ...I heard what happened from Snow and the others.
> Wanna talk?
---
[Commander]
> Ta-dah~
> It's me. It's been a while, hasn't it?
> Despite everthing, I'm still alive and kicking.
> Been taking all sorts of things for my health, so I managed to stick around this long.
---
NOBODY should have those numbers. Both were decommissioned and blocked long ago.
Dorothy wanted to believe it was a hoax. That some twisted bastard was using sentiments from the past to manipulate her.
...Because if it wasn't...
Dorothy stared at her phone. She hesitated. She hesitated a bit more.
And then she opened up an old group chat. One with the latest message being sent decades ago.
After screenshotting both chats, she sent the pictures into the groupchat along with a message.
---
[Goddess]
Dorothy: Hey. Do you know if this is real?
[Dorothy sent attachment1.png]
[Dorothy sent attachment2.png]
Snow White: Dorothy?
Rapunzel: Can it be? Did our fair lady decide to speak with us again?
Dorothy: Quiet, Rapunzel. I need to know. Is this real?
Scarlet: It dost appear so. And Snow did recently receive word that our fearless commander does yet live.
Dorothy: ...What? How?
Snow White: Apparently, the Ark has a form of medicine that prolongs lifespan. But more importantly, you got a message from Red Hood too?
Dorothy: What do you mean I got one 'too?'
[Snow White sent red_hood_convo.png]
---
<red_hood_convo.png>
[Red Hood]
Red Hood: Hey Snow. So, this is a bit awkward after everything, but... I'm still around.
Red Hood: You doing good, Kid? Still crying a lot?
Red Hood: You don't have to respond. Lil Boss said if these messages go through then the other side's alright.
Red Hood: Can't say when I'll be out to catch up with you guys.
Red Hood: Body's in an awkward state right now. But hopefully Boss and I will come grab you.
Red Hood: We still gotta finish what we started, right?
Red Hood: :thumbsup:
---
Dorothy: ...This is a joke.
Dorothy: This has to be a joke.
Dorothy: Are you mocking me?
Dorothy: Is this because we disagreed?
Dorothy: All of you...!
Scarlet: Calm yourself, Dorothy. You know us. We would not do that to you.
Dorothy: Then EXPLAIN.
Snow White: There's nothing to explain. We don't know any more than you do, other than that it's accurate.
Dorothy: How does that...!
---
Dorothy set her phone down and took a deep breath. "...No. Compose yourself, Dorothy. You are better than this."
She had to think it through logically.
Despite their... difference in opinion, Dorothy could trust her old squadmates to not lie to her.
So as incredulous as this all appeared, it... had to be true.
'Were they deceived?'
...No. That wouldn't be possible.
If it was one of them, then perhaps.
But all of them?
Unthinkable.
Between the three of them and their completely divergent worldviews, it would be impossible for someone to pull the wool over them. Rapunzel's... laviscious nature, Scarlet's aloof and carefree demeanor, Snow White's now stringent and professional mindset...
If the three agreed on something, then it could only be true. Any discrepency would be clear as day.
So...
Dorothy stared at her phone.
She stared at it more.
Then she quietly picked it up, opened her contacts, and pressed a number she had long given up on calling.
One ring. Two. On the third, a nostalgic voice echoed.
"My. To think the aloof princess would lower herself to call me. The things you see... Or I guess, the things you 'hear' when you live long enough, right?"
Dorothy covered her mouth. Staggering back, she stumbled onto her bed and quietly whispered, "Commander...?"
"In the flesh. Or I guess, on the air? Heh. I Wish I could see your face right now. You must be a mess, right?"
"You...!"
Dorothy didn't know what to say. What to THINK even.
"...You're an imposter. You have to be. Is this some trick? Some voice changer? Some insufferable dastard trying to sway my emotions!?"
Dorothy's voice cracked.
But the voice on the line didn't respond. It just waited.
Dorothy waited as well.
And finally, Andersen spoke up, his voice rough and filled with sorrow. "You've been through a lot. Haven't you, Dorothy?"
Hearing that, Dorothy couldn't take it anymore. She clutched her phone to her chest and broke out into sobs. "You're... alive...!"
"Of course I'm alive. And man have I got the stories to tell. Speaking of which, do you have time? Because I have all the time in the world right now. You see, I'm recovering from the most remarkable surgery that my son suggested."
"...What?"
The word 'son' cut through Dorothy's sorrow like a sharp knife. Then cold fury slowly started to well up.
"A son? You moved on? Loved another woman after-"
"Calm down. It's funny. The world's quite cruel. You see, it turns out I had a son with Lilith. Well, not ACTUALLY. We never did get to go that far, as much as we would have liked to. She was always worried about not being able to control her strength during the act, you know? So-"
"Stop. No. Wait. You...! Commander!" Dorothy sputtered and said, "Be serious!"
"I am." Andersen's calm voice echoed. "Like I said, I have quite the tale to tell. Care to listen?"
"...Fine." Dorothy wiped her tears away. "You have a lot of explaining to do, Commander."
"I know, I know. But anyway. It all began with this uppity brat showed up after having beaten a Black Smith with three Nikke and a pistol."
"...Commander. I know you like to joke, but be serious."
"I am. That's my kid for you, always exceeding expectations... Though I guess he probably gets that more from Lilith than me, haha."
"..."
"...What? Too soon?"
"I swear to god, Commander...!"
"I didn't take you for the religious type. Time really does change people, hm? Rapunzel finally get through to you?"
Dorothy took a long and deep sigh.
...She wanted to strangle the man's throat for his flippant words.
...But if anything, she could at least be assured that it was her commander. No other man could be THIS infuriating and ridiculous...
===
Early morning, roughly 2 AM. The recycling center at the Outpost.
Neon stared at the shimmering schematic on the wall shining from her glasses. "Huh. I KNEW I was a spy!"
Endless stared at the schematic as well and slowly nodded. "...It appears so. This is ancient V.T.C. technology. An upgraded body purely for yourself, Neon."
"Yes!" Neon pumped a fist in the air. "More firepower!" She turned to face the nearby terminal and said, "Thanks, Sophia! You're amazing!"
A soft, slightly monotone female voice played from the speaker in the terminal. Sophia's. "If anyone is amazing, it's Creator. Although the encryption on your glasses was impressive, compared to the completely unthinkable elliptical field cryptography and others methods he left behind, it's simply elementary."
A rough and rowdy female voice echeod from nearby. Red Hood's. "Hah! Suck it, V.T.C. Your technology got called elementary by a robot!"
Sophia scoffed. "I am not a robot. No more than you are at least, Red Hood. Or have you forgotten the fact that you are currently residing in a steel box?"
"It's metal as hell, so no complaints here." Red Hood laughed and then turned on the wheels of her 'steel box' and rolled around the recycling center. "I'm like a car! It's awesome!"
Sophia let out a deep sigh.
Neon stared at the schematic and said, "Soooo. Are we making this for me?"
Endless stared at the schematics as well and said, "I do not understand the underlying mechanics... but if it is transferring Neon to this new body once it is complete, I am capable."
"Woohoo!" Neon high-fived Endless and said, "You're amazing, Endy!"
Endless tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear, her cheeks ever so slightly dusted with red. "...I appreciate the compliment."
Sophia hummed and said, "Currently, we are incapable of making this new body for you, Neon."
"Awww... Why not?"
"It is not a sufficiency in understanding, but rather resources. As you're aware, we are on the surface, not the Ark. Creator has been rather resourceful, but we lack quite a few critical components. Chief among which is Goddessium."
"Huh?" Neon tilted her head, thinking. "But doesn't Master have like 2100 crystals of that left here because he never got the mass-produced Nikkes from Elysion and Missilis?"
"...That is true."
Red Hood rolled up to the schematic and said, "I say we make it! It's not like Lil Boss is using it, right?"
"...That is also true. And it WOULD advance research on the tasks he left for me to analyze."
Neon pumped her fist in the air. "Do it~ Do it~ Come on, Endy! Say it with me!"
"A-Ah." Endless hesitantly held her fist up and copied Neon. "Do... it? Do it. Do it?"
Sophia was quiet. Then she said, "If he asks, this was all your idea."
"Deal!" Neon grinned. "Neo-Neon is a go!"
Endless blinked. "Neo-Neon? Is that not hard to say? What about Nova Neon?"
"Oh my gosh! Endy! You're great at naming! Nova Neon! Let's go!"
Red Hood laughed.
Sophia sighed. "...Apologies in advance, Creator. But... research."
"Research! And firepower!"
Endless nodded. "And... progress?"
Red Hood cackled. "And for a hell of a good time!"
"...You're all insufferable. No wonder Hana left you alone."
"Ooh, right!" Neon took a look around. "Where IS Hana anyway?"
"Busy. Now, Neon. Step into the capsule. We can save on Goddessium by simply upgrading your body instead of replacing it wholesale."
"Perfect!" Neon hopped into the capsule and said, "Time for a full body upgrade! I'm counting on you oh Goddess of Wisdom!"
"...And now I have to exceed expectations." Sophia sighed. "Very well. Now, a few questions to start with. Since you managed to develop that plasma cannon with Endless, would you like me to include that as a base ability-"
"YES YES YES YES YES YES!"
"...Understood. I presume the answer is the same for every other weapon upgrade?"
"OBVIOUSLY!"