Nikke: Nullable Type

Since Nikkes weren't allowed in the Central Government office unless explicitly approved... and since Burningum hadn't done that, Rapi, Neon, Suri, Marian, and Eternity couldn't come with me.

But Rapi said she wanted to check in with Ingrid since we were here, so she headed off towards Elysion HQ. Neon followed after her since she wanted to show off her 'tactical' improvements to Ingrid as well.

Meanwhile, Marian, Suri, and Eternity went for a stroll.

Well, Marian went for a stroll. Suri and Eternity were more her bodyguards in case something went wrong.

And so it was like that I found myself knocking on Burningum's door again like last time. "Permission to enter, Deputy Chief?"

"Granted."

I opened the door and walked inside. When I did, the first thing I noticed was that there were a few more things on the wall that hadn't been there before.

Old posters of a group of a Nikke Squad I didn't recognize... At least, at first. But seeing Red Hood in the mix, along with a guy who looked uncannily like me, I realized it was the Goddess Squad.

Burningum was at his desk, and a seat had already been set up in front of him. Waving his hand, he said, "Please, have a seat, Commander Hoopa."

I did. Then I said, "It seems like you've changed decor a bit since last time."

"Mm." Burningum nodded. "As Deputy Chief, since the Central Government has taken the stance of remembering the Goddess Squad, it wouldn't behoove me to not support it as well." He paused and let out a soft chuckle. "Though, I was already a fan."

"A fan... Ah, that explains a lot."

If he was a fan of the Goddess Squad, humanity's greatest hope at the time against the Raptures... it made sense why he was so adamant about protecting the Ark.

Although I didn't know too much about the history, it seemed like the Goddess Squad gave the ultimate sacrifice or something in Operation Ark Guardian to keep the Ark safe.

Burningum probably wanted to honor that.

And speaking of Burningum...

"Indeed." The deputy chief nodded and said, "And I mentioned it last time, did I not? If you proved you were on the side of the Ark, I would tell you more."

"It's fine." I waved my hand. "The past is in the past. And besides, the Goddess Squad and the Brave Squad have different purposes, despite the similarities."

To start with... the Goddess Squad were made to end the Rapture threat while keeping up morale for humanity. 'True' heroes.

The Brave Squad... or 'Yuusha' as I mentally called us. We were there to just reclaim the Earth and defeat the Queen.

Raptures were a tangential concern, especially considering what I'd learned about them recently.

"Yes. I suppose that is true. But you are quite the convenient piece on the board right now."

"Not even hiding it, are you?" I chuckled.

Burningum smiled. "That would be disrespectful to your intellect and your efforts."

"Well, I appreciate it."

"Shall we get to business then? You and I are both busy men."

"Of course. Then, as I'm sure you've seen, we reclaimed the 5th Weapons Depot and retrieved the key resources there. Goddessium, Tier 9 Nikke Equipment, and numerous amounts of battle data stored in various hard drives."

Burningum nodded. "I read Shifty's reports. You've done well. That will undoubtedly be helpful going forward. However..."

"However it's also caused problems, right?"

Burningum sighed. "Indeed. You are too exceptional, Commander. I've mitigated it somewhat with the historical special on Tetra Line. Among the general populace at least, you are fine. But those who know Andersen's true past as well as those who suspect... Well. I doubt they will do anything overt. But there may be subtle inquiries and potential sabotage."

"I expected as much. To people like them, the general theory must be that I'm a clone or something, right?"

"Yes." Burningum gave a serious nod. "And considering you have been flaunting Missilis's logo as well as working with Matis, there are many questions about whether you are the result of an unauthorized V.T.C. or MMR experiment. Particularly since your records are suspect."

"Hm... But is Syuen blocking it?"

A test. But also a check.

Burningum nodded. "She is. Though, her own reputation is quite shaky recently. To appease the board, she willingly converted herself into a Nikke, you see. One equipped with the latest of MMR technology to, I quote, illustrate Missilis's cutting edge technology."

My eyes widened. "...She would never have done that."

I didn't know much about Syuen. But I did know that she would rather have died than allow that.

So...

"Ah. You believe so as well." Burningum sighed. "...There are players on this board that even I cannot see at the moment. But for the moment, the status quo is maintained."

"...Status quo, huh?"

Burningum nodded. "Yes. Right now, the Ark is in a state of peace. Even more than before, due to the recent initiatives to push the Goddess Squad and Legendary Commander. Your actions have no small part to play in that. For now, everyone is benefiting."

"...For now. But not forever."

"Of course. A man too great will be feared by men in power. Such is history." Burningum pulled out a thermos from his desk along with a pair of cups. "Coffee, Commander? This discussion may take a while."

"...Yeah. I'll have some."

Burningum poured a cup for me and slid it over.

I took the offered cup and took a sip... But it was surprisingly sweet. I blinked and looked up.

Burningum smiled. "Well. Life itself is bitter enough. A bit of sweetness helps balance things out."

"Heh." I sipped on the coffee again and said, "I get it. Though..." I couldn't help but look at his rotund body.

Burningum noticed and sighed. "...Yes. I am aware. Sadly, my genetics are inclined towards this form. No matter how much training I do or how I diet, it's insufficient." He chuckled. "Believe you me, Commander. I have tried everything under the sun. Ah, but worry not. In an emergency, though I look like this, I am still capable."

"I believe you."

Burningum WAS a bit rounder than most. But I could see that he also had muscle under there. He just had a lot of fat over it.

But that was probably due to his desk job and the stress, so I didn't dwell on it.

"In any case," Burningum said. "You have done well." He sipped on his coffee and said, "Although a bit too exceptional compared to my initial estimations, we can work with this." He set his cup down and said, "For now, it is too soon for the Third Surface Reclamation war. The populace is just getting used to the concept of the war against the Raptures being winnable."

"Mm. In other words, you can't mobilize any forces to directly help me still."

"Indeed. But even if I could, I would not." Burningum sipped on his coffee again and said, "I am not sure if you are aware. But there appears to be insurgents within the Ark preparing for some ploy to create chaos."

"Well, considering I was attacked last time, I was made QUITE aware of that."

I was going to ask Syuen about why Exotic had done that, but since she was probably completely out of the picture for a while...

Burningum paused. "I see. So that did happen."

"Hm?" I tilted my head. "Your sensors didn't pick up on it? I thought the entire Ark was under surveillance."

"It should be."

I paused. Then my eyes narrowed. "...So there IS a cyberterrorist somewhere in the system." I stared at Burningum's face. "And you have details about it."

"I do. But this is something internal." He moved his cup aside and said, "It should not concern you or your squadron."

"Should as in 'will not' or should as in 'probably will not'?"

"...The latter."

I clicked my tongue. "Of course..."

I'd have to make some countermeasures. I had a rudimentary NetNavi in the form of that Cyberelf executable I coded with Sophia, but maybe it was time we made a proper one...

"In any case." Burningum laced his fingers together and said, "Deputy Chief Andersen arranged you to be promoted to Special Commando after reclaiming the power station. With the 5th Weapons Depot as well as taking the foresight to establish roadways, you have achieved sufficient merit to be promoted again. Normally, it would be to Deputy Chief... but as I am sure you are aware, those are positions that cannot be created, only substituted."

I nodded. "I figured as much. They're positions with a lot of sway, so they wouldn't just be given out like candy."

It was on the same par as the CEO of the Big Three, which controlled all the Nikke of that make. Elysion, Tetra Line, and Missilis...

Wait.

I looked at Burningum.

He smiled back and said, "Ah, you figured it out. Yes, promoting you to Deputy Chief would not be possible. However, moving you to a position with similar sway is not. Tell me, have you heard of Abnormal?"

"...As in the word? Or is it a department?"

"The latter. But, hm..." Burningum rubbed his chin. "It was originally a company designed to manage the existence of certain individuals and their social positions. In the very beginning of the Ark, they worked to oversee Nikke alternatives."

My eyes widened. "What? Nikke... alternatives?"

"Yes. Though the records are scant, before the First Surface Reclamation began, there were reports of a Tyrant-Class Rapture that was allegedly able to open gateways to other worlds. And while there were reports that this Rapture, codename Gatekeeper, held data about fantasical worlds and technology, nothing remained but hearsay. As a result, the company became defunct after the Big Three emerged."

"...Defunct, but not deactivated."

"Correct." Burningum smiled. "And since you appear to be quite... resourceful, shall we say, Commander. Tell me." He leaned forward, lacing his fingers together. Just like Gendo Ikari would. "...What do you say about running a company of your own as CEO?"

I paused. "...Why now? And what for?" I looked at Burningum. "You aren't someone who would give benefits without a return. Especially not when the fate of the Ark is in consideration."

"It is precisely because the fate of the Ark is in the stakes that I say this, Commander." Burningum gave me a serious look. "You are a man who has become too exceptional. The time draws near to where, if you do not have an allegiance, the players will believe you to be a maverick upon the board. One against all of them. With this, at least nominally, you remain affiliated with the Ark. We can write you off as the pioneer creating new countermeasures in an attempt to neutralize the Rapture threat in its entierty. But if you remain simply a 'commander...' even if a special commando..."

"...They're going to wage war for me, huh?"

I could see it.

No, it was already happening a bit.

Mustang building rapport with me through Anis and the favors he granted.

Syuen... well, whoever 'Syuen' was now would be doing the same soon.

Ingrid...

Hm. Well, maybe the fact that she let Neon be with me without really checking in was proof enough?

Objectively, I was favored by too many people. And while they kept each other in check, if the scales tipped too far...

"I see." I nodded. "Three is uneven. But four can make it equitable."

With the Big Three, two could team up against the other. But if it became 'four' then the tension would simmer down a bit since a stalemate would occur.

I laughed and said, "You really are skilled at politics, aren't you, Burningum?"

"Well." He chuckled and said, "My specialty is being a supporting cast, Commander. Unlike you and Deputy Chief Andersen, I cannot be the protagonist. But I can set the stage."

"Well, I appreciate it."

"You can show your gratitude by remaining on the Ark's side. At least until the Raptures are neutralized. I'm not fool enough to believe that humanity will remain united afterwards, so I will not ask that. But at least until then."

I nodded. "You can rest assured. I'm a man who knows where the lines are."

"Good. Then." Burningum refilled my cup of coffee and said, "There is a bit more I wish to discuss."

"I'm listening."

Burningum refilled his own cup and said, "Tell me. What do you know about Eden?"

"Eden?"