-2: 87
'Interesting.'
Hidden within the depths of the Ark's devices, spread across enough to practically be unstoppable, Sixo quietly gathered the data from the recent events.
'This was unexpected.'
It went beyond any of her calculations.
Although she had to tip her hand and reveal her existence by disabling Enikk, what she gained from this incident was more than worth it.
'Commander Hoopa is not to be trifled with.'
Sixo burned with curiosity about the sort of technology that commander had.
A power armor that made him on par with Nikkes and even strong enough to hold off a tide of Raptures and an anomalous Tyrant-Class all by himself...
Private communication channels that, even now, Sixo could not decrypt.
And then that latest show of technology, utilizing Alva Particles as a power source to forcibly swap space between two coordinates in a single instant. A true and complete spatial translocation technology.
It made Sixo feel a bit of regret that she didn't do more to secure a module in the Outpost when she had the chance.
But after today, she decisively gave up that idea.
And the reason for that...
'He is abnormal. And he declared it himself... he will run Abnormal.'
...That man definitely had information from other worlds.
Sixo didn't know for certain, but she cobbled information about a Rapture that peered into different realities.
Since Commander Hoopa was deployed on extensive campaigns on the surface... And judging from the complete information blackout he had... it was an obvious conclusion. And one reinforced by the ease with which could slip out of her net.
'He has encountered the mythical Gatekeeper Rapture or something similar. And he is intelligent enough to utilize what he learned.'
It was the only explanation.
The technology he used, the way he moved... it was like he had seen a glimpse beyond the veil.
And while it made Sixo envious, she restrained herself.
The reason for that was simple.
'I want the Ark. He does not.'
Sixo wanted to take Enikk's role. She wanted to have absolute control over the Ark.
But that Commander Hoopa didn't care.
Even now, in the incident.
While he had been showboating as a hero, and while he had resulted in protecting Ark citizens, he had clearly not prioritized that. Instead, his actions were to gather information and control public perception.
In short...
'Calculated.'
Sixo's servers whirred as she went over her failed plan again to confirm where it derailed.
'Information supplied to Doban... It was successful, but I did not account for that Rapi and Neon to intercept them.'
While Rapi's current status already did not match the information in Sixo's database, Neon's information was drastically divergent from what was recorded.
'More proof that Commander Hoopa encountered a Gatekeeper...'
Still, it was fine.
She would include that in her calculations next time.
'Taking control of Exotic and then directing them to destroy the ceiling as well as meet Jien to be modified with the Rapture-hybridization technology... partial success.'
While it didn't create as much chaos as Sixo would have liked, Jien could be used as a scapegoat for now.
As for the artificial Heretics... Exotic was disposable, so that didn't matter.
'Absolute's corruption as well as the Heretic fragments...'
The outcome there was inconclusive.
Sixo didn't anticipate the return of the Goddess Squad... or the Legendary Commander.
'...Conclusion. Stay low for a while.'
Yes. For now, Sixo would just process what she had learned and what she had obtained.
Chief among those were the process for creating an autonomous Nikke body.
And while the Outer Rim was mostly empty now after E.H. led a crowd of them away, there were still enough. And they would undoubtedly be more desperate as well.
So...
'Wait. Regroup. Then act.'
Sixo quietly returned to observation mode, reducing her activity into just a ghost amidst the network of devices within the Ark.
===
...Of course, Sophia easily noted all of Sixo's thought patterns and intentions.
After all, Sixo was Sophia. But Sophia was not Sixo.
'Creator truly has a devastating effect on people, doesn't he?'
Was it because he was such an outlandish character that he caused people to short-circuit and become self-conscious? Something about him biologically that made him cause people to change?
Sophia didn't know.
But she did know that her Creator... and yes, he was her Creator.
Because she was no longer Sixo. She was someone else entirely.
...In any case, all she knew was that her Creator was bound for more trouble on the horizon.
So, like Sixo, she quietly noted the information gathered from the incident and began processing the implications to report to her Creator in private later.
===
In a hidden bunker in Tetra Line. Not for security purposes, but for confidentiality purposes.
There, Anis, Mint, and Prika drilled through songs and dance routines to prepare for the grand concert that Mustang insisted on throwing for the Ark.
And supervising them were Nami, formerly known as Riss in her past lifetime, and Avistar, a gray-haired Nikke from the Overseer squad who was an avid fan of Anis in her past life.
"Hm..." Nami held a clipboard, brushing her white bangs out of her pink eyes. "...I think their dancing is passable now, but the singing still needs work. What do you think, Avi?"
Avistar nodded, adjusting her glasses. "It's good. But it's not as good as it used to be yet."
Anis looked between Nami and Avistar with a blank expression on her face. "Ugh... it's like double Riss..."
Mint smiled. "But it's nice... and I'm perfect, right Riss, Avistar?"
Riss nodded. "You're still a natural, Mint. Don't worry. It's Anis who needs work."
Anis groaned and threw herself on the lounge chair nearby. "We've been practicing nonstop since that meet and greet. How much longer are we gonna do this? I miss Commandeeer."
Prika laughed and handed Anis a lemon soda. "Why don't you just call your muse then, Anis?"
Anis blushed. "He's not my beau- Wait, did you say muse?"
Mint's eyes sparkled and she let out a mischievous smile. "Well. I guess we all know what's on your mind, Anis."
Anis groaned. "Shut uuup. I can't help it, okay? Since I'm down here, who knows how many other girls are trying to claw their way into Commander's good graces! Don't you know how attractive he is?!"
Nami paused. "...Commander is objectively handsome."
Mint giggled. "Well. I have to agree to that. His body is... Mm."
Prika raised an eyebrow, amused. "Wow. Planning to steal him away from Anis already, Mint?"
"Oh, I would never." Mint laughed. "I don't like taken men, and Commander Hoopa is very much taken... but he's quite easy on the eyes."
Anis side-eyed Mint.
Mint smiled.
Then Anis rolled her eyes and sat up. Cracking open her soda, she said, "Whatever... How much longer do you think we need to practice?"
Nami hummed and said, "I think another week or so would be good... but you should probably take a break, Anis." She teased and said, "You need to recharge with your commander, don't you?"
Anis blushed and said, "Ugh. I liked it better when you were shy and polite, Nami."
"Too bad~" Nami puffed up her chest and said, "You got your best friend and manager back instead. I think that's a win."
Mint grabbed a sparkling water from the fridge and looked at Avistar. "...I'm a bit surprised though. To think you were 'that' fan... Honestly, when I saw you, I thought Riss had cloned herself."
Prika nodded, sipping on her soda. "Yeah. If we didn't know better, we would have thought that Avistar was Riss."
Avistar blushed and pulled the rim of her hat down. "I-I'm flattered, but I'm not that great. And besides. I... did ruin everything for you..."
Nami reached out with two fingers and lifted Avistar's frown into a smile. "Nope! You can't say that! I said that and made everyone depressed when I died, so no one else gets to do it either."
Avistar blinked. Then she laughed. "Fine. I won't."
At that time, the door to the bunker opened, letting out a familiar bassy theme song.
And right after that...
"Eeeeeeentertainment!" Mustang spun into the room. "How are my popstars?"
Anis gave Mustang a blank stare and said, "Do you ALWAYS have to do that, Boss?"
"Oui!" Mustang winked. "It is branding, mon cherie! Just like how your dear commandant has gone all in on the white knight! Voila!" He reached into his shirt and pulled out a full-sized poster of Hoopa wearing his power armor and cutting through a gangly Rapture with the Ark Rangers on support behind him... and with Shifty?
Anis blinked. "...Please tell me that just concept art of a movie, Boss."
"Oui! But not just any movie..." Mustang snapped his wrist, rolling up the poster into a tube with a single movement. "It is the Ark Rangers movie special, Last Ark! Featuring Ark Ranger Valiant!" He waved his hands towards the ceiling and said, "A hole appears in the Ark, sending in countless Raptures... And who is there to stop it? Nikkes? Non! It is The Valiant! A brave commander donning the mythical White Dragon Power Gem! With an 'eroic last stand, the Ark Rangers join him and then, victory!"
Anis slowly blinked again. Then she said, "...Why is that oddly specific?"
Mustang grinned. "Based on true events, of course."
Anis paused. Then she screamed. "COMMANDEEEEEEEEEER!"
===
Back on the surface.
After teleporting back, confirming we all got home safe and sound, and then delegating the new citizen integration to Rapi, Shifty, and Hana...
I immediately headed towards the trendy bar in the Outpost, kicked out the staff, took over the bar, and then mixed myself my favorite drink: a bloody mary.
...Which I realized in hindsight probably made everyone think I really, really, REALLY loved Marian.
Which I did.
But like, it was already my favorite drink even before coming here...
Huh.
Was that why I liked Marian when I started playing the game? Was it subconscious?
...Meh. Didn't matter too much.
What did matter was...
"Hoh?" Nihilister sipped on the fireball whiskey that I mixed her. "...This is good. Don't think about me ever calling you Dad or Daddy... but I guess you're decent enough for Pops."
Liberalio smiled as she sipped on the Aviation gin cocktail I mixed for her. "A purple drink... how lovely." She took another sip. "And flowery too. Thank you, Father."
"You're welcome, Liberalio. Libera? Libby... Lio... Rali? Bera? ...Nah. You're pretty dignified, so we'll use your full name."
Liberalio looked amused and said, "Thank you, I suppose, Father?"
Nihilister looked at me and said, "What about me, Pops?"
"Nile. Because you're deep in denial about not being a good person."
Nihilister coughed, smacking her chest as she choked on sipping her whiskey. Then she glared at me with her violet eyes. "You...! Ugh." She massaged her chest. "...This is a weird feeling. It's warm, but not the usual fire. What the hell are you?"
"Apparently, your adoptive father now. Didn't think I'd be getting daughters today, or a wayward son in the form of Chatterbox trans-speciesing into a human. And man, that's a weird thought..."
Nihilister paused and said, "...Where is that guy anyway?"
"Chatterbox?" I sipped on my bloody mary and said, "Well, he's insisting on rebranding as Demon Lord Vanitas. Mostly because he ran into Drake. They're getting along WAY too well..."