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I held Indi's left hand with my right hand as we walked down Royal Road.
Indi let out a bright smile, swinging her pumpkin basket full of candy. "I got lots and lots, Daddy!"
"You definitely did, Sweetie."
Indi giggled. "Sweetie~ Is that because I'm sweet as candy today, Daddy? Because I will be if it gets me more candy like from that nice old lady earlier!"
I laughed along with Indi, remembering just how much of a con artist she was. "Well, partially." As I said that, I glanced around the surroundings.
The Ark Rangers were on patrol, having returned to the Ark to film parts of their next movie. It seemed like Black, Red, and Blue were taking a breather by doing hero duties at the moment.
Probably because there were so many people around today for the Halloween festivities.
Ark Ranger Black was chatting with a pair of twin boys wearing matching white hoodies and black pants.
One of the boys handed a gold card for Ark Ranger Black to sign, a bright smile on his face.
Ark Ranger Black gave him a warm smile and signed the card. But then she noticed me and turned a bright red, looking like she couldn't decided whether to wave or ignore me.
So I made the decision for her by walking around the corner with Indi.
And the moment I did...
"COMMANDER!?"
...Of course I would bump into Anis. Who was... dressed like a succubus?
I blinked and then tilted my head, seeing Mint wearing a witch outfit and VERY much looking mischievous, Prika wearing a werewolf outfit and looking amused, Nami dressed in a princess gown, and then a Nikke who I didn't recognize. One with her gray hair done up like Chun Li's with two buns, violet eyes, glasses, and... well, wearing Chun Li's outfit with a blue Chinese dress thingy and black tights.
Anis turned a bright red and immediately lunged at me, covering her eyes. "YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO SEE ME YEEEET!"
===
"So, after finishing your dress rehearsal, T.T. Star decided to go costume shopping for the Halloween Gala tonight. And you lost a dare to wear a sexy succubus outfit, which just happened to be when I showed up, Anis?"
Anis shoved a donut into her mouth and grumbled. "Yeah. Ugh, this is so embarrassing..."
After the random encounter, Anis had shoved on a yellow hoodie over her revealing succubus outfit as well a pair of oversized sweatpants.
Because she looked ready to literally throw hands with her fellow idols, I had stolen Anis away from T.T. Star to unwind in a nearby cafe with me and Indi.
And speaking of Indi...
"One. Two. Three..."
...She had taken offense at the hot chocolate I ordered for her being too watery and was dropping entire bars of chocolate into her cup.
I wanted to say something about it. Mostly that it would make it taste worse.
But some lessons had to be learned the hard way.
Anis picked up another donut from the platter I'd ordered for her. Then she said, "So why are you in the Ark today, Commander?"
"Commander?" I teased. "You can call me Hubby, you know?"
Anis turned a deep scarlet and said, "COMMANDER!"
Indi nodded. "You can call Daddy 'Hubby.' But no calling him Daddy. That's weird."
Anis turned even more red and just shoved another donut in her mouth.
Seeing that, I felt the urge to make a certain joke... but I was with Indi, so I refrained.
Instead, I said, "How's the practice coming along? Is it time for me to make my debut as the closing act yet?"
Anis wiped her mouth with a napkin and sipped on a caramel mocha. Then she said, "We're pretty much ready. Boss said he was going to have us do the concert this month, but he wants to debut the Ark Rangers movie first, so we'll probably do it at the end of next month."
"November, huh? No, I guess the best time would be Thanksgiving then?"
Anis nodded. "Mmhm. And then I think he said they want to declare 'the thing' before Christmas so that people have something to look forward to, but also so we can stall since, you know, snow and everything."
My eyes lit up. "Smart."
If the Third Surface Reclamation War was announced on Thanksgiving, people's morales would skyrocket through Christmas. Then we could drip information while taking our sweet time on the Surface to ramp things up until spring where we'd go in full force.
"Yep!" Anis smiled. "So that means you get to be a normal commander for once and just pencil push until the new year's over with."
"Ugh, don't remind me." I sighed and sipped my black coffee. "There's so much stuff I wanna to do on the Surface. So many places to see... But I guess there's nothing wrong with taking the backstreet."
Anis nodded. "Yeah, there's nothing-" She froze and then laughed. "Did you just quote Shrek at me?!"
"Maybe?"
Anis leaned across the table and nipped my chin with a kiss. "You're so goofy. I love that about you though." She gave me a soft smile.
I smiled back and kissed her properly on the lips. "And you're such a hard worker. I adore that about you."
Anis blushed, but she let out a happy smile. "Well... It's a bit annoying since that means I get less time with you. And don't get me started on the revolving door of your bedroom..." She wrinkled her nose, feigning annoyance. "...You're lucky I'm not the jealous type."
I nodded seriously. "It's good that you aren't. Because Mustang would DEFINITELY send people after me if you got upset."
Anis laughed and placed her elbow on the table, smiling at me. "Worried about Boss, hm? Did he scare you the last time, oh brave hero?"
"Scare me? No. He concerns me. Because that guy knows I'm weak to certain types of women and Tetra Line is FILLED with beautiful women who would be completely devoted and loving."
Anis froze. Then her golden eyes flashed. "...Okay. I lied. I AM the jealous type. No two bit Tetra girl is putting her hands on my man without my approval."
Indi sipped on her upgraded hot chocolate and nodded. "You tell them, Mommy Anis."
Anis froze. Then she completely melted, letting out a giddy smile as she reached over to ruffle Indi's hair. "Okay, definitely like you, Kid."
Indi looked smug and said, "Of course! I'm the bestest- I mean, best daughter! Better than Libby and Nile!"
I chuckled and said, "You try saying that again when they're here, Indi. Have you learned how to fly yet?"
Indi paled. "J-Just kidding. Y-You wouldn't let them drag me into the sky, right, Daddy?"
"Mm~ If you're a good girl."
"I'M A GOOD GIRL!"
Anis rolled her eyes and said, "You're a terrible father."
"Terribly effective. Also, I blame Pops. I've been chatting with him too much recently. We're bad influences on each other."
Anis ate another donut and said, "It's still weird to think that serious Deputy Chief we met after the first mission is such a goofball."
"Well, losing your wife does that to you." I nodded. Then I paused and quickly knocked on the table.
Anis noticed and raised an eyebrow. "What was that for?"
"Breaking a flag. And generational curse."
"???"
"Anyway... So." I leaned forward and whispered into her ear. "Are you giving me a trick, or a treat tonight in bed?"
Anis turned a deep scarlet and smacked my arm. "COMMANDER!"
I laughed. "You didn't deny it~"
Anis huffed and said, "We are NOT talking about that around a kid."
Indi rolled her eyes and said, "I may be child-like, but I was a mature woman before this! I know about sex! It's icky though, so talk about it when I'm not around."
Anis blinked. Then she gave me a blank stare.
"What?"
Anis rolled her eyes. "I'm going to need to keep a close eye on our kid..."
"...Our kid?"
Anis blushed. "Th-That's... U-Um..." She fidgeted and then lowered her gaze. "...Shut up. A girl can dream, okay?"
"Well, if you really want to, I think Sophia figured out a way."
"...What?"
===
Yuni giggled, poking her belly. "Is it real? Really real? Me and Mihara's?"
Sophia adjusted her silver hair and nodded. "It appears so. Your original bodies already possessed close to perfect internals due to Syuen's designs..." She paused. "...Which has strange implications. But it seems that we closed the gap. So... congratulations."
Yuni giggled and then jumped up to hug Mihara. "Mihara! We'll be Mommies!"
Mihara smiled and gently kissed Yuni's cheek. "Good girl~"
Yuni giggled again.
Sophia watched it and quietly murmured, "Humans are strange."
===
Meanwhile, at a certain Crystal Region.
Siren hugged a bubble version of Abe and Cinderella, watching as Liberalio, Nihilister, and a strange humanoid Rapture they called 'Wolfie' took point, chatting and converting more Raptures they came across while fighting the ones who refused to listen.
Liberalio hummed as she watched how some of the Raptures were laced with crystals, having adapted to them. "Father would be interested in these."
Nihilister nodded. "Yeah." She picked up a crystal, watching with amusement as it tried to wrap around her, only to be absorbed by her instead. "It's like a free energy pack. Weird."
Wolfie finished talking with a crablike crystal Rapture and then glanced back. "Friend Raptilion theorized that these crystals are the planet's immune response to Raptures. They seek energy sources and devour them."
Siren edged away from the ominous crystals and said, "Is... it okay? To be around these dangerous things?"
Liberalio nodded and said, "We are fine, Miss Siren. Although I do not know why, I do believe all those that belong to Father do not need to fear these crystals."
Nihilister broke another chunk and chewed on it. When she did, her violet eyes flickered green for a bit before she burped, letting loose a blast of emerald fire, melting a bit of the wall. "...Hoh~?"
"...As you can see." Liberalio waved at Nihilister. "You have nothing to fear. Now." She smiled. "Shall we continue in pursuit of your friends?"
"Y-Yes! Um..." Siren set down her bubble version of Abe and Cinderella and said, "Please, go find Abe and Cinderella?"
The bubble versions of Abe and Cinderella gave salutes to Siren. Then they started toddling off.
===
The depths of the Outer Rim. At an abandoned laboratory.
Jien... or the broken shell of what remained of Jien after Red Shoes removed herself from Jien's mind.
She bit her fingernails while staring at the two Nikkes that Sixo had provided her to turn into Heretics.
Jien stared at the first, one with crimson hair and emerald eyes, wearing a thing fishnet suit. Then she looked at the other, a bubbly looking Nikke with blonde hair with pink highlights.
Logey and Liveryn.
"...The quality is low. But..." Jien stared at the blueprints that Sixo had provided as well. The last mementos of her cute sister Syuen before 'that thing' killed her and took her face.
The overspec designs of Matis and Syuen's genius in designing them.
Jien carefully studied the logic behind them all and let out a mad smile. "It's Halloween, right? Last time, nothing happened. I didn't think the Goddesses would return. But... I think I can make a nice trick happen tonight." She giggled. Then she laughed. And then that laughed turned into sobs as Jien's fractured mind swirled around the fact that Syuen had been killed and replaced by 'that thing' just like she had been.