-3: 127
The Commander's Office building.
Since the holidays were over and we were on a time schedule for announcing the Third Surface Reclamation war... at least, the Ark was, it was also important to sort out what our role was here at the Outpost.
Everyone else in the Brave Squad had gone off to get things sorted. Indi had gone off with Rapi and Marian, taking advantage of the fact that both were very much in full mom mode and wanted to spoil her.
Anis was... suspiciously absent. Neon, Endless, and Eternity had gone off to meet Sophia for some last minute tech debriefings or something...
Basically, I had a little bit of time for myself in my office before we convened in the war room to run through future plans.
And as I did, I got a text from... Siren?
It took me a moment to remember, but then I remembered that she was one of the Nikkes who returned with Yuni and Mihara. The second generation Grimms model too? And also who Liberalio and Nihilister had headed off with to help find her friends.
===
[Siren (Little Mermaid)]
Sorry to bother you, Commander! But do you think you could send some help over here? Libby and Nile are super helpful, but I think we need some technical assistance...
Thank you in advance!
-Siren
===
"Huh." I read the message again and did some thinking. "I wonder what they found over there?"
I was expecting them back by now, but it seemed like they ran into something...
Well, there was also that mysterious 'Levi' Heretic who popped up like a horror movie monster.
Still, I forwarded the message to Sophia, Syuen, and Maxwell. One of them would be able to help. Probably.
For now though...
I cracked open a melon soda and sat down by my desk, lost in thoughts.
"There's definitely a lot to do still..."
I hadn't heard anything from Dad or Burningum, so they were probably both busy sorting out things in the Ark. Mustang hadn't texted me other than a brief text thanking me for Pretty and to also get ready for the concert.
Ingrid was also pretty quiet. She texted me that she was fine though, and that she had some people she wanted me to meet later. Probably Rapi's friends from Absolute, if I had to guess.
But putting all of that aside, there were two major problems I need to resolve. Or rather, two major assets to rehabilitate: Viper and Jackal.
I was pretty sure that they were still under wraps. After all, there weren't any news about Heretics being sighted in the Ark. To the public, as far as they knew, it was just a series of new Rapture units.
Which, of course, was still pretty bad. But not 'oh my god the immortal murder bots keeping us alive are being corrupted into enemies of humanity' bad.
Though, I did have to say. Mustang was a god at PR relations and twisting the narrative.
I sipped on my soda and hummed. "Man. Being a legitimate Commander is actually hard."
I could barely keep in track all the different variables in my head at this point. Mostly because my mental RAM was being occupied by the slowly sprawling web of relationships that was taking over my life... but also because my default solution was usually 'get rid of the bad guys.'
"Ah, there's that issue too, huh?" I murmured, remembering the OTHER other issue: the lack of blood donors for in case of emergencies regarding my potential injuries.
I was still steadily stockpiling it bit by bit, but human blood regeneration definitely had a hard cap on it. Even if I ate properly and got the right nutrition.
It might get to the point where I was going to have to turn this into an RTS-game genre where I just started deploying multiple Guardian units with Nikke squads to achieve various objectives...
Clearly, I was just one person. I couldn't be everywhere physically.
But if I abstracted it and treated everything like a game through using a game interface with a mobile suit-
Mobile suit?
Mobile Gundam suit?
...Write that down.
At that time, I heard the front door open, followed by the usual chipper voices from Matis.
"It's about time! The villains and their forces will conquer the land! Right, Vanitas?"
"Of course, Lady Drake! The Demon Lord shall reclaim this territory from the pretenders and show them true evil!"
That was Drake and Vanitas (formerly known as Chatterbox).
"As if! The Heroes will reclaim the world from the Raptures and save everyone!"
"Yes. And with the power of my genius, everyone will one day become a hero! Ultra Hero Violet!"
"Ultra Hero Laplace!"
""Together, we will pave the way to the future!""
Aaand that was Laplace and Syuen.
I walked down to the lobby to see them gathered together.
And to see Syuen immediately turn a bright red and avert her gaze.
Seeing that, I teased her and said, "What's wrong, 'Baby?' Shy already?"
"STOOOOOOOP!" Syuen chucked a pillow from the nearby sofa at me.
"H-Huh?" Laplace turned to look and said, "Baby? ...OH MY GOSH! SYUEN! ARE YOU-"
"NO! MAYBE! SHUT UP!"
Drake cackled and then walked over to pat my shoulder. "The True Villain emerges!" She leaned over and whispered, "But be careful about child support. Even real villains can't get away with those."
Vanitas chuckled and ran his hand through his black hair. "As expected of the King I chose to follow. Already setting off on expanding the heirs and the royal bloodline."
I grabbed the cushion that Syuen tossed at me and said, "Glad to see you're all energetic. Considering we're going to start doing things soon, that's good."
Silence.
Syuen gave me a side-eye, turning a bright red.
Laplace gasped, blushing as well.
I gave them both a blank stare, realizing exactly where their minds went.
But thankfully Drake was on the right page as she pumped a fist in the air and said, "YES! We're finally going to go back out in the field and fight!"
Vanitas swung his arm out, smirking. "To reclaim land as a true Demon Lord... I will surely conquer a Demon Realm of my own."
I pointed at Vanitas and said, "You need to work more on your concept, but yes."
At that time, Neon showed up with Endless and Eternity. "We're back, Master! And we're ready to go!"
Endless let out an excited smile and said, "Finally. We can test the new weaponry."
Eternity looked excited too, hugging...
Was that a giant claymore? And not the sword?
I blinked and said, "Eternity... Why do you have a giant bomb? And PLEASE tell me that's inert?"
Eternity giggled and said, "Well. I did not want to blow anyone's mind with any revelations, but..."
"...Oh my god." I facepalmed. "...You got into stand up comedy archives, didn't you?"
Eternity hugged her claymore... which on second glance turned out to just be a giant plushy. Then she said, "Laughter is the cure to the soul and I refuse to ignore it."
At that time, Rapi, Marian, and Anis returned, Indi moving along between Rapi and Marian.
Anis let out a long sigh, pouting. "I can't believe that they're actually out of the injection... Is it really that popular for Nikkes to be able to have babies again?"
Rapi chuckled and said, "Considering your own reaction, Anis... yes."
Marian chuckled too and said, "Don't worry, Anis. You'll get your turn. It isn't like Commander doesn't love you. And besides! If you wait, then your baby will be spoiled a bunch!"
"...That's true... Still!"
I waved at them and said, "Welcome back."
Rapi nodded and said, "Of course, Commander." She took a look around and smiled. "It seems like our squad is growing quite a lot these days."
As if directly in response to her comment, the doors opened again and more people walked in.
Shifty, hugging a data tablet. Maxwell, walking beside her. Then Guilty and Sin, trailing behind both, followed by Rose.
Shifty quickly moved to my side, as if still scared I'd leave her behind.
Seeing that, I instinctively pulled her close and placed a hand over her shoulder. "Still worried, Shifty?"
"...Yes." Shifty fidgeted and said, "It's still weird, okay?"
Maxwell nodded as she walked forward. "Tell me about it. It's one thing to realize that I'm still alive and that Pipsqueak changed. And it's another to realize I'm sharing my head with what's basically my clone-daughter..." Her eyes flickered a bit with violet light before her demeanor shifted slightly. "Well, as long as we get to spend more time with Cutey, that doesn't matter, right?"
Guilty walked in and looked at me, a bright smile on her face, giving a shy wave. "G-Good morning, Commander..."
Sin walked in as well, her mask back on her face along with her fox-ear headbands. But she chuckled and said, "You certainly 'commanded' me well last night..."
Rose giggled. "Tell me about it. What a beast..."
I coughed, feeling my face heat up at all the implications. "Right. So, let's get things started, shall we-"
The doors opened one more time, revealing Ark Ranger Black. Her light blue hair was messy, tied up in a hasty ponytail, and she had thrown on a black hoodie. "S-Sorry I'm late! Boss said that I'm officially transferred here to the Brave Squad now after..." She blushed and then cleared her throat. "A-Anyway! Ark Ranger Black, reporting for duty!"
I sighed. "...It's going to be a mandatory fifteen plus minutes just orienting everyone in the future when we do meetings, isn't it?"
At that time, Indi hopped over held my hand. "Mmhm! Get used to it, Daddy. This isn't even all of the women you like, right? Plus, Big Sis Nile and Libby aren't here either."
I rubbed my face. "Right. I'll think about the horrors that logistics in my future will be later. For now..." I focused and looked at everyone. "Let's get down to brass tacks."