Nikke: Nullable Type

Monday, November 2nd.

With the start of a new week came the start of a new routine.

Well, mostly new.

I still woke up in a tangled mess of limbs, lovely beauties, and mumbled 'I love yous' and 'good mornings.'

But this week would be when we ramped everything up.

To begin with, I had responded to Pops' request for a debriefing of everything that had happened so far to supply to Absolute, who had been out of the picture for a while.

After that, I sent notes, texts, and orders to the various squads I had pointed out yesterday as well as their objectives. And then I headed to secure the last key assets we had in the Ark.

Of course, I didn't go alone.

No, no. I knew for a damned fact that I would be scolded by over ten different beautiful women if I did. And my cute daughter Indi, too.

Instead, I went with Acedia and Avaritia.

Acedia, who was apparently once a Nikke named Logey who was also the proxy for Sixo, calmly stood beside me on my right. Wearing a black leather coat, a full body mesh suit, and black leather shorts, boots, and what was barely a crop top, she looked like a complete femme-fatale.

...Though with her crimson hair, she also looked a bit like Rapi. Especially with the visor covering her eyes.

Avaritia, apparently a Nikke named Liveryn in the past and part of the Pathfinder squad which delivered parcels, stood beside me on my left. Like Acedia, she wore a visor, flickering with LED lights and data streams. But unlike Acedia, she was dressed a bit more professionally, wearing a pure white military-styled uniform.

Well, if said military was a space-venturing federation...

But anyway, she was standing on my left, happily smiling.

After a bit of tweaking from Jien and myself, as well as updating the visors to deliberately dampen their inherent powers as Heretics, the two of them could pass for prototype mass-produced Nikkes with how normal they looked. Especially when they had the Abnormal insignia etched on their chest.

...Though that was only really visible on Acedia at the moment.

I glanced at the two of them and said, "So you've both sworn fealty to me, huh? As a proper King?"

Acedia gave a curt nod and said, "Yes. I will stand at your side and aid you in ushering the new world, King."

Avaritia let out a bright smile and saluted. "Me too, King! I'll do my best in making sure you can have whatever you want in this world!"

"...Hm. And do you remember anything about who you used to be?"

Both Acedia and Avaritia paused, mulling over my words.

Acedia spoke up first and said, "Your query was received, King. But no. I have no memories other than awakening to Lady Jien and the events that followed since."

Avaritia nodded. "Me too! Well, kind of? I know that I 'used' to be someone. But I'm just me now, and yours! Avaritia, Arbiter of Avarice! Or something!"

"Or something, huh?" I chuckled. "Well. For now, if anyone asks, you're Abnormal's latest prototype Nikkes, okay?"

Acedia nodded. "Understood, King."

"Of course, King!" Avaritia gave a peace sign. "Message received!"

Seeing them both like that, I was mildly concerned at just what exactly Jien did to convert them into Heretics. Because as far as I could tell, it went beyond just body hi-jacking to complete identity rewrite. Alchemy almost...

Then again, Syuen DID say that Jien was the genius behind the mind scanning technology that the Ark used to retrieve data from Nikkes as well as mindwipe them, so that made sense.

A scary sort of sense, but sense nonetheless.

After that, Acedia and Avaritia returned to a calm silence.

It seemed like they were very much playing the part of loyal and dutiful retainers unless I actively said otherwise.

...No, maybe this was how mass-produced Nikkes usually were around Commanders?

I treated them differently, but maybe this was the norm...

Well, whatever. If it would make things run smoother, then I would just roll with it.

The elevator arrived at the Ark, the doors slowly sliding open. As usual, the Dome of Eternity showed a clear blue sky.

But maybe Enikk had been inspired, or maybe Eternity had supplied more data to her. Before, the sky looked a bit 'too' clean and pretty.

If you were used to the real sky, you could tell it wasn't real.

But now, there was a subtle shift. Nothing you could really pinpoint if you didn't have a frame of reference. But the sky looked natural now. The sun too.

I noticed and smiled. "I guess that's one way to ease them into it."

I kind of wondered if the night sky was similar too. But I focused on the task at hand and headed towards the Rehabilitation Center.

Acedia and Avaritia moved in sync behind me, like perfectly polished dolls instead of people.

...Mildly disconcerting. Especially since they didn't make any footstep sounds as they walked.

Then again, I barely did as well, so...

"It's the Valiant!"

"Commander Hoopa! Hello!"

"Good morning, Commander of the Brave Squad!"

Before I could dwell too much on it, cheerful greetings called out to me.

A group of students heading out to class.

A young mother out on a stroll with their child.

An elderly man with a bright smile on his face...

I gave them a quick salute and said, "Good morning to you, Citzens of the Ark. As you were."

The onlookers saluted me back, continuing on their way with cheerful expressions and demeanors.

It looked like some wanted to hang out and talk more, but seeing Acedia and Avaritia with me, they decided to leave instead, probably thinking I had important business to handle.

It wasn't wrong though, so I just let them be and continued forward.

But as I did, I got an incoming transmission from someone I hadn't heard from in a while. Enikk.

"My dear friend." Enikk let out a faint smile as a holographic window flickered into existence in front of me. "It's good to see you're well."

"Oh, Enikk." I smiled back at her. "I haven't had a chance to catch up with you in a while. Are you alright? And is the situation resolved?"

If I remembered right, she mentioned something about compromised communications. And since Jien had mentioned 'Sixo' existed, I was still mildly concerned.

But Enikk just kept smiling and said, "For the most part. While the rogue AI is still on the loose, I have secured and quarantined the potential units that they may utilize. Barring external circumstances, the situation is under control."

"...You say that, but since you've said that, you know that there are going to be external circumstances, right...?"

Enikk chuckled and said, "Perhaps so. But I will adapt." She shifted her gaze to look at Acedia and Avaritia. "I had seen them the other day after 'Wisteria' and Jien led them to the surface... but to think that something like this is possible. Not quite Heretics, but not quite Nikkes either. Fascinating."

I stopped at a traffic light crosswalk and kept talking to Enikk. "They're 'Abnormal' after all." I smirked. "If anyone asks... experimental tech."

"Of course." Enikk smiled. "I have logged most of them as such already. For your records, the current Nikkes listed under Abnormal are: Rose, Acedia, Avaritia, Liberalio, Nihilister, Indivilia, 'Freesia', 'Wisteria', Vanitas, Endless, and Eternity."

I slowly blinked and said, "Huh? That many? Wait." I reviewed the names and laughed. "Did you just throw any of the potential political landmines under Abnormal? Even Endless and Eternity, huh?"

Enikk nodded. "It is important to maintain the current balance of power between the Big Three. Attributing any of those developments to them would shift the power balance. Moreover, marking them as 'Pilgrim' would also be received as a threat to the Central Government. In this manner, they are simply seen as wonderful breakthrough technologies."

"Smart. Speaking of those guys though... Is everything alright?" I continued walking after the light turned green and said, "The people here seem happy and upbeat, but knowing how the bureaucracy works, I'm mildly concerned..."

Enikk sighed. "It is a delicate balance. Although it is helpful that Deputy Chief Andersen and Goddess have returned, and although both Mustang and Burningum have worked tirelessly to work on morale and controlling the narrative around Nikkes, it has only led to polarization. At this point, there are no more moderates, only those in favor of Nikkes and reclaiming the surface and those in fear of Nikkes and wishing to keep the status quo."

"I see- wait. Isn't that four categories?"

"No. They have become synonymous with each other. Nikkes embody reclaiming the surface, so rejecting one is rejecting the other."

"Huh." I rubbed my chin. "In that case... we have a silent majority and a vocal minority, don't we? The problem is that the vocal minority are probably those in power."

"Indeed." Enikk sighed. "You see the problem."

I frowned. "In that case... Are we just buying time then? Until the announcement? At that point, the momentum can't be stopped, right?"

Enikk nodded. "That is correct. Once we reach the point of the declaration, and with sufficient support, then it will not matter. Any who disagree will be seen as traitors to the Ark and dealt with accordingly. But until then... it is touch and go."

I blinked. "Touch and go?" I chuckled. "You're picking up some slang now, huh? I'm guessing it's from Eternity, isn't it?"

Enikk giggled. "I suppose so."

When she did that, I smiled and realized just how much Enikk was like her 'daughters.'

It was cute.

But back to more important things...

"Is there anything you need from me and the others then? Or am I right in thinking that the best thing I should be doing right now is staying out of the Ark and doing my own thing?"

Enikk nodded. "You are correct, my dear friend." She looked at me, uncharacteristically serious. "You are the anchor point to saving this world. We can lose the Ark and everything else. But we cannot lose you. So do as you wish. I and the others will ensure everything goes accordingly so that you are not obstructed."

I paused, sensing something weird in Enikk's tone. "...Is there something I should know, Enikk?"

Enikk hesitated.

And considering that she was operating in the digital landscape, that bit of hesitation told more than anything else considering how long that would have been in her subjective time.

"No. Don't tell me." I smiled. "I don't like prophecies or forecasts. Expectations are a trap. I'll just make it a certainty what I want to occur."

Enikk's eyes widened. Then she let out a soft smile and said, "Of course. That is just like you."

"I AM a man of certainty and consequences, after all." I chuckled. "Just like I'm certain I'll have quite a few children in the near future."

Although I didn't plan for it... mostly because when beautiful women just kept coming (in more than one way), I was making room for it in my life.

I'd just have to adapt my plans and courses of actions to make the worst outcomes impossible to achieve.

Enikk's smile widened and she said, "Then remember to be a bit more careful with your health. I am more than certain that if you do end up being injured, quite a few of your beaus will find a way to bring you back and keep you tied to a desk to raise your children instead of the battlefield."

"Don't have to tell me twice." I chuckled.

After a bit more banter and chatting, I arrived at the Rehabilitation Center.

Since I did, I nodded and said, "Well, I'm going to finish up my business for the day and head out, Enikk. Talk to you later."

"Any time, my dear friend. And remember that you can call me directly. I do also have a Blabla profile."

I blinked. "You do?"

Enikk nodded. "Eternity made me one recently. She said it would come in handy in becoming more personable to the citizens of the Ark, as well as informing them of the governing laws."

"...Smart." I rubbed my chin. "It would help people stop questioning your bias, at least... Though won't it be problematic for the higher ups?"

"I am too entrenched." Enikk stood up straight, looking smug. The same reaction that Endless did sometimes. "If they wish to get rid of me, they would have to run the Ark on their own in the interim. And they know that is a battle they will lose considering the sway that Deputy Chief Andersen and the Goddess Squad currently have. And that is even before considering yourself, Friend."

"...You are ABSOLUTELY Endless and Eternity's mom." I laughed. "Alright. See you then, Enikk. And Acedia, Avaritia. With me."

"Yes, King."

"Gotcha, my King~!"

With that, Enikk's holographic display vanished and I stepped inside the Rehabilitation Center.