Nikke: Nullable Type

While Hoopa was busy finishing up his business at the Ark...

Andersen looked around the small airship being manned by a young woman with black hair and short twin-tails. Then, as he looked at her, he said, "You know. I've been thinking about this for a while, but there's a lot of overlap in Nikke physical features, isn't there?"

The young woman, Sora and the leader of the Over the Horizon squad, laughed and said, "Well, Deputy Chief, it can't be helped, right? Most girls all want to look pretty, so we all end up looking pretty once we become Nikkes."

Dorothy hummed. "You do make a good point, Commander... Goddess is pretty distinctive, but a lot of the Nikkes who came after us tend to fall into somewhat similar physical features."

Snow White adjusted the modified railgun anti-air material rifle she'd developed after comparing notes with Neon and Maxwell. Then she glanced over and said, "Does it matter, Commander? We're here on business."

Andersen rubbed the back of his neck. "Right, right. I was just curious." He looked out the window and glanced at everyone. "Since my dear son gave us all aerial maneuver gear, we're ready to handle Storm Bringer if that old bird shows up, right?"

Red Hood grinned. "Oh, we're ready." She adjusted the plasma drill add-on attached to her sniper rifle and said, "Omni-directional movement gear is ready to go, Boss."

Snow White sighed. "I still think it's a poor naming scheme to call it that when we all have drastically different implementations of aerial movement."

Rapunzel smiled, holding her staff. "I think it's a wonderful name! And our dear nephew was very thoughtful to lend us the resources to make them!"

Scarlet adjusted her hat, idly fiddling with the hilt of the flying sword she had. "Indeed. Tis a wondrous gift to be able to conquer the air itself in the clash against our foes."

Dorothy looked over at Snow White and gave her a once over before saying, "I forgot, Snow. How do you plan on handling the aerial movements? I don't see any wings or attachments..."

Snow White looked smug and said, "You won't. I attached anti-gravity modules within my prosthetics and my rifle. Technically, I'm magnetizing and unmagnetizing myself in the air to boost in certain directions. It also helps with dampening the force from my rifle."

Dorothy slowly blinked. "...So you're vaulting yourself through the air in continued blasts instead of just... floating?"

Snow White shrugged and said, "Some of us don't have the luxury of burning energy to utilize optical weaponry to generate wings of pure light, Dorothy."

Andersen chuckled and then looked towards the cargo bay, where Absolute was on stand by. "You girls alright back there?"

Eunhwa saluted and said, "Absolute, on standby. Condition optimal. Although..." She looked at Goddess and Andersen before saying, "...Are you really going to deploy in the air?"

Red Hood laughed. "Wouldn't be the first time."

Snow White sighed. "Regrettably... although we're much better equipped this time. The last time we did an aerial assault we were just falling."

Sora glanced over and said, "Well, you don't have to worry about that! Over the Horizon might not have access to the Wings of Liberty yet, but our navigation skills are top notch! Especially with Cielo and Sky on weapons!"

Andersen nodded. "That's good to hear. It'll help if we can get rid of Storm Bringer while we're out here too. If we can regain air travel, even in just a limited radius then-"

At that time, alarms blared from all over.

Sora's eyes widened and she quickly pulled up the radar. "High concentration of... Alva particles? And photons? Huh?"

Andersen frowned. "Alva particles and photons?" He walked towards the bridge to take a closer look. "Is the kid testing something new-?"

The moment the image cleared, Andersen froze.

It wasn't Storm Bringer. Not that ridiculous bird-inspired Rapture that looked like a mechanical bird from the heavens and crackling in lightning.

No.

It was a Nikke. Or at least, something that looked like a Nikke.

But not just any Nikke either.

Dorothy took in a sharp breath and said, "Is that... me?"

"No." Andersen slowly said. "Not you, Dorothy. But it looks like the Rapture Queen's been taking notes."

A beautiful woman that looked like a valkyrie who had fallen into darkness. Black wings with crimson energy. Instead of the lacy white dress that Dorothy usually wore, the mysterious Nikke had on black armor and leather. While the long pink hair was the same, a horned helmet covering the top half of her head obscured her face.

A black cloak with crimson underneath it fluttered in the wind behind her. And not only that, but a crimson array of pure light and crackling crimson lightning was surrounding the mysterious Nikke-

No.

The mysterious Heretic.

At that time, a female voice echoed, resonating from every sound system in the airship.

Cold, tyrannical, and yet strangely elegant. "My, my. To enter my territory so boldly. I am honored. But..." She slowly raised her hand, gathering the crimson lightning into a glowing crimson orb. "Such naughty children deserve to be put on time out."

"SHIELD! NOW!" Andersen shouted and then pulled open the hangar door. "Goddess! Get ready!"

The time of a single blink. No, less than that.

In that span of time, pure crimson light washed over the ship, sending it flying back even as their shields held firm.

Dorothy grit her teeth, fury clear in her eyes. "That damned Queen dares to copy me?! ME?!"

Snow White grabbed her gear and jumped out of the hangar. "Be mad later, Dorothy! Fight first!"

Scarlet jumped out next, landing on her flying sword. After that, she drew her crimson blade, Fleetly Fading, and said, "For the Queen to send a copy of our own... T'would appear that she has admitted we possess superior forces."

Red Hood laughed as she hopped out with a burst of flames from her boots, floating in the air with jet rockets. "Damned straight we're superior!"

Rapunzel floated out with a set of golden wings as she held her staff. And though a smile was on her face, her eyes were frosty as she looked at the unknown Heretic. "To copy one of our own... The Rapture Queen has crossed the line."

Andersen jumped out next, flipping through the air and transforming before landing on a floating hoverbike. Then he turned back and said, "Over the Horizon! Absolute! You're on Overwatch! Goddess, with me!"

After shouting those orders, he revved his bike and flew straight towards the unknown Heretic.

Seeing that, the Heretic laughed. A completely cheesy villainess laugh. "Ohohoho! To approach me without a hint of fear... Very well! I, Absurdia, shall receive your challenge!" She spread out her arms, causing crimson circles to appear all over, along with orbs of crackling crimson energy. "Shall we play for a while, Humans?"

Andersen pulled out his pistol, loaded with Vapaus bullets, and said, "Goddess Squad... Encounter!"

And then the skies became a hellscape of crimson light bullets.

===

It was a ridiculous display of power.

Andersen ducked and wove around the crackling orbs of light as he tried to land a shot on the Heretic that called herself Absurdia. But...

"Dammit! She's just as fast as you, Dorothy!"

Dorothy flew through the air in a white flash, sending her own beams of light at Absurdia while also firing Pinne, sending bursts of golden bullets at the Heretic. "I AM AWARE!"

Even so, Absurdia just let out a musical laugh, idly twirling in the air as if dancing. "Is this all?" She smiled and said, "Come now, you cannot truly be telling me that this is all the famous Goddess Squad amounts to?" Her black wings fluttered around her, sending black feathers scattering as she moved.

Scarlet waited and then shot forward in a burst of speed to swing her sword.

At the same time, Red Hood rushed down at Absurdia from above while Snow White launched an attack from below. A three-pronged flank meant to pin her down. But...

"Futile." Absurdia smiled and waved her hand, causing crimson lightning to crackle and intercept every attack while sending a blast of crimson light back at Scarlet.

"Tsk." Scarlet shifted her slash to a parry and let the attack send her flying back. "Fighting in the air truly is a novel experience... But how unfortunate." She called out to Andersen. "Commander! I do believe that my skills are useless here!"

Andersen kept trying to take potshots at Absurdia, only for her to idly flick the bullets out of the way with her fingers. "Tell me about it!"

Even so, while they weren't making any marks on Absurdia, Andersen was wracking his mind to take notes.

'The Heretic hasn't moved towards our ship at all. And she isn't actively attacking either.'

Was it a sense of pride? Or did the Rapture Queen copy Dorothy too thoroughly?

Either way, Absurdia hadn't moved much from her initial position, instead just floating there with a smile on her face as she watched Goddess attack.

At that time, Rapunzel clasped her hands together and said, "Oh, Lord. Lend your strength and bind this Heretic." With those words, golden light flashed and enveloped Absurdia.

Even so, Absurdia didn't move or looked troubled. Instead, she just held up her hands at the golden light, amused. "Interesting... Is it an interference pattern? I suppose it would work on lesser beings. But for a child crafted by the Queen herself..." She clenched her hands and the golden light shattered. "It's futile."

Dorothy floated next to Andersen, her left eye twitching. "...Commander. Please tell me I do not act like this in combat."

"I won't tell you."

Dorothy's eye twitched more. Then she looked at Absurdia and floated forward. "You there. Did you say your name was Absurdia?"

Absurdia smiled, turning to face Dorothy. "I did. And you must be Lady Dorothy... Mother used quite a great deal of your battle data to create me. Of course, I am far superior in output and capability."

"Is that so?" Dorothy smiled.

Absurida looked smug. "Of course." She held up her hand and started counting off. "Firepower, aerial maneuverability, personality, assets..."

Dorothy's eye twitched. "...Assets?"

Absurdia smiled. "Indeed." She gestured towards her chest and rear before doing a slow twirl. "As you can see... I am superior even in aesthetics to your droll appearance."

Andersen bit back a laugh before managing to say, "Oh no."

Snow White let out a blank stare at Absurdia. "...Someone tell me that I am imagining this."

Red Hood floated over to Snow White and shook her head. "Nope. Looks like she's serious, Snow."

Scarlet and Rapunzel floated closer too.

Rapunzel hummed and said, "She's not wrong. The Heretic does have more... comely curves."

Dorothy snapped her head back to glare at Rapunzel.

Scarlet chuckled and said, "Tis the truth, but need you say it so clearly, Rapunzel?"

"What?" Rapunzel smiled. "I am dutybound to tell the truth."

Absurdia spread her hands out and said, "As you can see, combat against me is useless. The sky is my domain." She smirked and said, "Rest in peace knowing that your inferior nature is-"

*SMACK*

Absurdia froze, a red handprint blooming on her cheek.

Everyone else froze too.

Except for Dorothy.

Without another word or even warning, Dorothy rushed forward and grabbed Absurdia, slapping her again and again. "You arrogant brat! Daring to say you're better than me while wearing my face and copying my entire aesthetic...!"

"W-What in the world?! You dare- OW!"

"YOU DARE!" Dorothy slapped her again. "Heretic or not, to copy me in entirety and to have the GALL to say you are better when you are simply a derivative...!" She punched Absurdia's gut, making the Heretic gasp for air.

"W-Wait...! You...!" Absurdia squirmed, trying to break free.

But Dorothy had Absurdia in a death grip, as well as a death spiral, headed towards the ground. All the while, she was throwing haymaker after haymaker, slugging Absurdia's face.

Red Hood cheered. "You go, Doro! Show her who the real one Boss Girl is!"

Snow White facepalmed. "I *cannot* believe this is working."

Andersen slowly blinked. Then he shrugged and tossed his pistol down to Dorothy. "Dorothy. Catch."

After a few seconds, Dorothy caught the pistol and aimed it at Absurdia's neck.

Absurdia's breath hitched. "Y-You would not dare! This is inelegant! Brutish!"

Dorothy let out a harsh laugh and said, "This is war you cheap copying whor-"

*schnick*

Before Dorothy could pull the trigger, a flash of silver emerged, severing the pistol in half.

At the same time, a gust of wind swept across the area and forced Dorothy away.

"What?! You cheating-!"

Before Dorothy could complain more, Scarlet suddenly dove and swung her sword to intercept.

A loud clang echoed, followed by sparks.

And then when the force died down, there was someone new there standing beside Absurdia.

A beautiful woman with glittering white armor. Eyes that were a pure silver, with the only hints that she was a heretic in the crimson circuity across her mechanical body. In her right arm, a two-handed claymore sword with a shining white gem. And then, sitting atop her head, a bamboo straw hat, vaguely reminiscent of Scarlet's.

"Tis quite amusing, dearest sister. Mother did warn you to not be too hasty in pursuing conflict against the Goddess Squad."

Absurdia floated up beside the mysterious Nikke- No, Heretic. "Silence, Egovista. I was doing fine."

"Thou wouldst call thine current state 'fine', Sister? When thy jade skin is marked crimson with blooming marks of another's hand?" Egovista let out a faint smile, subtly moving between Absurdia and the Goddess Squad.

Scarlet did the same, moving in front of Dorothy. Her usually relaxed demeanor was sharp, her blade pointed directly at Egovista. "...Another Heretic. Modeled after myself? No, from that armor and blade... From our nephew as well?"

Egovista reached up to idly tip her hat and said, "Greetings, Lady Scarlet. Tis an honor to meet my senior in the way of the blade. However, a battle in the heavens as such would be far from a proper measure of our skill." She grabbed Absurdia under one arm and looked up at Andersen. "Thou seeketh the Wings of Victory, perchance? Thou art near. But the Foul of Lightning and Death guards it hence. T'would be in thine best interests to reconvene and prepare properly."

Absurdia struggled and said, "Egovista! Are you helping the enemy?!"

Egovista laughed. "Helping? Nay, Sister." She smiled calmly at the Goddess Squad and Andersen. Then she said, "I am simply throwing them a thin gossamer thread of hope. It cannot be a fight if the enemy lacks a chance at victory, yes?"

Absurdia paused. Then she put on a smug look and said, "I suppose that is true." She crossed her arms and looked at the Goddess Squad. "I am feeling magnanimous today. Since this is our first encounter, I will let it slide. Go do as you wish. But next time." Her eyes flashed a bloody crimson hue. "Next time, I will not simply stand there and let you attack."

Egovista tipped her hat again and said, "Adieu, brave Humans." After that, she vanished in a blur of shadows, followed quickly by Absurdia.

Andersen was quiet. Then he slowly said, "...So. We all agree that we underestimated the Rapture Queen's ability to steal the kid's homework, right?"