Fuuto.
The Windy City.
A beautiful metropolis with a sinister underbelly. Home to criminals and psychopaths who have access to truly frightening devices known as gaia memories. With these compact devices and a grafted access point on the user's skin, even the weakest of individuals could gain literally monstrous powers. That said, acquiring them isn't an easy feat...unless you have a few connections. A man wearing an all-white uniform quietly made his way down one of the city's many back alleyways , in his grasp a small black briefcase. The full moon shown down as he reached the alley's end, which lead to a wide-open parking lot type of area. He looked around, as if checking to see if anyone was there.
"I assume that you are all present. Based on what I read from our records on you, I know for a fact that you people aren't exactly the type to be late."
As soon as he finished, four figures suddenly appeared within the shadows. The lone female-looking one of the group stepped forward into the moonlight. She was dressed in a surprisingly revealing black leather one piece, complete with matching thigh-high boots and forearm-length gloves. She wore a flowing black cape with red lining, its collar large and pointed. Her silverish hair glowed in the moonbeams, tied up in an elegant sidetail while the rest was bunched up in tight buns that hung by her neck. Her eyes were concealed in a simple black domino mask and a small gold crown sat on her head. She smiled slyly as the man bowed his head in respect. "Lady Arsene. It is an honor."
"My, what a respectful greeting." Arsene crossed her arms. "I never expected a group like Foundation X to have such gentlemanly employees."
"It is only customary for us to know our subjects inside and out. That also goes for your cohorts as well. Mister Stone River..." A second figure stepped out of the shadow. It was a very stern-looking man wearing a vest that looked suitable for combat, a spade patch on its lower right side. His hair was tied back in a small ponytail and in his hand he held a sheathed katana. "Hmph..."
"...Mister Twenty..." The next to stroll out from the darkness was a well-dressed man in a white suit, complete with black gloves and boots, a black top hat and a monocle on his left eye. His smiled oozed of self-centered lust as he adjusted his hat. "What a lovely labcoat. White looks much better on me, though."
"...and Mister Rat." The final member of the group stepped out with a smirk. The shortest of the quartet, the boy also wore the most casual outfit consisting of a grey dress shirt, red and black shorts held up by similarly colored suspenders and a black and red skullcap with cat-like ears. The end of his hair was tied up in a rat tail. He smuggishly crossed his arms behind his head. "You can tell this guy read up on us. He actually bothered to get my name right."
"My apologies, I haven't formally introduced myself yet. I am Kazu Jun, a researcher of Foundation X. We specialize in researching and experimenting on the...potentials...of certain types of energy sources and materials." He held up his briefcase and undid the clasps on the front. "This is one type of source we look into." Jun opened the case to reveal four USB devices, each with its own letter emblazoned on their faces. Also included was a small pistol-like device that looked like it could be used in the medical field. "These are gaia memories. Small devices that hold an amazing amount of power."
"Heeeh?" Twenty eyed the devices with nothing but doubt, picking up the D-labeled memory. "Power? These things look like they came out of a gachapon machine."
"Do not let your eyes fool you." Arsene spoke, picking up her own N memory. "From what I've seen, these are definitely a force to be reckoned with." Stone River quickly strutted up to her side, taking the P memory. "Arsene-sama...you've seen these before?"
"I have. I was the one who contacted Foundation X, after all. It's only natural that I'd look into what interests me."
"You are as smart as I imagined, Lady Arsene." Jun responded, turning to the male trio. "We have been in contact for a few weeks now. It seems, when it comes to gaia memories, that we have an equal set of interests."
"Oh yeah? How about explaining what that means instead of keeping the rest of us in the dark then." Rat huffed, taking the last remaining memory in the case, marked with an M.
"Gladly. May I first start out by saying that I find it very intriguing that you each happened to pick up the gaia memory we have specifically chosen for you. We have studied each of your abilities. Or 'Toys' as you seem to call them." Jun spoke calmly, yet coldly. Almost completely void of emotion. "You four shall be Foundation X's newest test subjects in the study of gaia memories."
"Test subjects?!" Stone River began to unsheathe his sword. "The Gentleman Thief Empire, especially Arsene-sama, are no one's guinea pigs! We did not agree to this!"
"I did." Arsene's arm blocked Stone River's way, easing him out of his offensive stance.
"What?! B-But Arsene-sama-!"
"Relax. This experiment may actually be a pioneering achievement in the world of Phantom Thieves. Remember what he just said: Each memory was chosen based on our Toys. You realize what that could mean for us, don't you?"
"Uuuuh...Sorry to sound dense, but...I don't really get it." Rat scratched his head. Twenty nodded in agreement. "As much as it pains me to say, my beautiful mind just can't wrap itself around any of this! The poor thing..." He removed his top hat in order to pat his own head.
Jun took the moment to explain further. "Each of these memories have abilities that match your own. We'd like to see how this affects their power...and how their power affects you." Arsene then picked up to where Jun left off. "If this is successful, it would mean a turning point in the relationship between Phantom Thieves and Detectives. Thieves would be using these to make their heists easier. Any opposition would be nothing worth fretting over. A wonderful outcome, don't you agree?"
"I see..." Stone River nodded. "Yes...I understand now. If our Toys are enhanced beyond their limit while still being within our control, then nobody would be able to stand in our way. Not the police...or those idiots Milky Holmes."
"Ha! We could already wipe the floor with 'em, so just imagine what we can do with these things!" Rat grinned, holding his memory tighter.
Arsene frowned before addressing her followers once more. "Do not let the power go to your heads. Phantom thieves who act like rampant monsters an abuse their abilities have no honor. And in turn, their heists lose their elegancy. We aren't named the Gentleman Thief Empire for nothing."
"Of course! Beauty is what makes us who we are, after all." Twenty spoke in a sickeningly sweet tone. "And if these things will make us even more beautiful, than who are we to object?"
"Then if we're all in agreement, I shall perform the quick and simple procedure of applying access points to your bodies." Jun said, removing the small medical gun from the suitcase. "From that point on, your memories can be used whenever you'd like. As long as Foundation X is able to observe and record your data during the process...you are free to do whatever you'd like."
As the three males centered around Jun to have their living connectors applied, Arsene hung back a moment longer. She looked at her N-labeled gaia memory and smiled. "Sherlock Shellinford...This will be the ultimate test for you and your team. Show me that you still have what it takes to reclaim your pride as Detectives."