(4/27/20XX - Friday)
The cold, dim lighting around her seemed different all of a sudden. Nea lay in the dark, hoping this was just some terrible nightmare but awoke to find herself in some new strange plain. She quickly stood up, her boots stepping on top of a dark sea, its reflection showing above to be a vast number of stars above. She would say such a sight was amazing if the rest of the situation didn't feel terrifying. Nea looked everywhere to go next till spotting a white structure ahead in the distance, glowing with a yellow aura that felt deathly intimidating. Thus, she stood there, indecisive on what to do, when a voice echoed in her head.
"Get over here…NOW!"
Then as if something grabbed ahold of her, she was dragged towards the structure and thrown onto its steps. She clung to her chest in pain as she picked herself up and stepped on the black and white tile floor. At the center was a familiar zodiac symbol.
"T-Taurus? But that's my-"
"Our crest."
Nea spun around to see a clone of her glaring back at her, except her eyes glowed bright yellow and a blue mist formed around her. "T-those eyes, they're exactly like Ichikawa's shadow…," the direness of the situation got to her as she falls to her knees. Her head down as she pleaded, "p-please, now isn't the time for this. We're both trapped, they're gonna kill us soon, and we have no idea where we are. Please just give me your power like Mao and Aoki did. If not, then we're both gonna die here!"
"…Pathetic."
"Huh?"
"Show a tinge of dignity and pick yourself up, damn it! The fact my existence is based on such a pitiful child makes me wish for death."
"How could you say that?" Nea whispered as her throat began to choke up. "I have every right to be scared right now! We are going to die, and if Mao and Aoki come for me, then they're going to get killed too."
"Even when the end is in sight, you still fool yourself," her shadow sighed, "you don't truly wish to live, don't you?"
"W-why wouldn't I?"
"Cause that would lift so much burden off others, wouldn't it? If you die now, then Mao can focus on her new, more badass friend, and all these other cool otherworldly stuff, then having to deal with your lame ass, whiny drama. You have always held others back; I know because you say it through me every day."
These words stabbed deeply onto old wounds, but she still clung to a tinge of hope left, "T-that's overblowing it…you're just trying to freak me out, Mao wouldn't just throw me aside."
"Ayumi did, Rene did, and now even little Yuki-chan is outgrowing you with his academics compared to your C average grades. You knew every single one of them since elementary, chanting that you'll all be best friends forever…what a load of shit that turned out to be."
Nea barely held back the tears as those painful memories came rushing in, "N-n-not Mao…she's-she's-"
"The only thing you got left," her shadow finished, "while you, you're nothing and have always been nothing…ever since you were born."
The world suddenly changed around Nea, and through her watery eyes, she saw she's in a hospital. For a moment, she briefly hoped this was the real world till she looked through a window behind her and saw her parents inside.
"Just stop with the semantic bullshit and tell us if our daughters alive!" her father shouted, her mother lying in bed weeping in terror.
"She's under critical condition now. I don't understand how we could've overlooked this."
"Overlook what?" her mother asked.
"W-well, it seems her heart- i-it seems to have a hole in it, a very, very serious one. Along with other complications."
Nea clung onto her chest, the oldest wound of them all, the one thing that haunted her and determined her life forever. She saw her father nearly collapse, with her mother frozen at this news.
"N-now today we have technology that can handle this, but it's still a long and costly process. It's underway as we speak, but I'm sorry to say you can't see her now."
Her father, after a moment, clung onto her mother's hands, both sharing a painful look before asking, "How long will she have to stay here?"
Nea remembered this story repeatedly, always reminded when Mao insists, she doesn't fight or train with her, and when she has to go to the doctor.
"This is the catalyst of your guilt, your suffering," her shadow voice echoed. "you and I know what grew out of such despair."
"Just stop!" Nea protested before seeing a familiar room. It was a hospital room, plastered with stickers and drawings of colorful dresses. At the center was a blonde child, absentmindedly drawing with a distant look in her eyes and medical machines around her monitoring her condition. Nea didn't want to be here anymore, as her younger self faded in and out as other memories of her scouring the room for years tormented her.
"Please…why are you showing me this," Nea pleaded.
More and more continued to flood her mind, the world around her spinning at all these memories. Her father quit his job, her mother having to work endless nights to pay for her, the kids around her finding her weird till one spring day in junior high.
Nea walked alone in the halls; Mao and the others went ahead of her as she had to rest in the nurses' office after another case of heavy fatigue during P.E and having to take a quick dose of her medication.
"Hey, you're that girl from P.E that collapsed, right?" One girl asked.
"Idiot, don't say something so rude!" the other yelled while elbowing her. "We're in the same class, and we were so shocked to see this happen to you. Then we saw you here alone and thought perhaps you want someone to escort you home, make sure you're safe."
Nea saw her younger self smile, and from then one felt that life at school would be better. She'll make more friends and having more people join in on the fun Mao and the others go through. It'll all be better, she'll be better, she wouldn't feel isolated anymore.
"You wouldn't believe it, but he asked me out!" the one girl squealed.
"Yeah, I have like three girls inviting to a party at their house. We're like the top of the school now," the other cheered.
"It's all because of her, her sob story, and how much we cared was all he ever talked about."
"Helps that she's the exotic type with that hair. Oh, maybe we can get more post likes if we take pictures with her!"
"Just be careful on the amount, don't want to be too close to an idiot like her."
Nea felt nothing as she saw her younger self crawl into a ball nearby and bawl her eyes out. These hopes faded away, and there was nothing but what she had left, and for the first time in her life, a fit of hateful anger seething inside. She spotted a nearby fire alarm and pinned the blame on those two in a moment of pure hate.
"Those bitches deserved the expulsion. Yet even with justification, you cried pity tears for your action, then again maybe that's partially why you clung onto those four ever since," her shadow said as clip after clip of Nea avoiding eye contact played around them.
"I…just hated being alone, and now not knowing who to trust anymore," Nea cried as she clung to her head.
"So we finally agree on something. Those you don't cling onto, those you put the value of your entire existence onto, you decided to drive everyone away. For all the reasons you just said, they will only use you for your looks and reputation before throwing you away…but as we saw, even those you trusted your whole life have left you. All because you started that stupid fight. You will always be a lonely idiot; you will always be everyone's problem."
Nea mumbled something amid this mental torture. Her shadow, tired of this pathetic displayed, returned them to the Taurus before leaving to let it shatter under her.
Then a light gleamed in the distance.
Her eyes open to the cold cement cell she's placed in, a lone light bulb and a barred window showing the endless stormy red sky outside.
'All of that…and for what?' she trembled, 'Aoki-san was right…I can't do this, I should've just known my place.'
A pound comes from the door, causing her to stand away; a viewport opened to a familiar set of yellow eyes and the same sleazy voice. "Still alive? That's good, you at least make useful bait," Okamoto, or more precisely his cognition.
"They won't fall for it," Nea mumbled, standing her ground. The last person she wants to see her like this is scum like him.
"Whoever these thieves, intruders, or whatever that man wants to call them are, their lack of discipline will be their downfall. Why, if they can't even keep their eyes on the treasure, then sheer luck must've gotten them this far, but that'll soon end because of you," he said. Those words do little in breaking her momentary resolve, he shrugs before tossing in delicious-looking food. "Go ahead, I'm under orders not to tamper, so eat all you like."
Nea stared at the full tray, walking up to it only to kick it back at him, ruining his polished boots. "Screw your food. I rather starve than take anything from you."
He was seething with anger from this; the only thing restraining him from ordering her execution is his leader's orders. He merely walked away, not seeing a point wasting breath on her any longer.
Nea slumped to the floor, still stuck and unable to do anything other than just…wait to die. Such dark thoughts stopped when a rattling was heard from a small air vent.
"Hey! Blonde human, you there?" the tiny voice asked.
"M-my shadow again?!"
"What? No, up here!" she said.
"Who's there? A talking rat?!"
"I am not a rat!" Pixie shouted, finally peeking her head out.
"A…little person?" Nea asked.
"I'm pixie, I'm not gonna hurt you, I'm here to help," she clarified, "Long story short, I'm working with Scarlet and Velvet to get you out of here."
"Scarlet and-? Wait, you mean Ma-"
"Shhh! Don't say their names too much. Listen, I know it doesn't feel like it on this side, but it's been a day in your world, and we have a plan ready to rescue by tomorrow morning."
"No, abort it!" Nea protested, "there's something else going on, I don't know what, but it's some kind of trap."
"Even if it is, they either save you or leave you for dead, and they're very adamant about stopping the latter from happening. So whatever they have set up, we'll just have to deal with it."
"And if they die trying?" Nea somberly whispered.
Pixie slumps her head, still very new to human thinking, but has to do her part too if they're offering help. "Look human, I'm just a messenger, so I don't know much of your friend's mindsets," she said, "the most I do know is that they know death was over them the moment they rebelled against this world's tyrant. Solely to protect people, like you…and if you vanish from their lives, I know they'll be deeply saddened without you around. So no matter what you think or say, it's not gonna change their actions."
"That is like Scarlet, isn't it? Velvet vowed to protect every student, including me," Nea mumbled, "um, thanks, Pixie, for the kind words and, well, not trying to kill us."
"You say that like it's in our nature to always do so," Pixie said in annoyance. "I'm also here for something else." With a snap of her fingers, she summons a blue ribbon and hands it's it to Nea, " It's a special ribbon. With it, I'll be able to sense where you are, so if they do try to pull something shifty, I'll spot it," she explained, "think of it like a string tying you and me together."
"It's so pretty," Nea smiled softly, "thank you."
"You're very welcome! Wish I could do more, like use Zio to bust these walls open, but security will be on us in seconds, and I can't leave my sisters behind either," Pixie mumbled.
"Uh, Zio? What Sisters?" Nea asked before shouting was heard outside.
"Look, I have to go, hold onto hope for just a while longer!" Pixie encouraged before fleeing through the vents.
Nea stared at the ribbon, deciding to just sleep a little longer, hoping her reflection won't show again. 'I…I don't care what happens to me, just please let the others get out safely.'
Case File#1_4: Together Forever...
A wide station square filled with crowds of passing people coming in and out of the century old Tokyo Station, surrounded by a new generation of Chiyoda city's skyscrapers and infrastructure marked this ages' vision of progress. Emi stood patiently in the center of this morning bustle when her partner finally arrived. Mao stumbles next to Emi as she did little to hide her baggy eyes and coffee cup in hand.
"I'm here, didn't keep you waiting, did I?" she yawned.
"You're on time, actually," Emi noted, much to the surprise to both, "you look dead tired, by the way."
"I had like three cups of coffee and breakfast. I'll be fine today," Mao insisted while getting a new cup from a food stand. "Anyway, I sent you what I crafted, they look good to you?"
"For your first time, yes, they're actually quite well done if a bit crude. With what I have on top of that, it's safe to say we can cross tools off our to do list."
"Well, when you did workshop and grow up with a prodigy inventor, you pick up a thing or two," Mao shrugged, gulping down her new cup, "anyway, what's our next plan of action? Nea's counting on us."
"Right," Emi nods, "first we scour for supplies, both for ourselves and Sakamoto, I've been planning to make a supply run before, but we can adjust to this. I'd also like to cover basic physical training with you at least once before going in after we finalize a quick rescue plan, that is."
"Alright, just what I wanted to hear," Mao said eagerly, her eyes filling with determination, "so where's a good place to get supplies?"
"From my experience, any place that sells consumables," Emi said, "while proper high-grade hospital medicine and Animus items are preferable, even something simple like everyday food, bandages, or home medicines could patch you up, if but a little bit."
"Really…?" Mao blinked in surprise, with one word sticking to her, "Hold on, hospital…oh! I just thought of something!"
"If you're going to ask how energy drinks reenergize your Persona's attacks, I don't know any more than you do," Emi sighed.
"No, not that…course, that does sound weird," Mao said before pulling out of her satchel bag a familiar card.
"A Doctor's business card?"
"Yeah, Sensei gave it to me as the last source for help, and it might be the place where we can get all the supplies we need," Mao smiled, yet Emi looked conflicted.
"I understand informing her," she said, "if they know each other, then she deserves to know what's become of him but asking for medical supplies would immediately draw suspicion. The deadline is tomorrow, and we can't waste time being questioned by the police."
"Okay, you got me there," Mao admits, "but I can't just follow up on this, especially it being Sensei's last request. Listen, Aoki-san, there has to be a reason why he directed me to her, especially when he tried to keep his investigation top secret. Perhaps she knows a thing or two about this whole scandal and his research, so let's at least tell her, she might even do something to help."
Emi pondered for a minute before pulling out her phone, "Fine, I'll call an automated taxi for us. Golden week coming up means the trains here are packed." she said. "If it's not safe to ask, then we'll just search through our original route instead."
"Fine by me," Mao says as within no time flat the self-driving taxi parks at the front. However, before they go, Mao asks, "Aoki-san…you called Nea last night, my sister, did you?"
Emi blinked curiously, "Did I overstep a boundary with my judgment?"
"N-no, not at all, it's just…neither of us referred to each by that before, especially in such a sincere way," Mao said quietly.
"Well, even from my few observations of the two of you, I thought it was clear the bond you had was that of sisterhood," Emi explained herself.
"Do you still think that...even after I dragged us both into the Animus and now this?"
"I don't personally know much about sibling relationships. The most I do know is that siblings do often get each other in trouble, but in the end, they always looking out for each other and help them out of said trouble. Growing up together simply results in such an outcome."
'Together…always,' Mao muses, reminiscing old memories before riding off to Shinagawa city. Despite the traffic, the ride south of Shinagawa was relatively short, and once the Rainbow Bridge was out of sight, their destination was only minutes away.
Once arriving, Emi checked her phone; even after paying the fare, Mao simply stared at the large red and white medical building.
"You sure this is the place?" Emi asked.
"Yeah, the address matches, nothing bigger around here than Ginko General Hospital."
"That's exactly my point, this is one of the top hospitals in Tokyo," Emi explained, "some of the best medical professionals, equipment, and research can be found here, and your professor just knows someone from here?"
"Suppose he does," Mao shrugged before walking into the reception hall. She took the lead as she put on a face mask and her best sick act, but it was clearly a bit lacking upon arriving at the automated desk service.
"Umm cough cough, h-how do you do uh, robot? I was wondering i-if I can do a walk-in check up with my doctor? Cough, I may have caught something," she said with as much acting chops as a stale piece of bread.
"Even bread has more charisma than this," Emi agreed as she slapped her forehead.
"I see," the friendly machine said, "can I get your name and medical I.D- "
"A-actually, can you call and ask Doctor Minami directly if she can see me? Specifically, that Professor Heizo Muramoto of Jiyu University requested me to see her? Err…cough."
"Certainly, please wait in the seating area," it said.
"Phew, think they bought it, but man, that wasn't too bad without practice," Mao whispered to Emi.
"Absolutely, you might as well become an actress after that," Emi said in a monotone. "At least you've double-checked she was in today…right?"
For a second, Mao freezes, and Emi gave the same glare from before she kneed her in the gut.
"Doctor Minami will see you now!" the machine joyfully announces.
"S-see she is, it was so obvious I might as well have not checked, which I totally did beforehand!" Mao brushed aside. Perhaps all that caffeine and lack of sleep were starting to do something to her rationale. Emi shook her head and walked past the reception before the machine stopped her; Mao stops it saying, "She's with me!"
"Relation?" it asked.
"Oh right, she's…uhh."
"I'm her friend and classmate. She was so sick I practically had to carry her here," Emi responded coolly.
"If it's okay with the patient, just be aware of basic procedures, okay?"
"Thank you," she bowed before they took the elevator up to the doctor's floor.
Mao glanced over to Emi, scratching her cheek as she asked, "Friend?"
"What'd you want me to say instead, your dimensional traveling coworker?"
Mao smirked at the response before coming up to the floor and spotting the room number. Mao opened the door with their doctor, wearing a lab coat with grey pants and a red ascot while donning advance looking glasses, sitting beside a complex holographic computer and other medical equipment.
"Thank you for seeing us in such short notice Doctor Minami," Mao said before both bowed.
"It's no problem, and please call me Miwa," the long brown hair and green eye woman smiled, "though given who gave you my card, I'm guessing this isn't a normal checkup."
"No, it isn't," Emi answered, "If you haven't heard yet, there's a scandal going on at Jiyu University, one that's severely affecting both faculty and students."
"I know, Heizo told me since this fiasco began," Miwa nodded.
"You seem to know him quite well if you're on a first-name basis," Emi pointed out.
"I met him when he was still in college, the same one I was working at after getting my Ph.D., "she explained, "he came rolling in one day after one of his graduate projects exploded, and the rest is history." She suddenly looked serious at the two and asked, "Now, who are you two, and why'd he send you?"
"Emi Aoki, 2nd year and Executive Officer of Jiyu's Student Government."
"Mao Niijima, 2nd year and one of Sensei's students. We came here because…he'd become another of this scandal's victims."
Miwa froze in her seat, a stun expression trying to process this till she blurted out, "They found out?!"
"Yes, about two days ago," Emi said.
"Urgh, that dolt! We should've just alerted the health department on food tampering, even if we had little evidence of interference from the cognitive world."
"You know that much?" Mao asked.
"I'm no Cognitive Psience expert, but I heard a thing or two from him and my mentor to get the gist of it," she said as her flood of shock and frustration quickly subsided, leaving only a lingering feeling of loss. "How…is he now?"
"Living normally like the rest, except he's acting completely different on anything concerning the administration, to the point of anger even," Mao answered, "he won't even talk about his field, now thinking it's all useless."
Miwa stared silently at her work screen before quietly saying, "I suggest you two leave now and let me handle this, even if there's not much to show. I have the trust of enough higher-ups to at least begin an investigation."
The two looked at each other before Mao spoke up, "Sorry, Miwa, but we need you to hold off on that for just a while longer."
"You two can't be serious," Miwa said dumbfounded.
"Take it from the head representative of the student body," Emi followed. "Both Niijima-san and I might have a way to garner support for your investigation and weaken the administration's grasp over the school. If you conduct it now, there will be none of that, and they'll use that to put a target on your head, accusing you of misconduct."
Miwa slumped into her desk, her hands covering her mouth as she considers their argument.
"Miwa," Mao said, "after what happened to Sensei, we don't want that to happen to anyone ever again. So even though we just met, please trust us for just a few days."
Miwa sits in silence before sighing, "so what is your plan then?"
"We're going off Professor Muramoto's example and picking up where he left off," Emi answered, "he was close to finding a lead, not just fully exposing their actions but curing the people affected."
"Exactly, and besides, it'll take time to start an investigation on the whole campus anyway. In fact, if we plan this right, we'll be attacking them at their most vulnerable position," Mao declared.
"Curing, huh? He really figured it out that soon?" Miwa muttered, closing her eyes in deep thought. 'Two students dealing with a cognitive psience issue…hmm.' Both students begin to worry their argument fell flat, but the doctor's next question put these worries to rest, "Then what can I do to help you now, if I may ask."
After some hesitance, Mao answers, "We'll pay upfront for your top-of-the-line medicine, particularly those focus on healing physical wounds and medication for mental health. We've looked over Sensei's notes and saw other medical papers back this potential cure, and what better person to help find the supplies we need than you?"
"Oh really?" Miwa smiled as she crossed her arms.
"What's so funny?" Mao asked.
"Just remembering old stories, my mentor shared," Miwa said before standing up, "alright, I'll dispense to you what I got."
"Just like that?" Emi asked.
"Sure, so long as you're not stupid and try something illegal. I can also chalk up the missing inventory under my own research trails, I usually have leftovers anyway, and people here know I did not get a degree in pharmaceutical science for nothing. They won't notice a thing. Keep in mind, too, that the police will find it pretty strange if you're carrying a purse full of drugs on you, okay?"
Mao stands before bowing, "Thank you so much, Miwa. We know we're asking a lot, but we won't let you down."
"Just make sure to bring the hurt to those guys, alright?" she muttered.
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing," she smiled as she opened up a nearby cabinet and brought out a selection of medicines for them to choose from. After much careful deliberation and recommendation from Miwa, Mao looked stock for the last time before nodding to Emi.
"I think we're good for now, thank you," Emi said to Miwa before bringing out a wallet full of yen.
"Interesting combination, but make sure to follow the rules on the label," she advised before spotting an empty vial in Emi's bag, "you want to add something else?"
"Huh?"
"The medication you got there, if you're out and have the specifications, I can give you a new one. It's on the house."
"That's quite generous of you," Emi thanked in a slightly embarrassed tone, trying not to glance at Mao, who overheard this.
"Yeah, well, I'm already selling drugs to you two, might as well give you one that's actually prescribed," Miwa shrugged before eyeing Mao, "you can take those outside now if they're safely hidden."
"Right," Mao nods, feeling she wasn't making Emi comfortable with her presence.
"Chronic insomnia, is that correct?" Miwa asked.
"The mild type, yes, I've always stayed awake at night even before the heavy work from college and high school."
"Sounds persistent; the best you can do for now is follow the instructions. I'll recommend other alternatives to help."
"If you're insistent, though given the dreams I get a lot of times, I'm not extremely eager to get sleep either," Emi sighs.
"We can help with that too; sleep above all else is important, Aoki," Miwa encouraged, giving the medication and sealing the deal. "Everything's set for you two. My doors are always open, so come back if you need anymore."
"Thank you," Emi bowed before joining Mao outside.
"And please, stay safe out there," Miwa whispered.
Once outside, Emi turns to the building and asks, "Think she knows?"
"So long as we have her trust, I don't think it matters," Mao shares, "what really matters is we got the supplies we need to keep us alive in saving Nea and completing the rest of our infiltration."
"Suppose so, we must keep our eyes on the objective. Since we have this covered, let's move somewhere quiet to discuss plans," Emi says, walking ahead, "oh, and don't think I'll go easy on you because it's your first training regimen."
Mao gulped as she thoroughly plans and trains with Emi for the rest of the day.
(Evening)
The house was quiet as she ate dinner, focused solely on doing one last supply check before going in, then suddenly a knock came from the door. Mao froze before another was heard, 'Someone's here?' she wondered as she recalled the tools were still in the shed, and their doors were shut upstairs. She sends a quick message through the A.T.D before peeking out the curtains to see a new, regular looking car outside.
Her answer to who this was came as they spoke outside, "H-hello Sakamoto? It's Inspector Kato Sasaki. I'm here cause of a call from your mother. I uh, don't have a warrant out for your arrest if that's your concern."
"Figured this would happen, but not with some freakin' Inspector," she whispered to herself. In this position, she'll have to answer the door and make sure he doesn't start scouring the place; Mao quickly clears her mind and proceed with the plan as she opens the door.
Kato and Mao appear before each other for the first time, much to the former's surprised and the latter's curiosity. He knew immediately who she was upon seeing those eyes and felt a sense of awkwardness. This silence only made Mao more weirded out to who this guy is.
Eventually, he was able to find his words and say, "Um, good evening. I suppose your Mao Niijima, daughter of Commissioner Niijima?"
"I am," Mao nodded with her eyebrow raised, "It's interesting to see you too, Inspector Kato Sasaki." After a moment, Mao eventually gestured and asked, "do you want me to get you something, like some coffee, perhaps?"
"That sounds nice, but I'm not-,," he said when his stomach betrayed him with a loud growl. Eyes now close and sweat on his brow, he smiles, "err, if you can thank you."
As she walked past the living room towards the coffee pot on the furnace, Mao occasionally glanced as this Inspector looking around the room. It felt a bit dangerous when his eyes kept looking to the stairs, "I have a bowl of Senbei as well; want it with your coffee?" she quickly asked.
"Yes, I love Senbei crackers actually, should last me till I get proper dinner," he nods as he grabs a piece from the complimentary bowl before leaning by the main table. "So don't worry about me intruding for too long, Niijima-san."
"Yeah, you said you're here cause of a call from Nea's mother?"
"Yes, see, she's been calling her all day but got nothing. They then called me just to make sure things were alright," he explained.
"I suppose this technically is within your job description but isn't this a bit much, Inspector?"
"I was free this evening actually, so it's not taking away from my work," he says as he takes another cracker, "I'm…also a bit of a family friend to your mother and father."
Mao froze in a moment of surprise; her parents knew many people and close friends, but this was a first for her to hear someone being called a family friend. It makes much more sense for why he be here.
"And since the Sakamoto's are close to them too, I thought I offered a helping hand at least."
"Yeah, about that, see Nea hasn't called because she actually had a huge load of college work put on her. Golden week is coming up, so since classes are basically out aside from fairs and other recreational stuff, it means a bunch more work for all of us."
"Understandable, I know how work can just tune you out, but they called her over ten times," he insisted before looking over to the stairs again, "is she upstairs now?"
"No," Mao said quickly, "she's actually over at a friend's house, yeah see her, and I made friends with the Executive Officer of the Student Government. You can guess this means she's pretty smart, and so Nea asked if they can have a study session, she agreed and they been at it since."
"Alright, a bit odd though that some apparently quite responsible would let this miscommunication happen," Kato wondered before extending out his gloved hand, "mind if I call her then?"
The coffee machine dings as he says this tightens her phone as she hopes this will work. "Sure," she nods before entering the number and handing the phone to the Inspector. Seconds pass as the phone rings, Mao keeping her cool as she poured his coffee. Then the call connects.
"Hello, Sakamoto? I am Inspector Kato Sasaki, don't worry, you're not in trouble. I got a notice from your parents you weren't picking up all day. Just wanted to ensure you were okay."
"I am so sorry for the trouble Sasaki-san!" the sound of Nea's voice rings from the phone, surprising Mao with how lifelike it was. "I insisted on letting nothing distract me and kind of got carried away with the rule."
"No need to apologize. Your parents got a little concerned, is all," Kato responds, unaware of the ruse. "Make sure to have it on you when your alone; I don't want to worry you, but there has been a string of disappearances lately, particularly at night."
"I've heard; thanks for the heads-up Inspector, I'll do just that when I get home."
"Good, I'll clear up the worry with your parents, just focus on getting home safely, alright?"
"Okay, bye!" she cheers, being ending the call. Mao sighs at the ruse working but hoped to end this by tomorrow morning.
"Thank you, Niijima-san, your friend sounds like quite the dedicated student," he compliments, returning the phone and taking his coffee.
"She is, isn't she…"
"You okay? Am I overstaying my welcome?" he asks, noticing Mao's change in tone and expression.
"No, it's not that, it's just…you said you knew my mom and dad?"
He figured having a talk like this but was a little off guard it's happening so suddenly. He sat down as he says, "I do, so much in fact that if it wasn't for their help, I…would probably be a very different man now."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but who are you exactly, Inspector Sasaki?"
He stares at his drink as he smiles, "Short version? Just a rookie officer still figuring out his line of work, and himself."
"I see," Mao whispered, her curiosity of this strange Inspector growing, "so did you meet my mom first?"
"I have. Well, technically, I didn't meet Niijima physically till quite a while later. I always assess a person first before concluding what their intentions and character exactly are."
"Umm…okay?"
"Errr, I'm weirding you out, Sorry. I'll stop with the semantics now," Kato stumbles, quickly gulping down his coffee to refocus before realizing how hot it still was and regretting immediately.
As the Inspector fans his mouth and grabs come cold water, Mao was more stumped on this guy. 'I'm no talker myself, but this is like speaking to an awkward computer.'
Once he has stopped the burning sensation and fixes his collar, he proceeds, "A-anyway, I first heard of her when I was in junior high. She has just become a commissioner, but her work helped inspire me to become an officer or Inspector specifically. I really met her when I was still training at the Academy, she wanted to inspect potential newcomers, and for some reason, she particularly saw something in me that caught her eye."
"That certainly sounds like her," Mao nods, reminiscing her mother's eye for both serious and silly things. "Then, from there, I figured you two kept close and met my dad?"
"Yes," he sighs with a heavier weight, "your father was a really good man Niijima-san…and I'm deeply sorry for what happened."
Mao only looked away, a gloomful look in her eyes.
"It was through both of them that I actually got this valuable chance in my life to determine my future," he continues, "and they made me feel like I belong somewhere. Your father even invited me to go to one of your family outings at a restaurant, even when I stubbornly refused out of my own self-doubt."
Mao brushed her hair as she saw a tinge of regret in this Inspector's eyes, causing Mao to share, "I think he did that because he knew what it was like to be without a family too. I technically have grandparents…but he refused to talk to them. It was actually one of the few things that made him outright angry. I understood, though, why should he care when they never did for him?"
"He never told me…," Kato mumbles in surprise of the story but as well as being shared with it in the first place. It being used as words of comfort from this stranger told him a lot about Mao Niijima. He then decides to share, "I don't know if anyone told you, but I'm actually leading the case as to who did this to your family."
Mao's eyes were wide in shock, this whole time, she sealed herself from this pain and never once bothered to ask about the investigation. She processed this till saying, "No…nobody told me, I sort of just figured Aunt Sae was behind it."
"She's doing her part certainly, but mostly I'm the one leading case," he clarifies, "and I'll assure you and your family that I'll find whoever did this and ensure they face the justice they deserve."
This was the first time he felt passionate about something. Mao still hardly knew this Inspector but felt a bit of transparency to what kind of man he is with those words. "That's quite the responsibility Inspector, you sure you would be able to handle it?"
"I have too," he vowed.
She looked at him in deep thought till she said, "Alright."
"Huh?"
"You have my trust in your word Inspector if that means anything to you. My parents see something in you, and you, in return, not only saw them as great figures but as normal people as well, people who helped because they wanted to. I can't deny the genuine feeling that would come out of that."
"That gives me confidence, Niijima-san, thank you," he smiled.
She walked up to him, a cold stare in her eyes as she told him, "and once you find this bastard, put together everything you can to ensure he gets nothing short of the death penalty."
Kato felt this cold glare that would send shivers to anybody else, but he would not let it affect its mission. "That's for the courts to decide, but I understand. I'll do my best to bring a strong case to the culprit, I swear it."
Putting this cold anger aside, Mao nods as they shake hands in mutual understandings. Then time stopped again.
"Thou art I...and I am thou...
Thou hast forged a vehement vow
and thus henceforth shall spark a unique flame in thy souls.
Its mystifying prospects await to be seen in thine journeys.
With the creation of the Hunger Arcana,
I have attained the blazing power of retribution that shall
spur thee to justice and new fates ahead …"
'That was…completely different, almost unrecognizable in parts,' Mao groaned as a headache came, 'why this Inspector? What does retribution have to do with my mom or dad…it can't be related to all this, right?'
"Niijima-san, you alright?"
The sudden question brought Mao back to reality as she let the reading get to her. "Y-yeah, sorry…I'm just exhausted."
"I understand. I'll leave you be in that case. However, I would like to continue our conversations, if you don't mind, on subjects less heavy, of course."
"Why?"
"Well, you seem like a trustworthy and well-liked figure among those around you, and I respect that. So, after our brief sharing of words, I suppose you can say I'm actually curious as to who Mao Niijima actually is," he smiled.
"Hmmm," she nods, "and any other reasons?"
"My partner is insistent on me having a life outside of work," he said, slumping his head.
"Hmph, well, he isn't wrong," Mao chuckled.
"The fact you're far from the first person to say that speaks for itself."
"Alright, I'll help you out with your problem; it's the least I could do for all your work," she agrees as she leads him out the door. "Who knows, Inspector, you may actually end up as the second cop I'll ever be friends with."
"Thank you…wait, second?"
"Drive safely, Inspector," she waved before closing the door.
"Oh, yeah, good night," he waved back. Getting back to his car with a question in mind, 'that number Mao gave, it did not match with the area code, did she mean this new friend then? It is strange Nea's phone has not picked up all day in that case…gahh, Kato, your hunger making you overthink this. The person's safety is what matters.'
Once the car was out of sight, Mao sighs and texts Emi the trick worked.
[He bought it. Can't believe Safie's can mimic other's voices like that. It's kind of creepy.]
[Perhaps, but it worked nonetheless. It worries me though that an Inspector of all people was what we had to deal with; we must be vigilant in our world as much as we are in the Animus.]
[That might be more complicated from my end, but don't worry, I'll do everything to ensure we're out of his and the police's radar. To them, we're just average college students.]
[We better, but let's worry about that later. I'll see you at the gates at 4am sharp.]
Mao nodded before finishing things up and heading straight to bed. Nea never leaving her mind.
(4/28/20XX – Saturday, Early Morning)
Mao overlooked the compound under high alert, loading her weapon before tightening her red gloves.
[Palace Security at 50%] Safie said.
"Something is certainly up; it's far higher than usual," Emi said.
"That just means we have to move faster," Pixie said determinedly.
"First, let's deal with those searchlights to the Training Grounds; Safie now has direct access to this sector's security," Emi said before turning to Mao, "it's your call, ready, Scarlet?"
Mao looks over to the prison tower one last time before giving the signal, "We're coming, Nea…let's do it!"
At once, Safie tampered with their systems as Scarlet and Velvet run and jump over the next series of facilities with Pixie leading the way. The Tower's sight drew closer with every rooftop and walkway traversed, the guard encounters were frequent and forced the party to either hide or drop down to the path below to quickly reach Nea. Then coming up onto a wooden electrical fence, they see their first real roadblock.
"Jiyu's training grounds," Pixie said, "even some of the strongest shadows I've seen were broken here."
The two certainly would believe it. It was a size of a local sports field of the already enormous military base. Dozens of shadows either working hard labor or completing their hourly training regiment by brutal instructors, with the tall prison tower at the opposite end standing as a symbol of this Palace's iron will. Scarlet felt a bit pity amid her determined soul, not just for the pixies still here but the other shadows who worked to death those too weak for their standards.
"Safie, can you pinpoint how many of pixie's kind is here?" Velvet asked.
[An error has occurred. I can only accurately tell if they are Pixie within a closer range Velvet.]
"So we have to scour the whole field?" Mao asked.
"No," Pixie said, "I don't exactly where they are, or how many are left honestly…but I can tell you I last saw them within the far end barracks, right beside the leader's HQ building."
"Good," Velvet said before swiftly cutting the barbed wire, "if they're all there, then we can easily slip into this leader's room and steal the key to the tower's holding cells."
"Then, straight to Nea," Mao smiled, "alright, let's keep moving!"
The path was tight as it was dangerous; Velvet and Scarlet often had to traverse whole training squads, either running or combatting each other to death. Often dealing with guards on top of that whom eyes were out for the intruders when they weren't executing failed trainees. These sights noticeably brought grave worry to Pixie, who wondered just how much of her sisters were left from such atrocious conditions.
Velvet kept her cool as she dived under a barracks, narrowly avoiding some guards. "There's the HQ," she pointed out, "and by the looks of it, these Pixies should be in this excavation site." Mao crawled beside her to see a stream of red goop flowing through the base, with several large pools of this stuff being extracted by these recruits.
"This should be close enough; begin your scan Safie," Mao ordered.
[Scanning…]
Several seconds pass as the AI went through each shadow amongst them, only to see a string of errors pop up signaling they weren't Pixie. It went through this again and again and again, with Pixie wondering if she was too late.
"Pixie…" Scarlet tried to comfort before another beep was heard.
[Pixies found] Safie reported.
"Really?!" Pixie gasped
[Indeed. I've reported ten out of forty shadows are your kind.]
Scarlet smiled, tapping Pixie in the back, who wiped her eyes. "It's been so long, I thought…"
"Celebrate when we free them," Velvet mentioned as the coast was clear for them to move.
"Right, let's save your people, Pixie!" Scarlet encouraged as they sprung to an attack.
There was no way they can sneak through this many guards, but since the searchlights here were off, they had the darkness to their advantage. One by one, the pair wiped out each passing guard before they could fully manifest. The shadows they weren't looking for either kept working or saw their chance and ran like hell. It was quite the sight if one could see it.
With one leap, Scarlet jumped over the last one as Velvet took care of them, while she tore off the mask of their first batch of Pixies. A group of five appeared, glowing red with their eyes a deep yellow, all scared and fighting anything around them.
"Wait! Stop! This is a rescue; I'm one of you!" Pixie tried to reach through them, but they kept throwing wild lighting attacks.
"If this keeps up, someone's going to notice!" Velvet urgently said.
Scarlet saw the brainwashing and work made words impossible to get to them. She then heard a whisper in her head.
"Then let's knock some sense into them."
'Curse,' she thought before summoning her persona and launching a barrage of curse attacks towards the weakened Pixies. They all stopped as they fell beside the pool of liquid, their sister quickly coming to their aid.
"Come on, wake up!" she pleaded, healing each of them with some green energy. Then before long, they opened their eyes and acted less hostile.
"Urgh…w-what? S-sister?" one of them asked.
"You're really back!" Pixie cried as she hugged as much of them as she can.
"Okay, okay, j-just gets off already!" they said, "What the heck happened? Why are we here working with this stuff?"
"I know you have a lot of questions, but we're on the clock here," Mao told them, "Safie will give you directions on the safest route out of here; just stay together, and you should be fine." While confused, the group would rather be anywhere else but here.
"One down, nine more to go," Velvet said, "good then I stashed extra curse bombs, you two take care of four, and I'll handle the rest. We'll meet up beside the leader's HQ for the key." The three on the same page split up and took care of each remaining guard before saving the next Pixies group.
Scarlet could just imagine Nea's face when she tells her this; it was like something out of the old stories they read, of course, with less brutality and desolate atmosphere. As they went through the last survivors, Scarlet saw the reception was very grateful to her but less joyful to Pixie herself.
"What are you doing here? Got yourself stuck like always?"
"Psh, lucky you, this human or whatever pulled us out of this mess."
"Wait, it's really you? I thought your croaked it and died a long time ago."
Such comments left a downtrodden look on Pixie's face and peaked Scarlet's bewilderment at why the hostile attitude. So when they reached the rendezvous point first, Scarlet asked her, "Hey, the heck was with their bad attitude back there? If it wasn't for your help, they still are breaking their backs here."
Pixie didn't look her in the eyes as she somberly said, "because…this was all my fault."
"Huh? How? You're a pretty competent-err, shadow in my eyes."
"Yeah, right…if I was by myself in that desert for any longer," Pixie said, "I would've been dead in one second. I was the runt amongst all of us, barely able to fight or even cast a proper zio attack…it was my idiocy that leads us to this place too."
Scarlet's eyes widen as Pixie continued, "we were starving and had nowhere else to go; even the strongest of us felt doom looming over us. I was out looking for anything for us when I saw this new Palace form. I told everyone and pleaded day after day for us to go like the other shadows were doing, but each time I was denied, it made me furious. This was my one chance at being useful, and they just shrugged it off…so, I went to the Palace and asked for our clan to let in."
"They used you," Mao whispered.
Pixie nodded, "I stupidly lead them to where we were, naively thinking they were gonna give us a new chance. Instead, I saw all of them put into cages and dragged to this terrible place. I survived by hiding like the traitorous coward I am."
Scarlet words were lost to her, putting together that Pixie lied to not lose any chance of hiring them for help. That's when it hits her, "We would've helped you anyway," she said, "the mistakes you make don't have to define you, that's an old saying us humans use often, and I think that applies to you."
"Humans are confusing…" Pixie shook her head, "how could that ever apply to me when I costed my clan's safety?"
"Cause you stayed and kept trying to help," Scarlet answered, "a true coward would've looked out for themselves and ran, never looking back. You continued trying to help, and it was Ichikawa's shadow that used this kindness for his own benefit, not you."
"She's right," Velvet said, surprising them to her presence. "and now, we almost have all of them freed cause of your efforts. Not only that, but you're helping us in retrieving someone close to one of us when you didn't have to. All of this is just a fact, an obvious one at that."
While said with far less emotional empathy, Scarlet appreciated the help none the less and smiled at Pixie, "Besides, if they still somehow don't trust you, then you got us now."
Pixie's watery eyes widen, "R-really?"
Scarlet nodded, "Yeah, that's what friends do."
Pixie stared at Mao as tears flowed down her face, a smile forming as she whispered, "friends…" Suddenly, a warm white and blue light formed around Pixie.
"What's going on?!" Velvet said aback.
"H-hey, you okay, Pixie?! Did I say something wrong?" Mao asked.
"Hehe, of course not silly," Pixie smiled as the light enveloped her, "I am thou…thou art I…"
Then the ball of light flew to Mao's face, disappearing in a sparkle of lights.
"Scarlet!" Velvet dashed to her in worry.
"I-I'm fine! What happened to Pixie?!"
"I…don't know," Velvet said, still in awe, "I've never seen that happened before."
"The human soul…even when living in this sea of souls, it still confuses me," a voice in Mao's head said, "but, if what you showed me is a hint to what it's capable of, then I'll be your mask and protect its wearer."
Scarlet knew that it was Pixie but still didn't understand. Was she in her head now? Why? Regardless, time was still not in their favor, and so long as Pixie is still okay, they should get a move on. "Pixie's still okay. That's what matters. So let's finish the job and get to Nea!"
"After the-...okay, your right," Velvet relented as they sneak inside through a nearby vent.
The building was relatively small compared to the large structure behind it; it certainly made the fact this chief was warden as well much more believable. They seemingly find the main office and break-in, spotting a safe behind the chair and desk.
"How long till you crack the code?" Velvet asked.
[Seven minutes, Velvet] Safie answered.
"Good then," a voice behind them says, "Let's test to see if you'll survive till then."
Both turn to see a woman looking shadow close the doors behind her. "The both of you have been a thorn on our side for too long, and though our great general won't see it, all I see is unruly brats who'll get in our way!"
"So you're the one behind this camp; it's because of you these shadows turn out like this!" Mao accused.
"Tsk, yet you still know nothing of our world I see. They were all wild beasts' child. That's simply their nature. We've instilled consciousness into them; they can learn and grow now because of us. They, along with all of us, now dream of the perfect army, where human need no longer apply!"
"Through your effort, huh?" Velvet said, before drawing her blade, "Then if we kill you now, this dream will be one bit closer to dying out."
The shadow roared as the room changed, and Mao readied for battle against a large horrendous monster. A dozen scaly serpent crawlers acted as the shadow's vampirish legs as they protruded from the waist down. Around her neck were several wild animals' heads: the prideful roar of a lion squealed howls from wild boars and terribly hawked from the Falcon. The center face was a woman with the rest of her chest and arms being covered with a hideous display of monstrous scales and claws. Her eyes glowed a deadly violet as she hissed drooled venom from her fangs.
This was the warden of the infamous Tartarus, the terrifying monster in Greek legend known as Kampe.
"That's…certainly new," Scarlet gawked.
"Those scales…physical strikes won't work on her," Velvet analyzed, "use your weapon for defense and find her weak points quickly!"
Kampe made her power known quickly as her serpent legs charged with a hail of bites around her. Agility was their friends here as they avoided the venomous bites and held tight high above the floor. Kampe's scally fists punch the wall on Scarlet's side as the cracks creak up to her. She's forced to jump over as snakeheads dash towards her. She feels a bite on her leg when a hail of bullets flies past her. Kampe screams as her legs bleed; Velvet stood on her weapon, stabbed to the wall as she reloaded her gun.
Scarlet limps away as she stops feeling her leg, the venom quickly eating her insides away.
"Scarlet!" Velvet shouted as she threw over one of Miwa's medicines. Right as she does, another series of screams come from Kampe's other heads. A barrage of spells is fired as the Falcon blows the wind, the boar gives a bone-chilling ice attack, and the lion roars fire to Velvet. She jumps, dodging one, and has Irene resist the ice attack before the fireball lands its target. Velvet barely uses her armor to block, but it is knocked hard into the wall.
Scarlet quickly gets up and unleashing Filibus to strike at Kampe, her scythe cutting deep within the main head before being blown back by the others. She winced in pain as Filibus being struck and saw the head heal itself through the Falcon. 'We can't lose here…' she groaned, 'I'm bringing everyone back home…!'
"Need my help?" Pixie's voice says, again in her head.
'Y-yeah, can your Zio do something about that Falcon?'
"Hmph, of course, all you need to do is summon me."
'How?'
"You know-how," she said deviously.
Scarlet nods, the fire within her burning more vigorously than ever as she tore her mask, "I summon you, Pixie!"
In bright blue light, both Kampe and Velvet saw in shock Scarlet summon not Filibus, but an entirely different Persona.
"W-wait, humans can do that?!" Kampe screeched.
"Hmph, seems you don't understand humans as all!" Scarlet taunted, "Do your work, Pixie!"
She concentrated her attack and, in a bright flash, burned the Falcon with her bolt of lightning.
"Velvet, help me with her legs!" Scarlet commanded as both brought out their guns, tearing to shreds Kampe's means of moving. Scarlet pulled out a Molotov as Velvet summoned Irene to unleash her long rifle. The bomb burned the boar head as Irene's deadly bullet landed a critical hit on the lion. Kampe stumbled back against the wall, exhaustedly asking, "W-where…did a pathetic Pixie get that much power?"
Pixie refused her an answer and says, "This is for my clan."
Swiftly, Scarlet switched to Filibus and, with a final slash, used her blade to cut off all four heads. The corpse collapses before withering away.
[Safe unlocked] Safie announced.
"Phew, right in the last second too," Scarlet triumphantly smirked.
Velvet eyes were wide, and she didn't look away from Scarlet, "How…sorry, I'm rather confused right now at what I just heard and saw."
"Hey, I'm in the same boat. I just…saw you in danger and heard Pixie inside then, poof, there she was."
"More than one Persona, they never told me this, just how much more could she carry then?" Velvet whispered to herself.
"Well, at least we're more maneuverable with our attack pattern now. Come on, we got some cells to open."
"Yeah…let's," Velvet nodded as they moved out. 'Humans no longer apply, huh? What an absurd notion…'
With the master key in hand, the two sneaks through the back and practically through the main building's front door. It was mostly empty, allowing them to quickly access a small elevator, inserting the key allowed them to take it several floors down.
"I feel it. The blond human is definitely down here," Pixie said in Scarlet's head.
Upon reaching the floor with the strongest signal, the two snuck through the long, wide green-lit corridors. Countless cells around them as the wail of shadows echoed, enough to send goosebumps to anyone who dared enter. Thankfully, some of them also held what they were also looking for. A whole-cell block had the rest of the pixies quickly helped out with the key in hand; Velvet kept watch as Scarlet freed each of them and led them to a vent to the outside.
The last group was freed with a long-haired Pixie flew up to Scarlet, "A human, huh? Never figured we see one, let alone be saved by one. Still, suppose you have our gratitude, another week in there, and we are like everyone else."
"You're the leader of this clan?" Scarlet asked.
"Yeah, what's it to you?"
She proceeded to remove her mask as Pixie is summoned forth with a still somewhat shy face. "Go on, you say it," Mao encouraged.
With a deep breath, Pixie proclaims, "I'm the one that made all this possible. I realized immediately I was wrong, and it costed your freedom, so I worked everyday narrowly avoiding death to reach you guys! It was through these humans help that I did…so, I'm so sorry, and I'll fight stronger than ever, even if you don't take me back, cause I have them now!"
The leader blinked in surprise at this new Pixie before she was the one looked down upon. To her, the symbol of how far they fell, sealed in stone upon their capture. The leader turned her back, "I'll admit, you did help achieve this, but you still the cause of all of this happening in the first place. Since you have these humans, then we clearly don't need you anymore."
Scarlet wanted to barf as this disrespect just for a moment of weakness, but Pixie only sighed. "That's fine…but my commitment stands, I'll grow stronger for all pixies."
"Then go," the leader said before leaving with the rest.
"Some gratitude," Scarlet mumbled.
"Doesn't matter, they're safe, and I know where I belong now. So, let me repay your help," Pixie said, determined.
Scarlet nods as Pixies return to her, and she runs back to Velvet, who had a concerned look in her eyes. "Something's not right," she said, "not a single guard spotted since we came here, not even the first floor."
"If it's a trap, then we're too deep to avoid it now. Let's focus on Nea and get out of here," Scarlet commanded.
Following Pixie's lead, they run through corridor after corridor before finally reaching the cell block.
"Nea! We're here!" Scarlet shouted.
"Sakamoto-kun, you're coming back with us, don't worry!" Velvet followed.
"She's in here!" Pixie said, pointing to the cell as the far end.
They dashed forward, busting down the iron door as Scarlet ran in. "I'm here!" she smiled only to see nothing inside, and her heart sank.
"Safie, do a scan! Something isn't right!" Velvet ordered.
"That's impossible. She's here; I can feel it!"
[Nothing on Sakamoto's signature. It's out of my range]
"Your range?! You mean the entire damn cell block?! She has to be around here!" Scarlet screamed.
"Scarle-"
"I…don't want to hear it now," Scarlet hissed, barely holding back her anger, "damn it! Just where the hell is she!"
Right as she said, the entire cell floor collapsed, causing the two to plummet into the darkness.
Visibility faded as they fell deeper, Scarlet found no sign of Velvet when light appeared below. Her eyes widen to see a large pit of that red, boiling liquid waiting for her. She acted fast as she entered the vast chamber, several cages hanging from chains with one just close enough for her to reach. She stretched out her hand as she was about to fall in, barely catching the edge of its bars with her cane. She saw her hat fall and be eaten by the grotesque appendages and mouths forming out of the horrific liquid.
"Scarlet!" a familiar voice echoed. Mao looked around to see the cage in the center was holding Nea.
She would smile if their situation wasn't so dire, "I'm alright!" she shouted, "just hang tight, I'm coming!" Scarlet started climbing the cage as she still saw no sight of Velvet. Just as she got herself on top of the cell, a shot was heard, and the next second, the chain holding the cage broke as Scarlet desperately jumped to the next closet's cage.
"Aim for her head next time, you dolt!" a voice echoed through a speaker system. Scarlet hung on for dear life as the metal shield moves to reveal a small observation room looking below them, as well as where the sniper came from. Inside was the ruler of this palace himself, "Was hoping of giving you a quick death just now, make it easy for all of us, but you insist on doing it the hard way."
"I like the challenge," Scarlet mocked back, "at least I don't go back on my word."
"Our deal broke the moment you disobeyed my will and refused my generous offer, and for what? A failure like her? It's sad really, at least your other friend perished for seeing such a wasteful display."
"You shut up about them!" Nea protested.
Ichikawa shakes his head in disgust and pity, "You out of all people feel you still have a say in this? If so, then I won't let you two waste my time any longer. Take care of the nuisance first, then dump the prisoner in so no one will ever find her."
A shot was fired, tearing open the cell bars Scarlet held onto; she felt her grip slip as the laser pointer aimed at her head. Another move and she be dead.
The shadow touched the trigger as a shot rings across the room.
Nea stared at Mao was still alive, before seeing the sniper fall dead into the pit below.
"What?!" Ichikawa gasped before the bulletproof window cracked. He fell back as he saw smoke come from a carbine wielded by a blue figure hanging onto a broken chain. "How are you here?! You should've been separated in that fall and torn to shreds in the next chamber!"
"Always the showboat Ichikawa, put that money into a bed of spikes next time," Velvet mocked as she swings over to the cell Scarlet was at.
"My hero," Scarlet smiled, causing Velvet to roll her eyes as she picked her up.
"H-hey! We got company!" Nea warned as segments of the walls open, each with a new gunner with their sights aimed at the two.
"FIRE!" Ichikawa commanded as a hail of bullets and spells hurled around the room.
Scarlet summoned Filibus as she fired her pistol; Velvet followed her lead as Irene flew to some with her blades slicing through any in her way. Despite the few they took out, the crossfire resulted in their support chain breaking. Both saw nothing to grab, so their Personas returned to them and catch them both—the hail of fire was too much for them as they quickly latched onto another cage with better cover.
Scarlet peeked over to Nea, who was barely protected by the cage bars.
Ichikawa saw they still weren't dead, and the girl was cowering in her cage. 'Fine, if they're escaping this place, I'll take away everything from them while I still can,' he thought before activating the machine and dropping Nea's cage.
Nea was barely able to scream as the pool drew closer and closer, her shock only coming in when she stopped just a few feet above.
"What now?!" Ichikawa roared as the controls suddenly began to go wild. "soldiers, just kill the prisoner…hey, I command you!"
[Main System & communication Interference achieved] Safie told Velvet, [System security approaching. I do not know how long my signal will ward them off.]
"Got it. We need to take care of these shadows and get to Nea now, Scarlet."
"I know, I know!" She grunted as she quickly looked around for a quick plan. "Okay, you'll just have to provide cover Velvet, I'll have Filibus fly me to Nea, and we'll escape the way we came in."
"That's your plan?! For all, we know the trap door could be sealed! That is, if you're not shot down first, I can't take out all of them myself."
"We don't have many options."
"No…we do!" Pixie said in Mao's head as she felt the presence approaching.
"Sights on support chain," one shadow said, "firing shot." Just as he said so, a series of powerful lightning bolts strike most of the shadows and have them plummet below. This forced the remaining troops to call for reinforcements.
The three humans heard mischievous giggles swirl around them as pixies began to fill the room, dodging bullets and spells as they strike with their own attacks. The two thieves look in surprise at this turn of events when a familiar figure appeared before them. "Phew, been a while since I got to stretched my muscles like that," the head Pixie giggled.
Scarlet's mask broke as Pixie appeared in shock, "You…came back?"
"We don't like owing others favors, that's all, plus we felt this was a good way to get some payback," the chief smiled, "now do your thing, human, and save the blonde one so we can finally leave this forsaken place."
Both Pixie and Mao smiled as they switched to Filibus and flew over to Nea as Velvet provided her cover. More and more kept coming, but since the posts fitted only one, they had the advantage of taking them out one at a time.
Scarlet and her Persona dodged stray fire and friendly allies till finally reaching Nea. "Gotcha!" she smiled.
Nea was still in shock to what was going on around her, a flurry of those pixies and shadows fighting it out. When Mao told her she'll break the cages lock soon, Nea could only ask, "Why…?"
"What?"
"Why'd you all come here and fight like this…for someone like me?"
Right as she asked that, a presence was felt as her shadow appeared ominously on the opposing side of the cage. She freaked out and hugged her side, much to Mao's confusion, unable to see the shadow herself.
"Hey! Nea, stay focus on me, alright?! Eyes on me!" Mao shouted.
"All of them…all these people are gonna get hurt now because me," Nea sobbed, "I…I should've stayed dead! If I did, then none of this wouldn't be happening, and I wouldn't be a burden to anyone ever again!"
The glow of her shadow grew stronger with each terrible word she uttered. A dark look grew on her face as she decayed into a corpse-like state.
"Just shut up, Nea!" Mao shouted, a stun silence echoing in the cage as she finally breaks the hatch.
"Mao…"
"…I don't want to hear another awful thing like that come out of you, Nea," Mao utterly with a painful but resolved look. "You…you don't get say that when we've worked so hard to come here and break you out. Instead of hiding back in your shell again, please just grab my hand."
"W-why are you saying all this?"
"Cause I haven't been doing my role as your sister Nea," Mao proclaimed, much to Nea's shock. "I've been a wreck since what happened to my parents…I was a wreck before even that. I've been so wrapped up in it that not only have I been sweeping aside your problems, but even made you feel obligated to fix my own."
"That's not true, Mao,…the moment I saw your father for the last time, I vowed to look after you."
Mao smiled somberly, "and I'll remember that forever, Nea. But you took it to the point where, like other times before, you saw it as another reason for your own life and feelings to not matter. I…I know life hasn't been so kind to you since that day, but don't start forgetting about what we were still all able to experience together."
"But…your all I have left, those friends, they either used me or left because of me…"
"That fight wasn't anyone's fault Nea, let alone yours! I know what losing those you love feels like, but if some are gone, or you feel you can't trust anyone else, don't let it drive you away from those who will always love you! You got the best parents in the world Nea. You have genuine talent. And even if one day you and more are separated…I'll always be your sister. Your life means something Nea, you'll never be alone, so please just grab on!"
Nea felt her hand move on its own as tears fell down her face. With the will power she has left, she looks up to see her shadow between her and Mao.
"Don't see me with that look," it whispered, "see past all that. All this guilt, this pain…it does not have to define us; look with your true eyes what your life truly was. What it really meant."
She extends a helping hand to Nea. With some last bit of hesitance, she reached forward and grabs hold before fades away to reveal Mao's hand as she pulls her up.
Mao held Nea closely as she tearfully smiles, Nea suddenly dizzy and exhausted, gives only a meek smile in their embrace. "Mao…thank you."
"…no problem, sis, now let's get out of here," Mao happily says as Filibus holds both of them tightly.
Velvet saw Nea was secured and call on their allies to retreat as she summons Irene to take her up. Everyone escapes through their own path as the three humans soar in the darkness, Mao keeping Nea close as she drifted in and out of consciousness. They see the light ahead as the way out was busted open by the Pixies.
Finally, back on their feet, Velvet leads the way out as Mao carried Nea.
"Almost there, Nea, we're almost there," she panted.
"How's she doing?" Velvet asked.
"I don't know, she suddenly started to pass out. We need to get her to the doctor quickly."
They climb up the many stairs before finally reaching the main lobby and opening the stairway doors, only to see a small army fill the room with Okamoto's cognition in the center.
"No…" Scarlet uttered in dismay.
"Damn that Ichikawa," Velvet cursed.
"Well, quite the predicament we have here, and your little friends now nowhere to be seen," Okamoto mocked. "After hearing reports of your rescue, I won't lie when I say you may still get out of this alive." He stared at the barely conscious Nea and smirked, "well, most of you at least."
Scarlet held Nea tightly, not letting a single one of these thugs touch her.
"I'll give you two one last deal, between you and me," he sneered, "turn yourselves in, and we'll let her go. We'll even ignore the Pixies. They were a liability anyway."
Velvet glanced over to Scarlet, seeing the feeling was mutual that their resolve won't be so easily swayed.
"So be it," he shrugged before pulling out a pistol himself and firing the first shot, following by a hail of bullets. For several seconds they blast away at the growing plume of smoke till being forced to reload. The cognition smiled till seeing something still there; instead of three corpses, it was a small grey dome shielding them.
Velvet cleared her eyes and ignored the bruises on her as she grunted, "Safie, status report!"
[Last resort shield standing at 33% Escape is highly advisable. Enemy cognition presence too strong to escape here.]
"Then we got no choice," Velvet sighed, "Scarlet summon your Persona and give it everything you-"
She stops as she turns to see a pool of blood. Okamoto smiled as he at least didn't miss. Nea looked over with tears in her eyes as Mao coughed up blood as the wound in her gut was bleeding her out.
[Scarlet down. Apply healing item immediately… Velvet?] Safie said.
Velvet only stared, somehow unable to move at the scene before her.
Nea saw her hand covered in Mao's blood, blinking in shock before processing what just happened. "M-Mao! Hey, stay we us, we got to leave together, remember?!" She immediately applied pressure but only saw Mao drift more away from consciousness.
"Go ahead, heal her if you can. It won't change the inevitable," Okamoto said ominously as they reload for another barrage. "You're all useless roaches to the very end, and the world will forget you as just another tragedy."
'Useless…are we really going to die here? Forgotten…?' Nea thought as she pushed more and more on Mao's wound.
"There's still a way out…"
'H-how?" Nea asked her shadow.
"There's still one last condition you must fulfill."
"Anything. I'll face everything and anything to save them."
"And?"
"And…and myself too!"
"Then look again, with your true eyes."
Time seemed to freeze, replaces with familiar memories of Nea's life.
Her parents in that same room, upon hearing the news hold their hands tightly as thier expression switch to determination. "Do whatever it'll take to save our baby," her mother says with not a single bit of hesitation or doubt about their future.
"It won't be easy, or chea-"
"We don't fucking care!" her father shouted, "she's our daughter, and I'll move mountains if I have to so she'll stay alive, and we'll give her the life she deserves!"
Nea didn't let those linger doubt hold on; as much as her parents struggled throughout her life, they were small sacrifices for something far more important than material goods. They want nothing more than seeing her be that happy to go lucky girl with a bright future ahead.
She sees her old hospital room, looking to be another lonely day, till a stranger walks in. A girl with black hair and eyes, the brightest red, saw her. "Hey, your that girl!"
"Um…"
"Oh, sorry! Didn't mean to scare ya," she shyly smiled before approaching the timid girl, "So, what's your name?"
"N-nea…"
"That's a pretty name. I'm Mao; it's nice to meet you," she smiled, "you have any friends, Nea? I've been dying to go to destiny land for months, and I want to bring as many friends with me to join in!"
"H-how many d-do you have now?"
"Well…zero, but that just means you and your friends will be the firsts!"
"But…I don't have any," Nea whimpered, "I'm stuck here…"
Mao frowned, looking down at her piece of paper before handing it to Nea. "Then, let's hold off on it."
"Why? You looked so excited."
"Well, don't tell the adults this, but it's just an amusement park and not an actual magical land. And even if it was magical, I won't be going anywhere so long as you stuck here, Nea. So till you get better and be free of this place, you hold onto that invitation, and I'll visit you every day instead, so you won't be lonely anymore!"
"Y-you…really do that? We just met."
"Isn't that everybody before they're friends, though? Since you have no one else, then I'll be your friend! Plus, you're very nice and cute!"
"C-cute?" Nea smiled as she held onto an old drawing.
"Hey, that's super pretty!" Mao noticed, "Do you have more? I love to see them!"
Nea watched as the memories change in and out of Mao's countless other visits, staying till she had to be dragged out and her younger self treasuring every moment. How could we throw such memories away?
It switched again to Nea in school after the terrible realization, till suddenly she's home to a surprise by her friends of a homemade bowl of udon they made to celebrate their near graduation. She savored the flavor and barely held back her emotions as her real friends stick beside her.
Nea, see's one last memory of their first moment in college. They stand together in front of the Jiyu's gates, Nea's hands tremble in fear of her inadequacy holding her back till Mao's hands held them.
"You got this Nea, even when I'm not there, you have the brains and brawn to stand on your own."
Both she and the memory of her both nodded with a soft smile, "I know."
"Because, I know now my life has always had a meaning," she continued, "the fact I'm here now, breathing, talking, and living in this world is the best thing to have ever happened to me. I'm not gonna wallow in my own self-pity anymore, nor view my life as one where I'm better off dead. I'll live my own life and future to the fullest, no matter what gets in the way…and I'll always be there loving you and everyone around me, the same love you have shown me. Thank you so much, everyone."
"Finally, thou have seen the beauty within thyself," her shadow's voice echoed in their mindscape glowed a warm blue, "through one's self-love can thou finally be strong enough to protect & cherish the bright world around us."
"Yes, I'm ready," Nea smiled as a yellow bandana formed around her eyes, "hold on, you two, now it's my turn to fight."
"I am thou, thou art I," her shadow whispered as it was enveloped by the blue light and begun its manifestation, "with thys burning soul, I shall be the eternal guardian who'll wield the power of the sun and shine light onto this bleak world!"
Nea ripped off her mask with a vigorous roar as a mighty column of blue flame engulfs her. Most of the enemy burns from the heat as Velvet fell in shock at what just happened, within seconds a mask formed on Nea's face, and suddenly she'd have summoned her own Persona!
"I-impossible!" Okamoto growled as the light dimmed to reveal Nea's true self.
Mao slowly opened her eyes as the pain went away, the bright blue warm flames fading the blood and wound away. "N-nea?" she muttered before seeing what has happened.
She dons long sleeve chain mail underneath a white cloth vest with bronze forearm braces and yellow gloves. A brown leather ammo belt adorns her waist and a grey skirt over black leggings and brown boots. A small gold cloak is wrapped around her neck and drapes down her right shoulder as she wears a simple gold bandana around her eyes, her hair loose and freely waving in the air as they're adorned with a tulip fully blossomed. She cracks her knuckles before her bracelets glow bright and summon forth a metal whip that burns a bright pink flame.
"I almost forgot, but," Nea whispered, "thank you, Dis, for staying by my side."
"It's like I told child," she said, "I'll always guard over you." Her Persona emerged from the blue flame to reveal a tall blue skin woman with ancient tattoos on her head, arms, and legs. She wears a leotard with a brown coat, she rides a large, mighty white Elk, its red eyes glowing through the mist shrouding its full form. Its breaths a pink flame as it's huffs sound like thunder. Dis holsters a long revolver and wields a magic Kantele instrument.
Nea eyes stare down at Okamoto and the remaining shadows, "This is my true life, I see that now. So, I'll decide it through my own will and won't let a bastard like you steal that from others anymore!"
Okamoto pointed his gun and fired the entire clip at the rebellious girl, gleefully smiling till he saw the girl still standing.
Nea saw her armor not only protected her, but it hardly phased her as each bullet tumbled to her feet. With a proud smirk, she swings her powerful whip and cleaved the cognition in two, it's last sight being Nea's sheer potential. Before the remaining shadows between them can fire, Nea summoned her trusty babies and pulled out twin revolvers. In a second, she unloaded her rounds onto the dozen shadows. All fell before they could even lift their weapons.
"Incoming!" Velvet warned as reinforcements started pouring in.
"We got them," Nea smirked as the air around them grew hotter, "unleash our power, Persona!"
With a graceful gesture, the pale blue woman strums her instrument, and a flurry of lighting came from the heavens above. Nea and Dis unleashed strike after strike, for Velvet and Scarlet, it was like being in the middle of a thunderstorm, with not a single stragglier passing through her lighting barrage. When the smoke cleared, there was a single shadow left.
"Boo!" Nea winked, causing the shadow to scurry away.
Nea huffed heavily with a broad smile as the danger was cleared. The others stared in awe of such power she held. Eventually, she felt the fatigue get to her as she fell into Mao's arms.
"Whoa, I got you," Mao said.
Nea chuckled, "I know you do…sis."
In no time, the three left the Animus and finally returned to their world together.
A/N: Phew...this was big but thankful still under 15k. I only wished I alluded to something a bit better or wrap things up here a bit cleaner but I think this final draft works with the story. Lots of big and little reveals of main and side characters alike, I'm particularly proud of Nea's and Pixie's story. Also, that Hunger Arcana may be a bit more unique than how it's usually applied. Also, I tried not to change Dis's design cause of how good it already is, she's here cause of her nature as a Guardian Spirit of Norse Mythos. We'll be wrapping up Ichikawa's Palace soon and move onto the next segment of the story, so look out for that!