TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter gets a little gory towards the end. Sorry to my squeamish readers.
. . .
Far East Branch - Veteran's Floor
The following day was an eventful one for the First Unit. The morning had greeted them with a summons for yet another urgent announcement, much to Ichiro's irritation. With few hours of restful sleep, he was in little mood for what he assumed would be even more bad news. Soma, it seemed, had a similar suspicion, as he stomped into the lobby shortly after him looking almost as irritated as he was. Kota simply looked confused, both by the emergency meeting as well as its attendees.
As the meeting officially began, Kota's concern became apparent to the two veterans as well, primarily because they were the only three present. Neo's absence was obvious as her location was currently unknown. Sakuya and Alisa however, were also missing which confused the three of them even more. For Alisa to skip a meeting was strange enough, but for the Vice Commander to shirk it as well was unheard of. To top it all off, they found that even their Squad Captain was currently missing. And after a few moments into the meeting, the three of them learned why.
Lenka himself was the topic of the discussion as the announcement was made that he would be once again leaving the Far East branch. Even Soma couldn't hide his surprise at the idea of losing their new leader so quickly. Ichiro didn't seem to care much at all, his mind slowly drifting elsewhere. Kota was visibly distraught, none too happy at the idea of losing his friend so soon after their reunion. Tsubaki noticed his dejected expression and continued her announcement, taking the opportunity to quell his concerns in the same breath.
With his medication supply running low, the First Unit Leader would be making a return to the Northern American continent. His exit was classified and only members of the First Unit had been made aware of the purpose behind his travel abroad. It would be only for a few days, no longer than a week at the latest, and he would be quickly returning his usual activities. Assured that Utsugi's absence was temporary, Kota relaxed and Soma breathed a sigh of relief. Ichiro gave no reaction, as he wasn't currently on the best of terms with Lenka to begin with. He still had yet to determine whether or not the Squad Captain was a threat, and his contact with his homeland only served to add to his suspicions.
Once the meeting had concluded, Kota decided to address the elephant in the room, always the one to voice the concerns that others chose to keep silent. The two veterans said nothing, but listened intently, as both were well aware of and curious about their female members' absence. But their hopes for answers were quickly dashed when the Major revealed, to their surprise, that she knew little more than they did. She had no explanation for the missing women but assured them that they would be found and probably given a thorough scolding.
With nothing more to discuss, the trio went their separate ways. Kota made his way to the Mess Hall to grab something to eat, wondering if Lenka had already departed. It was still relatively early in the morning, and it was possible that was still in the Den. If he were, he would probably be getting food, same as he was, before making any further preparations. Soma left for Dr. Sakaki's Office to check on their Aragami and her worsening condition. Hopefully, the doctor had made some headway in diagnosing her problem. Ichiro, made straight for the weapons hangar to collect his God Arc. For him, it would be another day of searching and field operations, hoping to locate their New-Type.
That was where he remained until nearly nightfall, as he searched endlessly across the barren landscapes in search of any trace of Neo's presence. And as had been the case for the past week, his efforts went unrewarded. There were no traces of the missing woman seemingly anywhere within the surrounding areas. Frustrated, he returned to his quarters in defeat, his mind reeling from the aggravation of it all.
It just didn't make any sense to him. She couldn't possibly have left the Far East without arranging for a transport, and he highly doubted that Director Schicksal would have been willing to provide her with one, let alone without notifying him beforehand. Air travel was out of the question and they were surrounded by ocean waves in every direction. Where could she have gone? He was beginning to grow desperate as his options narrowed. There were a few things that could have happened to her, and none of them were desired.
One particular possibility came to mind… and the very thought of it made his blood run cold.
"Damn it, Neo…" Ichiro muttered tiredly into the empty room.
The despair in his wavering voice was evident as his eyes drifted once again to the bottom drawer of his dresser. Loathe as he was to admit it, it seemed that the time was finally upon him. Ichiro grunted slightly as he raised tiredly from his sofa. With leaden feet, the veteran somberly made his way toward to the dresser. He could almost feel his legs threatening to buckle beneath him with each and every step as he marched slowly towards the object of his dread.
Trembling fingers reaching forward, he slowly bent towards the sliding compartment. A lump formed in his throat, quickly swallowed as his hands shakily opened the dresser drawer. Within it were various clothing articles, primarily pants and undergarments. But beneath them, hidden out of sight, was something more. Carefully shifting the fabric, his fingers paused as they felt the familiar texture of a metal case. The silver lining peeked from beneath the pile, the dim light from above reflecting off its surface. His lips pulled into a scowl as he glared at the pristine storage container. It was almost as if it were taunting him.
His brown eyes slowly hovered over the box, as his determination faltered. Would he really have to resort to this? He didn't want to, and it was evidenced by his trembling hands. His mind raced, trying to find any excuse, any reason, any other possibility. But with each passing day of her absence, each option dwindled. Slowly brushing his fingers along the keypad, Ichiro took a single calming breath and sighed. Neo would be found. She had to be.
Suddenly, the veteran's thoughts were interrupted.
Hm?
A quiet knock reached his ears as knuckles tapped against his sliding door. A visitor? Silently shutting the drawer, Ichiro quickly rose to his feet and made his way quickly towards the door, relieved by the distraction. His feet were happy to move, desperate to go somewhere, anywhere away from that awful chest. Pressing the button, he slid open his bedroom door to see the last person he expected nor want to see.
"Soma."
"Hamasaki."
Their greeting was short and concise as neither man was currently in the mood for small talk or pleasantries. But at the sight of his utterly exhausted teammate, Soma's expression softened slightly. The dark coloring beneath his eyes was growing obvious against his fair skin. His body swayed and his legs looked unsteady, as though he were ready to collapse at any moment. While seeing him in such a state didn't in any way change his personal feelings towards him, it did at the very least earn him some sympathy and respect for his dedication. It was both commendable and greatly appreciated… after all, Neo was his friend as well.
"Anything?" Soma cut straight the point, seeing little reason to keep the man on his feet any longer than necessary.
Ichiro shook his head. He didn't need to ask what Soma was referring to. There could be only one reason that he would seek him out. At the sight of his sagging shoulders beneath his navy blue hoodie, the veteran sighed. He could see the dejection in the other's expression and to some degree it brought him solace. Unfond as he was of him, he couldn't ignore the obvious concern that he had for their friend. She clearly mattered to him, even if he was apprehensive to show it.
"Damn…" Soma muttered his response and backed away from the door. With his question answered, he turned to take his leave. He doubted the other would appreciate his lingering company without valid reason. Then for a moment, he paused, turning to look over his shoulder at his tired comrade. "Eat something. You'll be no use to her in this state."
With his parting words, Ichiro watched his blue jacket disappear from the doorway and down the hall towards his own quarters. Shaking his head, Ichiro stepped out the room, closing the door behind him, and making his way down the corridor. A silent chuckle shook his shoulders as he headed towards the lift. If he didn't know any better, he would have mistaken Soma's words for genuine concern.
. . .
Aegis Island
"You're certain?" The Director's deep timbre echoed softly in the quiet control room.
"Positive, sir. Something definitely alerted the systems, but we couldn't find anything." The operating technician shook his head incredulously as his eyes returned to the screens.
Earlier in the evening, a flag had been raised, triggering a warning and setting everyone on high alert. It seemed that something had tripped the alarm, but for some reason the defense apparatus had been unable to track down or confirm any presence. The security team had carefully scoured the island but found nothing to indicate any form of intrusion. While false positives were far from impossible in such a complex system, the causes for them weren't exactly common. It was certainly possible for a small or quickly moving object to set off the security system such as a bird or rodent… but neither one of those things would be present within the facility. After over an hour of searching, the team was at a loss.
"Continue observation. Alert me immediately if anything changes."
"Sir." With a quick salute, the technician returned to his task of observing the monitors.
Johannes shook his head and turned his attention to a different control panel, eyeing the moving graphs carefully. He didn't have time for these sorts of distractions. They were so close to completing their goal. The end was in sight. He needed only to find the remaining piece… and knowing his chosen operative, it would be soon within his grasp. While the rest of the Den had entered a state of panic, the Director wasn't concerned. Neo was more than capable of surviving outside of the Wall. She was perceptive, cunning, and highly efficient. Most likely, she had picked up on her target's trail. And once she had her target in sight, she would capture it at any cost.
He needed only to wait…
Beep, beep, beep
The screeching sound of an alarm resounded through the metal walls, drawing Johannes from his thoughts. The flashing crimson lights and echoing signal confirmed their original suspicions. It seemed that they did have an intruder within the island after all… and he had a feeling he already knew who it was. Leaving the team to their work, he made his way towards the lift. A small smile tugged at his lips as he left to greet their uninvited guests.
. . .
Heels clicked softly against the metal flooring as the veteran God Eater slowly made her way through the darkened area. Her journey through Aegis Island had certainly not been an easy one. Having snuck her way from the base in the dead of night, Sakuya had spent the better half of the day navigating her way through the intricate security systems of the massive structure. Had she any doubts of the true nature of this island, they were laid to rest after witnessing firsthand the lengths the Director had gone to protect it.
"Security is growing tighter around here… That must mean I'm getting close. The core must be nearby. I can't see anything." Sakuya muttered quietly to herself as her eyes drifted slowly through the darkness.
The area was nearly pitch black. She could scarcely see the God Arc clutched in her hands, let alone anything in front of her. With nothing visible in the massive clearing, the gunner began to wonder if she had taken a wrong pathway. She contemplated the idea, and after a moment's pause, she continued on. It was too late to turn back now and doing so may put her at risk. Within the blackness, she could very easily trip an alarm, alerting everyone to her presence and location. Instead, she pressed forward, stopping only as the silhouette of a gargantuan mass caught her attention from up above.
"What… is all this?" Her words came out a bit louder than intended, startled by the sight before her. And in her moment of carelessness, her fears became realized as the room illuminated.
Alarms blared, echoing through the open room and disorienting red lighting distorted her vision. Sakuya stepped back, recoiling as the systems assaulted her senses. Her eyes squinted, trying to regain her bearings as the defenses activated, humming with power as the machinery came to life. Bewildered and blind, she raised her arms protectively in a vain attempt to shield herself from the incoming attack… but it never came.
As the lasers fired in her direction a red blur skewed her vision. Alisa's buckler deployed, deflecting the incoming attack and shielding both of them from harm. With practiced motions, she deactivated her guard and shifted her God Arc into gun mode, firing into the darkness towards the source of the commotion. The machine hissed with static as the bullet collided with it, destroying the apparatus.
"Well, that was a little too close, I'd say." Safe for the moment, the New-Type finally addressed her Vice Commander.
"Alisa!" Sakuya blinked, her vision finally adjusting to her surroundings. Before her stood her teammate and ally, eyeing her suspiciously. She almost looked a bit winded. Had she run all the way here?
"I hope you didn't think you were just gonna leave me behind. No way in hell was I gonna let you rush in here alone."
"That's… " Sakuya started, wracking her brain for a valid excuse as the younger God Eater stared her down. She had been caught red-handed. What could she possibly say?
But her words fell short as the alarm system faltered. The flashing lights faded, and the room erupted in a blinding light. The groaning of metal bars could be heard as an arm extended from the darkness. And riding on the rising platform was…
"Welcome to the Aegis. I had a feeling it would be you two. So tell me, what do you think? Are you crushed that it's nothing like the paradise you were sold? Hehehe."
"Director Schicksal… You lied. You deceived us for years… What is all this?" Sakuya's voice trembled with vexation as his familiar white coat lowered, placing him towards the ground level.
"Lindow must have found a way in, hm? I doubt you could have done it alone. It's such a shame. He had potential. His will be a loss that I will not forget. Truly a terrible day."
"Don't you dare talk about him, you traitor! You're responsible for all of this!" Sakuya erupted, her anger exploding into rage at the mention of their fallen comrade.
"No point in denying the truth." Johannes responded, looking down at them from his perch. There was no need for secrecy. Not anymore. "Dear Lindow had another master, and I couldn't risk getting bitten. There was too much at stake here. Too much to let him ruin it. He acted rashly, and too soon. We couldn't allow word of the Ark Project to break these walls, not without the key well in hand. Without control over the Devouring Apocalypse, these is no point to any of this."
The two women glowered at him, their eyes burning with malice as Director Schicksal, a man that they had entrusted with both their present and future, taunted them shamelessly.
"Aragami will purge this world, wreath in flame and death, and then, like the phoenix, allow it to rise again in glory! From birth, to death, unto birth,. A complete regeneration. All species eradicated to the last. History rewritten in a searing flash of light. Save those on this Ark. They will be free from the end, each soul conveying humanity's DNA and our species' legacy into the new world. Unfortunately, this Ark can only carry so many. Space is precious, and time is growing more so. There are only so many berths into mankind's next stage. Is it not just for the common to give their lives so the best may continue on?"
"You want to repopulate the earth with your chosen people? You're more a beast than the Aragami!" Sakuya bellowed, no longer containing her seething hatred for the one who'd betrayed them. Who had taken everything from them.
Beside her, Alisa's eyes narrowed as realization dawned on her. A previous conversation with her companion drifted slowly to the forefront and her friend's somber voice rang clearly in her mind.
"All right. I won't press you, but just answer me one question. This suspicion of yours… is it going to be problematic?"
"No… it will be catastrophic."
She could feel her hairs stand on end as her words reverberated in her head. Her darkened expression. Her nervous demeanor. Her anxious voice. All were fully justified in that moment as it all became clear.
Neo was right.
"Who better than us, Ms. Tachibana? It's a shame though. Hahahaha!" The Vice Commander's glare intensified at the sound of his laughter. "Such a damned shame. You both have gone and gotten yourselves crossed off that list, haven't you? Hahaha! I'm terribly sorry, but you cannot leave this place."
Sakuya's grip tightened around the handles of her God Arc, her muscles tensing at the sound of his ominous warning. He planned to dispose of them, just like Lindow. He had been waiting for them. And he was prepared for both of them to perish here. In Aegis, alone, where no one would be the wiser… or so she thought. After a few moments of silence, she began to look nervously at her surroundings, uncertain of what was happening. The veteran wasn't certain of what was going on and from the perplexed look on the Director's face, he knew little more than she did.
Beside her, her blonde companion stepped forward, her pompous tone earning a twitch of irritation from their adversary. "Oh, were… were you expecting something? I went out of my way to destroy all your safeguards."
His lips pulling into a straight line, the Director glared down at them. "Clever… and problematic. It seems I have no other option but to have you kill one another. I was hoping it would not come to this."
What?!
Sakuya's eyes widened with horrific realization as movement entered her periphery. Approaching them was another man standing close to the control panel. How long had he been standing there? Scowling, the Vice Commander was quickly beginning to share her teammate's disdain for white lab coats.
"It's been a while, Alisa. This is your fault. Wouldn't it have been better to just slip into death? If that coma had lasted forever? Clearly you still have some passion. Why deny it? If you're so eager to kill once more, I'll gladly lend a hand." Oguruma's voice dripped with venom as he slowly stepped forward.
"What are you… Wait… No!" Alisa backed away from him, fear gripping her heart as he began to recite the words… those dreadful words.
"Odin…"
Familiar images flashed through her mind. Images of the Aragami. Of her target. Her enemy. Lindow.
"Dva!"
Sakuya.
"Tri!"
With his final word, the world began to fade. Her mind clouded as the familiar sensations took over. Her vibrant eyes clouded and her grip tightened as she slowly turned toward her ally.
As the barrel of her gun trained forward, Sakuya rushed forward. "Alisaaaaa!"
Her blue orbs stared blankly ahead, seeing nothing before her but her adversary… but at the sound of her name, the corner of her mouth twitched. Alisa could still hear her… and that was all she needed.
"Don't give in, Alisa! Don't! You're stronger than this, stronger than him! You always have been! You didn't kill Lindow. You fought it then!"
Her grip tightened as she took her aim, her enemy drawing closer… and closer…
"This has never beaten you before. You have always been a fighter. So fight now!"
Fight it…
When things get crazy or chaotic, I want you to look up in the sky and find a cloud that looks like an animal, okay?
Fight…
Just look for a cloud, okay?
Hey, that one kind of looks like an owl.
Fight!
A gunshot echoed through the open space as she pulled the trigger, a vibrant green light soaring through the air towards her Commander.
"You have the power to protect those you love!" With her final words, Sakuya leapt forward, wrapping her arms around the listless woman as her knees began to buckle from underneath her.
Oguruma cackled at the sight, certain of her demise. "Hahaha! Pretty words, Sakuya, but you must have lost your damned mind! Hahaha -"
What?!
The doctor's words were cut short as he realized that the Vice Commander was still standing, veiled in green light. "What the hell?!"
"Sorry, hehe… Recovery Bullet." The gunner shot him a cocky grin as she tightened her grip, supporting Alisa's sagging form.
"Recover - Oh, hell…" The doctor took a step back, his previous confidence no more. Alisa had won.
He had no time to react as Sakuya trained her barrel towards them and fired, engulfing the area in light. A flash bullet. His arms raised to cover his eyes as the room turned white, powerless to stop them as the women scurried way in the ensuing chaos. When the room dimmed, both God Eaters were gone. They had made their escape. From his position on the lift, the director growled in frustration.
"Do I not already have enough to worry about? Damn them…"
Oguruma twitched slightly at the sound of him, his low rumble reminding him eerily of another irritable young man in the Far East. It seemed to matter not whether it were a Hamasaki or a Schicksal. Like father, like son. His eyes followed the Director as he made his way from the platform toward the control panel, sparing not even a glance in his direction. The doctor waited for a few moments, holding his position as he awaited further orders. When he received none, he slowly took a step backward the exit, watching the Director carefully. He made no move to stop him. The message was clear: his services were no longer needed.
Which was perfectly fine with him. Oguruma was more than fed up with the Far East. With his contract terminated, he turned and made his way across the empty hall. Reaching the lift, he rode his way downward to the underground passageways, letting out an exasperated sigh. It was no matter. While he had spent the last few weeks on Aegis Island, he had received vague reports from the Director during occasional his visits. He wasn't informed entirely of the Den's operations, but he knew enough to know that the end was in sight. Specimen 13 had been deployed in search of the Singularity, and from what he had heard, she was hot on its trail.
Now, they need only wait for the Singularity. Once in their possession, the Devouring Apocalypse would be upon them. Himself, and the chosen would board the 'Arks' flying to safety while the world below was consumed. It was a grim fate for those left behind… but he wasn't concerned for them. Now, he could worry only about himself.
The lift doors opened and the doctor stepped into the empty underground hallway. As he walked through the corridor, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. His years of work had finally come to fruition. He felt pride. He felt satisfaction. He felt…
…pain.
"Gah!" A guttural sound escaped the doctor's mouth as he stumbled forward.
Rounding the corner, he was accosted by a silent assailant. He could feel the needle piercing his skin as the searing pain began to spread quickly from the injection site. It took only a few moments for him to recognize the symptoms, having seen it so many times on those he administered. It was poison. But who would have access to such a potent strain… and why would they use it on him? All questions were quickly answered as a small form came into view. Violet bangs covered her golden eye as she glared up at him. What was she doing here?
"What?! Ugh… It's y-you…"
"It's been a long time, Daigo."
He felt his body involuntarily flinch at the hollow tone of her voice. She spoke very few words, but her speech pattern told him everything that he needed to know. He felt his chest tighten as he gazed at her heterochromatic eyes. Reaper was gone. If his programming had faded that could only mean one thing. Hamasaki had failed. He knew not what fate had befallen him, whether he'd been lost in the field of battle or fallen prey to the monster standing before him. It mattered not. The only thing that mattered in that moment was the potent poison coursing through his veins.
"I hope you don't mind. I borrowed some of your supplies. You really shouldn't leave these sorts of things lying around… someone could get hurt." An amused smirk accompanied her taunting voice as she watched him sink to his knees before her.
So that was the answer. She must have broken into his office and stolen his medical supplies. But he had been there for most of the time… how long had she been hiding there, lying in wait? More importantly, how did she get passed the security systems? To infiltrate Aegis required knowledge unbeknownst to her, along with careful planning, and a tremendous amount of stealth…
… or speed.
Suddenly, it all began to make sense. The false alarms in the security systems and shadows flitting through the cameras. It had never been Sakuya. He coughed, a bitter smirk curling on his lips as he looked up at her. She was toying with him, he could tell. And that only became more apparent as his eyes drifted towards her pocket where she slowly extracted a syringe containing a dull green liquid. Oguruma recognized it immediately. The antidote. His field of vision slowly began to blur as she twirled the object deftly between her fingers. And her expression told him that she knew they were in agreement… he was at the mercy of her will.
"Wh-What… What do… What do you want?"
"Freedom."
"Heh… heheh…" Daigo's resentful laughter quickly faded into a strained cough as the venom worked through his system.
Before him stood Specimen 13, daughter of Fida Ferrell and Derek smith. The most sinister result of the Managarm Project. The Dark Child. And she was presenting him a choice. His life for her freedom.
His programming had run deep. She was easily the most challenging project that he had ever successfully completed. Her cognitive conditioning had been careful, intricate, and precise. It required not only obedience, but numbness, as well as a strict understanding of hierarchal structure. It required remorseless destruction and ruthlessness with careful consideration and limitation. She needed enough room to harm and kill, but not enough to do so to herself and others. And now, she was asking him to undo it all. He was the only one that could free her from her mental chains.
And she knew it.
It was a simple exchange on the surface, but Oguruma knew better than that. To release Specimen 13 would not only be unbinding Neo, but her other half as well… and doing so could prove disastrous if she decided humanity couldn't be saved. On the other hand, humanity was already far beyond redemption. Her very existence was proof of that. With or without her, their world would be coming to an end, born anew from the devouring of the Nova.
It was a foolish gamble, he knew… but Oguruma didn't want to die. Not like this. He wondered if perhaps he would be spared if he granted her wish. Spared to go on to the new world, leaving the rest of humanity, including her, behind. After all, he knew that at the heart of it all, what she truly wanted was to be free from this world. She had been forced to live. And now, she would be free to die.
Resigning himself, he slowly reached into his pocket, drawing a small device from his coat. He had never been more grateful in that moment that he had kept his recording on him. He never knew if he would meet Specimen 13 again… but if she ever were to appear, he would be prepared. As his vision began to darken, he hit the Play button, the familiar voice ringing through the empty hall.
You are my sunshine… my only sunshine
You make me happy… when skies are grey
Neo's body swayed slightly to the music, her eyes growing dull as she gratefully accepted the soothing lilt of her mother's voice.
You'll never know dear… how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
As the song came to an end, the light behind her eyes began to fade. She stood stock still, frozen in stasis, as her vision clouded. Her mind was primed, awaiting a command, prepared to take on the identity of his choosing. And for only a moment, he considered calling her by her other name… but Neo was intelligent. She wouldn't have come to him knowing that Reaper was still an option. To attempt a betrayal would only lead to his own demise. Instead, Oguruma hit another button on the opposite side, playing the song again… in reverse.
Yawa enihsnus ym ekat t'nod esaelp
Uoy evol I hcum woh… raed wonk reven ll'uoy
The soft, melodic voice of Neo's mother, once gentle and calm, was now twisted and distorted. The garbled words rewound, turning back the hands of time… and with them, Neo's conditioning. She could feel the fog in her mind lifting, leaving it clearer than she had felt in over a year. The parts that remained hidden were now visible and accessible as she came closer to her awakening. And as the song came to an end, Oguruma slowly lifted his head. His voice came as a hushed whisper as he forced out the syllables of her name.
"Specimen… 13…"
For a moment, Neo was still. She stood frozen in place, staring blankly forward as though she had been turned to stone. Then she groaned, grasping her head between her hands and stumbling forward. Her world began to spin as her mind became clear. The voices in her head no longer haunted her, arguing and shouting, and battling for control. Now, they had joined into one as she emerged from her year-long slumber.
With darkened vision, the doctor watched her stilted mechanical movements as she stood straight. With the phial still in her gasp, she lifted her arm forward, extending it towards him. Then, her other hand raised, quickly swiping against the exposed skin. His mouth twisted into a grimace at the disturbing sight. He watched her rend her own flesh, observing the crimson stream before it started to close. Her limitations were gone. She was finally free. Her grateful smile was the final image he saw as his world faded to darkness, his body slumping to the floor. He could no longer hear her. He could feel his lungs shudder as he struggled to draw breath. All was silent and still as the blackness consumed him.
Then it stopped.
Like a beacon at the end of a tunnel, light slowly returned to his eyes. His body trembled and shook as his systems came back online. He gasped, coughing violently as his lungs expanded, greedily drinking in the air around him. Sweet, sweet oxygen. Then the world began to materialize. He could see the floor against his cheek and the walls surrounding them. He could see the flickering light from that defective fixture that no one chose to repair. And in his periphery he could see a soft hand reaching out for him, offering her assistance.
He wasn't sure why she was offering a hand to him, or when she had even injected him in the first place… nor did he particularly care. And despite himself, Oguruma found himself reaching upwards to accept her peaceful offering. The floor fell away as she began to lift, pulling him easily to his feet. His arms could feel two small hands steady him as he wobbled, trying to stabilize himself.
After a few moments, his vision came into focus and looking down, he saw a head of violet hair and a pair of mismatched eyes looking up at him. He had been spared. And now, he would take his leave to get as far away from this creature as possible. Whatever she chose to do from this moment forward to herself or those around her was no longer his concern. His association with her was done.
But the feeling wasn't mutual.
As he maneuvered around her, walking shakily down the hall, he heard the most unsettling sound to ever reach his ears. Neo was laughing. But it wasn't a joyful chuckle or a harsh cackle. It was a quiet, gentle sound, nearly inaudible. Deeply disturbed, he stepped forward to quicken his pace. Whatever game she was playing, he wanted no part of it… but the words that followed stopped him dead in his tracks.
"This is your fault, you know."
His blood froze in his veins at the haunting sound as her tone changed. He could almost feel the revulsion dripping from every word.
"Wouldn't it have been better to just slip into death?"
At the sound of his own words in her hateful voice, he could feel his body tremble in terror. It had been minutes ago that Oguruma had taunted Alisa, one of Neo's allies… before turning her against the other. He had reveled in her death, delighting in their forced betrayal…
And she had heard every word of it.
Neo's response was not a gibe to him. It was a warning. Without a moment to waste, Daigo did the only thing he could think in that moment: to run. To do so was a fool's errand. He knew that there was no escape. Reaching into his pocket, he brandished a metal device. Recognizing the ultrasonic weapon, the New-Type closed the distance between them. His arm was wrenched outward, her hand clenching around his wrist. Her nails dug into his flesh, severing the nerves and forcing the disk from his hands. It clattered to the floor at her feet and was no more as she crushed it with a careful stomp.
"Hurk!" An agonized utterance was the only sound that escaped him as Neo turned her attention back to the doctor.
With his arm stretched out to the side, she put all of her force behind her free hand, driving it into his chest with a sickening squelch. Oguruma's body convulsed as unimaginable pain flooded his senses. He could feel the snapping of bone as she tore through his rib cage and sternum. He could feel her fingers moving inside of his chest as he looked downward into the eyes of his killer. He wanted to scream, but he couldn't. He could only stare down at her, as blood filled his lungs.
His voice gurgled as he attempted to speak. "I… freed… you…"
"A grievous mistake…" Neo pushed further into his body to accent her response. "…that will be your last."
"Heh… you really… are…"
A monster.
His parting words went unfinished as Neo opened her hand, wrapping her fingers around the object of her desire. Above her, Oguruma stuttered and sagged as the light faded from his eyes… his final image a wicked smile. Then, in a frightening display of cruelty, she tore a page from Alisa's memory book as recalled her deepest desire. She ensured that the 'doctor' would never harm anyone again.
By tearing out his core… and crushing it.
His lifeless body fell to the ground as she pulled his weakly pumping heart from his chest, crushing in her hand with a gut-wrenching squish. Oguruma was gone. Now, she turned her attention down the hallway toward her next objective. Blood dripping from her arms, Neo left a trail of red footprints in her wake as she wandered down the hallway in the direction he came.