Far East Branch - Veteran's Floor

The days that followed the infiltration of Aegis were disastrous. The loss of Utsugi and the First Unit's women took a heavy toll on the remaining members. With only three of the famous squadron remaining, tempers were high and resources were stretched dangerously thin. Ichiro spent his days rushing tirelessly across the landscape, searching for his missing friend. Soma's activities were much the same, hunting almost constantly to feed their hungry Aragami. Kota had effectively left field operations altogether, opting instead to take a temporary leave rather than senselessly attempt to carry the weight of the entire team all on his own.

With the First Unit practically out of commission, core collection fell to the other squadrons. The Second and Third Units found themselves being deployed in their stead, leaving the Fourth and Fifth Units behind to guard the walls of the Outer Ghetto. Some members were grateful for the change, eager to see more action outside of the city's defense. Others were annoyed by the fact, growing tired of the endless shenanigans surrounding the once infamous team. More specifically, they tired of one of its New-Types in particular.

In the eyes of the public, misfortune seemed to befall the group everywhere they went. Missing team members, mysterious deaths, and infighting, among various other problems plagued the squad. And all of it started following Neo's transfer. From the outside looking in, she had appeared in the Far East with little warning, disrupted their lives, upended all of their operations, and then vanished without a trace, leaving the rest of them to flounder in the aftermath. Even her absence had proved problematic, resulting in a massive fruitless full-scale search that pulled most of the top-tier God Eaters from their usual duties and obligations. Having caused nothing but trouble, the thoughts surrounding Neo's presence in the branch were far from pleasant.

Naturally, the rumors were untrue, as they often are, but that didn't do much to change perception and public opinion. A few members of the Den were even slightly relieved at her departure. They hadn't the slightest idea where she had gone, and to be honest, they weren't all too concerned. So long as they could return to some form of normalcy. Of course, the truth surrounding Neo's disappearance was in fact, a total mystery, even to the other members of her unit. Stranger still was the sudden loss of their other two female members which only served to raise more alarm as their locations at present were also known.

Unlike Neo however, two of them returned, and in due time. Unfortunately, their reappearance came in a form very different from what they would have expected. And with them, they brought harrowing news, sharing information that would shake the unit to its very core.

In the large empty room, once belonging to their former Captain, the three remaining members of the First Unit were scattered in various positions. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, was their brooding assault striker, Soma. On the couch, staring somberly at the coffee table, was their secondary gunner, Kota. And standing in front of the Norn terminal, staring tiredly at the computer screen, was their temporary leader in Utsugi's absence, Ichiro. And from the terminal screen, Sakuya's eyes watched the three of them, finishing her troubling tale.

"So that's the truth… The Aegis Project, the Ark… all of it. That sheet before you is the list of every eligible passenger approved to board the Ark. You will find each of your names on there. Anyone related up to the second degree can board that monstrosity and sail into safety."

Kota's eyes drifted slowly to the sheet lying before him on the coffee table. As she stated, the list was massive, containing the names of nearly every God Eater in the Den, doctors, researchers, mechanical personnel, and all of their immediate families.. Skimming through the list had revealed his own name as well as that of his mother and younger sister, Nozomi. To see their safe passage should have brought him joy and great relief… but for some reason, it didn't. It left little more than a bitter taste in his mouth.

In the silence of the room, Sakuya continued her recount of their events. "Of course, Alisa I were struck from their number. We knew what would happen when we tried to infiltrate Aegis. If the Director's plans come to fruition, you'll be saved. And in a way, that makes me happy. But Alisa and I are fugitives now. Certainly as far as Fenrir and the branch are concerned."

"A lie… It can't be a lie. We put so much… so much faith in this! Aegis was meant to protect us. It has to!" Kota's silence finally broke, his hands trembling with an emotion that they couldn't place. His voice wavered and his shoulders shook as he tried, failingly, to rationalize the new information. He had spent so many years… so much time… He had even risked his very life for this on numerous occasions. All of them had. He wouldn't accept it. He couldn't accept it.

Similarly, Soma wasn't taking the news very well either. His reaction however, was more resentful and self-deprecating. "I was never going to do what that tyrant commanded. Not like I'd be on the list. I'm half Aragami. They don't want me in their new world. There's no way they'd let me survive a day. I'm already impure."

From the terminal, Ichiro's drooping eyes flew open, suddenly alert. Turning his head away from the terminal, he fixed his gaze momentarily on the veteran leaning against the wall. Had he heard that right? Soma was half what? He had heard more than his fair share of horror stories and warnings from other members of the Den, particularly during his earlier months whenever he was assigned to work together with him. But he had given little credence to their ramblings. Having never seen anything wildly out of the ordinary, he hadn't considered the implications or possibilities. But if what he said was true, then it could only mean one thing.

"Your name is there, Soma." Sakuya offered with a reassuring smile. "He's the Director, but he's still your father. I don't think he can stop loving you."

"Damn him…" Soma grumbled quietly and turned his head from the screen, trying to hide his utter disbelief.

Continuing on, Sakuya returned her attention to the matter at hand. "I just want to be clear. I refuse to let this Ark begin its voyage. I refuse."

"Me too! This isn't about lying or criminal charges or anything like that. This is just… wicked!" Alisa's defiant voice suddenly interjected, voicing concerns of her own. "We're going to stay hidden, stay underground as long as we can before we strike at Aegis again."

Undeterred by her teammate's outburst, Sakuya finished her thoughts. "We… wanted you all to know. I won't force you into anything. I think you should make up your own minds. And even if you choose to join with Schicksal, even if you fight against us, you are still our friends."

"But if you get in our way, we will tear you apart!" The New-Type proudly proclaimed, earning a raised eyebrow from the two veterans.

"Alisa!" Sakuya's voice raised scoldingly at her threatening statement.

"Joking, joking… mostly. Still, I don't want to fight you, any of you. I hope you'll come to our side."

The three men remained silent, their minds trying to process different pieces of information from this new revelation. The events of recent days were beginning to wear on all of them, even the ever buoyant Kota. Within a matter of days, they had lost Shio to the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Then they had regained her, while losing Neo in the process. Shortly following, Utsugi had abruptly left them to travel overseas to replenish his medical supply. And in that same week, their remaining female members had infiltrated Aegis Island and made themselves fugitives of the law. Then, they had reached out to them from hiding… to tell them that all of it had been for an elaborate lie.

They didn't know what to do. They didn't know what to feel. What should they feel knowing that all of them would be spared… at the expense of nearly the entire human race? Relief? Sadness? Anger? Betrayal? There was truly no answer. Such a scenario was reserved for storybooks and apocalyptic television programs. To see it come to fruition in reality was just overwhelming.

Ichiro was the first to break the scene of stillness, shaking his head at the lunacy of it all. Were there truly no limits to humanity's savagery? It seemed that whenever he thought they were incapable of growing any worse, someone always managed to surprise him. The destruction of the planet, both before and after the Aragami. Human scientific experimentation in the creation of the God Eaters…

"Sakuya." As the thought crossed his mind, Ichiro quickly turned his attention back to the Vice Commander, who watched him curiously from the other end. "Did you…"

His question fell short as she slowly shook her head. She had already anticipated his intentions, having seen the look of desperation in his eyes. "No… We kept a close eye out, but we didn't see any trace of Neo before, during, or after our arrival… I'm sorry, Ichiro."

With a solemn nod, the veteran offered her a grateful smile. "Thank you for trying."

"We've been on too long already. We must disconnect. Think hard, and have no regrets."

Leaving them with those thoughtful words, Sakuya signed off, leaving the terminal display blank and the room in silence. As the screen dimmed, Soma lifted himself from the wall, a scowl plastered across his face. Wordlessly, he strode from the room, leaving his two teammates alone in the room. He seemed to be taking the news hardest out of any of them. And who could blame him? It wasn't every day that a person discovered their father was an actual evil mastermind bent on planetary destruction.

"I'm sorry… I already know I'll let you down."

Kota's somber voice caught the veteran's attention, pausing his movements as he stepped away from the terminal. He had a few things to attend to but decided to spare a moment. It was clear from his tone that the gunner wanted to get something off of his chest, and frustrated as he was, he didn't mind sparing a listening ear.

"I'm going to board the Ark." Kota remained silent for a moment, gauging Ichiro's reaction to his confession. Growing nervous under his still gaze, he quickly continued. "Hey - At least I know, right? But for years, I've been banking on the Aegis Project. And now that it's all smoke… Look, I have to keep my family safe."

The veteran offered little, his expression betraying nothing and his voice silent. He only continued to listen, watching as Kota guiltily hung his head.

"I made that decision long ago. I would do anything, anything in my power, to protect my mom. To protect Nozomi. That's why I became a God Eater. And that's why… I have to board the Ark. I have to." Kota finished his proclamation, heat rising to his face under his teammate's watchful eyes. He was beginning to grow uncomfortable, concerned by what emotions lay hiding underneath of that calm expression. The silence was beginning to wear on him. At this point, he didn't care if he shouted at him. Chided him. Berated him. So long as he said something. Anything.

But Ichiro did none of those things. Instead he simply smiled. Kota almost jumped as the corners of his mouth rose in a gesture that had become foreign to him in recent days. It wasn't the bitter, melancholic smile that he had come to expect… but a warm, genuine smile from the compassionate friend he used to know.

"I understand, Kota. You don't need to defend yourself or justify your decision. You have someone you wish to protect. Believe me, I get it."

Taken slightly aback, the gunner nodded slightly, his yellow hat shifting slightly. He couldn't help but feel a bit confused by his calm acceptance. He wasn't certain what exactly he had been expecting from his unflappable comrade, but he had expected at least some kind of reaction. "So… you're not mad? It doesn't bother you? My decision?"

Ichiro only shook his head. "Of course it doesn't. But Kota… it doesn't matter what I think. Or anyone else. We aren't you. It doesn't matter how we feel about your choice. Just so long as it's one that you can live with." Offering a final grin, he turned and made his way out of the room, leaving the young man staring after him with a stunned and grateful smile.

. . .

Far East Branch - Lobby

Soma sat silently on an empty couch. It was late in the evening, and his eyes were staring pointedly at a magazine on the table in front of him. It was a cooking magazine, with a picture of a colorful pastry on the front cover. It looked delectable and definitely of the variety that Neo would probably enjoy. He had been trying, to no avail, to keep his mind off of the New-Type, but his other thoughts were no better for his frustrations.

If not her, he found himself worrying about Shio, the other Aragami woman, whose condition was still showing little improvement. And if it weren't the child he was concerned about, it was everything else surrounding her, including the Singularity and his father's obsession with obtaining it to trigger the end of the world as they knew it. Sighing, he leaned forward, placing his arms on his knees as he began to fume once more over the whole situation.

Soma had never been very fond of his father. Throughout his life, he had watched him as he used and exploited others for his own personal gain. He manipulated them; directed people on a whim, no different than a puppet master with his marionette. Conscience was a word that had no place in his father's dictionary and his tendencies often bordered on sociopathic… at least, they had been for as long as he could possibly remember.

The descriptions of Johannes von Schicksal were very different based on the accounts from earlier in his life. More specifically, he was a very different person prior to Soma's birth. It was difficult to believe that the man he knew could possibly be the same that he had seen so many times on his data disc, beaming at the camera and gazing lovingly at his beautiful wife. He had once been a vibrant soul, full of life, vastly intelligent, and at times, a bit goofy and awkward. Now, he was nothing short of a madman, bent on erasing nearly all of humanity in some misguided attempt at salvation.

Where had it all gone wrong? Was it at the failure of the Managarm Project? The loss of Soma's mother? Was it following the rise of the Aragami, or somewhere in between? He couldn't help but wonder if his father's descent into madness was yet another casualty, an unfortunate consequence of his very existence. Perhaps it would have been better if he had never been brought into this world. Aisha would still be alive. His father would still have his humanity. Without his successful injection, perhaps even Neo would be…

"Hey."

Soma's head snapped upwards at the sound of a familiar voice addressing him, tearing him from his morose thoughts. The couch cushions shifted beneath him as added weight pressed against the other side. His mind drew a blank as he registered what was happening. He hadn't expected him of all people to approach him, let alone speak with him out of the blue. With little option besides being incredibly rude, he decided to address him and see what he wanted. Perhaps he had found a lead on their violet-haired friend. "Hamasaki."

"Soma."

Following their stilted greetings, both men fell silent. They watched other God Eaters wander around the lobby, going about their business. A pair of younger soldiers, likely recruits, wandered nervously through the hall, looking a bit lost. A member of the Third Unit sat on a bench, listening carefully as Gen Momota imparted him with wisdom. A few women made their way towards the stairs, a couple of them giggling amongst themselves as they looked in Soma and Ichiro's direction. And near the entrance, Gunter sat silently in front of a coffee table looking uncharacteristically depressed.

Growing tired of sweeping the room for interesting occurrences, Ichiro finally decided to break the silence. Turning slightly, he addressed the other veteran in a surprisingly relaxed tone. "So… it's true then."

"What?" Soma turned his head, a bit surprised by his sudden speech after such a long silence. He wasn't entirely certain what he was talking about and thought it better to get some clarification before jumping to any conclusions.

"The rumors. About you being… inhuman."

Soma flinched slightly at the term but quickly recovered, finding himself more surprised than anything else. "…Yeah."

"I see. I had my suspicions, but now I know for sure. You're one of the Managarm children. The first God Eater."

Soma scoffed derisively at the fanciful term, his mouth pulling into a tight frown. "Heh. That's right. The first experiment."

"You're not an experiment."

Soma twitched slightly, caught off guard by the sharpness of his tone. His voice had raised, only slightly, as though he were angry or agitated. Had he said something to upset him?

Shaking his head, Ichiro recomposed himself and returned to his neutral expression. "You're not an experiment, Soma. You're not a test subject, a scientific mishap, nor are you any sort of monster. You are a person. No different than she is."

Soma said nothing, his eyes widening slightly at the declaration. In truth, he was rather surprised. He hadn't expected such heartfelt words from a man who days ago, had been his mortal enemy. He seemed deeply bothered by the topic… but of course, why wouldn't he be? He had spent years by Neo's side, probably listening to the same vitriol as she had from behind her back. What he hadn't expected was for him to come to his own defense as well, convinced that the veteran hated him with a passion. "I… yeah. Thanks."

"Sure."

They quieted once more, falling this time into a much more comfortable silence. It seemed that the tension of the past few days, for the most part, had dissipated. Both men had no desire to argue nor start a fight with one another. In fact, at the moment, they were being rather civil. It was unclear for how long this friendly contact would last, but for now, it made more sense to simply enjoy it. And they did for a few long minutes, before Ichiro finally spoke up again, earning a raised eyebrow in response.

"You're half Aragami."

"…So we've established."

"Right. It all makes sense."

"The hell is that supposed to mean?" Soma's mouth twitched slightly at the comment, unsure of whether or not he should be offended. But Ichiro meant no harm.

"Neo. It's why you can't resist her."

"Huh?" Soma turned his head toward him, tilting it slightly in confusion. A habit that he had strangely derived from Neo over recent months.

"The sound of her voice. It draws you to her. It calls to you… doesn't it?"

For a moment, Soma grew still. At first, his assertion had confused him, leaving him to wonder what the hell he was talking about. But as his mind began to recollect the various encounters with the New-Type, things once clouded suddenly became clear. In the Infernal Subway and the veteran's halls, in the battlefield and in the Forgotten City… each and every time, he had lost himself. He would find his thoughts fading at the sound of her call and awaken in places with no knowledge or recollection of how he had gotten there. It was as though something was calling to him; a magnetic pull that he just couldn't escape.

Once those memories began to surface, he voiced the only question that came to mind. "Why?"

"Hm?" Ichiro turned his head in his direction, confused by his sudden outburst.

"Why does her voice call to me?"

"Neo's voice calls to all Aragami… in this case, it's calling to your other half."

"That doesn't make any sense. We talked all the time when we were children and it never bothered me then. In fact, we just spoke not that long ago…"

Ichiro shook his head, pausing Soma's questioning. "No, it doesn't work that way. Neo's voice only summons when her Oracle cells destabilize under high levels of stress… specifically, when she's in danger."

"So it's an S.O.S. A distress signal."

"Exactly. As far as the reason… well, no one really knows why it happens. But needless to say, it can be problematic… and dangerous."

"And that's why they muted her?"

"Yeah. I guess they thought it was the best option… all things considered."

"…Huh?"

At Soma's clearly confused expression, Ichiro sighed and leaned back against the couch. His eyes drifted upward, gazing up at the metal ceiling and letting his thoughts wander. "Neo has always been a troublesome child. I don't want you to misunderstand. She was the sweetest girl you could ever meet… but she was stubborn as an ox when it came to getting her medical treatments. Her blood draws, her testing, even her stabilizers… she never took a single one without complaint. And well, you've seen firsthand the consequences of a Neo-level complaint."

"Stabilizers…? Treatments…?" Soma's eyes narrowed slightly as his own mind began to wander. "What treatments?"

Ichiro nodded slightly, his expression saddening. "Yes. Despite your biological similarity, Neo's differs from yours in rather… unique ways. Her instability for one. Her treatments were necessary to keep her balanced. Otherwise…" He paused, contemplating for a moment, before deciding better of it. "Anyway, I know how much she hated them, but they were for her own good. That's why I used to bring her sweets afterwards when she returned."

Soma stared incredulously at him, dumbfounded. His assertion wasn't entirely inaccurate. Neo did spend a decent amount of time during her childhood undergoing testing. He had seen as much on her data disc. But her experimentation had extended far beyond simply treating her for any 'condition'… whatever that meant.

And somehow, Ichiro was completely unaware of it. Wild as the concept was, it wasn't entirely impossible. He had never seen Ichiro on the discs aside from messing around in each other's rooms and occasionally sneaking deserts. He seemed acutely absent from her in regards to her experimentation and Neo was known to suffer in silence. With careful planning, well-placed lies, and a little manipulation, it was more than possible to misdirect someone into following one's bidding. He had seen it firsthand from his own father. But had they truly gone to such lengths to keep him from the truth…?

"…You really don't know?"

"Hm?" Ichiro's eyebrow raised, slightly confused by his irritated tone.

"About Neo! She's…" Temper rising, Soma had to stop himself from starting a possible scene in one of the most public areas in the Den. And at his comrade's dumbfounded expression, he could confirm his original suspicions: Ichiro truly had no idea. Changing course, the veteran thought better of it. "…still out there." The other man regarded him with suspicion, but Soma offered nothing further. With their New-Type lost in the wilderness, their focus needed to be on locating her whereabouts. It was neither the time nor the place to apprise him of such information.

Ichiro watched him for a moments, confused at his sudden change in thought. He was tempted question him further, but in the end, thought better of it. "Yes… yes, she is. And I will rectify that. Until then, I cannot rest."

"I take it that means that you won't be boarding the Ark?"

Ichiro shook his head sadly. "No. Not without her."

Soma smirked, scoffing lightly at his response. "Well, that makes two of us then. I won't to be a player in his game."

Chuckling, Ichiro found himself grinning back at his comrade. "Heh… for once, we are finally in agreement."

. . .

Aegis Island

The quiet hum of machinery sounded throughout the control room. Engineers and technicians wandered through the area, checking monitors and observing Oracle Cell function. Behind them stood Johannes von Schicksal, director of the Far East and kingpin to their entire operation. A small smile formed on its lips as he observed the scene before him. The time was nearly upon them. They needed only the last remaining piece. "Keep close observation."

"Sir."

Turning on his heel, the Director strode from the room and into the empty hallway. His shoes tapped quietly against the floor as he made his way towards a lift at the end of the corridor. He was growing impatient lying in wait the New-Type's results. What was taking her so long? The Singularity was clearly elusive to have avoided his son for so long… but to avoid Neo as well? Such a creature must surely be a marvel beyond compare.

His mind continued to wander as he rode the elevator upward, his body moving on its own as he stepped into the hallway. The Director barely noticed when he had reached his office, walking slowly into the darkened room. He was absentminded and exhausted, so distracted that he paid no mind to a disturbing detail: his door had been unlocked.

Walking to the center of the room, Johannes leaned his hands against his desk, bracing himself. For a few moments, only his tired breathing was audible in the room as he rested his eyes in the solitude of his domain… until a haunting sound tore him from his stupor, raising nearly every hair on his body.

"… Noah's Ark."

The ominous words hung in the air as the Director took a moment to gather himself from the shock of nearly jumping from his own skin. She allowed him his respite, waiting patiently for the moment that he would turn around to face her. And when he did he saw her there, standing silently in the corner of the dark room, her glowing eye the only indication of her presence. His own squinted slightly as he watched her silhouette, the outline growing more defined the further his sight adjusted. She was watching him too.

The Director couldn't be certain she could see him in the darkness, but he smiled all the time. "Are you disappointed, Neo? Are you surprised?"

The woman shook her head. "Impressed… the intricacy of your deception is to be commended."

"I am truly sorry for the misdirection."

"No, you're not." Neo replied with a glare. She knew very well he had no remorse for his actions.

"You are truly a perceptive one, aren't you? So much like Fida…" Taking a single step forward, Johannes regarded her with amused interest. "So, tell me. Now that you know the truth, what will you do? Will you strike me down to save humanity? This world?"

"I have no love for this world nor the people in it… with only a few exceptions."

"You are referring to the fellow members of your unit. Worry not. Their passage is guaranteed, and their lives will be spared.

"No. Not all of them."

His eyes narrowed slightly at the tone of her voice, regarding it carefully. It seemed that she had been present for their conversation. "You are referring to Alisa and Ms. Tachibana… I am sorry to say that their passage has been revoked."

"I am well aware… and you will return it to them."

"Hahahaha!" Unable to contain his amusement, Johannes erupted into raucous laughter. "I will, will I? Such boldness! And for what reason would I do so? Why should I heed your request?"

"Because I have the Singularity."

His mirth quickly faded at her retort. His laughter had left, but his smile remained. So she had found her target after all… but she had kept such information hidden, waiting patiently to use it as a bargaining chip. What a clever girl. He was beginning see why his son was so fond of her. Resigning to his current state, the Director accepted her negotiation. "Name your terms."

Smirking, the New-Type gave her conditions. "Ichiro boards the Ark. Along with Soma, Kota, Alisa, and Sakuya… without exception."

"Passage for your team with immunity…. a small price to pay for the survival of our species. And what of Lenka Utsugi?" The Director questioned, noticing his lack of presence in her list.

"I couldn't care less."

"Very well." Johannes chuckled slightly at her response, seeing no point to press the issue further.

Neo's eyes followed the Director's every movement as he turned away from her. She watched him move around his desk and pause, leaning forward. His fingers moved carefully across the keyboard as he entered commands into the console. Her eyes zeroed in on the screen as he turned it slowly towards her. Their names had been replaced.

"It is done."

Neo eyed him suspiciously for a moment, waiting for his next course of action. She was distrustful of him and prepared for whatever he planned to throw at her. Perhaps the names would revert suddenly, the list returning to its original form. Perhaps he had taken this opportunity to call for assistance, bringing guards to their location at any moment. Perhaps he would be brave enough to try subduing her himself.

But he did no such thing. Instead he observed her with keen interest, watching as her glowing eye flitted quickly across the room. She was on guard, he could tell, and he did not fault her for it. He simply stood, waiting patiently for her to calm. And after a few moments of careful scrutiny, she began to do so. With their places on the Ark confirmed, she resigned herself to her fate. She was prepared for the consequences of her actions, whatever they may be.

Neo slowly nodded her head in agreement. Her teeth shimmered in the dim light of the room as her lips pulled into a smile. "So God said to Noah, 'I am going to bring floodwaters on the Earth to destroy all life under the heavens.'"

Johannes returned her smile and answered. "Every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on Earth will perish."