Sep. 8, Location Unverified, PsykoNet; Time Unverified
The surroundings were an unending expanse of pure blackness. However, the ground under the feet of those who were present seemed lit by a dim, non-existent spotlight. There was a man. He had fluffy hair and round, but not fat, facial features. "Alex, report," a voice spoke through a filter of static.
"I-I'm in…" the man stuttered, legs shaking. "What next?"
"Locate your Shadow, and prepare for combat," instructed the static-filtered voice. "We've given you a sub-machine gun, so remember to use it."
"Y-yes ma'am," the man, Alex, said through the nervous spit filling his mouth.
Alex proceeded forward, clutching the gun he was given tight to his body. He looked around frantically, eyes darting. The horizon of darkness seemed so empty… there were no sounds, no lights… nothing…
"It was a clever plan you devised, my dear assistant." It was undoubtedly Boss's voice. "Searching through our staff to see who has a Headquarters, then sending them in to face their Shadow and Awaken to a Persona."
"I… I'm glad you think that, Boss. I'm flattered by your compliment," stammered Boss's female assistant. "However… I'm worried… we've never had one of our staff enter the PsykoNet without a headset… will he be all right by himself?"
"You worry too much, dear," Boss sighed. "Just bask in the genius of your plan. Once we have someone on our team who can wield a Persona of their own, we can begin to dig deeper into the PsykoWeb."
Suddenly, a light appeared before Alex. It was as if he was looking into a mirror. Except his reflection didn't have a gun, and instead had a large scar down his chest that tore through his white uniform.
"Y-you must b-be my S-Shadow," Alex stuttered, changing his position to make himself look tougher.
"Indeed I am, Alex. Aren't you clever?" the Shadow complimented. "You've done a clever job of hiding your true identity. I owe you great thanks for creating me."
"Yeah… y-you're right," Alex nodded. "You really do owe me thanks." He aimed the gun straight at the Shadow, and put his finger on the trigger.
"Oh," the Shadow sighed. "Is that the sort of 'you're welcome' I get?"
Alex pulled back the trigger of the gun, and it fired rapid rounds right into the Shadow's body, spitting caps back behind him!
The Shadow seemed hardly damaged. "That's a bit rude."
"U-uh… m-ma'am!? The gun isn't working!?" Alex shouted into his earpiece.
"Boss, what are we going to do?" the assistant hissed, turning to her superior.
"Tell him to engage the Shadow," Boss instructed.
"Try engaging your Shadow first," mediated the assistant.
"Y-you're not the real me," Alex timidly said to his Shadow. "I'm the only real me."
"No, Alex, I am you, and you are me. That is the only way in which our coexistence can work," the Shadow spat. Black mist started to consume the Shadow, as the silhouette of the Shadow began to grow morbidly behind the smokey screen.
Alex fired more machine gun rounds into the Shadow's body, but the Shadow's transformation didn't stop.
Before he could even see it coming, a sharp black appendage was ripping through his torso, and took no time to burst out of his back. Alex peered in horror at what had become of his Shadow, as blood spurted up into his mouth, dripping down his chin.
Even under the headset she was wearing, the terror on the assistant's face was as clear as day. "Alex? Alex!?" She slammed her palms down on the control panel before her! "Alex, report!"
Boss leaned forward in his chair, linking his fingers together.
"A-Alex's signal… it's gone… Did we just…" The assistant buried her headset-covered face in her hands, running her fingers through her shiny black hair.
The Boss sighed.
