Chapter 4: Organization Alpha

Note: I don't not own Steins;Gate. Only this fanfiction story.

This story follows the events that happened after the following Steins;Gate titles. Steins;Gate, Steins;Gate OVA, and Steins;Gate 0. Also, there are situations from other Steins;Gate titles that inspired multiple events in this story.

Check out my profile for upcoming dates for new chapters on Steins Gate: Epsilon

Okabe looks at Kurisu who asks about the development of the official Future Gadget Laboratory.

"It's a long story so do you want to hear the summarized version, or all of it in detail?"

Kurisu responds. "All of it."

Okabe sighs. "I hope you're ready to pay attention, Kurisu. It is quite long." There is a pause as Okabe looks up to the sky. "It all began back in 2016."

(Flashback)

March, 2016

Okabe had recently established the Future Gadget Laboratory as an official lab. The problem with this, is it is only currently him and Daru. Daru is the only one making income due to already having hacking jobs and managing to sell a few future gadgets. So for Okabe to get by, he decides to work as a private investigator, as he can keep his identity hidden, and the salary was quite reasonable. He worked pretty efficiently as a private investigator. His job was to find the businesses that have been selling shady stock items, because they are becoming bankrupt as a new era of technology is on the rise, and they have been doing unusual things to keep themselves open.

Now, out of every case Okabe has helped crack down, he had one particular case that he never thought he would ever deal with himself. Okabe was one day in the lab creating a new future gadget. Suddenly, someone entered the lab to find him, and he was surprised to see who it was. Nae Tennouji, who at the time was a high school student.

"Nae Tennouji? I am surprised how you managed to find us. Perhaps the organization is onto us!" said Okabe, as he is shocked to see Nae in his new lab.

"Well, I knew the logo of the lab so I figured I could find you here." she responds.

"As expected of someone who is rising to be part of the Elite Four!" Okabe stops working on his future gadget to pay more attention to her with putting on his persona. " Well Nae, what brings you here today into a top secret lab?!"

Nae hesitates to respond because of how Okabe's relation is to Mr. Braun, but she was more concerned so she decided to tell him. "I have seen you investigate a case with the police before. Are you an investigator or something?"

"More like a private investigator. The job is just a mere cover up to spy on organizations that try to find out information about the new location of the Future Gadget Laboratory!"

Nae is weirded out by Okabe's response with his persona, but she knew what he meant regardless. "Well if that is the case, I would like to hire you to do an investigation for me."

Okabe's eyes widened. "W-What?! Hire me to do an investigation from you?!"

"I want you to investigate my father."

Okabe's face was in complete shock. "M-M-Mr. Braun.?! But why?!"

"Lately, Papa has been leaving home and working less at the CRT shop. I try to ask him where he is going normally, but he lies to me about going to run some errands. I think he might be doing something shady behind my back, and I worry what it could be."

Okabe faced because a bit terrorized. He knew Mr. Braun was named FB, who is in charge of The Rounders and how they take orders from SERN. This begins to trigger Okabe's PTSD of the Alpha Worldline, where he had to save a tragic future from their for especially killing Mayuri.

Okabe then snaps out of it and responds to Nae's request. "Ok. I will help you with your investigation."

Okabe soon got right to work, He has been following Mr. Braun in secret for many hours, many days, and many weeks. The strange thing was he actually was not doing anything bad and was just heading store after store, probably trying to check off some things. However, in May of 2016, Mr. Braun one day entered an abandoned building that looked like nothing was there at first. But then, he entered through a doorway and never left it for a while. Okabe decided to try and go in to see where it leads to.

After several minutes of walking, Okabe was amazed by what he found. There was a huge underground base that was also fairly old, underneath the abandoned building. Everything was on and it looks like there were hidden cameras they had in parts of the city. However, Okabe had to hide as there were people talking by the place too. Okabe gradually listened in. They were talking about how SERN was no longer giving orders to The Rounders and they have been disposed of, because they had no reason to be in Japan anymore. This also was causing problems for The Rounders, because just about all there fund came from SERN,

Okabe however, became careless and tried to move closer to get a better view, but then, he dropped something nearby, and it caused the Rounders to be alerted, and finding Okabe hidden in a corner of a machine. He put up his hands in the air to surrender and so they wouldn't shoot, because they had guns pointing at him. They put him in a cell and keep there for a few days. They couldn't do anything to him until Mr. Braun met with him, but that took longer than expected.

After 5 days of being inside the cell, Mr. Braun finally arrived and met with Okabe, who was still sitting in the cell.

"I'm sorry for keeping you in this cell. But since you now know where The Rounder's base is, I cannot allow you to be released like you saw nothing."

Okabe began to worry. They could just kill him at any point of time, and yet, for some reason, they haven't. Okabe thought that this was the choice of Steins Gate. So he got an idea that the only way to escape this situation was to tell him the truth. "I understand Mr. Braun. Your group must be an organization that must be classified and must do certain things that must be kept hidden."

Mr. Braun then looked at Okabe seriously. "Yes. So, how much do you know about us?"

"Oh I know about you Mr. Braun, and about the Rounders and SERN more than what you expect. You are known as FB by the Rounders and SERN. You also receive orders from SERN in a location all the way somewhere in Europe which is the main headquarters, and you do anything that is told to you by them."

Mr. Braun sighed and became unfortunate for Okabe. "How long did you know?"

"Since 2010."

Mr. Braun looked away for a minute, before looking back at Okabe to respond. "I'm sorry Okabe. But the fact you know already that much about us, it means we cannot let you out in public now."

Okabe knew this would be the decision they would make. After all, because Okabe witnessed The Rounder's purpose in the Alpha Worldline, he knew all about them. However, Okabe knew he needed to tell him and his daughter, for that is the only way he can understand the situation. "Mr. Braun. Do you know why I came here to spy on you?"

Mr. Braun just looked at Okabe with a serious face.

"It's because of your daughter, Nae Tennouji."

Mr. Braun became very upset. "W-What?! You're trying using my daughter to escape this situation?! If I found out something bad happened to her, I will-!"

Mr. Braun's words were then interrupted by Okabe's words. "If you don't believe, give me my phone and I'll call her so you can be filled in the situation."

Mr. Braun hesitated at first to give me the phone, because he could very well just use it to have the police track the base down and it will major trouble for both them and the police. However, Okabe gave Mr. Braun a serious look to hope he would know Okabe wasn't going to pull anything on him. Soon enough, Mr. Braun hands him the phone and gives him a chance to prove himself. Okabe dials Nae's phone number, and she responds after 5 seconds.

"Hello, Mr. Okarin."

"Nae, I am currently held in a cell by the place your father works in. Your father is right here with me, and I want you to tell him about everything you told me and why I followed him to find out about what he is doing. He should know the truth now that I got to this point."

She didn't know what to do at first, because she didn't respond for several seconds and was quite nervous to tell Okabe. "Bu-but…."

Okabe tries to help her gain confidence. "Don't worry. Your father will understand you, because he has always been there for you and he always will regardless of what happens."

After a few more seconds of silence, Nae agrees to tell. "Ok. Pass the phone to Papa."

Okabe gives the phone to Mr. Braun. As soon as they speak, he begins showing anger, yet guilt and sadness. Throughout their conversation, they were disputing about what has happened in the last 6 months, and their relationship with each other has decreased and have been less of a father daughter relationship. After several minutes, Mr. Braun hangs up the phone.

Before Mr. Braun turned around, Okabe managed to get a quick peek of him shedding a tear. "Now you've done it Okabe. But, it is also not your fault. It seems I have caused my daughter pain for not being myself in the last 6 months that has gone by, and because of that, she looked to you to solve this situation. Thanks to you, we finally spoke about what was really happening and we forgive each other."

Okabe smiled that he was able to help Nae and Mr. Braun finally finally understood each other after 6 months of tension. However, now Okabe wanted to know about something else. "Mr. Braun, I'm only a private investigator that was hired by your daughter to spy on your suspicious actions, but now it seems something strange is happening with you. Please tell me what is happening and I will try to help you out of it. I know I am just a random annoying person to you who pays rent to live in your building, but believe me, I am more capable of that. I have already told you information that no one should really know, especially from me. You also have my word, I won't tell anybody about anything with you and this organization as long as I can help you."

Mr. Braun was confused to trust Okabe at first. However, after everything that has happened, he decided to trust him. So he freed Okabe from the cell and explained the current situation with The Rounders.

"SERN has not contacted The Rounders in over a year. This due to a change of plans they are doing when it comes to scientific research that requires them to focus in other countries and not Japan. Because of this, The Rounders are no longer needed. Now the problem with that, is we receive our funds from SERN, and since they no longer need us, we don't receive funds. Without any sort of money, The Rounders will have to be disbanded, and every Rounder here will lose their homes and be living in the dumps, and we don't want that."

Okabe was surprised to hear their situation. He never considered The Rounder having to be disposed of just like nothing, especially since they are part of a shady group an important research company. However, what's even more strange, is how they are still managing on stuff if they aren't receiving funds from SERN.

"Mr. Braun if you have not received money from SERN in over a year, how have the Rounders still managed to hang on till now?"

As soon as Okabe finished asking, Mr. Braun and many of the Rounders looked away from him. He was questioning why they were doing that, but then everything started to piece together.

"You guys are the reason for the shady businesses around Akihabara?!" I asked.

No one responded, as they were still turned away from Okabe, since he was right. Okabe sighs after thinking about it hard for a minute to believe these guys were the cause of shady things around Akihabara. "You know you guys are causing so much trouble for the people around here, and for the police. You know that right?"

Mr. Braun then speaks with a guilty and angry voice. "Tcch. I know. It's just we don't know how to keep the organization alive with the help of SERN. Our only option was to do shady business with failing markets to get our way through making money."

Hearing their response makes Okabe think of a way to help them. After all, Okabe is technically part of the police force so he could just throw them in jail, but it would cause more tension. So instead, he wants to help them out of the situation, and since this also proposes an unusual, yet interesting idea. "I understand what you and the Rounders had to do to make money. It's not an easy life when you are being used to do dirty work to make money, and then just be thrown like that so that your only way is to do what you guys know best because of experience. So I have a proposal for you all."

All The Rounder joins in to hear what Okabe has to say as Okabe takes this conversation seriously. "Listen up everyone. I will let you know. My name is Okabe Rintaro, who currently works for part of the police as a private investigator. However, do not fear, for I will not turn any of you in, because I understand the situation you all are facing and turning you in would essentially make it worse. So I have an idea. I'm not mainly a private investigator you see. I am a Mad Scientist Houoin Kyouma, who recently opened a brand new science laboratory, but we have no way of making a name for ourselves to earn enough income as well. However, if you all help us out with making a name for ourselves, we will also help you all."

"Then, what would be your plan, Okabe." Mr. Braun asks.

"To start off, I will propose that you all lie to the police about how you all were forced to do shady deals because of an organization in Europe. You all have proof that you were involved with the organization and my friend Daru can help modify so that it looks like that happened. I will also claim the same thing to help increase the witnesses."

All The Rounders speak to each other that it can work.

"Now that all the Rounders have received funds directly from the government before, you all must be ready to use it to set the path in your life, and I will help you with that. From this day forth, all Rounders will work under me. However, not as Rintaro Okabe, but as the Mad Scientist, Hououin Kyouma. Now, everyone will use half of their funds to receive training in 3 areas for the sake of the Future Gadget Laboratory. But before I go in it any further, does anyone oppose working here and rather leave? If you do then leave now before it's too late."

Everyone looks at each other to see if anyone leaves, and fortunately no one does, since they need to find money in any way possible. "Well, then let's continue." Okabe puts on his persona. "You will go receive training in the following. One, as a scientist to be able to work and create your own theories to better produce future gadgets for the sake of the Future Gadget Laboratory. Two, receive military training to work under and to be soon known as the special forces of the lab. This is also saying you are the shady group for my organization. Don't fear however, for as you will not do anything shady unless your enemies are already the shady ones in the first place. Three, work in standard job placements that do not involve hazardous situations. You will attend to promote the lab and sell our name! Also, you will attend to customers that call or visit us directly. For example, a couple of you may work at the front desk of the lab. Lastly, out of everything, all Rounders will also still be commanded under Yugo Tennouji or who all call him FB. However, to hide yourself from SERN incase of future problems, he will now be under the name Braun for the lab."

After telling them my plan, everyone split ways to receive training in one of the three areas. Interestingly, those who chose to become scientists also went to either Tokyo Denki University, or Viktor Chondria University to learn.

Time went on after that day, and in late 2018, most of The Rounders returned as interns, ready to work as part of the Future Gadget Laboratory while continuing to study as students. By the time they did, the lab had made a name for itself for a few future gadgets thanks to Okabe. It was partially due to his name being mentioned as a lifesaver for rescuing The Rounders from being forcefully working under SERN, but instead with his lie, an unknown organization from another country. That way, they could never really target SERN to have increased tensions between countries. From on till now, the lab has received funds directly from the government to become a growing, successful business.

(End of Flashback)

"From there, the business grew exponentially to the point we have a couple of professional businesses from parts of the world ask to custom build future gadgets at a very high price. The rounders enjoy working with us and I'm glad Nae and Mr. Braun can live at ease more than they were 5 years ago."

Kurisu is quite amazed by Okabe's story. "I'm impressed, Okabe. You really have gone through some interesting experiences to make the Future Gadget Laboratory a success." Kurisu pauses for a moment. "But, you got captured? You must be bad at trying to stay quiet and hidden. Who knows what they could have done to you."

Okabe feels a bit embarrassed. "S-Shut up assistant! I-it was inevitable. I did all I could to stay hidden and then something had to drop. It must have been-"

Kurisu cuts Okabe off to finish his sentence. "Yea yea, the choice of Steins Gate. It could have really been the choice of Steins Gate that time because you managed to help them in the end."

"Your right." says Okabe with a happy smile.

"So, did you get paid what you did? I mean you were hired exclusively by Nae, so did she or The Manager reward you with anything" Kurisu asks.

"Well, in return Mr. Braun allowed my rent to be permanently reduced."

"That sounds great."

Okabe smiles "If you think about it mathematically for the long run, it is."