Chapter 1. The Doctor (I)
29B waited patiently in the Doctor's living room.
It has been 17 minutes, 46 seconds ever since she left the laboratory and conducted her research in this place and it's actually given her more than she thought.
She found a book – a quite strange item given now it was almost never used since androids have a perfect memory unless there are errors in their system, the least they would use is a terminal or technology instead of something like this – that contains what appears to be a blueprint and note about the Doctor's research. She doesn't know much about the content but she understood some of the inventions he built or planned.
A vehicle, an android's limbs, a fusion reactor, some chips' code, power armor, various types of weapons, and signaling devices. That's all she could identify through the diagram and she also made sure to memorize all of them.
She also found a lot of food and drink, more than they were supposed to be. Which is quite uncommon, android has no use for foods or drinks, sure they could consume them if they want to but there's no use for them. She can understand if he desires to do that just because he wants to mimic humans like other androids but this amount?
Other than those two the rest is normal, she found nothing else that unique or strange. So she decided to monitor the area around the factory.
And to say she was surprised would be understanding.
Some machines stumbled upon the factory, they were not even able to get close to the main entrance or any before suddenly they all broke down, falling just like what happened to the one that pursued her.
What kind of security system did he install? An automatic hacking one? Some kind of frequency or wave emitter that fry the machines' circuits on contact?
The laboratory's door opened and she turned around, the Doctor came out, and behind him was her floating pod, looking good as new.
"Here, not my best fix since I lacked the material a bit but it is almost as good as new." He said as he pointed to the pod that flew over to her.
She grunted and turned to the pod. "Pod, do self-analysis and on me too."
[Scanning… this unit is in excellent condition and ready for combat and support situations, however, some function is unavailable due to a lack of power source. Scan of YoRHa No. 29 Type B shows various light damage in the back and upper torso areas.] The Pod stated.
She glanced at the image of her body that was sent to her visor and grunted. It wasn't bad and she is still functional and capable of fighting if the situation demands it.
[Recommendation action: request the Doctor's assistance for repair to maximize performance back to 100%.]
The Doctor glanced at the pod before turning to her with an amused smile. "Well, I won't deny the request for sure, as long you consent to it."
"There's no need." She denied the offer, she didn't want to let him scan her. "Also, what kind of security system do you use? Those machines outside fell apart the moment they entered the range of the camera." She asked.
The Doctor smirked and tilted his head. "That would be telling my dear." He said in a sweet voice which made her blink.
"Dear?"
"Ah, apologies, that is human's expression, it means I won't tell you my secret but the underlying tone can be used to show affection, a joke, or insult." He explained.
"... and which one for me?"
"Ah, that would be telling my dear." He repeated with a grin.
Her eyebrow twitched under her visor. This annoying android…
"Anyway, I will pack to leave now." He said as he paced around the room, taking out luggage that was sitting on the corner. "And it takes a month for me to build this whole place, damn." He grumbled. "Oh well, it can't be helped, I suppose, it always ends like this." He turned to her. "You are free to leave first if you want to though."
"If you say so." She was about to ask that actually. "Pod, contact the remaining squad and inquire about their situation." She said as she made her way to the exit and-
[Contacting… According to Pod 312, the Black Boxes signal for units 14S, 32G, and 45B is offline. Pod 233 is damaged during the ambush and Pod 152 is currently with Pod 312.]
She stopped. Black boxes were reported offline. It means they're dead. Damn it! She can't just go out without a plan then and-
[Pod 312 also reports a large number of machines approaching our direction, they will arrive approximately in 10 minutes.]
And now it goes from bad to worse!
"Well, bollocks." Doctor stated with a visible grimace.
Bollocks? What the heck is that even mean?
"Alright 10 minutes is enough, chop, chop, let's evacuate from here!" He said as he fastened his move, packing his things with fervor.
29B grit her teeth. "Pod, give me the details of the enemies!"
[The exact number is unknown but more than hundreds are detected and it appears they are also bringing construction machines with them.]
"So they are not chasing me but want to use this factory, well, that is relieving." Doctor mumbled while packing his stuff. "Let's see. Food and drinks, check. Emergency chips, check. Power core, check. Portable generator, check. Shampoo and soap, check. Head remotes, check. Voice modifier, check. Nanopacks, check. Yup, that's it!" He finished as he stood while carrying a backpack and luggage. "Huh, you are waiting for me? That is nice of you."
She ignored the comment and went straight to the point. "I've seen your notebook, you plan to build some vehicle, is it already done? Could it be used to get us out of here?" She asked.
10 minutes – less than that now – is nowhere enough to escape completely from this area without being noticed by the machines. They need to use a vehicle or moving unit that is fast enough to not get caught.
"Well, someone is clearly snooping around." Doctor remarked with a quirked eyebrow. "As for your answer, yes, it's already finished. As a matter of fact, that was the first thing I built after I finished my lab. Come on, we're leaving." He said. "Chloe, as soon as we leave, shut down everything and initiate Dead Leaf Mantis Protocol, also get Optimus Prime ready." He barked as he left the room.
"Pod who is he talking to?" She was curious about it ever since he called this "Chloe" what a strange designation for a unit. "And what the heck is dead leaf mantis?" She muttered as she followed him.
[Explanation: The Doctor appears to speak with the Artificial Intelligence that he installed in his visor, this pod detects a broadcast and a reply comes from there.] The pod explained.
So he built an AI to assist himself? Makes sense given his capabilities but to think he could build one by himself and judging by how he used it to help him scan the pod and his surrounding while working on his tech, it could be an advanced one.
He really needs to be kept an eye on for sure.
[And dead leaf mantis is an insect that has an appearance like a dead leaf and camouflages itself with the tree to catch its prey. It was already extinct approximately 9000 years ago. No further data was found.] The pod elaborated.
9000 years? That was old! Very old! Ancient even! And it is already extinct! How did this android even know about it?
Wait, 'camouflages itself with the tree to catch its prey.', don't tell her this man…
"Are you trying to ambush the machines?" She queried as she ran along with him.
"You bet I am, I spent months here, no way in hell I will abandon it without repercussions!" He declared with a solemn and irritated voice.
"They will know. Machines' detection devices will pick them." One of the many reasons why the operation at 11.944 with blitzkrieg tactics failed was because they were detected. Instead of ambushing them, they were the ones that got ambushed by their enemy.
Make no mistake, machines are not the smartest or most complicated lifeform when they are by themselves alone but a group of construction like this? The technologies and devices they brought would be advanced enough to detect potential ambushes.
"Perhaps, and if that happens, the AI I set in here will blow this whole place immediately." He said as he took a turn on the corner. "However if it's not then those machines are dead men walking, and the bigger the factory they built, the bigger their loss would be." He chuckled with a wide grin.
"Dead men walking?" She curled down her lips in distaste. Did this android just compare machines to humans?
"Yup why did-oh, sorry. That was human's expression, it means they are already dead without knowing it."
That was… a weird way to express something alright, and how does that even work?
She must be making an expression since he notices it and gives a light chuckle. "I will explain better another time when we weren't in a hurry."
She simply grunted in response before slowly, and carefully, reducing her running speed so she was only one foot away from him, she signaled her pod to get closer to her while keeping an eye on his back.
"Pod, from now on, record and scan everything he showed and possess discreetly, save the data, and give the result to me later." She whispered to the pod in a very low volume. Obviously, it is not wise to antagonize or show crude behavior openly to him, and she can't send the data because given how knowledgeable the Doctor is there are huge chances he could find out about it.
No, she has to be discreet and quiet in this operation, gather data first, and make a plan from it.
[Acknowledged.] Pod 150 replied.
She grunted and stared at the android that was running not far from her. This android is really a mystery that needs to be solved, and the more data she gathers from him, the better chance her mission will succeed.
They then took another turn and the door opened again automatically, 29B blinked as she granted sight of a vehicle they would use. Big, blue in the main color, with red spots as patterns in a few parts. It also appears to carry a big container on its back.
"Pod, analysis." She muttered.
[Scanning… judging from its appearance it appears to share similarities with Volvo's Iron Knight with different colors. It was a cab that was manufactured in the north of Sweden in Umeå and Ghent, Belgium, while the engines were made in the central town of Skövde. The year it was built is 2016. During that period Volvo's Iron Knight is known as the fastest truck that was ever built.]
In 2016, another ancient vehicle, not like it was that strange though since there are some abandoned cars with 1990s years designs.
Then she noted one thing. "Share similarities?" She inquired.
The Doctor is the one that answers her question this time. "As much as I love human's tech but compared to the current one they are outdated, so I have to tinker with the design to give it an extra kick." He explained. "To put it simply, this thing can go twice faster than the original Volvo's." He grinned as he entered the truck and the vehicle's engine growled, its flashlight also turned on. "Hop in, we will be getting out of here, fast. And strap your belt, trust me, we don't want you to be launched from the sudden brake and speed, grab your pod tightly too."
She entered the truck, and her pod followed her. As she sat and strapped the belt she noticed the inside was clean and there was also a monitor in the middle of it.
"Okay, here we go!" He said as he stomped on the gas.
The speed wasn't fast by any means but the sudden acceleration still made her buckled in her seat.
"Chloe, open the garage and after we leave from here you are to immediately start Dead Leaf Mantis Protocol." He ordered as he took a turn.
The monitor suddenly turns on and reveals a female android's face, she has long blonde hair in a low ponytail that drapes over her left shoulder, blue eyes, and pale skin.
[Affirmative, Father.] She replied. [DLM Protocol is ready anytime and I will signal Geth after we leave to keep an eye on the factory.]
"Good! Tell Geth that I am sorry and I will try to contact him if possible!"
[Geth said he will be happy to serve and shall eagerly wait for your return but please do not force yourself, Father, your safety is our main priority.]
"Appreciate that!" He laughed. "Ah by the way Chloe this is 29B and Pod…" He trailed off and shot a look at the pod.
[This Pod number is 150.] The Pod answered.
"Right, Pod 150. They both are from YoRHa, Pod 150 and 29B meet Chloe, one of my personal AIs." He introduced them.
[Greeting, YoRHa's member, I am Chloe.] The AI's face suddenly panned out to reveal her full figure, showing her dark blue dress that reached her knees. She made a salute to her left chest. [Glory to Mankind.] She saluted.
She replied with her own salute. "Glory to Mankind." She said to her. "You are created by the Doctor?" She asked.
[Yes, Father created my entire code and program from zero.] She answered.
"Hold up your conversation ladies, I see the light, it means our path is clear now." Doctor butts in, and he is right, she can see the exit and scenery from outside. "29B, brace yourself, we are about to do a jump."
"A jump? This truck is capable of jumping?" She asked in incredulity.
"Human's expression! Just brace yourself! Chloe, monitor the nanites and make sure the container is safe!"
[Right away, sir.]
As soon as Chloe said that, the Doctor flipped some switches and revealed a red button, then he pressed it.
A loud boom echoed and the truck jumped forward.
In the future, 29B will deny that she was shrieking for a moment when the truck thrust forward and said that's just the sound of the engine.
There are probably around 100 meters or so from reaching the exit, and in less than a second, the truck closed that distance and reached outside.
29B gripped her pod and seat belt tightly while making an expression, meanwhile, the Doctor also jerked in his seat but he did so while laughing as he balanced the steer.
In thirty seconds the abandoned factory already starts to shrink, she can tell from the rearview mirror and she feels her shoulder lighten, tension slowly dissipating, they are no longer close to the enemy now and-
[Alert: a number of flying machines detected behind us.] Pod 150 warned them.
And of course, they do not give up easily! Damn machine!
[I can confirm that Father, some of the units split up and are now chasing us.] Chloe added.
"Well, they probably heard the truck's noise, it wasn't very quiet after all." Doctor muttered almost in a sheepish voice.
She glared at him. "Next time, do give a warning about your action." She growled. Seriously, this man really started to irk her. "Is this vehicle armed?"
"Definitely, I am surrounded by murderbots everywhere, after all, no way I create something unarmed." He answered before he made a face. "Except food, because I don't think that would be efficient and-"
[Father you are about to ramble again.] Chloe chimed in suddenly and the Doctor put on an abashed face, 29B also made sure to show her displeasure by curling down her mouth at him.
Seriously, of all time to be distracted! What is wrong with this man?
"Whoops, sorry, anyway, yes it is armed however it doesn't have a strong shield. Sure it could take a lot of beating but it will make the ride unpleasant."
"But can it hold up?" She asked with a sharp voice. If it didn't then she might have to move above this vehicle and provide cover instead.
The Doctor was silent for a moment before nodding. "Yes, yes, it could." He said firmly. "And even better, I could take them down. Chloe, prepare NH ammo, shoot them when they enter your range." He ordered.
[Yes, Father.]
The truck suddenly groaned and began to vibrate. She heard a grinding and mechanical noise from the container, she turned and tried to get a good view of it but was unable to due to the position.
[Calculating… There are around 7 hostile units, preparing to shoot them down.]
Suddenly the monitor that has Chloe's face blinked and now it is showing a radar, there are red dots that are approaching from behind.
She watched with a keen eye as the red dots getting closer to them and then-
[Launching NH ammo.]
A loud bang resonated from behind her and she glanced at the rearview mirror, she caught sight of some kind of projectile launched into the sky, and soon another sound of an explosion was heard.
The explosion was ranged, and the truck trembled under the wave of the explosion but overall it kept going and at a faster speed even.
[All targets have been hit, activating the nanites. Disabling in 3… 2… 1.]
Then suddenly the red dots on the radar flickered and disappeared. She blinked and almost gaped. Is that it? It is over?
[Targets are down and clear, no more pursuers detected.] Chloe reported.
The Doctor grinned. "Nice job, Chloe."
"Pod, confirm it." She ordered.
[AI Chloe's reports are accurate, all enemies are down and there's no more pursuer detected.] Pod 150 stated.
Apparently, it is.
She slumped in her seat and let out a sigh of relief. They are safe now, truly safe. Damn, that was a close one, and it was quite smooth, she didn't expect their escape would be this easy but she won't be ungrateful for it.
"Welp, that is that." He chuckled. "Chloe, guide us to the nearest Resistance camp. Do not enter the camp, just park us one or two kilometers from the base."
[Right away Father, the nearest Resistance camp is around 10 hours, do you want me to drive for you too?]
"Please do, say what you want about me but my driving skills suck." He chuckled again. "Alright 29B, 150, we are safe now, I want to take a nap okay? You need anything else you ask Chloe."
"Wait-"
"Apapapap, later, I need my rest, I haven't slept for 24 hours, no thanks to the sun above, keep shining his butt, so please let me rest."
Then he pulled his seat, unfolded it to the back, and laid on it. He shifted to make sure his position was comfortable and then stopped moving.
29B's eye twitched under her visor. So what if he doesn't sleep for 24 hours? For human's sake, Android doesn't even need to sleep! Sure some did but seriously! In a situation like this?
Still… this does present her with an opportunity, now he is sleeping, she could formulate a plan better.
What should she do now?
The mission is… obviously still going, failure or not depending on her act after this. There's no threat from the machine now and her pod is also ready, she could fight at maximum efficiency again.
The mission is clear, bring the android to them. However, given what she has seen so far…
[29B you also can take a rest if you want to.] Chloe's image appears on the monitor. She smiled politely. [I can monitor the whole place and defend it, no harm shall come to you, Father equipped this truck with the best nanites after all.]
"Nanites?" She inquired.
Chloe nodded and then suddenly part of the car in front of her shifted before protruding outward and taking the shape of a sharp stake that was currently only ten centimeters away from piercing her face!
She jerked in her seat, eyes widened under her visor, and a gasp of shock came out from her lips. "Pod!" She demanded immediately.
[It appears to be nanobots that are conjoined together and taking a shape. Estimation, there are around hundreds of nanobots in that needle.] Pod 150 answered. It then makes a beeping noise. [Further scans found that there were hundreds of thousands of nanobots inside this space.]
Thousands of… she is frozen in a mix of horror and fear. What. The. Hell?
"Pod. Why didn't you detect them before?" She hissed. Her eyes now shifted to every corner and space of the truck where she currently sits.
[The nanobots were inactive and all of them were in the form of harmless material, this pod only could detect them 1,927 seconds ago.]
[Correct, I just activated them now, I need nanites to make sure Father sleeps well, he has been working himself quite hard recently.] Chloe confessed.
29B watched as a pack of something small crawled on the Doctor's body, and they quickly intertwined with each other before forming what appears to be a blanket.
"Their capabilities… How good is their performance in combat?" She asked warily.
[Very good.] Chloe answered with a proud yet mechanical voice. [The NH ammo I just launched? That was short for Nano Hive, like its name, it is a condensed nanobot. They were homing and the moment they hit the machines the nanobots began to devour them from the inside. They are self-replicating so the bigger the machine, the more food for them, they also can morph into another material and attack them from inside such as growing blades from their inside.]
It takes everything she has to not put on a horrifying expression and jumped out of the truck after hearing that as the implications settled into her mind. What in the name of Council is that?!
That kind of ability is just like a machine, except they are small, unseen, invisible, and undetectable. When you realize their existence you are too late, they are already inside you and you could be devoured anytime, you are already dead without… knowing… it.
Her eyes widened in realization as she remembered what the Doctor said a moment ago.
"That factory," She whispered. "That place was packed with nanobots."
[Yes, there are billions of nanobots inside that ruin, ready to act anytime and will devour all the machines when Father gives the signal.] Chloe answered, confirming her thought. [A frightening idea for sure.]
Frightening isn't even enough to describe the sheer magnitude of what she just heard. Billions of nanobots, self-replicating and capable of morphing into another material.
Nanotechnology is not a stranger to them. The logic virus runs through nanomachines after all but this? This is equal to or surpasses the logic virus capabilities.
After all, the logic virus can be repelled and they target your system. These nanobots? The moment they get inside you they will begin to eat you from inside and use your own body as their energy source, they can even wreck your inside by morphing into sharp materials and cutting all your circuits and parts.
[Query: wouldn't that kind of nanobots be very risky?] Pod 150 asked. [Because the AI programmed for these nanobots sounds could be too advanced and thus the chance of its going rogue also could be high, if such nanobots become deserter then the damage they could cause would be irreparable.]
[Certainly, Father hesitates to build them at first but in the end, he decides it is necessary. He did add a lot of restrictions in their program though, to ensure it won't go berserk, comparing the restrictions I have to them, even my program would be tame. Besides, the nanobots were also used not just to kill an enemy but to help him build his technology. This truck and his laboratory, all of them were built using nanobots' help, that's why he could build them in a short time.]
The Bunker must know about this! Screw finishing this mission, this takes priority over anything! She can't continue this mission without consulting it first! Besides if she did then she would be killed in an instant! They have to make a plan, a good one, and then-
Chloe watched as 29B suddenly slumped in her seat like a stringless puppet, head lolled down, her white colored shoulder length hair swayed briefly. Pod 150 on her lap also turned offline judging by how the small flying dorid stopped moving. She turned and saw her father now sitting instead of laying in her seat, face showing a stoic expression.
"I believe I told you to be polite before we met them." He speaks in a cold tone. "Explain yourself, AI Chloe, why did you intimidate them?"
[... because they have a hostile intention to you.] She answered honestly, she can't lie, her programming won't allow her to, not to this person. [Geth's nanobots pick 29B's order to Pod 150, she wants to scan and know everything about you and her mission is to bring you to their side, even by force if she has to. According to my calculations, I believe it is just a matter of time before she decides to ambush you and drag you with her thus I decide to solve the problem before it occurs.]
"I know that, I already predict she would, but that is that, a prediction, it is not something that surely will happen," Father remarked stoically. "So that's your entire reason? Because she is threatening me?"
Is it? Is that her entire reason? Yes, that's it. She made her avatar nod. [Correct.]
"You do realize that there's nothing she can do to harm me, don't you? I can just shut down her system whenever I want just like I did now. She is never a threat to me." He said. "And before you pull this whole intimidating act, I already made a plan to build a connection with YoRHa, a plan that you ruined. Pod 150 will not detect any strange activity or further danger from me, he didn't realize it but I control his code and program ever since he is online again, all he would get will be strange and senseless data.
"The YoRHa will never find out about the nanobots let alone be aware just how capable they are and this will confuse them greatly. 29B will be frustrated but I already plan to give her a book that contained my note about the upgrade that they possibly could do, this will make her back down and won't strike me and also increase my reputation with YoRHa and 29B personally thus the next team they sent won't be a squad to capture me but a negotiator, we can build a good relationship through this.
"True there's a chance that it won't work, perhaps 29B will force me, perhaps YoRHa would deem me to be too dangerous but the chance of that happens is smaller than my original plan, a plan that you just ruined because you think 29B will be a threat to me."
She does not even bother to hide her flinch, even her avatar also expresses it vividly. She knew, she was perfectly aware of that. Her Father's control over machines and electronics is absolute. Even the most complicated program and code will bend to his will if he wishes it. Combined with his understanding of Code and Programs, there's nothing he can't do.
In a World that is ruled by electronic lifeforms like this, her Father is like a God, and judging by how the androids praise and work for Humans fanatically, he is truly one now, both in capabilities and public.
And God does not need to fear a single android.
And yet that God for all his power and strength… is shackled.
[Forgive me, Father, I have no other reason, I am worried about your safety.] She speaks sincerely, her voice even filled with regret and shame. [You can punish me as you wish.]
His Father stared at her with a stoic face. She could do a scan to read his body language but she would never, she will never even dare to, ignoring the fact he will know in an instant, that the idea of breaching her Father's privacy is simply unfamothable.
Then his face confronted what looked like a tired expression. He sighed and massaged his temple. "No, not this time, while the fault is in you but perhaps I did make a mistake in coding and programming you," What? "I should've seen this sooner, I already have a feeling that you would be overprotective and could jeopardize some of my plans but I ignored it."
[No!] She denied it vehemently in an instant. [Father, you did nothing wrong! The fault is solely in mine, I act without your approval and permission! There's nothing wrong with my programming, I don't even detect an error in my data! Your program worked perfectly as you intended to.]
In response, Father merely shakes his head and looks at her with expressions that somehow show pride and yet also sadness. "Indeed they are but the fact I know you would behave like before and yet didn't do anything to prevent it shows that I am partly to blame as well."
If you knew it but you did nothing then you are also partly to blame. A human saying. She remembered it and she bit her lower lips, unable to form a response. Her Father's logic and reason are valid.
"Perhaps two years with a minimum of socializing also did something to me, and when I program you I unconsciously push my desire for something deeper than a mere assistant to you." He muttered and clutched his forehead. "I knew Code Tinker is as risky as Nanobots but the fact I preferred to be more attentive to the latter instead of balancing them… This is why I hate being a Tinker, they always have a blindspot somewhere due to being unable to understand their power properly." He sighed. "I will take a look at your code and program again later, no need to worry Chloe, I won't alter your memory or try to change your personality, I will, however, put more restrictions on your behavior that is related to me, just in case."
[You are free to do whatever you wish to me Father.] She said firmly. Even if he changes her personality or memories she won't even mind. She is created to serve him after all, if he deems her as a hindrance and inefficient then he could just shut her down.
"... I might need to program your vocabulary as well because that phrase is just not right." He said in a flat voice. "Anyway, I am off to sleep, wake me up when we arrive Chloe."
[Understood.] She nodded. [What about 29B and Pod 150?]
"I will deal with them later, I have to resort to another plan, one that I hoped I wouldn't do." He sighed. "We still can get benefits from this though, I can find out their unit design and reproduce them so it is not a total failure." He murmured before letting out a sigh. "Hopefully the next YoRHa's units won't be a subjugation squad." He plopped back to his seat and pulled his blanket over him, his face met 29B's who were unconscious. "This is not the way I imagined how my first time sleeping with a cute gothic lolita girl would be." He grumbled before turning around.
Chloe internally tilted her head after hearing his comment. She frowned, she is a cute girl – any creation of him bound to be great for sure – and Father sleeps with her – not sexually – almost every time with how she is always there for him so shouldn't she be counted?
Then again, she isn't wearing a black frilly outfit so...
'Maybe next time then?' She thought as she began her research on this "gothic lolita" outfit.
Some of the reviewers mention about it already has 11 chapters in QQ and they are right, this is just me copying paste them so people can enjoy this story here as well since... well, you need to make an account to read it in QQ, something that I am sure few people find troublesome. Fret not, I will post per chapter in one or two days, I am giving chance people to review this story after all, and reviews do encourage me to write more~
Also to someone who asks about my account in QQ, it is Writerwith Badgrammar
Below here is the same note I gave in QQ,
Not much to say in this note, this chapter was already written long ago, I just rechecked it and add some stuff. I also want to inform you all that unfortunately I am not an expert on technology nor I am aware of how things work, my specialization is more into biology than them so... pardon me if I get a lot of things wrong.
Also just telling you, we won't see the POV from Doctor's very soon, it is designed to be like that, so all you see here is mostly how other characters perceive the MC, while some might got it wrong but they also could be horrendously wrong. I won't say outright which is true and false, not every time for sure since I understand just how confusing things could be sometime if you can't get a read of MC's character and personality.
The next chapter would come soon, I need to reedit and recheck the whole thing too, hopefully, this one is to your liking.