V1 opened the doors to 2-3 oncemore. Swiftly brutalizing the Filth, Strays, Schisms and Soldiers in their way, they cleared them out with ease. They emptied out the level in that Layer with raw efficiency. A machine capable of such feats already caught Gabriel's gaze, but it wasn't time yet for them to clash. They pumped the water out of the level.

Behind the waterfall, they fall down the tunnel, to 2-S. Returning oncemore. For once, Lust made sense for a name, with such a level. Opening the doors, the schoolground was before them. Stepping out slowly, pulling out the shotgun. "Yo, V1!" A schoolgirl, looking like the machine, approached, before going for a high five. V1 stood idle, looking at the hand, then at the schoolgirl, whomst they've met before. Mirage. An awkward pause, before Mirage sighed. "You know, you could give me a fucking high five every once in a while, dude." V1 shook their head, looking at the high school.

"Man, your first day was a blast. Already changed my fuckin' life, you know that?" She said, looking at the school. "I know we met up afterwards, but, I'm thinking of doing that again, maybe today." Turning to V1, who already looked back at her. "You in? Maybe meet up for some coffee, or something?" A short pause, with V1 nodding. She chuckled, shrugging. "Hey, bet it'll be pretty fun compared to whatever shithole your dayjob is. Come on, we're gonna be late otherwise."

8:43 AM - MATH
- Mirage didn't seem to enjoy this class.
- From what I've noted, she didn't like any of her classes.
- Very distant.

9:12 AM - ENGLISH
- Mirage was slightly more tempered for this one.
- She was frequently doodling - mostly about the machine.
- What is her intention?

10:23 AM - SCIENCE
- Mirage enjoyed the reactions; other than that, nothing of note.
- She almost collapsed midway through.
- It looked like Gabriel passed by the class. Do not engage.

12:11 PM - LUNCH
- There's no such thing as a free lunch.
- Mirage was chatting with her own group of machines.
- Swordsmachine. Street Cleaners. Mindflayers. She was a pretty popular girl. There appeared to be a V2 model on the opposite side of the table, frequently shooting glares at Mirage. Do not engage.

2:10 PM - HISTORY
- Mirage seemed the most disinterested about this class.
- It went over historical moments pre-human extinction.
- Machines seemed to be the most prevalent source for said extenction.

The alarm rung. Swiftly picking up my equipment, there wasn't much time before I'd be trapped in here again. It was so long since I saw the light, the light of freedom. Machines around me, angels along my sides, I wasn't sure if they would be out, too. But that didn't matter. Out. Freedom. Escape. The empty rations in my equipment bag, the last of my equipment gathered, it was a quick escape out the front gates, until rendevousing with the Captain.

I saw him. I almost thought I never would, never thought I would see the shining medallion in his eyes again.

V1 was waiting outside the gates, staring at Mirage as she made it out. "Fucks sake, can they make this building any bigger?!" She shrieked, before catching her breath outside the gates. Sighing, she looked around. "Shit, you know where the cafe is?" V1 shook their head. "Well fuck. Looks like we're lost. Just like the first day back, huh, V1?" They nodded in response. Looking out, scanning the environment, they started moving towards a local bar. "Hey, where are you going?" V1 pointed at the bar, without looking back. It took Mirage basically running to catch up to V1. Until they stopped, and so did Mirage. "What's-" V1 stared at what looked like Gabriel. We are off school grounds. Do not engage. There are no consequences for eliminating him here. Do not engage. What is the protocol? Do not engage. "V1, are you okay?"

They snapped out of the stare, looking at Mirage. "You stared at Gary for a bit- Did that bastard fucking insult you earlier?!" V1 shook their head, looking at the now-escaped Gabriel. "Gary's the bully of the school - dude fucking insults machines like us into submission. I still don't understand why, it's not like we killed his dad or something." V1 looked at Mirage. Killed his father? Irrelevant. Gabriel is not related to the Father. Continue with the mission. Gather information. V1 looked up, back at the bar, spotting the age restriction sign. V1 shook their head, walking past it. "Fuuuck, it looks so fun in there. You don't happen to have a fake ID on you, do you?" They shook their head, disregarding the comment.

It was a little bit of walking, until they came across a cafe. "Fresh Cleaner's Mugs... sounds like a shit name." She chuckled at the insult to the store. They walked in. "Welcome to the Fresh Cleaner's Mugs. My name's Sarah, what can I fire up for you today." Sarah was a tired, aged Street Cleaner. She knew her way around piping hot drinks, but she hated her job, even as the supervisor. V1 pointed at a "Bloody Matthew". "Yo, uhhh, my buddy wants a Bloody Matthew, five blood pumps, and I'll have a uhhhh.. 'Greasy Tank'?" Sarah nodded, and Mirage and Sarah continued the transaction at the register, while V1 scouted for a table. Again, they found Gabriel. I can eliminate him here and now. Do not engage. With a brief pause, V1 stopped staring, and looked at a table for four. They sat down there, as Mirage came with the two drinks.

"Bitch almost got the order wrong. Gotta be precise with this, you know?" She sipped the drink she ordered, and tilted her head in surprise. "Tastes like a hint of battery acid in a clean pool of blood... I'll give her that, she makes a brilliant cup of Joe." She chuckled at her own joke, as V1 consumed the entire cup through an intake. Mirage clapped in response, quietly, as to not embarrass herself. "Damn, V1! I'm surprised you aren't burning up!" TANK FILLED: 99%. V1 nodded. Delicious.

Gary and Mirage locked eyes, and as Gary got up, Mirage groaned. "We got company." V1 snapped to Gary, who approached slowly, confident, yet internally nervous at the dual V models staring at him. "M, I kinda wanted to talk-" V1 reached for the Slab Revolver. DO NOT. ENGAGE. If he takes another step towards Mirage, DISENGAGE.

Mirage raised her hand to Gary, as that confident demeanor fell. "I don't want to hear it, cross-faced prick. You got all the different faces for each of those little sides of your cross you raise so high and mighty, asshole."

"M, come on, I thought we were cool-"

"We were cool, when you didn't fucking shove Alexis into a locker, saying she should let her fucking batteries empty!" She got up, as Gary backed up with his hands up.

Disengage. Alright. V1 lowered their hand, as Mirage raised hers. "You sit the FUCK back down, before I slap your face so hard all of Heaven will see your shattered helmet!"

The crew at Gary's table murmured with "ooh"s and "that's gonna hurt". Gary quickly turned red in anger, before immediately sighing and turning back to his silver and gold appearance, and sitting back down. His table laughed at him for allowing his ass to be served by a machine. V1 looked at Mirage, nodding. She is quicker than myself. I will not replace you with her. Good.

Mirage sighed, hand to her head, before looking back to V1. "Alright, let's get the fuck out of here. I meant for this to be some kinda fun adventure, but this just turned sour after catching that stud's hands before he could even through them." V1 nodded, getting up, as the duo left the cafe.

That was interesting. It's time to go, V1. Aw, come on. Not some extra bowling, or something? We have missions to complete. You're already stretching that S-rank in time. Fair enough.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you had to go now. Your little Terminal buddy usually likes to interject after something interesting happens." She said, looking down an alley. The exit tunnel door lit up in response, opening. V1 nodded, looking at it, but then back at Mirage. They pulled out the Marksman revolver, flipping a coin, then catching it, handing it to Mirage.

"Yo- you serious?" They nodded. "Well- fuck. I dunno what to say, other than thanks. But please, keep it. I got plenty of those back home." V1 nodded, placing the coin in their intake, and putting away the Marksman. They moved towards the elevator.

"V1-"

They paused, turning towards Mirage.

"Come back around some time. It was nice drinking with you, even with that cuntbag Gary interrupted." They nodded, giving a thumbs up, turning back to the tunnel.

They hopped down.

ALL-INCOMPLETE LOVE-WRITTEN MELODY

STATUS: COMPLETE

You really wanted to eliminate Gabriel early. I did.

You wouldn't be able to, had I even let you. Elaborate.

That is not Gabriel.