Far East Branch - Training Room
Following the completion of Purple Sparks and leaving Ren behind, Neo returned to Headquarters in a decidedly foul mood. Her argument with Soma had aggravated her, his scolding hypocritical at best. After spending so much of his own time acting as a solitary soldier, who was he to call her a lone wolf? Was it not he who told her to stay away on their third 'meeting?'
Never give a breath of quarter and stay the hell away from me.
After actively rejecting the aid of his allies, including hers, he had the gall to scream at her? And she hadn't even been alone in the first place. Granted, she had initially registered for the mission as a solitary unit. But with Ren's appearance, that had no longer been the case. Of course, she wouldn't have required his help in the first place. She could have easily destroyed her target with or without his help. It was what followed after that concerned her.
Storming through the Den, Neo had made a beeline straight for Sakaki's office. She had no more patience to concern herself with Soma for the time being. For now, a meeting with the Doctor was her top priority. She needed to bring their findings in for examination as quickly as possible. There was a possibility they could be involved with the missing Corporal. And if they were, they could hold the key to finding the answers they needed.
. . .
Stepping through the sliding door, Neo strode across the office towards a startled Paylor Sakaki. Gore dripped along the carpet with every step as she approached him, earning a frown of disapproval. It seemed that she would need another lesson on housekeeping etiquette. Shaking his head, he decided to dismiss her blatant disregard for cleanliness for the time being. "Yes, Neo. What can I do for you?"
"What's the status?" She asked, stopping on the opposite side of his desk.
"Based on your testimony, I had an investigation done at the temple ruins. And I actually found an Ashen Wing. I didn't know this, but apparently, these feathers are being sold for quite a price these days. So, I tried comparing this Ashen Wing against Lindow's data again, and… It wasn't enough evidence to prove anything yet. The data was half rotten and destroyed. So, here's where you come in. I want you to go find more of these. Let's see… about three more should be enough."
"Ashen Wing…?" Neo tilted her head to the side. She was unfamiliar with the term and even more unfamiliar with the practice. She didn't know what the item was, and most certainly hadn't realized that people were selling them. And as she rarely associated with most, she had no reason to ask. The strange fads and behaviors of human beings forever alluded her.
"Correct." The Doctor slid back from his desk for a moment, leaning down in his chair to open his drawer. Then, to Neo's surprise, he retrieved an ebony plume.
"That's -" Neo started, quickly rummaging through her supply bag. How fortuitous. It seemed that the very thing she had been meaning to bring him was precisely what he was searching for. The state of his offered feather was questionable at best, likely decayed from elemental exposure. But the ones that Ren had found were in decent condition, having been protected inside the confines of the wooden building. Retrieving them, she carefully placed her findings on the desk in a small pile, smirking as the Doctor's face lit up with joy.
"Splendid! As always, you far exceed expectations. I shan't ask how you found so many of these. For now, I will examine them to compare the data. Once the results are revealed, I'll let you know. If anything happens, well, I leave that to your judgement."
"Thank you, Doctor."
. . .
After her surprisingly productive discussion, Neo found herself wandering aimlessly through the hallways. After leaving the Director's Office, she wasn't sure what to do with herself. Most of her allies were out conducting field operations and she didn't know where Ichiro was at that particular moment. Speaking to Soma was entirely out of the question.
But the New Type didn't wander for long, as she suddenly found herself engaged with another pair of God Eaters. On her way to the Mess Hall, Neo encountered a couple of familiar faces, looking upon her with both eager and slightly nervous expressions. Annette Koenig and Federico Caruso, new members of 2nd and 3rd Units, respectively.
Having heard tales of her prowess on the battlefield, both had been hoping to some get pointers from her to increase their offensive output. Federico had been a bit more apprehensive than his fellow rookie, having heard horror stories from other members of the 3rd Unit, particularly Otto. Annette, conversely, had heard nothing but praises from her teammate Gunter, and was far less concerned with whatever danger the New Type allegedly posed. And after a great deal of persistence, the two were able to receive an audience with her.
That was how the three of them found themselves on the underground training floor. She wasn't exactly ecstatic about being hounded by unacquainted God Eaters, but at the moment, she had nothing better to do with her time and saw little sense in refusing them. They were not the first to request her assistance in battle tactics and likely wouldn't be the last. This was especially true for those involving marksmanship. For now, she would humor them. At least until something more interesting caught her attention.
"Darn it!" Annette groaned, lowering her Assault Gun. After a few simulations, she was beginning to grow frustrated. She had been following Neo's instruction to the best of her ability but was having little luck in showing significant improvement. Wielding her heavy sword made her much slower than the other New Type and didn't allow her the mobility to shift and fire as rapidly.
Federico wasn't faring much better. While his Long Blade was far less restrictive than Annette's Buster, he still couldn't hit the marks as efficiently as his tutor. He attempted to shift his weapon for a quick fire, but would always fall short, either attempting to shoot before his transformation was complete or taking too long to aim before the Aragami reached him. "I'm sorry, I'll get it next time!" He assured her, shifting his weapon once again into blade form.
But to his surprise, Neo shook her head. "No, you won't." The pair deflated, looking slightly crestfallen, before she continued. With a sigh, she casually crossed her arms. "Not if you can't lead shot."
"…Lead shot?" Annette questioned, gazing curiously as Neo made her way towards her God Arc. Having been directing them and providing advice, she hadn't yet made any demonstrations of her own.
"Your problem isn't just timing, it's your trajectory. You're trying to follow the Aragami with your barrel and it's slowing you down. In melee, you aim for wherever your target is. But at range, you need to aim for where your target will be."
Federico nodded, listening closely to her explanation. While he was an effective soldier in close combat, his ranged skills left much to be desired. And from what he had heard, Neo was the best marksman in the Far East. Since she had been kind enough to offer them direction, he wanted to absorb every detail.
"Observe." Returning to the center of the room, Neo started the simulation. It was one that she was familiar with, and a particular favorite. Of course, for the sake of challenge, her version was at a much higher difficulty.
The battle began with the sound of a familiar screech as Zygotes descended from above. Leaping into the air, Neo spun full circle, taking down three of her adversaries with a sweep of her scythe. As two more appeared behind her, she twisted through the air. Turning as she fell, she willed her God Arc to shift. With careful timing, she pulled the trigger the moment the barrel locked into place. Two shots, two kills, both targets falling to the floor with a thud.
On the ground, a trio of Cocoon Maidens erupted from the below, poised to strike with deadly spines. Tracking their movements, Neo curled into a ball on landing, extending her arm and shifting her weapon mid roll. The moment she unfurled, she swung, taking down all three targets with the tip of her blade.
The two recruits watched in utter astonishment as Neo leapt around the virtual battlefield, leaving nothing short of total destruction in her wake. Her movements were careful and precise, without a single misplaced swing. Every shift and every swipe, every bullet and every step were purposeful, burning minimum energy and providing maximum damage. While neither could hope to match her fighting style with her scythe, they still marveled at the sight of it. Her place at the top was clearly well-deserved.
Neo completed the simulation, landing carefully on all fours after a particularly complex twirl through the air. Sweat beaded on her forehead, gluing her bangs to her face as she slowly rose to her feet. Turning, she looked around the room to evaluate her work, quickly counting the bodies littering the floor. She could easily see thirty at a glance, give or take a few stragglers here and there. Satisfied, she turned to her prospective students.
Both stood in awestruck silence, watching as she slung her scythe over her shoulder. After a few moments, Annette exploded. "Th-That was amazing! Holy cow, you're so strong!"
Beside her, Federico nodded his head in agreement. "Right. I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but you really are as tough as they say!"
"…Rumors?" Neo tilted her head curiously at them, looking between the two as they gushed over her demonstration. She was more than accustomed to people speaking about her, both directly and behind her back. She wondered what sort of fables they had woven this time.
Annette beamed, clapping her hands together in excitement. "Oh, yeah. They say you're the best marksman in the branch. Apparently, you've never missed a shot!"
Neo twitched slightly at her assertion, knowing very well that that particular tale wasn't entirely true.
Federico nodded vigorously, adding his own thoughts. "Right! People say you're the strongest God Eater Fenrir has ever seen. I heard that you took out over 100 Aragami at one time!"
"Hmm…" Neo paused, pondering his assertion for a moment. While she was certain that she had slain far more than 100 Aragami in the last 72 hours alone, she couldn't honestly say whether she had ever done so in a single sitting. Perhaps she should test that theory later… it would certainly make for an interesting challenge.
Annette shook her head. "That's insane. Is that even possible?"
"For her it is. Otto says she's not even human. Like some kind of super soldier!"
"…" Neo's entire body froze at his words, her gaze locking on the male God Eater as he continued babbling excitedly with his fellow recruit. Their conversation faded into incoherent murmurs as her mind began to drift once again to a dark place.
She's not even human.
The words echoed in her mind, serving as a painful reminder of her biology. No matter what Ren, Ichiro, or any of her allies believed, she couldn't change reality. While she may walk among humans, she would never truly be one of them and at any time, she could find herself locked once again in an Oracle-infused cage. In fact, at the moment, the cage would be a welcome change. It would certainly be better than the alternative… transforming into something unrecognizable.
Her body turned on its own as she made her way towards the training room door. She could feel her heart clench as his words stabbed repeatedly through it like a knife. Her beating heart, which was also inhuman. Their calls fell on deaf ears as she disappeared through the exit, leaving both recruits alarmed and confused.
. . .
Far East Branch - Lobby
A heavy sigh escaped him as Ichiro sat tiredly on the Den lobby couch. Upon returning from his mission, he had been almost immediately accosted by Soma, who filled him in on the details of Neo's current situation. He had also learned that the New Type was now avoiding him and her whereabouts were currently unknown. Aggravated as he was, the guardian couldn't bring himself to be angry with him.
While it was true that Soma's presence seemed to often coincide with Neo's disappearance, this time the veteran couldn't be blamed. Her behavior lately had been of great cause for concern, her bloody warpath extending far beyond normal feedings or general boredom. She was greatly passed the point of blowing off steam. At this point, it was almost as if she were trying to get herself hurt. And for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why.
'What is going on with her?'
"Um… excuse me…"
'I just don't understand. She's been acting strangely for a while now… could it be because of Lindow's Arc?'
"…H-Hello…?"
'Maybe it's early transformation…? No, a full transformation is rapid. Perhaps it could be her…'
"U-Um… H-Hamasaki - Eep!"
"Huh?!"
His thoughts were shattered by the sound of a loud crash sounding beside him. Startled, he looked around for the source of the noise, his senses going on high alert. Seeing nothing, he raised an eyebrow, unsure of what was happening around him. But as his eyes drifted downward, he saw the cause of the commotion. Lying face down on the floor was a person he hadn't seen in a while. "Aki? Holy - are you alright?!"
Leaping from his position on the sofa, the veteran quickly knelt on the floor. Helping her to her feet, he looked down at her, checking her over for any bruises. A habit he had developed over the years.
Nodding her head, the younger God Eater gratefully accepted his help, letting him pull her to a stand. "Y-Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. It happens all the…" After straightening her glasses, her brown eyes slowly opened, blinking as a pair of hazel ones came into focus. Her pale skin ignited as she became acutely aware of their proximity. Leaping backward with a squeak, she lowered her eyes to the floor in embarrassment.
"Uh… are you sure?"
"Y-Y-Yes! I'm f-fine! Thank you!" Her voice came out as a quiet mumble, earning another raised eyebrow from the Ex-Corporal.
"Oookay, then. If you're sure."
"Quite!"
With a gentle smile, he returned to his seat on the couch, beckoning her to join him. Hesitantly, she did so, sitting carefully on the other end of the couch, as far away as possible. He held back the urge to snicker as she fumbled with her hands, an anxious habit that reminded him eerily of Neo. She was absolutely adorable. "So, what can I do for you?"
"O-Oh! Nothing, really… I was just passing through and I saw you, and… um…" Ichiro watched her stumble through her words, growing increasingly nervous under his gaze. "A-A-Anyway! I was just saying hi."
"Haha, well hello to you too, Aki. How have you been?"
"Oh, I'm fine, thank you."
"How has training been going?"
"O-Oh… Um… actually… I haven't really started yet… exactly."
Ichiro frowned slightly at her response. "You still haven't started training? Have you received your God Arc?"
"N-No… not yet."
"Huh… that's strange." Ichiro muttered quietly to himself. It wasn't like Fenrir to dally, especially where new God Eaters were concerned. The organization wanted their hands on every able body they could get, and Aki had already been in the Den for some time. What exactly was going on?
"Yes… They say there's a problem with my compatibility. Something about my blood type or something. They want to do further research…"
"Hmm… well, that's alright. I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually."
Aki nodded, her nervousness slowly ebbing away the longer they spoke.
"How's your sister doing?"
"Yoko? Oh, she's doing well. There have been a few attacks on the Wall, but nothing like The Great Barrier Breach. Thanks again, by the way…"
Ichiro shook his head. "You don't need to keep thanking me for doing my job. Really, I like helping people."
"Oh! O-Okay. I guess that's why you're so popular, huh?"
"Hmm?"
"N-Nothing!" She squeaked, turning her head to hide her colored cheeks once more. He really was just as everyone described. Compassionate and kind, with a strong desire to aid and protect others. It was difficult to believe that the man in front of her was ranked in the top tier among their branch. He was so gentle; she wouldn't have even believed him a soldier had she not seen it firsthand. He wasn't hard to look at either…
She didn't have long to admire him however, as a shadow cast over her.
Blinking, Aki slowly turned her head towards the offender, only to feel her blood run cold. Brown skin, an azure eye, and violet hair was all she needed to know who the woman was. Reaper; Ichiro's fiercely protective companion, or girlfriend, depending on the iteration. And she didn't look happy. Had she seen her talking to Hamasaki? Did she think she was trying to invade her territory? Her spine quivered at the possibilities.
Neo raised an eyebrow at the younger woman shrinking before her. She was quite accustomed to fearful reactions from humans, but typically, it required more than her very presence. This must be a timid one. Leaning forward, she observed the other God Eater, blinking as she trembled even further under her curious gaze. There was something about this girl that struck her as unusual… but what was it?
"Neo, please. You're frightening her." Ichiro shook his head in exasperation, contemplating dragging the woman away. Aki's fair skin was rather pale to begin with, and he was worried that if she lost any more color, she may actually pass out.
"I-I'm sorry! I wasn't - I was just saying h-hello. I didn't mean anything by it, honest!" Aki's voice rose an octave as Neo's eye narrowed even further. It seemed that she was already on thin ice with the New Type and the last thing she wanted to do was stoke her roaring flame.
Neo blinked; her initial fascination replaced with utter confusion as Aki all but sank into the sofa. What on earth was she so afraid of? Shaking her head, she turned her attention to her guardian. Her patience with the recruit was exhausted and she had no further wish to deal with her for the time being. And from the rice-white color of her face, Aki didn't want to deal with her either. "I need to speak with you."
"Eh?" It was Ichiro's turn to look confused, watching as Neo turned on her heel and strode away towards the elevator. While it was common for her to accost him at random intervals during the day, it was highly unusual for her to summon him so purposefully. And from the sound of her tone, it was something relatively serious. His stunned expression quickly morphed into one of concern as she disappeared behind the doors.
"U-Um…" Aki stammered, unsure of what to do or say. For all she knew, she had just dodged a bullet, and likely shaved at least a year or two off her lifespan.
Shaking his head, the veteran offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Aki. Duty calls."
"O-Oh! Okay then. I'll see you around…"
Ichiro nodded his acknowledgement, rising from the couch and making his way towards the elevator doors.
. . .
Far East Branch - Veteran's Floor
Arriving on the veteran's floor, Hamasaki made his way down the hall towards his living quarters. While Neo hadn't given him even a hint as to where she was going, he imagined it was because she expected to him know. It was for that reason that he was utterly unfazed by her presence on the bed upon his arrival. The first thing he noticed was her rigid posture and interlaced hands sitting carefully on her lap. Her gloves lay discarded on his pillow, leaving her clawed fingers out in the open. Stepping through the doorway, he made his way across the room, noting her azure eye following his every movement. She remained silent while he settled, shifting only slightly as he joined her on the mattress.
"Ichiro… I want to ask you something."
Her guardian grimaced slightly at her words. She had used his full name, which didn't bode well for him. It meant that she was already upset and he would need to tread carefully. "Anything. What's on your mind?" Ichiro asked, watching her from the corner of his eye.
"Do you think…" Neo paused for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. She wasn't sure how to phrase her question without raising suspicion. While her guardian hadn't turned his head, she could tell that he was watching her. A single misplaced word would be all it would take to alert him. "… people like me can be saved?"
Her words hung heavily in the air as Ichiro pondered her question. It was such an unusual inquiry and one that had him even more concerned than before. Reining in his fears, he instead opted for clarification. "What do you mean, 'people like you?'"
"People who have been exposed to Oracle cells… you know, without vaccination."
"…You're talking about infection."
Neo said nothing. Instead, she shifted her eyes slowly to her pulsating right hand where Lindow's Arc lay embedded underneath. The black inky tendrils wormed through her veins, giving her once smooth skin the appearance of leprous flesh. It was a small, subtle motion, but one that caught his attention immediately.
"Is it getting worse?" Neo shook her head, earning a suspicious frown in response. "Don't lie to me, Neo."
"I'm not lying… there's been no change."
The New Type could feel her skin crawl under his scrutinizing gaze. She could practically feel his eyes tracing over her body, checking her posture, her breathing patterns, any indication of deceit. But she was being truthful… and so he found none.
Sighing, he relaxed slightly, raising an eyebrow as he turned his head to face her. "So, why do you ask?"
"I was just thinking."
"Of?"
"I…" Neo paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts to find the best way to broach the topic. "I've been having nightmares."
Ichiro's brow furrowed slightly. "About the Susano'o?"
"…Yeah."
His head slowly nodded. Nightmares and night terrors weren't uncommon occurrences for the New Type, but they had been relatively benign as of late. She had mentioned a particular list of concerns that had been on her mind recently, the chief of which being their battle with the fully transformed God Eater. While Neo didn't make a habit of complaining openly about her anxieties, he knew that the idea deeply bothered her.
"It's just… I wonder about God Eaters who undergo transformation. People like the Susano'o, and me… and Lindow."
At this, his eyebrows lifted in surprise. His was a name he hadn't heard in some time. What on earth could have brought that on? "You've been thinking about Lindow?"
"A little."
His lips thinned for a moment as he contemplated. He didn't want to upset her further by saying the wrong thing. By now everyone, including himself, had finally come to terms with the Corporal's death. He didn't want her to believe that he was dismissing her concerns. But he couldn't help but ponder on the driving force behind them. "What about him?"
"Well… I've been wondering if maybe…" Her voice trailed off suddenly as she stared pointedly to the floor.
A sharp fang nibbled against her bottom lip. She was anxious. Unsure. Helping her along, he offered a suggestion. "You believe he's still alive." The hitch in her breath told him he had hit the mark.
"I think it's a possibility." Neo fell silent for a moment, taking in her guardian's expression and body language. She could almost see the gears turning as he processed her words, trying to formulate an appropriate response. She recognized that look. He was trying not to provoke her. Sighing, she lowered her eyes. "You think me foolish."
His thoughts slowed to a halt at the sound of her dejected voice. He had remained silent for too long. Shaking his head, he slowly turned on the bed to fully face her. "No Neo, I don't think it's foolish at all. I think it's good to be hopeful and your thought process isn't unfounded. Lindow was a powerful solider. I think it's likely that he did survive."
Neo's eye narrowed slightly as she frowned. His use of past tense hadn't escaped her notice. While he wouldn't say the words directly, she knew what he was thinking. "…But not as a human."
Ichiro paused for a moment. "Neo… even if he had survived Moon in the Welkin, that doesn't bode well. We found his God Arc in the belly of that Dyaus, which means even if he lived, he's been out there all this time, unarmed and without vaccination. I'm sure Lindow still lives… just not in a way that any of us would recognize."
"But what if he did? What if…"
His lips pulled into a pensive frown, noting the urgency in her tone. Where was all of this coming from? Perhaps her precarious position was worrying her more than he realized. Sighing, he shifted his expression into a gentler one. "Then, I would do everything in my power to bring him back alive."
The room fell into silence. Ichiro remained still, allowing Neo to process his words. He could see her mind working as her mouth twitched and her expression shifted. Then, finally, she turned to face him, a look of indescribable appreciation on her features. She was clearly grateful to him… but for what, he did not know.
"Thank you, Ichi. For listening."
His smile widened at the use of his shortened name. Neo's mood had lifted. "Anytime. I am always here if you need -" Reaching forward, he gently made to clasp her hand… but as their skin made contact, a sudden shock erupted between them, startling both into a state of alarm.
Feeling the jolt, Neo's face immediately twisted into a look of horror. "Ichi… I… I-I'm so sorry…"
Waving it off, Ichiro recovered and simply smiled. "Haha! Well, that was unexpected. I didn't realize there were such sparks between us."
Scowling, Neo narrowed her eyes at him, both at his awful pun as well as his joy in her mishap. But as he shot her a toothy grin, she quickly found that she couldn't stay angry. With little concern, he forgave her, just as he had when she had launched him clear across the bedroom when they were children. Some things never changed; it would seem. "…Shut up."
Ichiro only laughed even harder at her jab, her smirk not going unnoticed. He could tell that she was amused with him, despite her attempts at hiding it. Such was her way. With a noticeably lighter atmosphere, the pair relaxed and fell into comfortable silence.