Far East Branch - Lobby
After their tea session, Neo's moods seemed to lift a bit, the New Type slowing down on her missions. Alisa reported her findings to the veterans at her earliest opportunity, leaving both men in a state of utter confusion. While they were happy to have gained a little insight on the situation, they weren't much farther along than when they started. The person that she had created left too many possibilities to pinpoint any one particular problem. At this point, the only thing they knew for certain was that Neo was interacting with someone they couldn't see. For now, they would keep her under close observation, but they needed to find a solution. It was only a matter of time before other members started to take notice.
Thankfully, it didn't look like that would be happening any time soon. At the moment, most of their unit - and in fact, the entire organization - was currently distracted. It was highly beneficial. If only it were under better circumstances.
In the rest of the Den, operations were going poorly. With no luck on the search and rescue front, members of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Units had begun to grow weary. Even with rotating shifts, people were getting tired, and many were just starting to lose hope. The more persistent members pressed forward, traveling further, and staying out longer, determined to find any trace of Lindow's whereabouts. And in doing so, things had quickly gone awry. And as all things did in the Far East, the news spread like wildfire.
"This doesn't sound good. Kanon and Brendan didn't come back from their mission…" Gina muttered, a look of genuine worry gracing her features.
"Yeah. What a great idea they had… Protect a rookie and get lost themselves. Did they lose contact in the subway remains? That place is so uselessly big and complicated…" While Shun's commentary sounded far less sympathetic than his teammate, he couldn't hide the concern in his voice.
Beside them, Lenka shook his head in dismay. Another missing God Eater was the last thing that any of them needed at this point. Now, they had two of them, the 2nd Unit's Vice Commander among them. Kanon, for all of her misfires, was a good God Eater at heart and an even better person. Were they not found, the Den would sorely miss both of them. "Can anyone track their bio signals?"
Shun shook his head. "No can do. Talked to Gen. According to the old man, their signals are too weak to detect their survival."
"Damn it." The 1st Unit Captain clenched his fists in frustration. He didn't need this right now. "Does anyone know what happened?"
Gina shook her head. "You'll have to ask Annette for details. She was there."
"Alright. Where can I find -"
"Captain Utsugi!" A distraught voice quickly interrupted his question, a pair of feet thundering across the lobby floor. Turning, Lenka came face to face with the woman he needed, pausing as she slowed to a stop in front of him. "I have a favor to ask of you!"
Lenka frowned. "Is this about Brendan and Kanon?"
Annette nodded frantically. "Right! I went out on a mission with my team, but an Aragami we've never seen before appeared in front of us unexpectedly. Everyone else let me escape, but I… I didn't know what to do, and now… Please, help me look for them!"
A gentle hand silenced her, Lenka offering her an understanding smile. "Stay calm. We're gonna figure this out, alright?" He paused to give her a moment while she took a series of calming breaths. "Okay. Now, where did you lose them?"
"In the Infernal Subway."
"How long ago?"
"Not too long. Maybe a few hours, tops."
"Alright, that's good. There's still time. Let's get going and -"
"Hold on!" A male voice interrupted him, another God Eater suddenly joining the pair. His yellow jacket identified him long before he reached them. Federico Caruso of the 3rd Unit. "I'm coming too. There might be more Aragami about."
Lenka nodded his head in understanding. "I'd appreciate that. We don't know what all is out there, and more people will certainly help."
"Do you think three people will be enough?"
The Captain shrugged. "I'm not sure. It's impossible to tell without more information."
"Is there anyone else available?"
"I'm not sure of that either. Everyone is scattered, and time is crucial. Gina and Shun have to head out in a few minutes, but maybe one of them can -"
"Oh!" Annette's exclamation halted the men's conversation. They turned to see her gazing pointedly towards the elevator. Stepping from the lift was one of the aforementioned stray God Eaters, strolling casually into the Den lobby. And it couldn't have been a better one. "Neo!"
Her booming voice startled the other New Type, her eyes swiveling around the room for the source. It wasn't often that other God Eaters addressed her willingly, especially shouting across the entrance hall. Following the sound, Neo matched the voice to a face, recognizing her as one of the New Type recruits. Standing beside her was Federico, her fellow rookie. Their last meeting had ended on dubious terms, so she was apprehensive to interact with them a second time. But at the look on Utsugi's face, she figured that she would at least hear what the New Type had to say. Walking briskly towards them, she paused in front of the trio.
"Can you help us?" Annette asked, cutting straight to the point.
"With?"
"Emergency mission. During our last job, an unknown Aragami appeared. Brendan and Kanon let me escape, but they were left behind and they haven't returned. You're the best marksman in the Far East, and we may need your help -"
"Brendan is missing?" Neo interrupted, her tone growing sharp and her expression dark. Utsugi quirked an eyebrow at her reaction, taking note of the concern flashing across her expression.
"Y-Yeah…"
"Where?"
"The Infernal Subway."
Neo's breath hitched immediately at the mention of the molten railway, a place that she hated adamantly. This would be her second time in the subway remains following Ichiro's assault, and she had little to no interest in entering the lava-filled tunnels again.
"Please, Brendan and Kanon need our help."
The New Type sighed, a gloved hand running through her violet locks. She detested that place, and quite frankly, would rather pull out her own teeth than go back there again… but Annette was right. If Brendan and Kanon were indeed trapped in there with an unknown assailant, every moment was precious. "Move." With that singular word, she turned on her heel and strode towards the stairway. The sooner they departed, the sooner they could find them and get this over with.
Exchanging a look, the trio quickly followed.
. . .
Infernal Subway
Their trip to the subway was a quiet one, Neo staring tensely out of the transport door. Federico and Annette said nothing to her, both remembering very well what had happened in the underground training room. They never figured out what it was that had set her off, but neither one was willing to take that risk again. Lenka similarly remained silent. His eyes scanned carefully over the New Type's nervous expression. It was clear that hated the place, and considering what high temperatures did to her, he could understand why. With her already so tense, the last thing he wanted to do was provoke her.
Their silence continued well into the subway, their footsteps the only sounds audible as the four of them rushed through the winding tunnels. The area around them was shaded red, the light from the lava pools bouncing off of the solid walls. Small waves of heat rose steadily from the ground below the further they went, emphasizing the scorching climate. Such temperatures had little effect on three of them, but the remainder was not so lucky.
Looking to the side, Lenka evaluated Neo's condition, watching the sweat forming over nearly every inch of her body. Her breath came out as tired pants, the heat quickly draining her stamina. Frowning, Utsugi turned to her, moving closer and lowering his voice so as not to alert the other pair. "Hey… if you need to cool down, let me know, alright?"
A look of surprise appeared momentarily on her face as Neo considered his offer. It was true that his assistance during Tandoor had been crucial to their escape. But she hadn't expected him to extend the offer a second time, let alone so readily. It seemed that the 1st Unit Captain was finally warming up to her and her hybridized biology. Or at the very least, he was grudgingly accepting it. Nodding her head, she continued forward, her senses keening in every direction for their foe.
Their search was fruitless for some time, the four God Eaters growing nervous with each passing minute. So long had they been underground that Neo's energy was beginning to wane, requiring Utsugi to assist her with the use of an exploding ice bullet. He explained away the incident to accidental discharge, the New Type nodding gratefully for the relief. And as it turned out, his efforts had helped them in more ways than one.
The gunshot echoed through the tunnels, drawing the attention of a nearby Aragami. It swam through the pools, following the sound towards the searching God Eaters. And as it rose from the molten lava nearby, Annette turned and pointed. "There! There it is!"
All three turned to follow her gaze, eyes narrowing at the approaching threat. It certainly wasn't what any of them had expected. It was a Gboro-Gboro variant, its skin the same crimson as the walls' hue. A magmatic Gboro.
Neo's lips pulled into a scowl at the sight of it. The color alone was indicative of its most likely element. This would be an opponent that required caution, especially surrounded by endless expanses of something far, far worse. Shifting her scythe, she quickly decided that range would be the optimal choice in this situation, allowing her the flexibility and mobility to maneuver around the Gboro as needed. She would enter melee to replenish her bullets when necessary.
The lava fish charged them on sight, this variant clearly more aggressive than its calmer counterparts. Two could play at that game. Neo didn't even wait for it to reach land. Piercing freeze bullets soared across the clearing towards the approaching target. Every single one hit its mark, the fifth shattering the cells on the back fin before it reached them.
Annette and Federico watched in astonishment at the display. Apparently, it was true that she never missed. But now wasn't the time for admiration. Following her lead, the two New Types quickly followed, shifting their God Arcs into gun form and firing at the monster without mercy.
The result of their pelting was instantaneous outrage, the Gboro-Gboro bursting onto solid ground after its assaulters. Backing away, Neo kept her distance, eyes following the movements of his nose cannon as it charged. Lenka took point, providing her some coverage as he dove forward. His shield activated, clashing with the rushing creature and slowing its movement. Gravel crunched beneath his feet as he slid, the force of its tackle driving him backward.
Rushing to his aid, the rookie New Types quickly engaged, shifting their weapons into blade form. Lifting her Buster, Annette attempted a sweeping strike, aiming for the Gboro's fin. Her plan failed as the monster turned, her blade catching air as the target moved away. Lenka disengaged, leaping backward, and luring in it the opposite direction with Federico close behind. With their Long Blades, they darted around the creature, entering, and leaving strike range as needed.
Moving more slowly, Annette followed up the rear. Seeing what looked like an opportunity, she charged with her blade held high. The two men hopped backward to avoid another strike as the Aragami spun full circle with fins extended. Wielding her Buster, she couldn't disengage in time, nor could she deploy her shield mid swing. The force threw her backwards off of her feet. Her body hit the ground with a startled 'oof' as the other two reengaged, maneuvering around it to push the monster back.
Annette groaned, leaping to her feet, and prepared to reenter the battle, frustration evident on her features. It was here that her inexperience often showed. While she was proficient in simulations and battles against larger enemies, the New Type often struggled when paired against smaller, nimbler opponents. Her blade was heavy and large, and she had difficulty moving quickly enough to properly execute her strikes. They were either miscalculated and left her open, or mistimed, resulting in a miss entirely. She had made it a single step when a quiet voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Fall back."
"Huh?" Whipping around, the blonde was startled to find Neo standing a few feet away from her, eyeing her carefully. Annette immediately noticed the woman's disheveled state. Her violet hair stuck stubbornly against her wet skin. Her wild bangs were plastered over her left eye; the visible one tired and swollen. Her chest heaved in heavy pants as droplets of sweat fell from her chin to the rock below. She was so silent; she hadn't noticed her movements. When had she even approached her?
"You. Fall back."
"W-What?! I -"
"You're slow." Neo stated blankly, gesturing towards her Buster Blade with a jut of her chin.
The other woman gawked at her, uncertain of what to make of her blatant jab. Neo's sharp tone sometimes made it difficult to read her intentions. Most often, it was a razor thin line teetering somewhere between constructive criticism and outright insults. "I-I'm… I don't -"
The more experienced New Type shook her head, silencing her excuses and looking towards the men gridlocked in close combat. "Your enthusiasm is admirable, but problematic." Annette followed her gaze, her mouth falling open in confusion as Neo continued. "You're greedy. Out here, that'll get you killed."
"Greed - well, what am I supposed to do?" Annette asked, exasperation growing evident in her voice. It was true that she was fervent and somewhat competitive. But it was only because she felt so inadequate. The 2nd Unit was filled with talented top-tier God Eaters, Gunter and Tatsumi alone making up most of the squad's kill count. Yet somehow, despite her efforts, she often struggled to keep up, showing little improvement. Especially in comparison to her fellow recruit. She desperately wanted to grow, but her efforts were always in vain.
"Be patient."
"…Patient?"
"You're trying to keep up with Caruso." Annette grimaced, Neo's arrow hitting its mark as she all but instantly pinpointed her insecurities. The words that followed however, weren't insults, but advice. "Don't bother. You can't. Your weapon type doesn't allow for it. Don't worry about being proactive. Instead, be opportunistic."
"But… Federico is -"
"Weaker than you."
"Huh?" The rookie's eyes grew wide as saucers at the backhanded comment. That certainly wasn't what she expected to hear.
"He is faster, but his strikes carry less power. Allow him and quicker teammates to herd them… and strike when the moment is right."
"Wait, I don't -"
Annette's question went unanswered. With nothing further to say, the New Type took off into the fight, shifting as she ran. Her words of advice had been both helpful and confusing and while she wanted nothing more than to take her advice, she didn't entirely understand it. While her long-range had improved greatly under Neo's instruction, her melee still left something to be desired. What was she expected to do, stand on the sidelines while her allies charged bravely into battle?
She didn't know. But for the moment, she refused to stand idle. Shifting into gun form, she changed to the support role, pelting the monster's open areas with freezing bullets. In the center, the Gboro thrashed, tossing the two men aside with an unexpected spin. Neo predicted the movement, leaping over the fins as they passed and placing a careful sweep over its damaged dorsal.
Landing, Neo turned and lifted her shield, the sound of building flame reaching her sensitive ears. She predicted correctly, blocking the flaming sphere as it launched at point blank range, exploding against her buckler like a small bomb. The force of the blast pressed her backward, leaving her stumbling to regain balance. Noticing her struggling, Lenka quickly came to her aid, both halting the monster's assault and cooling her off with an icy blast bullet.
Federico recovered second, catching the Gboro off guard with a well-placed swing to its tail. Startled, it spun around and changed targets, flopping after him like a large crimson seal. From the sidelines, Annette followed them, firing both offensive and recovery bullets as necessary to assist him. The longer she observed the three of them, the more she started to notice a pattern.
Her fellow rookie had, for the most part, mastered the disengaging tactic that the Captain had shown them. It was also a skill that he used rather frequently. Between the two of them, Lenka and Federico resembled a ping pong pair, bouncing the monster back and forth with their swings, getting in what strikes they could before either blocking or backing out of range. It was a similar fighting style to Tatsumi's, although his was often faster. Neo was somewhere in between, her Variant Scythe offering long range, but requiring careful positioning to optimize output.
Then, she finally realized.
Neo was right. Annette had been approaching the situation all wrong. While her teammates typically led the charge, she couldn't recall Brendan ever doing the same. At least, not frequently. The others often rushed into battle, leaving the two of them behind… but that was because they could.
Tatsumi was the fastest of them. His strikes were rapid and meticulous, but often did little damage in the grand scheme of things. Gunter was slower but provided more utility than her Captain. And with her Buster Blade, she was the slowest, often forcing her to either use range or spend most of her time running around after their opponent. That was the problem. She didn't need to chase after her target. She needed to let the target to come to her.
Smiling, Annette shifted back into blade form, hoisting the massive Arc over her shoulder in preparation. She carefully approached as the three began their dance once more. Federico leapt away from a swipe, lifting his shield in defense against the following fireball. Lenka drew its attention second, moving back to create some distance from the rookie New Type. Neo positioned herself on the opposite side, shifting back into gun form. She was ready.
"Neo, this way!" Annette called, gripping her handle tightly as the New Types shifted their gazes in her direction.
With a silent exchange, Utsugi angled his barrel downward, shooting the ground with a frozen blast. The bullet struck near the Gboro's front, startling it and interrupting it mid-charge. Off balance, the monster was unsteady, leaving Neo to finish the job. Taking aim, she fired, striking it with a second explosive icy shot and tossing it on its side. Its semi-circular body tumbled across the ground in Annette's direction. This was her chance.
Be opportunistic.
"Take this!" The Gboro stopped a short distance away, its limbs flailing uselessly as it tried to figure out which way was right side up. But the rookie wouldn't give it that satisfaction. Charging forward, she leapt into the air and descended with a battle cry. The Aragami was helpless in the face of her massive blade, the force and momentum driving it all the way into its flaming skull.
Below, its body convulsed, twitching erratically beneath her protruding God Arc. Then, it fell still.
The woman stared at the lifeless body in disbelief, alarmed by her own strength. She hadn't realized that she was capable of delivering such a blow. "Hah… I did it! I can't - I did it! Yes!"
Caruso smiled, impressed with her finishing strike. "Whoa, that was amazing! Great job, Annette!"
She wanted to jump for joy. She finally landed a critical strike and the Aragami was slain by her hand. It was a messy, bloody kill, that left gore dripping from nearly every inch of her body… but it was hers all the same. Neo's advice had been sound, leading her to wonder just how she knew so much about Buster Blade mechanics. Perhaps it was due to her years of service beside Hamasaki? She didn't know. All she knew was that right now, she was so joyous that she could hug her. Gazing in her direction, she gave a beaming smile. Neo acknowledged her, with a slow nod of approval.
Wrenching her blade from the Gboro's body, she angled it downward. Ebony jaws extended from her God Arc, biting down and extracting the core. Federico stretched out his arms not far from Neo, who was now kneeling on the ground. Lenka eyed her with concern, noting the strain on her body as she heaved every breath. If they remained here much longer, the woman may soon be more puddle than person.
The Corporal turned his attention to Federico. "Come on, let's call for exfil and get outta here."
"Got it, Captain!" He affirmed, quickly extracting his device from his pocket. He pressed the buttons quickly, sending a message to their transport as his teammates kept their eyes on the wheezing New Type.
Frowning, Annette made her way over to her, a look of concern washing over her features. "Hey, are you okay? You're practically melting…"
Neo shook her head, wiping her brow as she used her God Arc for balance. It was bad enough that the underground was too hot to begin with, but why did every one of their targets insist on lurking so far in? The sooner they could leave this place, the better.
Lenka addressed her second, loading a bullet into his chamber for good measure. "You gonna be alright?"
"Fine." She muttered, an unhappy expression rising on her face.
Neo was irritable. Never a good sign. Utsugi shook his head, knowing better than to push her when her moods soured. Unfortunately, his teammates were unaware of such precautions.
"Are you sure? You're burning up…" Federico frowned, slowly walking towards her. The other New Type shook her head, silently warding him off. The inexperienced recruit didn't read her warning. Then…
Beep, beep.
The sound rang out through the empty railway, echoing off of the walls. Federico's phone went off, signaling that their transport would be arriving shortly. The sound was a relief to his ears… but not to the woman crouching in front of him. Neo's face shifted instantly, her lips pulling into a feral snarl at the familiar sound. Federico, blissfully unaware of her changes continued approaching. His hands rooted around in his pockets, searching for O-Ampules, Restore Pills, anything to help stop the New Type from turning to liquid form. "You don't look fine. Are you sick? I have some supplies if you need to -"
The next instant startled everyone.
As he drew his hand from his pocket, Neo reacted with a violent hiss. Another warning misunderstood. Lenka immediately went on the defensive, recognizing the changes. "Federico!"
"Huh? What's up - bwah?!" Shifting his attention, the New Type took one step further towards the snarling woman. It was the final straw. She lunged, swiping her gloved hand towards his face, startling him, and earning a gasp from Annette. In this case, the young man's heavy focus on defense proved beneficial, quick reflexes ducking him out of harm's way. He backpedaled several steps away from her, eyes widening as she made to charge at him again.
"Neo, stop!" Lenka shouted, closing the distance between them, and quickly placing himself in between the predator and her prey. His eyes hardened with determination as he stared her down, watching her every movement should she strike again.
Thankfully, she didn't. Instead, she backed away. With him standing before Federico, the threat had passed. Standing somewhat straight, she scowled. But the Captain wasn't finished with her.
"Mind telling me what your problem is?" He demanded. There was no reason for such a blatant display of aggression toward a new member, especially one that had only been trying to help. He didn't know what bee got in her bonnet, but he was having none of it.
Neo offered nothing in response, her eyes downcast to the rock below. Then, she turned away from him, grabbing her God Arc and heading towards the nearest tunnel. "I'm heading back."
"Alone?! Wait a minute, we're not finished here! Neo!" He called after her, but to no avail. Ignoring his orders, the New Type disappeared into the pathway and was gone.
Behind her, the group fell into tense silence, none of them really knowing what to do. Annette was in shock from the whole experience. It had all happened so quickly, there had hardly been time to process everything. She had heard so many things from Gunter about Neo, but none of them had involved such violence. Especially not against a teammate.
Conversely, Federico was visibly shaken, although only slightly less surprised. As a member of the 3rd Unit, he had heard more than his fair share of horror stories regarding the volatile New Type, including an account from Otto himself, another survivor of Neo's rage. He had warned him from day one to be mindful of her, citing that she was aggressive, violent, and dangerous. He had initially thought his claims at least bit of an exaggeration, but now, he wasn't so sure.
Lenka stood still. He glowered in her direction, contemplating going after her. In the end, he decided against it and deemed the action pointless. If she decided to get away from him, he would have no chance of catching her and trying to do so would also mean leaving two rookie soldiers by their lonesome. There was also no telling how she would react, given her outburst toward her teammate. Neo's physical cues hadn't escaped his notice either. His eyes had followed her hand as it rose subconsciously to her neck.
Aggravated, he quickly pulled out his own cellular device where he quickly typed out a message to Hamasaki. He needed to speak with him. Immediately.