O-09-81

There was a new abnormality… thing… or whatever on the floor below. The manager instructed me to inspect it, but I could bring myself to obey. Malkuth got really mad over it.

"The Control Team has to follow every order it's given! Come on, [Confidential ID]! You can try a bit harder than that! Don't you want to check that mirror for yourself?"

I didn't reply. I just… laid on the main room's floor, looking at the diagram on the wall. That was a pretty shape. The Tree of Life. I looked it up after I first saw it. It belonged to some weird religion, but I failed to understand why that illustration was there.

"Don't mope around, [DATA EXPUNGED]! We have work to do!"

I cursed Malkuth inside my mind, but then I realized it wasn't Malkuth who bothered me that time. Marette wore a wide smile and exuded vigor. They always gave the impression of being someone frail and timid, so I mistook it by their doppelganger.

"Are you really Marette?" I asked.

"Ahaha, you silly. Of course I am! I am going to pump so much energy from every abnormality the world will be filled with light!"

"Yuck."

"Yuck?! That was rude! I'm being passionate here!"

"Forgive me. You've changed so much I still have trouble believing you are the same person. What about your amnesia? You told me yesterday you felt really worried about the memories you lost to One Sin. Have you forgotten about that?"

"I have not. I just don't care anymore. Those were another person's worries. I am a new better me!"

"Great, I guess. The old you was fine, though."

"Nonsense! I used to be too sensible to everything! Indecision made me lag behind you, so I wished to become better! The mirror granted me that wish! Now I can stand alongside you and help you managing the abnos!"

I rose an eyebrow.

"Do you feel like taking over my shifts at Spider Bud's?"

"That…! … Sure. Count me in."

Great. That Mirror of Adjustment worked its marvels on Marette and I was glad for them. Although… it felt like the person I used to know and my new co-worker were completely different people, so I couldn't avoid feeling the loss of the original. I was the employee who refused to work with One Sin because I didn't want to feed him my true emotions, so it is only normal that I take great notice of these little details.

"Not going in after all? I won't judge you. Spider Bud was the first abno to kill an employee."

"N-No. I've got this! I really do! I will manage to perform some work in this containment unit before the day ends! I promise!"

"Sure. Take your time, Marette. Time works weird in this place ever since the TT2 protocol came into action. It seems the manager forgot to slow down time before going to take a dump or whatever."

"Haha, right. I have… time. Haha."

"Hey, you really okay?"

I grabbed them by the shoulder. They didn't look okay to me, but prodding further would only hurt their pride, so I let them go. It was okay. Even if they were a new person, Marette and I reviewed Spider Bud's managerial tips carefully so that no new accidents happened. It would be okay.

I went to visit One Sin and feed it some of my sins: a long list of every insult I had spoken to the bird that attached its beak to my brain every chance it found.

Angela's voice sounded through the speakers. We collected enough energy. The day was over. I smiled.

"See? You did it. I'm glad."

Working with One Sin was not enough to finish the remaining quota, so Marette had to complete their part. I went towards their containment unit to congratulate them. Pete looked through the window wearing a worried look.

A new cocoon found its place under the ceiling of Spider Bud's unit.

This a review of the events that transpired on the [date irrelevant]. After [DATA EXPUNGED] left the employee 00103, they decided to go back to the Mirror of Adjustment, muttering they didn't have enough prudence to complete the task. After changing themselves once again, they went back to Spider Bud's door and attempted to open the door before hesitation interrupted them.

A dozen visits to the mirror later, a husk of the employee 00103 stepped inside Spider Bud's unit and crushed some spiderlings by accident. The cameras recorded the whole incident, so it was hard to tell they were even alive after changing so many times at the mirror.

After a while, employee [Confidential ID] noticed that employee 00103 was quite distracted. After reviewing the comments muttered by the deceased, it was settled that their motives at the mirror were an attempt at going back to the person they once were. However, the mirror didn't allow such simple-minded exchanges. It never gives back what it takes.

Further use of the Mirror of Adjustment is to be restricted and carefully controlled.

satisfaction is only temporary, huh?

I submitted the report to my Sephirah at the Main Room and she received it calmly.

"You seem thoughtful. Are you sad I am the only one left in your team?" I pondered.

"Angela said the manager would hire new employees tomorrow. Tomorrow, you will give them a tour and will supervise their adaptation to their new stations… so that we don't have to expend more lob points."

"Haha. That's another weird term you just said. Are you sure I have enough clearance level to learn of it?"

Malkuth perked up, realizing my words made more sense than hers.

"What's distracting you, boss? You should either scold me for not taking better care of Marette or tell me to work harder, not brood like this. I may be a worthless expendable, but I am here if you need me."

"Why…?"

"Why? You're my last co-worker, boss. I should take care of you, or you may break down like everyone else. Unlike me, you are important, aren't you?"

Her mechanical hands dropped her list and pen and grabbed my shoulders instead. Her virtual brown eye seemed… glitchy.

"You also matter! You are doing a great work! Please, don't treat yourself like that! You are an important member of our research team!"

A pleasant voice spoke up behind us.

"Malkuth. The day is over. You should allow your employee some rest."

"Angela…! I… Yes. You're right. I'm sorry, Si… I mean, good work today, [Confidential ID]. You have many tasks to do tomorrow, so please rest well."

"Sure. You catch some robot sleep too, boss."

Malkuth went somewhere. I heard the Sephirahs had specialized quarters to perform the maintenance of their mechanical parts. Thankfully for me, I was a machine with a default self-repairing system, empowered by the healing dispensers the facility offered. I would be okay… As long as my mind resisted the tragedies happening all around me, I would be okay.

"Don't be so nice to her. Do you not realize she is the one who killed both of your coworkers?"

"Really?"

"She pushed them to work their hardest. If neither of them tried to catch up to you, their deaths could have been prevented."

"Well, they would have died some other day, anyway. How long do you think I will last, miss Angela? Do you think my substitute will perform better than me?"

She returned my smile.

"What would you say if I told you I already know?"

Damn. I'm impressed by these new AIs they make nowadays! This one always manages to exceed my every expectation!

"I'm only jesting. I already know what you would say."

Damn. The most dangerous part of her joke was how serious her golden eyes were. A sense of dread filled my chest. An ominous weight rested above my head. Beak. Scratch that. The question left my lips after Angela had already gone away. Only the little bird listened to it.