F-01-02
The Training Team is different from the others. Instead of managing documents and expunging data or patrolling the facility to keep things under control, we just… train, train and train some more. To do that, miss Hod gives a counseling program to review our progress and guide us in the right direction.
After the incident with O-01-92, however, I could feel a change in the team's mood. Tiffany became anxious and started seeking medicine to relax a little, which she obtained thanks to… Hod's intervention. Suan rejected to partake in the program and straight refused to become a drug addict like Tiffany. Instead, she just followed Berry and Emily around, never leaving them alone.
Honestly… I was the only one who appreciated Hod's efforts to prevent us from dying. After all of us fainted inside Shy Look's containment unit, she provided us with EGO resistant to Black damage and taught us the Inspector's discoveries.
That person… I once crossed paths with them through a corridor. They were humming to themselves and snapping their fingers to follow some erratic melody. I got so spooked I froze in fear.
The idea of training to become a scary person like them haunted my mind since the start of my second day. I didn't want to become a monster! Why did I have to join L Corp of all Wings?! It was thanks to Hod that I somehow managed to accept the reality of my situation.
I stepped inside the containment unit number 10. F-01-92 was an abnormality in the form of a charred figure resembling a young girl. She had white eyes, a white open mouth, two thin legs, scorched ponytails and the burnt tip of a lit match penetrating her torso.
Do not touch her. Her burnt body is sensitive and hurts her.
She responds best to simple conversation.
"H-Hello. My name is Kikas. I am a member of the Training Team. I was tasked to perform Insight Work with you today, so… let's get to it, shall we?"
Odd. The Inspector's notes said she responded best to simple conversation, yet Scorched Girl didn't react in the slightest to my introduction.
"How was your day?"
"…"
"Is it too dirty in here? Should I get someone to clean the… er… ashes you drop?"
"…"
"Does it hurt to be impaled by that match?"
Scorched girl started sobbing. The flame of her match grew stronger and attacked me, burning my arm a little. Breathing quickly, I kept my distance from her and changed the subject. She didn't like heavy conversation about her past or her matches, so I would need to choose my topics better.
I smiled. If not for Hod's guidance, I would have panicked by now and exited the chamber, reducing the Qliphoth Counter. I needed to meet the expectations placed on me!
"What is your favorite color?"
"…"
"What is… your favorite river?"
"…"
"Yeah, I wouldn't know the answer to that either. The only rivers I've seen are the City's Sewers."
"…"
"I grew up there, you know? It was… a world below a world. They say the Backstreets are the dark side of the City, but they didn't take a glance at the Sewers. That place was home to many criminals and crazed scientists. Once, I was captured by one and he almost turned me into a washing machine. Apparently, there was a demand for human-made household appliances. Weird, huh?"
"…"
"I was saved by a Fixer. Fixers are capable people who take in requests of very diverse nature. Most of them, though, are fighters."
"…"
"Would you believe me if I told you I was saved by the Red Mist?"
"…"
"Nobody does. Colors are incredibly powerful fixers who got recognized by the Hana Association."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"She was so cool… I actually joined this Wing because I heard she worked here. I hope I can meet her someday. I want to thank her for saving my skin back then…"
Ding! Good result!
"Huh. That worked. Scary or not, the Inspector was right about this abno. Well then, Scorched Girl. I'll see you next time."
"…"
Back at the Main Room, Tiffany continued sucking it up to Hod in order to get more Enkephalin while Suan glared daggers at Emily, who enjoyed a light-hearted chat with Berry. I sighed and approached the employee with the killer glare.
"Suan. It's your turn to work with Scorched Girl."
"Hmph! You don't have to tell me twice 'Kickass'!"
I frowned and watched her leave in a fury. I knew what they called me behind my back: Hod's lapdog. I didn't understand why it was so wrong to appreciate the only Sephirah in the corporation who actively tried to prevent us from dying. Was that such a bad thing?
Sharing these worries of mine with Berry –the only nice person around–, they helped me understand my coworkers a bit better.
"They hate Hod because they don't have anyone else to take their despair on. Knowing that this place will become our grave… we need to find a culprit. Hod is so calm and easy to talk to it is incredibly easy to hate her."
"That's messed up, Berry."
"I know, but… don't you feel furious? Hod will get to outlive us just because she's an AI. Meanwhile, she showers us with that fake pity of hers, trying to 'be a good person' and help us struggle a couple of days longer…"
"This is just our second day here. Chill out."
"Time doesn't matter here, Kikas. Didn't you notice how long it too yesterday for the day to 'be over'? We're in hell. When are you going to open your eyes?"
Berry left me and joined the Control Team's patrol to clear their mind a bit. That was for the best, considering the toxic ambience his shouts created in the Main Room. Even the clerks were disturbed by it.
What Berry told me was the distillated truth of our situation, but I wasn't oblivious to it. I was probably going to die inside this underground facility, but I didn't have to make a hell out of my last moments alive by compulsively fearing death. Maybe that was because I grew up one step away from death each day, but I refused to give up my happiness.
I was not in the wrong.
However, me and the manager made a mistake. Sending a sadistic person like Emily to perform Repression on Scorched girl was a bad idea. Emily got burns all over their body. Worst of all, the abno escaped its containment unit. When I saw the charred girl approaching us, I froze in fear, readying myself to the imminent embrace of death.
"I am coming to you. You, who will be reduced to ash like me."
F-01-02, however, moved past us. At first, I thought she didn't have a destination in mind, but her slow steps denoted a fiery resolution. Ignoring her and obeying Hod's instruction to carry Emily to the Main Room's regenerators, I entered the elevator.
Later, I learnt Scorched girl found her way to the Inspector's side and blew everything up-
Later, I learnt the Control Team subdued her before she could reach the Inspector's side. The clerks mentioned that prevented a huge explosion of fire that would consume everything and everyone in its radius, but that was weird. How did they know about that if Scorched girl was suppressed in time before activating her ability?
"One of the reasons I am glad to work here is because I will eventually learn the mysteries of this place."
"Great! I wish your teammates also found something to be excited about tomorrow…"
"They will, Hod. Eventually. Have some faith in them! If not, you just need to counsel them so hard they will look forward to the day you leave them alone because you won't find anything else to teach them!"
"Hehe, thanks, Kikas. I should be the one cheering you up, but you always turn it around on me."
"I'm just that good!"
