T-09-82
It didn't feel real when I was promoted into the team. Kikas-senior received a warning for ignoring the protocol and giving EGO gear to a clerk like me. However, since a bewitched employee from Central fed a member from Discipline to the Singing Machine, a spot opened up. Hiring me would save them resources, so I was promoted under the condition that I trained my virtue levels up to the new minimum of 3.
With that in mind, I went to my usual hiding spot and prepared myself for a long session of studying. To train, we were meant to read the reports from past experiences and learn from them how to act virtuously. The many censored names, however, usually implied that whoever went through the ordeal ended up dead.
I personally was a fan of [DATA EXPUNGED]. Even before meeting Izzy and being sucked into their spiraling quest for greatness, I read many of the reports and notes made by the Inspector. I was glad their name wasn't struck from the records yet, even if they had disappeared.
My stomach protested. It was time to have some lunch. I left aside the material and picked the box where I kept the sandwiches I prepared during the start of the day. I offered some to my new team, but they only saw me for who I used to be: a clerk.
A distant scream.
I discarded the worry. It was way too early for trouble to be happening. I was probably just Est playing another prank on July, who made the noisiest complaints. I ate my lunch in solitude and continued my studies until my eyes itched.
Were there always wooden crates in this place?
Ever since we received our first ALEPH threat in the department, I secured myself the furthest place I could find as my hiding spot. Next to F-01-57, the empty chamber. Or, at least, it used to be empty. There were some crates with a P Corp logo on them, so maybe we received some supplies and stored them away at this unit.
It felt weird, though. After reading the reports about The Mountain of Smiling Bodies and Nothing There, I thought I wouldn't feel safe ever again in my life, but… my hiding spot was special. It was the safest place in the world.
Rushed steps and people shouting orders.
According to the reports made by Zero-senior, the cognitive repercussions of their EGO shell –terminology given to a full set of Armor, Weapon and Gift– didn't affect to their working capacities. Whenever they entered Magical Girl's unit to perform Attachment, they 'opened their mouth and let the words out'. The way they described it made sound as if they were some type of android who reproduced the sounds as easily as pressing a button.
On the other hand, employees like Gregory-senior, who specialized in Fortitude and Justice, took over the duties to manage the ALEPHs in Discipline. Nothing There required the bests of the bests. With the Inspector gone, however, Ekpmephtil-senior had to step up to the captain's role and accept Da Capo gear in order to stand a chance against the Silent Orchestra. They refused to accept the entire shell, however. Control didn't fancy the sense of self warping that occurred when you allowed a mind other than yours to invade you.
A tense silence was everything that could be heard from outside.
Until I felt prepared to join Izzy and Kikas-senior, I wasn't planning on leaving my shelter. A weak clerk like me had a lot of training to do before being able to measure up to my teammates. I really –really– wanted to get along with my team, so I was determined to travel any distance to realize my goals.
Bum, bum, bum. Someone knocked the door with intensity.
"Hey, open up! It's coming for us!"
"Hhhhhrrrrr. Hhhhhhhhrrrrr. Hhhhhhhrrrrr."
"Yiiiaaaarrgh!"
"We need to keep moving or it will catch up to us!"
There was no mistaking it. The Second Trumpet was sounded and everybody was in danger. I left my things and approached the door to join my team.
Through the window, a red humanoid monster stared at me. Its mouth was so big their head barely fitted its many blue eyes on it. A weird blue horn protruded from its head backwards. Its stomach was completely open and guts hanged from it. Its right hand had incredibly sharp claws and a weird wound on its palm. Its left arm was a giant sword-like mutation that dripped blood.
My knees gave out and I wet my pants. After a powerful roar, the ALEPH tried to destroy the door to the containment unit, but none of its attacks were successful.
"Goodbye."
It raised its sword and thrusted it against the door. The impact was so powerful it even managed to knock me down, but the door remained completely stoic. I was safe.
After losing interest, Nothing There moved on to destroy anything on its path and I was left alone at the refuge. I couldn't move, nor could I stay still. I had to do something. Anything! But… even if I gathered my courage and participated in the massacre… what would my efforts amount to?
Frozen by my defenselessness, I stayed inside the Shelter from the 27th of March.
Before I could enter my secret spot, my new boss stopped me. The red and dark rectangular chassis served as the Sephirah's body. Her name was displayed on top, with a rectangular opening in the middle where the red digital eye resided. It possessed mechanical limbs with three-fingered hands. On top of its chassis, two small pieces resembled tiny ears. Gebura's overall appearance was be cute… if she fixed the cuts, the dirt and smoke staining her shell. She carried with her a huge red sword with blue eyes that resembled that ALEPH that gave me nightmares.
"The manager doesn't want anyone to enter that chamber."
"I-Is that so? Is there something wrong?"
"He didn't give any explanation. Nothing is yet known about T-09-82, but the concrete order was to not allow anyone inside this room for periods longer than 30 seconds."
"O-Okay. In that case… I will look for another spot…"
Gebura gave me a long look.
"Why do you wanted to become an official employee? We have nothing but monsters in our department."
I hugged tightly my reference material and my lunch box.
"I wanted to be part of this. I… actually saw one of miss Carmen's speeches, way back in the day. When I resolved to join the Wing, I just qualified to be a support clerk. I wasn't happy with that. I wanted to be part of a team."
"I will speak with the other Sephirahs and fill a transfer form for you. Our department is an unforgiving place. You will die."
I shrunk and closed my eyes. Her harsh words were nothing but the truth, yet…
"But I don't want to run away! I want to do things properly, no matter how hard they are. I may not have a reason to stay, but I have a will to persist. I'll make a good performace! Please, miss Gebura! Give me a chance! I will tough up and become someone you can use!"
"I hate it when weaklings make me lose my time." She grunted, turning away to leave me dejected. A set of keys landed at my chest. "Use my office. Don't leave until you are level 4."
"Thank you very much!"
Bowing to my boss, I feel an electric energy running through me. I would do it! I will stop being 'Beta7854' and become 'Qwerty, the worthy member of Discipline'! I felt so inspired I was in the mood to compose something. Alas, I had to study hard!
