T-09-78
It had been a long time since I last woke up at my quarters. The place was just as I left it. I took a shower and cleaned the stump on my arm. My new wing ruffled its feathers. My darkened empty eyes watched the water drop from my nose onto the sink.
"Hm… hm, hm… hm…"
I had the best sleep in ages. My EGO ear headphone lullabied me to sleep, keeping the explosions and the screams away. For the first time in forever, I felt great. The hole in my chest tightened whenever I thought of the people I wouldn't see again, but… then I remembered how the Record Department made everything seem pointless. That helped me accept the reality of things. Meaningful or meaningless, I treasured the friends I lost, so I would move on and thank destiny for giving me the chance to meet them… or meet some of them again, in Gregory's case.
I… I needed to go to the ATZILUTH layer and find myself a spot there.
Knocks on the door. I asked them to wait a second while I dressed up. I put on simple white tank top and some elephant-pattern boxers. Since I could manifest my own EGO, I summoned my suit. Over a dark grey vest, a lighter raincoat with dark stains covered even my knees. The black trousers were boring anyway.
"[DATA EXPUNGED], back from the dead, at your service. Oh, hey, Malkuth. Sorry I couldn't visit you yesterday. I was…" Murdering everything that breached. "…a bit busy."
I didn't expect her to remain silent. It wasn't normal to see her freeze up like that. At least no new meltdowns occurred. Yay for that. No yay for her feeling bad. The spirit only I could see was crying.
"Do you feel guilty, boss?"
She shook her head.
"I'm glad. Really. I'm sorry it took me so long to come back. I can't help but wonder… what would have happened had I returned faster. Would Ek still be alive? Could I have helped defeating Gebura, saving Greg and Kikas in the process? If it had been me who inspected Judgment Bird and not Lin… I know it's silly to think about that 'maybe', but that's what regret is all about."
"I want to thank you, [DATA EXPUNGED]…"
"Why?"
"Because you're still here…"
I surrounded her metallic chassis with my arms.
"It's good to be back." That, however, made it harder for me to say what I had to.
"You can't stay in my team anymore."
"Huh?"
"Gars and I will train the new recruits. We would only slow you down. You need to head deeper into the earth. I already asked Binah for a transfer."
That saved me the trouble to request it myself, but it hurt me a little that Malkuth did it herself without my consent. It felt like… she pushed me away. Was I no longer necessary in her team?
The Sephirah seated on her legs and glanced at me with her virtual yellow eye. The ghost cleaned her tears and showed me a shining determination.
"I can't keep such a great employee all to myself. They need you down there. So promise you'll keep trying your best in your new team."
My back tensed. I didn't want to show her my black tears, but her words made it quite difficult. Malkuth held her punches no more, didn't she?
"You know it, boss. I won't be able to keep things under control all the time, but I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations. Cheer that face of yours already, will you? The Malkuth is meant to be a lively creature, remember?"
"Hehehe… You need to reach the end, understood? Don't let anyone forget your name."
"Of course not. I like my name quite a lot, as a matter of fact. It helped me return from... you know."
I petted the Malkuth. I'm glad she was my boss. With her in charge of Control, I could trust the ASIYAH teams would soon be restored to full functionality, if never to their former glory… The good thing about empty spots is that new contenders can fill them.
My stomach hurled. I needed to add some fuel. The was still some time until the Qliphoth Deterrence stopped and the abnormalities left their hibernation.
I considered going to the ASIYAH lounge to bid everyone farewell before heading to my new station, but I hated saying goodbye. I would meet them later anyway. I needed to cheer Martin and Lizt up… maybe congratulate them for making it to the captain rank… I would also have to help Hod deactivating Kikas for good. Tough times…
Instead, I went to the BRIAH lounge, where only food of worse quality filled the pantry. I joined the only people around, seating next to the blond employee with prosthesis on their right arm and left leg.
"They patched you up quickly, huh? You're my crippled sibling now."
"Huh? Cri-Cri-"
"Hey! Isn't that nice, Qwerty?" Izzy sang by slapping their back loudly. Their black wing shuddered. "You got the legendary Inspector to acknowledge you! I told you, didn't I? You're destined for greatness!"
Did I forget to mention it? Every single employee who survived the apocalypse grew a black feathered wing with glowing yellow eyes. We could even move them like a real limb.
"Is being crippled something worth being acknowledged for, though?" Neal muttered, fluttering both their wings.
Welfare's captain was the only employee who took care of the deity in T-03-46's chamber. WhiteNight gave them a right white exoskeleton wing, completing the set with Apocalypse Bird's left wing.
Neal complained about how every single employee asked them whether they could fly with such a set. I told them to answer always with a yes. That way, the lucky employees who got a wing on their back would train like crazy to be able to take over their responsibilities with WhiteNight. They liked my suggestion.
Qwerty shrugged. Their now messy short hair reminded me of Greg.
"I'm sorry about yesterday, Inspector. I couldn't be of any help to you during that fight… I don't deserve this captain armband…"
"Well, if not being able to defeat the apocalypse on your own disqualifies you as a captain, then I guess I should give up mine too!" Izzy mentioned, taking off their own armband. Neal took it off quite eagerly, as if disposing of dead weight.
The blonde stuttered.
"B-But you can't do that. It was my fault for biting more than I could chew during the meltdown, a-and if I were a worthy captain of Discipline, I would have been able to protect Gregory-senior and Kickass-senior…"
The bookworm shut their book.
"Bullshit. We defeated your lunatic boss thanks to you beating the crap out of her."
"Language, Neal, but I agree. You were hiding quite the beast inside that timid persona of yours! I knew my nose wasn't wrong about you."
Neal frowned and sniffed Qwerty. They looked convinced.
They were really a funny bunch. Zero kept quiet about these hidden gems. I gulped down some burnt toast.
"The Red Mist, huh? It's a bit ironic Kikas was done in by their hero. You should feel proud of yourself, sibling of mine. You saved Gebura from herself. Why do you think she gave you that armband in the first place?" I pinched their scarred face. "Listen to your partners, will you? How do you think I feel about not being there when I should have helped you during each crisis? If I didn't let go of that guilt, I would be done for. If it becomes too much to bear, then go visit One Sin and tell it about your regrets. It will gladly eat your sins."
Judging by their displeased expression, my words finally sunk in that thick skull of theirs. That's right. Your sins are your own. Carry them on your back and push forward with determination.
Neal occupied the seat next to me. Their petite frame reminded me of the old Lin.
"Where were you, Inspector?"
I saw A's cursor in the distance.
"That's confidential. I'd love to tell you all about it, but there are… some regulations I must follow. My life kinda depends on it."
The scary winged albino grabbed my raincoat. "I don't care. Tell me. I'm curious."
"Ruthless! What will I do if they force the answers out of me?"
"Spill the beans, Detective Grey. Why do we have to endure this torment?"
Detective Grey? Izzy poked the aggressive albino with a spoon.
"Neal has the habit to give everyone nicknames according to the protagonists of the novels they read. I also want to know, Inspector. What is beyond that wall? If we are to face tomorrow, we need to know why we did the things we did yesterday."
"What is Lobotomy Corporation's purpose? We deserve to know why we will die."
Even Qwerty joined their plea. They reminded me of my past self. Hungry for answers.
I couldn't help a smile.
"I'm sorry, but you'll have to piece things together on your own. I can't disclose these secrets without permission, as much as I hate keeping them to myself. Yeah. Let's put it this way. If I revealed the cake to you this soon, it would have to be eaten half baked. Please, be patient."
Neal got even closer to me, threatening me with an expression that really reminded me of Gregory, back at the Backstreets. If I had any money, I would have surrendered it. However, no matter how much they insisted, I wouldn't twist my arm.
The manager would execute them and then me to salvage the cycle.
"By the way, here."
"What's this?" Izzy asked after catching the key I threw.
"Your new EGO weapon. Unless you fancy the idea of facing the apocalypse day after day, you will wield Twilight."
"Sick! Am I wearing the full set, then?"
"No… Pick whatever EGO suit you want, but completing the set would affect your mind in ways we cannot predict. We cannot afford another Zero to happen in Central Command. Your team sits at the heart of the facility. Wherever an abno breaches, your unit will always be the closest to the scene. Considering the future-"
"Hahahaha! My worth has been finally recognized by the best! That's what I'm talking about!"
"Lower your voice, Jackass. I'm trying to read here."
"Y-You weren't paying attention to the Inspector? But they were giving us good advice!"
"Hahahahaha! If I am noticed by the big brass, then I'm just one step away from being the best!"
"Shut up! I haven't put up with religious fanatics to have you ruin Charle's ending with your fucking egomaniac squeals!"
"P-Please, calm down, you two… Eh… please, forgive them, Inspector."
"Nah, it's fine. They keep the explosions away. Tell me more about yourself, Qwerty. Is it true you used to be a clerk?"
These were my new coworkers. If we wanted to overcome the future ahead of us, they needed to become the solid foundation of our strength. A kind right hand, a grumpy left hand and a greedy heart.
Later, I was surprised to see T-09-78 suspended inside a hermetic tank.
"Hey, A, why did you put my old notepad inside a chamber? That's rude! There are personal comments in there!"
Apparently, during my absence, some employees found my notebook and went 'crazy' after reading it, thus the abnormality tool's name. Notes from a Crazed Researcher. Was I really crazy if I was right, though?
