The dark, oppressing interrogation room was illuminated by nothing besides a single light-bulb, attached with a long wire to the ceiling; All either the commander or Alchemist could see is each other, sitting on the opposite sides of a table in the center of the room.
Alchemist sat in silence with her arms crossed, staring at the commander as he sifted through the folders in front of him.
"Is testing my patience also part of the exam, Griffin commander?"
Alchemist's voice was sarcastic but not aggressive, and the commander responded calmly.
"It might be."
He picked out the folder he was looking for and opened it, beginning the interrogation.
"Let's see here... Sangvis ringleader model SP7C, call-name 'Alchemist'. As part of your assimilation program you will be required to pass a few tests; Failure in any of these tests will mark you incompatible with our goals and operations, and will result in your immediate termination."
Alchemist laid back on her chair nonchalantly.
"Yes, yes. we're all very friendly here. what's stopping me from leaping over the table and gutting you right now?"
A metal arm revealed itself and rested on the commander's shoulder from behind, with a pair of red, glowing eyes filled with killing intent hovering above him.
Seeing that Alchemist got the message, the commander put a finer point on it.
"It's best if you don't find out."
Alchemist sighed.
"Fair enough~."
The commander cleared his throat to change the topic, then looked at the questionnaire he took out of the folder.
"For now, I just need you to answer a few questions for me."
Alchemist waved her hand, signaling for the commander to begin whenever.
"You found a doll on the battlefield, it's heavily damaged, what do you do?"
"Identify its IFF signal and check its connection to my OGAS network."
"What if it's a friendly unit?"
"I regroup the units under my command to cover its retreat."
"what if it's an enemy?"
"Depends. If it's just another grunt I'll just put it out of its misery."
The corners of Alchemist's mouth rose into a sadistic grin, and she leaned forward closer to the commander.
"But if it's an enemy leader... I'll savor the kill; Make it long, painful, and display such flourish in my execution that every other enemy on the field will know what awaits them if they dare stand in my way."
The commander felt the grip on his shoulder tighten, so he placed his hand on SOP II's to reassure her that the situation was under control.
He marked a few checks on the paper and flipped it over to the next page.
"What an oddly humane approach to interrogation, Griffin Commander. Not even going to torture me first?"
He occasionally heard stories of how ruthlessly sangvis units treat each-other, but the commander couldn't imagine what Alchemist really expected would happen to her.
"One of those things that will clue you in on how we do things here."
Alchemist looked at him slightly judgmentally, then met the hateful eyes keeping watch over her from behind him.
She waved to the doll but got no reaction.
"Hm? that's unusual, seeing you act so composed."
The commander cleared his throat to cut the jab-exchange short before a cat-fight started, since even a light squabble between these two particular dolls might level the whole building.
"Working out your differences will come later, for now we're just focusing on the oral part of the examination."
Alchemist returned her attention to the commander.
"Good. Anyway, next we-"
A series of loud bangs on the interrogation room's door interrupts the commander.
He stood up to open it, but even before he reached the door it flipped open and a short, white haired girl ran in.
"Alchemist, Alchemist! You're really here!"
The girl jumped on Alchemist's lap and wrapped her hands around her in a tight hug before she could react.
"Destroyer... didn't think I'd see you here, you got captured too?"
Though shocked at first, Alchemist recognized that particular grasp almost immediately and returned with her own embrace.
"Well, yeah... but it's so nice here! Much nicer than just roaming the wasteland with a few mooks..."
Destroyer continued to sound oddly sincere as she addressed the commander.
"Thanks for letting me join your meeting, commander!"
An uncharacteristic gentle smile appeared on Alchemist's face.
"What a cruel tactic, griffin commander... Using our own against us as bait to join your cause."
The commander chuckled at the implication.
"Actually I just told her you'll be coming since I've heard her talk about you before. She decided to join by herself, with my permission, of course."
Destroyer returned to her usual slightly snarky tone when addressing the commander once more.
"Don't try to play captain here. You only let me come here so you can get on my good side because you knew what I'm really capable of!"
"Maybe. Or maybe it was important for me to see you reunite with someone who makes you happy, Destroyer."
The unexpected reply surprised her, so she timidly hid her face on Alchemist's shoulder and went back to affectionately clinging to her.
It was hard to convince the sangvis units to trust his dolls, so the commander decided that letting them reconnect between each-other will ease their tension in this new environment.
But besides that, the words he said were also genuine. Even if a doll is made for nothing but war, her core is still capable and is in need of affection. He knew that better than most.
Once he was satisfied with looking at the sangvis pair the commander stood up, pushed his chair under the table and adjusted his coat.
"I'll leave you two to catch up; fill these documents and my dolls will come collect them in about an hour, by then your dorm room should be ready."
The commander left the folder on the table in front of Alchemist, but she was too busy holding the absolutely delighted Destroyer to reach it.
"So this is the ruthless Griffin commander... killing his enemies with kindness. I really was ready for the worst, you know; especially after reading that oh-so-familiar jumbled IFF signal of your companion."
SOP II quietly stared at Alchemist, and the commander turned on the main lights in the room.
"I can't say I know exactly what's the Sangvis procedure, but be ready for some changes now that you're here."
"Huh..."
Alchemist looked down at Destroyer's sitting on her lap, then back up at the commander.
"I guess... I can get used to this."
She put her cheek on Destroyer's forehead and hugged her tightly, the commander bid them farewell and left the room with SOP II.
On the way back to the command center, SOP II was surprisingly quiet.
"Something on your mind?"
No response at first. It looked like SOP II was in deep thought, which was pretty unusual.
"I'm jealous."
"Hm? Of who?"
SOP II stopped and exclaimed with her arms flung to her sides.
"Alchemist!"
The commander stopped as well, surprised.
"She just looked sooooo happy when Destroyer jumped and cuddled up with her; She was so tiny and happy, like the perfect fit for her lap!"
SOP II found it hard to find the correct words to express what she wanted, which just confused the commander more.
"What are you getting at, you're not getting hugged enough?"
She slightly exaggerated her annoyance with more wild arm flailing.
"No, I just... Between everyone I know they always treat me like Destroyer. I want someone I can be like Alchemist with!"
"What the hell does that even-"
It took a moment for the commander to understand what SOP II was trying to convey.
"Then... Why don't you ask your little sister?"
"My what?"
"RO635, dummy."
SOP II stopped for a moment in sudden thought.
"Huh, I forget she's the little sister too often..."
She quickly caught up with the commander who kept on walking forward.
"But no, I don't think that'll work; RO's all mature for something like that."
"I see, would you like me to act like that around you then?"
His smile had a smugness to it, but SOP II just looked back at the commander with bewilderment.
"What...? No! I mean... No, absolutely not! What the hell kind of suggestion is that?"
She rapidly shook her head side to side and the commander laughed at her reaction.
"Ugh, I don't want to even imagine that..."
They got to the elevator and rode it in silence.
The commander did notice SOP II talking about some odd topics lately. He thought it was just random chatter at first, but seeing her now he wasn't so sure anymore.
After walking out, SOP II clung to the commander's arm.
"It must be nice having someone small depend on you... My sisters are so capable and mature, I always end up in that role... And with you, well..."
SOP II looked up at the commander's face and the height difference was obviously a problem for that arrangement. That and the two identical rings they wore on their fingers.
"Eh... I just want someone to depend on me too..."
The commander figured what SOP II was getting at, but he also knew it's not a conversation that would lead anywhere other than disappointment.
SOP II is capable of many things, but her doll body has its limitations.
The pair came back to the commander's office and SOP II was still a little upset, so after a little thinking the commander said something he probably shouldn't have.
"You know... If you really want to, we can go check up on the nyto children later."
SOP II perked up immediately and hopped closer to the commander.
"Really?"
A flash of fangs in her wide open smile made him instantly regretted saying it, but the sparkle in SOP II's eyes made it difficult to backtrack.
"B-but! First, calm down. Second, you will need to be extra careful with them. Don't just leap on one, you'll traumatize her."
"Ahaha! Don't worry! I mean, you're still in one piece even with me always around you."
"Yes, but I'm much sturdier than they are and that's after weeks of you training to control your strength."
SOP II grabbed the commander by the sleeve and looked him directly in the eyes.
"Pleeeeeaseee~! I promise not a single hair on their head will be hurt!"
She tried to mimic a look of innocence to toy with the commander's heart but failed hiding her wide, fanged grin of barely restraint excitement.
All the commander could do was sigh, and he decided to give in.
"Fine... it was my proposal anyway. we'll go to the kindergarten section tomorrow, once you're done with your adjutant duties."
"Yaaaay!"
SOP II hugged the commander, and in a moment of happiness forgot to limit her strength.
"SOP- LET ME- I CAN'T- SOP II!"
"Oh, oops."
She eased off the commander and he took a much needed deep breath. He double checked that his ribs are intact.
"Phew... Just... Don't do that with the kids..."
SOP II awkwardly laughed it off, and the commander regretted his proposal more and more.
Author's notes:
-Originally posted on twosday. (Tuesday 22/02/22)
-(Edit: 10/08) - Retouch to combat writer's block.
-(Edit: 12/11) - Updated to fit my new standards for the series.
