Fictions Mentioned: Star Wars
Episode 3 - Project ITEM (2)
OP Song:
Tomorrow Never Dies · Sheryl Crow
Location:
Unknown
Insert Song: Start
Max Payne - Main Theme
After their long walk from the large dome that was tripling the size of Grand Central Terminal, after walking from corridor to corridor experiencing what was perhaps a culture shock of a lifetime as they saw non-humans of various shapes and sizes seemingly walking about with not a care in the world, and after the dismissing of the soldiers in advance armor who all went back to their respective duties as they line themselves to the wall in tight formation, the four young women of ITEM had finally managed to reach a certain door that contains the simple office of Councilwoman Amanda Waller.
The door was quite simple. Nothing special. It seem like the kind of door that one could find at a simple office building where an important employee from a company or a law firm would work in privacy. And the ITEM girls could tell based on experiences in the surrounding area of Academy City. Every nook and cranie, every alleyway and secret passage where known to the girls as part of their job to clean the mess up left by something or someone from the Dark Side.
But they also found something else from the hallway that lead to a certain door, much to their surprise and shock. For there appeared to be two young men, wearing black business suits, eventually standing attentively as they made a respectful salute towards Councilwoman Waller the moment she was sighted from their crosshairs.
The five girls of ITEM immediately recognize the two individuals as the same ones who lead the disguised Foundation personnel who wore Anti-Skill SWAT Uniforms, sporting surprised expressions on their faces.
"Ma'am," said one of the individuals, a young man with unruly blonde hair and brown eyes, saluting with his right hand that was placed a meter above his brow.
Councilwoman Waller would nod in approval at the respect and decorum that was shown to her, saying the name of the young man with unruly blonde hair first. "Agent Hamazura," followed by another young man with black hair and blue eyes, obvious Chinese features that would show the nationality and country that he came from, probably living somewhere in the captial, and one who was also saluting her out of respect. "Agent Haoyi."
And at that moment, both men would let their respective salutes down.
Agent Shiage Hamazura. Agent Jiang Haoyi.
Two partners who have been through the toughest training regiment at SCP Foundation Academy, an inter-multiversal military school that was established to train the elite among the elite, the best of the best in every single way possible, applicable to all types of fields and methods, and knows the boundaries of adaptability and the nature of their sacred duty to monitor and protect the Multiverse as the Men In Black (MIB) Division.
And this special division was not for the faint of heart.
"Ah! It's you two!," Frenda, sporting a surprised expression, pointed to the two agents who were raising an eyebrow of curiosity. "You're the guys that were on that weapons exchange deal between those thugs at Deadlock and those beekeepers!"
"Yeah, that's right," Kinuhata agreed, sporting a narrowed expression, recognizing the faces of the two individuals who were leading the Foundation personnel in the warzone that happened at the intersected alleyway at District 10. "You two were super kicking A.I.M. and Deadlock's ass with nothing but those killer martial arts stuff that one could find in a C-rated movie and have guns that could fire missiles and some kind of blue ring coming out from the holes."
Agent Hamazura and Agent Haoyi would look to each other for a moment, with the latter shrugging his shoulders in a subtle gesture towards the former who was simply raising an eyebrow. Eventually, Agent Hamazura would turn towards the girls who were sporting suspicious and narrowed expressions and addressed them in a professional and polite, but straight-to-the-point tone.
"Yeah, me and my partner were the ones who lead that operation," he said, confirming the two girl's deductions.
But before discussions could commence further, Councilwoman Waller would eventually speak in a professional no-nonsense tone.
"Girls," she said in a clear voice, bringing the ITEM girls to pay close attention towards her. She faces them with her hard look that managed to intimidate them to compliance. "I am aware that you have questions that you want to find answers for, to which is exactly why we need to discuss this at my office as this seems approriate for your privacy and for our confidentiality. Until we enter through this door and until I say so, under no circumstances are you to ask any further questions unless I say otherwise, is that clear?," she asked.
"...Tck," Mugino clicked her tongue in subtle annoyance, but couldn't deny the hard logic that was given to her. "Fine."
"Good," Councilwoman Waller nodded, as she would eventually raise her left hand towards the doorknob, scanning her biodata signature in order to confirm the individual via various DNA and RNA scans, along with her temporal signature that shows the correct person as a necessary precaution when dealing with variants from alternative narratives. The door itself would seemingly scan for everyone else who was present alongside Councilwoman Waller, scanning Agent Hamazura and Agent Haoyi, verifying their presence and temporal signature.
RECOGNIZED:
COUNCILWOMAN AMANDA WALLER
AGENT SHIAGE HAMAZURA
AGENT JIANG HAOYI
And at that moment, Councilwoman Waller would eventually enter her office, followed by Agent Hamazura and Agent Haoyi, and followed by the four ITEM girls. The last to enter the room was Kinuhata as she immediately noticed the door automatically closing in a normal fashion, much to her surprise as she yelp in shock.
"Wah!"
And as she yelped, the other ITEM girls couldn't help but sport surprised expressions as well, noticing the door suddenly closing from behind them. Then they started to notice something else that was in this office.
This office was bigger-on-the-inside, much to their inner exasperation as they have seen and walk through enough corridors that made them realize that the structure of the building that they all reside in seems to be quite advance. But it was also quite weird.
As the ITEM girls look around as they walk through a left turn, they would notice what appeared to be multiple bookshelves that were placed towards the side of the gray marble wall. Books that ranged from politics, economics, and social studies were among those that the ITEM girls couldn't help but take notice.
"Woah, this place is super stack with books," Kinuhata muttered, narrowing her eyes as she spotted what appeared to be a book authored by someone named Glenn Beck, someone that she did not recognize, but could at least tell somewhat that he was connected to the realm of politics, possibly even a commentator maybe based on the title of the book that was called "An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems", and she eventually managed to verify it by looking at the back cover.
"I'll say," Mugino muttered, narrowing her eyes as she spotted what appeared to be another book. And this time, she noticed the name of the book that was called "The Conspirators Hierarchy, the Committee of 300," and on the front cover of the book, it mentioned the name "John Coleman". And judging from the title of the book itself, she could guess that it was a book about conspiracy theories.
Quite the ironic twist that was morbid in hindsight given that if one were to apply the word "conspiracy", then Academy City takes the cake due to it's outside appearance that might seem peaceful to the public, but was actually a city built on the blood and dead bones of innocent children.
And then there was the name "SCP Foundation" that could be applied to said conspiracies considering that Mugino hasn't even heard of such an organization, never mind the fact that what she and her teammates had just seen would practically make them rethink their own sanity and what their reality really was.
But no matter how much the ITEM girls would try to rationalize on what has been occurring all around them, they couldn't even deny what they had just seen because of the living proofs that came through their five senses.
"Ladies," Councilwoman Waller called out to the four ITEM girls, sporting attentive expressions as they all turn to Councilwoman Waller who begins to place down the folder that she was carrying to a brown old fashion wooden desk, and she was now sitting at an office chair in a straightfoward manner, with both hands placed to the arms of the chair. Agent Hamazura and Agent Haoyi would eventually sit down from the two office chairs that were located on the right side of the wall, a few approriate meters away from the desk facing Councilwoman Waller, and they would turn back towards the ITEM girls who were still checking on the various books that were stack there in an organized fashion. "As much as I appreiciate the fact that you four seem interested in my books, I believe it is time for all of you to sit down."
And that wasn't a request, it was an order. And it was an order that seem worth complying if the ITEM girls did not want to pissed the hard woman off more than necessary. For they all still recall their current positions even when they were no longer confined to their cell.
That they were still prisoners. And the situation that they find themselves in would let them focus on determining possible courses of action. For they were all in uncharted territory. They have no contact with their ITEM Liaison. Most of them don't have their powers. Frenda can't even use her own dolls and tools to create blitzkrieg explosions. They don't even know where they are at this point as based on what they saw in the grand architectures that they all saw earlier, they are smart enough to know that they ar no longer in Academy City, but somewhere else entirely. In short, they are short on options for a potential escape.
And for one person among ITEM, Frenda Seivelun, was sporting a worried expression on her face.
She may not show it, but she was scared. Hell, she was terrified even. She didn't know what to do at this point. Academy City was her playground so to speak and no matter where she get's stuck too, she always finds a way out for herself if the situation ended up too much for her to handle.
In short, Frenda Seivelun was a coward.
But one should not mistake cowardice for not caring. If it actually came down from it, if the right opportunity had presented itself, Frenda Seivelun is the type of person who would take it in a heartbeat, even at the cost of betraying her friends at ITEM as much as she cares for them, especially when it concerns the only family she has, the younger sister that she would do everything to protect even at the cost of her life.
Fremea Seivelun.
And speaking of her, it was one reason to fear, for being so very far away from Academy City could mean that she was far away from her younger sister. There were thoughts of extreme concern and worry that were present within her heart despite not showing it physically. And what's worse was that Frenda felt that some part of her would worry more for the fact that if the Foundation had captured her and her friends quite easily, then it would be a piece of cake if Fremea were to just suddenly disappear to no one's notice.
Maybe she was just being paranoid and delusional, but she was Fremea's older sister. She couldn't help but be worried since it was in her nature as a caring older sister. And if there is one thing that could be sure, it's that Frenda would never betray her own sister, even if she betrays everyone else at the very end of the line. For Fremea was the only family that she really had in the cold dark place that was Academy City.
If something were to happen to her...
She didn't know what she could do at that point. And the unpredicatability added to her growing edge as she and the rest of ITEM would sit down at four chairs that were facing towards the wooden desk, and they were face-to-face with the woman who has all of them on a tight leash.
After they all sit down, Councilwoman Waller nodded as she begins to speak to them while slowly reaching the folder, opening the folder that was on the desk.
"I must say, you have quite the resume that has been recorded on our archives," she said, opening a page and would begin to explain their profiles, one by one. "Starting with you, Mugino Shizuri," she said, gaining Mugino's attention. "The #5 Rank Level 5 Esper of Academy City, also known as Meltdowner based on the principle of manipulating the ambiguous state of an electron that allows you to fire highly destructive beams made up of high-speed electrons that pierces through a target at the same velocity that it was fired upon. Your past is quite unknown throughout the official records of your city. And yet, according to the records that my people do end up finding, it would appear that you were born from a rich family of prestige with a bunch of connections on the table, many of them from the political sphere. You were given the spoon treatment so to speak ever since you could recall from your youth, a high class lady who was given to her everything that she could desire with no personal effort on her part, even being provided with a personal butler to attend to your every matter, being spoiled rotten, until it was eventually decided that you weere to be officially enrolled to Academy City in order to increase your family's prestige," she explained.
"...Ho-How the fuck do-," Mugino sported a surprised expression, wondering as to how the hell did this black woman managed to dig into her own past that she had managed to keep a well guarded secret, but she was cut off by the sharp pointed look of Councilwoman Waller who spoke in a tone of precision.
"Like I said, Ms. Mugino, my people are quite good in finding information about anyone's past, including ones that are just as hidden as yours," she explained, before eventually looking towards the other three ITEM girls who were sporting fearful expressions, with Takitsubo's expression being less obvious. "Frenda Seivelun," she said, gaining the Frenda's attention. "A Level 0. Skilled in close quarters combat and is proficient in using an array of concealed weapons through the use of modified devices that are deemed quite innocent enough, but is actually quite lethal when turn to the opponents in question. Truth be told, your skills of concealment couldn't help but give me a shiver running down my spine as I would recall a certain clown in a purple suit that was capable of doing just that, but better in every single way possible, placing explosives and poisonous gases in even the most simple and innocent of objects, many of which had ended up with a lot of people dying... Or the fact that they wished that they were dead," she said rather ominously, much to chill that ran down the spines of the ITEM girls.
For despite not knowing what Councilwoman Waller was talking about, they could only take a guess from the description regarding a certain clown in a purple suit, whoever this was, was quite eyeopener for even someone like her, and it was one tha they rather not think about for now.
"In any case, your past is also quite the mystery, and yet from what my people could find, it would seem that you and your younger sister, Fremea Seivelun, were more or less abandoned by your parents and that would leave it up to you to take care of your younger sister in your stead, correct?," Councilwoman Waller asked.
"...!," Frenda made no comment, gulping in fear, her palpitated heart growing anxious as the name of her younger sister was just mentioned. The other three ITEM members couldn't help but sport surprised expressions at the information that was just mentioned to them regarding their colleague.
Frenda Seivelun has a younger sister.
Mugino could only raise an eyebrow, recalling how not once did Frenda even bothered to mention anyone from her family, assuming that she was just an only child. And even if she were to find out, it's not like she cared about it anyway so long as it doesn't affect their job. But still, she couldn't help but feel a little curious. Why would Frenda even keep something like this a secret from them? Did she not trust them at all with regards to her family?
In Mugino's case, she suppose that it made sense. Academy City was all about the intricate web of lies, secrets, and deception. It would make sense for Frenda to not trust anyone about her personal life, keeping it even from her and their two other colleagues. It was a smart choice. After all, if one were to give one single truth that could relate to even a hint of the Dark Side, then that person's life would seemingly come undone in a matter of seconds to minutes, depending on the time and place when a sudden execution would come by and take the life of the person willing to expose the truth in order to raise the flag that would give the signal for everyone else around their world to take notice.
That Academy City was in reality a desolate graveyard designed by the machinations of cold practical adults who could care less about the opinions and dreams of the children.
She suppose that if Frenda were to have a sister, the latter would probably have done everything in her power to ensure that her sister was safe.
Quite the commendable trait, despite the fact that Frenda's hands aren't necessarily clean with all of the blood that she had gained while working for the Dark Side.
But this worry and anxiety seem to be anticipated by Councilwoman Waller, who was surprisingly sporting a sympathetic expression to Frenda's plight, as if the former knew what the latter was thinking and feeling, and decided to bring her worries to rest.
"If you are truly worried about your younger sister, don't Ms. Seivelun, for she is under the constant surveillance of some of our undercover agents on the ground. Rest assured that you have my word that your sister is perfectly safe and secured," Councilwoman Waller explained, surprising Frenda and the rest of ITEM. "The Foundation has been watching all of you for a very long time, girls, and I meant that quite literally, and it's not just you, for we have been keeping an eye on your world due to it's importance to the following events that are about to come just as predicted, scheduled, and calculated by our finest state-of-the-art machines to date, along with specific skill sets that were employed by other confidential individuals whose names you-need-not-to-know. But that's a story that is best served for later. For now, I would like to continue my assessment for each one of you," she explained, turning towards Kinuhata who was sporting an attentive expression. "Kinuhata Saiai. A Level 4. In the past, you were one of many that participated in a secret experiment called the Dark May Project, and that in turn gave a clear connection to the esper ability that you possess which is known as Offense Armor which allows you to control the nitrogen in the air in order to create a thin barrier around yourself."
"...!," Kinuhata winced the left corner of her eye visibly at the mere mention of the word, and her hands that were resting on the arms of the chair were subtly shaking, which was noticed by the other members of ITEM.
Mugino could only narrow her eyes at the mention of the word.
The Dark May Project.
A specific experiment carried out in Academy City a very long time ago, aimed at replicating the powers of the #1 Rank Level 5 Esper - Accelerator by implementing similar patterns of ability operation.
As far as she knew, that experiment was bankrupt as their researchers were seemingly killed by an unknown assailant who was possibly connected to such a project, much to Mugino's suspicion. Like with Frenda, Mugino never really truly pried into Kinuhata's past, thinking that her business was hers and as long as it doesn't affect their work, it wouldn't have mattered.
At least, that's what Mugino would like to think. But there was the topic of the #1 being brought up, and so naturally as a fellow Level 5, she was similarly curious. She had wondered just how many were driven insane by such a project that could replicate the feelings of someone who was, if the rumors and the reports were to be believed, were little no more than a monster that only looked human.
Quite surprisingly, Kinuhata seem to be the more laid-back type of person, neither a screw-up like Frenda was from time to time nor was she even the least bit afraid of her in particular, talking to her as if she was just a casual friend that she just knew at work, and likes to tease others from time to time. But these particular traits didn't stop Kinuhata from doing her job in a very efficient manner, making her quite the valuable asset to ITEM.
"And last but not the least, Takitsubo Rikou," Councilwoman Waller said, gaining Takitsubo's attention. "A Level 4. Like most of the others on this resume, your past is quite the mystery, and one that I can't help but find a bit too suspicious considering your ability - the AIM Stalker - a passive power derived from Clairvoyance and remote viewing, allows you to record other espers' AIM field and track them down, and as long as you recorded their AIM diffusion fields, there is always the distinct possibility that you can track them down even if they were to leave the solar system. But that's just of the tip the ice berg isn't it? Since your potential to sense AIM fields doesn't end just there. And now I have to wonder as to why did you become only a Level 4 in the first place instead of being a Level 5 due to the fact that your ability is not all there is it seems," she noted in a tone that was narrowed, as if she understood, glancing towards Mugino who couldn't help but be intidimitated as she begins to slowly but surely fit the pieces of the puzzle that Councilwoman Waller was trying to give to her.
Truth be told, there was a reason why Takitsubo was recruited into ITEM. And it was because of her esper ability which was deemed to be quite the potent one when it would eventually reach Level 5.
For Rikou Taktisubo was a potential Level 5 in the making, capable of overturning the established system that there could only be seven Level 5s in Academy City. Her power, gauged to it's full potential, could theoretically allow Takitsubo to control the powers of every Level 5 by reversing the flow of their AIM diffusion fields. But that wasn't all, for she would be able to strengthen espers or send them out of control at will if she could do that.
And there would be potential individuals that would like to at least try to test the limits of such a possibility.
And Mugino, as well as Frenda and Kinuhata, glance towards each other, seemingly reaching the same understanding.
"I'm quite sure that some of you here must have realized by now that you four being chosen as members of ITEM was not by a mere coincidence," Councilwoman Waller sported a professional expression, glancing heavily towards Takitsubo in order to prove her point. "Your ITEM Liaison, the woman who would give you all of the orders that you would all end up following to the letter are but one part of a plan that involved one Rikou Takitsubo who was being researched quite extensively by some individuals to no one's notice including your own, gathering up a set of live data tests in the form of unlikely coincidences that wouldn't have caught your eye because to the rest of you, it was only the natural line of work that you would all do when the sun went dark. For there will be a set of variables that would be manipulated as it were in order to further develop her potential, and that would include you three who would fit the profile as part of simulating human interactions in order to achieve the desired effect."
"Now wait just a minute here! Are you- are you actually saying that we were all being used, that we we're actually being researched like fucking lab rats that couldn't tell the difference between what was right in front of them and what was actually right near them?!," Mugino asked as her fists clench the arms of the chair that she was sitting on, in a tone that was inquiring but was no less desperate and brewing with anger as heard from her voice that was quite clear and a little loud.
"Should you be surprised, Ms. Mugino?," Councilwoman Waller asked, sporting an unimpressed eyebrow. "After all, the Dark Side of Academy City is a pathway to many political and scientific opportunities some would consider to be unnatural. And you know as well as I do how the Dark Side treats it's espers when they are shall we say unneccesary for further research and experimentation. That was the main reason as to why the Parameter List was even created, has it not? To sift out the weeds among the wheat."
"..." Mugino couldn't find any argumment with that kind of cold logic that was being brought before her face.
Of course she knew. She wasn't dumb enough to trust just anyone, especially those who have worked deep within the Dark Side of Academy City. Hell, that's just how she and the rest of ITEM had survived. All they really had was each other to count on despite their differences and the mysterious shades surrounding their past.
But...
What if the Dark Side could ultimately use such a "bond" as it were? What if in some hypothetical future scenario, one of their own would betray them to the dogs of the city? What if someone among them were to rat them out and save one's skin?
Oh... She would know exactly how that would look like... And it was something that not even she would dare contemplate...
She knows herself quite well. And she knows what she would do to the traitor if the circumstances were just right.
Then there was one other thing that comes to mind.
The Parameter List.
Described as the seemingly infallible database of espers and their potential levels, used as a basis of comparison for esper development procedures and the efficiency of said procedures.
Of course, Academy City had the System Scan. Various methods were used to check on the aptitude of an esper. It checked what Level they were at, what type of power they had, and whether they would grow easily or not. However, that was supposed to just be a rough estimate. The students known as Level 0s and Level 1s believed that they could grow if they worked hard. That was why they were able to work hard. They believed it would all pay off eventually. They believed they would bloom eventually. That was all they wished for.
And yet…
Were the people who worked hard and grew from a Level 0 to a Level 3 merely people who were established from the beginning to be able to reach Level 3? Were the potentials sleeping within individual people all determined before they started studying and before they even entered the schools? Was the myth of gaining more skill by working hard just a means of manipulating the people who were at their set upper limits? In that case, was there any hope for the people who were determined to be Level 0s from the moment they were born?
"There are two quotes to described the Parameter List. One is "Survival of the fittest" while the other is "Money is power" and it goes without saying that the later is focus upon those who have a lot of money that tend to have commensurated their own power and status for the use of funding and profitary gains that would allow one to step up from the social hierarchical ladder and would provide for the funding of multiple experiments that were to be deemed a practical standard when it came to scientific discoveries no matter how unethical and amoral it may be, while the former allowed for multiple probable dissensions to occur throughout the city of science. For example, the various Skill-Out groups composed of seemingly failed students who couldn't keep up with the program and were deemed unfit to society and everything else that ensures the ideals of progress and prosperity, and some of them were even stripped of their own livelihood and rights, and in even some cases, even their very own lives in order for others to benefit from the remains. Academy City lives under the shadow of a society that would like to take advantage of the invalidated and to those poor souls with no amount of voice or defense due to being deemed useless to the overall plan that was put from on high, snuffing out the light whenever it were to be found and let the dominoes begin to fall one by one as each piece moves towards it's desired effect. Well, there are some problems with the Parameter List when one tends to think about it. For instance, the DNA patent and the living resource of a Level 5 are very valuable, but quite a bit of money is needed to obtain them. However, with a Level 1 who possesses the possibility of becoming a Level 5 in the future, those things can be obtained much more cheaply. When a fragment of the list is leaked, problems occur where blood is shed in secret due to people trying to get rich quick off of it. In other words..."
"In other words, if the Parameter List is leaked to the public, without the right proper safety measures that are to be put into place, society would collapse and there would be anarchy on the streets, and a lot of people will die," Agent Hamazura said in a grim tone, finishing what Councilwoman Waller would intend to say, with his mouth becoming a thin line, as he and Agent Haoyi, sporting the same expression as he was, was listening to the conversation.
"That is correct, Agent Hamazura," Councilwoman Waller nodded in approval before glancing back towards the four girls of ITEM who couldn't help but feel quite conflicted. "And that is the very reason why you are all gathered here in this very room."
The four girls of ITEM: Shizuri Mugino, Frenda Seivelun, Saiai Kinuhata, and Rikou Takitsubo all begin to glance at each other out of concern and trepidation as they look back towards Councilwoman Waller who continued to speak further.
"I wanna build a team of some very bad people, who I think can do some good, and you girls would provide for such an opportunity to implement the ideal to ensure the continued safety of not just your city, but that of the rest of your world."
The four girls of ITEM could only raise an eyebrow of surprise, and in the case of Mugino, a form of disbelief.
"...You...You want us to work with you people, is that what you're saying?," Mugino asked for clarification.
"Of course, you would all be given proper payment for your services since I have no doubt that your resume isn't up for free. Like I said before, the Foundation has been monitoring your world for quite some time now, and as it is, there are deep concerns regarding Academy City based on the given intel that our undercover agents on the ground have provided for us. For instance, there is one particular subject that I would like to bring up to all of you," Councilwoman Waller explained as she stood up from her office chair, with the folder containing information regarding ITEM being closed and carried by the right shoulder. "Now, if you were to all to follow me to the Briefing Room."
The Briefing Room.
By the term alone, it would designate a special type of room wherein important officials and individuals would gather in order to discuss about detailed information or instructions that are to be given.
The four ITEM girls: Shizuri Mugino, Frenda Seivelun, Saiai Kinuhata, and Rikou Takitsubo were all in said room, one of many in this overly complicated building, and are seated in rather comfortable seats as they look on towards a large projector screen that was being shone by the advance projector from the back.
Agent Shiage Hamazura and Agent Jiang Haoyi were standing from around the corner, leaning from the side of the wall; the former having his arms crossed while the latter was tucked in to his pockets. There were the same men from around various sides that the ITEM girls had already seen when they first met Councilwoman Amanda Waller, men of advance black-grey retrofuturistic armor and carrying FN SCAR automatic staser rifles, known by many among the Foundation as belonging to the Mobile Task Forces (MTFs), elite units comprised of personnel drawn from across the Foundation and are mobilized to deal with specific threats or situations that sometimes exceed the operational capacity or expertise of regular field personnel and — as their name suggests — may be relocated between facilities or locations as they are needed.
Councilwoman Amanda Waller on the other hand was at the center front, a few meters from the projector screen, holding a black remote, white buttons and a few colored buttons. From her left side, there appeared to be a tall and slender woman who has shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a pair of ordinary glasses that were modified with in-built functions, a black formal shirt with a white shirt tucked in, a black formal skirt, ligth leg stockings that reach near the waist, and black shoes.
The woman who was by Councilwoman Waller's side was known to be the Tokiwadai Dorm Supervisor, who unbeknownst to everyone within Tokiwadai, is actually an undercover operative of the SCP Foundation tasked with monitoring and ensuring the safety of the students of Tokiwadai and report back if anything came up that involve possible dangers. Her real name and identity has been deemed classified for confidential and personal reasons, although she has been given the Codename: Onna-Musha (女武者, lit. "Female Martial Practitioner"), a term referring to female warriors in pre-modern Japan.
And truth be told, it actually fitted her personality quite well as she was a woman without compromise, quite strict in terms of protocol both as a Supervisor of Tokiwadai and a Foundation Secret Supervisor Agent (SSA), yet was quite surprisingly adaptive in terms of the situation when protocol would not apply, a master of several martial arts that range from kung fu, taekwondo, ninjutsu, and many others. Overall, she was a reasonable authority figure and is someone that you could count on. It was quite unfortunate that the students of Tokiwadai just so happen to not notice that due to your her strict and ice cold personality.
She has been recruited by the Foundation sometime after trying to join Anti-Skill alongside Aiho Yomikawa, with the both of them managing to fail spectacularly precisely because they managed to beat all of their instructors to submission without breaking a sweat, an incident that was quite famous among Anti-Skill until the present day. By the end of it, she refused to join Anti-Skill due to being rather disappointed in her instructors and because she thought herself more suited to protect a single place she lives in instead of the entire city, claiming to be a simple specialized defender. And it was something that had caught the Foundation's attention.
More specifically, it had caught the attention of their Chief Scientific Advisor, the Time Lord known as the Doctor, who had managed to recruit her into the Foundation through a personal recommendation that might prove to be useful when protecting the students of Tokiwadai, a place where many important events would tend to happen that would influence the rest of the world, whether anyone realizes it or not.
As of now, she was carrying what appeared to be four light brown folders carrying information that would relate to the debriefing that is about to commence.
"Firstly, let's start with the organization that you four are going to have to work with," Councilwoman Waller said, sporting a professional expression, pressing a button that would activate the projector that would show the logo of the SCP Foundation. "First and foremost, I want all of you four to forget everything you think you know because your standards of what is real and what is fiction would no longer apply to this situation. I want all of you to think outside of the box while maintaining your feet on the ground. Since you four could recall the fact that we have just walked through corridors containing several non-human species, what do you suppose do you they are?," she asked the four ITEM girls who were glancing towards each other, sporting pondering and concerned expressions as they could still remember the encounters that they had with actual non-human races, many of which would tend to resemble something that was found on Earth while others were just quite alien to describe that they don't have any possible comparison to choose from that they know.
Eventually, Frenda would simply answer in a tone of disbelief, bewilderment, and hesitation. "...Aliens?"
"Correct," Councilwoman Waller nodded. "But also not correct when talking about all of them from a certain point of view. For instance, there was one particular race that we've encountered as we walk down the stairs of the terminal," she press a button, the projector would show what appeared to be a mammoth-like creatures equipped with long, curved tusks that wa floating in the air.
"Ah! It's those super giant elephants that we bumped into on the stairs!," Kinuhata pointed out, sporting a surprised expression.
"That super giant elephant as you called it, Ms. Kinuhata, is known as a yōkai," Councilwoman Waller explained, which managed to gain the attention of the four ITEM girls who were sporting reactions that range from surprise to disbelief. "Yes, the supernatural that cannot just be explained by human science exists and still does exists, to no one's surprise when one considers the infinite possibilities of the Multiverse. But to those not of planet Earth, it may as well be an alien to them just like the rest," Councilwoman Waller explained.
"Multiverse? That crackpot theory is actually real?," Mugino asked for the sake of clarification since she and the rest of ITEM have already seen the futuristic city that lied outside this building, the aliens and other non-humanoid races that were walking among them, and the flying cars and ships that were being seen from the windows.
"Yes, and the explanations regarding such a theory are quite limitless as a consequence," Councilwoman Waller confirmed. "Esper abilities as you commonly understood them are not the only things that lay ahead when it concerns us specifically, for we as an organization have existed for one single purpose. The monitoring and protection of the Multiverse from threats that can range from the simple anomalies that are unexplainable to the destructive type of monsters that are unimaginable to grasp for the human imagination."
And at that moment, Councilwoman Waller would press another button from the remote, which in turn would activate another function in the projector that allowed the projection on the screen to suddenly engulf them somehow which was likened to an advance VRMMO, much to the wonder, shock, and bewilderment of the ITEM girls.
And then they see it...
To the shock and awe of the ITEM girls who were watching closely, they would see very tall figures who were standing before them, the very first humans that walked the earths, those who made use of the Ways, being likened to that of mere giants that stand at least 10 ft. tall for males and 9 ft. tall for females, all of whom were carrying what seemed to be primitive tools was in actuality ancient technology that had a multitude of functions built into it. The construction of grand fortresses. The flourishing of cultures. The makings of great civilizations.
"The Secure Containment Procedures (SCP) Foundation is an inter-multiversal organization that has existed since even before there was even such a thing as history, back when humanity was quite the younger race but was nevertheless capable of being long-lived and has thrived even in the darkness as they have accomplished wonders that would make your city quite the simpletons project," Councilwoman Waller explained.
And another scene followed. This time concerning the ancient battles of old, tales of myth and legend that Ancient Humanity had dealt with for the past uncountable pre-history aeons. Gods, monsters, demons, and other eldritch abominations were fought back one way or another by the mightiest of warriors. Many countless artifacts of dangerous perception, forever sealed off and contained, not allowing it to see the light of day. Darkness in many shapes and forms that were instantly banished by the light of the flame that had grown forever brighter the more humanity triumph in the midst of adversities. Great battles of myth and legend throughout the different aeons, seeing the evolvement of the SCP Foundation as it grew in scale with efficiency and effectiveness, with soldiers and warriors from all aeons seemingly passing by from scene to scene as it is played out to all who were watching, and all couldn't help but be at awe.
"There are certain things that go bump in the night, girls, and we are the ones who bump back," Councilwoman Waller explained with a grave tone, denoting the seriousness of the topic that concerns them.
Then passes a scene where SCP-939, endothermic, pack-based predators which display atrophy of various systems similar to troglobitic organisms, were being thoroughly engaged by the MTFs that were sent to deal with them, and were eventually dealt with ease by the latter. Then another scene passes, this time seeing what appeared to be two SCP-173s being destroyed by two MIB Division Agents who aimed their advance pistols at them. Then another scene passes, this time seeing what appeared to a giant demonic creature with unnatural eyes and tentacles that were hovering and seem to tower over the heavens. And this demonic creature was being fired upon by multiple tanks from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) with the assistance of military aircraft from the United States Air Force (USAF), but to no avail as they were utterly annihilated, slowly obliterating molecule by molecule as the soldiers die a slow and agonizing death. This scene was one that had the ITEM girls on the edge of their seats, quite distrubed at the scene before them as they saw the carnage the monster it had wrought. Eventually the demon was defeated when there appeared to be someone wearing a cape - SCP-4051 - who had decided that enough was enough and after a brutal battle between him and the monster, the former managed to defeat the latter by sending it to a specific wormhole that would send the monster to an environemnt where it would be crushed molecule by molecule until it is nothing more than a vacuum.
But these were just the highlights as many more scenes were shown one way or another. Some were quite horrific while some were just chilling to the bone. What the ITEM girls would notice among the scenes was the different types of actual zombie plagues of various origins, some of which were dealier than the last.
And these zomie plagues were being dealt with by men in advance specialized armor, with maroon coloration — and a backplate of which protected them from many types of firepower. The design of the helmet incorporated a specialized visor designed to filter pollutants and other hazards, which included a special synthmesh visor for the filtration of poisonous gases. These men were aligned with the Spatio-Temporal Armed Forces (STARS), created to be a unique and dynamic instrument as a way to help universes and multiverses torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace. These men were the Clone Troopers of the 21st Nova Corps, nicknamed the Zombie Corps, due to the running gag and daily routine of handling different types of biohazards and other things that would be out of depth for modern and futuristic armies, known for their exceptional conditioning and discipline, and were trained to operate in hostile environments, such as fungal clouds to pure vacuum environments.
"What you are all seeing is just one blip in the metaphorical radar, for these incidents would show just how much we have been involved in incidents that had ranged to various end-of-the-world scenarios and other apocalyptic phenomenon. But these are by no means the only thing we have dealt with, for as horrible as these incidents are, they are still a part of our everyday job which is to protect the Multiverse itself from the worst kinds of threats that you have just seen from the projection. For even before your universe even existed, there were horrors just lurking in the background, and some of them have even been waiting for the day when they would randomly decide to have fun by playing with the victim of their choosing. And one of the realizations of the Foundation had learned throughout the millennial cycles was that many parts of the Multiverse, especially the boundless unexplored and uncharted regions, can be quite the cruel and terrible place for those who have not even done any wrong and would catch them and those unprepared by surprise. And through that realization, it was possible for us to fight back, advancing ever further as multiple variants of humanity and many races from both high and low would unite under a common banner wherein peace and security are to be ensured for the sake of the public and of the innocent," Councilwoman Waller explained.
And as the scenes eventually dissipate, what was left was the term "ITEM" and what appeared to be an atomic symbol and a pentagram that symbolizes a union between magic and science.
"And that's where you come in. Mobile Task Force ITEM, a specialized black-ops unit whose primary purpose is to do what you have always done. To stop the "upper classes", including the Board of Directors, from getting out of hand. You four could make a difference in steering the direction that Academy City would take, and in the end, would determine whether or not humanity would even have a tomorrow to live for," Councilwoman Waller explained.
"...?," the ITEM girls could only look each other as they took note of the last few words relating to "humanity" and "tomorrow".
"What do you mean by that exactly?," Mugino asked, raising an eyebrow.
"And that's were we begin to discuss the main topic at hand. For starters, what if I were to tell you that there is an organization that is more or less on the same level of scale as the Foundation, one that has existed alongside it and has made a mark upon the histories of many universes, including you're on, and this organization has existed within the shadows within the shadows, existing in the most dense darkness that you could possibly imagined," Councilwoman Waller explained, with the tone becoming even more grim.
"...?," Mugino sported a narrowed expression, taking notice of Agent Hamazura and Agent Haoyi who were sporting more or less the same grim expression.
"Since time immemorial, there is something lurking within the shadows that is as dense as the never ending ocean, and within that ocean lies a giant hydra of twelve faces that would become a threat to many if not being blocked by our organization. And this giant hydra is an organization that is known as the Committee of 300," Councilwoman Waller explained.
"Committee of 300?," Mugino muttered, becoming attentive to the conversation that was turning grim, being reminded of the term from a book that she once saw not a while ago which was called "The Conspirators Hierarchy, the Committee of 300,". And it would recall to her about the subject regarding conspiracies.
"They are an organization that has infilitrated over dozens of multiversal clusters, and has already managed to entrench themselves upon your world without anyone even realizing it, and yes, that would have to include the Board of Directors, and even the Board Chairman himself, despite how many plans that he had concocted for over a century now and no matter how good he thinks his security systems think they are, for the Committee are just that good when it comes to subversion as they have the proper resources that would allow them to manipulate the concept of history itself. For the Committee aren't so much as an individual geopolitical entity that you can mark on the inter-multiversal map as they are an interconnected network of the world's "intellectuals", time-traveling energy beings, and other unique type of individuals operating through the world's superpowers and corporate proxies throughout the Multiverse. Meaning that without you're knowing it, whether if it was just an individual walking on the street or if it was a simple fast food chain restaurant or if it was a company known for selling household and personal products or if it was a weapons manufacturing company or if it were a group of individuals who have attain a higher position among the goverments of various nations, it all ends up being a pawn or a puppet for them to achieve their goals which is the ideal of a New World Order. I could give one particular example of such an organization. What exactly do you all know about the organization known as the Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.)?," Councilwoman Waller asked, pressing a button that would reveal the A.I.M. acroynym and a couple of images showing their iconic beekeeper soldiers and scientists going about their daily business.
"...!"
That was the question. And it was a question that had the four members of ITEM think deeply about as they begin to recall the known information regarding them while the girls glance towards each other.
For the Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.) were just as old, if not older than even Academy City itself, having existed for quite sometime since the late 30s to 40s, during a time when the Second World War was still commencing. The history behind their development between World War II and the founding of Academy City is as non-existent as the wind. There were simply almost no available records of anything relating to A.I.M. or of their involvements in world history.
But suffice it to say, they have been involved in a lot of history that had influenced the shape of the world of today. For they were rumored to have connections, both inside and outside Academy City. Rumor has it that the Board Chairman kept them around as part of the Dark Side due to the fact that he ultimately finds them a valuable asset due to their major contributions in the field of science that would practically make a couple of Kiharas drool over and wet themselves, and has since then contributed much to the Power Curriculum Program in sheer secrecy.
In fact, there were rumors that the infamous Gensei Kihara, a mad scientist by any other name among the Kihara Family, is connected to A.I.M., being mutual benefactors of each other in their common pursuit within the boundaries of science as they would push themselves to the limit of sheer possibilities.
"Those guys? Aren't they basically just beekeepers who keep buzzing about their daily businesss with regards to science and make all kinds of gizmos for the Dark Side and other organizations to use?," Frenda asked simply, sporting a curious expression, summarizing the topic about A.I.M..
"That's just one part of their iniative, Ms. Seivelun. What they actually want is something far more sinister, for they want something far more than just being weapons contractors and designers," Councilwoman Waller spoke grimly.
"Such as?," Frenda asked.
But it was Agent Hamazura who answered the question. "World domination."
The ITEM girls could only look at Agent Hamazura with raised and bewildered expressions.
"And yeah, I know how straightfoward and cliché such a goal that is, but there's actually a lot more to it than just what you're thinking. What these guys basically want to do exactly is to use their discoveries in science in order to overthrow the governments of the world by contributing to supply arms and technology to just about anyone who is willing to pay the price. And like Seivelun once pointed out, the Dark Side is not the only client in the world that A.I.M. has business deals with as they have other official deals with radical, subversive, and terrorist organizations that are usually found in places like Latin America and the Middle East. They also have connections with a couple of covert organizations that have also staked their claim on this world," Agent Hamazura explained.
"Precisely," Councilwoman Waller nodded at her subordinate's explanation, pressing a remote that would show the various A.I.M. activities that were officially recorded. "A.I.M. as you know specifically is but one particular branch of A.I.M. throughout the Multiverse. They are far more than just some Dark Side Organization, for they are an inter-multiversal Group of Interest (GOI) that are confirmed to be a puppet organization to the Committee. But don't mistake puppet for apparent non-independence as A.I.M. have their own goals and agenda as they have also branched out from another organization that is known as HYDRA."
"HYDRA?," Kinuhata sported a curious expression.
"An ally of A.I.M. for most of the time whenever their interests aligned. Another inter-multiversal organization that had left a major impact upon the Multiverse, as it along with A.I.M. had originated on another universe designated as MV Universe-616, on an Earth that is filled to the brim with all types of superhumans and many other beings that could not be considered human. And just like with HYDRA, A.I.M.'s operations span several universes, both near and far, and we and many others have been cracking down on them due to the potential threat that they pose to inter-multiversal security. The Board Chairman himself is of course quite aware of A.I.M's goals and agenda in part when it comes to this world, and has thus taken advantage of them as one part of the stepping stone in order to move the pawns placed strategically around the world that have their own goals and agenda which is in relation to the tensions that would arise between Academy City, other countries, and what lies hidden from the scientific viewpoint of the world in order to work further for the eventual probability of World War III," Councilwoman Waller explained.
"Wait what?!," most of the ITEM girls: Shizuri Mugino Frenda Seivelun, and Saiai Kinuhata would exclaim out of shock while Rikou Takitsubo could only widen her eyes at the sudden announcement of a new global conflict.
A new global conflict. World War III.
Such fears for the future were not that unfounded during the times of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Cold War in general. But ever since the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), that grim idea had long since passed.
"But... But that's super insane! Wh-Why would-," Kinuhata spoke, but she was cut-off.
"Why would the Board Chairman initiate what is practically the single most devastating event that would ever be predicted in human history? He's not, or at least he is limiting the severity of it to a few days tops at most. And even then, he's but one chessmaster who is fighting another chessmaster from the other side of the world, and the one pawn that he would tend to maintain one particular focus on is this person who is an ally to our organization," Councilwoman Waller explained, pressing a button on the remote to reveal a picture of a spiky haired teenager who was shown on the projection screen, which made the ITEM girls sported curious expresssions.
"A boy?," Mugino raised an eyebrow, examining what appeared to be a middle school student that showed possible signs of deliquency.
"Not just any boy, but the boy. His name is Kamijou Touma, a Level 0, and he is by far one of the fundamental reasons as to why Academy City and the Parameter List has existed in the first place," Councilwoman Waller explained.
"Wait what?!," Mugino exclaimed, sporting a shocked and dubious expression.
"Haaaah?," Frenda exclaimed, raising a dubious eyebrow. "This guy? What's so special about him?"
"Everything," Agent Hamazura answered in a grim tone, walking a few paces to where Councilwoman Waller and the Tokiwadai Dorm Supervisor were. After stopping his walk, he would have his arms crossed, looking towards each member of ITEM with an edge of seriousness as they notice the eyes of someone who isn't an ordinary teenager but that of a fully decorated soldier. "This guy means one major part of everything as far as the Board Chairman is concerned. I'm best friends with this guy, and I call him the Boss because he's the type of person that I and many others are more than willing to follow to the gates of hell itself as he's the type of person that would save just about anyone regardless of what you are and what you have done, and that would include you four. And before you all say that it is basically just altruism and naivety talking and at work, think again, cause Boss here has fought things that would make people run and hide or breakdown to insanity and has face the worst kinds of evil that you could possibly imagine, and still maanged to came back in one piece. I should know that better than anyone as I've seen it first hand."
And thus, the ITEM girls couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated as each word that came off of him was apparently the truth because the man believed it to be. And that was more than proof enough.
"And this is one of the main reasons as to why your Mobile Task Force would be formed. Besides being the clean up crew that would monitor Academy City and the rest of your world, one of your other objectives is to assist Kamijou Touma with whatever he needs, for according to the advance calculations that we're given to us by our finest and brightest of scientists and through the advance state-of-the-art machines that would make precognition abilities a few generations behind, he would play a vital role in your world in ways that you could not imagine. And thus would relate to your first official mission as an MTF. And this woman here," Councilwoman Waller glances sideways that pointed towards the Tokiwadai Dorm Supervisor who was holding the light brown folders. "Would serve as your new ITEM Liaison. In Academy City, she is known for being the Dorm Manager of Tokiwadai, maintaining order as part of official procedure. But when it comes to her work as a member of the Foundation, she is providing reports on all of the Tokiwadai students and is tasked with ensuring their continued safety."
"Liaison? What happened to our other Liaison?," Kinuhata asked, sporting a curious expression.
"She's in disposed," the Supervisor explained, touching the bridge of her glasses as she walked closer towards the four ITEM girls. "You do not need to worry about her anymore as she is currently spending time on prison block cell, tried with various crimes against her. In any case, here are the files that you need in order to undestand this particular mission," she said, giving the folders to each ITEM girl as they sported curious expressions, eventually opening the folders to reveal the profiles of at least three young women, two who were from Tokiwadai Middle School and one other from A Certain High School.
And one of the two middle school students, the young woman with blonde hair and starry eyes, and the description of her profile would be quite familiar to Mugino as she sported a surprised expression.
"What the? Mental Out?," Mugino muttered in surprise, looking towards Councilwoman Waller who could only nod professionally.
"That is correct. And this is in relation to another question that I would like to ask all of you. Tell me, what do you all know about an organization called L.S.S.?," Councilwoman Waller asked.
"...?," the four ITEM girls would sport surprised expressions as they immediately recognized the term.
L.S.S.
An organization quite well known for their services to the public of Academy City, especially when it relates to the subject of animals, having weekly donations apparently starting at ¥200 yen. At least, that was what was in their public image and resume.
In actuality, based on the information and experience that the four ITEM girls had heard of in their time in the Dark Side, the organization was quite involved in a surprisingly large number of shady dealings, including the illegal work of the term "Biohacker" which is designated for an individual or a group of individuals that who would abuse genetic and biological science and technology to rearrange DNA from existing animals, from bacteria to mammals, and piece them together as desired to create artificial hybrid life forms, an illegal pursuit. Safety will be a secondary concern. The organization is also well known for providing various cover-ups and assassinations that would make things much easier of groups within the Dark Side such as ITEM from their doing their job at night.
"That animal loving company? What about them?," Mugino asked.
"Apparently, if what local intelligence has provided anything concrete, these three women: Shokuhou Misaki, Mitsuari Ayu, and Kumokawa Seria are apparently considered by them as Targets of Interests (TOIs) by them. And not just them either, but it would also relate to the incident that you all took part in which was the weapons exchange between Deadlock and A.I.M.. This would be your first mission as members of the newly formed MTF ITEM. You are to provide surveillance and protection for these three women and report for anything that you are to find out back to your ITEM Liaison who is one of the two individuals that you would currently answer too," Councilwoman Waller explained, indicating the Tokiwadai Dorm Supervisor.
"One of two? Then whose the other one?," Kinuthata asked, tilting her head.
"I am," Agent Hamazura responded to the question, sporting a serious expression with arms crossed.
"...Huh?," all of the ITEM girls responded, looking towards Agent Hamazura, with most of them: Shizuri Mugino, Frenda Seivelun, and Saiai Kinuhata sporting reactions that range from disbelief and bewilderment while Rikou Takitsubo sported an intrigued expression.
"As of this moment, Agent Hamazura Shiage, the young man who is standing right before you, would be your assigned Field Commander who would show you the ropes on how the Foundation operates. Whatever questions you have regarding the Foundation, you are to ask him, and he will provide you with satisfactory answers. Every order that he says from now on in terms of official missions is my word, and I expect it to be followed to the best of your abilities, is that clear?," Councilwoman Waller explained, narrowing her sharp brown eyes towards the four ITEM girls in order to see the point through in order to disway any possible objections.
"...Y...Yes, ma'am," the four ITEM girls responded in a soft but clear tone, each and in their own way as they look towards their new leader, Agent Shiage Hamazura, with thoughts of curiosity and bewilderment.
This was a brand new day for ITEM. For once, they will no longer just step into the darkness. They will also step into the light. And that light was none other Agent Shiage Hamazura. The man who was connected to the four ITEM women in way that they, and the former may not even realize.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
Betcha Never from Cherie (2004)
New Characters:
Tokiwadai Dorm Supervisor - VA: Hitomi Nabatame
