Naoki's breath was rigid as he worked quickly to get the job in front of him completed.
Just a few more adjustments… I'm not sending Kayako on her own again. She needs to have as much help as possible. We need to succeed.
Kayako was standing by. While she had one sole programming frame of mind… she couldn't help but worry for her creator. She had seen him be manic before but this… this was different.
"Father?" She spoke up, startling him as his gaze lifted. She took a step back at the infuriated look he gave her.
"What… is it dear?"
"Are you alright?"
Naoki let out a long breath, shaking his head as he went back to work.
"I should've just sent you out as a unit instead of solo. That was my mistake. It won't be made again… and you won't disappoint me again, right dear?" He gave her a chilling smile. "You'll make me proud of you, right?"
Kayako lifted her head up, nodding.
"Yes, Father." She moved closer. "What is your next set of instructions?"
Naoki finished his work, closing up where he had been working. He looked down at the robot that laid on the table. One that appeared to be a young man, with metallic plating covering parts of his face and arms. He activated a switch behind the robot's "ear" as eerie red optics came to life.
"Take Kojiro and get my samples. Unless you want us all to be turned to scrap, you will NOT let me down. Understand?"
"Yes, Father." She looked to the newer android, helping him up. "Come this way."
"We won't fail you." Kojiro looked back at him, a manic grin coming to his face. "Count on us."
I have no choice.
Liv is going to ruin everything if I don't.
And if I fail this time… Maybe I'll just set my sights higher.
Maybe… it's best to take out the snake at her head.
Naoki shook his head, running a hand through his hair.
What am I thinking? No, no, that's a terrible idea.
Just get the samples, appease Liv, then resume the search for Nozomi.
That's all I have to do.
Naoki straightened up as the sound of the security alarm went off.
"Oh, what now!?"
He hurried over to his console, seeing where the alarm had been tripped. He looked through cameras, his eyes widening as he saw a person with a familiar looking uniform standing in front of the camera in one of the feeds.
They were making a funny face, sticking their tongue out.
"Come and get me mad man!" They taunted.
"Why… you…" He pushed a button on the console, slipping his headset on. "KAYAKO! We have intruders! Take them out using any force necessary!"
There was a crash as one of the security feeds was taken out.
"Kayako?" He repeated, looking through the feeds, trying to spot them. "Come on, honey, talk to me…"
Naoki froze as the alarm system went silent. It was eerily quiet now.
What is going on?
It was silence for another few moments before the sound of something buzzing was right next to Naoki's ear… or rather, right next to his throat.
"Step away from the console, slowly." said a voice. "We just want to talk."
Naoki glanced behind him, seeing a figure dressed in dark colored armor with purple EL wire pattern designs on it. They were holding a discus to his throat that had a purple glow to its edges that were warm near Naoki's throat.
Naoki's narrowed his eyes, a sneer coming to his face.
"And this is how you intend to start a conversation?"
They held the discus closer.
"It's the only way I can get you to listen to me and not kill my allies."
Naoki winced a little, leaning his head as far away from it as he could. He narrowed his eyes.
"What did you do to my children!?"
"Oh, don't worry, they're perfectly fine. Just taking a quick nap. Nothing to it. I promise, they're not damaged by any means possible save maybe a small dent in the head. Now, I won't ask again. Step away from the console. We want to talk."
"And who is "we"?"
"Him and us, Naoki."
Naoki straightened at hearing another voice. He knew who it belonged to as well. He turned his head slightly, seeing Lance enter the room, a serious look on his face, Kuro right beside him.
"Long time, old friend." Lance had a saddened look on his face. "I see stress hasn't been too kind to you nor has Liv."
Naoki growled.
"What… What have you done?"
"Naoki, please… just talk to us." Lance pleaded. "This," he gestured to the entirety of the lab space. "Isn't you. THAT isn't you."
Naoki went quiet, lowering his gaze.
"... What do you want from me?"
"To get you out of her clutches."
He froze up, his eyes widening. He gave Lance a look as if he was insane.
"... Why?"
"Because I don't want your daughter to see you like this… and I can't stand it anymore to see you fall more and more into your own insanity. And with Liv in the mix… I don't want to see what will happen to you."
Naoki narrowed his eyes.
"Right. Because you know so well about what's best for me and MY family huh!?"
"Naoki, we're not getting into this." Lance moved forward, resting a hand on his arm. "Please… Just let me help you too. Let's put that behind us… for her sake."
Naoki was quiet, before he stepped away from the console, his stance tense.
"Where is she?"
"If you tell us what we need to know, you can come back with us… You can see for yourself."
"Guaranteed." The armored figure said, pulling his discus away. "Naoki, listen, as someone who was once under Liv's thumb, you do NOT want to continue down this path. She will tear you apart to make you into what SHE wants. Whatever matters to you doesn't matter to her. You're nothing but a means to an end to her. It's how I was too."
Naoki looked to the armored figure, confused.
"And you are?"
The armored figure stood down, taking off his helmet, revealing his face.
"Bob Aken. More commonly known as Obake."
His eyes widened, stepping back.
"B. Aken… Of course…" He laughed a little, bringing a hand to his face. "Of course… She hasn't shut up about how much your brain helped her with the rest of her schemes."
"Ah, so Erin wasn't the only one who knew that." Obake gave him a serious look. "Regardless… Naoki, she doesn't care one bit about you, nor does she care one bit about your daughter. If she got her hands on her, it'd be a miracle if she even survived. She doesn't care who she hurts, who she tortures. Just as long as they're another stepping stone for her to get to her goals."
Naoki lowered his gaze, letting out a shaky breath. His eyes were glassy as he gripped at his arm.
"I just… I just want my baby girl back. I just want to see her face again and help her get better… That's all I wanted. I just wanted the grant money and the facility to work with!"
"And she wouldn't have given you any of that." Obake looked to Lance. "But someone already is working on doing just that… right?"
Lance nodded.
"Naoki, I've been working hard to bring her back. I'm almost at the end of my research. In just another month, she'll be working her way to being back on her feet again. You can be there if you just stop all this." Lance frowned. "Naoki… I can't change what happened… but what I can do is fix what's happening now. Please, I beg you, on Nozomi's behalf, come with us and leave this all behind."
I can see her…. I can hold her again?
"You promise… I can be there?"
Lance smiled, offering a hand to him.
"I promise. You wanna be the first thing she sees, don't you?"
Naoki smiled a little, shaking his hand… a few tears escaping.
"Nothing in the world sounds better…" He looked around him. "... What was I thinking?"
"You've always been protective of her. Just how you are. But let's keep it to sending robots after boys, eh?"
"Y-Yeah… Speaking of though…?"
"I'll help you reprogram them to NOT be killing machines." Lance chuckled. "So, what do you say?"
"We have a deal... " Naoki's eyes narrowed. "And please, allow me to give as much info as I can on cutting her down."
Obake smiled.
"Now, that's what I like hearing."
"C'mon… Let's get you outta here." Lance looked to Kuro. "Call everyone and tell 'em to get ready to leave."
"Right away." He saluted, hurrying off.
A grieving scientist, who wanted only the best…
Liv, you really know how to pick them don't you?
Obake placed a hand on Naoki's shoulder.
"Everything is going to be okay. I promise. And… from one estranged father to another, be glad it wasn't for over a year and you didn't do something that was reprehensible."
Naoki raised an eyebrow but gave him a grateful look, his stance relaxing.
"I suppose I should just be glad for her it's frozen in time… I just have to wait for her to wake up."
"And no more associating with Sycorax means you get to be that involved father again. Enjoy her."
Naoki smiled.
"I will."
"Good."
"Though… what about Liv? She doesn't exactly like loose ends."
"Don't worry." Obake grinned.
"It will all be taken care of."
Every last crucial detail.