Three days had passed since that incident. I spent my entire spare time searching for Lindow. From Wailing Plains down to Forgotten Carrier, yet I found nothing but Aragami. While they were useful for Link Support Device, they were not who I was looking for. Where did he go? Not even a scent or track left out there.
I put my soldering iron down and tapped Licca's shoulder. "Okay second circuit layer from central processor to God Arc port number 2 now in place. I'm gonna grab a can of drink or two, want some?"
Licca took off his goggles. "No, just bring me curry powder."
Curry powder? Ah, she wanted to cook curry for her lunch. "Okay, where can I get that?"
"Cafeteria. Tell the staff I need my usual package."
I put my glasses on and rode an elevator down to Den canteen few floors below. This was my second time visiting canteen, third if I counted my resonance with my sister. Unlike the last time, this place was barren, only few peoples stayed. A pink haired girl wearing sleeveless dark green Fenrir uniform, brown haired young man cladded in red jacket, and another silver haired young man in blue jacket.
I headed straight to the counter and greeted the staff. "I'm here for Licca's package."
"Wait a moment... Mutsumi, have you finished arranging the package?" The man shouted at the kitchen.
"Yes, just in time." A girl voice came out from kitchen behind the counter.
"Go ahead, it's on the table." He pointed his finger at kitchen door.
Smell of various ingredients and dishes lingered in the kitchen. I found the package he mentioned, a cardboard box wrapped neatly on kitchen table. A child with brown eyes and brown hair scrambled around, she rummages through toolbox and took out scissors and duct tape. She fastens the box few more times before gave it to me.
"Done, this is your package. Oh it's you miss cat eye." The young child bowed to me.
"Cat eye? Do I know you?" It felt like I knew her. Had I met her somewhere?
"Yes, you have cat like eyes, so I call you miss cat eye. It's me, you gave me and my brother money three weeks ago." She smiled at me.
So they noticed it! Oh well, it matters not. She was the one from before, her brother bumped my legs in Outer Ghetto.
"Ah I remember now, what're you doing here?"
"I want to become a chef one day, so I started with helping my uncle running this kitchen."
A chef huh, that might be what this Den needed. An experienced cook could add a variety to the menu. Perhaps it could mitigate the abysmally bland food in here.
"I'm sure you will become one. Sorry but I'm in a rush, got an errand to do."
I left her in a hurry. Poor Licca had been working non-stop since this morning, delivered her lunch in time was the least I could do. The elevator door rung as I punched a call button.
She still there, tinkering with half assembled Link Support Device. Licca was deeply immersed that she fails to notice me approaching. Should I surprised her? Nope, a bad idea. Licca would probably mad at me for messing her job.
"Licca~ Here's your order." I put the box on nearby table and reached for canned drink in my... empty pocket? Meh, I forgot my own drink.
"Thank you." She put her welding tools down and dug her package.
She took out a packet of curry powder, icebox, bottled water, and a mug. Why didn't I see any rice or cooking utensil? Licca poured the water into her mug and added few ice cubes. She stirred it for a while before adding... the curry powder?!
"What? I don't think curry goes well with ice cubes..." I stared at her mug. What kind of foul concoction she tries to make?
"Nonsense, this is my favorite drink. Try some, you'll like it in no time." Licca shook her head. She pours her curry over a cup and gave it to me.
I gulped at the sight of this abomination. What kind of forbidden experiment she had taken to created such monstrosity. Slowly, I took a peek at her face. Licca stared at me, eagerly waiting for me to drank it down.
"Here goes nothing." I downed the entire cup in single go.
I shuddered, hard. It was indescribable, beyond horrific. The thick spicy flavor mixed with coldness of ice cubes, creating unholy combination of literal iced curry. How the actual hell she could say that it was her favorite? I snatched her bottled water and drank the rest of it.
"It's nasty. I don't care if you like it, all I know is it's borderline poisonous for me." I wiped the rest of these dangerous iced curry from my mouth.
"Suit yourself. We're halfway done with this Link Support Device. Few more connections, circuit boards, two more God Arc ports, and we're ready to enter beta phase."
"Yep, in about a month at most." I nodded in agreement.
Genius was a fitting way to describe Licca. A young girl, no older than me, yet she bested most engineer in Far East Branch and became the head of maintenance crew. She taught me many tricks that didn't exist in maintenance manual, or any other books. I didn't think it possible to disassemble a God Arc without tools, or jury-rigged a damaged God Arc with abandoned God Arc until its suitable spare parts obtained.
"There you are, I've been looking for you." My sister stood near the door.
"What are you doing in here? Go back to your room. You might reopen your stitches if you keep moving around like this." I frowned at her.
"Already healed yesterday. Dr. Sakaki said my healing rate is higher than normal, in fact, almost as high as Soma. Look..." She rolled up her shirt.
Indeed, her wound had closed, only slight pale discoloration left on her stomach. "Good, what do you need sis?"
"Alisa has been discharged from infirmary this morning. She wanted to see you."
"What the hell did she want? Forget about apologizing, I won't forgive her."
"She's not at fault, she has been manipulated. Let's talk in your room." Rina reduced her voice down to murmur. No one could hear it except me.
"Licca? I'll take a rest for a while. Call me if you need anything."
She lifts her goggles and nodded at me.
On my way back, I heard some people whispered about Death God and Reaper again. What did they talking about? Surely not the mythical harbinger of death that written in fairy tales.
Back in my room, we sat facing each other while sipped our own preferred drinks.
"Yesterday I dived into Alisa's memories, or resonance according to Dr. Sakaki. I found out that she was... hypnotized by her caretaker. If certain conditions met, she would snap and think Lindow as the one that killed her parents."
"That explained everything. Does she know about this?" Everything started to fit together. This caretaker might be the one that set the bait.
"Apparently not. She told me her mind goes blank, and when she regained herself she already lay on the floor with me."
"So she's also a victim." What should I do? It would be unfair to blame her for these entire mess. On the other hand, she still the one that pulled the trigger, I couldn't forgive her for that.
"Yes, will you meet her?" Her tone carried a hidden hope in it. Rina wanted me to forgive her it seems. I wanted to forgive her but half of me still held a grudge.
I sighed. "What a fine mess. Do whatever you want."
Alisa was a wrecked ball of nervousness and timidness. She clutched her left arm tightly and looked at the floor while entering my room, didn't even dared to looked into my eyes. Gone was the arrogant recruit that I met few days ago, only small traumatic girl remained in her place. She meekly sat in front of us.
"Do you have any idea how precious Lindow to us?" My tone was steady and cold.
Alisa flinched. "Yes... Rina has told me. He saved both of you from Aragami, took care of you for two years before Fenrir sent you to Magnolia Compass orphanage."
"Correct, he's our savior and surrogate brother. You took away one of my family member, Alisa."
"But sis, she's n-"
I placed my index finger on Rina's lips. "Trust me okay?"
She nodded at me and returned to her seat.
"I hate... no... I loathe you Alisa. However, this morning Rina told me that you might be manipulated. She dived into your memories and found out that your caretaker was the culprit. He made you see Lindow as your parents killer."
"No... That's impossible, Dr. Oguruma is a kind doctor. He helped me th-"
"Odin... Dva... Tri..."
Alisa stopped talking and tensed immediately. She lost her focus as her eyes began to glaze.
"That phrase..." My sister gasped.
"Odin... Dva... Tri..." Alisa mimicked my words.
"Odin... Dva... Tri..." I repeated it once more.
Alisa leaped at me. She wrapped her hands around my neck, slowly tightening it. It didn't affect me, but it showed how vulnerable she was. Three words and she would turn against us, like this.
"Kill... Aragami..." Alisa muttered. She kept tightening her hold on my neck.
"Alisa! What're you doing? Snap it out!" My sister screamed. She was about to jumped at us, tried to separate us.
"Don't interfere, trust me on this sis."
With a grumble, she slowly backed down and opted to watch us from her seat.
She got strong grip for a God Eater. If I was a normal God Eater I would've choked to death few minutes ago. Rina watched us from sidelines worriedly. She wanted to help me, yet she also wanted to follow my request. The grip on my neck loosened. Alisa regained herself, her glazed eyes slowly returned to normal.
"Kill... Huh... What am I... AAAH!" She yelled and jumped back. Like a terrified child, Alisa curled up and cried on sofa.
Now I felt bad for triggered her on purpose, but it had to be done. It was the only way to checked out how she reacts upon heard these keywords, which undoubtedly lethal. I placed my hand on her shoulder. She winced and desperately tried to move away. All my angers drained, I didn't have the heart to blame her anymore. Alisa had lost her parents, manipulated, forced to attack Lindow, and now reduced to a sobbing mess.
"Listen up Alisa. You're at fault for attacking Lindow, although, I'm willing to give you a chance."
"A chance?"
"Yes, you harmed my family, it's only fitting that you must protect them in return. From now on, you'll guard my sister. Do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it'll cost your life."
Alisa stopped sobbing. She stared me for the first time since her breakdown. "I understand... I'll do it."
'A sly one aren't you? Taking advantage of vulnerable girl for your own gain.'
'Call it safety measure. I'm not a fool Rei, Lindow's chance for survival decreased with each days. It'll be a miracle to find him alive after three days out there, let alone when wounded and weaponless. I'll do whatever it takes to ensure my last family well being, even if I have to exploit Alisa.'
"I have a request, could you please... maybe... teach me again how to fight? I don't want something like this ever happened again." Alisa meekly asked my sister.
"No, I won't allow it." I interrupted them.
"What? Why?" My sister shouted in protest.
"What do you think will happen if she turned on us after she become proficient in fighting? A dangerous scenario at best, or downright catastrophic at worst. No, we must break her hypnosis first."
"Any idea how to do that? Rina asked.
"I have one in mind."
"Odin... Dva... Tri..." Alisa muttered.
Couple of freeze Oracle bullet flew at my head. I crushed these bullets with my bare hands. Blaze and freeze Oracle could barely damage me.
"Tsk, still not enough. Again!" I shouted at them.
"Odin... Dva... Tri... " My sister whispered to Alisa.
"Odin... Dva... Tri... NOO!" Alisa pulled the trigger.
"Resist, fight it Alisa!" I backhanded the incoming freeze bullet. That stung a bit. "More!"
"Is this really necessary?" My sister looked at Alisa. She was panting and kneeled on the floor.
"Yes, the best way to overcome your fear and trauma is by confronting it. Brace yourself Alisa! Don't let these petty words influence your mind."
"I'll try..." Alisa stood up, wobbly aimed her God Arc at me.
"Odin... Dva... Tri..."
"Odin... Dva... No! Stop!" Alisa screamed.
"Odin... Dva... Tri..." My sister repeated the chant.
"Odin... AAAHH! A purple ball of Oracle bullet launched from her God Arc.
Large spark bullet?! I swatted it aside with my right hand. Okay, that seriously hurt, like slapped a concrete. Who told her to load a damn spark bullet? I had no resistance against it.
"Oy why the hell did you shot me with spark? I've told you it's either freeze or blaze."
"I'm sorry... I swear it was an accident." Alisa trembled on the floor.
I let out a sigh. A yell was enough to scared her. It almost unbelievable, a haughty God Eater turned into a meek girl in just three days. I checked my slightly throbbed right hand. The back side of my hand burnt a little and trail of blood leaked from it. My blood was red like human blood, but I knew it too well, it unmistakably Aragami blood. It had the same scent as those monsters blood, disgusting.
I picked an empty vial from cabinet and poured my blood in it. Not much, only a fraction of the vial filled before my bled stopped. How delightful Dr. Sakaki would be, it had been a while since I allowed him to take my blood.
Alisa had finally calmed down. Still trembled a bit, but at least she could stand properly. She began to show some improvement during our training. At first she would shoot me immediately after the chant finished and it took few minutes for her to regained herself. Slowly her recovery time shortened, and now she could successfully resist a single chant. She still shot me on second chant though.
"Are you okay sis?" My sister approached me. She held a bandage in her hand.
"No need for that, look." I showed her my healed hand. "Although I must admit, that spark bullet pack a punch in it."
"A normal God Eater would be writhe in pain, yet you slapped it like it was nothing. Why you volunteer yourself as target practice? We can use simulated Aragami you know?"
"I wanted to gauge my strength. Helping Alisa along the way is just a bonus. Come, let's do this one more time and call it a day."
My sister returned to Alisa, she kneeled beside her and gently held her shoulder. "Can you do it one more time?"
"I can... I think." Alisa stood up once more and aimed her God Arc at me. "I can do it... Okay I'm ready."
"Odin... Dva... Tri..."
"Odin... Dv... urghh..." Alisa held her head with her left hand. She tried to resist the influence as hard as she could.
"Odin... Dva... Tri..." My sister rechant the phrase.
"Odin... Dva... NOOO!" Alisa snaped. She pulled her God Arc trigger and slumped on the floor.
I smirked in satisfaction. Her shot missed. Alisa broke free from her trance and pulled her God Arc in the last moment. As result, her Oracle bullet landed well above my head. Finally, a true improvement.
"I did it... I didn't shoot you." Alisa slowly stood up. She quavered a lot, yet a glint of fulfillment flashed in her eyes.
"Technically, you still shot at me, but that's a detail. The important thing is you succeeded and didn't actually shoot me. Take a rest, Alisa, you've earned it."
My sister and Alisa sat on sofa while chatted with each other back in my room. I was preparing a milk tea for Rina, an orange juice for Alisa, and black coffee for myself. I also left a pot full of hot water on the stove.
'Why you're so insistent in breaking her hypnosis?'
'Having no shield is better than a broken shield. It draws you into sense of security only to shatter at its crucial moment.'
'Understandable. So it's either a useful bodyguard or nothing at all.'
I returned with three glasses of drinks on my tray. Alisa immediately went quiet and tensed as I sat in front of her. Obviously, she still afraid of me.
"No need to be so tense Alisa, I'm not mad at you." I crossed my legs and stared at her.
"I know... I don't know why but you make me feel uneasy."
"Get used to it. It's your instinct that recognize me as dangerous being." Slowly I sipped my coffee. "Which I am. I'm not a threat though."
It was bland, way tasteless than my tea yesterday. I used instant coffee bag, which contained exactly enough for a cup. Why did it tasted like I used it to fill a mug instead? No sense in drank a bland beverage so I dumped the rest of my coffee into kitchen sink.
"I'll return to God Arc storage facility. Licca might have a job for me. I left a pot on the stove in case you want another cup."
"Thanks, see you later." Rina waved at me.
The God Arc storage facility was unexpectedly empty. No sign of Licca, only some tools and half-assembled Link Support Device casing. I kept searching around until I found a letter near her empty mug on the table.
[Hey, Fenrir sent me to Valley of the Blue Ice along with 9th squad in two-day extermination mission. In the meantime I have another list of materials, it's under my mug. Thank you.]
Licca also act as field engineer, that surprising. Field engineer was among the most riskiest job. They suffered second highest mortality rate, directly behind God Eater. Unlike them, field engineer had no combat ability and would inevitably killed if they met Aragami. Even so, they had important roles in multi-day operation. Maintaining a communication line, fixing any damaged God Arc, checking God Eaters' armlet and bias level, perhaps even deploying Link Support Device once our project finished.
I could only hope that she would come back in one piece. Fenrir usually assigned a God Eater or two as escort, but it barely enough to kept stray Aragami at bay. I took her material list. Let's see... Chunk of Chi-You tendon, piece of Quadriga front armor, four spikes tip from Cocoon Maiden, and a Vajra volt generator. Okay, a Chi-You then.
Nothing but moss and Ogretails. I stood on top of ruined tower south of Wailing Plains. Dr. Sakaki told me two Chi-Yous detected around this area, yet only ruins, moss, Ogretails, Zygotes, and Cocoon Maidens in sight. I'd gathered its spikes of course, but that merely a bonus, not my primary target. Occasionally, dusty wind carried trace of Aragami blood brushed me. It was either Aragami fought each other or God Eater in mission, which I hoped not. I rather avoid unnecessary contact with other God Eater.
My search halted by a blue dot on the distance. It was my target, that blue bird scoured an empty ruins about two kilometers away from my position. I readied my spike. From my experience, my spike had a long reach, but two kilometers? Not so sure. Still, nothing wrong with tested it.
It bounced! My spike couldn't pierce that bird. It merely rubbed its head in annoyance. It was clear that my spikes inferior compared to sniper God Arc at this range. At least mine had more kick at close range. I landed below the tower and chased it immediately. That bird might ran away if I stayed for too long.
I hid behind a wall and crawled toward the noise. It still there. The bird scanned around its surrounding, searching for the owner of these spike. I created few more and threw it at Chi-You's head.
"Oy over here you bird brain!"
The Chi-You turn its head right when one of my spike about to hit. It recoiled few steps back with a loud crack. Trail of red liquid dripped from gash on its forehead. That bird brain literally thick-skulled. A direct hit from my spike merely cracked it a bit. The Chi-You angrily screeched at me. Pair of gauntlets formed on my arm, I was ready to took it charge head on. It soared into the air before... turned its back and flew away?
'Stop dozing off and chase that Aragami.'
'Right.' Rei voice woke me from my daze.
I made a beeline at its trail. That Chi-You flew stupidly high, my spikes could barely reach it. It dodged another wave of my spikes. Damn, it quite nimble for such oversized bird. I need either larger, faster, or for more spike to hit it. Faster? Impossible. More spike? Took too long. Larger? Perhaps. I switched to my other form. I stopped chasing it and began concentrating. Two giant spear like ice grew on each of my hands.
'You got used to this, good. Go ahead, throw it.'
'Of course.' I smirked at the bird and resumed my sprint.
Two giant ice spears flew at Chi-You. First spear grazed its leg, creating a vertical wound across its left leg. Second spear, however, went right at its right wing and split it in half. It plummeted down to the center of Tornado Valley, the Wailing Plains.
'It feels like I'm chasing a bird instead of Aragami. Why that Aragami run away?'
'A good comparison. In my prime, I used that kind of Aragami as both sustenance and target practice. That Aragami knew it couldn't beat you, thus, it flee. Human call it self-preservation.'
'In your prime?'
'I'll answer it later. Talking in battle is a crime.'
The Chi-You earlier had back on its feet. It bared its teeth and snarled at me. I replied its snarl with a pair of ice spears. All I heard was one last guttural screech and a thud. My first spear had struck deep into its neck, almost beheading it.
Now only Quadriga and Vajra left on the list. Licca hadn't return yet, should I take a break? Or perhaps continuing her work on Link Support Device? A loud screech came from behind me. When I turned my back I was greeted with incoming Chi-You. Instinctively I grabbed its head and shove it down to the ground. This must be my lucky day, my second prey came to me by its own accord. Wait, this Aragami riddled with scars and bullet holes, that means...
"Don't!"
Rina's shout alarmed me. Instantly I turned my head toward her. All I got was a metal can that blew on my face.
Stun grenade?! That explosion robbed both my sight and hearing. I braced myself for incoming God Arc. Blinded and deafened was the worst thing that could happen in battlefield. Thankfully I was in my Aragami form, my armor plate would protect me until my senses returned.
The ringing in my head and the bright light that blinded me lessened. The first thing I saw was my sister, she was scolding Alisa. So Alisa was the one that threw stun grenade at my face. She thinks that I was normal Aragami, predictable. Oh yeah, I should extract the second bird's Core. I drove my clawed hand down to its chest. However, instead of Aragami flesh my hand stuck in the ground. What? That damn bird flew when I was stunned.
"That's not nice Alisa, you make me lose my prey."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you." Alisa avoided my gaze. She clutched her left arm and stared at ground beneath her.
I sighed. Rather than a sigh, it sounded like a growl. Alisa yelped and began to tremble.
"Hey, you're scaring her." My sister yelled at me.
"My bad, totally not my intention." I created my blade and began stripping down the first Chi-You. "What're you doing out here? Don't tell me you're teaching Alisa?"
"Yes, what about you?"
"I'm helping Licca with her project. Didn't we agreed that we should break her hypnosis first?"
"Yes, and she did. She didn't shoot you last time."
"Not enough, she still shot at me. We'll train her again after I'm done with Licca's request. Anyway, here, take this." I gave her all materials I gathered from stripping down Chi-You.
"What's the point in killing it if you give me all your materials?" My sister raised her eyebrow.
"Not all, this is what I need." I showed her Chi-You Core and chunk of its tendon. I pressed my headset and connect it to Dr. Sakaki. "Yo doc, I've finished my job. Send the chopper to the Wailing Plains."
"Woow, you have a private helicopter?" My sister spoke in awe.
"It's Dr. Sakaki's. I merely borrow it." I shrugged.
A helicopter approached us. It had black paint and no mark, Dr. Sakaki's private helicopter. I focused my senses, no more large or medium Aragami around us. Surely Rina was strong enough to took care the small fry around here.
"There, my transport is coming, I'll see you both back at the Den."
Back in the Den I Dropped Chi-You's tendon and Cocoon Maiden's spikes at specialized storage box in God Arc storage facility. I returned to my room and took a shower before lay down on my bed.
'Rei? Tell me about your previous life.'
'Why so sudden?'
'We lived together for about three weeks, yet I still don't know much about you. Have you met another sentient Aragami before? What kind of Aragami are you? How did you end up inside of me?'
'No, I haven't. I don't want to answer the rest. You'll know it when the time come.'
'That answer again? No hint or anything?'
'No.'
'You're a real jerk you know that?'
'Yes I know.'
'If I ask you nicely would you answer it?'
Unexpectedly, Rei sighed. 'What a persistent host. This is the last time I ever answer your questions in advance, got it?'
'Okay.' My persistence had finally given me a bit of progress.
'Someone placed a shard of my original core into your body nine years ago. That's how I ended up with you. I've told you about this when the first time we met.'
'You did? Who is it? Why?'
'Like I know. I was barely conscious at that time.'
'Why you never said anything in that entire nine years?'
'I couldn't. I didn't have enough strength to do so. Only after they inject you with that substances I received enough energy to manifest.'
'Substances?'
'Yeah, I don't know what it's called. Modified liquid Oracle that human use to create God Eater.'
'P53 Bias Factor. That means... My infection was planned?'
'Most likely. As for me, I'm a Singularity in human term. The first Singularity to be precise.'
'Singularity? What kind of Aragami is that?'
'You'll know it soon.'
'Very well, not a satisfying answer, but better than nothing.'
Another mystery added to my list. Nine years ago... That was when Fenrir took me and my sister from Lindow and tested our compatibility rate before sent us to Magnolia Compass. It could be anyone from Fenrir to Magnolia staff. What about Singularity? I never heard it before. Stronger Aragami variant? Sort of pack leader or something?
I couldn't help but to think that something big was about to happen. Lindow's assassination, Alisa's hypnosis, my infection, everything was schemed. I wouldn't stop until I found the truth, it's a promise.