The Director strikes... but the wolf strikes back.
Chapter 26
Good thing everyone is still panicking about the Ark Project or else me and Soma would be in big trouble. Well... we were kinda punished when the Director sent me and Soma out to take out a Chi-You and a Borg Camlann right as soon as we walked into the Den. The stray Cocoon Maidens weren't giving me trouble and the Chi-You was an easy take down. But I was tired and the Borg Camlann was giving more trouble than usually, it took Soma a lot of effort to keep me on my feet. Let's just say that when we got back to the Den he was pissed.
The next day I bumped into the others. Brendan and Kanon didn't know what they would do. Karel already made his choice and in his own way was encouraging me to board the Ark along with him. At times he seems stuck up, but deep down I know he cares about his pact. But it was Gen who really got to me.
"The people who were running the Den have been called in by the Director. Were you too?... Well, you don't have to answer that. After all, the job of a God Arc wielder, a Gods Eater, in this 'survival of the fittest' world... is a devour and eradicate the strong and the protect the weak. That's what I do and what I believe. Ah, that's enough of an old soldier's prattle. Because the rest is up to you to decide..."
"Thank you, Gen... You make me proud to be apart of this pact." With that he rubbed my head and I left to check on Shio.
She was completely out of it and Saki kept sending me out target 'snacks' to calm her down. Luckily, I'm a hoarder and had most of the things he needed in my storage.
I passed Gina and Tatsumi along the way, they appear to have declined boarding the Ark along with Gen and Hibari. Tatsumi claims that he gets sea sick, but I feel there is more to it behind his words. While Gen and Gina wanted to go down with the ship in a blaze of glory, Gina seemed to find the Director too melodramatic.
****** Later ******
Saki, finally let Shio out of her room sense she has been behaving for the past few days. At the moment she's taking a nap after eating a calming snack while Saki busied himself at his computer.
Suddenly her eyes open and she leaps awake.
"Ah, so you're awake."
"Yes," that voice... it's not Shio, it's too calm.
Hearing this Saki gets up from his computer and approaches her. "Heh heh... was that Shio who spoke? Or... am I talking to a god... who devours all of the stars?"
"I wonder... if stars taste good?" Ah there's Shio.
"Who knows. This world's so putrid, I can't see why anyone would want to take a bite." Soma answered, leaning on his usual spot on the wall.
"I see. But why then? Sometimes suddenly... I want to eat." Shio starts to cry out as the glowing marks return on her. We all get up in alarm.
"Oh! If its food you want, I put it right there okay!" Her marks disappeared as she calmed down.
"Ahh. Doctor. You're a good guy!" Then she went over to the bucket of Aragami parts on the table and ate as we watched with worry.
"Hey, how long is this going to last anyway?" Soma asked Saki.
"Hm. You know, she just started exhibiting human-like traits, but ever since that day she's become completely unstable... Perhaps... perhaps her two souls are in conflict inside of her. One is her human-like soul, and the other..."
"The singularity right?
"Yes, that's right. Since you've been out on special missions, you've already realized haven't you? Her core is known as the Singularity and its essential to the launch of the Devouring Apocalypse. I'm sure you already know this, but I'm not ready to hand her over to him yet. I think I can sense another potential inside of her, and I'd like to test it in my own way."
"Yo Doc. I don't know what either of you have in mind, but it's not as if I joined your side. If you're going to treat us like toys then your no better than him."
"You have nothing to worry about. I... haven't done anything to her. All she needs is for you people to spend time with her, like you've been doing. That's right. And then eventually..." A large boom was heard throughout the Den then the power went off.
"Then what?"
"I don't know," answered Saki. "But no worries. The back up generator from the center should be kicking in soon... Oh!"
"What? What's wrong?
"Doctor!" Dammit, the Director. "I knew you were there!" Then a red light started to flash.
"Oh my God! I'm screwed!"
"What the... what's going on?!" Then the lights went on.
"I'm screwed. I told you, during emergencies the backup electricity is controlled by the center... They'll be stripping this room of all information security."
"You mean... don't tell me it's that bastard, my father!"
"Yes... our cover is blown now." Poor Shio looked innocently around as the chaos fell upon us.
****** Later ******
Damn, she's gone... they took her, they took Shio. I didn't think the Director would stoop so low as to attack the Den with Aragami to get what he wanted. That Sariel and Quadriga gave us a run for our money, and the Director time to run off with Shio.
"Damn, Doc's not here either. What do we do?" Soma began to panic.
"They've taken Shio away haven't they?" Sakuya?!
"You guys!" Alisa too. "I thought you'd cut us off." Soma said.
"Well, we thought you'd be lonely on your own. So we came back." It's good to hear Alisa's sarcasm again.
"The thing is, we were searching for a way to re-infiltrate Aegis, but... Since the perimeter is in full lock down, now that they're about to launch the Ark Project...We seem to have no options."
"I'll bet... there's a path leading to Aegis... beneath the Den." Kota!
"Kota! I thought you were joining the Aegis Project?!" Alisa said surprised. "No... I mean, thank you for coming back." Ah Alisa has grown, no longer judging people by their covers but what lies beneath it.
"Let's go. I think it's this way!"
"Kota," I finally spoke.
"Yeah?" I gave him a smile showing how proud I was of him, I knew he wouldn't let me down.
"I'm glad that you found yourself." He looked at me shocked, probably realizing what I was trying to say to him all those times.
He smiled and gave me a rising fist. "Thanks, I'm glad I found myself too." Confusing everyone else other than each other as we ran in the direction Kota lead us.
****** Fenrir Basement ******
We were in the basement as Kota tried to open the elevator door. "No good, I can't seem to release this key."
"I see you're all here after all." We all turned, shocked to find another person from the Den here... and not on the Ark.
"Tsubaki!" Sakuya said worried she would stop us.
"Don't worry. No one's going to arrest you. As you can see, it's chaotic here because of the Ark Project. Everyone who was pro-Ark left long ago..."
"Then what about you?"
"Yes. The brother's failure... must be rectified by the elder sister. By the way, Kota, how did you know that this was the way to Aegis?"
"I found the door while I snuck in here hoping to get a look at the sight of where they were going to build the underground residential section. It's not really like I had any evidence, but the Doc told us all in class that the resources from the Den plant were being used to build Aegis. So I thought the transportation route must be underground."
"Ha, I heard that you were always falling asleep in class, but apparently that wasn't the case."
"Never judge a book by it's cover ma'am." I commented, earning a small laugh from her.
"Yes... I have the release key. If you want to go Aegis, make sure you're fully prepared first. There's one more thing... I have to say to you... Thank you." We were gifted the rare smile of Tsubaki that few have ever seen.
****** Back at the Den ******
I went to gather everyone after preparing myself for battle. Alisa was first, she was at her sink in her room. She heard me coming in she spoke without turning to me. "I never thought... I'd be coming back to this room." I walked toward her. "I met so many people, and was changed by them. You, Shio, Sakuya, and Lindow..." Then she turned to me. "To overcome my inner weakness... To make up for the mistakes I've made... That's why I'm here!" I reached my handout to her.
"Let's go... Alisa." She toke it and continued to the door.
"Yes... Let's finish this!" She said heading to the Entrance. As we walked out I walked over to Kota's room.
He was sitting on his bed as I approached him. "I really... I really struggled to make-up my mind. But unless I did something... I thought... that I'd become a hero."
"You don't need to be a hero Kota. You just have to be strong for those who can't be." I reached my hand to him. "Come on, let's go protect our families. Yours... and mine." He grabbed it and pulled himself off his bed.
"Come on... let's go rescue Shio!"
With that I headed to the Veterans section to get the others. Sakuya was facing her door as if she was expecting me.
"Thanks to Kota, we can get to Aegis Island. Okay, lets hurry over there and save Shio! If Lindow were here, I know he'd say the same thing."
"Victory will be ours, as long as we stand strong together." Then I reached my hand out to her. "Ready?" She took it to help her get up from leaning on the wall.
"Yes, let's go."
"We're meeting at the Entrance. I'll go get Soma."
Walking over to Soma's room was the hardest, over the last couple of days while the pact split our bond grew stronger. I will admit I am scared, but with Soma by my side I feel I cannot lose.
His room wasn't locked like it usually was. I found him leaning on his fridge with his arms crossed. He looked up at me as I approached him.
"With those guys back. I think it'll help the team somewhat. Of course, that includes you too."
"Thanks for acknowledging me," I say half jokingly at his choice of words.
"No... this is what I mean to say... Please, help us out!" He's come along way from when I first meet him. He's finally opening up to people. Before me now was not the iron wall I've known as Soma. But the person behind the wall... soft and vulnerable. At that moment I knew that depending on my answer Soma might possibly lock himself behind his wall forever. But, I didn't have to worry about that. I already knew my answer, and its only takes one word.
"... Alright."
"Oh, man... thanks... Let's go get Shio back!"
"You've come a long way Soma. I'm so very proud of you." I held out my hand to him just like I did with everyone else. But unlike everyone else if he grabbed my hand he would change into a different person, for better of worse. "Everyone's waiting... if you're ready."
He looked at my hand then looked at me. But as he looked at my hand again he reached for it and took it. As he tightened his grip we both helped pull him up. As he righted himself, letting go of my hand, he passed me from the side, our shoulders making contact.
"Thanks." A new Soma was born today. And together we headed to the Entrance to face the battle that lied ahead of us.
Tsubaki gave us some last words before we headed out.
"Upon going to Fenrir HQ for confirmation, I learned that the Director alone was behind this, I've been given control of this Branch until the new Branch Director arrives... I should have seen behind it all. Had I realized, Lindow would not be... Forgive me... For now, let's do what we need to do. I command you as Acting Director to arrest Johannes von Schicksal! Stop the Ark Project!"
"Yes ma'am!" We all said, Sakuya and Soma who just nodded their head.
"... I'm counting on you God Eaters!" And so we left to face the Director and save Shio.