**NOTE**

Hey, I know it's been a while since I posted. I was debating whether or not to continue this story due to lack of interest. I hate the idea of leaving a work unfinished, but I may take a break and focus on other ones. Let me know what you guys think.

Happy Holidays!

. . .

City of Mercy – Old Office Building

Night fell over the Far East, cloaking the landscape in darkness. The full moon's light reflected off the dilapidated buildings, casting an eerie shadow over the ground below. Not a sound could be heard but the wind through the abandoned landscape; all heavy threats had been eradicated earlier by two members of the 1st Unit. The same unit who now sat patiently on the second floor of the office building, watching other soldiers slowly file into the room.

Quiet chatter gave life to the area, different God Eaters casually greeting one another. The rendezvous point was growing crowded, nearly at capacity when the final members arrived. Gunter was among the last to appear alongside of Gina and Kanon. Though unlike the other two, he remained quiet. Near the front of the room, Ichiro observed the newcomers, eagle eyes drifting carefully over each and every one. They lingered on the blonde-headed soldier for a moment before shifting to the man beside him. Soma gave a nod, affirming his headcount after running through the numbers himself.

It seemed that all the members had finally arrived; soldiers from multiple units all gathered together for a single purpose. Every member of the 1st Unit, sans Neo, was present. The 2nd Unit was slightly smaller, comprising of Kanon, Karel, Brendan, Annette, and Gunter. The 3rd was without question the smallest with a single member: Gina. Though it was far less than they would have liked, it couldn't be helped. Her unit contained the majority of Neo's opposers.

With everyone in attendance, the two veterans exchanged a silent agreement. They were ready. Hamasaki slipped a silent hand into his pocket, speaking quietly to the soldier beside him. "Scout the perimeter. Make sure no one's hanging around that shouldn't be." Soma nodded his head, taking one last look around the conference room before disappearing through the doorway. Ichiro watched him go, before discreetly activating his radio. "How are we looking, Hibari?"

The operator's hushed voice responded. "All units have been deployed, and all transportation is grounded. You're good to go."

"Thank you. I really appreciate this. You'll hear from us soon."

"No problem, Ichiro. We'll be on standby."

With that, his radio fell silent. His hazel eyes drifted across the room, landing on the 1st Unit's former captain. After receiving a nod of approval, he pressed the button. The device in his pocket activated, startling every occupant in the room. All radios buzzed with static and cellular phones glitched out, flashing abruptly before losing connection and powering down. Kota was particularly surprised, having been in the middle of checking an application.

"Wh-What?! What the heck happened?" he exclaimed, shaking his phone in a vain attempt to restore its power.

"Don't bother, Kota," Lindow interrupted his troubleshooting. He gave an amused chuckle at the younger soldier's dismayed expression before gesturing his head toward the doorway where their second ex-captain was holding a small black box for all to see.

"Disruption device from North America. All technology in this room been disabled. Batteries drained, radios jammed, and your tracking beacons are scrambled." A wave of confused chatter rose from the conference table, ranging from panic to confusion. Raising his hand, the veteran silenced them and continued. "From this moment onward, we are all standing in a dead zone. Aside from a selected few, no one knows where we are, and no one can contact you… and vice versa."

"Doesn't that seem a bit excessive?" Karel demanded, clearly unamused with the turn of events.

Annette seconded his assertion with a concerned frown. "Yeah… what if something happens? What if we are under attack —"

"That won't happen." Soma's voice cut through the commotion, drawing everyone's eyes to the navy-blue hoodie reentering the room. "Hamasaki and I cleared the area hours ago. And I will sense if anything changes." His reassurance was met with nervous glances, but no argument. All but a few members of the room knew of his capability. They were safe with him. At the very least, they wouldn't be caught by surprise. Seeing their agreement, he turned to his teammate with a curt nod. "We're all clear."

"Thank you."

With Soma's arrival, Brendan finally opened his mouth. The first to speak up. "Okay, I'll bite. What's this all about?"

"I second that. And what's with all the cloak and dagger?" Karel asked.

Fair questions, and two that Ichiro had answers to. "The nature of this evening's discussion — the reason why we have called you all out here — is the 1st Unit's New Type. And her status here in the Far East branch."

"New Type…?" Kanon blinked in confusion, shifting her eyes toward the unit in question where two of them were currently sitting. Only one was noticeably absent. "Are you talking about Neo?"

"The very same." Soma leaned back against the wall.

"I'm sorry, but I really don't understand…"

"Listen carefully… I am only going to say this once. Nothing said here tonight is to leave this room. If you are uncomfortable with such secrecy, we understand, and the less you know, the better. Those who fall in that category are free to leave. We won't stop you." He paused for a moment to look over the room, searching for any signs of movement. He saw only nervous shifting and curious gazes.

Seeing no resistance, Ichiro exchanged a look with Soma. "For those who stay and choose to break this contract… will face the consequences."

Their conversation stilled. Different God Eaters of different units looked around at one another, each curious to see what others would do. They were not trapped in that office building. He was giving them an out. However, much like their attendance, it was a conditional one. Though they hadn't said so directly, the implication was evident; their secret meeting there tonight was to remain as such, regardless of whether they chose to stay for the actual debriefing. The message was clear: they divulged any information at their own risk.

What that risk was however… was unknown.

Curious, one of the God Eaters decided to test the waters, dipping a foot into the shallows. Karel lifted an arm, getting the veteran's attention. His tone was not one of defiance, but one of genuine intrigue. "…And what consequences might that be?" Other members nodded their heads and murmured in collective agreement. Each waited eagerly to hear what exactly he was planning to do should they ignore their request.

But his response was silence. Ichiro didn't say a word; he only stood frozen, fixing him with a hardened stare. He didn't have to speak. The look in his eyes was answer enough; his gentle hazel irises had faded, suddenly devoid of all light. To anyone unfamiliar with him or his history would have received nothing from that exchange.

But every member in that room had either witness or heard of his talents, both as a God Eater and general combat specialist. They had also heard the stories of his defensive nature regarding their resident New Type. Which included physical intervention, defying orders, and even the threatening of Major Amamiya. Along with his origin from a branch quickly growing known for their questionable training and tactics, it was painfully clear to everyone just how far he was willing to go for her protection. In a way, his stillness was far more chilling than anything he could have said.

The hushed silence that fell over the room told him he had made his point. Even still, no one so far had chosen to leave. What that meant depended on every individual. But their reasons didn't matter to him. They had made their choice. Kanon spoke out, deciding to drive the conversation forward. "O-Okay. We won't say anything. So, what's going on? You said this was about Neo… what's wrong? Did something happen?"

Ichiro shook his head. "At the moment, no. Nothing is wrong, and nothing has happened… and the purpose of this meeting is to ensure that it stays that way."

"What do you mean?"

With a deep breath, he steeled his resolve. This was it. There was no turning back. "I am sure you all well aware at this point that Neo, Alisa, and I have been absent over the past few weeks." A series of nodding heads confirmed his suspicion.

"You guys were on mission, last I heard." Gina asked with a casual shrug. "Helping out with the Remnant Facility, right?"

"Wrong." Her evident confusion pushed him to elaborate. "The three of us were residing in Russia. The mission was a cover story to prevent people from asking too many questions."

Gina's single visible eye blinked, looking as though she had been slapped in the face. She paused a moment to assess his reaction, waiting for the punchline. When none came, her eyebrow disappeared, vanishing beneath her bangs. An uncharacteristic nervous chuckle escaped her. "Hehe… Okay, Romeo, you're starting to freak me out. Seriously. What is going on?"

Alisa spoke up, answering her question. "Russia is the leading branch in psychiatric study and research. We were there to receive treatment."

The gunner's concerned expression grew sympathetic. "Oh, bummer. You seemed to be doing a lot better lately… you okay?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I don't need as much help these days… anyway, it wasn't for me."

"Oh, for Neo." Kanon quickly caught on.

Karel shrugged. "No surprise. Woman's got a few screws loose, not exactly secret."

Soma was unamused. "Which is exactly why we sent her. But her presence there was. We couldn't risk her location getting out to the wrong people. People who would do her harm."

Kanon gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "What?! Harm?! Why? Is Neo in trouble?"

"No. But she will be if we aren't careful."

"Who would want to hurt Neo?"

"A lot of people. Far more than any of you realize," Ichiro responded.

"But why though?" Brendan asked.

"Right." Karel seconded. "She's gotta be our strongest soldier, there's no reason to… put her in a mental ward, if she's that unstable."

"I wish those people shared your sentiment. And if they did, we wouldn't be in this mess."

"Just who are these 'people' you keep talking about?" Gina leaned forward in her chair, leveling her eye with the ex-captain. Her voice lowered into a fierce rumble. "Who is after you? Do you need me to shoot someone?"

Hamasaki couldn't stop the chortle that escaped him. This was exactly why they were right to trust her. There was a time when her open disregard for propriety were cause for concern. Now, he was grateful for it. "A temping offer, but I wouldn't recommend it. Unless you want to face exile, imprisonment… or worse."

"Why not? I've got a relatively clean record. A couple weeks in the hole, no big deal as long as I make it look like an accident."

Beside her, Kanon gulped. "Gina, you really scare me sometimes…"

Ichiro nodded in agreement. "You're right, it wouldn't be, were it a simple matter of accidental assault. Unfortunately, in this case… doing so would equate to high treason. Both for murder and assisting a pair of fugitives."

There was a moment of pause following his assertion. Every person in the room fell silent, looking back and forth at one another. No one was sure they had heard him properly. Surely, they couldn't have. The gears were turning, picking apart his statement. When realization finally dawned on them…

"What?!" A chorus of startled shouts was his answer; precisely the one he'd expected. A particularly loud protest echoed from a younger member of the 1st Unit.

"You're — wait, wha?!"

"Kota, you already knew this." Soma scowled.

"No, I didn't! I knew you were secretive, but I didn't think anything of it. You guys are S.O., I just figured you were undercover or something. I didn't know you were fugitives!"

"Wait, S.O.?"

Kanon's question went ignored. "Dude, what the heck did you do?!"

"I would also like to know this," Gina seconded, although her tone was far more amused than surprised. Unlike the other soldiers around the table, she almost seemed to be enjoying herself. Once again, Ichiro found himself feeling relieved that they had chosen to bring her along.

"The answer to that question is… complicated. Technically, we are missing in action, as far as the branch is concerned. At this point, they are well aware that we are alive, although they probably aren't sure exactly where. We have Sakaki to thank for that." He paused for a moment, trying to think of the best way to phrase it. "But, if you want to get technical, I would be getting charged with kidnapping. Or grand theft. Depending on how you view the subject."

"And Neo?"

"Neo's only crime is her existence."

"…Okay, I'm lost." Annette finally spoke up, a look of utter befuddlement on her face. It was strange enough that she had found herself in the center of what was quickly turning out to be a top-secret underground operation. Now, she was finding out that not one, but two of her mentors were wanted criminals. One of them a kidnapper no less! "Are you telling me you kidnapped someone?! Wait…" Her eyes grew wide. "Was it Neo? Ichiro, did you kidnap Neo?!"

"O-Of course, not! Ichiro would never do something like that!" Kanon exclaimed. It was well-known fact that the 1st Unit's ex-corporal was enamored with her. Although, he had also proven overprotective. "…Right?"

"Who, Romeo? He's a teddy bear. The only crime he's capable of pining too much."

Ichiro rolled his eyes at Gina's jab, choosing once again, not to take the bait. At his side, Soma let out a bark of laughter. The mere implication that his older teammate was harmless was probably the funniest thing he'd heard all day. If he were being honest, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that he was the more dangerous of the pair, at least when their New Type was involved. Hamasaki ignored him, instead focusing his attention on the muttering gunner.

"To answer that, we need to go back to the beginning." He slowly looked over the conference table. "Tell me, what do you all know about the Managarm Project?"

Kota lifted his hand. "It was the dawn of Fenrir, right? The project created the God Eaters."

Sakuya shook her head. "The God Eaters were the result of the Managarm Project… It was the base for our creation."

"Right, the only successful Aragami hybrid." Kanon confirmed. Her eyes drifted slightly to Soma, quickly looking away when he met her gaze.

"You're right. About the first part."

Soma took over, taking a careful look over everyone in the room. "That was the story Fenrir told. Yes, I was the first God Eater. And it's true I'm half Aragami. What they didn't tell you was that the Managarm Project didn't end with me."

She blinked. "Uh, I'm sorry, what?"

"Brendan." Ichiro turned his attention to the Buster Blade user. "You're from North America."

"That's right."

"Which means you are familiar with the stories."

"Most of them, yeah."

"Well, sorry to tell you… but they were right."

"…Come again?" Brendan blinked. That was not the answer he'd been expecting. First, he told them that he was a wanted criminal in his originating branch. Now, he was saying that the campfire stories of those rang true? "You're talking about what, the experimentation? Special Units? Hit squads? The escaped Aragami —"

"All of it." Brendan's mouth snapped shut at Ichiro's response, eyes growing wider than the moon hovering up above. "I know it probably sounds ridiculous to you. But rumors are often born in truth… This is no different."

"And… what does that mean?"

"After the project was ended, three members of the original seven fled to the west."

Brendan looked like he was about to fall out of his chair. "Fled to the west? And did what, conduct illegal experimentation?"

"Yes and no. The experimentation was done on willing participants originally… the illegal research didn't begin until much later."

"The experiment was attempted 13 times in an attempt to recreate the project's success. A better version of it." Soma took a breath, steeling himself. "Neo is the result of that project. She is the only other survivor."

"Holy shit." Brendan couldn't stop himself. A myriad of emotions were washing over him, leaving him unable to muster anything else. Shock. Confusion. Fear. "You're… so, America's most famous urban legend… The escaped Aragami, it's —"

"Sheisn't an Aragami. She is only half." Ichiro answered. "But the rest of the information is true. Neo is the second human-Aragami hybrid. Born as Specimen 13."

"Specimen 13?" Kanon blinked.

"Yes… But you all know her by her acronym. The Next-Generation Enhanced Operative, or Neo."

"Enhanced… operative?" Brendan tried to wrap his head around the new information, linking what he had learned to the stories he had heard growing up in his youth. The underground laboratories. The desperate scientists, searching frantically for their missing patient. The little girl with the heterochromatic eyes: one like chocolate, the other like the moon. Pieces started coming together, light bulbs going off with each new connection. "So, when they made Neo, they were trying to create super soldiers?"

"Yes. Special Operations is a secret division, one that only exists in stories on the North American continent. And there is a very good reason for that. S.O was designed to be the first Oracle cell enhanced combat force. An assault squad of genetically enhanced superhumans." As Brendan's eyes nearly popped out his head, Ichiro clarified. "Don't get too excited. Neo and I comprise the entire division. The experimentation ended after her birth."

"I… see."

"So, Neo is half Aragami?" Annette asked. The mental image of her snarling face was still fresh in her mind. Her unnatural speed. Her outlandish strength. "That… makes a lot of sense, actually."

"An Aragami hybrid…" Kanon muttered. "That's insane."

"Who cares?" Gina gestured her head toward the 1st Unit members, listening silently to their exchanges. "Lindow's part-Aragami now, and he isn't causing any problems. Just leaving feathers everywhere. Part of his charm."

"Heh… thanks, Gina. Means a lot." Lindow smirked, earning a wink in response. Sakuya snickered at their banter, plucking a jet black plume.

"Anytime. Besides, Soma was the first one and Fenrir didn't give a shit. So, what exactly is their problem with her?"

"The problem is that Neo was treated differently. Very differently," Soma answered. "Neo and I are similar, but we are not the same. Our Oracle cells are different in a way that, quite frankly, we don't fully understand. What matters is that hers are far stronger than mine."

"Wait, so…" Gunter finally spoke up, startling everyone in the room with his croaky rasp. "Is that where her powers come from? Her Oracle cells?"

"I'm sorry, powers?" Annette asked.

Gunter's eyes grew wide, suddenly realizing his mistake. His eyes shot nervously to Ichiro who merely shrugged. There was no sense in keeping secrets anymore. They were far passed the point of no return.

Brendan gasped, realization slapping him like a ton of bricks. "The Araga — er, Neo — is said to have inhuman capabilities. Regeneration, shapeshifting, superhuman strength…"

"Well, we know the last one's true," Karel quipped. He had borne witness to Neo's physical capabilities firsthand. It had confused and startled the living hell out of him when he first saw it. But ultimately, it didn't matter. It was useful and had made him a ton of money over the past few months. So long as she didn't turn it on him, he didn't really care.

"So… we're just going to ignore the other two?" Annette questioned.

"There is some truth to it." Ichiro nodded. "She can regenerate, that much is accurate. It is also true that her body can… mutate. To some degree. Hardly what I would call 'shapeshifting.'"

"Dude, the woman's got superpowers? Just when I thought she couldn't get any cooler." Gina laughed, earning yet another concerned stare from Kanon.

"Sure, if you want to call them that, but…" Alisa began.

"You all are missing the point," Soma snapped, bringing an end to their jovial discussion. "Gawk about her on your own time. The important part is that unlike me, Neo was trained as a weapon. She was locked in a cage, tortured, and treated like a lab rat." The room fell silent. "And that is the reason why she's so messed up."

Utsugi finally spoke up, his first words of the night. "…Lab rat?"

"Hamasaki told you there was illegal experimentation."

"You're saying they experimented on her?"

"Yes, Utsugi. Neo is a monster of their own creation. She didn't start out like this. They made her this way." 'And you were trying to send her back.'

His bitter final words went unsaid, but the captain heard them as clear as if they'd been shouted them across the room. If Soma's words were true, then Neo's instability — and Ichiro's protection —was understandable. It would be far more concerning if she wasn't. But he had assumed her trauma to be comparable to his own, no different than one would expect living outside the Wall. But experimentation? Torture? Just what kind of treatment had she received all those years trapped underground on the North American continent? He couldn't even imagine. Silently, Lenka lowered his eyes to the floor.

"What…" Kota started. His voice wavered uncertainly, looking to Alisa for support. When she nodded, he paused and swallowed, voicing the question the rest of them dared not ask. "…did they do to her?"

Soma felt the shift immediately. From beside him, he could see Ichiro's body tense, his expression growing dark. The yellow tint slowly bleeding into his eyes told him he should be the one to answer those questions. "How many of you have asked Neo how she was trained?" Nearly every member lifted their hands. "And how many of you have heard her say 'torture' in response?" The hands never fell. "Well, she wasn't joking."

Shifting his gaze, he glowered in Lenka's direction; the younger man shrunk in response. "The woman's been through hell. They conducted all kinds of experiments on her, both her body and mind. They sliced her skin with scalpels to see how quickly the wounds would heal. They mutilated parts of her body to see which ones would repair. They locked her in an underground cell. They electrocuted her, stabbed her, tore out her larynx —"

"Stop!" Kanon squeaked. Her eyes squeezed shut, her hands flying to her ears to will the thoughts away. "Please, stop, I… I don't want to hear anymore, it's… it's awful…"

The veteran sneered and let out a bitter chuckle. "Yeah? Well, Neo had to live it. Every. Single. Day. Which is why it is so important that we keep her safe," he growled. Shifting his gaze, he turned his piercing glare back on Utsugi who stared pointedly at the floor. "Because if these people find her, they will do the same again or worse. Assuming they don't kill her on the spot."

"Why… Why would anyone…" Kanon was nearly in tears. As the most empathetic of the group, she couldn't even begin to imagine what Neo had been through, but she felt her pain. Just the thought of it was agonizing. That she had lived so long was nothing short of a miracle. Beside her, Gina's eye looked similarly clouded, not with sadness, but with rage. She looked ready for target practice; and not Aragami.

"So, it goes without saying," Soma continued. "That kind of shit messes with your head. A lot."

"It's no wonder the woman's got issues." Karel scoffed, his irritation attempting to mask genuine concern. His efforts were in vain. No amount of sarcasm could hide the look of abject horror in his expression.

"Yes. Yes, she does." Ichiro finally recovered, returning to the conversation with a strained voice. "And that brings us back to the purpose of today's gathering. We've gotten a start on her treatment… but in order for Neo to recover, she needs a controlled environment where she can safely heal. She needs a support system of trusted allies and friends. A space where she can exist freely and openly. All this while avoiding her triggers."

"To do that we need your help," Soma continued. "We need you to help spread the information to the other members of your units as discretely as possible. To enact these policies without drawing attention. Not of other soldiers, and especially not the higher ups. We don't know how deep this goes or who we can trust."

"And how are we supposed to do that?" Karel asked.

"However you have to. Just make sure they do it."

The room fell silent. Soma and Ichiro said nothing further. They allowed the other members to breathe; to take in and absorb all the information they had been given. All that they were asking them to do. To shield and protect Neo… and most importantly, to accept her. Without distrust. Without fear. Someone who could tear them in half with little effort. It was a frightening prospect to be sure… for most.

Gina was the first to speak out, completely undeterred. Neo had never given her a reason to be afraid of her. She wasn't going to start now. "Okay, Romeo. We're in. What do we need to do?"

Soma looked to his teammate who sighed. "First off, remain calm. I know she can be a bit… concerning at times, but please, act natural. This is important. Neo is highly perceptive; she will notice immediately if there is a change in interaction. She needs to feel normal and safe, not rejected and feared. Second, we need to avoid setting her off at all costs… if we don't, we run the risk of a backslide. In the best case, it will make her recovery take even longer. In the worst case…"

"Somebody dies," Soma finished, looking directly at Gunter.

"Got it. Treat Neo normally, don't trigger her, and don't piss her off." Gina ignored the annoyed looks of her teammate. "What sort of stuff do we need to avoid?"

"There are three main triggers that we need to avoid." Taking out his cellphone, he held it high in the air. This is the first." Beside him, Soma busied himself with his supply bag. "I'm sure some of you have noticed, but all of the 1st Unit members are required to keep these on silent at all times. Or at the most, on vibrate."

Gina and Brendan nodded. Having taken on multiple missions with the two top God Eaters, they were well aware of this fact, though the reason eluded them. Kanon and Karel looked at one another in confusion. Annette was indifferent. She hadn't noticed it as a particular detail; she assumed it to be a personal choice. Thinking back, she recalled a vague memory of the Infernal Subway. Federico's phone, Neo's swipe.

"Sure thing. Any particular reason?"

Having found what he was looking for, Soma pulled a pair of objects from his bag.

Beep, beep.

The familiar sound rang through the room, drawing everyone's attention to the device. It was shrill and a bit sharper in tone… but hauntingly similar to Fenrir's cellphone alerts. A slight change in pitch was the only difference. But the sound wasn't their focus. It was on the round strap Soma was carrying.

Kanon's eyes grew wide, and her voice wavered. "Soma… what is that…?"

His answer was to press the button, hitting the second one down on the remote. Holding his fingers carefully away from the prongs, he activated the collar. A loud pop echoed through the empty room, a bright light bouncing across the diodes. Everyone jumped, expressions indecipherable. Soma's words then confirmed her suspicions. "This is a shock collar. The same kind they kept locked around Neo's neck."

Ichiro nodded. "I shouldn't need to tell you why she doesn't like it. Either way, the sound is a trigger. It will set her off and put her on the defensive. Every member of the Den must follow this protocol. For her sake and your own, turn them off. Set them on vibrate. Hell, you can even jailbreak it and change the ringtone if you're so inclined. So long as it doesn't make that sound."

Gina reached for her phone instinctively, only to slowly lower her hand when she remembered it wasn't functional. She would make a note to do so immediately upon their return.

Beside her Kanon nodded. "Understood. That's easy enough. We can convince Tatsumi to enforce the rule, right Brendan?"

"Certainly."

"And I can make sure the 3rd Unit does what they need to do. She doesn't take a lot of missions with us though…"

"Either way, your efforts are appreciated." Ichiro nodded gratefully in her direction, returning her subtle smile. As Soma put away his props, he addressed the room again. "Rule number two. I cannot stress this one enough. No white coats."

"What, like jackets?" Annette questioned.

"Of any kind."

"Inside of the Den or…?"

"Not ever. Anytime, or anywhere. There is no way to be certain of where Neo will be. Sooner or later, people are bound to un into her."

"We mean it. Don't do it." Soma's expression hardened. "Scientists and researchers are the demons of Neo's nightmares. She detests them and anyone who resembles them. Back home, her only method of survival was to get them before they could get her."

Ichiro seconded, emphasizing the gravity of his words. "The sight of one will send her into a rage. She will attack anyone wearing one on sight. So, unless you want to end up bleeding out on the floor, I suggest you keep away from them."

Annette gulped. "Got it."

Gunter lifted his hand to get their attention. Taking his Ichiro's nod as permission, he began to speak. "So, these triggers of hers make her violent?"

"They can make her violent. Sometimes, she'll take flight. There are many different factors at play."

"So… you're saying I must've triggered her somehow? Is that why she…?"

"Most likely, yes."

"But what did I do?"

"I…" Ichiro fell silent. He wasn't sure what to tell him; he didn't know what had happened between them any more than he did. Curiously, he looked to Soma, who seemed more confident in an answer. Noticing his gaze, he answered.

"It's not what you did. It's about something you said… or what your friend said."

"Who Otto?" Gunter asked, earning a solemn nod. "What about it? He talks shit all the time. The guy's an asshole, it's what he does. You're saying even certain words can set her off?"

Hold her down

Soma shook his head, ridding himself of the thoughts. "Yes, but not on their own. That's not the issue here." Gunter gave him a look of hopeless confusion. It was clear the man had no clue what he had done wrong. He couldn't blame him. Almost felt sorry for the guy. Almost. "You shouldn't bring up children around Neo. If you do, you run the risk of that kind of reaction."

Gunter gaped at him, trying to figure out what he was referring to. His lips pulled into a thin line, eyes narrowing as his mind rewound. Every word of their conversation came flooding back to him, replaying in his mind like a recording. "Wait… are you talking about the Reaper thing?"

"Reaper, thing?" Gina questioned.

"Yeah. He was being a dick about Neo and me, talking about creepy Reaper babies, and marriage and — being a real asshole."

Gina barked with laughter. "Yeah, that sounds like him."

"And that's exactly the problem," Soma snapped. "Don't say that sort of shit around Neo. Not unless you wanna die."

"Wha… why?" Kanon asked. She could vaguely remember discussing their future children with her and Alisa at some point. To her knowledge, she hadn't grown violent then. Although, her mood had soured…

Ichiro's eyes grew dark. "That brings us to the third and final rule listen carefully, because this is the most important." Every member of the room grew silent. One could hear a pin drop in the tense silence. Seeing that he had their attention, he bestowed upon them his warning. "You must never. Ever. Under any circumstances, break the Rule of Three."

Annette slowly nodded her head. Beside her Karel agreed. "Easy enough…"

"Right! No problem!" Kota answered too quickly. Within moments, he gave a sheepish chuckle and asked. "Uh… What exactly is the Rule of Three?"

"No three men can ever restrain Neo at the same time." Ichiro held up his hand to silence them, stopping the group members as they opened their mouths. "She's strong. I understand that… and there may be times when restraint is necessary, especially if she's triggered. Trust me. Don't do it. If you have to, run. Most of the time she'll flee to safety, so just get out of her way."

Soma scowled. "This is the worst trigger of all. Neo will go ballistic. She will attack every person without remorse." He turned his eyes to each male sitting around the table. "This is not up for debate. She will kill you. Make no mistake."

"He's right." Utsugi added, gesturing toward her guardian. "She attacked him too. Didn't even hesitate."

"What about women?" Sakuya asked, earning a confused stare from the two men. "You said no three men could restrain her… what if one of them was a woman? Or all of them?"

"I…" Ichiro fell silent, exchanging a thoughtful look with Soma. He shrugged, indicating he knew no more about the situation than he did. "I… can't say. It's never happened before, so I don't know. Neo's physical strength far exceeds that of any human man, let alone a woman, so no one has ever tried. The best answer I can give you is a maybe."

"But that doesn't make any sense." Gunter shook his head, clearly dissatisfied with their answer. "No one was restraining anybody; we didn't even know she was coming down the hall. That doesn't explain what set her off."

The looks both men gave could kill. But it wasn't directed toward him. It was angled at something, someone, none of them could see. The two exchanged a look before finally resigning themselves. Soma nodded. With a tired sigh, Ichiro closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "In creating Neo, the North American researchers made a force of nature they couldn't control. Her strength was problematic even in her youth, and it only grew worse with age… hence the shock collar… but it wasn't enough. Between her strength, her speed, and her combat capability, there was nothing they could do to contain her. It became a vicious cycle of punishment, retaliation, and violence. Until one day, they decided they simply didn't need her anymore. She was more trouble than she was worth."

Soma continued as Ichiro's paused, taking note of the glowing yellow hue within his eyes. "But they still wanted her Bias Factor, it's power and what it could do. Putting it simply, they needed another Neo."

Kanon gasped. "You're not… they didn't do the experiment again…?"

"No. They wouldn't be able to even if they wanted to. The circumstances surrounding her birth are a mystery, it could take dozens, maybe even hundreds of attempts before they saw another success. Even then, the result might not be the same. So, they took a more direct approach."

"…I don't understand. Wouldn't recreating the circumstances surrounding her creation be —"

Lifting his gaze, Ichiro turned to her, eyes blazing gold. "Neo's power lies in her biology. Her unique Bias Factor and DNA. The only way to make another like her with any modicum of success would be to… make her reproduce."

Silence fell across the room. The gears were twisting and grinding in everyone's minds. Both his explanation had word choice had been purposeful, explaining the situation while saying nothing further. To make her reproduce. To make her.

Everyone reached the same together in their minds. They all reached the same conclusion at their own pace. But all of their reactions were virtually the same. Sakuya and Utsugi gazed forward with downturned expressions, one of sympathy the other of guilt. Lindow masked his expression well, though the blankness didn't reach his eyes. Alisa looked upset, placing a hand against Kota's, who somehow looked even worse than she did. Kanon and Annette looked ready to burst into tears. Gina was the opposite, looking ready to combust. Karel and Gunter looked physically ill.

Seeing that the message was clear, Soma focused his attention on the blonde. "Your friend's comment probably set her off… Gave her the wrong impression of your intentions with her."

"But I would never —" He would never put an unwanted finger on Neo, or on anyone for that matter. He would be the first in line to beat down anyone who did.

"It doesn't matter. She doesn't know that." Soma turned his attention to the rest of the room. "That goes for all of you. Remember that Neo doesn't know what's in your mind. Only what she sees, hears, learns, and knows…. and the only thing she knows is abuse. That means she'll respond accordingly. So, avoid these triggers, and make sure everyone else does too. Got it?"

A series of silent nods slowly rippled over the group. No one dared to speak. Ichiro sighed. "Listen, I know we are asking a lot of you, and if we had any other choice, we wouldn't be. But…" his voice trailed off, leaving his intentions hovering in the air. It was a rare display of transparency from the veteran, a display of raw emotion. Of desperation. "Please."

It was true. What he was asking went far beyond spreading information or changing behavior patterns. He was asking them to knowingly protect and assist the two of them, a pair of highly wanted fugitives. If the wrong person found person found out about them, it could be disastrous. Not only for themselves, but for everyone who harbored them. The price of failure was steep, and quite frankly, there was nothing to stop any one of them from rushing to the nearest terminal and dialing the North American branch faster than he could say 'Ogretail'. Whatever pain he brought upon in retaliation wouldn't undo the resulting damage of their cover being blown.

Thankfully…

"Are you kidding…? You guys are the coolest teammates ever, I wouldn't let anything happen to you guys." Gina was the first to confirm her assistance, flashing the first ever smile during the entire exchange. Ichiro took immediate notice of a pair of sharpened teeth that were not present before. It seemed she made true on her promise. To her side, Kanon agreed.

"Right! I mean… even if you weren't, I couldn't hand you over to them. Not knowing what they've done… it's… it's not right." Annette nodded her head, rubbing a comforting hand against her back.

Karel shrugged. "I couldn't care less about her biology, or powers. She's one of the best Fenrir has ever seen and she makes me a ton of money. No way I'm selling you guys out."

Brendan shook his head at his reasoning. It seemed that his motivations never changed. At least, that was what he would have others believe. He knew that their resident capitalist cared about the New Type, regardless of whether or not he'd admit it. "I saw the look on her face seven years ago… I've never seen such fear in a child's eyes before. Neo didn't deserve it… no one does, but especially not you guys. You've helped us out time and time again, even when you didn't have to. It's time I repaid the favor."

The two veterans looked around the room at their smiling faces. Faces of people Neo had met, people she had helped. People who had come to care for her during the branch. Even if they weren't always good ones, her actions had an impact. She had made many enemies during her stay at the branch… but their display made it clear she had made many allies as well. Words could not express their gratitude to them. With the gameplan laid out, the group concluded their meeting, everyone saying their goodbyes as they prepared their separate departures. They couldn't all go filing in at once, of course.

Stopping at his side, Kanon turned her attention to her vice commander. "Wait, Brendan. You mentioned a child… Have you met Neo before?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Back in the North American branch."

"And you never told us?!" she scowled, earning a chuckle in response.

"I didn't think it was important… but it is in an interesting story. I'll tell you about it on the way home."

Soma, Ichiro, and Lindow watched them go, each letting out an exhale of relief. They had done it. All they could do now was continue forward and leave the rest in their hands. Ichiro lifted an eyebrow at Utsugi as he passed, lips pursed. He clearly had something he wanted to say to him.

But he didn't. Instead, he shook his head and followed the other members, walking out of the room.