Far East Branch Headquarters – Sick Bay
By the time the pair had made their way back to Headquarters, his message had already reached them. When Kota came rushing into the Den, the veterans were waiting for him. Both were readily prepared to see their teammates in a state of disarray, but neither were ready for what they actually saw. The scout sergeant looked like he had been put through the wringer, and his teammate looked even worse, bundled in his arms.
Their trip to the medical ward was a swift one. Soma led the charge, tearing through the halls like a man possessed. People dove out of his way as they ran, opening a path for them as they made a beeline for the sick bay. Every doctor and researcher startled, dropping their utensils when they burst through the doors, spinning around to see the source of the commotion.
"Everybody out. Now!" Soma commanded, never breaking stride as he rushed to the nearest empty bed, tossing things out of his way. The researchers didn't need to be told twice. The moment they saw the unconscious woman in Kota's arms, they scattered, maneuvering around them, and rushing toward the door.
The moment she was placed on the bed, Ichiro sprang into action, looking over her unconscious form while Soma rushed to the nearest intercom to contact the director. After getting off the phone, he returned to her bedside, taking note of the other veteran's motions as he combed over every detail. Her skin was damp with sweat and radiating a sweltering heat. Her chest was heaving, each breath a serious effort, and her coats were humming with Oracle-powered energy. It was so great, Soma began to wonder if it was wise for Kota to remain in the room with them, she looked ready to erupt at any moment. Perhaps it would be best to send him somewhere safe… but before that, they needed to know…
"What happened?"
"I-I-I don't know! It was crazy, she just — I don't — it was wild. Dude!"
"Kota," Ichiro halted his rambling with a stern tone. "Just breathe for a moment. You're not helping anyone in a panic. Slow down and explain."
The younger soldier nodded, shakily following his instruction, inhaling deeply before letting it out. "We were out on a scouting mission. It was just supposed to be a Yaksha, nothing too difficult. She's been cooped up for a while, so I figured Neo would wanna get out of the Den. Run around, hunt some Aragami, you know, Neo stuff." Ichiro nodded, urging him to continue. "Well, another one showed up. It was weird, but pretty straightforward. We took it out no problem. Then, Hibari warned us about another incoming threat."
"Another Yaksha?"
"No, it was way bigger this time."
"What was it?"
"Uh… it was a newer species; one of those weird ballistic Vajra things. You know, the one with the cannon."
"Ravana," the veterans corrected.
"Yeah, one of those. Anyway, we took 'em out like rock stars! Everything was normal, for the most part, you know, if you don't count Neo supercharging like a generator… and then she got sick."
"Got sick?" Kota nodded, earning a confused stare.
Soma's eyes narrowed. "Sick? What do you mean, sick?"
"You know, got sick. Blew chunks, hurled, lost her lunch."
His explanation, while unnecessarily descriptive, didn't seem to put either veterans' mind at ease. In fact, they looked even more confused than before, exchanging a look of befuddlement. It was as though the very thought was incomprehensible. Finally, Ichiro confirmed that suspicion with a doubtful expression. "Kota… Neo doesn't get sick."
"Well, she did. She threw up all over the place, then passed out on the spot!" He waved his arms around, further emphasizing his point. After a moment of thought, he pensively continued. "And uh… she spits acid, by the way. Like, literal acid. Is that normal for her or…?"
Ichiro disregarded his question, instead shifting his attention to his other teammate. As expected, Soma shared his expression; he didn't know what to make of the situation either. Soma had never once in his life heard of such a thing occurring over the years of his friendship with Neo. And having spent her entire childhood by her side, Ichiro could confirm the same. Neo didn't get sick.
She didn't get bacterial infections or viruses, and she never showed symptoms. She didn't run fevers and she most certainly didn't vomit. The woman had never so much as contracted the common cold over her 18 years, similar to her male Managarm counterpart. Their biology rendered them utterly immune to all human diseases. A truly enviable trait. If something was causing their bodies to challenge that trend, then something was very wrong indeed.
Before either of them could voice those concerns, Sakaki entered the room with a clipboard. He didn't say a word, simply striding around them, grabbing utensils, and waving away the panicked gunner to give him some space. A quick check of her vitals provided some basic information, which he followed up by scanning over her Oracle cell levels, peeling open her eyelids, and examining the orbs within. They were no longer rolled backward, but they remained glazed over, pupils contracted into tiny pinholes.
He muttered quietly to himself, taking notes, and tapping gently at her sides and joints, jotting down which nerves gave a reaction. "I see… so, this is… Hibari mentioned… yes, of course." The doctor continued his murmuring, carefully poking, prodding, and confirming suspicions that the rest of them weren't privy to.
After about a minute of this, Soma lost his patience. "Hey Old Man, you wanna fill us in?" he demanded impatiently.
Sakaki and put down his stethoscope with a nod. "Not long ago, I received a report from Hibari regarding some sort of Bias Field. It appeared out in the field during their scouting mission. As soon as she told me that, I knew it was only a matter of time before you called me here."
"Bias Field?" The veterans asked simultaneously, resulting in a startled glance at one another before returning their attention.
"Oh, yeah!" Kota interjected, clapping his hands together as though he had just remembered something important. "When we were out in the city, there was some wacky invisible cloud or something. "
"Invisible… cloud?" Ichiro blinked.
"Yeah. I don't know how to explain it, but it was really weird! Came out of nowhere… and when it showed up, I started feeling all wonky. It was kinda strange."
"And you didn't think to bring that up?" Soma snapped.
The younger God Eater shrunk under his fearsome gaze. "I-I didn't think about it! I was focused on her; she was acting all weird…"
"Weird? This is a lot more than weird, Kota."
Ichiro cleared his throat, bringing them back to the task at hand. "Strange how?"
"I'm not sure how to describe it… I was kind of queasy, but I was also tired? It was like it sucked the life out of me, I felt sluggish and slow… it was even hard to aim my rifle. But Neo… I don't know, it was like Neo was empowered. I've never seen her pack such a punch!"
Soma sighed. This was getting more confusing by the second. "Tired… and empowered?"
"I see… so my theory is correct," Sakaki muttered.
"And that would be?"
"This Bias Field, it appears to interact with Oracle cells… although to what extent, I'm not entirely sure. Clearly, it has some form adverse effect on their biology. And God Eaters utilize these same cells. It is what likely resulted, in your case, Kota, in some instability. Your nausea, exhaustion, and unsteady footing." Sakaki placed his clipboard on the table. "In the Aragami's case, it appears to have had the opposite effect, possibly going so far as to enhance their capabilities. Making their cells, run wild, so to speak. Theoretically, that should be the end of it. However, Neo is a unique case.
"Because she's half," Ichiro mumbled, absentmindedly brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Precisely. The Oracles make up her body just as much as her red and white blood cells. Her Bias Factor is a part of her DNA, no different than Soma's."
"But Neo's Bias Factor is more developed…" Ichiro reasoned. "So, it stands to reason that it will probably have a stronger effect on her?"
"I wouldn't know, I can't say I've experienced it," Soma confirmed.
Sakaki nodded. "Meaning we can't be certain of that. However… it is a strong possibility."
"Okay, so let me get this straight. This Bias Field thingy makes God Eaters sick and Aragami strong. Neo's half and half, so it probably does both. That's awesome. And terrifying. But what is this thing, exactly?" Kota asked.
The doctor shook his head. "That, I do not know. Further investigation will be required before we can be certain. Until then, I would recommend keeping a very close eye on our New Type here… and Soma as well, for that matter."
"Me? Why?"
"Because regardless of the individual details, if our theory is correct, you are also in danger."
"'Danger' seems excessive."
"No… Soma, Sakaki is right," Ichiro disagreed. "Think about it. Kota said it made him feel tired and nauseous, but that was only this time. What if the next time, the field is stronger or the potency more concentrated? We have no idea what sort of effect it'll have on you. It could alter your mental state, your physical health…"
"For Neo, it made her stronger."
"It also made her incredibly ill," he reminded, gesturing to the sleeping woman in front of them. "Hell, it could even reverse and have the opposite effect. It could weaken you or severely limit your capability, rendering you no stronger than the rest of us." Soma blinked, the thought of his strength reducing to that of a mere human. "Or worse… it could make you lose control entirely."
At that, the veteran scowled. "What, you're suggesting it could make me turn on you? Like a feral beast?"
Ichiro shook his head. "That's not what I'm saying. I don't think it would make you 'feral' per se, but it could make you reckless. It could cause brain fog and lead you to take risks and make dangerous decisions, putting both yourself and everyone around you in danger."
The director hummed, tapping his pen against his chin in thought. "Yes, Hamasaki does raise a valid point…"
"Well, what about you? Doesn't that put you in the same danger?"
"Uh…?" Kota looked between the two of them in confusion.
His inquiry went unanswered; Ichiro narrowed his eyes. Then, they widened with realization. "…Yes. I suppose it does. Perhaps for now, it's best that we travel in pairs at the minimum. Until we figure out just what this thing is and what it does, it's too dangerous to travel alone. Going out there blind is akin to rolling the dice on our lives."
"Hmph." Soma grunted. He conceded but said nothing further. Though he was displeased to admit it, his comrade was correct. For now, he would abide by the suggestion. He needed to return to Aegis anyway; he had interrupted his investigation for this little gathering.
Seeing that their argument had reached its conclusion, Sakaki stepped between them. "Very well. It seems that, for now, we are in agreement. Be safe out there. All of you."
. . .
Hours passed in the hospital room. After her placement in the medical ward, personnel eventually returned to their duties, sans coats, tending to other patients and checking her vital signs as necessary. By evening, the area had been all but deserted, with the exception of the woman herself, sleeping soundly, and a single visitor. As the last doctor left, the room fell still aside from a pair of quiet footsteps padding across the room. With the medical personnel vacated, the young soldier looked around the room, observing the woman in slumber.
And then…
"Whoa!" A quiet hiss shattered the silence. Stepping through the door, Gunter jumped as he came face to face with the other God Eater, looking as startled as he was. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting there to be anyone else in here."
The other man shook his head. "It's fine. I was just looking for Otto. I heard he got into a bit of a scrap earlier and wanted to check on him…"
"Oh. Yeah, he did, but he's fine. He's in the Mess Hall, I just saw him a couple minutes ago."
"Oh, guess I was misinformed," he said sheepishly.
"No worries. If you hurry, you can catch him before he turns in for the night."
"Oh! That's great… uh… anyway, thanks!"
The veteran said nothing further, stepping to the side as the other soldier bolted away and disappeared through the door. "Huh. Real skittish that one…" Shaking his head, he made a quick sweep of the wing to ensure there were no other residents before leaning against the wall.
Neo remained perfectly still, and Gunter did the same, watching her as her chest slowly rose and fell. It was the first time he had found himself alone with her following the attack, but far from the first time he observed her. From a distance, he had been watching her, never certain of whether or not it was safe to approach. He remained just out of her line of vision, always out of harm's way. The last memory he had of her was a terrifying one; her pair of murderous eyes the last he thought he'd ever see. A very far cry from the image in front of him now, silent, tranquil, and still.
Gazing upon her innocent face, he couldn't help but be reminded of who he'd once known her to be, not a killer, nor monster, nor weapon of man's creation. Just a young woman with odd fashion sense and utter lack of social skills. He couldn't help but grin to himself at the memories; they were the only thing that had drove him here, some part of him desperately wishing to rectify what was broken. The other, of course, refused. No matter how she appeared now, he couldn't get the image of that infuriated golden eye out of his head.
"Heh… this is so fucked up," he muttered to himself. "It's awful seeing you like this… but it's the only way I could bring myself to face you." Sighing, he leaned his head back, resting it against the wall. He really was losing it. "I've been wanting to talk to you for so long… to tell you how I feel… or how I felt before —" The words caught in his throat, refusing to come out, choking him to remind him of his hypocrisy. "The hell am I saying… I still do. And I have no idea why."
With a bitter chuckle, he paced forward. "You scare the hell out of me, you know that? But I can't stay away. I guess that's why they say to think with your head… the heart makes you foolish." Gunter finally halted his wandering and sank into a nearby chair next to the bed. "You have no idea how frustrating this is, to —" He swallowed, trying to collect his thoughts. "I care so much about you, Neo. And yet…"
His words slowly trailed off, leaving him hanging his head in exasperation. Otto was right; this woman was going to be the death of him. Literally, and now metaphorically.
"And yet, you betrayed me."
"Hmm?" A quiet voice interrupted his musings. Turning, he lifted his head toward the sound, and fixed his eyes on a now empty pillow. Alarmed, he shifted his gaze leftward, meeting a heterochromatic pair staring back at him. What followed was an involuntary reaction. In the next moment, Gunter found himself launching away from her, sending his chair crashing to the floor with a loud bang. His flight drew an amused chortle from the woman, eyeing him incredulously when his back pressed against the wall.
"How amusing… and here I am the one who should be afraid of you." Gunter wasn't certain how to respond. There were many words that came to mind, but none of them wanted to leave his mouth. It was only when he chewed on the inside of his lip that he realized it was trembling. Neo looked upon him, recognizing the fear she had seen so many times in her life. But this time, it was unwarranted.
She watched his eyes follow her hands, zoning in on the pointed claws as they reached forward… then downward. Retrieving her pair of gloves on the bedside table, she pulled each of them on, adjusting her fingers with a scoff. Seeing he was still standing there; she rolled her eyes. "You can stop cowering. If I wanted you dead, you would be."
Of course. It was obvious, yet it was only when she voiced the thought that it registered in his brain. He was still standing, very much alive. The woman before him still remained on the bed, but all it would have taken was a single bound, and he would cease to draw breath. The fact that he was still doing so was purely of her volition.
"Even still, I have to commend you, you know. You have a lot of nerve showing your face to me. You are either very brave, or very stupid."
He stared back at her in disbelief. That she would threaten him so blatantly, while telling him he had nerve? And after accusing him of betraying —
'Oh.'
It was then that he remembered the purpose for his entire visit. As the fog cleared, their conversation came to his mind. Their misunderstanding. The spark that had set off this nuclear bomb in the first place. The belief that he was an agent of North America, his only intention to procreate with her — forcibly if necessary — to create another being possessing her power. One who would then be handed over to the same monsters who had tortured and abused her, to do it all again. When he thought of it that way, it was no wonder she had wanted him dead. He would have killed himself before doing something so heinous.
"I didn't betray you, Neo."
At this, she didn't scoff; she laughed. "What is deceit if not a betrayal?"
"I didn't deceive you."
"You truly think me a fool, don't you? Or are you trying to deceive me again? What will you say, I wonder? That I misheard you? That I misunderstood?"
"You did misunderstand!"
"Gunter, spare me. Creepy Reaper babies is pretty difficult to misinterpret."
"It was sarcastic — it was meant to be a joke."
"Ah, of course. My mistake. And I suppose you're having plenty of time was sarcastic too?"
"Of course, it was! I'm not planning on kids now. I would think that would be obvious."
"But you did in the future?"
"Yes! Wait, no! I mean — not with you. Wait, that didn't come out right —"
"Then, you'd do it to someone else?!" Now, Neo was angry. It was clear that they were getting nowhere fast. At this point, he was spiraling and if he didn't correct his course, she really would put an end to him.
"No! Gods, no! I would never do something like that to you — to anyone!"
"Gunter —"
"Neo, listen to me!" Perhaps it was a burst of adrenaline, or foolishness, or some combination of both. Something drove him forward, approaching the very person he had been fleeing only minutes ago. "What you heard that day wasn't what you think it was. I would never — could never — force myself on someone, much less for the sheer purpose of having a kid — no, a test subject, because that's what this is about, right?"
"That's —"
"You think I would want to force you to have a child — my child — then ship them off to the same bastards that mistreated you? That's insane, Neo. It's disgusting, and I would never want any part of it."
"I —"
"What those people did to you… no, I can't even call them people. Those sick fucks don't deserve to be called human. And if I ever find the ones that hurt you, I can promise you that everything they did to you would be a godsend compared to what I'll do to them."
"…"
Finally, Neo was silent. She had lost her rage, and instead held only alarm. Her eyes only stared at him rounded and wide, both at his words and the conviction with which he said them. And for a moment, she almost believed him; that he had never meant her any harm, and that instead he would bring it to her tormentors were they still alive. It almost made her want to trust him. To trust the words he said were true. But her silence was quickly determined to be the calm before the storm, for the next words from her mouth were laced with venom.
"Gunter."
"Huh?" The sudden shift in her tone confused him, cutting through the air like a sharp blade. If anger had been what stood there him before, now it was rage. "Neo…?"
"How you answer my question will determine whether or not I rip you apart."
"Wh-Wha?!"
"You claim innocence and no affiliation, yet somehow hold information you couldn't possibly possess. How?"
Gunter blinked. "I… I was told by someone else."
"Who?"
Gunter paused, thinking back to the conversation he had had during the council. Theoretically speaking, what they were doing wasn't meant to brought to Neo's attention. That implied that they weren't supposed to divulge that they were aware.
Of course, that had been prior to facing down an angry Neo who was more than capable of tearing him to shreds as per her warning. But how was he supposed to ever clear up their misunderstanding if he never brought it up? With the clock counting down and the New Type losing patience by the second, the veteran finally sighed. He would just have to deal with him later.
"Ichiro told me," he admitted. "He told me everything… about your power, where it really comes from… and all they did to you trying to harness it."
A hiss sent him stepping backward. Then, stumbling as she rose from the bed, storming after him. "You lie! Ichiro doesn't have that information."
"What…?"
"Ichiro doesn't know anything about what happened to me… I never told him." She was seething. The corners of her vision were changing red.
"Well, someone did, because he told us… we know what you are, Neo."
"We? Who the hell is we?"
"All of us… people you can trust. People who want to help you."
Her mind was reeling. On the one hand, she wanted to rend him. She wasn't inclined to believe his tale. Were it true, that would mean that there were others in the Den who knew the truth about her, and more importantly, had chosen to remain by her side. But on the other, his words strangely made sense. Certain people had been treating her differently over the last few weeks, with little warning. Gina and Kanon in particular were repeat offenders. Annette had been questioning her health far more often, and even Karel had been slightly less sharp with her.
But if he spoke honestly, it meant that Ichiro had learned the truth about her as well. And the people who could have told him were all long dead. All except for one. Struck with realization, her glare vanished. Her eyes widened with realization, then narrowed again as she turned and made her way toward the door.
"Wha — where are you going?"
"We'll finish this later. I need to talk to someone."
Gunter could only stare after dumbfounded as she turned away and stormed from the room, leaving him behind.