Far East Branch – Executive Floor

Subject: [IMPORTANT] Anomalous Bias Fields

Message: Anomalous Bias Fields have been detected in a number of combat areas. These fields negatively affect both God Eaters and their God Arcs. We're currently in the process of developing countermeasures, but until these are implemented, use caution when encountering any Bias Field anomalies.

Soma finished the email, sending it out to every member of the branch. Though they had little more than speculation to go off of, Sakaki had deemed it prudent to inform everyone traveling outside of Fenrir's walls. That was the most that they could do for now; should anyone encounter the strange phenomenon, the more prepared they were, the better. Now, having completed his task. He was exhausted.

Between the Remnant Facility, the investigation, and now the appearance of an unexplained energy Field, he was nearly out of steam. That wasn't to even mention their unconscious New Type who had apparently taken the brunt of the field's effects. Concern for her current state was wearing on his mental state. As if he didn't have enough to worry about. A tired grunt was all that escaped him, shutting down his console. Brooding over it wouldn't wake her up any faster. For now, he would turn in for the evening. He would check on Neo the following morning before returning to his work. Hopefully, she was doing better…

Beep.

A quiet noise echoed from behind him, pulling his attention from the terminal and to the bedroom door. Before he could even open his mouth to complain, a familiar face appeared in his doorway and was quickly stalking toward him. The same face he had coincidentally just been thinking of, albeit far less peaceful than the version in his mind. No, this one looked furious. Crossing the room in seconds, Neo stood glaring up at him with blazing eyes, fangs glinting behind her quirked lip. "Gunter."

"Huh?"

"I spoke to Gunter."

"…Uh."

"He tells me the entire incident was a misunderstanding. That he had no intention of utilizing me as a broodmare."

Soma blinked. For a few moments, he could only stare at her. What exactly was he supposed to say to her? Not only had Neo burst into his room with little warning — the fact that she was awake already was startling enough — but she had done for the sole purpose of informing him that she had spoken to a fellow soldier and, apparently, absolved him of any guilt. A fact that was none of his business but, theoretically, should have been a good thing. Yet somehow, she seemed to feel the opposite. "Um… okay?"

"No, it's not okay," Neo snarled, only further adding to his puzzlement. "He tells me that he had no desire to ever breed me for a test subject. That the very thought of it was disgusting."

"It is disgusting. Why the hell are you upset about that?"

"Because he shouldn't know, Soma."

'…Oh.' Finally, the gears clicked into place, the source of her anger now apparent.

"He told me that he and everyone else — which is an entirely different matter, might I add — learned this information at a council led by none other than Ichiro himself. Which should be impossible because Ichiro shouldn't have that information either." She stepped slowly toward him, ever movement purposeful. She was closing in on him and he was backed into a corner. "And he couldn't possibly have learned it from anyone other than another member of the branch who possessed it. And as both of them are already dead, that only leaves you."

Soma's first and immediate response was to scowl, his face the epitome of extreme irritation. He was fairly certain they had been very clear about treating Neo normally during her recovery process. Revealing that he, along with everyone else, had learned the truth of her origins was essentially the exact opposite of that. Whether intentionally or not, he had opened up a can of worms that now Soma would undoubtedly have to close at some point, but right now, he didn't have time to ponder it. She had put the pieces together, and naturally, he was the first one on her radar.

"Neo —"

"Which should also be impossible, because I could have sworn the two of us had an understanding."

Soma fell silent. He could feel her gaze burning a hole right through him, hotter than the fever she had been running mere hours ago. There was nothing he could say to get him out of this, the look on her face told him that. And to be honest, he wasn't certain he should even try to. Ultimately, Neo was right. They had had an understanding. She had placed her trust in him that he would keep her information private… and he had shattered that trust by doing the singular thing he had promised not to do. He couldn't blame her for being upset. While the New Type herself was a master of defiance, she could confidently say that she had never broken a promise to him.- Because Neo didn't make promises she couldn't keep.

He wasn't sure what else he could do or say. So instead, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "…I'm sorry."

The look of earth-shattering shock on her face told him that had been the wrong answer.

Though, instead of swiping a claw at him as he had been expecting, she only stared back at him. The tension fell from her shoulders; her entire body deflated, and her eyes fell to the floor. All of the rage was dapped from her expression. Only hurt remained. And when she finally spoke again, it was with a familiar wavering voice. "…To think I trusted you." Shaking her head, she turned around and slowly left back the way she came.

Soma could only stare after her, watching her retreat with a look of abject horror. He had seen that expression before; the look of hopelessness and betrayal. It had been the last image he'd seen of her before she disappeared during Spring Thunder. That fateful mission, leading to what quickly became a cataclysm of bloodshed and rage.

He had felt that emptiness from her yet again right before she disappeared, for good this time, only to later reappear during the battle at Aegis. This was only — as he would eventually discover — after attempting to replace their Aragami ally as fodder for the Alda Nova. She had offered herself in Shio's place, sacrificing her own life for hers. The reasons why his father had ultimately chosen to go back on his word would forever remain a mystery to him. And now, seeing her approaching the exit, he was struck with paralyzing fear. Fear that if he let her walk out that door, there was a chance he would lose her again.

And that was a risk he couldn't afford to take. Not anymore.

Within seconds, he was in motion. Rushing across the room with speed that alarmed even himself, he overtook her, barring her from the exit. He slid to a stop and appeared in front of her just before the doorway.

"Move, Soma."

"Neo, you need to listen to me."

"I don't need to do anything, you lying snake."

"I didn't have a choice."

"Bullshit, you didn't have a choice."

"You had already taken out four people, three of which ended up in the hospital. If I hadn't stopped him, he would have gone after you."

"So, what? You should have let him."

"And then what? Let him corner you in a volatile state? So you could lash out at him, or worse, all over a misunderstanding?"

"It would have been better than telling him!"

"Telling him what, the truth? How the hell is the alternative any better?! What exactly were you hoping to accomplish by keeping this from him?"

"I was trying to protect him!"

"How? Letting him run after you in a murderous rage seems like a pretty good way for him to get hurt!"

"And that still would have hurt less than learning what he did!"

Her words hung heavily in the silence between them, Soma blocking her path and Neo glaring up at him. What was he supposed to say to that? He couldn't refute her; she was absolutely right. There was no physical pain she could inflict on him that would have been worse than learning all she had been through under his watch. That the woman he loved — whether she realized it or not — had been violated in nearly every way imaginable… and he had done nothing to stop it. The information alone had sent his Oracle cells into hyperactivity, nearly forcing him into full transformation. A disaster which would have led to a domino effect of even more pain, not only for himself but for everyone around them. Even still.

"…You're right," he admitted. "Hamasaki… you mean the absolute world to him. And that's exactly why I had to do what I did." Neo's eyes widened into saucers, mouth falling open in pure astonishment. As though he couldn't have possibly said anything more ridiculous. But before she could argue, he continued. "Look, I broke my promise to you. And if you're pissed about it, I understand… you probably should be. But keeping this from him — look, Neo, I know you think you were protecting him. And maybe you were, in the short term. But in the long term, he was only going to hurt worse."

"How the hell would keeping such a thing from him possibly hurt him?"

"Because in the end, it was gonna hurt you. You needed — still need — help. A lot of it. And keeping that from him means keeping him from utilizing his connections, his resources, to get that help. Help that without, you are going to be banished from Fenrir, and spend the rest of your days in the wilderness running from the same people who caused it. Don't you think that would hurt him even more?"

Her scowl only deepened.

"I'm sorry, Neo… but I had to do what was best. For you."

Dr. Swanson sat opposite the young God Eater, listening carefully to her every word as she recounted her tale. She remained silent, letting her get out all that was on her mind. When she finally finished speaking, the doctor nodded. "And how did that make you feel, Neo? What did you feel in that moment?"

"Confusion… Rage…"

"What were you confused about?"

"I don't know, everything, I guess. I just… I was so angry that he would sell me out like that. Doing what's best for me? Tch… even if it meant hurting me in the process?" Neo shook her head. "But, even so, I wondered…" Neo trailed off, fingers thumbing against her teacup nervously.

The doctor smiled, recognizing the tell-tale signs of retreat. Pressing forward, she helped her along. "Wondered if maybe… Soma was right?"

"Hmm," she hummed.

"And have you spoken to Ichiro since that day?"

"…Yeah."

"And what have you spoken about?"

Neo's eyes narrowed. "If you're asking if I confronted him about it, then yeah… I did."

"And what did you discover when you confronted him?"

"…That Soma… was right," she mumbled. Expression softening, her eyes fell to the floor as she admitted defeat.

"I see. And how did that make you feel?"

"…Even more confused."

"What confused you about it?"

"All of it. I don't get it. It doesn't make any sense…"

"And why not?" The doctor asked. Neo said nothing. She gazed at her clenched fingers, brows furrowing in frustration. She could see that she was growing agitated, but it was important that, as much as possible, she come to these conclusions herself. Continuing, she softly prodded. "Why doesn't it make sense, Neo?"

"I don't know, okay?!" she snapped. She always hated these moments during their sessions together. She hated being forced into unfamiliar territory. She hated being asked for answers to questions she didn't have. But her anger didn't deter the older woman. It never did. Instead, she gently offered suggestions.

"Is it because… you feel insignificant?" Neo twitched. "Do you feel confused… because Ichiro would rather endure the burden of knowledge, if it prevented you from further pain? Are you confused because… you matter?"

A loud crack echoed through the quiet room. Beneath the force of Neo's tightening grip, the cup shattered, breaking into pieces, and spilling the remaining contents into her lap. Thankfully, the cup had been nearly empty. "… I don't want to talk about this anymore," she mumbled, shaking the remnants from her gloved hands.

"That's fine. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. We can come back to it." The doctor nodded her head, carefully rising to her feet to gather a trash bin. Returning, she placed it down and left to the other side of the room. Liquid splashed quietly against porcelain as she retrieved another cup, her client tossing broken pieces of his predecessor into the can. With another serving of sweet blend, she made her way back, placing it in front of her. "Instead, why don't we talk about your time in the sick bay?"

"…Fine."

"Okay." Sitting across from her, the doctor continued. "Have you been doing your exercises?" When she didn't respond, she tried again. "Neo. Have you been doing your exercises?"

"Yes," she snapped. "And I still don't see the point."

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't change anything," she growled. "Everything is still the same…"

"Really? The doctors tell me you've been rather pleasant as of late."

"Because they're normal. I don't care when they look like normal people. Normal people…" Her voice lowered to a low whisper. "…aren't dangerous."

"In other words, you aren't threatened by the doctors themselves… Only by their white coats?"

Neo shrugged. "I… I don't know. I can't really explain it. I know it doesn't make sense. When they look normal, I don't like them, but they're safe. But when I see those coats, I just… everything goes red. All I can see is…" Her breath grew uneven, the images of demons adorning themselves in those evil robes.

"It does make sense, Neo. It makes perfect sense. We can often attribute the things we see as an association… that's one of trauma works. That's why it's called a trigger."

The New Type didn't respond to her. Instead, she lifted her cup and focused on the sweet tea sloshing within. Dr. Swanson allowed it, watching the gentle trembling of her fingers. A displacement behavior: another habit she had grown familiar with during their time together. When the woman calmed her nerves, the doctor continued. "Neo, I would like to ask you something."

"If you must."

"I want you to be honest with me. Can you do that for me?" Neo nodded. "Do you view me… as a threat?"

"What?"

"Am I threatening to you, Neo?"

She stared back at her with genuine confusion. The gears in her mind turned, taking her question into careful consideration. Did she view Dr. Swanson as a threat? She had been visiting with her for some time now. Though it was true that she certainly detested her in the beginning… Neo couldn't say it was still true. In fact, on some days, she found she even looked forward to their meetings. Having someone to vent her thoughts to, without judgement, could be somewhat… comforting.

"No… not really."

"Okay. This is good. And what about Soma? Do you find him threatening?"

"No… what kind of question is that?"

"What about Ichiro? Does he feel threatening to you?"

"Of course not. Why would —" Neo was losing her patience. Her face twisted into a scowl. "Look, what are you getting at, Katherine?"

"What I'm 'getting at'…" she began, "Is the concept of association. A topic which we've talked about before, yes?"

"You just mentioned it three minutes ago," Neo muttered.

"Good. Neo, I would like to try an exercise with you… if that's alright."

She shrugged her shoulders in response. There was little else she could do in the matter. She often found Swanson's exercises exhausting. They were one of her least favorite activities, yet she was forced to undergo them multiple times per week. That she had mentioned her guardian was ironic. It was only the thought of him her out into the wilderness that kept her going. The knowledge that he would foolishly banish himself due to her exile. With her consent, Dr. Swanson slowly rose to her feet, leaving her client on the couch. Her eyes followed Katherine as she made her way toward the intercom.

. . .

Far East Branch – City of Mercy

The God Eaters heeded Sakaki's advice. After the disastrous September Shadow mission, new regulations were quickly put into place. Solo missions were all but halted with very few exceptions. All units sent into the field were to do so, at minimum, with two members. Those that weren't were closely monitored, with operations following their every move.

The 1st Unit was no different. Despite their position as the top ranked, their own operations were also under heavy scrutiny. For the sake of everyone's safety, no one was exempt. And now, following the most recent events, one of its members was even further on edge.

"You're sure, Hibari?"

"Positive. Nothing out of the ordinary on the screen. No crazy Bias Fields coming out of nowhere… We're green." The radio went silent for a few moments. "However! Still proceed with caution. We don't want to be caught off guard if that thing shows up again."

"Understood. Alright, if you think it's safe… let's move, guys."

"Wow. Kota's actually nervous? Never thought I'd see the day." Alisa scoffed. Though it was more than welcome, to see their carefree scout sergeant being careful was certainly a sight. Not one she ever thought she would live to see.

"If you went through that kind of horror… if you saw what I saw, you wouldn't be laughing!"

"Okay, okay, sorry. I mean, hey, maybe something did actually happen. Hehe…"

"That's not convincing at all!"

"Oh, relax, Kota! I'm only poking a little fun. I trust Ichiro. And I trust Hibari. I'm sure something strange did happen."

"Thank you — hey, wait a second!"

"Knock it off, both of you," Utsugi scolded, bringing their argument to an end. "Let's just get this over with and get back to base, alright?"

"Sorry," Kota murmured. With that, his two teammates ceased their bickering with sheepish expressions. With the team refocused, the air between them grew silent. It remained as for about fifteen minutes before the gunner spoke again.

"Hey Lenka? Not that I mind, you know I love hunting with you, dude, but… speaking of Ichiro, wasn't he supposed to be on this mission?"

"He was, but he requested a switch."

"Ichiro did?" Alisa hummed. "Strange… that's not like him at all."

"I think Dr. Swanson needed him for something. He didn't mention much more than that."

"I see…" Alisa gave a solemn nod. If Neo's doctor was requesting his presence personally, then whatever it was must be important. With worry seeping into her mind, she shifted her God Arc into sword form and took up guarding the flank.

. . .

Aegis Island

Soma wandered around the facility with a heavy heart. The evening was nearly over, and he was looking forward to a long rest. In an all too familiar turn of events, Neo had gone radio silent on him following their explosive argument. She hadn't spoken a word to him since that day, and honestly, it didn't really surprise him. This was exactly what he had expected her to do. At the very least, she had remained in the Den this time, which was an improvement from their last fight. Of course, it didn't make it any easier. He really had meant well; Soma always had her best interest in mind, even if she didn't fully understand it. Thus, he had resigned himself to not speaking to her again for the foreseeable future.

Which was precisely why he was so worried when he had received a summons from Dr. Swanson requesting his presence. Naturally, his first reaction was panic. Having not heard a word from Neo for days prior, the sudden reaching out from her psychiatrist was certainly cause for alarm. However, upon his arrival, he discovered — much to his relief — that nothing was wrong with the New Type and in fact, that his presence, along with Ichiro's, had been requested for the purpose of a reconditioning exercise. An exercise that had come very close to absolute disaster, as far as he was concerned. That woman was a brave one, he'd give her that.

The session had taken up a great deal of his usual work hours forcing him to spend the remainder of the afternoon and well into the night on the island picking up where he had left off. Grumbling, he wandered around through the glowing remnants, taking note of each individual one. After running over some charts and making one last check, he concluded that his work was done. Finally, he could get some much-needed rest. That was until a strange noise caught his attention.

"What the hell…?"

It was a quite whistling ringing softly in his ears. So quietly that, had he not been enhanced, he wasn't sure he would have heard it over all of the regular noise. The high pitch quickly started to get on his nerves, and having lost the ability to concentrate, Soma turned his attention to trying to locate the source of the sound. It was the middle of the night, and everyone had been working overtime. Likely one of the attendants had left a door open, letting in the sea breeze.

He walked around the containment field, tracing the noise all the way to a back corner of the facility. The first thing he noticed upon his approach was the smell of seawater. It seemed his suspicion was correct. Sighing, he walked around to the corner of the area to seal the opening…

…and when he did, his blood froze in his veins.