The Rebel Doctor

by Kazragoth

Ren Amamiya, leader of the once renowned Phantom Thieves, now leads a prosperous and peaceful life with his friends, and has left the world of the living, fully content in his aged years. The progenitor of Personas has other plans for him, however. One that involves an already ruined world. Well, at least he's already dead when this happened.

10. CSF-1: Our Many Selves

"Let's see… Is this on…? Ah! There we go! Now… for proper introductions…"

Hey there, everyone! My name's Closure. Head of Rhodes Island's Engineering Department, and owner of your local Store for all your Pack procurement, Certificate, and Credit spending needs! Before you say anything, I'll just answer all your probable questions right and now!

Yes, I know I should have extended the maximum number of credits you can keep each day, but Kal'tsit won't let me! Isn't that so rude to deny good QoL changes?! At least you're doing fine enough in Credit gathering!

Yes, I know the Rhodes Island Ark Interface has been on Beta Phase since forever, but the higher ups are still working on the Alpha Phase for who knows how long! How long is it now, 2 years? May take some time getting used to it when Alpha releases since I'm pretty sure you guys are all cozy with Beta.

You might be wondering. Why would I share my private stash of information with you people? Well, there's rarely any time to relax here in Terra. Let's be honest. You have Catastrophes happening on your left, Reunion on your right, exposition bombs in the back, and then possible tragedies happening up front! So I'm here to be your personal oasis, as well as give you some juicy details on the new occurrences happening behind the scenes or out in the open, delivered in easy to understand fashion by yours truly!

Also, let's be honest. Sometimes you need a more relaxing change of perspective.

So without further ado, say hello to your new side series in this series, Closure's Secret Files! Ta-daaaaah!

"…That was so embarrassing. Who's even going to watch this?"

"Chiiiiii…."

"EEK! Amiya?! How long have you been there?!"

---

CLOSURE'S SECRET FILES 1

OUR MANY SELVES

"…Are you done yet?"

I did not know how long I've been staring at Doctor, but I have confirmed 1 thing today in our first meeting.

Doctor Ren is bloody handsome, and he's been hiding it for YEARS.

OK, I feel like I need to give a recap here.

I don't know if you've known this already, but I think I should recap this too. Before Rhodes Island popped up, an organization known as Babel came first. Call it a predecessor if you want, and back then, I was but an engineer trying to get this whole Rhodes Island Ark up and running. Heard that they dug up this big lug over at Rim Billiton, which is also where we picked up Amiya, but that's beside the point!

The point is, I don't know when exactly Doctor joined the crew, but when he joined, he was already wearing a mask, and nobody knew what he looked like. Not even Theresa, our Queen of Babel, our leader, knows what he looks like. He has always been an introvert, and rumors say that the only time he takes off his mask is when he is in room, sleeping like a baby, or rather, he never takes off his mask at all for any reason. That's one rumor we may never know the answer of ever since… until now.

With all the old rumors resurfacing, you know I had to go and take a gander at Doctor after 3 years! Safe to say, I was not disappointed! All things considered, he's got the whole bad boy look nailed down to a T! Frizzy black hair, indignant eyes, and that face! Those Operators who came back from Chernobog weren't kidding about him being handsome, and he looks young too! I'd be even more shocked if Logos didn't come around. That guy has a mind that is leagues older than his pretty face!

But enough about Doctor's looks now. Remember, Closure. You're here to make a good second first impression, and you may have screwed up! Don't screw up further! A good clap on the cheeks was good enough to snap me out, now to speak! Doctor Ren looks annoyed enough as is!

"Sorry, Doctor! It's just that the rumor mills on Rhodes Island go around fast. Just had to confirm the rumors on your looks, and they were right!"

The good Doctor held the bridge of his nose and let out an exasperated sigh. I don't think Doctor's real happy with that fact. The other person sitting aside just stared at me with a blank smile. Creepy.

"Why am I not surprised? I assume the fact my memory is all messed up is also part of rumors?"

A serious stare from the Doctor that I can now see properly. I can't afford to goof around, especially with Amiya and Dobermann behind! "Well, yes. And I'm sorry for your condition, Doctor Ren. Since you look like you don't remember me, let me introduce myself again! My name's Closure, head of Rhodes Island's Engineering Department! Pleased to meet you, Doctor!"

An extended hand as simple form of courtesy and Doctor courtly shook it with a small smile. Compared to my soft hands, Doctor's swerving onto the rugged side, though I really shouldn't discuss that.

"Likewise, Closure. Anyway, please excuse me while I continue this meeting with Mr. Kaleidus here that you sorely interrupted." A bit of snap into his words. Doctor Ren is normally all business, but he was never really that vocal, compared to him right now. The guy that he called Kaleidus chuckled at his snappiness though.

"And as such, I ask that all of you leave the room so we can properly discuss matters. Closure, Dobermann, Amiya, kindly evacuate from the premises."

"The same applies to you as well, Mr. Zenkichi. Fret not, for it'll not take long."

Pretty clear to everyone that the two won't take no for an answer. So we pretty much marched out of the Reception Room and closed the door behind our backs. Still, my curiosity won't be curbed so easily!

"So, what do you think the Doctor is talking about with that Kaleidus guy?"

...On second thought, I probably shouldn't ask, because Dobermann's now hounding me like a fowlbeast watching over her prey! I looked at Amiya, and even she's not giving me a glance! I really screwed this one up, did I?!

"...Never mind."

And so we spent the next set of minutes in silence. I really hit the low brow now. Ugggh...

...

...

"You guys can come in now."

We heard Dr. Ren's words after around 3 minutes, and like a compliant crowd, we all marched inside to find Ren behind the door and the so-called CEO still seated where he was, sipping on coffee. I really want to say something, but the situation is still hella awkward! Amiya and the Doctor proceeded to sit right across her, and with her looking remorseful, my guilt just keeps racking up! Help!

"Mr. Kaleidus? Are you finished with discussions with the Doctor? I apologize if Miss Closure's sudden entry interrupted it."

Mr. Kaleidus turned towards Amiya, speaking in a curt tone. Speaking of Kaleidus here, he looks like a dignified and well-mannered man. All decked out in white with black dress shoes, with his hair all tied in a ponytail. Is he some businessman here for a cooperation deal with Rhodes Island? He did say that they're both trying to settle on an agreement, but what? And shouldn't he discuss with Amiya instead?

"Ms. Amiya, I assure you that Ms. Closure's sudden entry earns no ill will from me. Rather, you have come at the most opportune moment. I assume Mr. Zenkichi has already had his tour?"

Our good leader Amiya nodded with her innocent smile. "Yes, Mr. Kaleidus. I also got to know him a lot better as well. He's very nice and caring!"

"Don't make a big deal out of it, kid. Just looking out for the young ones here."

This Zenkichi might be a hit with our younger Operators if his upbringing is like that. Mr. Kaleidus let out a light chortle. "Haha. I do not blame you for feeling concerned for Ms. Amiya, Mr. Zenkichi. Regardless, Ms. Amiya, I am happy to say that an agreement has been struck with us, and I believe that it is also vital that you are also brought into the loop, so to speak. Miss Closure and Miss Dobermann can also stay with us."

"I understand."

The fact that I'm also brought into this discussion despite my terrible first impression is making me relieved. If it was someone else, I'm pretty sure I'll be kicked out! I was so happy that I can only nod like a dumbass while moving right behind the sofa Doctor sat on. Mr. Zenkichi moved behind Philemon in the meantime.

"So, what did you agree upon with Doctor Ren, Mr. Kaleidus?" Relatively simple question from Amiya. And Kaleidus opted to raise a hand.

"Please, feel free to call me Philemon, Ms. Amiya. Think of it as a gesture of familiarity." Well, I won't complain with that, and Amiya nodded. "Nevertheless, regarding our agreement, it is no more than the cooperation of both of our companies, Ms. Amiya." An answer that sparked a joyful expression from our young leader. Way to go, Doctor! "However, I understand that I haven't informed you on what Midsummer Labs is experienced on. Has Mr. Zenkichi given you minor information on it to get you started?"

Right across, I can see the Zenkichi fellow frowning as Amiya answered. "No. I can only guess where you're headquartered at, Mr. Philemon. Is it at Lungmen, by any chance?"

A question that was answered with a pleased nod. Very convenient placements! "Good deduction, Ms. Amiya. Midsummer Labs is indeed based in Lungmen, and it is important to know what we specialize in. To ensure that, you, along with Ms. Closure, are free to ask questions on us, though we can't guarantee if some questions can be answered."

A promise on transparent questioning, yet a disclaimer that says otherwise? I have to say, Philly here plays a hard bargain. Still, who am I to stay silent when I can ask?

"Let me jump in with a question then, Mr. Philemon! What exactly do you dabble in at Midsummers?"

Seems I clicked the right button. Mr. Phil had a pleased expression! "An excellent question, Ms. Closure, in which I will elaborate. Midsummer's Dream Laboratories handles subjects such as psychology, in which we delve upon the concept of human cognitions and their inner selves. In this case, we specialize in cognitive science, the study of our minds, how we behave and act, how our cognitions perceive the world around us."

"We don't dive into just that though. We do more than study what's in our heads. Surveillance support, Originium study, info gathering, and medical practice. We also have a hand in making sure the Infected in Lungmen live all nice and dandy. In short, we do a lot! We mainly do the psychology and Originium stuff though."

2 fields of study, dabbles in scouting endeavors, offers medical treatments, and also aids the Infected. If someone were to ask me, I'd say this laboratory can't be called a laboratory at this point! More like, they're pretty much like us, doing so many different things under the cover of a company that only does one thing! Kinda cute when you think about it…wait, what am I saying?!

Doctor Ren opted to stay silent, nodding all the while in interest while Amiya pushed on. "I see. Why do you want to cooperate with us, Mr. Philemon, Mr. Zenkichi?"

"I'm afraid our reasons can be traced to recent events, Ms. Amiya. Our surveillance network goes far and wide, even outside Lungmen due to our technology. As such, we have witnessed your exploits in Chernobog, and the chaos that ensued. It was quite the dreadful sight."

OK. That was enough to cause alarm to all of us. Our entire operation had been watched the entire time and we never knew?! Did they somehow get their hands on stealth tech and applied it to a bunch of spy drones? If it's possible, and they did, then it's a good thing they're coming to our side! We could put them to good use!

Doctor Ren was the first to recover, rather quickly as he inquired. "When did you start watching us?"

"Let's just say that we started watching you right when you got into a fight at the park. It was not a pretty sight and those Reunion folks are shaping up to be quite the annoying bunch."

Really sounding too casual there, buddy. Now it's my turn. "And how long did you guys watch us? Don't you know it's rude to spy on people?"

My huffed response only made Philemon smile. Seriously, his level of calmness is making me jealous. "I apologize if it seemed offensive, Ms. Closure. But as they say, there are no rules in war, and war never changes." OK. That is one quote I have never heard before. Who said that?! "Regardless, we have watched you all the way until you made your escape. And one event has greatly captured our interest. I trust you know the event in question?"

Doctor Ren seemed awfully calm, but Amiya looked quite worried, I've heard rumors of what has happened, but I can't be certain for myself, and even I am getting worried!

"You are talking about Doctor Ren's Arts, are you not?"

Dobermann suddenly showed up holding a Battle Record in her hands, and already I was sweating bullets. At this point, I have to stay quiet to save my skin, if my previous barge-in was worth anything. The military instructor was already staring daggers at me as she entered the scene! At least she switched her attention to this CEO looking guy afterward, because that was so much unneeded stress. Remember, everyone! Do NOT piss off the ex-Bolivarian driller!

"Ah, Ms. Dobermann. It seems you have procured something that may be the answer to my inquiry."

Dobermann clearly looked like she wasn't having any of that calm shit. "Whether what I have now answers your question or no pales in comparison to how suspicious you are. You seem to have a very deep attention towards Doctor Ren, and I cannot trust you so easily, even if Doctor has approved of our cooperation along with Amiya's trust."

I can see Zenkichi having a frown at how distrustful Dobermann is being right now before he turned around to face her. I can't really blame the instructor for behaving like this. These men are shaping up to be shadier than the Siracusa Mafia, and that's saying something! Amiya is shifting around in her seat, and I can't tell what's going on in her head, and Doctor is just sitting silent!

"I will admit that my upbringing and requests so far have been no more than suspicious, Ms. Dobermann. But I have my own reasons for such actions. One that I unfortunately cannot disclose at the current moment. I ask that you refrain from asking about it, in honor of professionalism and secrecy."

And still Philemon remained calm as he faced Dobermann. In the end, she let out a sigh. "Very well. I will withhold from questioning your motives for now. You are not helping your own case in this matter however. I hope you understand this."

"Of course. I am aware of my own position in this delicate issue."

Philemon nodded compliantly at Dobermann's statement. I was relieved to see this situation defused as quickly as it began, though this does raise more questions. Every person has their secrets, I have my own secrets like my projects, and Mr. Philemon must be loaded with them. I mean, a CEO like him who is as calm as a puddle on the mountains must have a buttload of secrets, right?

Speaking of calm, Doctor spoke up once more. "Dobermann, what's that?"

He pointed towards the red and black device on her hand. Oh yeah, Doctor doesn't remember what they do, huh? "This device is known as a Battle Record, Doctor Ren. True to the name, it holds video records of combat performed by Rhodes Island Operators from various sources, ranging from practice drills, extractions, and surveillance operations. Each Battle Record is separated into its own class of importance, and yours is of such priority that we have to put it in the Classified Records."

I'm pretty sure Amiya's eyes widened like hell much like my own. Classified Battle Records are the highest class of Battle Records, even higher than the shiny gold colored Strategic Battle Records! The Classified Records are only viewable by the higher-ups like Amiya and Kal'tsit, as well as head instructors like Dobermann and Elites like Ace and Blaze. I know Doctor Ren actually fought in the extraction based on the rumors, but was it really such a big deal that it had to be stored in that class? Was Doctor Ren's Arts that big of a deal? Wait. Now that I think about it, Doctor Ren never actually fought in the Civil War! Why did I mentally ask myself that?!

"Classified. I don't think I need to know why my exploits have been saved in those records. But are you really sure we have to show videos of my battles to prove a point?"

The instructor kept a stern look as Doctor made that question. "This goes beyond proving a point, Doctor. Ever since the day of your rescue, everyone has been curious of your Arts. Some of which are even anxious due to the power it has. The rumor mill possibly made it worse for exaggerating the facts, and we cannot have information leaking out into the outside through our collaborators."

Dobermann's got a point. Rhodes Island has always tried to weave its way through any political nonsense, always opting to be a neutral party in every situation. If those rumors are true and Doctor's Arts literally caused a massive explosion on Chernobog, we could be looking into a serious scuffle with the Ursus officials! Hell, anyone with a brain and great power will try and do anything to get the Doctor to work for their cause, and Rhodes Island will be roped into the scheme as well! With that said, our new associates may be a threat to us due that exact deal, and I'm no fan of politics!

In light of that, Dobermann glanced at our guests with a glinting stare. "With that said, I require both of you to vow to never utter a single breath in regard to what you are about to see to anyone else outside of Rhodes Island. I do not need to remind you that the footage contained in these files are top secret since you've clearly overheard, and there will be many repercussions if word gets out."

Mr. Zenkichi was the first to speak up, rapidly in fact! "Oh, trust me on this, Ms. Dobermann. We're not fond of deep-rooted politics as well. There's so much needless stress involved, and we don't want any part in those kinds of problems!"

Nice to know that Mr. Businessman is picking up fast! "As do I. I have no desire to expose secrets that are not originally my own, and as a leader of an independent company, I do not wish to be placed under scrutiny by the officials for needless assumptions. You have my word of silence, Ms. Dobermann."

Mr. Philemon stood up as he faced the instructor and raised his hand as if he's making a solemn vow before a court martial. With how serious these two are, I don't really see a need for worry with them, and it seems she agreed. "Very well then. I thank you two for the cooperation. With that settled, I ask that you two follow me to the Projector Room. Amiya, Doctor, you come as well.

Amiya and Doctor stood up while I remained there, eyes slackened as I wasn't mentioned. Also, is it just me, or did Doctor SNICKER at me at the fact?! "Wait! Dobermann! What about me?! I'm an important figure too!"

The instructor gave me a cold stare, and I shirked. "…As long as you do not cause trouble. Otherwise, you're doing 10 laps on deck, understand?"

"Yes ma'am!"

God forbid I go out doing even a single lap up top. I can't even survive a single lap in the Training Facilities! I need to make sure I'm on my best behavior! On the flip side, finally I'll be able to see the truth behind the rumors of Doctor's Arts! Keep in mind. Doctor never stepped into actual battle before. And knowing the old Doc, he won't hesitate to use his own Arts for his own gain. Anything's baseless unless you get concrete proof after all, and those Classified Records are the key to debunking them!

I just hope I don't make a fool of myself even more than I already did.

- Take Your Time –

"S-such power… And he offered to let me suck him…"

I don't know why Amiya gave the idea to bring Warfarin with us, and it certainly wasn't comfortable hearing her mumble that innuendo. But as they say, seeing is believing, and she has every right to be as wide eyed as I am.

Because right now, I'm officially blown out of my goddamn mind.

"…Huh, so that's what I look like on video camera. Nice."

Doctor, that was an awfully casual remark for someone who has Arts that involved summoning a literal DEMON from hell! I mean, what the hell was that?! It had large feathery wings, an outright scary face, and looked all-around old school Victorian with a black and red scheme! And then comes the part where Ren duked out against all sorts of Reunion chumps with a knife, and then he decides to rob a katana and dual wield like a badass gangster that literally dipped his whole face in blood! Forget deprived! Doctor's amnesia became one massive upgrade for his entire physical being!

And then comes the demon in question. There's no doubt that demon is linked to his Arts. Every time he performs an Arts attack, that thing shows up and copies his motions, such as when Doctor shot a ball of dark energy to the ground, and it shot upward in a blast (Did I mention those blasts have ghastly faces?!). Not to mention that the demon can also perform powerful physical strikes, if those footages of Reunion soldiers getting blown away as he either jabbed or swung his katana in an arc with the demon present. An Arts that allows one to call upon a creature that's an expert in physical combat and Arts… Man, I can just picture the look on Dr. Kal'tsit's face when she sees this. She'll be blown out of her mind!

"Doctor… Doctor did all this earlier, to protect us all?" Thus came the awed voice of Amiya. She always did have the highest praises for him.

"Yes. As soon as you fainted, Dr. Ren immediately took command of our escape from Talulah's main forces. He even stayed behind to buy us time to escape. A crazy proposition, I might add, but he has proven to get the job done, as you may have guessed yesterday. It was a shame that we can't acquire footage of him when we fell back, however."

Okay, Dobermann. That is one of the very few moments where you have practically slipped up! Luckily enough, we have Midsummer Labs to cover for lost footage featuring our beloved Dr. Ren! I gotta ask for spare copies of the footage when I have the chance, because footage involving our Doctor and Reunion's leader is probably some epic shot that I do NOT want to miss!

"Wow… You're so amazing, Doctor! I… I'm sorry I can't be any more help to you. I should have tried harder to stop Talulah's attack, and I failed…"

Dr. Ren did nothing other than look at Amiya and pat her on the head. Seriously, she needs to give herself more credit. "It's alright, Amiya. Really, if you hadn't been around, I wouldn't even be able to get out of that steel crypt. You need to give yourself more credit. If not for your leadership, we wouldn't be able to get out of there alive, and I'm thankful to you for that."

I couldn't figure out her expression since the projector room is like a mini cinema complete with a popcorn stand, but I can tell she has her spirits lifted. "Thank you for your kind words, Doctor. It means a lot to me."

"Wow… So that's what a Persona user looks like on camera. I have to say, that looked real cool to see it on live footage."

Zenkichi's offhand comment made everyone stare at him. Bad move for exposing yourself, and Dobermann has you hot on your heels! "Excuse me, Mr. Zenkichi. But what do you mean by Persona user?"

Zenkichi immediately succumbed to panic at hearing the instructor's question, and in comes Mr. Philemon, saving his day. "I believe it is best that I answer your question, Ms. Dobermann. Plainly speaking, Mr. Zenkichi made such a careless comment because he too is capable of such Arts, along with myself."

That answer alone made ripples among everyone present. You're saying that this businessman guy is capable of doing the kind of Arts Doctor can do?! I had to follow up on that! "Mr. Philemon! Mind sharing what you mean with the rest of the class? You're practically causing shockwaves here!"

"But of course, Ms. Closure. No doubt everyone is anxious to know of the origins of such strength that Dr. Ren possesses."

With a brisk nod, Mr. Philemon stood up onto the stage. With that said, I have to shake Warfarin out of it. Doctor's show of strength sent her into a daydream stance, and with how she was mumbling, I had to snap her out!"

"W-What? Closure, what happened? I feel like I was out for a while…"

"Philly over there is gonna explain what Doctor's power is all about! Get your head in gear!"

And that was enough to shift Warfarin's eyes into high gear. Now that I think about it, if she's here, that means she's also interested in Doctor's new Arts! Silly me for being slow! Nevertheless, the stage has been set for long awaited lecture on the powers of this so-called Persona Mr. Zenkichi blabbered about, and Mr. Philemon opened his explanations with a small bow. He's really getting into the mood, isn't he?

"Before I delve into the subject of Persona, I must first recount into what we, as members of Midsummer's Dream Laboratories, mainly research. Psychology's branch of cognitive science can be said to be a very delicate subject, for it discusses the matters of the human mind and its workings, along with the concepts that encapsulate the matter. Our minds are capable of perceiving many things and give them meaning. It also houses the many personalities we use for many situations."

Everyone nodded briskly at his recap, but I feel this information is redundant, and it looks like Amiya is of the same mind. "I appreciate the recap, Mr. Philemon. But excluding Ms. Warfarin, I feel most of us already know of what your main focus of research is."

Philemon let out a knowing hum hearing Amiya's words, and to my side, Warfarin had a look of dread. That's what you get for missing out, my fellow Vampire! "I understand, Ms. Amiya. It is through such studies and research however that we have managed to unearth the mysteries of the power of Persona. The power of Persona revolves on how firm our grip is on our identity, on who we are. To confirm, tell me this. Are you aware of the many and varied selves that are within you?"

Philemon raised his palm as if planning to make a taunting gesture. On the top of his palm, some sort of statue like thing materialized into being, only then did we realize that it was a yellow Sankta figurine, clad in robes. Was that his form of Arts that he mentioned?

"The self, suffused with divine love?"

He then did the same gesture with his other hand, and another figurine, now of red color emerged. A squint of an eye and I can tell it's a Sarkaz, clad with regal armor with bat wings on its back and large horns.

"The self, capable of demonic cruelty?"

He lowered his palms, and the figurines disintegrated into sparkly dust. I can hear Amiya and Warfarin letting out voices of awe at his display, and I have to admit, those figurines looked beautiful. I wonder if Philemon would be kind enough to let me have those figurines so I can sell them?

What? Rhodes' financial cases went to shit without the Doctor! I have to make every leeway possible, get it? Then again, we do have a shopping district for that…

"Midsummer Labs strives to uncover the workings of our mind, which is a fundamental basis of expressing the power of Arts, through one of its most important components: the ego, our sense of self. Though the ego doesn't always manifest via Arts, ego is still a major factor in one's personality and thus expressions of Arts. "

"Sense of self... there are many definitions and factors which humans use to reinforce that. There is a reason why ego isn't always apparent in Originium Arts practice; it isn't such a simple thing to conceive that it can be easily expressed."

Warfarin's statement was met with a satisfied nod. "Precisely, Ms. Warfarin. All the more reason why forms of Arts which do successfully give shape to the abstract ego warrants a great amount of research. Doctor Ren's Arts for example, is something we have already identified in other individuals before, as expressions of ego through the use of metaphorical 'masks'."

Dobermann chimed a question towards that. "Masks, what are you referring to, Mr. Kaleidus?"

"I am referring to the many selves we have within, which ties to how we perceive our experiences. People live while wearing many masks, and how you currently act may be the result of subconsciously donning one of such masks. Through our extensive research, we have discovered a way to call upon our masks as power to use as we see fit."

"And this power is what you refer as Persona?"

"Correct, Ms. Dobermann. Through the power of Persona, we are capable of manifesting the many selves we have within as power to perform many deeds, from offensive capabilities to providing support on the field, among others. At Midsummer Labs, we assign the names of Tarot Arcanas for Persona users based on how the Arcanas themselves reflect each user. Mr. Zenkichi for example falls under the Apostle Arcana, a special Arcana that is in parallel with the Hierophant Arcana, symbolizing man who walks the path of life upholding his beliefs and his own perceptions of law."

Something quickly manifested in Philemon's hands at that moment, which seems to be a card with the picture of a... robed man with a staff? Anyone worth their salt would know that's a Tarot card! "The power of Persona is simply one form which the ego can be expressed via Arts. As we all differ in how we define, develop, and express our sense of self, Arts derived from this inner self would be myriad and unique in abilities and forms. These qualities, along with the need to generalize it as a subject, prompted us to label these expressions 'Ego Arts'."

"So, people with an average aptitude for Arts wouldn't be able to use these kinds of Arts at all... I see."

Amiya's muttering aside, I found myself nodding with a sly smile at how nifty Midsummers' class assignments are until Warfarin poked me on the shoulder. Of course, I have to oblige. "Hey, Closure. Don't we have an Operator who excels at these Arcana things?"

I had to smile at her question, grin even! "You're right on that! Gitano will have a field trip getting to know Philemon better!" Our resident diviner from Sami is who I meant. A calm diviner who gets into the jitters when it comes to the gambles. If they're gonna roll with Arcanas like how she does, I wonder if they have their own diviner with them. Maybe Philemon himself is a fortune teller on the side?

Still... Ego Arts, huh? I'll admit, I'm more inclined to call them Arts as Personas in my opinion but considering they're a branch of these Ego Arts, who knows how many other branches there are in this group? This group of Arts seem to be new to me, but with how unique it is and the potential it carries alone, there's gonna be a lot of people flocking towards

"And how can one achieve the Arts that Doctor now possesses? I doubt only getting into grips with our identities will be the only qualifications." Dobermann cutting it straight! We were just gossiping here!

"Very perceptive, Ms. Dobermann. Indeed, being certain of your own identity is not the only condition to awaken to the power of Persona. You must also be able to make peace with your inner shadows, the self that harbors the things that you deny the most. Know of the harsh reality you live in with death hanging over you and realize your own weakness along with your desire to rebel against said harshness."

"Hmm… To make peace with our inner shadows…" Came Dobermann's knowing thoughts voiced out.

"Know of our harsh reality…" Came Amiya's mellow words.

"...And realize our weakness, as well as our urge to fight back against reality? That's real deep."

And then came my own words, half nonchalant, and half deep in thought. Simply put, the power of Persona can only be awakened by one who is real true to himself, completely uncensored, completely aware of his/her own faults. Not to mention that you have to be willing to rise against Terra's hellish world filled with injustice and vice, even if the world is gonna come at you with everything it's got. Simply put, great power with great responsibility deal, and for Persona, you have to shoulder your many selves while also remaining true to yourself. I'll be honest, my mind is still struggling to wrap around all these conditions! It's hard stuff!

"Alas, while I say this, and the fact that coming to terms with your shadows is difficult alone, there is an issue when it comes to awakening to your Personas."

OK, the fact that Philemon said "alas" is a bad sign. "What do you mean there's an issue?" And Dr. Ren is the first to articulate, after staying silent for so long! And even worse? Philemon was sighing with his arms crossed.

"The issue in question is one that we have tried to tackle and provide answers to, Dr. Ren. An issue that I'm afraid we have made no progress on. Because of this problem, the number of people who carry the potential of being Persona wielders are abysmally low. After much deliberation, however, we have agreed that this issue is best left unsolved, for the power of our masks can bring great destruction at the wrong hands."

At that point, I can only sigh. Philemon's got a very good point here. On one hand, it sucks that because of some random problem that Midsummers chose to practically abandon, we won't be seeing a bunch of Persona wielders on Terra. Just imagine the sheer strength our Operators would get if they unlocked such power! On another hand, we would in deep trouble if our opposition like Reunion got their hands on the power Persona. They already have monsters like Talulah on their side and facing more people like her all at once is just asking for a death warrant!

"I see. It is a shame, but a wise choice nonetheless to keep the consequences of such power in mind, Mr. Philemon. I assume that since you now know that the Doctor is capable of using Personas, you intend to have our cooperation serve as a cover for observing him, no?"

Philemon fell into light chortle under our instructor's accusation. "I will admit that that is part of our objective, but that pales in comparison to our main objective. From the moment we discovered the power of Persona, Midsummer Labs aspires to aid Persona users in developing their power, to nurture their ego through their life experiences. You do not need to worry for your Doctor's safety, for that is also our priority."

They really know what to focus on in this deal when it comes to combat, huh? With how rare Persona users are, it'd be obvious how valuable they are to their cause. Dobermann let out a satisfied hum at his answer. "I appreciate your honesty, Mr. Philemon. I must say that I am surprised at your transparency with us so far, both in your goals and objectives."

"Is it not the proper way to act when we both share the same noble goal? We have seen the world's cruelties and their suffering, the people wrought with a disease that eat away at their lives. While Rhodes handles the providence of physical care, we in turn provide the mental aid. And together, perhaps we can bring about the light of a new age as we weave through the many crises we may face."

The more I get to know him, the more I see that Philemon may not be that shady of a guy. Virtuous, idealistic, and well in-touch with reality as he maintained his calm and well-mannered behavior. Midsummer Labs really lucked out with a leader like him, that's certain. I'm sure he's done with his explanations, because he returned to his seat right beside Dobermann. Amiya, who was behind him, spoke up curiously.

"Um, I may not know of Arcanas that much, Mr. Philemon, but what Arcana would Dr. Ren be?"

I can hear Warfarin and Philemon chuckling at how Amiya asked so curiously. "You need not worry about your limited knowledge, Ms Amiya. As for what Arcana the Doctor may be, we can only ascertain it after we have come to know the user better. Though, for someone like the Doctor, we may be able to ascertain his Arcana through a little…demonstration."

I heard a grunt that can only mean a good hunch, and I think I have a good idea as well! "You mean that you wish to see the Doctor's display of Arts live in person?"

And that question was met with a chuckle. "Correct, Ms. Dobermann. I am sure that you want everyone else at Rhodes to bear witness to this as well. This is also a prime time to showcase one of our company products. Mr. Zenkichi, I would like you to open the case."

"I was wondering when you'll bring this up, Phil."

OK. Now I can't pass off the chance to have the first look of products made by other companies! I made a little motion towards Warfarin, and we immediately moved our asses towards Dr. Ren and Amiya's seat lane, just so we can get front row seats in the unveiling! Zenkichi undid the clasps keeping the case shut, and slowly threw it open. What waited for us within was…

"Is this a cane?" Amiya looked quite confused.

"A smartphone? And a rather high end one too." Warfarin looked on in curiosity.

"What concerns me is that firearm there. Is Midsummer Labs even authorized to make firearms in the first place?" Dobermann looked at Philemon at scrutiny.

Well, all in all, this looked like a very set of items and I have no clue where to start with my choice of interest. Well, save the firearm because no way in hell they'll be able to make their own guns unless the Laterano folks gave out their patents to make their own!

"Haha. Do not worry, Ms. Dobermann. Our company has been authorized to manufacture fully patented firearms straight from the Laterano Notarial Hall. We have also gained authorization to manufacture our own weaponry from the Lungmen officials. And through our research in Originium, most of our weaponry are capable of conducting Arts by carefully infusing processed Originium with a portion of a Persona's essence."

The more I hear about this Persona thing, the more I'm getting at its versatility. Maybe our Engineering Department can- nay, WILL benefit from their Originium researchers sharing their tips and tricks for augmenting our weaponry! With how Doctor's Persona is all about, when the time comes, we can get some dark Arts in our weapons! Maybe something for Melantha? We need to give our feline swordsman a well-deserved upgrade, and we can't afford to wait a few months for her second promotion!

"Interesting. I'm guessing these weapons are just prototypes? That doesn't seem to be an ordinary cane." Warfarin chimed in with her assumption, picking up the cane in question. And she would be right! Why would a cane have a very thin gap near the middle of it? There's also a little cut area at the middle, as if something was meant to be installed in it.

"Excellent deduction, Ms. Warfarin. Indeed, all are weapons are meant to be tested before being augmented by infused Originium. We have made these weapons recently, and it is all made specially for Dr. Ren after analyzing his combat style." A coolly supplied explanation from Philemon up front, and I can see Dr. Ren smirking at the sight of that firearm. Never knew he was interested in guns. Then again, amnesia!

"I've always wanted something to shoot drones with." Huh. That's actually a very good reason.

"You will have all the time you'll need to test your new weapons out, Dr. Ren. With that said, I think it's time we give Rhodes Island a demonstration of Doctor's newfound strength." Everybody turned to face Dobermann, myself included, all with a mix of varied expressions. One thing's certain though. This is a long time coming.

"Right! Everyone, please come with me to the Training Halls!"

I don't know what came over everyone afterward, but all of a sudden, we're marching out of the cinema Projector Room like a bunch of soldiers heading for war. Maybe it's because of the excitement of being able to display Dr. Ren's strength to everyone, or is it anxiety to know what kind of power Doctor holds after the explanation? I'm definitely part of the latter, because even after hearing Philemon's rhetoric, nothing beats live demonstration! Amiya led the pack, while I'm out in the back. No one got left behind, at least, I thought so, until I noticed a shadow behind me.

There was a cat behind me. Why is it here? Was it here the entire time?! How did I not notice it?!

- Take Your Time –

Did I forget to mention that we recently took in a Reunion defect?

"Ahh… steady, steady! No-AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

And he just happens to have a very crappy jetpack?

"Ah! Hang on!"

Well, it's a good thing we have Angelina to cover for him in case he falls! Angelina is our resident courier that we picked up when she was busy jumping on rooftops that one night, and now she's one of our valued residents and combat Operators of the Supporter class! Green, but full of potential, the perfect quote for our cheery Vulpo highschooler! What's also notable is that her Originium Arts is capable of altering the gravitational pull around her!

Good thing too, otherwise Kevin will have several bones broken! As soon as our Ursus fellow fell, Angelina held her staff upward and went into Anti-Gravity Mode, his fall greatly slowed upon activation, to the point where it seemed as if he was slowly landing on the ground instead! When he did land on his feet, jetpack on his back, he took off his hood and face mask, and he was sweating bullets. Who'd have thought our Persona demonstration had to be delayed because of him? Everyone was in deep thought at the display before them.

"…He's not having the best of times with his jetpack, is he?" Zenkichi was looking at him in pitiful fashion while I'm just here rubbing hands at how that jetpack is made. If possible, we need to give that thing a well-deserved upgrade. It looks so scrappy!

"Considering the state of his equipment, it would seem to be the case. It is fortunate to see that someone came to his aid, however. Every day I bear witness to a new form of Arts, one no less fascinating than the rest." Philemon instead paid attention to Angelina as she talked to Kevin. Why is he curious of something common? Maybe it's the variety? He can do those too, you know?

"I'm more worried on Kevin's condition. If Angelina wasn't around, he'd have suffered fatal injuries from the fall alone. Based on yesterday's interview though, he's been doing this ever since he joined Reunion. Seeing this is already concerning alone. Imagine his previous operations with his jetpack!" Warfarin shared Zenkichi's sentiments with more sympathy than pity, and it's honestly justified in my opinion. People with jetpacks are most likely assigned to ambushes and high elevation transports. If his jetpack conked out in the middle of the air, who's going to save him?

"Angelina, Kevin, come here."

Then in comes Dobermann along with Ren, Amiya, and that cat from earlier, perched on the good ol' Doctor's shoulders, and the both of them rushed to the Instructor, possibly for introductions and general reports. Warfarin ran over to the 3 of them, most likely to check on Kevin's condition, leaving me with our two guests, alone. Yes. I pretty much sighed at that moment.

"I gotta say, Closure. I had an idea when Amiya said Halls, but I didn't expect it to be this expansive. This is a far cry compared to the ones back at the Labs!"

With how impressed our businessman friend sounded, excuse me if I puffed my chest out in pride. "But, of course, Mr. Zenkichi! Our training facility is a state-of-the-art, all available ever since we made this Ark our home base! It's capable of simulating many different environments, from cityscapes, deserts, forests, and even arctic lands! It's also capable of making holographic versions of enemy combatants based on our available data!"

Philemon in turn also turned his eyes my way, with a look of amusement plastered all over. Was he interested in my explanation too? "Haha. You seem to have a sense of pride regarding these Training Halls, Ms. Closure. Though, it would be wrong of me to demean you of such merit. We also have our own training grounds built at Midsummers for our Persona users and guards, but it pales in comparison to what your facilities have to offer."

And now my pride is swelling up even more than a balloon. "Thanks for the consideration, Mr. Philemon! I'll be honest though. This whole ship won't be running without me around! I was here when we first discovered the Ark, and I've devoted my entire life to making sure everything here runs smoothly! Why would I "not" deem our home my pride and joy?"

And Philemon lets out another chortle at my admission. "Knowing you as head of Engineering, I have no doubt that you see this massive construct, perceiving it as if it is your own child. Nothing can bring happier joy to one than seeing the child you raised achieve great things. Or rather, in your case, repair and maintain."

"Playing it real smooth, Phil. Look, you made the young lady blush!"

For a comment obviously loaded with sarcasm, Zenkichi was right. How the CEO spoke so calmly with that knowing smile left me laughing quietly while scratching my cheek. He's really nailing the head on his assumptions. With how hard I've been working on repairing the Ark back when we first came to be all the way back then until now, I've really begun to look at this massive mobile base as my very own kid, my own pride and joy. It's actually kinda scary how easy Philemon can see through our minds even if it's by chance, almost as if he's observing our daily lives… Should I have to worry about their stealth drones watching us now? Knowing Phil, he won't be so arrogant as to sneak a few drones in the Ark beforehand, right? Right?!

Anyway, I had to quickly distract myself, and what better way to do so than Dobermann and the others approaching us? I had to call out to them! "Guys! How's Kevin? He didn't get any broken bones or anything, right? Where is he now?"

It was Amiya who spoke up first, and she looked quite relieved! "He didn't, thankfully. When we asked him about his jetpack, he actually made it from parts gathered after Reunion took over Chernobog's military bases. The results…well…"

As Amiya trailed off while poking her squishy cheek, it's Dobermann's turn! "While it showed promise, it's clear to all of us that the jetpack he personally made carried risks of fatal accidents. We are lucky that Angelina was there to save him with his Arts, otherwise it'd be disastrous. Under his permission, he's allowed us to upgrade his jetpack into a much better model. As for where he is, Ansel is currently tending to him now over in Med Bay. I leave the redesigning of his jetpack to you, Closure."

Kevin, you've officially become my new number one NEW Operator! I've always wanted to get my hands on one of those jetpacks so I can reverse engineer it and then manufacture our own! And now the chance is now in my grasp! Maybe I should get him a drink later on to thank him! Oh, I'm so giddy right now!

"You can count on me, Dobermann! You have my official Closure guarantee!" Of course, the Closure guarantee comes with my thumbs up, yet Dobermann just sighed!

"Just don't get any funny ideas with it. Remember, Kevin trusted us, his former enemies to tamper with it. It would do us well to repay his trust." I had to mentally sigh at that reminder. Of course I get how big of a deal this is! Why else would I want to treat him to a cold pop?! Anyway, Amiya and Ren were busy talking to each other, and I can hear Zenkichi and Philemon chatting about the Training Hall so I decided to talk more with Dobermann regarding the testing.

"Jetpack hijinks aside, how goes the prep for Doctor's evaluation, Dobermann? We just going to jump straight to it?"

Dobermann responded with a shake of his head. Did something happen? "If you're thinking of the test immediately jumping into Doctor's Arts Assimilation test, then that will not be the case. Do you know the Ursus Student Self-Government Group?"

"Those kids we rescued from Chernobog with Doctor? Yeah, I know." How would I not know? The U.S.S.G has been the second biggest news in the Rhodes network right under Doctor's whole being right now!

Dobermann nodded approvingly and continued on. "Well, the evaluation team has just finished their tests with Rosalind. One of the Ursus students of the pack. One of the instructors tipped off Dr. Ren's evaluation right after their leader, Sonya's tests to one of the students, and now she outright requested to be tested right alongside him."

I can only lift an eyebrow at that. Has there been a time where there are two new Operators tested at the same time in the same hall? To give an idea, there's at least 5 Training Halls in Rhodes, and they're all equally large with equal capabilities. If there was one test conducted already, I probably forgot. "That seems very unconventional as hell to me, Dobermann. Would there any problems with giving a yes on that request?"

Dobermann chuckled at my musings, which is honestly uncommon, for me at least! "On the contrary, this makes for a very efficient test. Both Doctor and Sonya have not been evaluated yet in combat, and with his newest weapons gifted to him by Midsummer Labs, it is essential that we test his weapon as well to ensure its quality. Though his exploits in Chernobog can supply enough proof of his combat prowess, it would be detrimental if his cane and gun proved to be a dud, no?"

I can only nod in thought at Dobermann's explanation. I can understand the gun, but the cane though! Aren't canes supposed to be blunt in the first place? Regardless, no point mulling on that forever. It's time for the tests!" Dobermann ushered the Midsummer guests to the Observation Room while I did the work with Amiya, running over to her and the Doctor.

"Amiya! You wanna stick around?! It's time for Dr. Ren to be evaluated!"

Our company mascot and leader's ears perked up at my call and she turned towards me, nodding before looking at our hooded participant. "Good luck with the evaluation, Doctor. Do your best!"

"Right."

With that, Amiya ran over to the door to the Observation Room. Dr. Ren in the meantime just looked at me curiously, cane in hand. "You're not gonna follow them, Closure?"

Figured its time I adopt a sheepish smile. I crossed my arms behind my head and answered. "Later on. I'm just here to give you a heads up, Doctor! You could say that your tests are gonna be rather special~."

"What? Do I have to blow up the entire Training Hall?"

That answer threw me so far gone I staggered in place and shook my head like a rabid naysayer. "No, no, no! You're not even allowed to do that! You're just gonna do your tests with another recruit! That's it!"

You know what he did while I was busy explaining what he's really supposed to do? He was laughing his ass off! This jackass amnesiac made fun of me! "Sorry, sorry! Call it a way to lighten up. Who's the new recruit?"

"…You'll know it when you see it."

And with that remark, I stormed off with a huff, leaving behind a singular Doctor who is probably looking very amused at how I'm running off like a flustered girl discovered only wearing her undies. Seriously, I know the Doctor had amnesia, but who would have thought his amnesia would cause his personality to go on a literal 180 from a cold man fixed on war to someone who enjoys messing with people! Add that with his looks and he's a guaranteed chick magnet!

Calm down, Closure. Calm down. I'm sure this will all blow over soon…

- Take Your Time –

"You took your sweet time, Closure. Did you take a toilet break or something?"

I can only sigh in a deadpanned fashion at Dobermann's dry question. "No, Dobermann. I just thought to give Dr. Ren a heads up on the test, and I sorely underestimated how hard his personality shifted."

Amiya visibly chuckled, while Philemon, who was standing on her left, had an amused expression. Not really in the best mood here! "Hehe, It's understandable, Miss Closure. But it feels much nicer seeing Doctor be more talkative, right?"

I pretty much groaned at Amiya's consolation. Sure, the current Doctor is pretty much leagues better than the old Doctor, but it sucks that my chances of me teasing him now is damn lower if he can bite back like that. I straightened myself out and took point on Dobermann's right. In order from left, Zenkichi, Philemon, Amiya, Dobermann, and me, all standing in front of a massive screen showing footage of the currently blanked out Training Hall, all in white and gray. Warfarin's team of medics is situated nearby in case something goes wrong.

By the way, I already told Philemon and Zenkichi on how capable the Training Halls are, but here I have to explain how the Halls actually work. The Training Halls initially start out in a blank state. White landscape with nothing to make a show of it. Normally this works just as fine if you want to do some regular training or personal reps. But in situations where our analysts want to gather data from new combat recruits like this one, or when we want to collect combat footage in bulk during drills, that's when the magic of technology comes into play! Through a series of variables that we can apply through the Observation Room's console, we can alter the whole terrain of the Training Hall to our benefit! The variables also include realistic holograms of the many enemies we've fought before, from Slugs, Monster Drones, Reunion Wraiths, to the dubious Armed Militants!

I mean, how else would you Doctors be able to get your Strategic Battle Records from Annihilation drills? 3 is not much, but they're very valuable! Save it or use it!

Anyway, we stared at the screen for a while. Or rather, they stared while I looked around the Observation Room, and from a sizable distance, sitting on a sofa, I can see a group of Ursus girls and that black cat eagerly watching the screen, as if waiting for someone. One of them, the yellow haired one, caught sight of me, and waved at me with a smile. With how cute she is, how can I not wave back? Kinda weird that was holding a frying pan with her though. Did she go to Logistics?

Anyway, back to the screen, and I can see someone approaching as the video zoomed in. It was a brown-haired Ursus girl, waving around an axe with a hand curled up. Soon as they met up, they began to talk. Good thing the live feed also captures audio!

"Here. Catch."

The Ursus girl threw something at Dr. Ren and he looked at it. Now that I look at Dobermann's ear, she's wearing something similar, and that bear girl's wearing the same thing too. A communicator?

"Huh. I had a few guesses, and you're one of them. Didn't expect to see you so soon, Sonya. Guessing the Instructor wanted me to wear this?" Dr. Ren knows her? Maybe they met back in Chernobog?

"Yep. Says that she can talk to you through this thing. Helps with the tests and whatever else that comes up."

Doctor wasted no time in wearing it, doing a few adjustments as he fitted himself. After that, he spoke once more. "Right. Now, what's the deal, Sonya? I know it's only a short time since we both came here, but I don't think Rhodes Island normally does this for their combat exams. Is this your idea?" At least I know now that Dr. Ren's perception hasn't dulled in the slightest. It's so on point it's scary.

Sonya however began smirking. "Yeah, and I have my own reasons for that. One of which is how well you do in a fight. Don't think I forgot how you look like a bloody mess back when we first met. That there's a sign that you've been pummeling people left and right, and I don't forget people like that so easily."

You gotta give props to how direct and confident this kid is being! Seems even Dr. Ren agrees with me too! "So you pretty much set this up just so you can watch me do my stuff? What, do I have to fight you for my combat test?"

"That is correct. Doctor." And Dobermann clarified it for us. Combat between a newly recruited operator and our recently retrieved Doctor who reportedly has very destructive Arts…

"Wait. I'm sorry, what?"

I was practically wide-eyed when Dobermann turned to face me. Pretty much lost for words here! "What's wrong, Closure?"

I sputtered the words out like a messed-up tape. "D-Dobermann… Y-You're not suggesting that this kid end up being a test dummy for Dr. Ren's Arts, are you?"

And then she proceeds to look at me as if I lost my marbles which, for the record, I have not! "Obviously not. The test with Sonya is to determine both of their combat capabilities. The first half will involve close combat between the two Operators without any use of Arts. The second half will determine their teamwork capabilities against a series of holographic opponents, with Dr. Ren strictly only using his Arts and gun to support Sonya's assault. Does that answer your question, Closure?"

"You know I can hear that, right? Thanks for the info dump, by the way." And our Doctor decided to articulate my relief as we both sighed for entirely different reasons. Really, what was I thinking? Sonya's just a kid, and I don't think her friends and their pet will be happy seeing their leader getting burned to a crisp! They'd tear us apart, and considering that one of them carried siege equipment, I do not want my body hanging on the wall literally!

Anyway, as we turned back towards the screen, giving us a clear side view of the both of them as if they're in a stand-off. Seriously, the CCTV drones are doing such a good job at making this look like a movie.

"I have to say, I had a good hunch that this was your idea. And after hearing that we have to duke it out in the first half, now I'm certain."

A smirk for a smirk, and Sonya replied smoothly. "What? You got a problem with being beaten up by a girl?"

"No. If anything, this whole setup just made this test a lot more interesting. When I met you, I felt the air of a delinquent on you. The good kind of delinquent."

Doctor's well-mannered assessment only made our Ursus recruit snort. "Good on you for being honest, pal. Yeah, I had quite the streak before shit went south, but let's not bring that up now. I'm here to fight for my work, and so do you. Don't even think of holding back on me, got that?"

"Likewise. In fact, I insist."

Now just watching them do some mild talking before their fight feels nice, but in the end, we have to get this show on the road! "Alright, you two. Since you two seem so eager on brawling right then and there, I will oblige you two for now. Prepare the simulation!"

If anything, I'd say our Head Instructor was very amused at their interactions! Either way, it's time for the Rhodes Island technological magic to work its charm! The analysts began pushing buttons and computing many lines of code as the Training Hall began to light up. Buildings are rising up seemingly from the ground, and the ceiling starts to emit a darker shade with lampposts popping out of the woodworks. To add a bit of flair, speaker boxes are carried over to the sidewalk corners by the medical staff on site!

In a matter of time, our Training Hall, merely blank as a whiteboard, transformed into a city 3-way intersection, complete with the hustle and bustling scenery of nightlife, if you ignore the fact that the hustle is nonexistent with people not around other than the medic crew! Our two participants are staring at the process in awe, and I can't be any prouder. I restored these bad boys after all!

"Making it out like some sort of street brawl, huh? Rhodes Island sure knows what's up."

"Yep. Whoever made all this, I have to give them props."

Ah, yes. Praise me more, my newfound subjects. Recognize my efforts more, I insist!

I can hear Amiya laughing awkwardly. Am I looking like an idiot right now? Leave me alone! Let me have my moment!

Anyway! While I was busy basking in their praises, Dobermann gave out the heads up. "Okay, you two. The test will begin soon, so look sharp. On my-"

"Hold."

As soon as Philemon spoke, I shook myself off my funk. And at that moment, EVERYONE began staring at the CEO! Dobermann, Amiya, Zenkichi, me, the analysts, hell, even the Ursus students and their cat! Dobermann especially since she's looking really annoyed!

"…Is there something you want to add before we begin the simulation, Mr. Kaleidus?"

And as usual, our guest puts on his usual mask of calmness! "Yes. I assume that with the presence of speakers, music is commonly played during these simulations, yes?"

Since I want to save Dobermann trouble, I answered in her stead. "Not really. We have someone here who has a lot of mixtapes, but she's the only one who uses music for training here." So yeah, the Training Halls also come with music players for those who enjoy jamming to some beats during spars or training sessions. The only issue is that we have so few Operators who use it, and the only one I remember off the bat is Vigna since she's a literal aspiring rock star!

"Then you will not mind if I apply a bit of motivation in this simulation, so to speak."

We literally have no idea what he's talking about until he took out the smartphone that was from the case earlier out of his pocket, along with a charger cable. Is he actually intending to play the music in that gadget for the simulation? Isn't that phone brand new? He doesn't seem to care as he played with the phone a bit as he approached the speaker console on the far left of the room and plugged the phone to it. Only then did he return to us, still looking at us in his calm façade! He needs to drop that at some point!

"I apologize for taking your time. You may proceed."

He's not even trying to sound apologetic with that one! With how Dobermann looking so done though, I'm pretty sure she's going to let that slide. The rest of us are pretty much as confused as everyone else! Well, at least our confusion is gonna get swatted off soon!

"Philemon tried to do something, did he?"

And with Doctor's correct guess, came Dobermann's sigh. "Yes, Doctor. Apparently, he has ideas that may help spice up the simulation, whatever he's planning at least."

"Whatever this Philemon guy did, can we hurry up? We don't have all day here."

Impatient kid here, are we? "Very well. You two, prepare yourselves. On my mark…"

On the right corner we have Sonya, the young leader of the Ursus Student Self-Government Group, wielding her woodcutter's axe as a testament to her survival on Chernobog! On the other side we have Dr. Ren, a man of many rumors and beloved Doctor of Rhodes Island, wielding his new cane to prove that the news mills are not carrying any sort of fake news!

I don't know why I thought to be a ringside announcer right now.

"Begin!"

As soon as the simulation begun and the lampposts lit up, Philemon's installed music immediately blared up in all its glory! And from the screen, both participants are smirking at the music.

"Hey, we're going with hardcore street brawl music? Not bad, not bad. I'm getting pumped up!"

"Heh, if anything both of us are pumped up. I'd say this is going to go along just fine."

Really seeming like those intros before every start of fighting game rounds, which I won't complain about! Both of them got into their stances, the stage oozing with their confidence! I can't wait to see how this goes out!

"You ready for this?"

"Heh. Come at me then!"

- Take Your Time –

Okay, before I give a summary of the brawl, I need to make a point of something.

Whoever made this brawl music, name being Receive You – Kiwami, and I'm pretty sure the Kiwami bit is Higashian, and I don't know the language for shit…

You, my friend, are a bloody genius.

This music, nay, soundtrack that Philemon installed into the speakers is practically made for our current simulation with the city street setting! The hip hop flow, the current feels of intensity and playfulness, it all coalesced into a jive that made me bop my head due to how catchy it is! It's a good thing Dobermann went back to the analysts looking over the observations, meaning I'm free to bang my head all over! I'm pretty sure everyone else in the Observation Room is jamming to it on their own ways as well!

"Hehe, this music sounds so good, isn't it, Closure?"

Amiya's giving a gentle smile as she swung her finger around in beat. Seems she's getting into the groove too! "Good? Good?! Amiya, my sweet rabbit. This soundtrack can easily top the charts if this was given lyrics or put into some realistic brawler game! I mean, look at the medic team! Look at them!"

I pointed my finger feverishly at the screen that showed Warfarin's team, and if Amiya had an expression at that moment, she would be positively surprised. That's because one of the medics is busy breakdancing! Yes. This music is such a huge rave that one of them decided to show off his moves, and hell, he's very good at it! Even Warfarin can't resist jamming to the brawler tracks! I'm getting off track though, so I swung back to the main screen where the actual combat takes place. And conclusion?

I have to pay more stock to the rumors next time. Because they weren't lying about combat capabilities on this one! They've been at each other's toes the whole round!

"Heh. Guess I was right. You really know how to brawl with the best. And you're only using a cane of all things!"

"You're not half bad yourself. I'm already breaking a sweat avoiding that axe of yours!"

Both of the combatants look worse for wear. What with Sonya sporting a few minor bruise marks on her face and body and Dr. Ren suffering a few broad light cuts and a torn jacket which we have to repair or replace, again! Seriously, his clothes when he came back was so messed up that we have to issue a new one, and now we have to make another one?!

I'm sure you guys don't want to see, hear, or read me rant about replacing people's clothes, though, so I'll just give you a run-down of the combat styles of both our student Operator and Doctor!

As per typical delinquent street style combat, Sonya focuses on rushing onto her opponents with her axe and getting onto their faces based on what we've seen so far. Her woodcutter's axe gives her a slight increase in range, but she swings hard with it. If there's anything we've learned from the Ursus race, they hit hard, and Sonya is not exception to that law with how strained Doctor seemed every time he blocked her attacks. She's also not afraid to mix up the playing field by throwing in punches and kicks to supplement her assault every once in a while, and she's overall very aggressive right from the start, unwilling to give the Doctor any ground! If I can have an opinion, I'd say she'll fit the position of a Vanguard, but we'll have to wait for the second phase to see more.

As for Dr. Ren, well, I say Sonya's unwilling to give Doctor any ground, but with how patient Doctor is being, he actually managed to keep his footing in the game! Doctor's stance however, compared to his status as a well-respected Doctor, actually mirrors a delinquent with how he sets his cane over his shoulder and sometimes swinging it as if it was a baseball bat. Beside that though, he plays a real patient game in combat, looking for any openings and then going straight for counter attacks, utilizing a series of quicksteps to get to her sides and poke her with jabs from his cane that is already reaching his lower chest in terms of length. When he does swing though, he swings quick, and knows a variety of ways to end off his attacks. Hell, I even saw him swing upward toward Sonya one time, which she blocked, and then he proceeds to whirl his cane vertically while switching hands every time, ending in a downward swing and a front kick. Amiya and I who saw it were baffled. How does one manage to wield a cane and use it like nunchakus?! It was insane!

With that properly reported, those two have been going at it for 10 minutes now, and they still look like they have some fight in them! Soon enough, Sonya rushed at Doctor once more with an overhead swing, and he blocked the sharp edge with his cane, two handed! I have to say though, once they come back, I need to see if his cane suffered any damage, because no way it's not gonna be splintered after blocking axes for a solid 10 minutes! Thankfully enough…

"That's enough, both of you. You have done well."

Dobermann announces the news from the backline, and I can hear sighs coming from the screen, and the music just happens to dim out as well. Is the music player sentient, or is it one those very convenient timings?

"Really? What the hell? I'm having the time of my life here! Talk about a blowout." Someone's certainly not satisfied.

"If anything, I'm just happy I can chill for a bit. We go any further and you're gonna make me bleed out of my ass." No shit, Doctor! Your shirt is slowly getting blood marks!

"Don't even think of relaxing just yet, you two. You still have one test ahead of you. For now, gather up with the Warfarin's team to get your wounds patched up. Once I get the report, you have a few minutes to rest up."

With our short moment of reprieve, I think it's time we learn more of our guests! I give Amiya a little nudge, and she turns to look at me curiously. "What is it, Closure?"

With a conspiratorial smile, I addressed her concerns. "Say, since we have a bit of time until Doctor and Sonya get all patched up and rested, why don't we talk to our guests some more over there? I'm sure they won't mind sharing a few secrets with us~."

I point over to Philemon and Zenkichi who're busy talking with some staff, yet Amiya frowned upon my suggestion. She was looking over past me, and I turned around to find the Ursus students chatting away happily. Is she planning to go talk to them instead?

"Do you want to go chat them up, Amiya?"

Amiya nodded briskly as she spoke up. "Yeah. I'm worried for them considering their circumstances before they joined us. I want to learn more about their situation in Chernobog before they found us."

Typical, but very thoughtful of Amiya as always to think of the well-being of others, and we all love her for it! I nod knowingly as I pat her head.

"Closure…stop that."

Your pouting is just going to make me pat you more, Amiya. "Nope. I'll be real. World needs more people like you that care so much for others, Amiya. You go ahead and chat with those kids. I'll go talk to Phil and Zen alone. That sound good?"

Amiya nodded with a small smile at my praise. "Yeah. Thanks, Closure."

And so our dear Cautus leader ran off to meet and greet our bunch of survivalist kids. In the meantime, I'm swinging by the Midsummer folks right as they were done talking with the staff! Philemon seemed to be pleased, yet Zenkichi looks rather…irked?

"Hey, folks! Hope I didn't bust into your conversation like last time!"

My jolly greeting was met with a quickly assembled nonchalance, courtesy of Zenkichi. "Oh. You're Closure, right? Really, I had a feeling you were a troublemaker, and you made me run all the way to ground level chasing you with Amiya. Ease up on this old man, won't ya?"

…OK, I may have forgotten he was there in the Golden Game Room a few hours ago. But damn, I didn't know he held that against me! Time to make a small amendment! "OK, I'll admit I didn't notice you back there, call it a moment of impulse." And then he proceeds to frown. Stop that, me! "But, but! That doesn't mean I forgot the strain I put you under, and I'm sorry for that! All I'm saying is that it's all water under the bridge, so let bygones be bygones, alright?"

I think his unamused expression is a sign that my apology, for its length, is half-assed to the fullest. And lo and behold, our Lupo guest made a sigh. "You're not trying at this, are you? You know what? You're right. I should just let this slide."

Is it just me, or is he feeling rather tired? Now that I look at him properly, I can see dark bags under his eyes. Did he not sleep well last night? I have to cut my looksies short though, because Philemon's coming over to us, and he's having a joyful expression. But for what?

"Phil, looks to me you got another agreement nailed down?" His tired expression quickly changed into an amused one, and Philemon speaks up.

"Indeed, Mr. Zenkichi. I think you'll make a fine Operator for Rhodes Island. I hope you do not mind, Ms. Closure."

Shouldn't he say that to Dobermann instead? Wait, scratch that. Operator?! "Hold up. You're lending Mr. Zenkichi to us, Mr. Philemon?!"

Philemon chuckled at how full blown I was. "But of course, Ms. Closure. I have seen examples of whenever two companies or more do a collaboration, one or all companies lend their Operators to each other. I am simply following that example."

"You do know we have to run interviews and combat simulations with him as well, right? He doesn't look well if you ask me!" Zenkichi had quite the perplexed expression on him as I brought that up. Don't think I don't see those dark bags!

"Such is why I suggested that we conduct his tests in the evening. We departed from Lungmen at late night yesterday after all, and it would be wrong of me to force Mr. Zenkichi to perform such rigorous examinations this early."

"And who's idea was it to leave right after I had dinner?"

Zenkichi shook his head while pinching the bridge of his nose. Well that explains the eye bags! Philemon is really a whimsical guy, isn't he? I can see a lot of people having trouble handling his whimsies. I mean, no other person will drag his worker 13 miles through the desert under the moonlight! And if they went here through a heli, I don't think they managed to sleep well!

"I think I'm just gonna find this bar that Closure talked about. May I?"

"Feel free. You deserve your moment of reprieve, my friend."

Zenkichi let out a sigh, and I don't think I'll be seeing him anytime in a state other than sleeping away his drunk status. Midnight, my other fellow Vampire Sarkaz is quite the host and bartender, and his mixes are all with strong kicks! Now it's just me and Philemon waiting for the second stage of the simulation, and right now, the CEO is having a calm expression as always. Time to break the ice, I guess!

"Mr. Philemon. Mind if I ask something?"

He turns to face me, with a small smile on his features. "Wishing to inquire about our weapons, Miss Closure?"

And I nodded at his correct guess. "Yeah! Sonya is an Ursus, and his axe is a real sharp deal. Aren't you worried that that cane you gave Doctor Ren will break?"

Philemon looks at me, seeming amused. "I can understand your concern, Miss Closure. But do not worry. The cane is made with the core material of D32 Steel, ensuring its durability in the harshest of environments. Only the harshest of strikes will dent the cane, so you need not worry for the cane's quality."

You can't imagine my interest when that material is mentioned. D32 Steel is the highest grade of steel available in weapon construction! I thought the guys over at Raythean are the only ones able to create them aside from our Workshop crews! Did they call in deals with Raythean to get those? Well, more questions for later!

"I see! Guess I really shouldn't worry! I gotta wonder though. Why is there a gap on the lower half of the cane? Aesthetic purposes?"

Philemon hummed knowingly before speaking. "It is better to say that it is also for practical purposes. Within that cane is a knife that can be used in tandem with the cane itself as weapons, or if you prefer a lethal approach to battle. If Dr. Ren knew of the knife's existence, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't use it. Life is precious, after all, and there is no need to risk endangering one's life through accidents."

A weapon within a weapon. Huh. I never really thought of that before! They do say that anything can be a weapon when you give some thought to it! I need to take a closer look at the cane when I get the chance. Ahhhh... think I'm satisfied with the cane now!

"Alright. Break time's over you two. It's time for phase two of your simulation. Get in position!"

What? No! Dobermann! I still have stuff to- Oh wait, that was for Sonya and Dr. Ren! Whoops! Both of us cast our eyes towards the large screen that died out during the break. When it lit back up, it showed our Doctor and student standing side by side as they stared at the screen.

"What's going to be the next test, Dobermann?"

"We gonna fight each other again? I certainly won't mind that."

Really. Sonya's real eager to spar with Doctor, huh? Does she know she can do that whenever after she's officially employed? That is if Doctor has time though. "We're not going to have you spar again, Sonya." And I can hear her disappointed sigh from the monitor. "This second test is meant to test your levels of cooperation with each other. You two will face an onslaught of hologram enemies and will have to last until the last wave. There are 3 waves of enemies total and you'll have to work together to beat them all. Understand?"

"Crystal, Dobermann." A quick and compliant answer from the Doctor.

"Whatever you say. Let's get it over with." A half-assed answer from Sonya. Won't be surprised if Dobermann twitched her eye at that!

"Very well. However, I have to ask that you avoid using your cane, Doctor. You're only allowed to use your Arts and firearm."

I can't really see his expression, but if I have to venture a guess, Dr. Ren is snorting. "I see what you're playing at, Dobermann. Alright then. I'll play with your rules."

"Happy to know you're being cooperative so far, Doctor. In that case, let's begin!"

Dobermann snapped her fingers, and an entirely different music plays this time, and an equally rocking tune as well! Once more I am banging my head lightly earning me light chortles from Mr. CEO here! Turning my head sideways, looks like Amiya hit it off with the U.S.S.G, and they're sitting tightly together! Yeah, she needs more friends her age.

By the way, the first wave happens to be a group of Reunion Soldiers coming from east and west entrances, numbering all the way to 10 for all! None from the north because that's where the Medics are! For Sonya, she'll have it easy since the instructor didn't cast any restrictions on her, leaving her free to hack away at the holograms with ease! The Soldiers themselves are the most generic enemies to fight in Reunion anyway, so it would be ridiculous if you can't fight them off as a field combatant! Speaking of restrictions though, Dr. Ren spent his time evading the sword strikes from the Reunion pulling out his gun, seemingly trying to fire at them to no avail. Now that I think about it, nobody properly taught Dr. Ren how to use a gun at all! I find myself staring at Philemon when I realized that after seeing the live feed.

"Phil, do you have any idea how a gun works?"

My slow question was answered quickly. "Yes. I am aware that you need a certain aptitude of Arts control in order to fire a gun. I am also aware that Dr. Ren has no prior education in wielding firearms.

…what? "Then... Then why did you give him the gun in this simulation?!"

"Because what we gave him is no ordinary gun. You may be able to see what it is capable of once he is aware of it. Based on our observations, he is quite the quick-witted fellow."

I have no choice but to hold onto Philemon's claim for the moment. We have our fair share of gun users in Rhodes, mainly our Blacksteel associates Jessica and Liskarm. But we're dealing with our Doctor with zero firearm knowledge! Philemon better have something in that gun to aid his actual firing!

When I turned to the face again, I was seeing a kernel of truth to Doctor's quick wit. While Sonya brought the pain to her side, he shoved his gun in his coat, and he began firing Arts from his fingers. One dark orb on his index fingers, and he fired it towards a hologram through the head, and it killed it! The rest was easily dispatched through his finger guns, all 5 of them!

Though, it took quite a few shots since those finger bullets are small and somewhat weak. But Arts is Arts, and Doctor has proven himself to be able of it in my eyes! As soon as they're done tearing the goons apart, they huddled back to each other, backs against each other as if they're in a standoff.

"You doing well, Doc? Nice finger guns, by the way."

"Had to improvise, but I'm doing good. How's you?"

"Assholes aren't even worth this axe. They're piss easy."

Well, they're checking up on each other's conditions, so that's a start! I hear a hum of approval from behind. Seems Dobermann's satisfied enough with how they're doing.

"Well, it's a good start, especially for the Doctor since he'll lead us. Launch the next wave!"

Cue the next round featuring the same group of 10 Soldiers with an extra of 10 Shielded Soldiers! With the shields the latter group has, you'll need more than just brute strength, and this is why you have to play it smart by falling to Arts, or land hits from afar! Doctor must have realized it and pulled out his gun. But again, can his quick wits give him enough of an idea on how to use guns on the first place?! You know what? I'm asking Philemon again!

"Philemon, what exactly do you mean by his gun being special?"

With my question brimming with curiosity, Philemon held a small smile as he answered. "To answer that, I trust that you are aware that guns are made with their bullets etched for their Originium contents to trigger once you activate it with your Arts with the gun as a mere catalyst."

Of course, I know that! If this was "Terran Guns for Dummies", then the simplest explanation is that guns are wands that shoot smaller wands! But really, shooting with guns is so damn hard that you'd need lots of training to actually shoot with a gun! One slip and the bullets will blow up inside the firearm! I honestly feel jealous towards the Sankta here. They can use guns as easily as they breathe! It's a good thing we have lower risks of misfiring through its construction!

Of course, I answer shortly. What is Mr. CEO leading me into? "Yes. And… What exactly are you implying?"

Philemon's face became a bit stern. "When I agreed to Ms. Warfarin that the gun is a prototype, it is more of a prototype that one may expect. Dr. Ren's firearm is forged to be able to absorb and contain Arts energy of the user depending on which Art they are most proficient in. That same Arts energy can be fired upon enemies with a single click of its trigger. You can say that this firearm is the only true prototype in the Doctor's new arsenal.

I am now wide eyed over Philemon's explanation. This is already way beyond the conventional construction of a gun, and right now, I'm feeling rather excited. If the simulation shows that the prototype is a success, we need to see to getting that gun manufactured! I'm sure our Operators will appreciate this breakthrough in the weapons industry, and the best part? It'll be just between us all! Philemon turns his head towards the screen, and he smiled.

"Hum. It seems our prototype is a success, with a fascinating outcome as well…"

Wait, what? I darted my eyes back to the big screen and lo and behold! Dr. Ren was blasting away with his actual gun this time! But I have to narrow his eyes at the bullets he's firing, because those are not bullets, but actual pure concentrated Arts! I'd be jumping in place if I didn't notice the shots that the Doctor is firing. He's firing ICE Arts which exploded on their bodies into frosty sheets, while I'm pretty sure he was using dark element Arts in the last wave. The Classified Battle Records clearly shows that he mainly used dark element Arts as well! What gives?!

"Am I seeing this right?" Dobermann joins us as Dr. Ren fired past Sonya's shoulder, freezing a Soldier's face. "I thought for sure that Dr. Ren has an aptitude for dark Arts. Is that gun meant to contain ice Arts, then?"

Nice to know our head instructor is as lost as I am! "You tell me, Dobermann! I asked Mr. Philemon about the gun, and he told me that it stores Arts energy based on the user's highest Arts proficiency! How the Doctor managed to use Ice Arts as well is beyond me!"

Dobermann let out a hum, "Perhaps this is tied to Dr. Ren's power of Persona." And then he turned to face our CEO guest. "Tell me then, Mr. Philemon. Is it possible for a Persona user to be proficient in many different Arts?"

Under the riveting question, Philemon fashioned himself a poker face! "On certain cases, it is possible for Persona users to be capable of 2 different Arts. However, those certain cases involve an offensive Arts and a supportive Arts, and you can only be proficient in a singular form of Arts. If my intuition serves me well, your Doctor may be the first of his kind, the first among fellow Persona users."

The way he speaks makes it seem like Dr. Ren is some diamond in the middle of the sea! We have to see what he means later on though. Sonya and Doctor just got done with the 2nd wave, and they're starting to get tired based on what I'm seeing. Dobermann tuned the comms on and spoke.

"Good work on the second wave. How are you two holding up?"

"We're doing fine enough. Was actually quite troublesome." Doctor's really acting nonchalant here.

"Same here. Those shield shitters made it a hassle. Nothing the two of us can't handle though." Sonya's snort really spoke for her current confidence, and I can see Dobermann smiling at their attitudes.

"Excellent. This last wave requires liberal use of Arts, so I advise Doctor to make use of his Persona from here on out. Do you copy, Dr. Ren?"

"Crystal, Instructor. I can't guarantee what happens next though."

So ominous, Doctor! So ominous that I'm actually grinning at the outcome! Except Sonya's current expression on the screens shows that she's eyeing him curiously. Dobermann's comms reaches out to both of them, so maybe she's curious about Doctor's power as well? Will Doctor's power be as powerful as it claims to be? Anyway, call on the next wave, Dobermann!

"Very well then. Next wave!"

The next wave happens to be 5 Heavy Defenders coming from both directions! Anyone who isn't an Abyssal Hunter like Skadi and Specter should know better than to mess with the Heavy Defenders with physical attacks! Such is why we employ Casters like Lava and Supporters like Angelina for these bad boys! With their backs against each other, they faced their opposition, and Sonya looks to be quite annoyed. Come on, Doctor! Do your thing!

"Damn. Don't think I can bust through their suits when they're ganged up like this. You're up, Doc. Let's see what you can do."

"Alright then. Come out, Jack Frost!"

Jack Frost? What kind of name is that? Anyway, as soon as Dr. Ren called that name out, ice and frost seemed to gather near him as the Heavy Defenders approached them. It burst forth, unveiling a…a… bipedal snowman with a hat? There's only one appropriate reaction for such a creature!

"Oh my god, why is that thing so ADORABLE?!"

What?! Have you seen what this snowman guy is?! He's like one of those stuffed plushies of those company mascots! Except that plushie is an actual living being! No, Philemon! Don't you dare have a chortle at my expense! That little white guy is cute, and I'm allowed to gush over it!

"Hee-lo, everybody! I'm Jack Frost! Uhhhh... Where am I, ho?"

AND HE TALKS WITH QUIRKS?! I am so tempted to scream right now. This Jack Frost guy will be a huge hit with the kids! Even more than Zenkichi! Already I can hear similar gushing from the female staff over how cute he is! Even Sonya looks surprised when she saw him!

"Huh. So, you can do that Persona thing Morgana can do, Doctor? That's cool."

And then all the gushing proceeds to stop, all for a very good reason which I'm pretty sure is obvious to pretty much everyone! Dobermann's eyes twitched, and from afar, the Ursus students and Amiya all stared at the black cat! Wait, you're not telling me that cat can do Personas as well, are you?

Yeah, I think it's time I bring the situation to light. Good thing the others knew the implications as well and resorted back to observations!

"OK, now I know for certain that THAT is not the creature Dr. Ren summoned in those Records! What he called back there is a badass, and now we have a cute snowman mascot! This doesn't add up at all!"

"It seems it is my turn once more to elaborate on the matter."

Leave it to Philemon to explain unknown issues in the most confident manner! Dobermann's not having any of it though as they faced each other. "Explain then, Mr. Philemon. How is it that Dr. Ren is capable of performing so many different Arts?"

With a collected expression, Philemon began his explanations while our examinees and their jolly helper laid waste to their foes! "To begin, it is rare enough to discover humans who carry the potential of Persona in Terra, as I have already explained the case. Dr. Ren's case however is a rarity in itself, based on what we have seen. It is almost impossible for anyone to be capable of having more than one Persona, unless their souls are no more than blank slates, ready to be filled with limitless possibilities. Such are the states of those who are of the Fool or the Jester Arcana, who are in the beginning of their journeys, unaware of the world around them.

"Do amnesiacs count for that Fool description?" I had to throw that question in!

"Yes. Amnesiacs happen to be the perfect example of those of the Fool Arcana due to their conditions, for they must venture once more in a journey to find their sense of self, along with their purpose once more."

At that moment, Dobermann and I locked eyes, realizing how Dr. Ren's amnesia is a bigger disguised blessing than we thought. He's much kinder and more outgoing with people, more of a socializer, and now he's gained vast power because his amnesiac soul is apparently a blank slate ready to be loaded! Oh man. We really earned ourselves a wild card here!

"Ho-ho! Looks to me you people need to chill!"

Jack Frost took in a breath, and he soon blew out a stream of frost and ice that ravaged the heavy defenders on one side while Sonya and Dr. Ren took care of the other! Did I forget to mention that he's now shooting fire shots at them? Is this what Philemon meant with a blank slate? We really need to run further tests with Doctor and his Personas, especially if his Personas are sentient! With that said, we focused on Jack Frost, and he seems content with hurling ice grenades that splinter into ice shards from a distance. Some of the Heavy Defenders were frozen though, and he bashed on them with his fist until they broke and dissipated! Looks like he prioritizes frozen enemies, so we have to keep that in mind whenever Dr. Ren calls him up. One thing's certain. Jack Frost knows who and where to hit, and he's got quite the attitude doing it too!

As for Sonya and the Doctor, they're really showing their teamwork here! Contrary to convention, Dr. Ren seems to be a diversion with his shots of fire hitting his shield while Sonya strikes them from behind with her axe. Given her Ursus strength, she was able to cut through the suit after much effort. There were times where Sonya would be bashed while she's hacking, but then Doctor quickly swooped in pulled her away while landing a shot to the Defender's head. How they finished off the last Defender is what sealed the deal! It all started with Sonya shoulder bashing the Defender's with all she's got, staggering him followed by a heavy swing that brought him down while Doctor Ren brought the pain on his behind with bursts of flame! With Sonya standing on his body, the Doctor shot his head, resulting in his disintegration!

Alright, Dobermann! End this call! I'd say this whole simulation is a success!

"And that is all. Excellent work, you two. Return to the observation room at once."

- Take Your Time –

"That was amazing, Doctor! Your Persona looked so cute!"

"Happy to know you like him, Amiya. Though to be fair, he may as well be a mascot. I have a lot of other ones too, apparently."

"You tell me, Doctor! We could have some huge popularity gains with Amiya and Jack Frost as our mascots!"

Amiya proceeds to whine about her dislike on being a mascot in the first place, and me and Dr. Ren laughed at the thought. Ah, the joys of camaraderie!

By the way, I think I should provide an aftermath for the whole simulation deal. As soon as both Sonya and Dr. Ren entered the room, Sonya was immediately put under question as to how she knew of Persona, and then she proceeds to spill the beans on how the CAT of all people actually held the power of Persona itself! Now Morgana, AKA the cat in question, became the next person or animal to be evaluated, with Dobermann and Philemon overseeing the tests. The Ursus students stayed here just to watch and make sure we don't commit animal cruelty. Of course, we don't commit animal cruelty! What are we? Reunion? By the way, I think this is the first time in Rhodes Island in history where we have to perform combat examinations on an animal!

"By the way, Jack Frost says we should call him Heeho. He's real eager to know you guys better."

That deserves an eyebrow tilt. "Heeho? Why? Jack Frost is already a decent enough name, isn't it?"

Dr. Ren can only shrug at my question. "No clue. Only said that he likes the name and that's it."

"Hehe, I'll remember that when I see him again." Well, that's a slim question. Amiya poses a more serious question, though. "By the way, Doctor, you said you have Personas in you, Doctor. Can they all see and hear us?"

"Oh, they definitely can. Some of them actually want to meet you guys as well. Though now is not the time. I'm feeling tired."

So, there are some Personas that want to meet us, huh? That's quite an interesting thought. "Do any of your Personas resemble a young hot dude, by any chance?"

"Heh, maybe there's one. Name's Walter. He called Warfarin cute, and I had to agree with him."

Okay, I had to laugh at that. Even Amiya chuckled at the admission! "Okay, what does he think of me then? Spill it, spill it!"

The Doctor went silent for a bit, probably to hear what this Walter has to say about little ol' me. He spoke nothing for 23 seconds, and then the words came out. "You're quirky, energetic, cute, and…"

My excitement is slowly peaking at the positive adjectives. "And? And?!"

"And you're a troublemaker who has the potential of being a huge slob that never wears pants."

…..

"I have never been so flattered, yet so insulted in my entire life."

And at that moment, both Dr. Ren and Amiya laughed their asses off! How dare that Walter for buttering me up like that to throw me the crudest of harsh insults! I wear pants, except they're hidden by my oversized shirt, and I'm not that much of a troublemaker and a slob (Even though Weedy might say otherwise!)! If I see him, I'll have THRM-EX blow up in his face! See how he likes that!

Hah… At least I'll have some entertainment in the form of a magic cat. "Anyway! Damage to my self-esteem aside, what are you going to do after this, Amiya, Doctor? Wanna stick around and watch the simulation?"

Amiya shook her head at my invitation. "I'm sorry, Closure. I have to show Dr. Ren his new workstation. It's important that he gets used to his new duties in the Ark fast. He hasn't even been linked to PRTS yet!"

Dr. Ren just shrugged as soon as Amiya said her answer. Really though, he hasn't been linked up yet? PRTS is our mainframe AI overseeing Rhodes Island's system and everyone is pretty much required to link up with her to gain full access to credentials based on their level of importance! For example, you won't be able to read Operator Files without linking up to PRTS! I just hope he can get used to her stale humor.

"Okay, I get it. You two go on ahead then. If you need me, I'll probably be at the R.I.I.M (That's short for Rhodes Island Industrial Manufacturing, by the way.) Workshops. Swing by sometime, OK?"

"Got it. Okay, Amiya. Let's go see what my new job will be."

"Okay, Doctor. See you later, Closure!"

I waved those two goodbyes as they left the Observation Room. Really, those two are practically father and daughter with how those two treat each other. Add in Kal'tsit and you've got yourself quite a dysfunctional family! I seriously hope Kal is willing to cut Dr. Ren some slack when they finally meet. Ever since news went around, she's been holed up in her room, continuously doing research as well as handling her affairs. It took me lots of work to drag her out of her room so she can help fix the lighting at the bar, and I'd say he's worth it to say the least. I know they don't trust each other, but they both have Amiya to keep an eye out on. With any luck, they can settle their differences, even with the Doctor having memory loss.

Anyway, time to see what the cat can do. Let's see if he can make things interesting.

"Did… Did he just turn into a VAN?!"

…Yeah, he definitely will.

---

Personas

Jack Frost

Level: 18

Trait: Everybody Chill!

- Increases all allies' resistance and enemies' susceptibility to freeze by 25%

Nulls: Water

Resists: Light

Weak: Fire

Skills:

- Bufula (20% Freeze)

- Lucky Punch

- Breaking the Ice (Close range Moderate physical damage. Deals extra damage to frozen enemies)

- Ice Breath (Wide range Water damage, deals low damage each second to all enemies in range for 7 seconds. 20% Freeze)

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The review responses are coming!

HollowSeven: I understand if you lost interest. I won't judge. I'm happy you're still willing to read though.

MEleeSmasher: Corrupt Skadi isn't canon, and no one has seen his face at all.

MegaShounen: Happy to see your enthusiasm! Hope you'll stick around as the story unfolds!

R-EWF: Thanks for the support as always

Missingmoney: Definitely hitting the breaks! Perhaps I'll have to score a rewrite on the issues!

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I knew I shouldn't have invested too hard in Rogue Galaxy.

So yes! Newest chapter is here, and already you can probably tell that this new chapter is unconventional. Why did I decide to do this? It's because Closure almost receives no love at all until Closure's Secret Files dropped. The only time we saw her as far as I remember is Operational Intelligence, the Prologue, and the Store. And that she is the only one with zero voicelines AND Live 2D until Corrupt Skadi showed up! Plus, sometimes a change of perspective is needed. We've seen how a Persona wielder views the world of Terra, so how does a Terran view the prospect of Persona itself? That's where Closure comes in!

I'll definitely rewrite the previous chapter. Your advice and criticism are greatly appreciated! Though, with that in mind, I pretty much already spoiled who I wanted to drag into Terra. Also, no. Yu Narukami won't be in Terra. The world can't handle 2 chick magnets.

As for why this took nearly a month, remember when I said I wanted to get to Mana Khemia 1's Extra Dungeon? I remembered that I haven't finished Rogue Galaxy 10 years ago, so I downloaded the ISO for my emulator (It took 4.3 GB and it drained my data package, kill me). I finished the game now, and it's a bloody masterpiece. Truly a diamond in the rough. If you have PS2 Emulators, I suggest you grab it! There's also the fact that I play Shadowverse and I sometimes watch SV VTuber streams, mainly Kiara and Mori. If possible, imma swing by the Tempostorm tourney since Mori and Gigguk will be there. Can I ass my way to actually participate? I have no idea.

And then comes the issue of my Arknights progress. Figuring the gap, it took me the entirety of Code of Brawl and Operation Cinder to finish this Chapter. Rat King is an interesting fellow, and Operation Cinder can be a huge bitch if you're not used to the Sentinels, Grudgebearers, and Bladeweavers in Darknights Memoir. Luckily, I adapted and managed to Risk 18 the whole thing and got all medals. A total leap over my Risk 4 in Blade. Mudrock and Nightingale are absolute units for me. How did my fellow Doctor readers do in Cinder? Hopefully y'all haven't lost your shit.

Next chapter, we'll swing back to 3rd person view, and it has come to my attention that Doctor's rescue happened 2 days before Christmas! Will Rhodes Island spend their lives normally, or celebrate such a jolly occasion? You know, it's neat that W mentions Jack Frost in the Rock the Night Away MV.

By the way, I plan to make an archive side story featuring the many Personas, users, and newcomers like Kevin as Operators, all under Arknights' Operatore Files format. What do you guys think? Regardless, whether you're gaming, reading, or waiting for Mansfield Break, always remember these two quotes!

Take your time.

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"You're only minus if you're a bitch."

- Nagoriyuki, probably.