"What was the mission?" Copen wondered.
"I dunno why, but, the boss wanted Naomi to turn herself in to the Sumeragi, see if Nova got the Azure Striker Septima and if there's any easy ways ta eliminate the delegates." Zeno elaborated.
After Zeno finished talking, Copen put his hand on the table as he crushed the empty cup in his right hand. When he crushed the cup, Copen got up and tossed it in the trash can before walking off.
"Not even a thank you? Man, Naomi was right; that guy does have anger issues." Zeno muttered under his breath as he watched Copen leave.
Nova and Naomi were 2/3 through the elevator ride when Nova decided to ask Naomi a question.
"What was the original S-FIT Like?" Nova wondered.
"Huh? Oh, that. Well, basically the same as the new one." Naomi responded.
"What's the difference?" Nova queried.
"They have some barriers at the new one that I'm certain they didn't have at the old building." Naomi remembered.
"What was the security like?" Nova questioned.
"Definitely a lot easier to get past that's for sure." Naomi reminisced.
"I was looking at your file recently and saw that you had quite the habit of escaping any Sumeragi facility you were placed in." Nova noticed.
"It's excruciating being shocked to near death every day." Naomi retorted.
"Especially when you try to wield the Azure Striker and pass out afterwards." Nova agreed.
"I heard that happens when the Septima is too strong for the holder." Naomi added.
"Was there a time you ever felt like giving up?" Nova questioned.
"Constantly, it was an ever present feeling. I just wanted to sleep the pain away." Naomi sighed.
"If you could change anything about how the Sumeragi operates, what would you alter?" Nova queried.
"Personally, I'd replace the Septimal Research department with one that focuses on greener and more environmentally friendly energy sources." Naomi stated.
It was quiet for the next five minutes.
"You scared Joule with that speech on TV about Lumen." Naomi informed.
'I was sleeping over that day.*cue flashback*'
"Hey Naomi, you might wanna see this." Gunvolt recommended.
Naomi was playing Samurai Shredder 2 with Joule when they heard Gunvolt. So, the demolishing duo paused the game and went into the living room.
"Last night's act of terrorism has proven once again that Adepts are too dangerous to be left unregulated. Six months ago, this individual caused the indefinite hiatus of our beloved Idol Lumen. And now the damage done by this individual is beyond repair. Four months ago one of our most upstanding employees escaped, who we believe to be accompanying the terrorist. You may all rest assured that the Sumeragi is doing what they can to maintain and rebuild the peace of this island nation." That was all that was heard before Gunvolt turned off the broadcast.
After he heard a sniffling sound on the floor, Gunvolt was shocked beyond belief to see Naomi crying. She was sitting on top of her folded legs. Joule had her legs stretched forward while Naomi hugged her.
"N-Naomi? A-are you okay? You seem a little shaken." Gunvolt worried.
"A little!? She's mortified GV! Just look at her!" Lumen huffed.
"I-it's all my fault. I-if I wouldn't have left, t-then maybe, just maybe, we could all be living in peace right now." Naomi sniffled.
"Wait a second, is that why Asimov told me to refer to you for the mission?" Gunvolt theorized.
Naomi hugged Joule tighter and sobbed harder.
"I knew I was detecting Muse Septima energy from you!" Lumen noticed.
"Naomi, did you work for the Sumeragi as a Muse Adept?" Gunvolt interrogated.
Naomi opened her eyes, sniffled and nodded. Joule hugged her out of sympathy for knowing what Naomi suffered. Gunvolt couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"Y-you, you worked for the Sumeragi, Naomi?" Gunvolt asked.
"I, I didn't want to. It was just forced upon me. It's like there's no escape except death. And even then, they're so low that they'll go so far as to still use a corpse." Naomi muttered.
"It's like all we were created for was being instruments of destruction." Joule whispered.
"Why is the Muse Septima so coveted anyways?" Gunvolt pondered.
"It can be used as Adept sonar via the way it enhances other Septimal abilities. Only Adepts with Glaives don't get that pumped up feeling. The big thing you didn't know is that the Muse Septima was used to strengthen some of the Sumeragi's Adept employees." Naomi elucidated.
"You looked like were scared of more than just the idea of working for the Sumeragi in that sense. Is something else wrong?" Gunvolt noted.
"A-after being forced to power up Nova while Asimov was fighting him, I was mortified. I never wanted to be forced into taking part in a situation like that ever again. I read about what Asimov went through on account of my father before heading out to begin my mission. So, knowing what I had in mind was an act of betrayl, I used my Muse to empower Asimov.
I, I still have nightmares about what fighting happened between me and Nova after that. Then, all of my reprimanding, punishment, scoldings and so forth are permanently burned into my memory. It was a fight with only Septimas, but, even so, it was nonetheless brutal. As of now, I've had fourteen nightmares recounting that incident in different ways." Naomi confessed.
Gunvolt, Lumen and Joule were beyond startled after hearing those words.
"Does having Psychokinesis cause you to have self loathing?" Gunvolt guessed.
"No, not at all. Although, when I do think about it, the thought brings me back to those awful encounters." Naomi answered.
*end flashback*
'And now look where I am. Stuck, the orbital elevator, with frickin' Nova Tuskuyomi. Going to work for the sumeragi instead of against them. I wish I was with GV right now, at least he'd make this fun rather than terrifying.' Naomi thought sadly.