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Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Lysandre Arc Chapter 21
The Maid Service
Aqua makes it to the Beacon station and makes her way to where Optimus is giving his speech, on the way she sees the old homeless man and like other nights he is more active and with a different personality.
"Tch, is this all that's left of that money?" He said looking at the cash he had "I went through all that trouble of earning it too."
"What are you doing here?" Aqua asked him.
"Hey, that's my line." The homeless man said to Aqua looking at her. "Careful kid. You can't go round meddling in other people's business in this city. All right. Time to go out and make some more money. I'll get rusty if all I do is sit around."
Aqua nods and heads up the stairs to see the gathering of people who were watching Optimus give his speech. Among them was the brown bird girl with a camera who she met outside Lysandre's who was mumbling. She gets close to eavesdrop.
"It's great that I'm here, but now what? Should I find some punk and do an on-the-spot interview?" She said deep in thought. "I guess the editor-in-chief has been nagging me about covering the Phantom Thieves though…"
Aqua nods and goes to Optimus and listen to his speech. Gatomon hearing this said to Aqua "Hey, about Optimus' speech skills…We should make use of them when you negotiate with Shadows."
"Good idea" Aqua said nodding.
"Right? You should ask him." Gatomon said nodding.
Aqua goes to Optimus when he was taking a brief break and makes her request. The cybertronian surprised said "…Teach you how to give speeches? Why?"
"I want to do what you do." Aqua said thinking of a good cover reason.
"I'd love to help you, though…how shall I teach you?" Optimus said thinking. "…It's time for me to continue my speech. Let's talk about this later."
Aqua holds up the sign and stands beside Optimus as he gives his speech.
"And while our society appears to be prosperous, many of our young people are quietly suffering." Optimus said giving his speech. "They lack jobs, security, savings…The next generation will lead us into the future and yet they have no plan for how to arrive there."
"…Watch where you're going, you little punk!" A Middle-Aged man said to a Young man annoyed.
"You bumped into me, you old goat!" The Young man said also annoyed.
"This isn't good..." Optimus said fearing a fight might break out
"Let's mediate." Aqua suggested to him.
"Yes, let's." Optimus said nodding and calls out "Good citizens, please stop fighting!" This got the twos attention "What is the point of bickering over such a trivial matter?"
"This is none of your business!" The Middle-Aged Man told him.
"Yeah, seriously. Just shut up!" The Young Man added
"What's with this guy…?" The Middle-Aged Man said shaking his head. He and the young man separate and go on their way.
"…Now if you'll please excuse me, I must return to my speech." Optimus said and turns to the gathered people watching "Together, we can create a bright future for the next generation."
"Ugh, so righteous…That really annoys me." A robotic voice said, Aqua looks and see a Cybertronian that resembled a tank known as Demolisher. He then called out "Enough of your arrogance 'No-Good Orian'!"
"Wha…?!" Optimus said in surprise and unnerved.
"As if anyone would actually vote for YOU!" Demolisher said to him. "Are you planning to embezzle funds again? Or maybe criticize one of your constituents again? You fallen hero!" He then walks off.
"No…! T-That was…all in the past…" Optimus said but looks down, what Demolisher said really got to him.
A while later the people left, and Optimus held his head and Aqua looks at him concerned.
"I've gone and done it again." Optimus said sighing.
"That's campaign obstruction." Aqua told him.
"Yes, but I cannot say that to the crowd before an election…" Optimus said shaking his head. "Regardless, whenever someone calls me 'No-Good Orian', I panic. I went through quite an ordeal twenty years ago…"
"What do you mean?" Aqua asked confused.
"…Let me explain." Optimus said looking at her "I used to be a member of the Galactic Union. I was elected during the rise of the 'Mata-Nui Children.' We were backed by power Union members. This was about twenty years ago."
"I see." Aqua said listening.
"I was very inexperienced back then, sure as a leader of an army during war I was skilled but as a politician, as well as a normal person I was unskilled." Optimus said "That inexperience led me to be involved in a series of major political scandals."
"Wait…what?!" Aqua said surprised.
"People refer to my blunders as 'No-Good Orian's Three strikes.'" Optimus said and explained "The first was being caught missing a legislative meeting to take a personal , I was accused of embezzling a large sum of credits from the party…giving me two strikes. Finally, I called a voter an idiot at an open forum, which resulted in scandal…and strike three."
"I see…" Aqua said a little sad but sweat dropping he didn't look like the one to embezzle.
"I was out…and branded a washed-up politician." Optimus said sadly and looks at her. "You said you wanted to become a member of the Union. But do you see the man before you?"
'A questionable background…Accused of embezzlement…' Aqua thinks on it 'However, he has conviction and wants to change the world. Public speaking skills could be useful to the Phantom Thieves, so I'll make a deal with him.'
"Do you really want to receive my guidance?" Optimus asked Aqua.
"You seem to have conviction." Aqua said to him nodding.
"I'm happy to hear that, however…Everyone says I have no chance to get elected, so why come to me?" Optimus said sighing.
"You just need to re-channel that old Autobot leader of yourself and have confidence in yourself." Aqua said to him smiling.
Optimus surprised smiles and chuckles "You're going a good job of cheering me up…but you may be right. The most important part about giving a good speech is believing in yourself. Perhaps one day, I will believe in myself…again. But you sure got me there. You're a strange young human girl, Aqua."
Optimus thinks and smiles saying "Very well. If learning how to give a great speech is what you seek, then I'd be happy to instruct you. In exchange, I would like for you to continue assisting me. Let's get started, shall we?"
"Yeah." Aqua said smiling and thinks 'I've made a deal with Optimus…'
We return the present as Aqua shakes her head.
"Staging your crimes with calling cards…It's hard to believe that a student could manage this alone." Jacob said thinking.
"An adult for example, someone talented enough to move people with words perhaps they coached you." Jess said typing on her pad.
"Is that right?!" Windblade asked looking at Aqua.
We come back to the past as the voice from the other times speaks.
"I am thou, thou art I…Thou hast acquired a new vow." The Female voice said "I shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity. With the birth of the Sun Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall to freedom and new power."
Aqua sees the card appear in the Arcana book for Sun Arcana, a smiling sun shining over a gound of skulls and bones with one shined up star of the 10 stars on the back.
"Let's pursue you dream of becoming a member of the Union." Optimus said smiling and sees the time "…Oh my, we've been talking for far too long. Let's call it quits for today."
Aqua nods and gathers her things and begins heading for the stairs leading to the train to Metru-Nui.
"Ah, Aqua!" Optimus called out and approaches her again. "I'm sorry, there's something I forgot to mention. It's about my speech schedules from this point on. Would you be willing to stick around to hear it?"
"Let me write this down." Aqua said getting her phone out.
"Quite a practical young girl, I, see? Well, I won't take up too much of your time." Optimus said smiling. "I'll be here giving my speeches every Sunday. You're welcome to drop by and help whenever you've got the time. That's all I wanted to say. Now, be careful on your way home."
Aqua nods and heads home to get some sleep.
The next day was Friday, Aqua was at the Beacon line waiting for the train to Citadel Academy..
"Ah, it's you…" Zane said approaching her. "Lysandre's ill, but the exhibit is still going strong. I can't respect him as my sensei anymore…but it's sad to think I don't have a mentor anymore."
"I'm all ears if you need it." Aqua said to him.
"Talk…? To you?" Zane said surprised and smiles "…Now that I think about it, I don't believe I've ever had someone I could simply talk to. Well, perhaps I may need a sounding board sometime. I hope you'll humor me then."
Aqua nods and boards her train. She spent time in school and was sitting on a bench in the courtyard during lunchtime. Then Uzi approaches.
"Hey, there you are!" Uzi said walking up. "I need your help with something…" She then looks round and pulls something out her pocket "I found this flyer stuffed in my mailbox."
She unfurls a pink flyer and shows it. Aqua sees it advertising a maid housekeeping service, she couldn't know how or where, but the colour of the flyer remineded her she seen it before.
"Housekeeping Service!" Uzi said grinning. "It says that a cute maid will do anything for you! A maid, dude! A MAID! Who'll do ANYTHING for us! Right? …Right?!"
"Uh…what are you saying?" Aqua asked.
"…You're a girl who is into both genders, right? You know what I mean!" Uzi said grinning. "Let's give it a try. Yeah? Yeah!" Aqua sweat drops guess she has no choice "Luckily, some guy on my floor just moved out so there's a vacant apartment in my complex. The key is behind the mailbox, so we can get in anytime. The landlord seriously doesn't care. The place is all set, so…"
"…Hey, I heard that!" A voice called out and the two look and see Penny approaching.
"What the robot hell?!" Uzi said surprised.
"Um, can I, uh…" Penny said rubbing her head "…Get in on this?"
"Oh-ho! You mena you're into this kinda stuff?" Uzi asked grinning. "Wow! Okaaay…did not expect that."
"I-I'm not into it! It's just for research!" Penny said blushing a bit but recovers. "What does it mean that they'll do 'anything"? And do the maids look exactly as they're advertised? We need to determine whether or not the company just pretends to offer housekeeping services!"
Aqua thinks, she was interested in checking this out and said smiling "I guess we have to, then."
"Right?! And if it's a scam, then we need to punish them!" Penny said with a nod.
"Yeah, we got to see it with our own eyes." Uzi said getting excited. "Every little detail…We'll have to do this at night, so let us know when you're ready." She said to Aqua.
"Right." Aqua said nodding.
"So, what's the code name for this operation…?" Penny asked the two and thinks "Hmmm…Since we'll be watching the, it should something like… 'Operation Maidwatch'!"
"Nice! I like that!" Uzi said grinning and Aqua sweatdrops.
A while late it was after school and Aqua heads to Mordin's clinic as he texted her about being ready for the next clinical trial. On her way she sees J at the station and approaches.
"Ah…What a coincidence." J said with a smile "Are you on your wat home as well? Uzi and Alexis are not with you. You seem quite good friends with them, by the way."
"Yeah. Well see you at school later." Aqua said and leaves.
She arrives at the clinic and talks to Mordin and both get ready for the clinical trial today, Aqua having Matador as the Death Confidant, and Gatomon goes for a walk around.
A while later the clinical trial was nearly over as Mordin types on a console pad.
"…Okay, that's all for today." Mordin said with a nod. "If you're feeling okay, you can go home now." Just then the phone rings and answers "Hello, Doctor Mordin's Clinic of Internal Medicine…. What? Again? That's, well…that ship's already sailed, so…" the call ends and Mordin puts it down sighing "…What a nuisance."
"What was that about?" Aqua asked.
"You remember that boy from the other day? The Chief of Staff Watt's patient?" Mordin asked her. "His dad's been bringing him here to be treated, even though I referred them to another hospital. I even told them about the medical error I made…"
"They trust you." Aqua said to Mordin.
"I agree, you helped them where a big hospital failed." Matador said nodding.
"I'm just a quack though…" Mordin said looking down. "The medical error was well-documented. Everyone in my field knows about. I led the development of a new drug for an incurable illness called 'Crawford-Ende's disease.' Although I wasn't the one who administered the medicine, it was the cause of the error."
"Huh?" Aqua said confused.
"Let me explain, with Crawford-Ende's, certain cells indiscriminately attack other cells throughout the body. When it reaches the muscles, the patient slowly begins to die…" Mordin explained "There hasn't been much progress made on it partly because there haven't been many cases of it. I worked with a pharmaceutical company that had reached the final stage of production, but…One day, I was suddenly removed from my position. That Chief of Staff, Watts my superior at the time, took over the entire operation."
He clenches his hand and continues "I don't know if he wanted the glory of developing a new drug or to become rich and famous, but…He made careless mistakes and rushed completion so he could use it on a patient named Kairi. Kairi had a reaction and lapsed into critical condition. The chief panicked and laid the blame on me. Kairi and her family resented me…No matter what I said, I couldn't change how they felt about me." He sighs.
"It's not too late." Aqua said to him.
"Yeah, we can still maybe fix this." Matador said.
"Well, that doesn't matter…" Mordin said composing himself "The development of the medicine was suspended, so I had no reason to stay at that hospital. At least now I can keep working as a general practitioner, on my own terms….with my guinea pig earthling."
"What do you mean?" Aqua asked.
"That's the new medicine I've been trying out on you. This version is in the final stage of testing." Mordin explained "It searches for those cells that take the offensive and destroys them upon detection. That's why it's harmless for people who don't have the disease…. probably."
"That's good." Aqua said smiling.
"I agree." Matador said nodding.
"You have a lot of faith in me. Thank you, my little earthling guinea pig." Mordin said with a smile, Aqua nods. "You'd better not flake on me this late in the game. I'm inching close to the finish line, but I need your help to reach it. In exchange, I can offer you medicine at a special price. I'm counting on you, guinea pig."
Aqua nods in agreement and feels her bond with Mordin growing deeper. She sees a fifth star on the Death Archana card lights up and sees a new ability added Immunization which adds support items to the inventory of the clinic.
"Now, what should I do about that boy and his dad? Being rude and scaring them hasn't worked." Mordin said thinking. "It's been a while since I've had to deal with this kind of nuisance. It's stressing me out." He then looks at her "Oh, sorry, that's all I wanted to talk to you about. You can go home now."
"Um okay…" Aqua said sweat dropping and gets ready to leave and she felt her Guts increase due to the clinical trial.
As she reunites with Gatomon and heads for Leblanc she gets a call from Mordin and answers.
"You doing okay, my little earthling guinea pig? Just wanted to check up on you." Mordin said on the phone. "Also…. I apologies for the long talk today. I wasn't planning on telling you all that."
"You mean about Kairi?" Aqua asked.
"I bet it is" Matador said nodding.
"Yeah. You're the first person both Earthling and other races I've really shared all that with." Mordin said nodding. "But…it was also a good reminder. This is something I have to do, as the Plague. Thanks to you, the drug's development is progressing very smoothly. If there are no issues with this latest sample, I think we're right on the edge of finally finishing it…Oh, sorry, looks like I've got a patient. Maybe that boy and his dad came back. I have to go. See you later."
"See you." Aqua said and hangs up.
After Aqua enters the café and after a bit when she got into regular clothes she gets a message from Penny.
"Hey, you didn't forget, did you?" Penny messages and adds "You know about that flyer! We need to look into the truth behind that housekeeping service. I'm over at Central Street right now, so come talk to me if you're interested."
"Looks like Penny's waiting for us in Remnant. Do you think we should go see him?"
Aqua nods and said "I'll be there soon."
"Okay, I'll be waiting!" Penny messages "Oh but…don't flake out on me, OK? Please!"
Aqua then hurries over and mees up with Penny who was staning near Kermet's Ramen and Beef Bowl restaurant.
Penny smiled and said "So, we're executing Operation Maidwatch tonight for sure, right?"
"That's right." Aqua said nodding.
"Sweet! I've been waiting for this!" Penny said excited but noticed Aqua's clothes. "…Wait, you already changed out of your uniform?! I guess that's a pretty good idea…We're meeting over at Uzi's place, right? Let's stop by mine beforehand so I can change too."
A while later they met with Uzi and she showed them to the empty apartment where there operation will be held.
"S-so we're really going to do this, huh…? You think it'll be okay?" Penny asked a bit nervous.
"Operation Maidwatch, sister!" Uzi said showing the flyer.
"Y-Yeah! Operation Maidwatch!" Penny said nodding.
"If it turned out to be sketchy, we can just bail." Uzi explained shrugging. "The apartment's vacant, so it's not like we'll be messing with anyone's home."
"Well I guess I can say this, you're a genius, Uzi!" Aqua said smiling.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Uzi said smiling.
"To think…Uzi actually has a brain." Penny said impressed. "But if that's the case, then…"
"Then…" Uzi said smiling.
"Yep!" Penny said nodding looking at Aqua as does Uzi.
"What?" Aqua asked.
"Okay, give them a call!" Uzi said to her.
Aqua sighs and said, "Leave it to me then." She gets the phone out and calls the number on the flyer.
"Thank you for calling! This is Hildaguard's Housekeeping!" A man's voice said.
"They answered!" Penny said scared.
"Shhh!" Uzi said to her.
"I take it you're interested in our services, then?" The Hildagarde employee asked Aqua.
"S-Services…!" Penny repeated.
"Is there anyone in particular you'd like to request?" The Hildagard employee asked.
"A-Anyone we want to request?! What should we do, Aqua?!" Uzi said getting a bet nervous as well.
"I have no preference." Aqua said to the employee on the other end of the call.
"Very well!" The Hildaguard Employee said "Let's see here…We have a maid available in…twenty minutes. May I ask for your address?"
Aqua nods and gives out the needed info and a while late the call ends.
"Wow…This is really happening…" Uzi said stunned.
"A maid's 'services'…" Penny said smiling thinking. "Hey…What should we have her do? I was thinking we start with some cooking…Of course, I wouldn't mind some of the other services either…Should we hold a strategy meeting to discuss?"
"They said twenty minutes, right…?" Uzi asked "Ugh, I gotta go freshen up…" She goes to the bathroom.
A while later she came back and Penny nervous said "I-It's almost time...You were in there for a while...Are you okay? Hey, did you wash your hands?"
Uzi remained quiet but then looks at Penny looking at her and said "Huh? What? Who? Me?"
"Y-You're really nervous." Penny said to her grinning "Ahaha…haha….uh…." Then a thought came to her mind "Are high school students even allowed to use this type of service?"
"Huh?" Uzi said to that.
"What do you mean, 'Huh'? You should've researched it!" Penny said annoyed. "What if they find out who we are?!"
"H-How should I know?! But why would how old you are matter when it comes to housekeeping?" Uzi asked to that.
"We would've been screwed if your number had shown up on their caller ID…" Penny said to Aqua.
"Um…" Aqua said thinking.
Just then the doorbell rings and a woman's voice said, "Good evening…I'm from the housekeeping service."
"What?! Already?! She's five minutes early!" Penny said in a panic. "What do we do?! I'm not mentally prepared!"
"Oh, the door's unlocked…? Um, may I come in…?" The female voice said.
"B-Bite me I can't do this…!" Uzi said to that. "My robotic stomach is acting up! And my hands are all sweaty!" She goes to Aqua "Okay, you handle the rest…And don't let her find out you're a high school student. I've got your back! Just…From way back! Like, from the balcony!" She goes to the balcony.
"Wh-What? I can't do this either!" Penny said "Aqua, we'll leave it to you!" She goes to join Uzi.
'Uzi and Penny fled to the balcony…' Aqua thinks turning to look at it sweat dropping, unaware that just as the balcony door closes someone enters the room.
"Excuse me…. Oh, there you are!" A female voice said and peers back a bit to see a woman in a maid outfit. She curtseys and said "Welcome home, Mistress. I'm going to fill your tired heart full of lovely energy. Meow! I'm Megan, and I have the pleasure of serving you today."
Aqua gulps but keeps not fully facing her said "Nice to mee-ow-t you."
"We're going to get along so well! Meeeeooowww!" Megan said with a giggle. "Oh my…how thoughtless of me! I should explain our services to you, Mistress! What would you like me to do today? The basics include cooking, cleaning, laundry…But there are other 'services' we provide if you desire."
Megan then approaches Aqua and gets a good look at her "Hmmm? You look young, Mistress…Are you…perhaps…In high school?"
"Yes, I am." Aqua said nervous.
"Oh, Mistress, you're sooo funny!" Megan said with a laugh but then looks at her "Wait, that was a joke, right..?" She then looks around the room "Hmmm, I'll wait to provide those other 'services' until you've matured a bit, Mistress. Soooo…I'll be going now." She curtseys.
"Wh-What?! No!" Uzi said at watching from the balcony.
"Quiet…!" Penny told her.
Megan however hears and goes to the door to the Balcony door and said "I-Is someone there?!" Aqua sees her and sees Megan was a slender human woman with long black hair made up into two pigtails. She felt like she looks familiar a bit.
"Oh no…!" Penny said scared.
"Bite me! Run, Penny!" Uzi called out as she and Penny fled off the balcony.
"Penny? Uzi?" Megan said surprised and as if realizing something turned to Aqua and said "…And you?!" Aqua's eyes widened when she saw Megan's face. It was a dead ringer for Yor Forger's face, her homeroom teacher. She then asked seeing Aqua "Did you request me specifically?"
"Wait, are you…?" Aqua asked concerned.
"Oh, no, it's all right. How would you know me?" Megan said smiling but how she said was exaggerated "This is our first meeting. Yes, the first time ever, Mistress" She then sweat drops and sighs "Ugh, this is unbelievable…Yes, it's me…your homeroom teacher…"
Dropping the customer service acting Yor face palms and said "…I'm so done…I can't believe I got caught by some of my own students…"
'I did not expect this happening' Aqua thinks while surprised.
"I should've taken a job outside of the city. But I needed to be close to school so I could go there after I finished work…." Yor said talking to herself. She then looks at Aqua with a glare in her red eyes and asked "…Who did you hear about this from? Oh! It was Mr. Benson, wasn't it?! That gumball machine…!"
"Wait, sorry what?" Aqua said as this surreal of this scrambled her brain.
"Mr. Benson, the English teacher…" Yor reminded her and explained "He's been snooping on all the teachers ever since that incident with Mr. LeBlanc…Are you going to tell Mr. Benson about this?"
"What do you mean?" Aqua asked thinking.
"Hmmm…It doesn't seem like you're playing dumb…" Yor said noting that. "In any case, I'll get in big trouble if you tell on me." She thinks on it then gets a thought "Hey, if you're going to side with a teacher, side with me. I'm in charge of your class, after all. And if you promise not to tell Mr. Benson about this, I'll do anything for you!"
"Hm, what to do…" Aqua said thinking as this is a moral conflict.
Yor looked a bit annoyed at her thinking and told her "Hey…It won't be any better for you if people find out that you called a maid service. This isn't even your home address to begin with, is it? I guess you are least thought about that."
"Well, I'll promise to keep this a secret too...so why don't we both forget this ever happened?" Yor said with a shrug. "I'll treat this as if you had cancelled so you won't have to pay anything. Okay? On that note, I'll be leaving! Don't say anything about this at school, okay?! Just act as if nothing ever happened! Got it? Okay, bye!"
Yor then leaves the apartment.
Aqua thinks 'I suddenly feel exhausted…I want to go home…'
Aqua does so locking the apartment and putting the key back and heads home, tomorrow was going to be awkward for her and Miss. Forger.
Well Sun Confidant gained and we learned a secret our teacher Yor has been keeping, how will this continue.
Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.