A/N: Uh... have nothing to add this time, writting was fun, and I'm slowly bringing it all here... VERY slowly, so Enjoy if this is your cup of tea.
(This Chapter has been Edited by the Helpful nintendoplayer96v8)
Another day... quite a bit to unload, so in order to start on my own personal notepad for research, I have to find out what's up with the manager since I never met the guy.
Also, have to find out what kind of relationship I have with Angela, which will require me to talk with her more than once, and that's... going to be difficult.
Uncover whatever issue Malkuth has with failure, if someone doesn't meet her standards she loses her composure and PROBABLY turns them into "past tense" when that happens, not completely sure about that one, yet I'd like to believe she isn't as competent on her job and the deaths are because of that... sadly I have eyes and ears and the clerks are scared of her more than they are of the abnormalities, so that's a pretty bid deal.
Side missions are finding out more about abnormalities as a whole, this is a mega-corporation and is bound to have some dirty laundry, not only that but something about the abnormalities feels human even if they don't look or act like it, my current theory is that they were people turned into monsters, but that's just a jump of logic from my part.
I put my notepad under my bed because having someone read my very real concerns about the place I work at would attract bad attention, I have yet to directly go against the company as a whole, but seeing how amoral the place is and my own ideological standing, there are bound to be confrontations between me and them.
And I also have to find out WHY I'm here, what a goddamn adventure this is shaping out to be...
Hearing a knock on the door I answered it and saw a clerk with a box on him, the usual stuff they keep E.G.O in, "New equipment Samuel?" pointing out the obvious is a better conversation starter than people give it credit for.
He's either mute or silent, don't know which, but he gave me a nod and a thumbs up then walked away.
I glanced at the box on my hands and entered my room while the door closed behind me, while I opened the box and saw what was about to be my new armor, which is basically a white and red version of the E.G.O I was wearing.
Well... time to put it on then.
It was weird putting this on, unlike One Bro's it felt... more alive I guess? Not only that, but the entire process was more awkward because of the very organic shifting the chest plate did, just like the Bird's stomach.
Should read said bird's name today too.
So E.G.O weapons have special abilities if you know what you're doing, the same could be said about suits or at least I believe it does, so using the same steps as before I focused on the intent of the E.G.O...
And found... hunger? Well, it feels like hunger but with a satisfactory process, or that's what the suit is trying to convey, which could be very good or very bad depending on what it wants to do so much.
The clearest feeling I got was the desire to punish someone, it kind of felt like righteous fury... so maybe if I try to focus my desire to punish someone it would come ou-
My chest plate came to life and transformed into a giant mouth with four rows of teeth, all of them incredibly sharp, and I instantly knew they had the biting power of 100 Hypos combined, they closed with a loud crack akin to a press crushing bone and meat. I felt a strong wind from the speed the mouth closed at, and felt a slight pain on my back from the movement itself.
The feelings the suit gave were suddenly suppressed, and the mouth was gone...
...
That Bird is a lot more terrifying now, gonna have to put that on the folders 'annoying the bird could make you die by giant mouth' gonna have a field day explaining how I know that.
Leaving my room with One Bro's weapon in hand and a new suit that had the innate ability of a super crocodile bite, I was ready to tackle today to the best of my ability.
Well kinda, I heard that our newbie crew has been doing surprisingly good work, which made some of the lower Sephirah ask for something, to give us a HE level abnormality to prove if this was pure dumb luck or actual skill of the manager and us.
In my opinion... they may have been jumping to the gun there, considering how we have only dealt with a talking Skull and a small Bird, there has to be a bigger reason as to why they would suddenly decide to throw something like that all of a sudden.
But I have literally nothing to prove any of that.
Although according to Rober and Dakota, Abnormalities seem to act differently to me. Between the conversations with Rober, he seems to usually receive small headaches when talking with One Bro, and sometimes he feels ignored, I never once had that problem.
The same with the Bird, Dakota swears that the Bird is trying to stare a hole through her head but said Bird latches on me like I'm his long-lost owner, maybe this is some kind of test towards me?
Nah, two times is a coincidence... but a third one is a pattern, maybe it does involve me.
I kept walking through the hallways and met myself with Dakota who was sporting the One Bro's E.G.O suit and a white pistol with a red smear at the side, most likely from the bird, "Looks like you heard it too, a HE abnormality to truly test us... seems a little bit too soon." she commented with a frown on her face.
Nodding at her, I looked around for Rober since work hours were about to start, "Yeah, I'm a little bit tense about that... doesn't seem like normal procedure, which makes me wonder where Rober is..." hopefully the news didn't make him chicken out, he did lose it while dealing with One Bro, and he's a Zayin.
"Roby did have that look in his eyes, one of someone that's VERY constipated." Dakota muttered with a smile while I rolled my eyes at her, these two will take any chance to jab verbally at each other.
I scratched the back of my head and looked ahead at the door to the main room and saw it open itself, Rober came in still wearing the full E.G.O set of One Bro, but the one behind him...
"Does she have stars in her eyes?" Dakota questioned the very obvious physical of the blue-haired girl that was following Rober, she also radiated a certain amount of 'dumb charm' kind of like a kid.
She was wearing the E.G.O suit of One Bro and her weapon was the basic riot stick we are given when entering here, "So... Guy's BongBong, BongBong guys." I gave Rober a 'really?' stare while Dakota kept her eyes on our newbie.
"Bong!" said recruit saluted and said her name out loud.
...
Oh god, I see where this is going, "Yeah... we know, I'm Dakota rookie." She sounded so proud of herself even though she has only been here ONE day, Rober tried to hide his shit-eating smile and failed miserably.
"Bong!" saying things like a Pokémon, BongBong offered a handshake to Dakota that gave the poor blue-haired girl a narrowed stare.
"Yes... you told me that already." Oh, this is definitely going there.
"Bong?" The fact that she sounded curious made me realize that this woman probably shouldn't be here.
"Ok, Rober, tell her to drop this joke already." Dakota wasn't happy with this, and she still didn't get it either, I'll give it another minute if she doesn't notice I'll have to tell her.
Rober smiled, "My Dakota, I didn't know you thought BongBong's speech impediment was a joke, how cruel of you." Oh, you little dick, the fact that BongBong doesn't get what even is happening is a little funny, though.
Dakota's brow twitched and that was my signal to step in, "Alright guys, drop the comedy act for a second." I rose One Bro's weapon and let a wave of white over both Rober and Dakota, deescalating whatever could have happened there.
Dakota's glare lessened but didn't vanish, "I hope you realize... this is war".
"It all started with a crown of thorns, brat, bring it on." They really did start a feud over Dakota bragging about her E.G.O gift... and management believes we can take a HE of all things.
BongBong was still clueless about the whole thing which may be for the best, "I like to say it will get better... but those two won't stop now or ever, I'm Trigger in charge of keeping Hot-Head and Plain over there from killing each other." I offered a handshake to her, which she took earnestly and very happily, shook it.
"All agents Prepare for Work"
"And time to do our thing then." I commented while looking at the camera the manager was probably using to keep an eye on us.
"Trigger start Insight work on T-01-68"
So the new one for me... hopefully that's just a coincidence, "Looks I'm working the new guy, what about you guys?" I asked the rest of the team.
"I'm on babysitter duty, to beat the Rookie back into sanity if she screws up One Sin's work." Rober commented with a shrug, while BongBong gave him a cute but very blank stare.
Dakota snorted, "While you go and do that, I have to work with Punishing Bird." Oh, so that's what the little guy is called.
"Good luck with that, I have to go face the unknown." AGAIN, something that I have done a lot since I woke up here.
Hopefully, things go smoothly today, too.
(This Chapter has been Edited by the Helpful nintendoplayer96v8)
When the door opened, I was facing a... Butterfly being with a humanoid body that is somewhat tall with five arms, one of them being on his neck, two of them carrying a coffin that to no one's surprise has a butterfly engraved on it. This abnormality is also wearing a black suit that people would usually wear on funerals, or at least I get that feeling from him.
And... a deep sense of unfulfillment hit me like a truck, if there was ever a word to actually describe this it would be 'inadequacy' the posture of the abnormality pointed to him waiting for something, whatever that might be.
Insight then, I should find out why it does what it does then, "I'm Trigger, I'll keep you company, for the time being hopefully you are at least a little talkative or this could get a bit boring." I felt his silent stare on me, after a moment he nodded.
Where to start? Ah, right he is waiting for something after all, "Seems like you are waiting, may I inquire about that or is it too personal?" There was a pause, its butterfly for a head has fluttered after a moment and his coffin opened a great number of actually normal-sized butterflies, came out and started moving around in a confusing way.
It took me a moment to realize they were making letters on the air it read 'The peaceful end'.
Then he'll be waiting a while. Only old fulfilled people can die peacefully, everyone else always has their mind in something they could have done or should have done, I'm a sappy fucker, know I'll regret something at the end of the line even if it wasn't my fault.
"Any reason? There is a lot out there to do, and waiting for things to just end seems a little wasteful." At my question, I could feel the eyeless stare trying to bore a hole in my head.
The butterflies moved, 'It is what everyone here waits for, someone to mourn for them, to release them like butterflies on the wind.' after reading that I remembered the room full of bodies again, their expressions... weren't pretty.
Is this thing telling me everyone here would prefer being dead?
Also, he is a walking metaphor... a very on-the-nose one considering his head is a butterfly, alas I don't agree with this at all, "Easier said than done, running away is all about having regrets and dying to escape may be the biggest way to prove that after all, if you didn't want to suffer to begin with you must have wanted the opposite, wouldn't that mean you'll regret not having that comfort?" The abnormality tilted his head and the butterflied fluttered in confusion then started to move again.
'It is what I bring, peaceful memories of their friends and families, a final curtain that they deserve.' I stared at the words for a moment, making me think if the abnormality wants these things too, or only wants to give them.
How should I word it then... "Would you want a lie at the end of your journey? Sure, you may be showing them what they want but YOU are what they see at the end, wouldn't that break the illusion?" The physical response I got from that was worrying, I saw his second pair of hands grip the coffin tighter.
His hands still on his pockets were probably balled into fists, the butterflies moved erratically too, 'Isn't it what they want? What everyone wants?' I gave him a careful look, knowing full well that if I said something wrong he will try something violent...
"No... what you want to know is, Do I want this? If your whole job is bringing a peaceful end to people around you, it makes you think if someone would do the same for you." A contradiction, a being that wants to give the best ending he can give didn't get his.
I stopped to think for a moment, I'm new to the world but from what I know about this company... "Wing" I think they called it, is a big change for your life, but clerks are miserable a good chunk of the time, the result they wanted isn't what they expected.
Am I reading too much into this?
The abnormality twitched, even if I could see the green light confirming good work being done I could tell that... he wasn't happy with my words, he rose his neck-hand and made a finger gun.
I dove out of the way out of instinct, dodging whatever came from that I saw butterflies fill the room and a worryingly sleepy feeling was overcoming my body but even through all of that I could see the last words written by the butterflies, 'You are troubled, let me put you at ease.' what a terrifyingly soothing thing to say.
It prepared again, but I jumped up and gripped the Cross-hammer weapon with both hands and smashed him on the face, making him falter back but didn't do any significant damage.
Maybe I should fall back and call for help... and get all the clerks killed.
Fuck my bleeding heart.
The room was gradually filling with butterflies and my head was getting fuzzier, I felt something hard land on my shoulder, but what really worried me was how my mind was just going on a trip that it didn't want to go back.
I stared straight into the abnormalities head and ran forward taking another four shots from his finger gun, this must be what a 'so high I can't see the ground' feels like, I felt the wriggling chest plate of my E.G.O suit squirm.
And when I reached him the jaws from before snapped around him at a ridiculous speed even without a face I could tell the abnormality was confused by how fast it happened, arms bend the wrong way and shattered knees, chest so disfigured you may as well call it a pretzel and his head was now missing some wings too.
The butterflies slowly started disappearing, and I stared at the broken form of the abnormality with pity, a life of contradictions and how much it resembles... more stuff to think about I guess.
I gave a curious look when the abnormality snapped the fingers of his only useful hand left a flutter of butterflies came carrying a smaller version of the coffin he has which was still as tall as I am, I gave it a curious look and let them put it on my back which was now there... hanging by nothing.
Ok.
Said butterflies started creating words again, 'You want it too, peace.' Don't say shit like that after trying to kill me...
"Yeah, but I know it won't ever come, Humanity is all about conflict... but wanting something like that isn't wrong." I replied, the less likely to reach it the more beautiful it is, or I like to think about it like that.
I left the containment room and... saw Dakota aiming straight at the door with her new pistol, BongBong doing a weird kung-fu pose, Rober was gripping the E.G.O weapon of One Bro like his life depended on it, and the last one that kinda surprised me was Beth holding out a Glock and shakily aiming at the door.
...
"So he tried to kill me, and I'm alive..." The uproar at my words... was interesting, to say the least.
(This Chapter has been Edited by the Helpful nintendoplayer96v8)
"Do you have any idea how big this is? You were alone against a HE with lower-tier gear and in an enclosed space, that's FUCKING INSANE!" Yes, Dakota, and I obviously need EVERY single one of you to make me remember this fact.
It has been around 10 minutes after that confrontation, and we decided to seat in the main room. Also, they haven't stopped hyping me up as some kind of uber badass, sure it's nice but trying to suck my metaphorical cock isn't going to make me feel elated but rather annoyed.
The ego boost is welcomed though, "It's just all about quick decision-making and a pair of balls to RUN STRAIGHT AT THE ABNORMALITY AND BEAT IT'S SHIT IN!" exclaimed Rober with an incredulous look and BongBong nodding along with his words so fast she may as well be vibrating her head.
"You are alright?..." Beth, you are a ray of sunshine, but this is the fifth time you asked me that.
I answered anyway, "Yeah, some good ol' One Bro special, and I'm feeling a lot better." Using said Mace-cross mix weapon to heal the mind is quite the boon, not gonna lie.
I'm kinda surprised no one has asked me how I do those things...
"Have been meaning to ask that... how do you do that? Like sure E.G.O is weird, but you do more with it than anyone else, or the records imply that no one really knows how to use the E.G.O but rather let the E.G.O use them." Rober, you may just have a knack for saying stuff at the right moment when you don't mean to.
I stared at my mace and the new coffin on my back that's just floating there, I remembered seeing butterflies coming out of it when the Abnormality attacked me... better show than tell, "Give me a moment then, it's better if I show you the process." I started to focus on the gift specifically and felt a great deal of what I would call solemn mourning.
A feeling that felt numb to me really, I have mourned a lot even to those that I shouldn't... makes me remember those nights of hallowing that I spend back in Mexico going to the graveyard to visit my uncle's grave, never met the guy but no one went to see him, so I did it for that reason alone, someone had to remember him, but at the same time I saw many more graves that weren't attended, and I started making small gifts to all of them.
Spend the whole day and I didn't even cover 1% of the graveyard and still left content with myself.
I'd lament and mourn all I want as long as it doesn't eat me inside it should be fine... the coffin opened and a big wave of butterflies left the coffin moving around me, I rose a brow and mentally tried to command them just like the abnormality did make them form a circle in the air while spinning in front of me.
Then as a final act, I let them grab my E.G.O weapon and carry it inside the coffin while it closed after that happened "That, my friends, is using E.G.O, any questions?" Everyone was showing different degrees of gobsmacked, Dakota, on the other hand, stared at me with a new light in her eyes.
"SO... you not only get perfect results, have girls falling for you, AND know how to use E.G.O unlike apparently everyone else... is God your dad or something?" The absolute certainty in which he said... I'm worried about the rivers that come my way, yes that was an innuendo.
I sighed, "If he was, then he'd be a dead beat... any actual meaningful questions?" BongBong rose her arm and I knew that she couldn't communicate like others do but fuck it.
Giving her a nod she pulled out a notepad and started writing at a worrying speed, then she showed me what it was, 'Is that something that anyone can do?' or she could surprise me like this.
I gave her a so-so gesture, "Apparently? It does say that you could be consumed by E.G.O and probably go on a murder spree, but I never felt any of that gnawing at my mind." BongBong nodded happily at my words.
Beth shifted nervously, "That sounds terrifying, but you are handling it very well..." It's cute that she is worrying over me, like a chihuahua that is very affectionate.
"You idiots aren't asking the good stuff." Dakota... didn't sound as rude as expected, but a little disappointment could be felt in her words.
Rober didn't take that one well, "And what, oh mighty and venerable Dakota, might that be?" These two would be the death of me at some point, or at least the death of my peace of mind.
The small girl rolled her eyes and stared me right in the eye, "Can you teach it?" I nodded with a small smile on my face.
"Yeah, I can teach you guys, not on work hours though for obvious reasons." My reply was met with stunned silence, they all exchanged glances of what I could only guess was of surprise.
Surprisingly enough, BongBong rose her notepad first, 'Dibs on the first class.' Dakota cursed like a sailor at that one.
"SECOND ONE THEN!" Exclaimed Dakota, making Rober slump in defeat...
"Um... Dibs on third?" I glanced at Beth and gave her a small nod with a smile, Rober slumped even further.
'Orders from the top Trigger! Start repression work on T-01-68'
"Looks like the time to talk has passed, have to go and meet butterfly man again." I said, while everyone exchanged worried glances, I'm not made of glass...
My eyes landed on Beth again "Try working once with One Bro, and before you ask... no nowhere does it say you can't." she wants to learn may as well get a taste of it.
"But I'm supposed to work it according to the manager?" Rober said with confusion and I threw him a sly smile.
"Remember our first day here? I'm calling a favor of you letting her enter before you, and you have to beat her back into sanity if something goes wrong." I'm not above abusing my leverage over people if the situation calls for it, I WAS a teenager at some point too.
Rober blanched, "Today isn't my day..." I waved at everyone and made my way back to butterfly man's chamber.
When the door opened, I gave him a small smile, "Name every person you ever mourned." I suddenly voiced out, to repress desire, you distract them with a topic that is similar to their interests but diverts them from executing them.
He stopped playing with a butterfly on his neck hand and stared at me, the butterflies flew around and formed words 'It'll take a while.' I smiled and seated cross-legged on the metal floor.
"I have time."
(This Chapter has been Edited by the Helpful nintendoplayer96v8)
I stretched my back while getting some satisfying pops from the action, the rest of the day went smoothly... until butterfly man almost went crazy after Dakota, with a big pair on her, decided to try and work him and failed in a goddamn instant.
Wonder who on management thought that would be a good idea, so the firecracker ended up taking a hit to her pride and pissed off "The Funeral of Dead Butterflies", that's a long name if I ever heard one.
Right now I was in the Main Room of the Control Team staring at a stack of papers on a table next to me, I thought about it and realized that whatever code of conduct Malkuth followed could be the reason so many people died on her, so I decided to take a look over it, asking for a copy from her and getting quite the excited response in return.
Right now, Rober and the rest of the Control Team went to the Dining Hall to get their stomachs filled after a good day of work. They wanted me to go and make Pizza for them, which was met with instant denial from me, ONLY special occasions and no other time.
I grabbed the papers prepared to read them, alright then, so first page is all about how to deal with mental corruption...
Wouldn't it be easier to use white weapons on them?...
... Wait, why send newbies with abnormalities with a threat level higher than TETH?...
I- what? Sure the efficiency is there, but that strategy is basically suicide, you can't expect people to be okay with being bait while others suppress the abnormality.
... So resigning or going crazy isn't allowed, but you are basically forcing those options on them Malkuth, sure I'm used to overworking the shit out of myself but not everyone has that kind of stamina!
Not only that but I always wondered where our seniors of the Control team were, but they aren't ANY of them, to begin with, Malkuth has no seniors whatsoever since all of them died either by her high standards or the abnormalities thanks to her code of conduct.
I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breath, I had some blank papers here and free time, even if management ignored my attempt at changing this frankly flawed system, but it'll certainly make me feel a little bit better.
Pen in hand, I started to write then and there, there should at least be a senior member per Department... suppression should be done not according to our firepower but rather that of the abnormalities, wonder not if we hit them hard but how hard they can hit us... don't let new employees work dangerous abnormalities...
I kept writing, it slowly made me calm down, even if the probability of this whole thing being rejected was there... I at least tried and even if it didn't work, I sure as hell will try to minimize whatever bullshit is thrown our way.
Suddenly I perked up at the metallic sound of the door opening, I glanced behind me seeing Angela... I took a deep breath and utterly CRUSHED the foreign feelings I have about her, "Miss Angela, is there anything you need from here?" I smiled lightly at her, something that I took notice of her is how hard she is always trying to keep her eyes closed, even if she from time to time opened to give me curious looks.
"Malkuth is behind schedule again, I came looking for the daily report given to the manager about employee stats and employee deaths, along with updates about the investigations she was asked to do". Her overly polite tone, that I know for a fact is forced, worried me and I don't know why.
Her eyes glanced at the papers on the table and as if she had read them from that glance alone her face formed a small frown, "While some of these changes are indeed beneficial more than half of them are wishful thinking, energy production is the priority here." Not safety, that much is obvious.
I nodded, "I can tell, but I can exactly change the way I view things, so I wrote it even if I knew a good chunk of them would be ignored, for my own peace of mind, don't you do things like these too? Try, even if you know it won't work for your own sanity." My question prompted a reaction from her, eyes locking with mine with the intensity of the sun.
"All the time, while I'm not against this course of action do not keep your hopes up, all of it could be brushed aside without even receiving a second glance." I didn't shy away from her gave, hell, I even gave her a wide smirk.
"That's fine, you already saw some of them and actually agreed with a few, so while 80% could be rejected, that means 20% wasn't and that is better than nothing." Angela paused and closed her eyes again while giving me a small nod.
I blinked at that, "Then I'll show them to the manager and put my own opinion of them." Well... I did not expect that.
The door opened again, and I saw Malkuth running towards Angela with a stack of papers on her metallic arms, "Sorry Lady Angela! I lost my pen and had to look for another one to finish today's report." There she is.
Angela nodded, "As expected, please do try to not repeat this matter again." Was that sass, or am I hearing her intention wrong?.
Malkuth was either not affected or unaware of this, "You can count on it... Oh! Trigger, you seem to be reading the Code of Conduct, seems great minds do think alike." Yeah... no.
I don't hate you Malkuth, but I'm no kiss ass, "Actually, I feel half of it isn't very effective, sure you may win a battle, but abnormalities don't stop coming, but people do, a strategy based around the fact we can beat them at all moments isn't what I would call logical, and throwing employees at them like suicide bombers doesn't seem that productive." Malkuth eye flickered for a couple of seconds before a sigh of disappointment could be heard.
"I thought you could see things the way I do, but my code of conduct has given me a 100% suppression rate along with always reaching the energy quota, I suggest that you think through your words next time." Her whole demeanor changed but sadly for her... I do think through my words.
Raising a brow, I kept a carefully neutral face while saying the next words, "A mortality rate higher than 50%, which is the bare minimum asked of you, and no senior members that could handle anything higher than a TETH. I am the first member of your department that has handled anything higher than that, you reach your energy quota because the abnormalities assigned to you are easier to handle than the norm." Malkuth took a step back as I had slapped her with the power of facts and logic, not that I felt good about that.
"Simply put... they are handing you the scraps of the work." My words are a sharpened sword, and Malkuth's argument was cut to pieces.
Angela had kept her eyes on me through the whole exchange, "Trigger has shown a good point, your code was never questioned since it brought results Malkuth, but Trigger's ideas do have merit to them." Malkuth finally reacted to all that happened.
Not in a good way, mind you.
"B-But I had given positive results from the beginning! It can't be just thrown away from ideas made on the fly with no proof to them!" The metal box sounded incredibly angry at the situation and probably at me too... no, scratch that, she is obviously angry at me too.
Angela wasn't even moved by her words, "If the decision is made it would do so, don't tell me you deluded yourself into believing your way could be the only one?" I don't think rubbing salt on the wound is helping...
Malkuth was shocked but seemingly changed back to her old ways... which was obviously a lie, "I... see, I'll wait eagerly for the results then." She left after leaving her report on the table, I stared at her back all the while.
I expected a strong reaction, but that wasn't something a stable person would do, "You noticed then?" The question from Angela made me throw her a questioning look.
"That she took that worse than expected? Yeah..." I trailed off at the end there.
Angela nodded once, "Sephirah are highly unstable when subjected with strong emotional reactions, do not worry with things beyond your control." to that I sighed and smile like a bit of an idiot.
"I thought you'd have enough pattern recognition to know that isn't my style." Angela honestly look annoyed at my answer if only for a second.
"Then I'll be on my way, have a good night Trigger."
"You too Angela."
She left with both my stack of papers and Malkuth report while I sighed and made my way towards my room, even more to worry about...
A/N: Man... still so much left to bring to this platform, I should maybe speed up?... nah better do it when I wanna, I think.
Thanks for reading!