Author's Note: Howdy my fellow readers! I hope you've been enjoying the adventures of our dear Stalker in the foreign land of Kivotos. I probably should have author's notes in the previous chapters, but that's fine, it was mostly just touch ups for viewing pleasure. Plus, I'm new to this whole fanfare thing, likely reflected in my relatively short chapters and lack of touching up. But hey~ I'm learning! Also, feel free to pop into the reviews and put whatever, be it constructive, praise, insultation, I accept all in stride!
And that's pretty much it, thanks for reading and here's to many more chapters~!
"Y-yes, er, right this way." She gestures towards an elevator.
I nod and she proceeds. As I follow, my eyes can't help but stare. Specifically, at those wings of hers, attached to her lower back flanking her sides. Again, I've seen all manner of mutation, but this was surely something.
Like, how do they work? Can they be used to fly? I ponder over such questions as we walk.
Seems she somehow caught me staring, as a deep red flushes her face. I switch on my PDA to apologize as she presses the call button, the doors sliding open. We both step in and face the door. I inspect the inside of the cabin as she moves over and presses another button, this time taking us all the way to the top.
I begin whistling as I watch the LED screen count the floors we've ascended, my eyes occasionally glancing over to the secretary. Seems she's quite flustered at the situation, seeing as she's restless and fidgety. I move to grab my PDA, and that was enough for her to flinch.
I sigh and open up the translator.
"So… the name's Ayumu, is it?" I ask, hoping to break the deafening silence.
"Y-yes." Her reply meek and brief.
Another bout of silence rings out before we finally reach the top. The doors slide open, revealing a vast office space, with windows galore, and extremely clean at that. At the far end of the room sat a few seats and a desk, piled high with paperwork and documents.
At the center of it all sat a black haired girl, ears sharp like one of those fantasy people I've seen in that degenerate book I snagged off a bandit, and as expected, haloed.
She glances over from a document she had in her hands and gets up with haste, placing it back on top of the rest before approaching us.
"I-I've brought him over, Vi-Acting President." Ayumu stammers out.
"I can see that." The Acting President replies, eyeing me up and down, her eyes narrowing as she spots my firearms.
She then looks into my visor, and before she opens her mouth, I hold my hand out, motioning to her to hold on while I set my PDA up. Holding it out, I gesture for her to speak into it. Glancing at it then me, she proceeds.
"I assume you want me to speak into this?" She asks, pointing at the device.
I nod. "I'm unable to speak nor understand the language of these parts, so this here will help smooth things out." I shake the PDA.
"I see…" She pauses as she continues to take in all my features.
I clear my throat. "Ahem, anyways, I hear there's business that needs tending to?"
"Ah, yes." She pushes up her glasses, " As you might tell, the situation in the city is… not ideal, to say the least."
I nod.
"As such, the previous GSC President, gave instructions of an adult that will provide assistance and stabilize the city and reign in its academies." She glances over to me, "I assume she left you a message of sorts?"
Pulling up the message, I turn over the PDA over to her. She takes a few minutes reading and re-reading the message before handing it back over. It's obvious the message is distressing as it causes her to stagger, gaining the concern of Ayumu as she closes in. Rin holds a hand up before pinching the bridge of her nose and looking up to me.
"Effective immediately…" Her eyes narrow as she stares into my visor. "The President hasn't been wrong in her decision making, so you must have quite the skillset or experience to reflect this, I assume?"
"Define experience." I ask as I look out the windows, the vast city-scape is quite something to behold.
"Diplomacy, delegating tasks, reviewing manifests and logistic networks, handling unsavory characters should the need arise." She lists off of her fingers.
I tap my stowed RPK. "I know how to handle that last one quite well."
"And the rest?"
"...I've been told I can be quite charming."
She lets out a sigh and pinches the bridge of her nose.
"I suppose…" She pauses as she looks at me again. "This could work."
She takes a step closer to me with a stern look plastered on her face.
"Artyom-Sensei, will you be accepting the role of advisor for SCHALE, taking up its responsibilities and providing your aid as you see fit?"
I contemplate the question for a few seconds, putting us in a sort of staredown, Ayumu in the background panicking slightly.
I hold my hand out. "Glad to be aboard."
She loosens visibly before accepting my hand and giving a firm shake. A small smile takes the place of her stern look. "Let's get to work then, Artyom-Sensei."
"So, what's first on the agenda?" I ask, setting down and rummaging through my pack.
Taking a tablet from her desk, "First off would be re-taking the SCHALE clubroom, it has been taken over by the numerous gangs that have proven to be a considerable thorn in our collective backsides. If we want to reinstate control over the Sanctum Tower, this will be our first step."
"I see, do we get any sort of back up? I'm not too keen on taking on a gang on my own."
Her face scrunches up. "We will be meeting the representatives of the major academies soon enough."
I look up from my pack. "I take it they're not the best company?"
"They mean well, although their methodology can be a bit… rough-handed."
"Noted, I've handled rougher." I reply, replacing my pack and hooking back onto my exoskeleton. I notice in the corner of my eye her stare.
"Curious?" I point to the artificial muscles and servo motors outlining my body.
"Ah, yes, I've seen power assisted suits similar to yours, but nothing as elaborate, nor as well defended." She notes, inspecting deeply the details of my exoskeleton.
"It does a real fine job of keeping bullets out, and carrying stuff."
"Intriguing, I've heard that the Engineering Club has been experimenting with projects such as these."
"Anyhow, I assume we've got some representatives to meet?" I change the subject.
"Indeed, right this way, Artyom-Sensei."
Within another room held said various representatives, each of their own unique personalities, more often than not picked up from their respective academy.
Of course, she was more concerned with the Seminar's issues and requests. Hayase Yuuka sat in wait for the Acting President to address the wait and their requests, or demands. Though, she wasn't the only one to have pressing matters and questions.
Her eyes wander across the room, taking note of the various representatives of the major academies.
Sat across from her was a black haired girl dressed in the same shade, a red armband wrapped around her upper arm. The Justice Task Force, she thought, was known for their discipline. Although their representative would reflect otherwise, chatting loudly on their phone for the past hour or so.
Sat alone on the far side of the room sat a silver haired girl from Gehenna, representing the Prefect Team. Their resident expert marksman, though a little cold to talk to and work with.
Sat next to her was a pink haired girl who introduced themselves as Sumi Serina, her uniform denoting that she's representing the Remedial Knights, Trinity's in-house medical club.
She crosses her legs and arms, leaning back into the sofa, eyes on the door. A sigh escapes as she wonders how much longer they need to wait.
That is, till the doors slide open. Silence befalls the room as the Acting President steps in and scans the room.
Hayase Yuuka would be the first to step up and put forth their mind.
"Finally! You had us waiting for a while, now, where's the real President? I would like to forward my requests directly." Yuuka demands.
"H-hello, I'm here representing Captain Mine, she has concerns regarding the rise in injuries and hospital visits." Serina presents her point.
"-I'll get back to you later-ssu." She shoves her phone into her skirt pocket. "Yeah, um, reports brought in have stated that there's been a huge spike in black market weaponry and heavy machinery, somewhere around ten to fifteen times the normal amount-ssu?" The black haired girl steps in.
"On behalf of the Head Prefect, I am here to discuss the terms regarding-" Iori attempts to step in but is eventually drowned out by the ensuing chaos that is the other girls talking over one another.
I watch behind the open door as the girls talk over each other about their respective problems. I look over to Rin who merely has a customer service smile plastered on her face, her ears twitching ever so slightly. Ayumu, however, who stood beside me was panicking slightly. I sigh as I look back over to the room. I get ready to be revealed as I place the PDA into a breast pouch, translator on.
A few minutes pass as the talking riles down, giving Rin some time to breathe.
"All done?" She merely asks. This notably puts a sour taste in everyone's mouth as they're visibly shocked.
A heavy sigh escapes Rin's mouth as she pulls up an office chair and takes a seat, quite gracefully at that.
"All done!?" Yuuka exclaims. "Where is the President? I'll add complaints on top of the increasing list of problems."
Rin merely stares down the unruly Seminar representative, who backs down somewhat. She does a final scan of the room before slumping back into the chair a little.
"I suppose there's no harm in informing you all. The President has been… missing for quite some time now. Weeks at that."
Gasps and murmurs could be heard across the room.
"Resulting in that, has been the current problems we all have been facing. As you all know well, our current state of affairs has not been well.
Silence.
"Ahem, as such, the President has introduced me to a person who could possibly revert all that and reinstate control."
Confusion plastered everyone's face.
"Now who could even do all that?" Yuuka asks expectantly with a tinge of doubt.
"Artyom-Sensei, if you would please."
As a show of force, I purposely put weight into my steps, exaggerating the whirring in my servo motors as I stepped into the room. Standing at attention next to Rin, my hands held behind my back, I stared down the girls, my visor betraying no emotion. This puts pause on everyone as they stare back at me, with a mix of fear and curiosity.
'Who is this adult?' Yuuka wonders. 'He looks like some sort of soldier, something like Kaiser?' She looks at the heavy equipment this supposed Artyom-Sensei has on, before moving onto his weaponry. 'What kind of person is this man?'
"This, as I've said before, is Artyom-Sensei. With the power vested in the GSC President, he has been offered the role of advisor for SCHALE, and as extension of the President and her power." Rin explains, I glance down to her and it's obvious she's enjoying the slight terror instilled in everyone. She looks up to me and gestures to the girls.
"Ahem, yes, I am Artyom, and as you may notice, I am not from these lands, and I do not speak the native language here." I pull out the PDA from its pocket. "This device here allows me and you to talk, amongst other things. As the Acting President has stated, I have taken up the role as advisor, and will be conducting an operation to retake the SCHALE clubroom and restore functionality to the Sanctum Tower."
I'm not exactly full on board with leading a bunch of schoolgirls into a firefight, but beggars can't be choosers, I guess.
A few murmurs pass as they continue to study my words and myself.
"Although, this plan hinges on your cooperation."
The loud and complain-y girl holds up her hand. "But how are we going to help?" She looks around and the other girls simply shrug.
"Name?" I ask sternly.
She recoils a little. "H-huh?"
"What is your name, young lady?"
"H-Hayase Yuuka… sir." She replies slightly subdued.
I stare down Yuuka for a few more seconds before looking back up to the rest.
"Acting President, care to explain the plan?" I ask, looking over to my side.
"Of course."
Rin then proceeds to lay down the plan, first with how I came to be the one to reinstate functionality to the Sanctum Tower and my role as advisor for SCHALE, before moving onto the plan to retake SCHALE. This, of course, gave everyone some sort of doubt as to why I, an outsider, became the one to be appointed.
Their murmurs of distrust and confusion was expected, but damn was this tough. A sigh escapes my lips. This is why I like working alone most of the time.
I clear my throat, gaining everyone's attention. "Listen up. It's clear you don't exactly trust me, and believe me, that sentiment is shared. But, I was sent here for a reason, and that was to fix whatever clusterfuck is currently occurring outside. If we don't work together and reclaim the SCHALE clubhouse." I pause to stare into each of their eyes. "I doubt the future of this place."
The girls exchange glances amongst each other before I continue.
"Now what'll it be ladies? Kivotos doesn't have all day."
Pondering over my talk, they weighed out their options.
Surprisingly, Yuuka was the first to speak out, even after I smoked her out.
"I suppose I could work with you on this… uh…"
"Artyom, Artyom-Sensei, or Sensei works just fine."
"I as well." The silver haired girl speaks up next.
"Name?"
"Shiromi Iori, Sensei."
I nod to her before looking over to the pink haired girl. "M-me too, I'll help! Oh, uh, I'm Sumi Serina!"
The final girl popped in, phone in hand. "Nakamasa Ichika, at your service-ssu!"
A slight smile forms under my helmet before I look towards Rin.
"Looks like we got a team assembled, when should we expect boots on the ground?"
"I have helicopters on standby for insertion, but reports say that fighting is rampant, and nearby landing zones are not ideal."
"Just get us close, I have an idea." An even wider grin plasters my face.
It was definitely a new experience, flying in a helicopter with armed schoolgirls, preparing to hot-drop into a combat zone to retake a clubhouse. But, rolling with it was Artyom's specialty, especially with spending years in the Zone.
The blades of the helicopter sliced through the air above the city, as I watched the numerous structures pass by, many engulfed in smoke and in all manner of destruction. Sporadic gunfire indicated by muzzle flashes could also be seen.
My eyes looked away and back into the helicopter, where my strike team composed of schoolgirls sat in wait. The silver haired girl, Iori, was the marksman of the team, denoted by her bolt action rifle. Although it lacked a scope, she assured that it was unnecessary.
The pink haired girl, Serina, as well as Ichika, both wielded bullpup rifles. Not exactly an unfamiliar sight, but their more complex nature meant more fixing and more cleaning. A luxury not afforded by many in the Zone.
Finally, Yuuka, she wielded a submachine gun, an MPX I presumed. Many weapons have found their way into the Zone, typically smuggled, so I've seen all sorts scattered across in my adventures. More expensive and foreign models though, not so much, but Sig Sauer weapons have found their way in, somehow.
Inspecting my own, I check the magazine of my RPK. Full mag, check. I replace it, the magazine clicking in place. I pull back the charging handle. Round chambered, check.
I'm in the middle of an equipment check before a ping goes off on my PDA.
'A new task?' I wonder as I pull up the taskboard.
The task giver was the GSC again, giving me the job of reaching and clearing out the SCHALE clubhouse.
I shrug before placing the PDA back into its pouch.
"Artyom-Sensei," Rin speaks over the radio linked to my helmet's set. Hopefully my PDA works from here. "I've informed the K.S.P.D in the area of your arrival. You may be acquainted with a few as they've escorted you, but they've been held up from assisting. It seems there are a few of these gangs between you and the clubroom."
"Gangs?"
"Yes, usually, they're at most a minor setback. But reports from the K.S.P.D have stated they are fielding a single Crusader tank. Utmost caution is advised when engaging."
"What kind of armaments are we facing?"
"Small arms and some grenades are to be expected."
I grimace, small arms was no problem, grenades were okay, but a whole tank? I shake my head as Rin continues her report.
"They seriously have tanks?" Yuuka asks, holding her headset and adjusting her mic.
Ichika pops in. "Most likely stolen from our contingent, we had a tank go missing the other day, so this isn't good-ssu."
"That isn't all."
Serina complains. "There's more? I don't think I have enough with me to patch up all the injuries." She looks dejected as she eyes her oversized medkit. Where'd she get that anyways?
"Yes, in addition to the main forces, K.S.P.D also reports the loose criminal to be the Fox of Calamity.
Silence befalls the group, allowing the spinning blades of the helicopter cutting through air to fill in.
Tanks, schoolgirls and criminals, quite the odd lineup if I do say so, but… 'When in Rome', I suppose.
I continue inspecting my gear before Yuuka scooches closer to me. I look up before she opens her mouth.
"Will you be using that?" She points to my RPK.
"Is that going to be a problem?"
"You're not as protected as us, Sensei, there will be a lot of bullets flying in the air." Her face displays genuine concern, as well as the rest of the team.
I pound on my vest twice with my fist.
"This suit isn't just for show, Hayase."
"But-"
"Plus, I'm not gonna let you all have all the fun, right?"
"You could get seriously hurt though!"
"Isn't that what I signed up for? Plus, I think a few of those girls owe me an apology."
A confused look appears on Yuuka's face before Ichika pops in.
"What kind of soldier are you-ssu?" She asks, her eyes opening slightly, revealing a silver hue.
"Not a soldier, an explorer of sorts." I explain.
"An explorer?"
"Stalkers, we were called."
This put all sorts of confusion on their faces, disgust on Iori's.
I pause before I get what they got confused on. I sigh deeply before I clear things up.
"Not the type of stalking you have in mind. Instead of obsessing over people, us Stalkers explored the unknown, in search of riches and mapping out areas of interest. That, or completing tasks for others who can't get them done themselves."
"But why are they called 'Stalkers'? Seems kind of wrong to me." Iori chimes in.
"That's because it's an abbreviation."
"That means…?" Yuuka asks, gesturing to me to elaborate.
"Scavengers, Trespassers, Adventurers, Loners, Killers, Explorers, Robbers. The term 'Stalker' was just a catch all for those that operated in the area."
"...Killers?" Serina whispers over her mic.
I sigh. "Yes, where I am from, people aren't the kindest folks around." My grip clenches tighter around the grip of my RPK.
"Does that mean…?" Yuuka asks, her eyes focused on my grip.
I let the silence answer for me.