"What happened to those two? Did I miss something?" Naomi wondered while pointing to the passed out girls on the couch.
"I don't know, they just slumped over all of a sudden. I can't imagine what would cause them to do that." Gunvolt answered.
"Eh, we'll probably figure it out when they wake up." Naomi supposed.
Five minutes later, the girls awoke. Naomi heard Joule stretch and yawn so she went to check on her.
"Hey, what happened? You passed out earlier, it was completely unexpected. What made you do that?" Naomi queried.
"Did alll of that, really happen to you?" Joule worried.
"Huh? You heard all the stuff I said about last night!?" Naomi panicked.
Joule nodded. Any sort of calm Naomi had left her in that moment.
"Tell me, all of what you heard, now. And don't skip on any, details." Naomi demanded.
"Something about skin splitting like a rubber band, anesthesia, a scalpel and someone named Takefutsu." Joule answered.
"Okay then you heard enough." Naomi declared.
"Why, is it bad?" Joule pondered.
"Bad enough." Naomi confirmed.
"Is something wrong Naomi?" Asimov assumed.
"GV's gonna have a wee bit of a problem when he gets home tonight, I'm just saying." Naomi remarked.
Naomi turned her attention to her sister and gripped directly under Mytyl's shoulders.
"Now, I need you to listen to me and listen good. You aren't going to think of dad any different. You're going to treat him the same way you always do. Just because he treats me different doesn't mean it should affect how you see him. Got it?" Naomi notified.
Mytyl nodded, still confused about what her sister was saying.
"Good, now, I've got some work to do. I'll drop you off back home in a bit. That cool with you?" Naomi added.
Mytyl nodded again. Naomi walked off to her desk, leaving Mytyl with an even more confused Joule.
"You're her sister? You two don't look anything like each other, no offense." Joule remarked.
"None taken, you should see my brother. He looks like he was adopted." Mytyl jested.
"What!? That can't be right! I mean, it would be awesome, but it's still not right!" Naomi shouted before running to take a look at Joule.
Naomi looked through her phone for a picture of her mom. Sure enough, Naomi's mom had some incredibly hard to notice purple in her hair. But, Naomi saw it and her mind was nearly blown in the literal sense. Naomi went running to Asimov, waving her phone around along the way.
Zeno and Gunvolt saw Naomi running like that, concerned she was mentally ill.
"Are you sure, absolutely sure, that she got all the nanobots outta her system? 'Cause if not, I think we know now." Zeno retorted.
"I wonder what she's going on about." Gunvolt stated.
"Well, let's go check and see then." Zeno suggested.
Gunvolt agreed and left with Zeno.
Knowing it wasn't a good idea to talk about this in public, Naomi and Asimov returned to the interrogation room.
"You were right. I hate to admit it this one time, but you were right. It looks like Joule may in fact, be a clone of Mytyl. But how di- oh, oh no.
Oh heck naw he didn't! T-that makes me sick. Do you think he'll disown me if I say something about being lab created? But I can't look him in the face, I'm too scared now.
It's like looking at your worst fear that somehow exists in real life too." Naomi sighed.
"I was afraid of that. You know, he said something about the containment along those lines once. I just can't remember where though." Asimov remembered.
"Last night, perhaps?" Naomi seethed.
"No, before that." Asimov denied.
'Maybe they said that about GV or Nova?" Naomi supposed.
"A little after that I think." Asimov supposed.
"Are you thinking about it because it had something to do with this?" Naomi guessed.
"That was it." Asimov confirmed.
"Why does it feel like absolutely everything and everyone is against me?" Naomi groaned.
"It just feels like that. I'm not against you. Nor is Moniqa, Zeno, Xiao, Joule, Mytyl or Quinn. GV seems for you. Elise too from what I've heard." Asimov stated.
"Why am I like this? Why is my life like this? Did I do something to get this?" Naomi sobbed.
"You don't have to worry about that. Just try to do the best you can." Asimov assured.
"But there's nothing good I can do. I work for the Sumeragi. I have every single Septima in existence. A lot of which I'm the sole weilder.
I work for both Sumeragi and QUILL. The only way I can truly be happy is if I'm away from my family. Everyone would be better if I stayed away from them." Naomi ranted.
"None of that is true. You were created to make people happy. And to bring positive change to the world." Asimov answered.
"The only people smiling are the ones that make me suffer and the only positive change I'm involved in includes double A batteries." Naomi denied.
"Asimov, can I come in?" Gunvolt hoped.
"You may." Asimov replied.
Gunvolt opened the door and shut it behind him.
"What's going on?" Gunvolt worried.
"Naomi's having a crisis." Asimov responded.
"I don't understand, what caused it?" Gunvolt pondered.
"She found out that she has every single Septima in existence, had false memories, brain tampering, and no actual family." Asimov anounced.
"I'm sorry Zeno said what he did. I didn't expect him to pop off." Gunvolt apologized.
Naomi shook her head.
"I can't say I'd blame him. If I were in a position like that then I'd be angry at me too." Naomi laughed.
"Speaking of which, what positions do you have in Sumeragi?" Gunvolt queried.
"I'm a test subject for both Project Muse and Project Gunvolt. I'm the Primal Dragon Ambassador. The Peacekeeper between divisions, general test subject, leader and chief of the defense unit, worker in the Adept Unit, Combat Unit, Deployment Unit, Sumeragi's current Muse, Nova's personal escort, Sumeragi's second in command, their top assassin, an employee of both the third and eighth divisions of S-FIT, sole Foreign Dignitaries division member, Security Unit member, a Department of Message Propagation member, leader of Project Muse and a Sumeragi Seven member." Naomi explained.
"Wow, and you still manage to work for QUILL? How many jobs do you have here?" Gunvolt questioned.
"She does espionnage, intel transferring, assassin work, she's even had Sumeragi change their security measures to make our missions easier." Asimov replied.
'By the way Naomi, there was something I wanted to ask you." Gunvolt added.
Naomi turned to give Gunvolt a curious look.
"Sure, what's on your mind?" Naomi answered.
"Who's Apollo?" Gunvolt asked.
Naomi's face turned pale. She put her head down, mostly out of shame.
"It's not a good idea to bring him up right now." Asimov warned.
"Why's that?" Gunvolt pondered.
"Do you still think you're a sham?" Asimov queried.
Naomi nodded, her arms were folded on the table with her head resting on them.
"Naomi was lab created in S-FIT with synthetic materials. She doesn't have any actual family. However, the man you mentioned technically is her father. He even has her custody right now.
But Copen and Mytyl aren't her siblings. When Naomi was seven, he actually wanted her to die. He fakes being nice during the day. Only to experiment on her during the night.
The reason he's nice to Naomi is so she doesn't uncover the truth. He uses a special kind of anesthetic on her, since the regular type is too weak to control her Primal Dragon transformation. She is unable to prevent herself from transforming while she sleeps." Asimov was going to say more but Naomi knew she needed to cut the misinformation in the bud.
"It's not that regular anesthetic is weak. The Primal Dragon anesthesia causes me to transform. Apparenty they need me to transform to keep tabs on my Septimas during the experimentation." Naomi corrected.
"What jobs do you have to do for your positions?" Gunvolt queried.
"You know what the test subject jobs are for. The whole second in command thing I don't know how that works. For the Department of Message Propagation, I wrote Nova's speech about Lumen being gone for six months. I just write speeches for that so it's easy.
I'm also the only member of the Foreign Dignitaries Division. They have me trying to make an agreement with Zonda. Sumeragi wants her and the other Eden members to be on our side. I'm also a Sumeragi Seven member and the Project Muse leader.
I don't know what the Sumeragi Seve thing is for. There's some parameters of Project Muse, I don't think I want to understand them truth be told." Naomi stated nervously.
"You're worried about having to work with him?" Asimov realized.
"I would really love to give him a piece of my mind. And tell him what I really think of that blasted machine." Naomi snarled.
"You could probably tell him something about it." Asimov supposed.
"Have you met him? That man's not going to agree with anything I say in regards to that." Naomi argued.
"You look like you could use an Advil." Gunvolt commented.
Naomi gave him a look that Gunvolt thought she was using to set him on fire with her mind. He looked away pretty quick after that.
"GV, your mission shcedule's been changed. Tonight, you'll be going to S-FIT, Sumeragi's Building One and Firmament. Or one building each night for three nights." Asimov notified.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? You do realize that I pulled the wool over Sumeagi's eyes already. If they find out that I'm still working for you, it'll be the same as removing said wool. And besides, we can't be risking GV in a place like that.
Think about it. Him, plus S-FIT, equals the worst and most unspeakable situation you've ever heard of. They have laser traps for unauthorized personnel. Doors that'll lock behind you once you enter the room.
Assassins that can basically teleport. Mechs that'll try to blow you to smithereens. Adepts making threats on you and your existence. I constantly feel like the only people I'm safe with are you, the boss, Lumen and Elise." Naomi admitted.
"Why not Joule or anyone else?" Gunvolt questioned.
"Zeno clearly doesn't like me right now, Xiao was ready to battle it out over some comic sleeves, Moniqa keeps giving me these deep seeded hatred looks anytime I'm around Asimov and I have to defend Joule, but I am comfortable around her. " Naomi stated.
"Is Elise someone within the Sumeragi you can trust?" Gunvolt asked.
Naomi nodded.
"Yeah, she's the only one I can believe. I know she may seem scary. But the truth is, she's just like me. We've both gone through similar things and have near identical personalities. Though, I don't think she's gone through the parental issues I have." Naomi confirmed.
"I'm not that old." Asimov reminded.
Naomi was about to whip her head around and give her employer the same look she gave Gunvolt earlier.
"What started your aversion to Sumeragi's researchers?" Gunvolt asked.
"What do you think?" Naomi seethed.
"If you were to as Naomi how much of her body is scared because of them, you'd be surprised." Asimov added.
"If you include the bullet wounds and bruises, not to mention all the cuts, it would cover my left lower thigh. While that doesn't sound like much, I can assure you, it is a lot. As a matter of fact, I woke up with some pain right here yesterday." Naomi stated while pointing to a spot four inches below the elbow on the top side of her left arm.
"It looks like you have a muscle bruise. It should be gone within a few days." Asimov noticed.
"I just don't understand where I could've possibly gotte it from." Naomi added.
"You got it from a fight most likely." Asimov theorized.
"Well get ready to see more because I'm about to get in another one." Naomi remarked.
"No, you're not. This irrational thinking you have is not going to get you anywhere. But if you do get anywhere, it won't be good." Asimov warned.
"Please, I'll be fine. I've managed to get out of tons of fights. It's like you don't believe in me or something." Naomi commented.
"It's not that I don't believe in your combat capabilities. It's more about how much trouble you tend to find yourself in within twenty four hours." Asimov notified.
Naomi rolled her eyes. She understood her employer's concern, but didn't want him to try and intervene. This was a matter best left to her. But she didn't want to deal with Copen later.
"How has he managed to hide his hatred of Adepts from Mytyl and I for so long?" Naomi pondered.
"It is very strange. The hatred started the first time I met him." Asimov answered.
"I don't want to face him. This just feels like all too much. It makes me want to trek out on my own." Naomi complained.
That's with something as serious as that. My offer to go with you still stands." Asimov notified.
"I think, I think I'll have to take it this time." Naomi surrendered.
Asimov walked over to Zeno and Gunvolt who were talking with Xiao.
"Is something wrong Asimov?" Gunvolt wondered.
"I'm leaving to help Naomi take care of something. In the meantime, Moniqa's in charge." Asimov informed.
At the same time, Naomi was talking to Mytyl and Joule.
"I'm sorry if it seems like I blew off earlier. Life's been giving me a rough time. So, Joule, I need to ask you a huge favor. Do you think you could use a visitor buddy? I was hoping Mytyl would be able to stay with you and GV. Only for a little while. I know you and Lumen don't like sharing him." Naomi stated.
"We're fine sharing him with you. Xiao I worry about, Zeno is rather concerning, Moniqa gets on my last nerves, and Quinn, ooh!" Lumen ranted.
"Would you be okay wit Mytyl staying at the apartment then?" Naomi begged.
"I know why you want her to stay there. Good luck, you'll need it. I'll keep an eye on her for you." Lumen guaranteed.
Joule's eyes went wide in realization on finding out what Naomi was talking about. Naomi wanted Mytyl to stay away from some form of danger. Considering the talk Naomi had with Asimov about anesthesia, scalpels and other things like that, it may haave had something to do with it. Mytyl resided at the sanatorium, so it didn't take Joule long to deduce that was where the danger lurked.
"Can I go with you?" Joule hoped.
"I didn't want to need to remind you. But I need you to help GV keep an eye on Mytyl. Since you think like her, you'd be the best on duty guard." Naomi denied.
"Did you ask GV yet or do you think he'll say no?" Lumen commented.
"You think I'll say no to what?" Gunvolt pondered.
The girls all turned and saw Gunvolt.
"Oh, hey! I hope you don't mind, but I've got a crazy ask. Do you think I could drop Mytyl off for the night?" Naomi answered.
"Sure, but, I'm allowed to ask, why exactly do you feel the need to keep her at my apartment?" Gunvolt agreed.
"Can you three go in the break room please? I'm looking at you Lumen." Naomi replied.
Lumen fizzled out of the room as Mytyl and Joule walked to the break room. The girls just sat and talked about life in general while Gunvolt and Naomi were discussing something serious.
"So, what was it you wanted to talk about that they had to leave the room?" Gunvolt inqueried.
"I need to have a talk with somebody. But I'm worried that this important conversation may wind up getting her hurt." Naomi explained.
"What kind of conversation could get Mytyl hurt?" Gunvolt asked.
"This whole me being lab created type deal, the Adept and Septima fuled hatred, it has to stop. My biggest concern right now is being lab crated and lied to. Unfortunately, I'm a hundred percent crtain that person I need to talk to isn't going to take this confrontation easy." Naomi sighed.
"I take it this is going to end in a shootdown?" Gunvolt assumed.
Naomi nodded solemnly. Naomi felt three pairs of eyes on her and turned to break room. Lumen, Mytyl and Joule were listening in, with their top halves fully exposed.
"I need you to stay with GV tonight because there's going to be a massive shooting back home. There's already been trauma caused because of me. I don't want there to be anymore." Naomi assured.
"I get it. I worry sometimes that I scarred Joule in one night more than Sumeragi ever did." Gunvolt notified.
"Actually, I really could use that Advil right about now. All that work on the computer's probably getting to me. That or the stress of our current situation is finally starting to sink in." Naomi remarked.
"Moniqa should have some with her." Gunvolt remembered.
Naomi nodded and walked over to Moniqa. She handed her work senior a 500 yen bill.
'I want to buy that Tylenol from you." Naomi declared plainly.
Moniqa's eyes widened.
"Are you asking to buy drugs from me!?" Moniqa shrieked.
"What!? Oh no no no no no! Absolutely not! My problems aren't that bad!" Naomi assured.
"Then why are you ofering me money for pain relievers?" Moniqa interrogated.
"Because my mom taught me to give back to anyone that helps me." Naomi elucidated.
"Oh, you don't have to pay me for it. Just make sure you come over sometime so we can watch the fourth men in black movie." Moniqa informed while giving Naomi the packet containing a single pill.
"Honestly, I'd rather do a five mile walk in five minutes. But, this has been needing to be done for a while now. And it's only going to get worse if I don't deal with it. Man, Zeno and GV were right. The boss sure has been rubbing off on me lately." Naomi added before walking to the break room for some water.