7

Play: Here Comes Trouble

"...Commander." Anis stared at the floating drone with makeshift radio, a slapped together camera, and minigun attachment. All from Rapture parts. "...Are you REALLY not a Missilis sleeper agent or something?"

I stared at it, surprised it worked. Then I said, "You know. I'm not. But I can see why you would think that. I, uh. Didn't think that would work so well."

Shifty directed the drone around and said, "...Commander Hoopa. You... realize that with your skillset..."

"The Central Government will be on my ass the moment I head back into the Ark? Yeah, I know. Which is EXACTLY why I'm going to wait for direct orders from Deputy Chief Andersen BEFORE we head back. That guy might be a hardass, but he's fair. The bureaucrats? Yeah, no."

Anis laughed. "Well... Look on the bright side, Commander. At least at this rate the only one getting dissected is probably going to be you."

Marian glared at Anis. "Don't even joke about that, Anis."

"Sorry! Sorry. Just... trying to lighten up the mood." Anis stared at the repurposed Rapture unit. "...It's still ridiculous. Like... how did you even do that?"

"Hm? Well, it's simple in theory, hard in execution. I created a basic API of movement for Shifty to access. The movement is programmed by switch logic and NAND gates that I cobbled together for movement. The camera is actually just a raw data feed that Shifty has to parse later, but it's structured in pixel arrays so it should be doable. Then the minigun is just set on a trigger to fire."

"...Right." Anis slowly nodded. "...I get what you mean. That SOUNDS simple. But like, what the hell...?"

Neon adjusted her glasses, staring at me with sparkling eyes. "Master. Teach me your ways. Forever- No, marry me! So that we can pursue the pinnacle of firepower- MMPH!?"

Marian smiled, cupping Neon's mouth. "Those jokes aren't funny, Neon."

"MMPH!?"

Neon's mouth was covered, but I could see in her eyes...

'I'm not joking though?!'

...It would be safer to be joking, Neon...

Rapi pinched the bridge of her nose. "Commander..."

I watched the drone fly away towards the power station. Then I turned to Rapi. "Yes, Rapi?"

"...You realize that after this mission, you are either getting promoted or you are going to be hunted by every organization in the Ark, yes? There's no in-between."

I nodded. "I know."

Anis looked at me and said, "Well... if worst comes to worst, you could always move to Tetra Line. I'm sure Boss would take you in."

I blinked. "Tetra Line? Boss?"

"Ah, right. I guess you wouldn't know." Anis rubbed her arm. "I'm-"

Play: Crumbling City

An explosion erupted in the distance. At the same time, the ground started shaking as a giant Rapture emerged from underground.

Rapi pulled out her gun. "Encounter!"

Anis clicked her tongue. "Dammit!"

Marian stayed close to me. "Orders, Commander?"

Neon grabbed a pile of coilguns. "We blasting it?"

I stared at the Rapture. "Well I'll be damned."

It was a giant drill excavator, armed with what looked like a ray gun.

"...We're blasting it. That thing's literally a damage check."

My eyes flitted towards the complicated and moving parts. And the fact that it had CLEARLY seen us and was moving this way.

Also while charging its laser.

Anis swallowed and said, "Uh, Commander? If that thing can hit us with the laser from all the way over there-"

I didn't respond.

Instead, I picked up a pair of coilguns, carefully observed the flow of electricity on the Rapture, then raised them both.

Shifty's voice echoed over the comms. "That's another Tyrant-Class Rapture! It's a Grave Digger! But... modified?! Be careful-"

A sharp sound echoed. Like a suppressed air blast.

And then the Grave Digger tilted up just as the electron beam fired, cutting clouds in the sky before it stopped.

"Hm." I tossed the burnt up coilguns to the side. "No damage, only redirection. Looks like we need to get closer."

Anis gave me a deadpan stare. "Did you just... redirect an electron beam at the last second with a pair of coilguns?"

"And I'll do it again." I picked up another pair. "It is literally suicide for me to advance. But you girls can do it. No real strategy here. Just rush it until you're in firing range. I'll mark the points you need to hit."

Rapi nodded. "Orders confirmed. Brave, moving out!"

Marian hesitated. But then she nodded. "Leave it to us, Commander."

Neon lugged her gun and said, "We've got this, Master!"

Anis groaned. "I swear to god, I need SO much pampertime when we get back...!"

With that, the four Nikke rushed forward.

Meanwhile, I stared at the Grave Digger and focused. "Let's see just how smart you are, Rapture."

===

Play: Heretic

Andersen watched the live camera feed of Brave's battle, sent to him directly via Shifty.

Across from him, Ingrid, the CEO of Elysion, and Mustang, the CEO of Tetra Line were both watching.

"Mon dieu." Mustang stared at the screen. "A commandant who can provide proper support for his girls?!"

Ingrid watched as both Neon and Rapi moved in concert with Marian and Anis. "It's incredible. They're moving in complete synchronization..."

Streaks of white light cut across the field just as the Grave Digger prepared another electron beam, sending it up to the sky and revealing its vulnerable underbelly.

Squad Brave immediately took advantage of it and attacked the Rapture's core directly.

Then, in a few minutes, the Tyrant-Class Rapture fell to the ground, unmoving and dead.

At the same time, Shifty's voice echoed. "Confirmation... The modified Tyrant-Class Rapture, Grave Digger, was defeated by the Nikke Squadron Brave. Commander Hoopa reports that the power station has ceased operation due to the Rapture's usage of electricity, but that minimal damage to the infrastructure has been received."

Andersen let out a low chuckle. "How nostalgic."

"Mm?" Mustang looked at Andersen. "Nostalgic, Mon amie?"

"Yes. Nostalgic." Andersen watched the young commander being surrounded by his Nikke.

Marian grabbing his arm.

Anis grabbing his shirt and yelling how crazy he was.

Neon hopping up and down with joy.

Rapi sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose.

It reminded Andersen of another Nikke squad. One he knew long ago.

"...Unfortunately, the mission wasn't a success." Andersen tapped his fingers on the table. "The objective was to investigate the station AND reclaim it. Considering he damaged it... Commander Hoopa should receive an appropriate punishment, yes? Say... a day being relieved from duty and being punished to the Outpost for such grievous damages to critical infrastructure?"

Ingrid raised an eyebrow. "...I see. That should keep him out of the hands of the Central Government for a bit longer."

Mustang hummed. "I suppose that would work, Mon amie. The Commandant requires some room to bloom. As he is now..."

"I'd rather not lose a promising talent before his time." Andersen nodded. "...Shifty. Arrange a meeting."

===

Play: Leisure Time

Anis flopped onto the floor of the outpost. "I can't FUCKING believe it. We do ALL that work, do SO well, and we STILL get punished and banished to this shithole!?"

Rapi sighed. "Language, Anis..."

"I'll swear all the fuck I want! I'm pissed!" Anis sat up. "Where's my shower?! My rewards!?"

Marian sat on a dusty chair nearby. "Well, I think it's quite cozy."

"Shut it, lovebird." Anis glared at Marian. "You're the type of girl who'd be happy in a cardboard box as long as you're with the commander."

Marian smiled. "You aren't wrong."

Neon looked around the dusty outpost and said, "Whoa... it's messy, but..." She pulled out her gun and shot it at an old crate.

"Neon!" Rapi looked at her. "What are you-"

"We can fire as many rounds as we want here and nobody will care!" Neon clapped her hands together and grinned at Rapi. "It's amazing!"

Anis immediately hopped to her feet. "Wait. You're ABSOLUTELY right!" She grabbed her rocket launcher. "Come on, Neon! We're letting off some steam!"

"YEAH!"

Neon and Anis immediately dashed off, setting up a makeshift target range.

Rapi sighed. "...Well. I suppose they DO need some stress relief..." She looked at Marian. Then she frowned. "...How are you, Mari? Are you well?"

Marian hummed. "I'm doing fine. I miss the Commander though... Do you think he's okay?" She looked in the distance. "He's been in the meeting for quite some time now..."

Rapi frowned. "...I would be lying if I said I was not a little bit concerned, but..."

At that time, the door to the outpost opened.

"Yo." Their commander walked in and waved a hand. "Sorry I'm late. How are you guys liking the place."

Marian immediately ran over and hugged his arm. "Commander! Are you okay? Were there any troubles? Are you injured?"

Rapi watched Marian interact with their commander. And as she did, Rapi took a closer look at the man himself.

'He is different.'

Rapi hadn't had the time to properly assess him since they were constantly on the move or on their operations. But now that they were like this, Rapi could assess him properly.

Light brown hair with loose bangs. Although when they first met, he had let it hang over his eyes, now, Commander Hoopa had brushed the bangs in a neat sidepart, gelled in place. With it, they revealed a pair of brilliant blue eyes, the color of the clear blue sky.

'...Objectively handsome as well...'

Rapi couldn't blame Marian for reacting like she did for their commander. By any standard, he was attractive.

A defined jawline, sturdy muscles, a solid frame... Not only that, but a relaxed but ready stance. Like a sheathed blade.

'...Firm in conviction. Not reckless in combat, but firmly looking at the path to victory...'

Rapi remembered their last encounter with a Tyrant-Class Rapture, and the first as well.

During that, the commander- No, Hoopa had simply stared at the Rapture and steadily assessed the situation.

Not fear, but readiness and a determination to grab the gossamer thread of victory the moment it appeared.

But more than even all of those traits combined...

"Hm?" Hoopa looked over at Rapi and said, "You alright, Rapi? You look lost in thought."

"...It's nothing, Commander." A faint smile crossed Rapi's face. "Just... taking it in."

...Sincerity.

Their commander, this ridiculous, chaotic, but supremely competent man.

Despite everything, he saw them as humans. Not just humans, but as heroes. Goddesses of Victory, like their true namesake.

And he proved it with every action he took.

"...Thank you, Commander."

Hoopa blinked, holding Marian under one arm. "For what?"

"For seeing us."

Hoopa blinked again. Then he grinned and said, "Well, what else am I gonna see you as? You're you. That's always true. Anyone who says otherwise has lost their humanity."

"Lost their humanity..." Rapi murmured. "...Just what does humanity mean to you, Commander?"

"Hm? Isn't it obvious? The will to choose, and the decision to live. But more than that, the decision to respect each other's choices rather than snuffing them out."

It was a simple answer.

It was a complicated answer.

But above all, it was his answer. One that Hoopa said naturally, as if it was a way of life.

Rapi let out a soft chuckle and a matching smile. "By that definition, there aren't many 'humans' left in the Ark then, Commander."

"Eeeh, they just haven't met me yet."

"Perhaps so, Commander." Rapi's smile widened. "Perhaps so."

A boom echoed in the distance, followed by Anis and Neon cheering.

Marian lightly tugged Hoopa's hand and said, "Come on, Commander. You haven't had a chance to rest in a long while. I'll make you something to eat. And we should get the others too."